And...here we go! The next chapter! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!
He offered her a hand, which she shoved away. Her eyes blazing, she stood up, slapping him on his cheek.
So his guess had been right. She had been going to slap him. He looked at her, her eyes full of coldness and determination. With an expression of complete fury, she strode on her heel, and started to walk away.
"Clary, wait!" He called out, grabbing her shoulder. She spun around, slapping him across the face again. "Leave Jace Lightwood. Go back to where ever you came from."
"Clary, please listen."
"What is there to listen to? You promised you'd be back. You promised you'd return."
"I did come back. I'm here, aren't I?"
"After 5 years Jace!"
"I know, I know. I just couldn't face you. So I stayed away until my longing to see you got to be too much."
"Don't bother with flattery Jace." Clary spat. He sighed. "I was half-wishing you'd greet me with open arms and a kiss, but that's obviously not going to happen."
"If you seriously thought I would kiss you after all this time, you're dumber than I thought."
"I've never been accused of being smart, only brave."
"What do you want Jace?"
"I want to come back."
"It's been 5 years. You can't just waltz in and out of our lives as you please."
"I know, and I'm not going to leave again."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You don't have a reason to. I'm just asking you to give me a chance."
"You don't deserve one."
"I know that too, but I'm still asking."
"Go away Jace. Just go away, and don't come back.." Clary turned around, and ran away.
Jace watched her go, his heart sinking. But he wasn't giving up. He'd give her a couple days, then go to the Institute. Seeing something on the ground, he picked up it, realizing it was Clary's stele. And engraved on the hilt was just one word. Jace.
Clary sprinted away, her thoughts going a mile a minute. Despite what she had said, her heart soared at seeing him after all this time. But he wasn't going to stay. Why should he? Her scratched up arms were beginning to sting, but when she reached for her stele, she saw it was gone. She must have dropped it back in the alley.
Panic filled her. She couldn't let Jace see it. If he saw the hilt… She took, ignoring the dull ache in her leg, but by the time she got back to the alley, her stele was gone, Jace with it. She let out a curse, and called his name a couple of times. There was no answer.
Sighing, she turned back around, and jogged to the Institute. Alec and Isabelle were waiting, both looking irritated.
"What?" Clary spat.
"Where have you been Clary? Oh my gosh, you're injured." Isabelle gasped.
"I went for a walk and ran into a couple of demons." Alec studied her for a minute.
"No you didn't. You have fighting gear on."
"Why don't you just mind your own business?"
"Clary, why didn't you heal yourself, where's your stele?" Isabelle asked, trying to stop the oncoming fight.
"I dropped it." Clary said, her voice angry. Isabelle pulled out her stele, but Clary shoved her arm away. "Don't bother. And stay out of my life. What I do with my time is no one's business but my own." She stalked off, Alec and Isabelle looking worriedly after her. "She's worse today." Isabelle commented.
"She's always like that Isabelle."
"Not lately. She's been getting better, not so harsh and withdrawn. Something's wrong."
"Of course something is. She's been suffering from a broken heart for years now."
"It's been 5 years Alec. Do you think Jace is ever coming back?"
Alec sighed. "I don't know Isabelle. I really don't know."
Jace walked down an alley, Clary's stele in his hand. The conversation with her hadn't gone exactly as planned. But she still cared. His name on her stele was proof enough of that. He just needed to give her time.
She was shocked, surprised, maybe even a little hurt. She needed time to sort out her emotions, and Jace was more than willing to give her that time. He was willing to wait the rest of his life for her.
Fiddling with Clary's stele, he headed towards the old jail where Luke's pack stayed. The door was unlocked, and Jace pushed it open. Instantly, 2 men were in front of him. "State your business Shadowhunter." One snarled.
"Is Luke here?"
"How do you know Luke?"
"I'm Jace Lightwood." They stared at him.
"THE Jace Lightwood?"
"The one and only."
"I doubt Luke wants to see you."
Jace twiddled his stele his hand. "Well too bad for Luke."
"Get out Shadowhunter."
"You are aware of how fast how I am?"
"That a threat?"
"Call it whatever you like. I'm calling it a friendly warning."
The men exchanged a look, and finally stepped back.
"Come this way." They led him to a small office in the back. "You've got a visitor Luke." One of the men called.
"Send them in."
Jace entered, and found Luke sitting at a desk, a newspaper in his hand. Luke looked up, and in one quick motion, Jace found himself sprawled out on the ground. He was faster than Luke, but he hadn't seen it coming. Luke stood over him, a furious expression on his face. "You've got a lot of nerve, coming around here again Lightwood. I'll never forgive you for what you did to Clary. She hasn't been the same since you left."
