Ahaahaa, I was reading through chapter five the other day and I noticed that I had a little note-to-self thing that I accidentally left in the chapter. I was like, woooopsies, and went in and deleted it out. I should start to read these things before I post them ;)

Anyway, since I don't really have access to any of your questions, I can't really answer them right now. So, if you have a question, I'll answer them the next chapter.

Also, I would just like to thank you all so, so much because this story just broke 10,000 hits. I love you all!

On with the story!


What Kind of Man Lays his Hands on the Woman he Loves

Calls her "Angel", but shows no Remorse in her Blood

He covers her Body in Bruises and Scars

You don't Understand

Just how Beautiful

You Are

CPOV

It was nice to finally be back at my home again: The Pandemonium.

Izzy and I swayed our hips to the slow, hypnotic beat of the music pumping like blood through a vein in the club. The lights were off today, and the entire club was only illuminated by the strobe lights flashing in all directions. Sweat dripped off our bodies in the enormous heat produced by all the bodies at the club that night. I couldn't help the grin spreading wide upon my face. This is what I lived for. This is why I had become a player. There was just no other experience than the one you get while letting your soul free and your cares drown as you dance and dance and dance. It's like physical art.

"Clary."

I raised my arms high above my head and shut my eyes, letting the music thrum through my body. I let myself lose control and I knew I became detached from most of the world.

"Clary!"

"Hmm?" I answered, my mind faintly registering Izzy's voice beside me.

"You should probably get home. It's past your curfew and besides, Jace will be coming here soon. So unless you want to run into him again…" She trailed off, but I knew the implication she had.

Sighing heavily, I let my hands drop back to my sides before fixing my fiery curls a bit. "Okay," I said grudgingly. "Let's go."

Bobbing her head to let me know she heard me, Izzy started pushing her way through the throngs of people to get to the coat room. I lost her about half way, and before I was even out of the crowd, Izzy had come back to retrieve me, our coats in hand. And so, with much reluctance, we shucked our coats and stepped out into the cold night.

The winter air immediately seeped into my pores and stuck to my bones, winding a chill up my back. Although it was a nice relief from the warm humid air inside the club, I still wished with all my heart I was back inside there dancing along with the crowd and not caring about all the crap that never ceases to live on in my life.

And even though I hated to admit it, sometimes I just didn't feel like life was worth living all that much, what with my dad and all. No one knew about the beatings he gave me; not even Isabelle. I was all too good at hiding each cut and bruise, no matter the size.

As we walked through the chilling late winter night, my mood sobered up to the point of almost depression. Isabelle didn't talk, noticing my sudden change in moods and not wanting to disturb me. My hand ached to get a brush in it and start painting something. I didn't know what exactly, but knew the urge all too much. So I stopped in my tracks, pulling Izzy aside with me.

"What are you doing?" she asked quizzically.

Instead of answering, I just stood and waited. Finally, the yellow paint of a taxi started to pull around the corner at the end of the street. I placed my fingers in my mouth and whistled loud enough to make the taxi ease to a stop at the curb next to us. Digging in my little clutch, I revealed a wad of bills that should cover the fair to Isabelle's house.

"Here," I said as I shoved the money into her hand. "Take the cab home."

"What? Why?"

"I just—" I broke off, trying to come up with the right words to describe how I felt. When I came up with nothing, I just shook my head. "I just need to get home right away."

Her eyes reading concern, she nodded and slid into the cab. And then it was peeling off down the street and was out of my sight. I huffed, my breath coming out in a cloud of hot air. I wasted no time hurrying down the street. I had a long time until I got out of the city and into my neighborhood.

About halfway there, my feet started to hurt like a britch. I groaned, and noted that my pace blatantly slowed. I mentally enthused myself, trying to get my feet to go faster. But for whatever reason, my body just wouldn't listen. I sighed and just stopped altogether, hoping that after a little bit of rest, I'd be ready to continue. And so I slid over to the side and settled myself onto the rough brick wall of some business. Crossing my arms, I tossed my curls over my shoulder with the flick of my head and tried to ward off the cold.

