A/N

Hello again my happy readers. Pleaseeee don't behead me! So I know I said that I was going to update in a week, but I was/am in that period where homework was piling up just before school starts, so I've been a bit occupied. Anyways, thank you so much for your lovely reviews and favourites! Those meant the world to me. I love you guys so much eep! XD Stay awesome!

I don't own any of the characters, all rights go to Cassandra Clare

Okay, on with the story...

Part One: The Ghosts That We Love

I hear your singing voice in the hushed melody of the whispering trees

I see your smiling face, dancing with untamed laughter in the heart of a fire

I feel your tears dropping like pins onto my stinging skin with every storm that brews

And everything that was once home is now growing foreign

Because you are in the trees and in the fire and in the storm

Because you are the ghost that I love

Chapter One

As I took in my surroundings, I couldn't help but think about how familiar everything was. The tall tree in the middle of the field, ripe with blossoms and lush green leaves was just as I remembered it yesterday. The small lake sitting beneath it sparkled brilliantly, shining its light back to the sky. The smell of my horses lazing around in their barn not far from here was the same as it was before. There was something strange about looking at something so familiar, yet perceiving it in such an alien way. Nothing had changed about this place since yesterday, nothing except one thing.

I had changed.

Memories ran through my head, like my life was stuck on replay, leading up to one moment. I remembered everything so clearly, how the feeling of normality could change to something so horrific in just a second. That moment was the day I lost my family, my home and my life as I knew it.

"Stop it!" I screamed, desperately trying to control my breathing. My stomach ached almost unbearingly as my chest spasmed with yet another burst of laughter. A face popped up in front of me, framed with raven black hair. His lips were pulled into a crazy grin and there was a comical spark in his dark eyes.

"Jesus," Sebastian exclaimed. "I didn't think it was possible to be that ticklish."

As his poking ceased, I flopped onto the ground and sighed. This was a moment worth savouring. Sebastian had spent most of his time at the Shadowhunter Academy, and it had felt like forever since I got to hang out with my best friend. My glance shifted from Sebastian to my brother Jonathan who was currently passed out on the couch behind us, snoring softly, the corner of his mouth damp with saliva. I smirked to myself. Any third party could see that we thought of this place as a second home.

My instincts broke in, and I scrambled away, narrowly avoiding Sebastian's attempt to grab me again. I rolled to my feet, knees bent in a crouching stance. I signalled playfully with my fingers for him to come closer, then balled my fists up, shifting my weight from one foot to another.

"Cmon Verlac, what are you waiting for?" I mocked lightly. "Give it your best shot."

Sebastian laughed. "You know I don't hit girls, Morgenstern, although it's tempting with you."

A loud snort came from behind us, followed by a yawn. "As if you could take her anyways," Jon's sleepy voice said. "You're forgetting she's Valentine's daughter. No one can beat her in a spar except me," he added. I scoffed at his arrogance.

"That doesn't explain this morning," I told him.

"But it does explain the night before."

Sebastian laughed. "Go back to sleep, you big baby. Clary and I are in the middle of something."

I grinned, focusing my attention back to Sebastian, but I noticed his eyes flick from mine to the doorway behind me, a confused expression taking over his features. I turned to see what he was looking at. The sight halted me. Élodie Verlac, Sebastian's aunt, was in deep conversation with Jia Penhallow. They spoke in hushed whispers, occasionally glancing at me and Jon. I caught a few words, not enough to form a story. I frowned. Suddenly Élodie gave a sharp gasp, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth. She stared at me, her eyes full of sympathy and sadness. Her eyes filled with tears.

"What's going on?" I said, no longer able to withhold my curiosity. Silence followed. Élodie walked over to me blankly, as if she were in a trance, and wrapped her arms around me, muttering incoherently under her breath. I glanced at Jon, who looked up at me, like something dawned over him.

"No," he breathed. My breathing quickened as my mind thought of the worst.

"Élodie?" I whispered softly. "Where are my parents?" I asked, almost to scared to hear the answer.

But there was no answer.

