All characters are the work of Cassandra Clare via the Mortal instruments series. Only the plot is mine. Would love any reviews people would like to make. I'll be popping new chapters up whenever I get a chance.
Friday came far quicker than Clary had expected, she was settling into the academy well, so far dodging her physical lessons, and excelling in her theory.
She was beginning to get the hang of runeology, and found herself quickly catching up with shadowhunters who had grown up around them. She would find herself absentmindedly doodling advanced runes in her notebook, feeling proud that she was excelling in a shadowhunting subject. Maybe she did have it in her after all. Could you be some sort of shadowhunting librarian?
The girls sat on the floor of their room together as Clary watched Isabelle twisting her long hair into some sort of intricate braid. Clary began to set out her usual jean, shirt and jogger combo and headed towards the bathroom. She soon came out to find her clothes missing, and a short black dress, ankle boots, & pair of black stockings in their place.
"Uh, what's happening?"
"Humor me! I want to see you dressed like a girl. Besides, you'll look totally out of place in that" She nodded towards a pile of clothes that had been dumped in the corner of the room.
"Your not going to give me a choice, are you?"
"You catch on quickly" she laughed, before dragging Clary into the bathroom and grabbing the clothes.
She quickly put the outfit on before Izzy appeared again.
"Now sit" Said Izzy, brandishing a powder puff and telling Clary to keep her eyes closed.
A fair few prods later, Clary opened her eyes, staring at the girl who looked back at her.
She looked like her mum. Her auburn hair was twisted into messy curls, minus their usual frizz. Her hair, along with her pale skin set off the black dress, which fit snugly against her small body. Izzy had finished by working magic with her eyes, they were rimmed with brown powder and had a thin coat of mascara.
"Its missing one thing" Izzy said, as she raced out of the room.
Clary stared at herself, wondering if she was going to get cold with no jumper. Apparently Izzy didn't consider these practicalities.
"Here" Izzy was back and standing behind her, draping a bright green jewel over her chest.
"Hope you don't mind, I saw you playing with it the other day and thought how beautiful it was"
Clary stared at her reflection; she had always thought her mum was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. She was electric, so full of life and wild beauty. Now…. Clary looked like her.
"Its my mums, I've never actually had anywhere to were it" She said, staring at her reflection.
"Well it's perfect"
There was a quiet knock on the door, Clary quickly bent down to put her shoes on and ran to open it.
In front of her was Simon, his messy curls tidied ever so slightly and his usual ironic T-shirt replaced by a plain grey shirt and a dress blazer. He gave her a nervous smile.
"Im so glad you came Simon. Although I'm a little sad not to see one of your famous T-shirts, come in" She laughed.
Izzy poked her head out from the bathroom, eyeing Simon up and down before stepping out. "Hi, I'm Isabelle, Clary's room mate"
"Hey, uhm, yeah I know. We have a few classes together, I'm Simon"
"Art History and English, right?" She said.
So she had noticed 'the vampire' Clary thought. Very interesting.
"We better get going and meet the others" Clary interjected, hiding her smirk.
The trio left the building, catching a cab down town to some place Izzy had refered to as 'Taki's'. They pulled up out the front of what looked to be a dilapidated bar that had been boarded up many years ago. Clary stuck her head out of the taxi window into the cold night air, surveying the mess in front of her.
"Were going in there?"
"Why yes, we are!" Izzy giggled as she slid out of the cab.
The driver gave clary a concerned look as she passed him their cab fare and thanked him. Sliding out, she glanced at Simon, who looked remarkably calm considering the horror house they appeared to be about to enter.
"This way" said Izzy as she rounded the corner of the building and entered a side alley, her spiked stilettos echoing on the pavement.
"It gets better, a dark alley" Clary laughed, sounding as embarrassingly nervous as she felt.
Simon lent over too her "Don't worry, everyone at the academy comes to Taki's. It's a shadow bar, you'll love it" Simon walked ahead, slightly catching up with Isabelle who was now running her eyes up and down the alley wall.
She began rummaging thru her purse, taking out a small dagger she had stowed away, pricking the end of her finger and placing the tip on a barricaded door. The doors lock heaved, giving way instantly as she pushed herself into it and entered. Clary followed, watching Izzy lick the small prick of blood off her finger.
"Don't get any ideas, vampire" She said, continuing down the hall.
Simon and Clary walked together, following Isabelle's lead. They soon came out into what must have been the bar. It was spectacular.
The bar was made out of an old abandoned factory, filled with a random collection of carpets, seats and tables. Velvet curtains hung from the walls, with dark shaded lamps lighting them at random intervals. The walls were covered in a mural of a large black tree with branches that flowed from wall to wall and painted leaves that shone iridescent when hit with light. The bar itself was made from twisted iron, welded together and lit from within my red lighting.
