Sorry the updates have slowed, but I've been pretty busy with college. I'm still trying to find time to write and it can be difficult to get my mind settled on where to go next. I've hit a little snag later on in the story that I am currently attempting to work out. I see a lot of people have added the story to their watch lists and I appreciate that. Thank you! I would really appreciate it if everyone who likes what they see could take the time to leave a review and give me some of your feedback. Reviews are like chocolate- I just can't go on without them. Plus, I could use the inspiration to help me press on with the story. :) Thanks!

Chapter 3: The Angel Lesson

The cold winter air blew Clary's thick curls back away from her face. She rushed along the street having just left the subway. The cold was numbing and it was almost refreshing for her.

She had barely slept last night and was now running late for her lesson with Maryse at the Institute. She knew the older woman would not be too happy about having to wait for her.

Her phone rang shrilly in her coat pocket. She was going to ignore it, but she worried it would be Isabelle wondering what was keeping her from the lesson with her mother.

Clary looked at the display and saw it was Simon. She bit her lip deciding whether she had the time to take the call with the Institute not far away. Realizing it was mid-morning and Simon should be in class made her answer. "Simon? Why aren't you in class?"

"Well- hello to you too Fray," his reply came back.

"It's not Fray anymore remember?" she frowned. When he didn't respond she changed her tone. "Hello, Simon." She paused. "Why aren't you in class?"

Simon chuckled. "Boy nothing gets by you Shadowhunters eh?" he paused. "Relax, I didn't kill anyone- I skipped gym. Did you know vampires have heightened sense of smell? I couldn't stand another day of overbearing sweat and gym socks. Yuck."

Clary smiled despite his early sarcasm. She remembered how bad it was to the normal, human scent. "You gotta love those olfactory senses, huh?"

"Now, how come you're not in class?" Simon turned the tables.

"If you knew I was supposed to be training with Maryse why are you calling me?" she countered.

"You have been hanging out with Wayland too much. Since when do you answer questions with questions?" Simon trumped.

Clary smiled, fighting back a laugh. Leave it to Simon to make her laugh. "That's Lightwood, or Herondale, Simon. You really need to catch up don't you? And I'm on my way to meet Maryse. I am running late."

"Ever punctual Clary," he replied chuckling. "Well, I was bored since I skipped. I thought I'd see if you could too and we could veg out and watch some TV today."

Clary warmed at the thought. A nice, normal day would be just lovely. "Sorry Simon. I can't. Maybe over the weekend?"

"Sure. No problem," he answered.

"How's the whole school thing going- with you know the whole vampire thing?" she almost hated to ask. She felt twinges of guilt with each footstep that brought her closer to the Institute. If it weren't for her…

"Not bad considering. I don't really feel the need to eat anyone until they pick on me. Do you know how awful it is to have such great power and have to be responsible about it?" he sighed dramatically.

"I'm sure Spider-Man could understand your predicament better than me," She answered jokingly. Yet, she knew what it was like. She had the power and didn't want the responsibility so much. Well- she did, but she just felt didn't think the responsibility wanted her!

"Yeah, I guess so. All right, well call me later ok? We can make plans for the weekend," Simon said.

"Ok. Bye Simon," she replied, snapping her phone shut as she reached the doors of the Institute.

Clary rushed down the hall in a flurry of flying red hair and black coat as she attempted to take the coat off amidst her rush. She collided into a solid mass when she looked down to see she dropped her phone.

"You have a death wish, don't you? It's a bad idea to keep Maryse waiting in case you were wondering."

Her head snapped up quickly to see Jace standing before her with a smirk and his arms crossed across his chest.

She couldn't help but smile at him despite his question as she scooped her phone up. "Lately, it seems so."

He relaxed his stance immediately hearing the tension in her voice. "Hey, you ok?" he reached out a hand to her shoulder.

All the cold drained her body at his simplest touch. She nodded at him. "Yeah, just running late. And you're making me later!" she accused half-heartedly. She was over the moon to see him standing before her.

He swooped in, arms going around her quickly. "How bout I make you even later?" he raised his brows accusingly. "I can keep you entertained for hours…" he implied, voice growing deeper as his eyes darkened with desire.

Clary was glad her cheeks were already flushed from the cold. Somehow she knew they were getting even a darker red shade. "Jace…." She whispered, eyes going wide. "As much as I like the sound of that, I really-"

He silenced her with a kiss, lips colliding into hers.

Sparks of heat exploded, coursing throughout her body. It sent jolts of energy into her limbs. She felt her legs wobble and she dropped her belongings to the floor so she could embrace him. She kissed him back, losing herself in his ministrations.

