Don't hate me. Please. I feel terrible.

Never Let Me Go.

Chapter 4.

"Why don't you come through to the living room?" Maryse asked timidly, running over to the door in that way that only people who are desperately trying not to look like they are, do.

"I do believe that an adult conversation is in order, Isabelle, Alexander, Jonathan, show Bradley to his room, I am sure he would like the opportunity to unpack, and then perhaps a session in the sparring room would do you all some good" Robert decided, not sparing his children a glance as he swept through the door that his wife held open.

He was quickly followed by Veronica and Petulia, with Maryse throwing one last look of sympathy back at her children before snapping the door shut behind them.

"All right then, let's get this over with," sighed Jace, pushing himself off from the wall to stand shoulder to shoulder with Izzy.

"Indeed" answered Bradley, "show me to my room, where I shall need 5 minutes to order my possessions before we adjourn to the training gym for a sparring session, where we shall discuss recent . . . developments . . . in greater depth."

Alec quickly grabbed hold of Jace's upper arm, gripping just as hard as he was Magnus' hand. Bradley really wasn't worth it. Besides, he hadn't technically insulted anyone yet.

Yet . . .

Alec wasn't by nature a violent person, but if Bradley did insult Magnus (or Jace or Izzy) in any way, he would floor him so fast he wouldn't be able to see for stars.

"Just follow us," Jace managed to spit past clenched teeth, wrenching his arm forcibly away from Alec and stalking away up the stairs.

In the living room . . .

. . . .

. . . .

"How was your visit to Idris Robert?"

"Adequate"

. . . .

. . . .

"And how are Bradley's studies progressing Petulia?"

"He excels."

. . . .

"I think we all know what it is we are here to discuss. Maryse, sit down next to me" said Veronica, patting the seat next to her on the sofa. "Now, we all understand what it's like, living out here in exile, away from the strength of the Clave, morals start to drift, and one can finds themselves losing touch with what is right and proper."

"But . . ." Maryse tried to protest, only to be shot down by Petulia, who had squashed up on her other side.

"It's alright Maryse, we are here now to support you in your hour of need."

"Yes. Now we have a plan of action to sort out this fiasco that is bringing a stain upon our family name, and whilst it is not entirely necessary, your compliance would be appreciated" stated Robert coldly.

Somewhere deep inside her, the headstrong, stubborn girl who had defied her parents and married who she thought was the man of her dreams was crying out with rage. How dare they treat her like this!

But like the dutiful wife she had been conditioned into after more than twenty years of joyless marriage she merely nodded for them to tell her what it was they wanted from her.

Whilst Alec, Magnus and Izzy waited outside the room for Bradley, Jace went to fetch Clary from his room. On the walk back, he dragged his feet, reluctant to rejoin the others.

"So what's the deal with this Bradley guy then? I'm guessing you don't really like him so much?"

Jace sighed, Clary must have picked up on his dismal mood; he'd been subdued all morning, so much so that he'd completely forgotten to even explain to Clary who Bradley was, besides the minimal 'Alec and Izzy's evil cousin'.

"Yeah, you'd be right there . . ."

" . . . And . . .?"

By the Angel, he might love her to bits but damn that girl was nosy. Well, if he did intend to spend the rest of his life with her, which he did, then he should probably get used to having some embarrassing conversations.

Taking her hand, he leant back against the cold stonewall of the corridor. "The first time I met Bradley, it was about six months after the Lightwoods took me in. One morning Maryse told me that Alec and Izzy's cousin Bradley was coming to stay for a few days. As he walked up the steps, I remember her trying to reassure me, saying that he was a 'nice' boy, but I just brushed her off, even though I was shaking inside.

"At first I though he was okay, he was obsessed with prizes and accolades, but then, so was I. When he said that we should have a race in the park, I was excited, Izzy never wanted to play rough, and Alec wasn't nearly as competitive as me. It started off alright, we were all fairly evenly matched, but the next thing I knew, Bradley had shoulder-barged me so hard that I fell over. By the time we got back to the institute, he had everyone convinced that it was all my fault; that I was the one who was cheating. And Petulia and Robert wouldn't even listen to Alec and Izzy's protests so he got away with it.

"Every time I've seen him since then, it's like he thinks that he's better than me, that he beat me . . . and Alec of course . . ."

"But he didn't!" Clary exclaimed, pushing on his chest, "I know that, you know that, Alec knows that, I don't get what the problem is?"

Did this girl know nothing about him?

"It's the principle. He lied about me and so far he's gone completely unpunished."

"Well then," said Clary, her emerald eyes gazing up at him mischievously, "let's see what we can do about that in the training room . . ."