"I had good reason!"
"Okay, then let's hear it." Luke stood up, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Clary and I needed some time alone. Things weren't working. We both needed to think about some things, figure things out. So I gave us that time."
"You were gone five years Jace! You really think you two needed that much time?"
"Before I knew it, the days turned into weeks, the weeks into months. After a while, I figured she wouldn't want to see me. I'd waited too long. So I tried to start over. Make a new life. It didn't work."
"Clearly. Look Jace, just stay away from Clary. She doesn't need you coming around again."
"Too late." Jace muttered.
"What?"
"I said it's too late for that."
"You've seen Clary?"
"She was fighting demons, and fell. I gave her a hand."
"Let me guess. She didn't take it too kindly."
"She slapped me. That enough of an answer?"
"She had good reason too."
"Yeah, I know. But man, was she flying as she fought."
"She's gotten good Jace. After you left, she trained like crazy. Just ignored everything around her."
"That's not the Clary I know."
"She's not the Clary you know. She changed the day you left. The day you broke her heart."
"I didn't mean too Luke." Jace said, his voice tight.
"You could have at least said goodbye. Made sure she understood you two needed some time away from each other. And told her when you'd be back."
"I couldn't face her."
"You, the incredible Jace Lightwood, not able to face a girl?" Luke said sarcastically.
"Oh, shut up. Look, I need a place to crash for a couple days. I'll give Clary a chance to think, then I'll go to the Institute."
"I think it's better if you stay away from the Institute."
"I can't do that."
"And I can't tell you what to do. But if you break her heart again, you'll have me to answer to. You got that?"
"Yeah."
"There's an empty room in the back. You can stay there."
"Thanks Luke."
"Don't thank me for anything. I may not be doing you a favor. And stay away from Jocelyn."
Jace looked shocked, and Luke quickly realized his mistake. "I don't mean it like that. But she hates you even more than I do. The only way to get her to forgive you, is if Clary forgives you."
"Jocelyn never liked me anyway." Luke shrugged. "True."
A couple days passed, and Jace spent his time out walking the streets, and fighting demons. He hadn't seen even a glimpse of Clary, though he figured it was probably better that way.
On the third day since arriving in New York City, Luke peeked his head into the small back room. Jace looked up as he did so.
"Jace, it's now or never. Go to the Institute."
Jace's eyebrows went up. "You're encouraging me?"
"No, I just need this room for something. This is the only way to get you out."
"If you wanted me out, you should have just said so. What do you need this room for anyway?"
"One of the new pups. She was bitten just a little while ago, and she's not taking it too well. Figured it would help her to have a room to herself."
Jace nodded, and grabbed his gear. "Wish me luck."
"I'll do no such thing." Luke left the room, and Jace let out a little chuckle. Buckling on his sword belt, he slipped out the back entrance.
Within a few minutes of walking, the Institute rose into view. As much as he hated to admit it, he was nervous. If everyone else treated him like Clary had, he was in for a rough morning. He approached the door, and realized with a start, the key was still in his pocket. After all this time, he had never bothered to take it out. He turned unlocked the door, and took the elevator to get upstairs.
The entryway looked exactly the same, and as he walked down the hall, a shriek startled him out of his thoughts. Isabelle, her eyes wide with surprise, stood several feet away. Her shriek brought Clary and Alec running, and when Alec saw him, he stopped, a shocked expression on his face. Clary looked absolutely furious.
Jace saw what was coming, but made no move to stop her. A hard slap sent him rocking on his heels. "Nice to see you too." He muttered.
"Get out. I told you not to come!" She hissed.
"Not to come?" Alec looked over at Clary. "You've seen him before this?"
"A couple days ago."
"A couple days ago? And you didn't bother to tell us?"
"It didn't matter. I told him to leave and never come back." Now Alec looked furious.
"You did what? Don't you think Isabelle and I have a right to see him too?"
"Why would you want to see him?"
"Clary, no matter how long he's been gone, he's still my brother. You had no right!"
"I had every right!" She spat, turning on him. She reached up to slap him, but Alec caught her arm.
"Enough Clary. You're acting like a child. It's been 5 years. Get over it, and move on. You don't know what it's been like living with you like this."
"So why didn't you just throw me out if you hated being around me so much?" Her voice was stone cold.
"We couldn't. You're a Shadowhunter. You have every right to stay at the Institute."
"Well you know what Alec? You don't know what it's like having someone just walk out on you, with no explanation whatsoever."