Flashes of colour flew past Clary as lights ricocheted off the walls. It was a crazy mix between a nightclub and a vintage bordello bar. The roof was covered in an array of mismatched chandeliers, with stunning shadows being cast across the whole space. Clary noticed, beyond the chandeliers, the space featured only a wired roof, with flowers and vines intertwined thru the wholes. Gazing up, she could see stars.
"Welcome to Taki's" Simon said, smiling down at her.
They followed Izzy over to a booth where she sat down and began looking at a menu. A young fairie girl sauntered over with eyes so pale blue they were almost white. "Drinks?" she said. Isabelle shook her head.
She looked at Simon, eyeing him up and down.
"Animal or human?"
Simon looked extremely uncomfortable. "Neither thanks….I'll grab a coke"
"Your choice" the girl shrugged, stalking away.
"So…what do you normally drink Simon" Isabelle was clearly making an attempt at conversation and her blunt personality didn't allow for niceties.
"Animal. I actually used to be a vegan, you know, before" he shrugged, glancing down.
Izzy stared at him for a few seconds, before glancing behind Clary.
"Their here" She said, shuffling over in the booth.
Before Clary could turn to see who Izzy was referring too, Jace and Alec dropped themselves into either side of the booth. Clary, feeling far too close to Jace, shuffled closer to Simon.
'What happened to Maia and Jordan?" Izzy asked.
"Not sure, they just said they couldn't make it" answered Alec.
Clary glanced to her side, watching as Jace eyed the room, probably looking for his next target she thought. Who did this guy think he was? She had been sitting with them all week at school and he had barely said two words to her. Every time he did, it was just a lame attempt to flirt that she never reciprocated. She was slowly becoming part of their group of friends and he hadn't made any effort to get to know her at all.
"I'm going to grab a drink, she didn't take my order" said Clary, staring angrily at Jace to move.
"Me too" he said, standing so they could both get out.
Jace turned, waiting for her to get out of the booth, and they walked together in silence to the bar.
Clary glanced at the drink menu and quickly ordered a 'Sugar plum'.
"Are you sure you want that?" Said Jace, looking surprisingly un-sarcastic.
"Yep, positive" Clary said, not at all positive.
The drink came out in all its purple glory with an iridescent glow to it and a slice of bright purple fruit sitting delicately on the side of the glass. Bottoms up, she thought, downing it as she walked back to the booth.
Sitting down, she was surprised to find Simon and Isabelle having a conversation about were they had grown up. Alec, apparently also finding this strange, gave Clary a sidelong glance.
Beginning to feel woozy she leant her head so she could rest it on wall beside her. The wall was rough and cold. All she wanted was to dance. Surely if she could just concentrate on getting up, she could make it to the dance floor. Was it hot in there? Surely it hadn't been that hot before.
"Earth to Clary, are you okay?" Izzy was leaning across the table, staring at Clary, who felt far too transfixed by the flashing lights to respond.
Suddenly Jace was by her side, tilting her face towards him and staring into her eyes with his.
"So gold, it's such a shame" she giggled.
"She drank a fairie drink, I asked if she knew what it was, but obviously not" He shuffled towards her, putting his arms around her waist , grabbing her gently and standing up, walking them both out of the booth with her in his arms.
"Nights over guys, we have to get her back. She'll be fine after a good nights sleep and some panadol. Trust me, I've had a few fairie drinks in my time" he smirked.
Clary leant against his firm chest, looking up at him. Suddenly they were in the cold night air and everything felt so fresh. He pulled her tighter to his chest and she looked up into his face. He glanced down at her with more concern than she ever knew he could have for someone other than himself.
"Thank you" She whispered.
"Your welcome, shut your eyes" he said, his voice sounded kind.
Before she knew it they were back at the academy and Jace was placing her on the bed, she was feeling allot better already…. and completely mortified. How could she have been so stupid? Drinking something she had never even heard off and ignoring his concern. And for what? Because he's made a bad first impression.
"Take care of her Iz" he said before walking out of the room with one last glance at Clary.
The door shut and Izzy sat on the end of the bed. "Are you okay? Im so sorry! I meant to warn you about the fairie drinks but I got caught up in a conversation with Simon". Clary looked up at Isabelle who had a remarkably familiar men's blazer draped over her arms.
"It's okay, I'm meant to be a shadowhunter, I should be able to take care of myself! Not resort to having prince charming carry me home after I make a stupid mistake"
"Prince charming aye?" Izzy smirked.
"You know what I mean, I want to get serious about this all Izzy, I want to learn what it takes to be a shadowhunter. Im just wasting my time here" Clary was angry with herself.
"Okay. I have the perfect idea to get you up to date"
Clary was far to tired too question this idea; instead deciding it was time to get some sleep.
Thanks guys, would love to hear what you think.
