Hi! I know it's taken awhile, but here's chapter 2!

A special thanks so my awesome beta, AnnaW14! Couldn't have done it without you!

Enjoy!


Chapter 2

Clary's painted fingernails drummed rhythmically against the dark wood vanity as she waited for Maryse to be done braiding her hair. Clary looked at Maryse's face through the multifaceted mirror attached to the vanity.

"Be sure to not hint at anything, Clary," said Maryse. "And be sure to be more subtle about attraction this time. Got it?"

"Yeah," said Clary. "Got it."

Maryse was preparing Clary for her third date with Alec; which was going to the Capitol building and meeting his parents. Clary was a little apprehensive about having to meet Valentine Morgenstern in person. If she was being completely honest with herself, she didn't know how she'd be able to face him with what she knew: about him kidnapping a helpless baby from his mother and father and raising him as his own.

Clary wondered if any of his four children were actually his own, or if he'd stolen them from their mothers, too.

"What's he like?" Maryse asked suddenly, pulling Clary from her thoughts.

"What?" She met Maryse's eyes for a brief second through the mirror before Maryse returned to her work.

"What is Alexander like?" She asked more quietly. Maryse finished the braid and began swirling it in a crown on the back of Clary's head and sticking pins in it; attaching the braid to her scalp.

"Um… Well first off, he likes to be called Alec," this made Maryse smile, so Clary went on. "He's always a gentleman when we're together; he opens doors for me, pushes in my chair, offers to take me home." Clary glanced at Maryse's face in the mirror again; she looked sad, but determined at the same time. "He's a good guy, Maryse," Clary gave a small smile, though Maryse wasn't looking. She had just finished pinning up Clary's hair.

"Do you want me to do your makeup?" She asked.

"Sure."

Maryse nodded, than opened the drawer to Clary's right, taking out the appropriate tools and powders.

Clary looked at herself in the dim lighting. Her hair was done; pulled back with one curl on either side of her face left out. Her freckled face lacked makeup, but Clary noticed she looked more sixteen than eighteen. She was not yet in her dress for this evening- it was on a hanger next to the vanity- she was in a light pink satin dressing gown that was borrowed from Maryse, and her bare feet fidgeted impatiently on the shag carpet beneath her.

Maryse got to work on her face.

After she'd done her makeup, Clary took the perfume bottle out. She dipped the top of the bottle over the tip of her finger before slowly dragging the line of liquid perfume down her neck.

"Sit up straight, be polite, try to get them to like you," Maryse said, looking at Clary's face as she affectionately yanked Clary's shoulders back.

Clary swallowed and nodded. Maryse was clearly nervous, and that wasn't helping Clary's frazzled nerves. Though she liked Alec well enough, she wasn't quite so partial to Valentine.

Maryse took the dress off its hanger as Clary stood up. She took the black silken dress from the older woman, sliding her hands down the sides, getting used to the thin fabric.

"Come out when you're ready, okay?" She gave a nervous smile, placing the matching sling back heels by the door as she walked out, leaving Clary all by her lonesome.

When the door shut, Clary caught her reflection in the floor length mirror. She thought, in that moment that she looked very much like a child, and almost wished to go back to that innocent state.

Without further ado, Clary slipped on the black dress and peep-toed shoes, sashaying over to the mirror to get a good look at herself. Maryse had selected this particular dress because it was attractive, but on the slightly subtler side; better for meeting the Duke of New York.

Clary took a slow, deep breath before she left the powder room.


Clary was now in the limousine Alec had sent to pick her up. She thought it smelled like designer perfume and cologne. Was this what her life would feel like if she ended up marrying Alec? Would it be dressing up daily and riding in limousines?

Clary shivered involuntarily. The truth was: Clary didn't want to marry Alec. Sure, he was a gentleman, and she was sure he would take good care of her, but Clary had always wanted to marry for love, like her mother had, and she did not love Alec. The reason she was doing this was so Maryse could get her son back.

Clary decided not to think about it anymore. She looked out the limo's tinted windows at Manhattan. It was beautiful at night; always had been. The lights that came from the cars' headlights and from the buildings lit the city as if it were day. The streets were full of taxis and expensive cars and the people who walked the sidewalks were obviously wealthy- like most of Manhattan- with their designer clothes and chins held high, as if they thought they were better than the world.

She saw a holographic add in the window of a TV store for the Bleeding Hearts charity, and shivered. Bleeding Hearts was said to give to its funds to the poor starving children of Africa, but everyone knew that Valentine Morgenstern kept all the money for himself. The only reason everyone still donated to it was because, if you didn't, bad things tended to happen to you; bad things like stolen car, or a sudden loss of employment. From the outside, the government was everything it should be: fair trials and taxation, just law enforcement, and kindness. Despite it's outward appearance, everyone knew it for what it really was: corruption and greed.