His hands weaved into her sweater, finding the hem and working their way under to find her cool skin. She was cold to the touch but so soft and he felt relief, needing to touch her. Her cool, winter skin calmed the pressure of heat inside him bursting to be free.

She froze up as his hot fingers found her skin. It was like being caressed by fire as he gripped her sides, the intensity of his hold changing as she returned his kisses.

A throat cleared loudly, echoing off the hallway's walls.

She jumped away from Jace- an instinctive reaction she was used to from weeks of feeling shamed at being intimate with someone who was thought to be her brother. She straightened her purple sweater before Jace stepped out of the way, revealing Maryse standing ahead of them with a disciplined look and an authoritative stance, arms crossed.

"I don't think that defense will work on your enemy, Clary. I hope Jace hasn't been teaching you those moves in your workouts?" Maryse raised her brows accusingly.

Jace snorted with a chuckle.

Clary elbowed him sharply.

He let out a breath as an elbow connected with his ribs. "Ow, good one…"

Clary was surprised she had caught him at all and couldn't help the grin of satisfaction from creeping up on her lips until she felt Maryse's disapproving glare on her. Her smile quickly faded and she picked her coat and phone up from the floor at her feet. "Sorry Mrs. Lightwood. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." She apologized.

"That's all right Clary," she nodded in acceptance but remained stern. "I know it's not like you. However, it is like my son-" Maryse turned her stern glare to Jace. "To be… so… disobedient."

Clary had enough sense to know when she was being disciplined.

Jace, on the other hand, did not. His smile grew wide and he nodded in agreement with his surrogate mother. "Sorry. Some things just won't change."

Maryse couldn't help but smile. It was becoming infectious. She still managed to hold her glare at her son, but her eyes sparkled with affection for him. "Isabelle's making lunch in the kitchen. Perhaps you'd like to give her a hand?"

Jace's smile died quickly. "I said I was sorry!"

"And now you will be," Maryse chuckled, reaching out to put her arm around Clary, steering her away from Jace.

They continued down the hallway leaving Jace behind, gaping in shock before he stomped and walked off towards the kitchen.

"Don't worry, Isabelle's actually out shopping," Maryse squeezed Clary's shoulder affectionately as they walked into the study.

Clary chuckled, sinking into the chair where she would study with Maryse about Shadowhunter history.

"I'm glad you make him happy, Clary. It is nice to see Jace in a way I always knew he could be. I thank you for that," Maryse said.

Clary was taken aback, not expecting this. She didn't know what to say.

"However, we must remember to remain appropriate in the hallways," she chided. "As difficult as Jace can make it."

She gave a crooked smile. Oh how difficult he made it!

"Well, now. We have some catching up to do. I thought today we could begin discussing the history of the Angel Raziel," Maryse sat down beside her, book in hand.

Clary tensed, throat dry. "What else do I need to know about him? I mean… for the sake of sounding rude Mrs. Lightwood… we've met."

Maryse patted her hand affectionately. "I know this could be a sore subject Clary, but it is necessary for you to know all you can. Raziel is not the only Angel and it is important you are familiar with them. You need to know more than just their names. We don't name our seraph blades after them just for show. I think it is especially important for you, considering your ability… your gift from the Angel."

Clary's thought went immediately to Jace. She knew that was not what Maryse meant; she was speaking of her ability to draw runes. But, she immediately thought of Jace and Lake Lyn… Valentine… killing Jace…

She blinked rapidly, inhaling deeply. She wiped at her eyes. "Ok, I understand."

Maryse saw the swift change in her. She frowned, knowing how horrible she felt. She had been victim of Valentine's destruction too. Her whole family had… Her baby was gone because of him. Maryse felt the anger building in her chest and she willed it away. She had to remain composed. There was so much to teach Clary and she had to see it was done right before the Clave came sniffing around her and her abilities. She opened the book in her lap and handed it to Clary. "We'll start with Raziel, but there are other Angels, and we are blessed if we have been in contact with them- as you and Jace have."

Clary nodded, staring at the page and the vibrant picture she had seen what seemed a thousand times now- the Angel rising from the lake, sword and cup in hand. The picture was bright and colorful, the sun rising in the background of Lake Lyn, sending blinding rays of light out across the sky. Raziel glowed with his own light, bright and effervescent, radiating off of his golden Marked skin and his stretched out golden wings. A sense of sickness came over Clary. She stared hard at the picture while her mind buzzed, trying to make her remember something. She looked away quickly, the pain of remembering what happened to Jace too raw, too fresh. She tuned into Maryse's voice telling her of other Angels- ones not present during the death and rebirth of the man she loved.

tbc…