CHAPTER ONE

1 | A Romanov

"my life was a mystery even as I lived it"
melissa gilbert

"Kassia!" A voice drawled out above the incessant noise of the Downworlder party.

Kassia Romanova spun on her heel, dress flashing in a wave of silver, to come face to face with the warlock gifted with cat eyes; that was a symbol of a curse and a blessing. Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn.

"How wonderful of you to finally join us!"

"You know I'd never miss one of your parties." She responded with a playful tone, her lips tugging into a smile. Like many at the party, Kassia wasn't a regular to New York, something easily noticeable from the lilt to her accent. Her American accent was heavy but some of the pronunciation fell short, hinting to long stints abroad and common jumps between foreign tongues. "However late I arrive."

"There's a difference between stylishly late and being plain lazy, young Kassia," Magnus said. His eyes surveyed her outfit disapprovingly but she wasn't surprised, every time she came to New York it seemed that Magnus was there acting as a guardian in the lacking place of a parental figure.

Between the lace of her dress, the stark black runes were just visible, glistening with a dark fury in the half-light; a clear message: Kassia was one to be wary of. Kassia glanced around, "Have you seen my Parabatai? I lose her the second I got here."

"Was she in a black dress? Because if so I saw her talking to one of the vampires I invited." Magnus concluded, picking at his darkly painted nails. As usual, his outfit was a stylish one, something that always made Kassia's choice of clothing surprisingly bland.

"That's her," Kassia said with a nod. She lifted a drink from one of the many trays making their way around the room, lifting it to the dim light, checking both for poison and for any faerie drugs. Kassia had learnt that she didn't have the best reaction to them after one too many bad experiences, where the little restraint she had was thrown out the window, and at Magnus' parties one could never be exactly certain what you were consuming.

"I presume we're not in the presence of any werewolves?" Kassia asked. As soon as the sparkly concoction hit the back of her throat, in an explosion of too sweet flavours, she regretted taking a sip of it. She gagged at the taste and let the cool liquid fall back into the glass.

"You presume correctly." Magnus started but cut off as he pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and held it out towards Kassia, looking over her dismissively, "But how you charm anyone with those manners is beyond me."

Kassia smiled innocently, but it appeared much more unnerving when matched with the impish curl of her lips and a mischievous glint in her eyes, "It's the Romanov House secret."

"You and your family." Magnus rolled his eyes and Kassia knew why: this was the same story stuck on replay, over and over again. "How long until you have to go back to Saint Petersburg?" He downed Kassia's purple drink in one.

She shrugged, "If I'm lucky, a long time—"

"—But you're never lucky." Magnus interrupted. From the frown, on his lips, it was obvious he though her antics to evade her family were childish and stupid. Maybe they were, but Kassia could barely tell herself anymore.

"But I'm never lucky." Kassia agreed. "Which leaves me with a few weeks. At best." She tilted her head in amusement when Magnus shot her a look of disbelief but before he could respond (and most likely chide her for her insolence the doorbell rang loudly above the supernatural crowd.

"I suppose I should get that." Magnus sighed dramatically, "I am the host of this party after all."

"And what an amazing party it is," Kassia said, throwing a glance over to her Parabatai. She was stood conversing with one of their vampire friends. "I'll come. It's better than watching Hailee have to turn down another vampire who can't pick up a hint."

"And what would you do in her place?" Magnus asked. He nudged Kassia's side.

Kassia shot him a look of mock horror, "I do not approve of whatever you are insinuating." The sarcasm flooded from her lips more comfortably than the truth. "And I can't be bothered to deal with vampires. It's so much effort arranging dates."

Magnus sent her a teasing glance, "I happen to remember you being obsessed with a certain Ra—"

"Hey!" She hissed, "I don't need the whole of the Downworld knowing!"

"Kass, darling, the whole Downworld already does."

His smirk earnt him a glare that would have sent him six feet under, had Kassia been a warlock, however, Kassia wasn't a warlock and was therefore forced to contain her anger and continue staying in the torturous presence of Magnus.

