Hello reader, my story is a Mortal Instruments fan fiction, one version that contains all of them as normal, human people. Of course, knowing Jace and Clary they don't exactly blend in even though they're not shadow hunters in this story. The "normal" versions of them aren't that bad…especially when they have a little twist. Disclaimer: All characters, names of organizations and settings belong to Cassandra Clare. The plot is mine.

It was just another mission for Jace Wayland-nothing he couldn't handle. Protect Clarissa Fray and make sure the Clave doesn't get her. But little does he know that Clary has her own agenda as well….

Chapter One

I had to say that I was surprised when I was called into the office. That wasn't to say that I wasn't liked- everyone liked me, I'm sure but there were those who simply refused to cave and Valentine Morgenstern was one of them. The room had the lovely, always present, metallic smell of the pollution coming from the East River. It had always amazed me of the obliviousness of people going on with their mundane lives. They never seemed to notice the figures, clad in the traditional Circle uniform of all black slinking into alleyways or hanging in the corner at bars-watching and maintaining order. Order is everything and we-The Circle keep it.

The Central is located along the East River; bordering Chinatown so take-out was a common thing around here. It's a large gray, bricked building covered with green nets thrown carelessly over the sides because it was "under construction." It's been in construction for over twenty years but that's because the Circle's chummy with its politicians, you see, when your entire business, job and life revolves around taking out targets, you tend to want to be friendly with the powerful people.

I winked at the Kaelie-Valentine's receptionist as I sauntered in and she giggled. My lips curved into a small smile as I reached to the door. I ran my fingers through my blonde hair and tried to keep my face impassive. It was always a struggle not to when I got my missions but now with Valentine- the head of the Council of the Circle requesting me? Could my life get any weirder? Sebastian was already lounging on one of the seats when I walked in. He lifted his dark eyes and smirked as I took my seat next to him. Cocky bastard, I thought but then struggled not to grin as I thought about who exactly I was talking about. Valentine was leaning in his ridiculously overstuffed armchair as he gazed at us impassively across the wooden desk. The sun steamed through the open window casting dust into the air and landing on his silver hair highlighting face. There was a scuffle as Hodge Starkweather- Valentine's personal assistant, ass kisser and ego booster cleared his throat and shifted his notepad to his other hand.

"Herondale, you're late." He snapped. I shrugged.

"Fashionably late." I corrected. Hodge rolled his eyes as Valentine raised his eyebrows at me.

"Exactly like Stephan…" He murmured thoughtfully. I bit back the slight clench in my stomach at the mention of my "father" as I struggled to keep my façade.

"Why are we here?" Sebastian asked. I never thought this would happen but- I was actually thankful towards him. Hodge stepped up and gave us the common manila folders. I flipped mine open.

Case: 66307

Operative on task: Jonathon Christopher Herondale

Additional Operatives: Sebastian Verlak

Status: Field Agent: Guardian

It was there that I stopped reading. There were two types of field agents- the hunters and the guardians. The hunters are those who eliminate targets-important ones from at an angle or close enough to stick a knife in their stomachs. But as much as the Circle loved bloodshed, with the killing we also had to protect certain people too, mostly the people who pay us the most and the occasional president or senator. That is left to the guardians. I was not a guardian. I was trained to be a hunter that was all I ever was and that was all I was ever told to be. I raised an eyebrow as I glanced at Valentine. He was staring at me with a hard look in his eye.

Herondale I know that you are qualified only as a hunter and trust me I wouldn't ask you if I could avoid it." I fought a smirk right there. "But the person that you are protecting serves as a great asset to this company and your skills are needed." My curiosity was peaked as I flipped the page up to find my subject. There was a photo clipped to the page as I took it. It was a photo of a girl, completely unaware of the camera. She was strolling down the street with a bag in hand juggling a large, white tube of paper. She was fairly pretty with bright red hair and green eyes that was squinting at a sign.

Subject: Clarissa Fray (Fairchild)

Description: Hair color: Red

Eye color: Green

Height: 5'

Age: 16

Birthday: August 14, 1995

Current Address: 29 Spring Street Apt. 17 New York NY 10002

Mother: Jocelyn Fray (Fairchild) (Missing)

Father: John Clark (Deceased)

Mission Objective: Jocelyn Fray has recently gone missing without a trace after discovering some incriminating evidence against the Clave. Your objective is to locate and protect her daughter, Clarissa Fray long enough so that she can testify against the Clave.

So that's what it was about-going against the Clave. The Clave was the Circle's biggest competitor and enemy. While we specialize in hunters, they're more stocked in defense and protection. It was like the Secret Service. I snorted.

"So you want me to protect this girl just so we can take down our biggest enemy?" I asked.

"It's more than that Herondale. This is the last standoff between everything the Clave has done and everything we have tried to prevent. Clarissa Fray is our key into bringing their operation down. Her mother would have been more direct except our spies have told us that the Circle got to her first. Your job is to keep the Circle away from her- protect her at all costs. We need her testimony." Valentine's eyes bored into my head. I closed the folder.

"I don't really do protecting…" I grinned as I saw Hodge's face turn red with anger.

"You will if you want to keep your status and lodgings here Herondale." I sighed dramatically.

"You just had to be a hard-ass didn't you Hodge?" I chuckled slightly at the ridiculous stutters that followed. "Alright, if I'm really in big demand than I supposed a change of scenery won't hurt."

"Very good and you Verlak?" Valentine's voice snapped Sebastian out of his deep reading as he fixated his gaze on Valentine.

"Yes sir." He answered.

"Excellent. You two will be sent out in the morning, here is your new address." He handed me a small slip of paper. "You're dismissed." Sebastian and I made our way to the coffee room. I stirred my usual- black with no sugar or milk.

"You know Herondale; they say the color of your coffee reflects your soul." Verlak smirked at me. I rolled my eyes but didn't take them off of the file.

"It's actually the eyes you dumbass and if it was coffee, you soul would look like the color of shit." I calmly took a sip, lifting my eyes to gaze at Verlak's highly diluted cup of coffee. I returned my focus to the picture of Clarissa Fray. She would be the girl that I was going to protect for who knows how long, the person that I was going to put my life on the line for whether she liked it or not. I stepped to the sink and poured my coffee down the drain, feeling fully awake than ever. Guardians always come back shot or dead-sacrificing their lives for their subjects even if they didn't want them to…even if they didn't know that they did. There was a fresh wave of anger and frustration that ran through me as I realized that I would be expected to do the same thing. I grabbed my coat that was hanging off of the chair. I needed to run.

"Where are you going?" Verlak asked as I pushed open the glass door. I opened my mouth to respond when a sharp call rand out.

"Verlak, here now!" Hodge barked.

"Damn…" Verlak mumbled. "This must be because I fell asleep on the patio…" When he saw my raised eyebrow he rushed on "I swear I didn't know how that chick managed to take off my clothes-"

"Good luck." I interrupted as I started down the hallway. I wasn't in the mood to listen to Verlak's stories. The cool air of the East River hit my face as I pushed open the heavy metal door. I soon fell in stride with every other runner jogging down the track along Pier 17 listening to the gentle sloshing of the river and the rhythmic clack of the cars over the F.D.R. Clarissa Fray….mother disappeared without a trace…..keep away from the Clave…. I gained speed now, hoping to leave this job behind with the rushing water.