Hey sweeties, thanks for reading my story, I'd like to thank this amazing talented friend lusifergirl45 for beta-ing me on this story, this is readable because of her ! Seriously, she is an angel from heaven, like I always say, she IS my savior!
I created a blog, to post pictures of some objects, clothes, buildings present in the chapters, I highly suggest that you give it look, there is one article for each chapter. I think it can help you the readers to have a better experience , a better vision. It's here : fanfic-illustration . blogspot . fr (without the spaces lol), you can find the link on my profil.
Chapter 2 : The beginning of her journey
It felt like she was living an actual nightmare, trapped in a tornado of questions, left in this world with nothing but lies. She felt empty and could care less about replacing the stoic look upon her face.
"Clary?!" I hear Luke's concerned voice but can't seem to make myself answer. There is a hint of hysteria creeping into his usually stable, deep voice and it just makes me feel worse.
"Can you hear me?! Are you okay?" He says the last question more as a statement. "I think you blacked out after reading the letter. How do you feel?" Luke asked concerned.
"Being "okay" is the last thing I care about right now. This letter... Luke, what is all of this?" My head was spinning with questions. "Why would I even have to forgive Mom, what did she do? And who the hell am I supposed to become? This doesn't make any sense!" she burst out. She appeared to be out of breath, but really it was as if the grief and confusion had collided and taken her breath away. She stumbled her way to the window and aggressively unhooked the rusty hinge, throwing open the old, wooden paneled glass to the brownstone. Fresh winter air burst in, caressing her face and she finally felt she was able to breathe correctly. She took a few moments to get her act together. If she was going to get her answers and be the person her mother expected her to be, she'd need to be strong, even if she felt like a mess on the inside.
"Alright." Clary took one last breath of the cold air before pulling the window back down, though not all the way closed, Luke noticed. Jocelyn does that. Did that, he corrected.
"Alright?" he asked her.
"At this point the only thing I can do is meet this women. Give me fifteen minutes, I'll get ready and meet you downstairs." she said quietly. Luke didn't miss the resolve in her voice, proud of how sure of herself Clary always seemed to be. Jocelyn had once talked to Luke about if anything ever happened to her and waved off Clary, saying that she was the strongest out of all three of them. Luke at the time had silently questioned the statement but now as he watched the 15 year old take the grief and pain in stride, he realized how right she had been.
Luke opened his mouth to talk but he must have changed his mind because he nodded and left the room. She takes her clothes off and throw them on the floor, turns around to look in the mirror and stares silently and momentarily at her birthmarks. Two parallel, thin lines were at the top of her back and despite what everyone said, she hated them. They more look like scars than anything.
She put on a beige turtleneck over the knee-length sweater dress, hoping to stay warm but also not really caring. She needed to look nice to meet this woman. At the last minute she decided on over-the-knee, black velvet stilettos boots, a black beanie with a large pom pom on the top, and her double breasted camel coat. She threw her sketchbook and pencils in her bag at the last second knowing full well she couldn't go anywhere without them. Downstairs Luke was waiting on the couch, his fingers shaking. He seemed distracted by something, but Clary wasn't sure and just pinned it on the grief and sorrow he must be feeling. Though, she had to keep swatting away a creeping suspicion that there was more to the story than just the loss of Jocelyn Fray. As soon as he heard Clary start to descend the stairs, he took a deep breath and stood up to go to the car.
A few minutes later, they crossed the McDonald's that her mother had died driving to, Clary was hit by a wave of sorrow and tears welled in her eyes. Opening the window to look elsewhere was her best option. The sky was full of clouds, a coat of dirty snow covered the road, and people were in their normal hurry and no one took the time to admire the view around them. Clary often felt like her vision of the world was completely different from others, she always saw beauty where it was less expected.
Suddenly, the jeep stops, Clary looks around and glances at Luke with an eyebrow raised, "Are we lost or out of gas?" she asked. Luke smiled and go out of the jeep, turned his head to look at clary.
"You can get out of the jeep, we arrived at our destination" he answered smiling weakly. The jeep was parked in front of a huge gothic cathedral, and Clary had to admit that the facade was outstanding. It had one tower on each side with huge spires and about fifty gargoyles in different forms and shapes. The cathedral was so tall, Clary thought it could reach the gates of heaven or whatever there was up there; religion was something unknown to her.
"Um… is this women religious or something? We are going to meet her in a church? Next time I'm opting for Java Jones" Clary said. Luke smiles at her and they walk together to the cathedral's big wooden doors. Before they reach the last step, the doors open and a middle aged women, with her hair pulled back into a severe bun looks down first at Clary then Luke.
"Hello, who are you ?" Maryse asked intrigued, and her eyes told Clary that she clearly recognized Luke if not both of them. Luke reached something from under his flannel shirt, the pendant of his necklace and revealed it to her. Clary wondered what it was but she couldn't see it from where she was standing.
"By the angel, Lucian Greymark!? It feels like I am seeing a ghost. I can't believe this. Oh no, if you are here than Jocelyn is ..." Luke nodded at her and Maryse paled, and then started crying. Clary was confused by what she called Luke. Lucian Grey what? And again, more lies she thought to herself. The women wiped her tears and looked at Clary for a few minutes like she wanted to memorize each details of their first meeting. Clary wondered if it actually was their first meeting. Nothing she thought was true was actually true anymore.
"Alright then, come in" Maryse said, moving away to let them enter. It was actually the first time Clary had visited a church. The view was more spectacular than she expected, hundreds of wooden benches were placed in the nave. The church was lightly illuminated by the stained glasses, and she couldn't quiet describe it but what she felt was so pure at that moment she wanted to cry, overwhelmed by her emotions.
"Clary, are you coming?" the redhead then realized that she was still standing in the doorway.
"Yeah, give me a second." she said joining them in the side chapel. Maryse sneaked her way behind an angel's statue and disappeared. Clary was astonished by what just happened, "Luke you saw what I saw, right?" she inquired astound.
"Yes Clary, come on, after you." Clary noticed that Luke always took the habit of standing behind her like a bodyguard or a protective father. She understood a little more why as she clumsily managed her way behind the statue and Luke followed closely behind, stabilizing her before she fell from tripping over her own two feet.
Fortunately for Clary, Luke never was too far behind. Clary missed the first step and as she was about to fall, she let out a small scream. Luke grabbed onto her in time and laughed, joking that she had two left feet.
"What the hell? Why didn't they put some bulbs or torches when there is a stone staircase? You know what, whatever, let's go." Clary huffed, tired. Maryse was waiting for them downstairs, Clary couldn't believe what she was seeing: a long and wide corridor with at least hundreds of doors and a smattering of athletic people with tattoos, going here and there, moving as silently and as smoothly as cats. Clary wondered if this was the meeting point of a sect.
"I am going to show you around, if you'll just follow me." Maryse said with a smile. Clary heard the command in her tone though and was slightly confused when Luke looked in another direction. He turned and followed where he was looking but it was too late for Clary to ask him where is was heading. She trusted him with her life so she wasn't worried to be left alone with this unknown women.
As the visit was progressing Clary was more and more fascinated by all the different elements of this place. How could a place like this be under a religious building? Clary thought to herself. However, this only lead her to more questions than answers. The redhead was lost in her thoughts again and Maryse had to clap her hands to get her attention,
"Clary, could you sit on the sofa? We must talk" Maryse requested, closing the door, Clary executed impatiently, needing answers.
