It rugged silently through the dark streets of Alicante. The thugs that still lingered on the street saw me, and they ran as far away as fast as possible. Good. I sat on an empty bench and read the letter I had it my hands. The King. Had slipped it in my pocket when he whispered in my ear.

Clarissa, My guards have spotted some unusual people walking in and out of the bar, the Pandemonium. They saw at night, they lurk in the shadows seeking out their prey. Please stop them, and find out how is leading them. Your friend, Stephan Herondale

My friend? I took out a small match in my pocket and burnt the letter. I stood and watched the flames until the last speck of orange was gone. The pandemonium was only a block away from my old home. There wasn't enough time to do a full on raid, but I could still spook them a bit.

I walked silently to the pub. I slipped behind a dumpster and examined my surroundings. Outside there stood three rebels, I could tell already. They were built and no doubt trained for close combat. On the roof there were two archers. They might have good shot, but mine is better. I shot one of the men, and I reloaded my bow the second archer screamed down to the three men on the ground. I shot him too. I put the bow back onto my back and stood from behind the dumpsters. My face was impassive and hard, my cloak moving in the wind, and I my hands, two chakrams. I threw them both as the men spotted me.

One of the men smiled, Issac was his name I believe, "Clarissa, dearest, it seems your aim is slightly off, love."

My voice was cold and hard, "Think again you bastards." The chakrams came flying back, cutting each of the men behind their, necks effectively paralyzingly them.

The foul stench hit me as soon as I got close to the entrance. They were most likely torturing people in there. I peeked in a window and saw it was covered by metal. Slowly I crept around the building. There was a small vent in the wall. It was tiny, but so was I. I looked down at my watch to see it was nearly four in the morning. The raid would have to wait until another day. I looked at the vent once more. I wanted to go so bad, but I would be patient for tonight, patience would bring me great joy tonight.


As I walked up to the palace gates I stopped by about five guards swarmed me. One was out of place for sure. He was ugly and dirty, he smelt vile and he looked like a thug. The gross man looked at me and smiled.

"Now, now. Who do we have here?" Ugh. This was the man- no, boy- named Meliron. "Move Smeliron."

"Bitch!" The guard hissed and punched me across my face.

"Do not speak to me like that again, you whore!"

"Do not speak to me like that. After all, bastards shouldn't talk to those whom outrank him." I do not smile, and I did not smirk.

"That's enough." I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Clarissa, come here." I trudged up to Alexander and met his eyes. My hood fell of my head and exposed my bloody face, quickly I threw my hood back up, hiding it. "Is that your blood on your face?"

"No."

"Innocent blood?"

"Hardly."

"Rebel's?"

"Good guess. Now tell that bastard born to go to the ball tonight." Alexander shook his head.

"Why should I trust you? A Rebel for god's sake!"

"Because Alexander, whether you like it or not, we both know I know much more than anyone around here. Trust me, you will no regret it."

With that, I walked back up the hill and swung the doors open and stepped inside the castle. I slowly walked to the staircase as my once-shiny-boots left dirt streaks all over the pristine floor. Signing, I continued up the stairs once I was outside my room I heard voices. One was Jace's and another was a woman.

"This is the bitch's room? How pathetic, it's tiny. Made for a low class whore like she is." The voice belonged to Kaelie Pix, Jace's mistress.

"Be careful who you call a whore." Jace and Kaelie swung around in the door frame. Instantly Kaelie's face turned into an uglier scowl while Jace's was once again impassive.

"Run along little bitch, your slutty gown for my ball awaits you." Kaelie walked up to me. She was beautiful, and maybe to some she was intimidating, but not to me of course.

"See what happens when you call me a bitch again."

"I already know what will happen. Your blood will be on my hands. Back the hell off before I lose it."Kaelie's eyes light up with fear and she quickly scurries down the hallway to her room.

"Your room is ready in the tower." Jace stated blandly.

"The tower? I though the plan was to have me in the north wing?"

"Yes, we'll, the North tower actually has easier access to our rooms, and Father thought you would like your privacy."

"How thoughtful of him."

"I can take you-"

"I know where it is." I turned and walked out of the room, Jace following on my heels.

"Clarissa, stop doing that."

"Stop doing what?"

"Pretending that you don't care." I stopped abruptly and faced Jace. I threw the hood off my head, exposing my bloody face, I took the cloak off my neck exposing my blood-covered body, I unsheathed my chakrams, still covered in blood.

"This is someone else's blood. I killed them. I hurt them. I took away their lives, and i don't care." With that I brushed past Jace. I was leaving myself in danger by exposing myself. It was time to smarten up. I needed to stay closed off. It was the best for everyone.


After storming back to my old room and throwing a fit -and a few objects- I finally called Maia to my old chambers to help me prepare for the ball. There was nor eason to go to the new rooms when I would be killed after this night. Maia knew what I had planned tonight and she told the staff. Not surprisingly, they all agreed to help me and not to whisper a word.

The dress maker made a gown that fit the occasion like none other. It was blood-red and fell to the floor. It didn't have the princess skirt, but still proofed out slightly. The skirt was very light and you could obviously see that quite clearly every time I moved the slightest. A plan red top went with the dress and had a sweetheart neckline. Overtop of the red top half of my gown was lace. It was an intricate design they covered everything from my neck to my arms. A thick golden belt with designs much like my combat boots was was wrapped around my waist, and my ruby hung around my neck. My hair was a halo braid. It took Maia an hour to straighten my hair and then delicately curl the ends again. My make was above and beyond what I expected. Maia had taken her time to give me smokey eyes and make my face flawless. And to top it off my lips were the colour of blood. The color of blood everyone involved with Madeline's murder would shed tonight.

TMI BELONGS TO CASSIE CLARE