"No explanation? You at least got a letter Clary! A letter you never bothered to show us. Isabelle and I had to find it ourselves! Otherwise, we would have had no idea what had happened to Jace. He could have been kidnapped for all we would have known. And you were too busy feeling sorry for yourself to say anything."
"You snuck around in my room? That letter was private Alec!" Clary flew at him, but before she could throw a punch, Isabelle had leapt in between them.
"Enough, both of you! You're acting like children!" Isabelle shouted, her eyes flashing. Clary stopped, and after a moment, flew down the hall. Isabelle and Alec watched her go, before turning back to Jace.
Alec took a step forward, his eyes still angry, and his blow sent Jace stumbling backwards. Jace stared at him, but didn't seem to look shocked. Alec hesitated a moment, the anger disappearing from his face. Then, he reached for Jace, and pulled him into a tight embrace. "If you ever scare me like that again, I swear I'll kill you Jace." He whispered. Jace only let a short laugh and hugged him back.
Isabelle wasn't about to be left out. She threw her arms around Jace's neck, her hair flying everywhere.
"Don't crush me guys." Jace muttered, and with a laugh, Alec and Isabelle pulled away. Alec studied him for a moment.
"Why so long Jace?"
Jace sighed. "It's a long story Alec. But first, I need to see Clary."
"I think you better leave her be for right now."
"Alec, I love her. I need to talk to her. To make her understand."
"I know Jace, I know. But talking to you will only make things worse. She's angry and upset, and she's going to take her anger out on you if go near her. Look, I'll talk to her, see if can do anything to help. But seeing Clary now isn't going to do a bit of good. You'll only make her even more mad."
"Alright. I just hope you know what you're doing."
"I do Jace, trust me. Now come, we have a lot of catching up to do." Jace smiled. "Training room?"
Alec shrugged. "Why not?"
"Well, while you two catch up, I'll go see Clary." Isabelle said. The boys nodded, and hurried off.
Isabelle went in the opposite direction, towards Clary's room.
With another scream, Clary hurled a shoe at the wall. She was livid with Jace, and wanted nothing more than to beat his brains out. But as Alec would stop her, she would have to settle for beating the wall. She heard Isabelle's voice outside her door, but ignored her. Isabelle, however, persisted.
"Go away Isabelle!" Clary snarled, and threw another shoe at the wall. There was silence for a moment, and the door suddenly flew open. Isabelle stormed in, and grabbed Clary around the waist.
"Clary, stop!" She yelled. Clary tried to get out of Isabelle's grip, but her tantrum had left her tired, and she couldn't free herself. She yelled at Isabelle, but Isabelle just stood there, and let Clary yell her anger out.
After a few minutes, Clary stopped, but her eyes were still angry, her body tense. Isabelle waited a moment, then released her, and Clary sat down on the bed.
"Give him a chance Clary."
"He doesn't deserve one."
"We don't deserve a lot of things, but we still get them. Jace is no exception."
"He's been gone for 5 years Isabelle! How long did he expect us to wait?"
"Oh Clary…" Isabelle stood up and went to the door. She paused, and looked back. "What would you want Jace to do if the roles were switched?" Clary didn't respond, and Isabelle left.
Jace entered the training room, Alec right behind him. Jace picked up a weapon, and glanced at his brother. "Sparring?" He suggested.
"Sure." Alec grabbed a sword, and faced Jace in the corner of the room. Back and forth they went, neither getting an edge, till finally, Jace caught him behind the knees, forcing him to the ground.
"You sure didn't get any worse, did you?"
"Nope, got better actually, as you seem to have."
"I've been training a lot. All three of us have. Especially Clary."
"How's she doing?"
"She'll shock you. She threw herself into training when you left. Made a lot of progress in a short amount of time."
Jace didn't respond. "Why were you gone so long Jace?" Alec said finally.
Tossing his weapon to the side, Jace paced a little. "We both needed time away from each. Things weren't working out, and we both needed time to think things over."
"You needed 5 years?"
"That's a common question around here isn't it?"
"Then you should have an answer if it is."
"The time started flying by. Before I knew it, I'd been gone a year, and then another year, and then another. And by then I'd figured she'd moved on."
Alec gave a short laugh. "Move on? She's been the same way for 5 years. Distant, cold, hostile, and unfriendly. She's still upset about it."
"Then she must still care."
"I didn't say that. She doesn't care Jace, not anymore. She's just upset you walked out. She's shown no feelings for you for a while now."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Well, it's not going to stay that way."
"Jace, just…be careful. You push too hard, and you'll push her away for good."
"I know Alec. Believe me, I know."
A couple days passed, and while Jace didn't try to talk to Clary, he made a point of being around her. He could tell it infuriated her, but she couldn't do anything about it. Not when he was in the places she had to be. The training room, the library, the study.