My eyes stung with tears, turning the whites to red. I blinked them away, refusing to let them fall though. I was never one for crying. "Tears are a sign of surrender," My father's voice echoed in my head. "Morgensterns don't surrender to the enemy. We face them head on." My father is the strongest shadowhunter I know. Knew, I corrected myself. That was death, ripping the barrier of the past and present.

It wasn't uncommon for shadowhunters to die. Majority of the shadowhunter population in Idris had deceased family members, and the number was growing everyday. That was the one difference between a shadowhunter and a demon that I never truly appreciated until now. As we fought, we died. Demons did not. I never cared for that difference. I hated them for it now.

"Clary," a distant voice called out, breaking my line of depressing thoughts. I didn't have the energy to answer. I could hear footsteps approaching on the gravel near where I was seated on the grass. I groaned inwardly and looked around. My brother stopped in front of me.

"Clary, they're opening up the portal in half an hour. Jia told me to tell you that if there are any goodbyes you need to give, you should do them now. They're not allowing anyone into the gard." Half an hour… reality hit me like a stone to the face. We're leaving in half an hour… I looked up to Jon's face, awaiting my response.

"I already said my goodbyes," I lied. He looked at me sceptically.

"Did you say goodbye to Sebastian?" he asked. "You're not allowed to come back until you're eighteen, you know. That's not for another two years."

I nodded. The truth was, I didn't have any plans on coming back. This place was filled with too many memories. It was like drawing my life out on paper, and having it erased. Faded pockets of grey still haunted the page like scars. New York was like a blank sheet of paper for me to start over. I wasn't sure Jon would understand that, but I was thankful he didn't call me out on my lie.

"I'm ready. If you're ready, we can head up there now. No use hanging around right?" I said.

"Alright, let's go."

It wasn't long until we found a rhythm of comfortable silence. I flicked my gaze over the buildings as I walked by. As much as I wanted to leave, there were things here that I would miss. The view of Lake Lyn, the barnyard smell, the manor… I closed my eyes, picturing everything in my head, willing the memory to last.

We arrived at the Gard to find Maryse Lightwood and Jia talking amongst themselves, and a warlock standing off to the side, watching us approach. Glamour aside, he looked relatively human for a warlock, except for the two gleaming cat eyes staring at us unnervingly, almost as if he expected us to react in some way. I shrugged it off. As Jia caught sight of us, she ceased her talking and faced us. She tried for a smile, but her face was filled with sympathy, something I really didn't appreciate.

"Jonathan and Clarissa Morgenstern," she said. "You haven't met the head of the New York institute yet, have you?"

"Only from conversation," Jon said, glancing over at Maryse. I secretly thanked Jon for speaking for me. My voice felt choked up in my throat.

"Well this is Maryse Lightwood," Jia said. "She'll be your guardian until you're eighteen."

I nodded, and glanced over to the warlock. He inclined his head, making the sparkles on his face shimmer in the light.

"Magnus Bane," he said.

"Hello," I offered timidly. I frowned at my small voice. If there was one thing I didn't want to seem right now, it was weak.

"When you're ready," Jia said to the warlock. He nodded, and stepped away from us, his hands sparking with a blue light. Jia turned to me and Jon.

"I wish you all the best. Train well and make your parents proud. Hopefully I'll see you in a year or two." With that, she started down the hill. I looked at Jon, who took my hand in his. I smiled, grateful for the comfort. You okay? he mouthed to me. I nodded and turned to warlock. In front of him was a vortex of colour, swirling around, almost like liquid.

"I'll be right behind you," Maryse said. Jon let go of my hand, and walked through the portal. As I watched the portal swallow him, I took a deep breath. I turned around once more, taking in my home. I savoured the picture, before I stepped through the portal, and was enveloped in a gush of blinding colour sensations.

I hope you guys liked it! To be honest, I liked the prologue better than this one, but oh well... that means there's room for improvement. I've been told that my plots usually develop a little too fast, so I've tried to tone it down a little. I just hope it wasn't borderline dull or anything. Meh, there's a gajillion more chapters to improve XD Sooooooo... I will loosely promise you an update next week. This week for me is going to be pretty hectic with Chinese New Year and homework catch up, but I'll update as soon as humanly possible.

Happy reading!
~Hannapple3