"If my family find out about it, I am placing all the blame on you." She said finally in one last threat, it didn't hold much weight but Kassia was certain that Magnus wouldn't purposely let her family know about her… less than respectable ventures.

Kassia leant against the stair railing as Magnus continued down to the door. He flung it open with a flick of his hand and an ounce of his magic, the door flew open to reveal five people.

Kassia instantly swore.

Three of the five were Shadowhunters, armed with as many weapons as she was and twice as intimidating. The other two were thankfully less dangerous, a red-headed girl and a brown haired boy, both who stood out like a scream in a silent place beside the six-foot Shadowhunters.

The black haired girl reacted first, smoothly dropping the look of surprise that had made its way onto their faces, "Magnus? Magnus Bane?"

"That would be me," Magnus replied lazily.

Kassia moved down the last steps, internally cursing herself for wearing such tall heels.

Her movement caught the attention of the shadow hunters and Kassia challenged their stare with one of her own. Blue met gold, with a mix of stubbornness and smugness. Warm breath caught in her throat and in an attempt to not show her discomfort she threw the boy a smirk. Her look of confidence shifted to a scowl when the blond responded with a mirrored expression.

He was attractive, like one of the original angels from the paintings, but worst of all he knew it. He knew he had looks that probably rivalled Apollo and just like Apollo he was a blinding flare in Kassia's eye line.

In an attempt to ignore him, she turned her attention to the other Shadowhunters but saw they were all equally good on the eyes and all of them seemed to think they were God's blessing on the world… technically they kind of were.

Magnus' eyes burrowed into her soul, telling her he saw the exchange between her and the blond. He turned his attention back to the unwanted guests with an air of arrogance that, for Kassia didn't fit him at all. "I don't recall inviting any Nephilim, apart from this one here."

Kassia bowed at the introduction, "Maybe they're a fan club? I hear that warlocks are very in nowadays."

"Who are you?" The red-headed girl asked. Kassia locked eyes with her in surprise, she looked like quite a fragile thing, small and pale like she was just about to shatter, but it seemed that her looks were quite deceiving. She had a fiery attitude that rivalled the colour of her hair.

"This is Kassia. She's the founder of the fan club." Magnus said before Kassia could open her mouth to respond. It was probably best he did, Kassia didn't want to say anything that could be taken the wrong way.

"Oh yes. Join the Magnus Bane Fan Club for free drinks and all the secrets on how this High Warlock keeps his hair so perfect." Kassia bit out.

"I have an invitation." The black haired girl said with a shadowed of amusement in her smile. Kassia didn't know who it was aimed at, them or the mutters she exchanged with the other black haired boy. "And these are my friends."

Magnus tugged the slip from her grip, glaring at it as though it would make it burn up there and then. "I must have been drunk. Come in and try not to murder any of my guests."

The blonde boy stepped over the threshold, sizing up Magnus as he did so. "Even if one of them spills drinks on my new shoes?"

"Even then." Magnus clarified. His hand shot out and plucked the stele from the boy's hand. "As for this," He tucked it in the boy's pocket. "Keep it in your pants, Shadowhunter."

Magnus grinned at them, and winked at Kassia, "Don't cause a fight, Kassia dear."

"I wouldn't dare in your house."

It seemed Magnus didn't believe her because he retreated back up the stairs with an over exaggerated scoff.

Kassia rolled her eyes and glanced at the blond, "I pity the Downworlder who would dare spill a drink on your shoes."

"They wouldn't dare." He shrugged, stepping closer to her. Kassia refused the urge to step back as he moved into her personal space, surveying him dismissively. "You never said who you were."

"Just Kassia," She said, "And I could say the same about you, pretty boy."

"The name's Jace Wayland, darling." He smirked, holding out a hand.

Kassia stared at him through her lashes. The way she considered him carefully held the same intensity one would exhibit when faced with a particularly strenuous, vexing, puzzle. She had heard that name, Wayland, and she had never heard it in association with anything good.