Alec and Isabelle watched, not interfering, but always watching. Jace couldn't tell if they hoped Clary would find her feelings for him again, or if they hoped he'd give up. If they hoped the latter, they'd be waiting a long time. Because Jace didn't intend to give up any time soon.
But even though he knew he'd keep after her, his hopes of getting Clary back were diminishing. Clary showed absolutely no sign of caring even the least little bit. He'd gone as far as to even glance in her sketchbook. It was a new one, and there wasn't one hint of him in it. She'd used to draw him all the time, a fact he'd found gratifying. But no longer. Despite what Alec and Isabelle thought, Clary seemed to have moved on.
Clary did her best to avoid Jace, but he'd show up everywhere she was. He had to be following her, something she didn't find hard to believe. She didn't care for him anymore. He'd soon realize it, and stop following her like a lost puppy. Alec and Isabelle would say she hadn't moved on, but she had. As the months had begun to add up, she had realized Jace wasn't coming back. Not any time soon anyway. And she could only wait so long.
So she'd moved on. Put her past with Jace behind her. But had she really? Jace still crossed her mind, the pain of the memories just as strong. She'd tried hard to forget him, but his face wouldn't go away. However, just because she couldn't forget, it didn't mean she still cared. And she didn't. She no longer loved the golden haired boy. And she would never love again. She'd vowed to remain single, to keep her heart from ever being broken in two. She never wanted to have to face that pain again.
Jace fiddled with his stele as he lay on his bed. He was deep in thought, thinking about Clary, as usual. Alec startled him out of his thoughts as he knocked on the door.
"It's open." He called. Alec entered, dressed in fighting gear.
"We're going demon hunting tonight. You should come."
"Who's 'we'?"
"Clary, Isabelle and myself."
"Clary may not appreciate me coming."
"And Clary doesn't always get what she wants. She'll get over it."
Jace shrugged. "Why not?"
"Good. Meet us by the elevator in an hour."
"K. Where are going anyway?"
"Some dark alleyway. I don't know. I just don't feel like going to the Pandemonium. And there wouldn't be enough time for Isabelle and Clary to get ready anyway." Alec rolled his eyes at his last comment.
Jace laughed. "I'll meet you in an hour."
Alec nodded, and left. Setting his stele down, Jace threw on his fighting gear, and slipped his stele back in his pocket. He left the room, stopping by the infirmary to get weapons. Clary was there, putting a couple daggers in her belt. She noticed him, but made a point of ignoring him.
Jace glanced at her, but said nothing, and picked up a couple seraph blades. He stuck them in his belt, as well as a few other weapons. Clary headed out to leave, and Jace watched her go. She stopped, just as she reached the door, and turned around as if to say something. But she simply looked him in the eye for a moment. They held each other's gaze, neither saying a word. Finally, Clary broke the spell between them, and disappeared out the door.
Jace stood there for another moment, finally turning back around to grab a couple more weapons. When he left the weapons room, and reached the elevator, he found Isabelle, Alec, and Clary waiting.
As they got in the elevator, Clary putting as much space as possible between him and Jace, something hit him. "Alec, where's Magnus? I haven't seen him since I got here. I knew you moved in with him, but I didn't see you leave last night."
"It's cause I didn't. He had to leave on some warlock business. Won't be back till next week." Jace nodded, and ran outside when the elevator doors dinged open.
Isabelle took the lead. "I know of a spot where I heard some rumors about some demons lurking."
"Just where would this be Isabelle?" Jace asked dryly.
"That's for me to know, and you to find out." Jace rolled his eyes, and glanced over at Clary. She didn't return his look, and ran ahead to walk with Isabelle.
Within a few minutes, they had reached an area filled with abandoned buildings. The moon was partly hidden, and dark shadows loomed everywhere. Jace drew a weapon, his fighting senses alert and ready. They proceeded slowly, no one's footsteps making any sound on the asphalt. Jace tensed as he sensed something nearby. Alec noticed, and made a hand motion at the girls.
Jace listened for a moment, but when no one heard anything, Isabelle started to go on ahead. Jace, however, motioned for her to wait. Clary's eyes flashed, and she started to leave anyway, but Isabelle put out a hand to stop her. Jace walked around a corner, signaling for the others to stay put.
Alec, Isabelle, and Clary waited impatiently. But Jace's yell sent them all running.
Yeah, I know. A cliffhanger. And the bad news for you is I've been in a bit of a writing block, so I haven't even started chapter 7. But the more reviews I get, the fast I just may work. And those who do get spoilers! (as usual)