Hello fellow nerdlings, here is the first chapter to the second part of my mortal instruments fic. First part was rather short so I'll try to make this one a bit longer. But anyway, I still don't own anything except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners.
Maryse Lightwood was not what I had pictured, to put it nicely. Her presence was cold, Jace went rigid seeing her. Nothing was like they had said it would have been, Alec and Isabelle had described their mother as someone caring but firm. She didn't seem to care at all.
"It was awesome. We saw the coolest stuff. There's this huge armory in Alicante and they took me to some of the places where they make the weapons. They showed me a new way to make seraph blades too, so they last longer, and I'm going to try to get Hodge to show me—"
My throat tightened as I watched the young boy, who couldn't be older than 9, light up and then deflate when his mother snapped.
Maryse saw his look and her lips thinned into a knifelike line. "That's enough, Max." She took her youngest son by the arm.
He craned his head to look up at her in surprise. "But I'm talking to Jace—"
"I can see that." She pushed him gently toward Isabelle. "Isabelle, Alec, take your brother to his room. Jace,"—there was a tightness in her voice when she spoke his name, as if invisible acid were drying up the syllables in her mouth—"get yourself cleaned up and meet me in the library as soon as you can. And you, come with me. Now." She wouldn't even speak my name, her eyes glaring daggers into my soul, her accusing finger beckoning me forward.
"I don't get it," said Alec, looking from his mother to Jace, and back again. "What's going on?"
Jaces' expression stayed neutral, hiding what it was impossible for him not to feel right now. "Is this about my father?"
Maryse jerked twice, as if the words "my father" had been two separate slaps. "The library," she said, through clenched teeth. "We'll discuss the matter there."
Alec said, "What happened while you were gone wasn't Jace's fault. We were all in on it. And Hodge said—"
"We'll discuss Hodge later as well." Maryse's eyes were on Max, her tone warning.
"But, Mother," Isabelle protested. "If you're going to punish Jace and Aurelia, you should punish us as well. It would only be fair. We all did exactly the same things."
"No," said Maryse, after a pause so long that we seemingly all thought perhaps she wasn't going to say anything at all. "You didn't. Now, you come with me." her tone bitter and her gaze hate filled.
"It'll be okay." Isabelle assured me although Alec didn't look comfortable with the whole situation, "She's our mom, she's probably just going to ask you some questions."
I doubted that, with a sigh I reluctantly followed their mother. "Is there something that needs to be discussed?" I questioned as politely as I could.
"I don't want you here." She said without turning to look at me. "You aren't welcome."
"Well, you don't actually have a choice. I'm a shadow hunter that needs a place to stay, you are obligated to house me. Not enjoy it." I wasn't about to let her force me out, I wouldn't let my life be torn from me again.
"I am not obligated to provide home for a child of Valentine." She hissed, "You will take your things and you will leave my home!"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said, take your things and leave. You are not welcome here. Clave members will be here tomorrow, if you are not gone by then I will have them forcibly remove you."
"What a loving woman you are" I laughed, "Alec and Isabelle were way off when they told me about you. Throwing someone out who lost their mother and brother, knowing they have nowhere to go. This is what you're going to do to Jace too, isn't it? I hope they turn on you, your children." I walked from her, letting whatever words she said become muted.
I grabbed my brothers and my duffels, throwing the clothes I had hung and folded back into it. The pictures and everything carefully placed between the soft fabric. Tears burned my eyes, my heart hammered in my throat. I had nowhere to go. My head thumped into my hands as I steadied my breathing.
My guitar was strapped behind my back, the duffels in my hands as I walked from the room. Max stood there looking as if he was about to knock on my door.
"Hey there." I sniffed, I knew my eyes were red and puffy.
"I heard my mom" his voice was soft as his arms came around my midsection. "I'm sorry"
"It'll be alright, I'll find somewhere to go eventually." I set a duffel down and hugged him too, "Can you tell Alec and Izzy so they don't call worried?"
"Yes. They're not going to be happy." He handed me the duffel I set down.
"I know, but they've become family to me. They deserve to know that I'm leaving. I just can't tell them myself."
"Alec said you were like a little sister" he noted, "I would have liked having another sister."
"I would have liked having a little brother. I have to go now, thanks for the hug."
"Bye Aurelia." He tried pronouncing my name, he rushed down the hall and started banging on the farthest door.
I didn't let Maryse take my key, my mom gave it to me and I would never give it to someone so cruel.
I had walked half way to Hotel Dumort before I gave up. I couldn't actually stay there. There was nothing for a living person, only vampires. My arms hurt from carrying the bags, I set them on a bus bench and sat between them.
