Cary, hic, I mean Clary chapter 8
Disclaimer: All things MI belong to Ms Clare
The cab sped along the Brooklyn streets, each light always at green. The edges blurred, the cab was zooming so fast, and it seemed they were partly in clouds. Clary thought this must be some kind of magical mystery ride that only Magnus could concoct. While she was avoiding watching the blurry landscape outside, she closed her eyes and trusted the magic to bring her to Jace. The moment she relaxed the taxi hit the brakes and stopped abruptly tossing Clary forward and she hit her head against the plexiglass divider.
"Ouch. What happened? Did you hit something? See something?" she asked while she rubbed her bruised forehead.
The cab driver stared straight ahead. He said nothing. Clary tried to see his face, his eyes through the rear view mirror, but he kept moving so she could not see him. Then she thought better then to press the magic and she got out and stood on the side walk.
She turned around to look at the cab and it was gone. She looked up and down the street. Odd she never heard it leave, she thought as she shrugged her shoulders. She focused on the abandoned hotel in front of her. Could Jace be inside?
She walked up and peered in a dirty window. It was empty except for a few old boxes and scattered papers. She tried the door and it opened. She walked into the darkened room right into a cobweb that made her scream. Clary thought she heard a snicker come out behind a coat rack, but she saw no one there.
"Hello?" called Clary. No answer. She carefully started to step further into the room. That was when she felt a breeze. She turned and saw no one. She walked in more and felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah!" said Clary as she spun around.
"Disarm Shadowhunter. I mean you no harm. " said the tall, dark, and handsome young man. He looked around Clary's age. He was thin, but looked strong with straight black hair and piercing blue eyes. His lips were full and unusually red, but he didn't look like he was wearing lipstick.
"Who are you" asked Clary trying unsuccessfully to control her fear.
"I am Theodore." said the man. "May I inquire who you are?" He waited patiently.
"I am Clary and I am a Shadowhunter, how did you know?" asked Clary.
"Your speed and agility, my dear, are dead give aways to a Downworlder." said Theodore.
"You are a Downworlder?" asked Clary, surprised that he wasn't trying to fight and kill her.
"Day and night." answered Theodore.
"Are you a vampire?" asked Clary as she stared at his lips.
"Yes." said Theodore.
"Are you going to suck my blood out? Asked Clary with raised eyebrows.
"Suck your blood out? That sounds disgusting. No, I do not plan on sucking our blood out. Eew." said Theodore with a dramatic arch as he pulled his torso away from her.
"I'm sorry, I just know what I have learned as a new Shadowhunter." said Clary. She figured, he had the upper hand and knew her thoughts and movements before she did, so why lie to him. If she was marked as dead, then there was no way out. She walked into his lair.
"New? You don't say. Well, congratulations and best wishes. Please remember this day that I spared your life and maybe in the future you may do the same. You have read Aesops fables?" said Theodore.
"Yes, but not in a while." said Clary.
"You should give it another read. They are some of my favorite sayings. Anyway, to what do I owe this visit?" asked Theodore.
"I'm looking for Jace." said Clary.
"I'm sorry. I don't know any Jace." said Theodore. His eyes were looking deeply into Clary's and she felt stirrings inside.
"Are you alright, Clary? Can I get you something to drink?" asked Theodore.
"Yes, something strong would be nice." said Clary now feeling his control playing with her mind. She thought she was better off feeling less pain if he was going to attack her.
"Come with me then." said Theodore and he held out his arm with a southern gentleman's gesture and bow.
"I feel like I'm being led to my slaughter." said Clary honestly with a quivering voice.
"Nonsense." said Theodore, he stopped and turned her toward him. Her heart started to pound and she felt waves of arousal through out her body as he held her arms in his hands.
"Listen carefully. Yes, I am enjoying toying with you, you are like a minx. You are pretty and soft, and seemingly fast. But in case you do not know it, you are covered in a magical haze of something very poinsonous to me. I am wondering who would charm you with such great protection and send you to me?" said Theodore.
"I think it was Magnus. He is the ..." started Clary, but was interrupted by Theodore.
"Ah, that does explain it then. You may stop now." said Theodore with a knowing smile.
"You know Magnus?" asked Clary.
"Who doesn't?" answered Theodore.
"But you don't know Jace?" said Clary looking down and around and even suinting for some kind of sparkling force field and not seeing anything.
"No Jace, no." said Theodore slowly shaking his head, knowing he was disappointing her. "Would you like that drink any way?" he asked.
"Yes, I think I could use something, for medicinal purposes." said Clary.
"Come right this way, my dear." said Theodore. They walked past a ratty curtain and the room magically lit up and was full of people as if a spell was lifted.
"Is there Glamour here hiding this?" asked clarylooking confidently into Theodores eyes.
"Yes, it is hidden from the outside world. My hotel is a refuge for all kinds of Downworlders." said Theodore. He continued, "when I was younger I was in a terrible spot and I had no where to turn. A kindly old vampire and his friend, a faerie, brought me here. They helped me back on my feet and out of some difficult times. I stayed on to thank them and kept this going.
"Sounds very nice of you." said Clary with a suspicious look.
"You have every right to question my motives. I am a Downworlder, after all. Yes, I do feed off of strays that wander here occasionally. But, who said the world was fair. Remember what Magnus did to protect you. Believe me, if you weren't under his charm, we would be having a different discussion all together right now." said Theodore with the most sincerety.
"I'll thank Magnus next time I see him." said Clary. That was when she saw Jace slumped at the bar. He was drunk, but still awake. Some Downworlder skank girl was making her moves on him, but he seemed to out of it to be of any use to her really. Theodore noticed her fixation.
"This must be Jace." said Theodore.
"Yes." said Clary barely audible in the low level of rumble with all the people talking.