As I got caught up in the puffs of smoke I was making with my breath, I failed to notice the sleek black convertible silently drive up to the curb beside me. It was only when he spoke did I show any signs of noticing the car.

"Clary, what a wonderful surprise."

My eyebrows furrowed and I repositioned my head, startled at the all-too-familiar voice. Sure enough, Jace Herondale had his window rolled down, honey eyes glinting as the smirk on his face widened.

"Jace Herondale," I began, voice as curious as it was bewildered. "What in the world are you doing here?"

He shrugged, though his teasing grin never faded. "The club just didn't seem like my scene tonight."

I attempted to raise one eyebrow, but failed as I always did, ending up with two raised high into my hairline. "Oh? And when did you make that decision?"

"When I noticed you weren't there tonight, sweetie." His eye came down in a wink and he popped open the passenger door. "Come on. Get in."

Rolling my eyes, I climbed in the car, shutting the door gently in my wake. I reached back for my seat belt, and when I brought it down to click it in place, I made sure my hand grazed Jace's thigh. After the belt was locked, I looked up at him through my lashes.

"Whoops," I said, my voice as smooth as silk.

Not missing a beat, Jace captured my chin in his callused hand, keeping my faced just inches away from his. "Yes," he agreed softly. I closed my eyes as his voice seemed to caress my skin. Then, ever-so-gently, I tugged away from him, allowing my fingers to trail along his wiry arms as I sunk back into the leather interior of his car. Jace jerked the car away from the building and flew off down the street.

"Where are we going?" he asked after a moment.

"Elwood Manor."

I faintly saw the outline of his brow arch up in question through the poor lighting. "Elwood Manor?"

I nodded, suddenly uncomfortable. "My dad made a lot of good…investments."

Jace didn't leave my pause unnoticed. "Investments?"

"Yeah." I worried a strand of my hair in between two fingers. "I'm not really allowed to say much about it."

He took a lengthy side-long glance at me out of the corner of his eye before looking back at the road. It was obvious he wanted to know, but I wasn't about to relent. I was serious when I said I wasn't allowed to say anything.

"What about you?" I asked more for a way to break the silence than out of curiosity. "Where do you live?"

He laughed humorlessly. "In some crappy apartment not too far from where you live."

"Archridge or Sandler?"

"Archridge."

I looked at him funny. "That's nowhere near where I live!"

He smiled boyishly at me. "Yeah, but I didn't want you to worry about me driving you so far out of my way."

I didn't know why, but I blushed. How did he know that one of my biggest problems was people going out of my way for me? Not only that, but it was extremely considerate, and, well, sweet.

The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable silence that was only shaken up when I Jace halted in front of my home. The lights were on. My face drained of all color.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jace asked, taking careful note of my immediate change in mood.

I put on my usual façade, paint a smile on my lips and looking at him with wide eyes. "Of course I am. Thank you for the ride, Jace. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Quickly gathering up my clutch, I unlocked the door and hopped down.

As I padded swiftly across the dead front lawn, I heard a car door open and shut. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying that Jace would go back to the car. But alas, his hand cupped itself around my elbow, pulling me around to face him. His eyes rimmed with worry, he gazed down at me. After a second, I cast my eyes downward and yanked my elbow free, pushing on his chest.

"Go back to the car," I ordered. When he opened his mouth to protest, I set my mouth in a taught line. "Now," I said more firmly.

He hesitated, but finally relented and reluctantly headed back to his car. I didn't watch him drive away.

Taking a deep breath, I walked towards my door, not unlike Jace just had. Bracing my body, I stuck in the key and turned the knob. The door flew open. I took one small step inside. The door clicked softly behind me.

"So nice of you to finally join me, Clarissa."

I cringed. My father's voice drifted in from the kitchen, cold as the icy air outside. I ducked my head, allowing my hair to create a thick red curtain all around me. If only it could protect me for what was about to come.

"Please, remove your coat and shoes. I'd like to see you."

"If—If I may, could I leave my coat on?" I asked. My voice was as small as a child's. I felt like a child.