She reached forward and shook his hand but as she went to pull back he tightened her grip and slipped his hand to her wrist. Her skin seared at his touch as he twisted her hand palm upwards to reveal the familiar swirls of the Parabatai rune.

"You're a Shadowhunter."

"You're a Shadowhunter, not me." Kassia ripped her hand from his grip and stumbled back towards the stairs, "And don't call me darling."

"I wouldn't even think about it, sweetheart." His smirk grew when Kassia's jaw noticeably clenched.

The knife concealed beside her leg felt as though it were pressing harder into her skin, screaming at her to remind her it was there, that it could be used. She pushed the urge away by gripping the stairs. "A sarcastic asshole. What were the chances? Do all you Shadowhunters steal lines from the same outdated book on flirting 101?"

Kassia shook her head and stalked back up the stairs towards the party. However, she wasn't fast enough to avoid catching a conversation between the Shadowhunters. After Wayland had been scolded for flirting with every girl he met they mentioned that the warlock wouldn't help them if he annoyed his friends.

Did they want help? Help from a warlock? How desperate were the Clave?

She swept through the crowd, waving to a few vampires until she reached Magnus, easily distinguishable against the backdrop of the floor to ceiling windows. They were entirely ineffective, covered in a thin layer of dirt that blocked most of the light and ruined the aesthetic that Magnus had going; it was sort of Harry Potter meets electricity and actual safety regulations.

"Finished flirting with the Shadowhunter, Kassandra?" Magnus hummed, another drink (most likely alcohol) in his hand.

Kassia barely flinched at the use of her full name, she had given up trying to persuade Downworlders to call her anything but her full name as they never listened, instead seeming to use it more.

"It wasn't flirting." Kassia protested. "But I did learn something interesting."

"Do tell."

Kassia leant into him her voice dropping to a whisper, "They're not just here to crash the party, they want your help."

She dragged out the word. It was almost surreal, Shadowhunters overcoming their prejudice to find help in a warlock?

"Which one did you hear this from? The cute one?" Magnus asked.

"Which cute one? Do you mean the girl or—"

"No, no, the blue-eyed one."

Kassia thought back, "Cute? I see it. I mean they were all easy on the eyes… but then again they're Shadowhunters."

Magnus ran a hand through his hair, somehow not ruining the styled look, "There it is again. Your whole not counting you as Shadowhunters deal. What is it your family says? We work beyond the Clave but not against it."

"I sound nothing like that," Kassia said. The impression was far too squeaky and annoying… she hoped anyway. "And you know I don't get on with the rest of the clan." How could she? They were incredibly controlling, overruled any opinion she held and had so many rules and regulations that were unrealistic and archaic.

Magnus glanced over her shoulder, "You like my party?"

She turned to see who Magnus' question was aimed at. It was the red-headed girl from before. She looked lost in the spacious room, glancing over her shoulder for the Shadowhunters who had accompanied her but saw they'd been swallowed but the crowd.

"None of your Shadowhunter friends are here," Kassia stated apologetically.

The red-headed girl smiled but it couldn't be mistaken for happiness when she was shuffling so much, "They're not my friends."

"My mistake," said Kassia, "I'm Kassia. I'm the not Shadowhunter and friend of Magnus. Who are you?"

"Clary."

"…Fray?" Kassia asked after a moment. The red-headed girl nodded and it took everything in Kassia to not look surprised.

This was the Clary Fray that everyone in Downworlder was talking about. Kassia had heard about her in the endless gossip, the mundane who turned out to be the daughter of the infamous Fairchild runaway.

Clary noticed how Kassia looked at her as though a spotlight had formed above her and quickly continued, "Is the party in honour of anything?"

"My cat's birthday."

"Oh." She glanced around for any signs of the creature. "Where's your cat?"

Magnus moved away from Kassia and towards Clary. "I don't know. He ran away."

"Can that thing even run?" Kassia scoffed, "It's a massive ball of fluff."

"Rule number one, Kassandra, no hate on the cat," Magnus ordered, pointing an accusing finger her way.

