CHAPTER 2 - TRUTH OR DARE
Her eyes followed her friend's movements with a calculating frown. Lucy was fun to be around, always the center of attention, even managing to compete with this crowd. She had an edge to her, a playful facade of irony and nonchalance, but Clary knew there was more to her than that. She was a girl with many witty and smart comments, but her intelligence didn't stop there. Lucy was smart about people and circumstances. Clary knew she didn't miss a thing, not the unusally old books strewn across the table nor the hints in the conversations or the alertness in the Shadowhunters' movements. As soon as she had the opportunity, Clary had pulled Simon aside. He was not under any circumstances, she stressed that point, to give Lucy the chance to realize he didn't have a pulse or a beating heart. That was all she needed.
Clary walked over to the table where Magnus and Alec were sitting, plopped down on an empty chair facing them both, while still being able to watch her friend.
"An interesting friend you got there, Clary."
Magnus nodded at Lucy with a playful, but scrutinizing, look.
"Yes, she is," Clary said thoughtfully. "She really is fun to be around, but sometimes I fear she's to smart for her own good. That's actually something I came to warn you about."
She gave him a level look.
"She picks up on things. Hints in conversations, surroundings and body language. I'm sure she's already noticed these aren't your usual old books."
Clary glanced at the table filled with ancient books and parchments. She closed a book with elegant writing and symbols, while making sure it was the only one left open.
Clary met Alec's eyes. "I'm pretty sure she knows there is more to you than meets the eye. Your concealed weapons are a dead giveaway. And," her eyes cought Jace's across the room, "she probably already knows we're dating, even though I haven't told her anything about Jace yet. If I know her as well as I think I do, then I guess she finds you puzzling. A conundrum she wants to solve."
Magnus' amusement dwindled while Clary spoke, and he watched Lucy more carefully. Clary's friend was a mundane, an interesting one he had to admit, but he didn't like trouble. Something Lucy had every potential of being. On the other hand she definitely lightened the mood and had the ability to hold truly entertaining conversations. Magnus had lived for centuries, and was usually good at reading people, but there was something about this friend of Clary's he couldn't decipher. Something besides her cheerfulness and wits. An undercurrent in her whole being.
Almost as if knowing, Clary answered Magnus' thoughts. "She has a difficult past, one she hasn't told me much about." She glanced at Magnus with a sad expression. "In some ways she has a lot in common with all of us."
An enthusiastic voice broke through their reverie.
"Clary, why don't you guys come over here? I just started telling them about New Years Eve."
Clary looked at her friend with growing dread, and let her head tump at the table dejectedly.
She slowly raised her head and met Magnus' and Alec's surprised faces, smiling faintly. "Oh, this has the potential of becoming utterly embarrassing."
She knew exactly what Lucy was talking about. This night was suddenly becoming a little too interesting. Lucy always knew how to make her smile, laugh and as uncomfortable as possible. Meeting her impending doom, she rose from the chair and chuckled slightly at Alec's growing tension and Magnus' questioning eyes.
"Ever heard of the game Truth or Dare?"