No one tried to stand up to it, in fear of the consequences. Valentine Morgenstern was a powerful man and his power was absolute, and some people were known to have disappeared when they tried.

Clary looked down at her hands in her lap to see her painted red fingernails were digging into her palms. How on earth was she going to be able to face this man, and smile and nod when he spoke?

Clary closed her eyes and reminded herself of Maryse; the woman who's taken her in and raised her after her mother had died, who'd always gotten her art supplies when she'd asked for it, who'd sang her French lullabies when she'd wake up from nightmares when she was ten. Clary was doing this for her, she reminded herself once more. She would do this so Maryse could get back her lost child.

The limousine slowed to a stop and she looked up. She had arrived.


Clary took cautious strides across the pavement, trying not to trip over her six-inch heels. She stepped carefully up the stone steps of the Gothic cathedral that was the city's Capital building: the place that housed the Duke of New York, Valentine Morgenstern, and his "family".

This evening, ice-cold rain showered down over Manhattan, drumming rhythmically on Clary's black umbrella- which matched her backless halter dress and heels.

Clary finally came to the top of the stairs, and was greeted by guards.

"State your name." One of them said, clearly not playing any games.

Clary glanced up at the security camera pointed directly at her face from above the large double doors. "Clarissa Fray," she said, trying to sound friendly, but serious at the same time. "I'm here to see Alexander Morgenstern."

The guard looked her up and down once, then went to the double doors and- with the help of another guard- opened them.

Clary nodded at them and said a brief thank you before walking in.

The massive doors shut behind her, and a servant quickly descended upon her to take her umbrella, gloves, and coat.

She saw Alec approaching from down the hall. "Clary!" he said, smiling. "I'm glad you made it. Traffic wasn't too bad I trust?"

Clary smiled warmly back at him. "It was fine, thank you."

Alec reached her, taking her hand, and kissing it lightly before releasing it. Clary then noticed something in his blue eyes that she hadn't noticed before; it was some sort of sadness, maybe a little defeat.

"You have a beautiful home," Clary said as she looked around. The front room had a very high ceiling and thin, red-carpeted floors. The walls were dark wood and had all sorts of things carved into them: angels, roses, and crosses. It was overall very impressive looking, and Clary wondered how Alec wasn't a complete snob.

"Thanks." he said, offering his arm. Clary took it gratefully, continuing to survey the area. This was the first time she'd actually had any physical contact from Alec. He was slightly warm through the gray suit jacket he wore.

He escorted her down the long hallway, lit by chandeliers that hung from the peaked ceilings.

Clary caught a few of the male servants glancing at her when they thought she wasn't looking. This only added to her air of discomfort.

They entered a sitting room where several velvet couches circled around the center of the room, sporting gothic ceilings, and a large fireplace with a warm fire crackling away.

Seated on the red couches were two young men and two young women. All four looked over at them when she and Alec entered the room, and Clary gave a small smile.

"Everyone," said Alec, "I'd like for you to meet Clarissa Fray."

"Hello!" said a dark skinned girl, standing up with the others in unison.

"These are my brothers, Sebastian and Jonathan," said Alec, gesturing to the two men as they walked over to her. "and this is Jonathan's wife, Maia." pointing to the dark skinned girl, who gave her a warm smile.

The blonde haired boy attached to Maia must have been her husband, Jonathan. He had white blonde hair, and kind, black eyes that looked Clary up and down carefully.

There was also a black haired boy, who had similar dark eyes to Jonathan, and a similar build, but other than that, the two looked nothing alike.

"Nice to meet you!" said Maia, smiling warmly.

"And this is Sebastian's fiancé, Kaelie." Alec gestured to a girl with green tinted blond hair and distractingly blue eyes.

"Hello." she said.

"Hello." Clary greeted back quietly with a small smile.

"It's lovely to meet you," said Sebastian, who- Clary noticed spoke with a light French accent.

"And you." Clary responded. She had never had many friends, so this felt unnatural.

"May I call you Clarissa?" Asked the Jonathan, blonde hair gleaming in the light.

"Clary." She corrected.

The blonde boy grinned. "Clary then."

"Where's Jace?" Asked Alec, causing Clary to look at him.

"There's another one?" Clary didn't realize she'd said it out loud until the others started laughing, and she blushed.

"I have three brothers," Said Alec.

"I haven't seen Jace." Stated the Sebastian.

"Maybe he's already in the dining room," said Maia, touching Jonathan's arm.

"Maybe," said the blonde, Jonathan. "Shall we see?"

"Please," said Kaelie. "I'm starved."