I could have called Clary, maybe, but she had no real home either. She was staying with Luke until her mom woke. I didn't know Simon well enough to ask to spend the night at his place.
I was lost. I had nowhere to go.
"Hello there" a familiar voice rang out.
"Hello Magnus, Alec isn't with me. He's back at the Institute, thought you would know that." He and Alec had been 'secretly' seeing each other. Not actually dating but getting closer every day. I'm pretty sure he's had more hickies than I have by now.
"I do know, he asked me to find you. Bring you back kicking and screaming." He mused.
"Not gonna happen, their mother made her point. I'm not welcome." I huffed, rolling my eyes. My phone buzzed, a text from Clary lit the screen.
'Isabelle said Maryse threw you out. Is she serious? Come stay at Lukes' I sighed and shook my head, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
"You have friends willing to help, you wouldn't be intruding." He said as he sat next to me.
"They barely have anywhere to go, barely have somewhere. Besides, she's going to do the same thing to Jace, he should be the one staying with Clary."
"Because they're brother and sister?" amusement flittered in his voice, he was grinning much like a cat.
"They're not brother and sister. I know they're not, I can feel it. They love each other too, ya know. That's why." I sighed, "Somewhere not so deep down they both know it too, that they're not related and it's all an elaborate lie Valentine is telling them. He's just a pawn."
"You sound so sure, you've got me convinced." He stood and held out his hand, "Hand me a duffel and let's get you to my place. You can stay there until you get a place of your own, your mother had money set aside for you and your brother if something would happen to her. I have it." He admitted, I let him take a bag.
"So, you knew my mom?"
"Not as well as Jocelyn, but yes. She was a nice woman, I taught her some simple magic to help her. Jocelyn chose to wipe Clarys memory, Madeline decided to hide you two." He looked down at me, "I helped her with that."
"Well, thank you for helping her. I just wish it would have worked just a day longer." My throat dry and tight as Magnus showed me to one of the empty rooms.
"I do too but the past can't be changed, Nephilim." He seemed genuinely to agree with me, to wish the same thing. "Your boyfriend is allowed here, just so you know. Just keep it down." He switched topics, smirking and giving a wink before shutting the door.
The room seemed to change before my eyes, the walls moving and color bringing them to life. The simple wicker bed shifted and changed into something grand, the room filled with furnishing.
I should have expected this type of thing from a warlock like him.
The colors were a mix of black, white, gold, and ox blood. Marble floors swirled with gold, the walls a matte black. A white and gold vanity sat to the left of the four-poster bed, an ox blood curtain enclosing it from the outside world. Matching curtains were left open, the full-length windows showing a breathtaking view of the stars. A paneled full length mirror with golden trimmings sat in one corner, a golden folded screen beside it. In the middle of the room is simple black couch and gold trimmed glass table. Feet from that sat a Victorian black dresser, matching the nightstands on either side of the bed, a television atop it. Marbled shelves were situated around the room, each homing candles; some lit and others waiting.
A black door led to the bathroom, the same colors make their appearance in there. A claw footed bathtub and a glass paneled shower called my name. A bubble bath is what I needed.
After putting away my things I made my way back to the bathroom, the tub was filled with hot water and bubbles smelling of a mix of black berries, blackcurrant, and bergamot oil. The same as my hair washes and body wash. It calmed me and smelled like heaven.
Eventually I washed myself and let the tub drain, I wrapped a plush towel around myself and stood on the dense rug. Quickly I dressed in pajamas and made my way to the bed, my phone in hand.
On the nightstand stood a warm cup of green tea mixed with sweet honey. I was thankful for my friends, now more than ever.
'Thank you, Magnus gave me a room.' I sent it to both Clary and Alec, noticing Izzy had sent one too.
'Max told me what happened, we'll work this out I swear. Alec is so angry. Be safe until we get you back home.' I don't believe I would ever stay there again, I don't think I could.
"Aurelia" warmth seeped into me, dark eyes met mine through the dark curtains before his figure crawled onto the bed and to me. His shirt and pants discarded as he held me close. "I never did like the Nephilim." I never heard him so bitter, "Even more reason to hate them."
"They threw Jace out too, it's not just me."
"Orphaned children thrown out, one of whom I love."
"I didn't know you and Jace had something going on."
"Aurelia I will kick you from this bed so help me—" his voice faltered, he couldn't say the word. He was damned in the eyes of many.
"Ha, I bet you couldn't" I teased, as he tried I flipped onto him, now straddling his waist.
"Now this isn't fair" he smirked devilishly as he held onto my hips, his nails biting my skin. Slowly moving against me, my legs beginning to tremble.
"What was that about unfair?" it came out more as a whimper than a counter, words became lost to us soon after. His cold body shocking me to life, his lips hungrily demanding control.