They reached the closed door just in time for Clary to explain her ideas to the others before they were joined by Bradley and practically marched down to the training room.

When they got there, Bradley immediately went to the weapons rack and started to gear up. Jace was still helping Izzy with the buckles on her cuff and Magnus was doing the laces on Alec's trainers when he moved to rejoin them, suited up in coal black Shadowhunter gear – the cleanest any of them had ever seen.

But before he could get even half way across the floor, he found his path blocked by Clary. She was standing about two feet away, and she flicked her eyes up and down him before approaching, twisting her hips and all the while keeping her mascara-lined eyes locked on his. She didn't stop until she was almost pressed up right against him, when she paused for a long, drawn-out moment, before smiling and spinning around slowly, pulling her fiery tangle over her shoulder as she said "do me . . . up . . . would you?"

Slightly taken aback, but striving desperately to hide it behind layers of cocky attitude, he quickly and efficiently tugged the straps at the back of her jacket into place, his fingers occasionally brushing against her pale skin, sending exaggerated shivers down her spine. When he was finished, she span back round abruptly, giving him a dazzling smile before flouncing back to the others.

Weird. From the reports Bradley had received of the sins of the Lightwoods, one thing had seemed abundantly clear – Jonathan, or whatever his name was these days, and this Clarissa girl were very much in 'love'. So what was she playing at? Maybe everyone was wrong, maybe she was just involved with Jace because he was 'strong' and 'handsome', but as soon as someone better (himself) had come along, her affection had waned, transferring onto the clearly alpha male.

A smirk playing about the corners of his rigid mouth, Bradley swaggered over to his peers, throwing his glove at the feet of his painted jezebel of a cousin – Isabelle. Her steely gaze met his impassive look, she had none of the grace and modesty of the young women who were raised properly in Idris by traditional means, and instead of the respect and obedience he was used to, he only saw contempt and determination in her features. He would relish putting this one in her place.

As they circled each other in the sparring space, Bradley found himself facing the wall where Clary was leaning. Usually when he sparred, Bradley was entirely focused on the fight; mundanes would call him 'in the zone'. But today, he couldn't seem to get his mind off the porcelain doll that appeared to be hanging on Jonathan's every word.

By the time he was bleeding in three different places and had bruises covering a large percentage of his arms and chest, it was really starting to annoy him. But he would not give up.

After another two rounds he had managed to claw his way back to a position where he was inflicting as much injury as he was receiving, but neither of them were going to beat the other anytime soon unless he did something drastic.

But just as he was formulating a plan of attack, Jonathon leapt up onto the platform between them, calling a halt to their fight and forcing them to rest whilst he and 'Alec' took to the stage.

After them, Isabelle invited Clarissa to spar, leaving Bradley torn between disgust at the unnatural display of affection occurring between his obviously spelled cousin and that ludicrous warlock, and the satisfaction of watching an apparent rift forming in the 'perfect' couple.

Before he had arrived, everyone he had spoken to (Bradley liked to be well informed), had seemed to be of the opinion that the newly formed item were the very definition of a match made in heaven. But from his own observations, it seemed as if they were not so well suited at all.

"You should go for it." The voice sounded unexpectedly at his ear. Of course, it did not catch him off guard . . . a worthy shadowhunter was never caught off guard. But it was . . . unexpected. He turned to look at the speaker and there, completely unashamedly, was Alexander, speaking to Bradley as if he thought they were equals. Disgusting.

Swallowing his bile, Bradley answered the boy, in as scathing tones as he could manage "what are you talking about Alexander?"

"Clary. I've seen you looking at her. You should go for it. Only the other day she was telling me how he wasn't enough of a man for her." At the surprised look Bradley was unable to disguise in time, Alec chuckled, "I'm the gay best friend . . . you wouldn't understand, but trust me, she tells me everything."

With no small amount of effort, Bradley managed to keep his face impassive whilst his mind whirled. He didn't even realise when Alec retreated.

A real man.

The chance to get another thing over on Jonathan was tantalizingly close, and all he needed to do, apparently, was 'go for it'.

So how wassat ? ?

I'm really sorry for the huuuge delay, but honestly, school does have to take priority, and I have been completely snowed under :/

Now, as you guys all know, I make a point of replying to everyone who reviews publicly, so everyone can see just how amazing and appreciated you guys are, but right now I'm exhausted from writing and working, and this chapter is wayyy longer than any of the others, with or without my thankyou's!

I will thank everyone though, just next chapter, when I thank all the beautiful, sparkly people who review this stupidly long awaited for chapter!

Please review, it takes 20 seconds to do it, and it makes my world so bright!

Peace out!

Haunted Harlequin

And the next chapter wont be so long, I promise . . . .