They all entered the dining room and Clary couldn't help but marvel. The room was gorgeous; possibly the most beautiful room she'd seen so far. The ceilings were high, but flat, with a Versailles-like heaven-based ceiling, complete with clouds, and angels. The walls were a red marble, with gold detailing, and on the far wall, there was a painting of the last duchess of New York, Seraphina Morgenstern, placed over a fireplace.

There was a long wooden table, matching the walls in color, and taking up most of the room, flanked on all sides by marble pillars.

"Ah," said a man, walking in from the other side of the dining room with a stunning woman on his arm. "There you are." The man had white-blonde hair combed back, and an instantly unsettling face. This was Valentine Morgenstern, the Duke of New York, the man who'd kidnapped Maryse's baby and raised him to be an heir. Clary swallowed. Clary noticed that the only semblance he shared with any of his children was Jonathan.

"Father," said Alec. "I'd like you to meet Clarissa Fray." he gestured to Clary, who had involuntarily tightened her grip on his arm.

Valentine raised a white eyebrow. "Fray?"

The eyes of the stunning woman on his arm flicked briefly to him, but then settled on Clary; her cruel green eyes burning holes in her own green eyes, or so it felt like. Her red lips curled up in one corner, amused. Clary wondered why.

"Is this your girlfriend, Alexander?" Asked Valentine, eyes looking from Clary's makeup covered face to her six-inch heels. Clary was suddenly very glad her dress covered her entire chest, or she thought she would have fainted. Somehow being more covered up was a comfort to Clary, though her bare back felt as though ice cubes were sliding down it.

"Yes." Alec said before Clary could process what he'd said in her mind, and she didn't care that he answered yes, either. She was rather glad at this point.

A small, dangerous smile came to Valentine's lips. "How lovely to meet you, Clarissa."


The dinner was a series of platters of food, passed out by the servants. Clary followed Alec's lead on which silverware to use and how to eat the particularly strange food.

They took away the plate of skewered quail eggs that Clary had only just finished and laid out white and gold plates with a strange iridescent plant covering the surface of the plate with small balls of rice with fillets of raw fish over them. Clary's eyes widened as she saw the light flickering off the leaves.

There was some conversation going on that Clary wasn't a part of around the table. Clary observed as Alec picked up a pair of silver sticks carved with a floral pattern and held both in one hand, using only his first three fingers. Clary tried to imitate the way he picked up one of the rice balls and the fillets, and ate it with one bite.

After a few tries, Clary got it into her mouth, and found she didn't care for it.

"Sorry I'm late," Someone announced as they walked in. "I was having a bit of fun." It was a man, probably only a few years older than Clary. His golden-blonde hair was slightly messy, and he had a slight stagger in his step, signifying that he was slightly drunk.

"How nice of you to join us, Jace." said Camille with an amused tone that was as smooth as the silk of her blood red, open necked dress, and probably just as cold. It carried the slightest hint of a French accent, adding to her air of exoticism. That was probably where Sebastian's came from.

"Oh, well you know me." said Jace with a smirk, taking a seat across Clary.

"You're late." Valentine stated crossly, not even glancing at his son, but rather concentrating on his own plate.

"So I am." It was then that Jace seemed to finally notice Clary. "Who's this?"

Clary was about to introduce herself, but Valentine beat her to it. "This is Clarissa Fray." he said. "She's Alec's girlfriend."

Jace's strangely amber eyes darted from Valentine, to Alec, and back to Clary. He stared at Clary for a long moment through narrowed eyes. "Are you sure this isn't another prostitute, Alec?"

Clary's mouth dropped open.

"Jace!" Valentine snapped, though he showed no embarrassment as one might in this situation.

"Jace, she wasn't a prostitute," Alec said as firmly as Valentine. "And neither is Clary."

Clary managed to close her jaw. Did he just call her… a prostitute?

Jace took a sip of his rice wine and smirked. "I see I've offended you." He said, looking amused. "My apologies, Clary."

Clary gritted her teeth as she remembered what Maryse had said. "Apology accepted." The words meant nothing.

Valentine cleared his throat and continued with what he had been talking about.

Clary turned her attention back to her seafood, and made another attempt at trying to eat with the thin silver sticks.

"Not quite what you're used to is it?" Said Jace, voice low.

Clary turned her gaze up to him, and her smoky eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?" She said more harshly than she'd intended.

"Let me guess," Jace continued, his finger drawing slow circles around the rim of his sake glass. "You're from Midtown? Somewhere nice, to your standards of course, but pitiful to mine. You don't usually get dressed up the way you do; judging by the way you keep fidgeting with your earrings, and I can tell by the way you're struggling to eat your sashimi. Am I getting close?"

Clary glared at him, mostly because he was spot on. The Lightwoods' house was in Midtown, and she barely ever dressed the way she was tonight, and yes, she had been unconsciously fiddling with the silver chandelier earrings borrowed from Isabelle, and this was the first time Clary could name what was on her plate.

