Chapter 4: Words, Sticks and Stones

"Clary, I can explain..." Jace said awkwardly, as Clary gave him the stink eye. Her glare burned him in an uncomfortable way.

"It's not that simple. You didn't forget my birthday or cheat on me. Not with another girl anyway. You cheated on me with my brother." Clary spat.

"I didn't cheat on you. I didn't choose him over you. He chose for me." Jace pleaded.

"Oh yes, the things I do for love." Sebastian smiled.

"Okay, if we are going to talk and talk and talk, lets get things straight. Am I your prisoner, or am I free to go?" Clary asked.

"Lets go with the ladder." Sebastian looked thoughtful. "But I will offer you a choice."

"A choice?" Jace interrupted. "You never thought about giving her a choice." But as Jace thought about it, Sebastian had never thought about Clary, not until she'd walked in the door.

"What are my opinions?" Clary gulped. Talking to Jace, even for that just a moment, Clary had felt safe. No matter what they spoke of, his voice soothed her. Slowly her bravery was melting.

"Death and Alliance." Sebastian grinned even wider. "Death is self explanatory. Alliance is a willingness to work for me. Consider it a job offer. President of Human Relations. You will be a spy, a communicator, and a loyal worker."

"And if I chose death?" Clary teased, pretending not to be scared out of her mind.

Jace looked from Clary and Sebastian, with a stricken expression on his face. "Clary!"

"Tisk, tisk. Little sister, is working for me such a horrid idea."

"Pretty much." Clary said in the smart alecky tone she used to use with her mother.

"Fine. The chose of death has a simple yet diasterous outcome. Wait for it. Wait for it... you die. Slow and and ainful, while he watchs." Sebastian didn't need to say his name. Clary knew who he meant.

"If I join you will Simon be safe? And Isabelle, Alec, Mom, Magnus, Luke and Maia? Will you keep those people I care about safe? Will you keep Jace safe?" She looked right into Sebastian's big, black, emotionless eyes. "Or will you take care of them like you took care of Max?"

"If I had a list of everyone you didn't want me to kill, well them I wouldn't be able to have any fun." Sebastian whined, almost like a small child. "How about we treat this like a real job. The more you work, the more benefits you get. For now chose...four people for me not to kill. If I am satisfied with your work I will give you more slots."

Clary's heart skipped a beat. She had not expected him to take her seriously. She decided to play it cool. "And salary?"

"I see. Will a dollar a day keep the doctor away?"

"I don't want your money."

"Then what?"

"Time."

"I do not control time, little sister."

"I want time with Jace." Clary hoped with all her heart that Sebastain would grant her this one last thing.

"You're having time with Jace right know." Sebastian glanced at Jace, who seemed to be lost for words. A very unusual thing for Jace.

"Alone." Clary hissed.

"Fine."

"Shake on it." Clary held her hand out, unwilingly.

"Pinky swear?" Sebastian teased. "Welcome to the dark side."

Sebastian wheeled around and said, "Go at it love birds."

And almost as if he had broken from a curse, Jace ran at her. He surrounded her in his big, muscular arms, and kissed her full on the mouth. Then in her ear he whispered, "Run."