Secrets and Lies

The cab journey back to Institute was awkward to say the least. Alec and Isabelle kept sneaking glances at an unusually quiet Jace - thinking what might have caused his sudden change in demeanour.

Jace however was indifferent to the curious stares. His mind kept wandering to the mysterious mundane - Clary. Is she really just a mundane, or perhaps something more?

I'll find out what soon enough, then hopefully she'll stop plaguing my thoughts.

Before his brain got carried away, the cab driver pulled up to the Institute - which appeared as an old, abandoned church to the average mundane eye. In reality, it was a towering, majestic stone structure with massive spires at seemingly random intervals.

Thank you glamours!

The Institute was built on hallowed ground and is heavily warded to prevent unholy beings - generally demons and vampires - from entering. Glamours were placed upon the building to avoid prying mundie eyes - not that it's particularly needed. Only someone of Shadowhunter blood can open the large double doors of the Institute.

Jace strode towards the weapons room as soon as he entered the massive structure. All he wanted was to sleep off this whole bizarre experience. He placed his seraph blades upon the table, in the centre of the room, and proceeded to clean them of the viscous, black demon ichor.

He placed the blades away and was about to leave when Alec barged in, looking annoyed and dishevelled, with traces of food in his hair.

"Hodge wants to speak with you," he grunted.

"What happened to you?" Jace questioned, amused.

"Isabelle's cooking happened," Alec groaned. "Why she wants to attempt cooking, at 1oclock in the morning, is beyond me, but be warned, I think she poisoned it."

Jace shuddered, remembering the last time they had tried Isabelle's cooking. She may be one of the best female shadowhunters ever, but place her in front of a stove and she'll exterminate the whole New York population.

"Where is Hodge?" Jace asked.

Alec gave him a pointed look. "Where is Hodge always at?"

Jace chuckled. Should've guessed.

He made his way towards the library that Hodge seems to live in. He gently pushed the doors open. Other than the weapons room and training room, the library was Jace's favourite place. The sheer size and quantity of books never ceased to amaze him. He stopped to admire the cavernous room - the library was circular and tapered to a point - being built in a tower - with bookshelves travelling up so high that ladders, set on casters, were placed along them.

In the middle of the room was Hodge's magnificent desk, carved with a single heavy piece of oak. The wood slab was rested on the backs of two wooden angels, wings gilded - faces engraved with a permanent expression of pain.

His admiration of the room was cut short by Hodge.

"Ah Jace, have a seat."

Hodge Starkweather appeared from the shadows, gesturing to one of the seats in front of his desk. He was a thin, gangly man - hair streaked with grey - with a thick scar on the right side of his face. He was wearing one of his usual tweed suits, despite it being so early in the morning.

Does he ever sleep?

Hodge was a man that spent most of his time learning and reading - a true man of intellect.

"I assume Alec or Isabelle told you what happened at Pandemonium," Jace determined.

"Yes, Alec did, but I wanted to talk about it with you. Alec said that the mundane—"

"Clary," Jace interrupted.

"Yes, Clary. Anyway, he said that she could see you all. Are you sure you used the glamour properly?" Hodge inquired, eyebrows furrowing.

"None of the other mundanes could see us, so yes, we used them properly," Jace retorted, growing slightly frustrated.

"Hmm, maybe some sort of Downworlder" Hodge muttered to himself.

"She seems to have no knowledge of the Shadow World," Jace added.

Hodge seemed to process the situation. "Okay Jace, tomorrow, I want you to find her and bring her in. I want to talk to her."

Jace nodded and slowly walked out of the library. At least tomorrow, he'd be able to solve the enigma that was Clary. And if he didn't? Well, then he'd try harder until he got to the truth. There's nothing like an unfinished mystery to keep you awake at night.

He went into his neat, monk-like bedroom, hopefully being able to catch some sleep before he went out to find Clary.

Jace stripped off his gear and quickly chucked on loose black pyjama bottoms and a white short-sleeved T-shirt. He threw himself onto the bed and under the covers - red hair and green eyes, in his mind, as he drifted off into an oblivion of dreams.

~~~Secrets and Lies~~~

Jace woke a few hours later, mildly refreshed. He quickly dressed in his trademark black clothes and grabbed his blades from the weapons room, before wandering through the Institute.

As he drew closer to the kitchen door he could hear sounds of yelling. Pausing slightly, he pushed the door open.

Alec and Isabelle had been in the middle of an intense debate when Jace came in.

"... is perfectly edible," Isabelle growled, setting a plate of scrambled eggs before Alec.

"Even Church shys away from your food, and he has a stomach of steel. Doesn't that tell you something?" Alec retorted, grimacing at the burnt food in front of him.

Isabelle turned to glare at him.

She was about reply with a string of profanities, when Jace decided to intervene.

"You know Iz, Alec has a point. But if it's any consolation, Alec's cooking isn't much better," he said.

Alec scoffed in disagreement, muttering under his breath.

"Anyway, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have somewhere to be," Jace declared.

This made Alec and Isabelle look up, surprised.

"Since when do you have 'somewhere to be'?" Isabelle jibed. "You never go out, especially not where there's mundanes."

"Since now," Jace grunted.

Isabelle and Alec's words seemed to trip over eachother.

"But-"
"Where are you-"

"Enough!" Jace interjected. "Hodge gave me a task to do. That's all I'm telling you."

Jace knew that they wouldn't be happy with him bringing Clary to the Institute, especially Isabelle - so he'd decided to keep quiet about it until it was necessary.

Alec and Isabelle looked like they wanted to argue, but said nothing.

Jace sauntered out of the kitchen, relieved.

Finally free from the Spanish Inquisition!

I hope you liked this so far. Sorry this chapter is short. Constructive criticism is much appreciated... Tell me if I am doing something wrong please.

Also please check out Cashing In A Promise by Brooke Bindon

It's an amazing story so yeah, please read aha. Goodnight, love yaaaa!

-Jess xo