Prologue~

The girl's small footsteps fell silently on the damp pavement. Long white blond hair flew out from behind her in pieces. Her arms pumped furiously, just barely escaping the shadow following her. Small shrieks erupted from her throat. Buildings sped by in a blur. Adrenaline electrified her body as she rounded a sharp corner into a dead-end alleyway. Eyes widening in fake terror, she realized she was "trapped". Slowly she spun around to face her pursuer. It's hot, foul breath was just inches from her face.

"Got you," it exclaimed in an odd clicking language. The thing didn't see the two other shapes creeping up behind it until it was too late.

As the life slowly, painfully bled out of it's almost motionless body, it moaned out one last question. "What are you?"

Grinning wildly the not so helpless blond replied, "We're the Fallen."

Chapter 1- The Smoke Before The Fire ~ Clary's PoV

The excitement in Jace's voice was evident, "This is going to be great!" He was acting like a little kid going to the fair or the first time. Clary giggled at the face he was making; he reached down and tugged at her sleeve dragging her down the Institute's hallway. She just rolled her eyes and smiled, she loved seeing him like this. Isabelle appeared from her bedroom pulling on a black glove, trying to fit a seraph blade into it.

Lifting her head when she saw Clary, she beckoned her over, "Before we head out you have to do me a big favor." Izzy stated.

"Okay, I guess." She replied hesitantly, because you just never know with Iz.

"Don't die." She smiled at her looking way to cheerfully.

"Umm I'll do my best?" It came out more like a question.

"Psh you'll do fine. Its not like Jace would let anything happen anyway." With that she turned and strode off toward the weapons room. Clary sighed good naturedly and followed her in.

Jace's eyes lit up as they began choosing weapons. This was his world. Expertly he began going through the dagger collection and tossed three to Clary, who just barely caught them. Fake glaring at him she stuffed two down her thigh-high leather boots and the other up the sleeve of her tight black jacket. Clary added a handful of switchblades in various other hidden pockets and grabbed her belt. Snapping it to her waist, she deposited four seraph blades, two other daggers, her sensor and stele, into the assortment of compartments. Clary looked up to find that at some point Alec, Isabelle's brother and the fourth member of their team had joined them and everyone was fully armed and waiting on her.

"Finally done?" Isabelle asked, eyebrows raised.

"By the Angel guys, not everyone's been doing this since they were old enough to walk!" She huffed indignantly. Without replying, Jace chuckled and grinned wicked,

"Come on guys. We've got some demon butts to kick."