Chapter 4

6 months later, only Alec is 18, everyone else is still 17.

"Dammit Clarissa! Focus." Jace growled in frustration. They had been training together for months now and Clary was getting on his last nerve. She was good in a fight, he wouldn't deny that, but she never put herself into it entirely. She wouldn't break into the epiphany of battle where everything slows and adrenaline flows.

"Do you even know the meaning of the word Jace? What on earth do you think I'm trying to do here?" She growled back, pulling herself up. Training hasn't been easy for the two, their mutual hatred for each other growing every second.

"I don't even know anymore. Amuse yourself for the rest of training, I am done with this." He walked out angrily but Clary couldn't help notice the sexy way his muscles moved under his thin t-shirt. Hold on, sexy? Jace didn't do sexy, he did arrogant and infuriating and sarcastic and condescending, not sexy.

"Oh come on! One more shot Jace." She yelled after him, knowing Maryse would take it out on her if he lost his temper.

"Only if you focus. Concentrate your mind on my every move, my every expression. Let your senses be your guide not your head. Go!" Their sparring match began, both were unarmed trying to knock the other off balance.

Clary fought to concentrate her senses but kept getting distracted by the way his tousled golden hair always sat in a way that made it look perfect. Shaking her head of the thought she moved Jace from her mind and focused on the being before her. She was under attack, unarmed and alone. The attacker began to move for her but Clary wasn't worried. Everything around her slowed and she was filled with feelings of ecstasy. She easily dodged the attack and landed one of her own. She struck at Jace's lower back, hoping to hit one of his kidneys. Before he could perch for a second move she whipped her leg out and kicked out with enough force to knock his out from under him. Pinning his arms above his head perching so one knee was at his crotch and the other was crushing his chest with her weight Clary glanced down at her trainer. His face filled with surprise and for a moment, a small moment, pride.
"Feels good doesn't it, the high of battle?" He asked, knowing from her face there was still adrenaline lingering in her system.

"Good is a understatement used by people who have lost their ability to think of words. There aren't words for what I feel right now." She rebalanced herself so that her weight was no longer in danger of making Jace sterile and stood up.
"Wait till your first orgasm, it's the high of battle with out the danger." He grinned and ducked out of the way before she kicked his genitals.

"Temper, temper Firefly, it's only the truth." Clary scoffed and turned to head back to her room and take a shower. "Oh and Firefly? We're going out tonight, Isabelle wants you at 7 and," he added sarcastically, complete with arm gestures and all, "'if you're even a second late she will lock you out and you will have to manage to be beautiful on your own because her time is precious'" Clary laughed and continued out of the room.

7 came around fairly quickly and Clary found herself forced into Isabelle's bathroom with a bundle of clothes to put on. Tonight's ensemble consisted of a black pencil skirt, the shadowhunter colour pallet is a little limited, matching black boots with a 5" heel and a white, one shouldered blouse. She had no idea where her weapons were supposed to hide but at least the outfit combined the best parts of sexy and classy. Braving the wrath of Isabelle Lightwood, Clary made her way back into the pink and black room of her fashion nightmares.

"Ooh I like it, Clare-bear. You are going to stop the room tonight!" Isabelle giggled approvingly. "You know the drill. Sit, shut your eyes and shut up. You'll be beautified in no time." Clary spaced out for most of the make up process leaving Isabelle to flutter around with her various powders and brushes. "What do you think?" She asked and spun Clary to face the mirror. As usual Clary was amazed, Isabelle managed to transform the faded circles under her eyes and the millions of freckled that dotted her face creamy and smooth. Her cheeks had just the right shade of peachy blush, her lips in a tempting shade of plum and her frizzy curls were smoothed into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. Clary didn't look like a demon hunter, she looked like a man hunter. She looked sexy and for the first time, like a woman. In the past few months her chest had begun to grow in and her hips began to grow out and in Isabelle's ensemble they stood out, she looked petite but god she was curvy. The skirt cinched in her waist and the slight puff to the blouse made her chest stand out a little more. Isabelle was a worker of miracles.