Before she could form a retort Jace and the black haired boy emerged from the crowd, as though they had an ability to sense when Clary was feeling too uncomfortable.

Clary instantly turned to them, looking grateful that she wasn't alone with Kassia and Magnus, "Have you seen Simon and Isabelle?"

So that was their names — four down, one to go.

Jace pointed over to the dance floor but Kassia was unable to pick out the mundane boy or shadow hunter girl among the convulsing crowd. "They're on the dance floor."

"I heard you need my help, Shadowhunter," Magnus commented. He swept towards them, eyes flashing intimidatingly.

Jace, unlike the others, barely looked perturbed and chose to look past Magnus to Kassia. "Your doing?"

"Guilty as charged." Kassia flashed a smile at him but tensed instantly as she noticed the vampire charging towards them.

Her hand jumped to her dagger, just in case, but her fast movement alerted the Shadowhunters to a threat. Jace spun around, pushing Clary back, and the black haired boy — Kassia still didn't know his name — moved beside Jace, the two working as in sync as clockwork.

"MAGNUS BANE!" A deep voice yelled. The voice belonged to a surprisingly short man who pushed his way through the crowd towards them. He pointed a threatening finger at Magnus. "Someone just poured Holy Water into the gas tank of my bike. It's ruined. Destroyed. All of the pipes have melted!"

"Melted?" Magnus exchanged an amused glance with Kassia. "How dreadful."

"I want to know who did it!" The man bared his teeth, revealing the thin, canine-like, vampire teeth hidden in the gums. They were a gruesome yellow, aged and decayed by blood. "I thought you swore there'd be no wolfmen see tonight, Bane."

"I invited none of the moon's children precisely because of your stupid little feud. If any of them decided to sabotage your bike they weren't a guest of mine and therefore not my responsibility."

The vampire let out a roar, "Are you trying to tell me that—"

Magnus moved his finger just a fraction, a movement almost impossible to see, making the vampire stops mid-roar. The vamp gagged, clutching at his throat and mouthing incomprehensible words as no sound came out.

"You've worn out your welcome," Magnus said. He flicked his hand and the vampire spun and walked out the door as if he were being pushed by an invisible force.

The party was silent for a moment, all the guests privy to the tension surrounding Magnus. When Magnus didn't make a move to end the party chatter reignited like a spark and the Downworlders slowly edged away from the Shadowhunter business.

"That was impressive." Jace whistled quietly.

"He's showing off," said Kassia, poking Magnus' side. She jumped away as he reached out to hit her on the head and stuck her tongue out at him in a victory.

"We put the holy water in the gas tank you know," The boy commented.

Jace smacked him, "Alec! Shut up!"

"I assumed that," Magnus nodded. Kassia noticed the amused undertones, which meant the Shadowhunters were fortunate — ruining a Downworlders property didn't always end up like that. "Vindictive little bastards aren't you? I'm guessing you would have done the same Kassandra, you're just as bad, so don't roll your eyes like that."

Kassia opened her mouth to argue but closed it instantly — he wasn't wrong. She wouldn't have done it to that vampire in particular, nor would she have done it to a Downworlder just because they were a Downworlder, but it was her style.

"You know bikes like that run on demon energies." Kassia commented, "He won't be able to repair it."

"One less leech with a fancy bike," Jace said. "My heart bleeds."

Kassia swallowed at the insulting term. Shadowhunters too often used slurs to refer to Downworlders, not even bothering to hide the obvious prejudice when they were in the presence of the very people they seemed to despise.

"I'm sure it would if he got a hold of you." Kassia put out through gritted teeth.

"I'm too precious to bleed." Jace shot back instantly.

Kassia raised his eyebrow, "Is that a challenge, pretty boy?"

Alec rolled his eyes at their interaction, "I've heard some of them can fly."

"Unfortunately, an old witches tale," Magnus said. Kassia wasn't sure that was true: most witches tales ended up to be very true and, usually, very dangerous "Is this why you crashed my party? Just to wreck some bloodsucker's ride?"