I could almost feel his penetrating gaze on me. "What would be your reasoning behind that?"

"It's just…terribly cold."

I heard the settling of a crystal glass on wood. He had been drinking. Just as I had suspected. "Yes, well, considering you braved the cold while you were out all night, I'm betting you can survive. Now do as I said."

"Yes, father," I replied meekly.

I took my heels off first, sliding a finger under the strap and yanking it down before setting each on the floor beside each other. I sank to the ground, and, under a more comfortable circumstance, I would have sighed with relief. But now I just gulped, my fingers hovering above the first button of my coat.

"Any day now," he called.

Flinching slightly with each button, I reluctantly undid my coat and slid it off of my body and onto a hook. Then, taking careful, but deliberate steps, I sauntered into the kitchen. My arms absently curled around the middle of my stomach in a futile attempt at hiding the fact that I was wearing a midriff top. At the same time, I tugged down my skirt as far as it would go; though it wasn't much of a change. I calmed myself slightly with that fact that at least I was wearing black tights. But even as I told myself that, my heart began beating faster and faster in my chest as my father rose from his seat to tower above me.

Empty bottles lay everywhere along with tipped over glasses and knocked over furniture. Stains covered the floor, though I was mostly sure the majority were all alcohol. Which, by the way he smelled, wouldn't surprise me.

I tried not to breathe in the putrid stench of alcohol and sweat. It was the worst combination I had yet to come by, and yet, it was a common presence in my life.

He circled around me, his silence seeming the most deadly of anything he could have said. He crooked a finger around one of my curls for a second, but then released it. He fingered the fabric of my top and made a disgusted noise.

"I could buy you all of the clothes you wanted, Clarissa, and this," he gestured revoltingly at my garments, "is what you choose?"

Father came to a stop in front of me. There, he looked me dead in the eyes. "Although, I suppose I expect nothing less from a whore."

I didn't feel the pain right away. Instead, there was just the flash of many colors splashing across my vision, and then I was tumbling down to the hard linoleum floor below. My hands flew out instinctively and just barely cushioned my fall, though not very well. I blinked several times, trying to regain my senses. It took me a minute, but when I finally got back to normal, the pain hit me like a semi heading straight-on into my body.

It was a sharp pain on my right temple that expanded and bloomed out to around my eye and into the mass of my hair. Blood was felt dripping down my face, and I knew that not only did he bruise me, but he also cut me. I gingerly turned my head to discover the jagged half of a broken beer bottle held in my father's hand, and I knew it was with that that he struck me. Something told me that when I would go to clean my cut out later, I'd find tiny shards of the bottle wrenched inside my cuts. I winced just thinking about it.

My abdomen exploded with pain, and I couldn't help but cry out, stunned. I had not expected my father to come at me so quickly after the last hit. My hands clutched at my stomach, and knew there was going to be a dark, menacing bruise there within the next couple of days.

My father leaned down, his hot sticky breath at my ear. "Can't wear skimpy clothes when you have all those bruises."

And, as if to prove his point, his booted foot came down on the flesh of my thigh, slowly pressing down harder and hard. I gasped and scratched at his boot, trying desperately to get it off me. My muscles screamed with pain, but I refused to scream. My father smiled viciously, watching me squirm for a few more seconds before releasing me.

I instantaneously rolled over to the other side, my body curling in on itself. I shook slightly and for whatever reason, I suddenly wished Jace was here.

Father nudged me with the toe of his cruel boot. "Go upstairs, girl. I don't want to see your face for the next twenty-four hours." He paused; considered. "Possibly even more. You got that?"

I nodded weakly. "Yes, father."

"Good. Now get out of my face."


And there it is. It's up a little later than I had expected, but I got unexpectedly caught up in some crap today, and I've just been worn out. Although, I am really satisfied with this chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Er, well, not enjoyed, but you get what I mean.

Next chapter will be mainly focused on Clary again, and will most likely be short. I guess it depends if I'm feeling generous that day or not ;)

Review to get a little taste of Jace's mind again next chapter :)

*Shiver*