Clary Morgenstern was perched on a stool, leaning against the dark wooden bar. Her black fingernails tapped against the surface in a rhythm as she waited for the bartender to pour her two drinks. The club was loud, almost painfully so, and Clary swore that she could feel every beat vibrate up through her body.
The bartender- Meliorn, smiled at her as he finally slid the two drinks in her direction. Clary smiled hesitantly back before taking them and retreating to the corner that Simon and herself had tucked themselves away in. Simon looked as mundane as ever in his jeans and t-shirt that quoted Star Wars. 'They were his good jeans', Clary had to admit, but nothing compared to the luminous and tight fitting outfits that adorned the bodies of the people in the club. Clary herself had switched out her usual jeans and flannel shirt for a black dress that hugged her body. She had shrugged on a denim jacket to make herself feel less naked though.
"I love it here" Simon said sarcastically. "Much better than the safe comfort of my bedroom, with no intoxicated teenagers and possible drug dealers." He narrowed his eyes at the people on the table next to their own. Clary rolled her eyes.
"It's different then our usual night Simon, come on its fun" she said, and as if to prove a point she hopped up. "You know what we need!"
"I have a feeling that you're going to tell me" he muttered.
"Shots" Clary said and ran off in the direction of the bar.
Sat in a booth was a small group of young adults. Their booth was risen up, giving an easy view of the club. Jace Herondale was in the middle of the booth, his siblings to his right and his best friend Jonathan Morgenstern on the left. Jace's arm was draped lazily along the back of Isabelle's seat as he surveyed the room. Observing the room was what he was good at; Jace always had to know who and what was happening around himself. Nothing would happen without his knowing.
Raphael approached the table with a tray full of drinks for the rest of them. Jace smirked. Raphael was the newest addition to their group and at the moment he was barely speaking to them, just following orders. He was scared, and rightly so.
Jace was the head of The Shadows, the most wanted gang in New York. They were known by everyone, and Jace's name was especially mentioned.
Jace reached across for his whiskey and sipped, barely feeling the harsh drink go down his throat. He smirked. Of course everyone knew who The Shadows were, they caused enough trouble. Just last week they had been responsible for a small bombing downtown. Alec had claimed the bombing had been unnecessary but Jace knew better. Although unnecessary lives had been taken, Jace had hid his real target. Casualties happened. Jace had told Alec just as much.
Although Jace's name was regularly on the people of New York's lips, no one truly knew him. No one except for Jonathan, his best friend. Jon had been his best friend was many years, and was a part of The Shadows; in fact they had founded the group together. But no one knew that. Jon preferred to keep a low profile, unlike Jace who relished in the lime light.
"See anyone that takes your fancy Jonathan?" Jace muttered, turning slightly. Jon was clearly bored, his green eyes were dull.
"There was a blonde looked rather tasty, but the minute that she started kissing another man I turned away. You know me; I don't share my women" Jonathan replied. Jace nodded but he didn't really agree. Women could do whatever they want; they were nothing more than a good shag anyway. Glancing around the club it took everything in Jace not to cringe. The women that were scattered around the room were messes; each scantily cladded, sweating, reeking of alcohol. Occasionally Jace would see one that he would perhaps take home for the night, but that would be it. One night with them.
He was about to take another sip, when he paused as Jonathan's drink slipped and the liquid inside went all over the table. Isabelle stood up abruptly, snatching her phone off of the table. Raphael immediately went to cleaning the mess. Jace glanced at Jonathan. His eyes were fixated forward, and he didn't seem to notice his drink that was no longer occupying the glass. He looked scared.
"Why did you do that?" Jace said, not harshly.
"My hand slipped" Jonathan replied. Jace narrowed his eyes. Jonathan's hand never slipped, and not once had Jon ever looked scared.
"Jon?" Jace asked, hoping that his best friend would turn to look at him, but he didn't. Jace's head turned to follow Jon's line of sight but in that moment Jon seemed to snap out of it and he turned away.
"What's wrong?" Jace asked. Jon's face instantly returned to a happy state, shielding away any emotions he may have been feeling moments ago. Jace had seen Jon do this many times but never had Jon done it too him. He could hear Alec and Isabelle behind him muttering, clearly interested.
"Nothing. Raphael, would you be able to get me another drink?" Jon asked. Raphael instantly hopped up and raced to the bar. Jace dropped the subject. Anything that Jon didn't want to tell him, he wouldn't. Jace would never force anyone he cared about to tell him anything. Despite this, Jace still watched Jonathan out of the corner of his eye. His hands were shaking slightly, his movements were jerky and his eyes weren't focusing on anything but they kept flickering up and then back to his new drink. And his phone. He was texting someone.
Then he stood up abruptly.
"I have to go Jace, I'm sorry" Jon said quickly, downing the last of his drink. Jace's hand shot out, grabbing Jonathan's arm.
"Why so soon Jon. It's only early" he replied. He could feel Isabelle lightly touching his shoulder, and Alec telling him to let go. But he couldn't. Jon had been secretive since that first incident and Jace didn't like secrets. Not one bit.
"Jace let me go. I need to leave" Jonathan yanked his arm backwards, out of Jace's grip, causing Jace to stand up. Lowly Jace muttered, "whatever it is, it had better be important."
"It is" was all Jonathan said before rushing out of the booth and through the crowd of people.
"Why'd he leave so suddenly?" Isabelle asked. Jace shrugged.
"I need another drink" Jace hissed. Now he was watching someone.
Whilst Jonathan had clearly been trying to be discreet, he was too nervous to actually hide anything. Jace had watched his reactions to certain things, and only had Jonathan's reaction changed drastically once. When a girl was at the bar. Jonathan had watched her, not calming until she was out of sight. She was only a small thing, her fiery red hair being the brightest thing about her. Jace watched her now as she sat on a bar stool talking to a tall boy with glasses. She seemed to be slightly drunk, leaning on him for support.
Jace leaned away from Raphael and towards his siblings.
"I don't know why Jon left so soon, but I'm going to find out" Jace pointed towards the bar at the girl. "Find out who she is. Everything about her."
"The red head?" Alec questioned. Jace nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I've asked you too. She spooked Jonathan enough tonight that he left, and he's never done anything like that before. So I want to know who she is. And you two will find out for me" Jace said. He leaned back serenely, sipping his drink. Whoever this girl was, Jace would find out.
"What are you going to do?" Isabelle questioned.
"I'm going to follow her" murmured Jace.