"No," Jace said. His tone change from flirtatious to serious quick enough to give Kassia whiplash. "We need to talk." He glanced at Kassia, "preferably alone."

So Kassia wasn't invited, she honestly didn't expect to be, but what did surprise her was that the Clave had sent teenagers to bargain — and probably threaten — the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Didn't the Clave have any class?

Magnus raised an eyebrow, "Am I in trouble with the Clave?"

"No."

"Probably not," Alec added. He quickly fell silent after emitting a soft cry of pain when Jace kicked him.

"I agree that's unlikely." Magnus nodded, he pointed at Kassia, "Is she in trouble with the Clave? That is much more likely."

"I feel attacked, Bane, personally attacked." Kassia scowled.

"No." Repeated Jace, "We can talk to you under the seal of the Covenant. If you help us, anything you say will be confidential."

Kassia tilted her head, "And if he doesn't help you?"

Jace spread his arms wide, revealing runes in black and red seared into the skin, "Maybe nothing, maybe a visit from the Silent City."

"That's quite a choice you're offering me, little Shadowhunter," Magnus said, voice sounding cold and irritated at the threat from a Shadowhunter not even tenth of his age.

"It's not choice at all," Jace said with a smile but it had no comfort to the gesture at all.

"Yes." Kassia said, "That's what he meant." She should have turned away and left Magnus to deal with Shadowhunter business but her curiosity got the better of her. "Is this about Valentine?"

The name was an instant switch, sending the tension in the group sky high. No one shoe but Kassia had her answer: yes. This was about Valentine.

Alec glanced at her warily, "What do you know about Valentine."

"Only rumours." Kassia said, "He's back, he's after the mortal cup. He kidnapped Jocelyn Fray and— and he's been trying to get powerful contacts."

Magnus read through the lines easily.

"Is he after you?" Magnus asked but Kassia didn't reply. "Kassandra? Is he after you."

"My family. I talked to Raph, there are rumours that Valentine wants to know where my family's alliance is. He wants to know whether will support him." Kassia explained, "No point look at me like that, pretty boy, I'm not stupid… my family may be."

"And who are your family?" Jace inquired with fake chivalry. His golden eyes watched Kassia's every move as if he expected her to attack him. He was acting with politeness but Kassia wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to spit at her feet.

He had his suspicions on who she was— on who her family was. There weren't many families that didn't stand with the Clave and fewer that associated with Downworlders.

"I'd be surprised if you didn't already know that, Wayland."

The Romanov Clan were infamous; with family trees dating back to the birth of Nephilim. They were rich, powerful and influential. Breaking rules was a one-way ticket out of the clan and if you spent too long with Shadowhunters you may as well say goodbye to any status you had.

"You're from House of Romanov."

"That I am, pretty boy," Their attitudes towards her changed instantly, it was probably instinctive. If a Shadowhunter didn't know of the Romanovs they must have been living under a rock for the past 500 years.

They were a private army, a private army that was very good at holding grudges. Kassia wouldn't be surprised if her family supported valentine because the last time they had gone to the Clave the Clave hadn't helped them. They wouldn't care that the world was in the balance only that they got revenge and their pride was unscarred.

Author's Note

This is a rewrite of my old mortal instruments fanfiction - 'Dear Child of Mine' - it will be quite different to that story as I only got five chapters in before giving up.

Most likely this story will not completely follow the books and may go AU in later chapters. This is because whilst I do favour many of the show's plot points the book are quite close to my heart, however I see a lot of flaws in them that I didn't four years ago when I read the; some of those being the lack of diversity, the complete focus on Clace instead of arguably stronger ships like Malec, and the general incest-y subplots.

As always I don't own anything apart from my OC, Kassia, and her Parabatai, Hailee, as well as any of their plot lines.

Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated but if you don't like it I'd rather you just not read instead of leaving negative comments or hate.

Finally, thank you for reading and I apologise for when I am not as invested in this fanfic as I am currently juggling writing my own novel and GCSEs (which are totally fun !)