"So Iz, where am I meant to keep weapons tonight? You haven't left me many options girl." Clary asked hesitantly. She was hoping Isabelle wasn't about to break out the thigh sheaths and magic bra sheaths. Isabelle looked up and saw Clary's worried expression and laughed.
"Weapons? Didn't anyone tell you? Tonight isn't for hunting, tonight is for some good old fun. A seraph or two and a stele in your boots will be more than enough." Clary wasn't sure whether to relax or tense more. Fun night out, dressed extremely sexy, with the wondrous Isabelle. What could go wrong?

"Fun huh? You aren't going to pimp me out or try set me up are you?"

"God no Clare! We are going dancing and drinking, if you want to hook up go for it. Tonight is just a night off from hunting, studying and training now suck it up and lets go meet the boys." Isabelle pulled Clary from the vanity and out the door. Clary wondered when she had found time to get herself ready since most of the night she had spent flitting around and making sure Clary was ready.

"Firefly and Beauty Queen, nice of you to join us. I think you made it out in record time." Jace mused, he glanced over at Clary but quickly moved his attention to Isabelle and the two were off into their own world. Clary couldn't help notice how he seemed to glow gold, from his dark golden hair to his golden tan to his liquid gold eyes, Jace was actually golden. Clary had only called him golden boy to mess with him, but Adonis was actually pure gold. His colouring wasn't the only think Clary noticed. She watched the way he moved with a grace she could never even hope to master. Every movement was purposeful, incredibly smooth and filled to the brim with sexiness. A cough broke into her daydream and Clary turned to face a preoccupied Magnus and Alec who was sporting an extremely amused look. Clary blushed and followed the others out the door.

After what could have passed for an awkward eternity the group made their way through the doors of a downworlder club Clary couldn't name. The boys all headed for the bar but Isabelle dragged out Clary to the dance floor. The two danced for what felt like hours, eventually Isabelle caught the eye of a fairly attractive werewolf and Clary made her way to the bar. A few shots in and Clary began to feel the buzz of the alcohol pulsing through her, she felt warmth spread throughout her body and something bubbling in her stomach. She got down from the bar and headed towards the bathroom. Stopping at the sink next to the wall, she looked up into the mirror and noticed Isabelle's handiwork had become a little smudged and the eyeliner was clumping on her lower lash line. Clary sighed and moved to fix what she could but a giggle from the stall behind her caught her attention. Clary cleared her throat so the mischievous duo would get the hint that they were no longer alone. Clary continued to fix her makeup when the couple interrupted again, this time by opening the door and coming out. Clary was faced with man zipping up his pants wearing a smug look on a very familiar face and an impish girl pulling her dress down. Clary stared with an open mouth at Jace, completely ignoring the girl rushing out of the bathroom.
"Make up's a little crooked Firefly." He grinned his signature look and walked back out to the club. For a moment she stood frozen, analysing the scene that just took place before her. After a few minutes Clary's breathing became more erratic and she slumped down against the wall. She felt her body become lighter and felt a numbness overcome her. All of her nerves began to tingle and Clary started to tremble. She sat there for a while, lost in her own panic. Why did Jace have this kind of effect on her? Why did him being around other girls make her jealous? Why on earth did she suddenly find every move he made incredibly sexy? Hundreds of questions like these flowed in and out of her mind and she felt detached from her body, that is, until an all too familiar golden voice pulled her back in. "Earth to Clarissa? Are you okay?" Jace clicked in from of her eyes a few times before Clary found the strength to push him away.
"What's the matter Jace? Never seen someone have a panic attack before?" She slowly pushed herself up from the wall and stood up. "I'm fine, totally okay." She pushed past him and tried to head back into the club.
"Actually, you aren't fine. I only came in here because you've been in here like an hour. Isabelle already left and the other two are doing god only knows what. No one stays in a scuzzy club bathroom for an hour if they're okay." Jace's eyebrow furrowed slightly.

"It shouldn't have been an hour, they don't last that long. I'm fine now I just need some sleep. You head back out and do what ever it was that I interrupted. I'm heading home." Clary walked slowly out of the bathroom but glamoured herself and began running once she left the club. It was only about 10 minutes before she made it to the institute and Clary headed straight for her bedroom. She shut the door quietly and carved soundless and locking runes all over the frame. Before long she was slumped on the ground and another wave of panic flowed over her. When it subsided enough she stripped off her clothes, threw on an old t-shirt and climbed under the covers doing her best not to let the tears threatening the back of her eyes fall.