An arrogant smirk came to Jace's face, and he looked pleased. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Maybe," said Clary, trying to control her anger. "But at least I have the decency to show up to dinner on time, sober, and not assume my brother's date is a whore because she happens to look nice," she spat, tone still low. The words had come out in a rush, but Clary didn't regret them.

At this, Jace's smirk dropped. "Why you little-"

"Ahem," The two were interrupted by the sound of Valentine clearing his throat. Clary then realized that everyone was staring at them, and the two had been unconsciously leaning closer to the table, as if they'd been magnets, pulling together.

Clary sat back in her seat and blushed, looking at her hands in her lap.

"Clarissa dear, how is your mother?" Camille asked suddenly, her tone making Clary uneasy.

Clary realized what she'd asked and looked up. "I'm sorry?"

"Your mother." She clarified, long black nails drumming rhythmically on the tablecloth. They were too long, Clary noticed, and too narrow at the ends. They looked more like black claws against her pale skin. "How has she been?" There was slight amusement in Camille's tone as a smile played at her lips.

Clary bit the end of her tongue; this topic could easily take a dangerous turn. "Dead."

Everyone seemed to look up at this, and Camille's fingers stopped their drumming. She looked slightly surprised. "Oh!"

"How did it happen?" Asked Valentine, sounding slightly concerned. Clary caught Camille's gaze flicker to him, but it was so brief, Clary thought she might have imagined it.

"In a car crash." she said. "When I was eight."

"I'm sorry." Alec said quietly, so no one but her seemed to hear him.

"Pity," said Camille, her drumming starting again. "I rather liked your mother."

Clary's eyes widened. "You knew her?"

The corner of Camille's red lips twitched again. "We only met once, but she was nice enough."

Valentine took a rather large sip of his sake, though Clary dismissed the action when she did the same.

"I'm sorry to hear that." said Maia, looking kind. Her dark eyes showed sympathy, and somehow Clary felt safer.

"Thank you," Was all she said for a moment, before attempting to change the topic.


"Well, it was very nice to meet you, Clary," said Maia, smiling pleasantly at her. Her lavender dress hugged her curves nicely, and went well with her skin and pinned up curls.

"It was lovely to meet you, too," Clary was surprised when Maia came in for a hug. Clary awkwardly returned her embrace. "I'm sorry about Jace." She whispered. "He didn't mean it; he's just not himself today."

Clary nodded, but didn't even consider that she would give him a second chance after he called her a whore. She'd only ever had one boyfriend, and he'd barely kissed her.

Maia released her and gave her a warm smile. "I hope to see you again soon."

Clary smiled in return. "You as well."

"We'll definitely see you soon," Camille purred. "You are going to the New Year's ball as Alec's date, aren't you?"

Clary wasn't sure what to say; she hadn't been asked.

"Um, yes," said Alec. "That is, if you want to."

Clary blinked. "Alright." How expensive would her dress for that be, she wondered?

"Well, I'll walk you to your car now," said Alec, offering his arm again.

Clary took it gratefully, wanting to leave the overwhelming environment, and Camille's somewhat cruel gaze.

"Goodnight." Said Kaelie.

"Goodbye." Said Jonathan and Sebastian in unison.

Clary had a feeling Jace would have said something arrogant if he'd come to see her off, but he hadn't.

She was glad when the late hour's icy breeze nipped at her skin; it cleared her head. She only felt warm where her fur shrug was touching, and where her arm was linked with Alec's. It had stopped raining now, and the streets were glistening with the reflection of the city lights.

"I hope they didn't scare you off," said Alec as he walked Clary down the front steps. He had a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. She noticed that when Maryse was in the mood Alec was currently in, she did the exact same thing.

She swallowed, remembering why she was here in the first place. "Of course not," she smiled.

Her and Alec paused in front of the limo and he turned to her. "Good, because I'd like to see you again." There was something in Alec's eyes: that desperation and defeat again. Clary wondered what that was about.

"I'd like that."

At first, Clary thought Alec was going to kiss her. He looked nervous, and swallowed. Then, he took a step back and bowed slightly. "Goodnight, Clary," then he walked back up the steps.

Clary blinked, staring after him. "Goodnight." Said Clary, stepping into the car and letting out a sigh of relief. She was exhausted at the late hour, and was happy to be away from that place. She reminded herself that Valentine raised each of those children; they could all be acting, manipulating her into thinking they were decent. After all, they were Morgenstern's.

Clary's mind wandered back to Jace, but Clary felt too tired to be angry. All she could think about was how he'd been watching her so closely, that he could guess everything about her. It made Clary shiver as she thought back to Jace's strangely intriguing amber eyes, and tried to shove the thought away, but truly, all she could think about was Jace.


So what did you think?

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See you soon!

-Jade