"Me? What could they possibly want with me?" i stammered.
"We dont know, but they've obviously shown an interest in you." Jace replied to my question. His eyesbrows knitted in concentration.
"The Unseen are of the supernatural world Clary. Nobody knows exactly what they think or feel. Every so often a child is stolen and replaced with a changeling. We have heard of various cases through out the town. It only seems to happen here." Alec said, and Isabelle quickly continued.
"They are not hostile in nature. We have not reported any doing humans severe ill outright. But we have heard of them leaving tokens of sorts around peoples houses. These tokens do various affects, make you sick, hallucinate, distort who you are. But the effects are usually temporary. But its not just the meddling they do, they also take kids from their beds. We have seen many kidnappings here in Bayhallow."
To which Jace added his own thoughts, "The town all know of the Unseen, but we prefer not to talk about it. Especially where ears can hear us. Who knows if there around us? Who knows if there are ears listening in. Thats why i met you in the park today. Iron keeps them away. They cant stand the stuff. We dont know if they listen in and maybe report somewhere else? Were not too certain."
Alec and Izzy were thinking and Jace was staring at me. I didnt know what to think. All this knowledge of things that we barely understood. They could be anywhere. I had seen them every so often, but the group had just told me that they could be there and remain unseen if they wanted too. My thoughts were overwhelmed.
"So there is no way to kill these things or make them go away?" i asked.
"Not that we know of, they have been in Bayhallow since as long as history has been written down. They have always been here. I have yet to find any sources of faeries in other places outside of here. Bayhallow seems to be where the originate." Alec said dismissively.
"Has anyone else seen them? i said.
"There have been cases that a townie has seen one, but not for very long. Somehow they manage to stay Unseen, hence the name. But we know they're there. You can feel them. That small chill you get when theres no chill. The weirdness you feel when your all by yourself. The odd feelings you get when theres no cause for them. If you pay attention you'll notice. Thats why we stay here. We protected the house and grounds from the Fae. They usually cant walk by iron without suffering pain. We at least know that much." Isabelle said looking at her brother for confirmation.
"So what do i do?" i asked nervously.
"Theres really nothing you can do, unless you find out what they want. I dont know why they are interested in you Clary but usually when they are, it cant be a good thing." Alec said with cloudy eyes. I could tell he was remembering his little brother.
I found it was hard for me to swallow. So there was nothing i could do? I was doomed? Is that what they were telling me? If they could remain undetected til the last minute, i really had no way to defend myself.
"Dont scare her guys, Clary listen. Find iron and put it around your room, around your house, anywhere you dwell often. Dont worry about school, im sure they wouldnt try anything there." Jace was saying.
"But the picture in my locker!" i cried, "They obviously were there!"
"Yes, but they didnt try and contact you directly. Probably because there were too many people around. They try to stay hidden remember. Even though we know they're there. They hide in the shadows. Dont go anywhere alone, and just keep an eye out. You should be fine if we can keep them away from you." Jace exclaimed, even though Alec and Izzy didnt look to sure.
It was time for us to leave. I said a heartfelt good bye to the siblings. Even though i felt like they didnt like me all that much, they still had helped me. That was more than anyone else had done. I was grateful. They seen us to the door with grim expressions on their faces. They were just as unhappy as i was. Me and Jace started on foot back down the driveway.
We didnt speak almost the whole way back to the park. I felt uneasy speaking out in the open. I had no idea who would be listening in. Jace yanked my bike out of the bushes. He hadnt even looked at me the whole time. My feelings were hurt. I knew i was a danger to be around, but i had hoped i'd have someone that understood.
"Can i walk you home?" He asked finally looking at me.
"Yes, but only to my driveway. I dont want to explain to my mom why a guy shes never seen is walking me home."
He took that for an answer and we began the trip back home. I walked quickly and hoped there were no Unseen around. It felt weird knowing that they were around, just not visible. That was creepy. And the fact that they stole children! What kind of creatures condoned such things? That was a monstrous act if you asked me. I wondered what they had done to him, that poor boy named Max?
The sun was almost down by the time we reached my house. I could see the lights on downstairs, my mother was waiting for me. I wheeled my bike to the driveway and put it on the kickstand. I turned to face Jace.
In this light he looked ethereal. His golden hair glowing, his eyes so beautiful. I was having a hard time trying to breathe. He truly was the most handsome guy i had ever met. Too bad i had faerie freaks after me. I sighed and looked at the ground. Jace heard my sigh.
"Clary...listen. I want you to know that we are in this together. I wouldnt just leave you here with no one to stand with you. Whatever those things want, whatever they are planning to do, we wont let it happen." He said with a glow of fire in his eyes.
I felt a little relieved. At least i wouldnt be alone. I gave him a hug before he could do anything about it. I snuggled deep into the contours of his shoulders. He smelled just like i thought he would. I wished i could stay in his arms forever. And to my surprise he was hugging me back. His hands snaked around mine and he clung to me.
I felt at that moment that i could die now, and be happy. It was perfect. It was right. It felt like things were the way they were always supposed to be.
All too soon he broke apart. I could see a look in his eye that i couldnt quiet place. Was he embarrassed? Or had he realized what he done and had to get away from me. I felt my cheeks burn, oh how i hated blushing.
"I'll...I'll see you tomorrow at school okay?" he said keeping his eyes away from my eyes.
I nodded and was about to turn away and go to the house when he added one last thing.
"And Clary, remember the iron."
He gave me one last sad smile and then he started back down the road. I watched him til he went out of view. Maybe i was imagining it, but it seemed like he didnt want to say good bye. Or maybe i was just crazy.
I turned back towards the house, i wheeled the bike back in the shed and shut the door. I then spent a few minutes calming myself. Making sure my face was normal and not red, i went to meet my mom. She no doubt would have questions about my day. I had to think of some lies to tell her. I hated lying to my mother. But something told me i wasnt being the only one untruthful around here.
When i entered the house she was in the living room watching one of her favorite tv shows. I poked my head in to tell her i was back, even though she had to have heard me enter the house.
"Clary your back, how was the park?"
"It was nice, it was very pretty. Simon and i had a good time. We got plenty of studying done." i said trying to sound eager.
"Oh well thats great hunny. Im glad to see you making friends. You should invite him over more often. I liked that boy."
"Sure mom, i will be sure to do that."
I sat there watching the tv with my eyes only. My mind was on other thoughts at the time. I couldnt wait for tomorrow. I would see Jace! I also felt a little nervous by that fact. Had i imagined the look in his eyes when he released me? Maybe it was all in my head, but i desperately hoped it wasnt. I sat there until it was over and my mom shut the tv off. She came over and gave me a hug.
"Im glad your fitting in here Clary. Its nice to see you smile."
"I am mom, this might be the best place for me."
"I am glad to hear it. I have wanted to see you happy in so long. You needed the change. You needed the move. A new start, right hun?"
"Yes mom, im glad we moved too." I replied even thought i wanted to ask her questions. I wanted to see what she knew. And i also wanted to know why she was hiding things from me. Why would she hide things from me? It wasnt like she was the faerie overlord, she didnt have to keep their secrets. But maybe it was just simply my mom didnt know. Maybe she had nothing to do with this at all.
I said good night to my mother and went to my room. I had found a few statues of my mothers that looked iron in origin. I hoped they would be enough until i found more iron somewhere. I placed one right beside my bed, and another by the window. I didnt want anything creeping through my window at night. That thought just gave me the shivers.
I crawled under the covers and tried to close my eyes. My thoughts kept racing in my head. I couldnt rest my whirling thoughts. Too much had gone on today. I was being watched by weird forest creatures. Jace had actually hugged me. Jace had offered to help me. That had to mean something right? He wouldnt help someone he didnt like, right? I couldnt think straight anymore. I had learned to much information today. Too much had happened that i still couldnt believe it. I was wanted. I was somehow connected in this towns history and i didnt know why.
Even though i was afraid of what the Fae wanted with me i was in some weird way happy. I was happy that Jace had seen my drawing. I was happy that Jace had talked to me. I was happy that i knew more now than i ever did! I was also happy that he hadnt given up on me. He had been the only one so far who hadnt.
I drifted off to sleep with the thought of Jace still fresh in my mind. I knew he was out of my league. And i knew that he was only trying to help me. But i still drifted off to the thought that maybe in another universe, we were together. That maybe in another place, a Jace and Clary existed.
