Here is chapter 10. This is where things get picked up even more. I think more characters get developed and relationships are built. Tell me what you think about it. Please enjoy and review!

Clary has realize just how much she doesn't fit in with the other shadow hunters. Clary begins to doubt if she even belongs there. Jace is starting to make it very clear what he wants is something he can't quite have... yet. Will Clary let her feelings be known? How will Jace make Clary feel better? Read on to find out...

Chapter 10

I end up telling Jace everything. I feel that he has a right to know. He is the only one who has be specifically kind to me and came out looking for me. I just don't know how Jace is going to respond to this news. It's a lot to take in. I know it was for me.

Jace just stares at the ground while we sit on a park bench. Jace clenches his hands together then finally looks up at me. "That means there really isn't anything we can do to stop this war."

I sigh and shake my head. "I don't know. We could always try."

"That spider demon said that there was going to be a war and we would have to put the pieces back together," Jace frowns then stares at his hands again.

"But we don't have to just sit back and take it," I sit forward and glare at Jace. "It just means that we know what's going to happen and we can start figuring out what to do about it."

Jace nods slowly and groans in frustration. "I've never fought a war before."

"Neither have I," I smile.

Jace nods then looks up at me with a smile. "I would feel a lot better if you would give me a kiss."

I roll my eyes. "You would make a serious situation immature. Can't you think of anything better to do than kissing me?"

"No," Jace answers matter-of-factly.

My face starts to heat up. I grab my overnight bag and stand to hide my blush. I clear my throat. "We should get back to the institute. The others might freak out if the two of us aren't there when they wake up."

"Or they might think we snuck out together for a little privacy," Jace stands and grins.

"Shut up," I start walking.

Jace falls into step next to me. I have to keep adjusting the strap on my shoulder because it's so uncomfortable. Finally Jace grabs it and carries it for me. "No complaining. You're bothering me with all your fidgeting. Hey, do you want to go get something to eat?"

I considering then shrug. "Sure. Why not?"

Jace grabs my hand and pulls me toward a restaurant. It's still sort of dark out, but this place is serving breakfast already. Jace pulls me into a booth with him. I look down at the menu and narrow my eyes. Raw mean, blood, etc… Jace reaches over and turns the menu over. "This restaurant serves human and non-human. Try the human menu."

I check the human menu. "You know, I once went to Africa and spent a week in the wild. The idiots who sent me there didn't remember to make precautions against the rebels and militia. There are always wars going on there."

"What happened?" Jace looks up.

I sit back and frown. "The compound I was sent to got attacked, invaded, and taken. It's a good thing I got away quickly. Horrible things happened to the people who didn't get away in time. Just thinking about it now makes me shiver."

"So then what happened?" Jace sets down his menu.

"Because I didn't have time to prepare, and I was being chased, I had to run into the jungle and stay hidden for a few days. They were persistent, but they didn't find me. I did have to survive on what I could find. I had to resort to eating raw meat a couple of times. It's not as bad as you might think."

"Why didn't you build a fire to cook it?" Jace asks.

I make a face. "Because they would have found me. Jace, it's brutal over there."

Jace nods and goes back to his menu. "That's pretty hard core. Didn't you get sick from eating raw meat?"

"Horribly, but it was better than dying," I look down at my menu.

The waitress walks over to our table and grins at Jace. "Hey, Jace. What can I get you?"

"The regular," Jace hands her the menu.

Jace's fingers touch hers by "accident" and pretends not to notice. I can tell the waitress likes Jace and they know each other from before. I roll my eyes and chose a pile of pancakes for my order.

Once the waitress is gone Jace turns to me. "That's Kaelie. You don't have to worry. We haven't been together in over a year."

"That's nice," I mutter as I reach into my bag and pull out a sketch book.

Since I was pretty good at drawing during art class I decided to take up sketching more. It's really relaxing. I need something to keep my mind off of things. Especially now that things are getting really intense. I need some sort of release.

Jace watches me curiously, but doesn't say anything. I lean forward as I draw. I know exactly what I want to draw. Of course I'll never show it to Jace, but I think he's a good muse. I draw what I remember of him. I'm in the middle of my sketch when Kaelie comes back with the food.

I dig into my pancakes then go back to my sketch. Jace looks totally involved in watching me. I ignore him the best I can, but it's really hard with the way he's looking at me.

When I finally finish I feel like I go it as best as I can get it. Why does Jace have to be so hard to draw? I close the sketchbook and put it back in my bag. I put my head down and sigh. Jace tilts his head. "What's the matter?"

I look up and shake my head. "It's nothing. I'm just tired."

"That's not the truth," Jace frowns.

"Like you haven't lied a single time in your life," I throw back at him.

Jace stares at me with blank eyes. "I don't lie."

"Ever?" I lift my eyebrows.

"Ever."

I sigh then sit back up. "Is that so? I can't believe someone has never lied before. I do it all the time. I made a living off of it. I think you're lying now saying that you've never lied before."

"Well, it's the truth," Jace goes back to eating.

For some reason I do believe him, but I don't want to give him the satisfaction of telling him that. I know Jace. He will do anything to not only get on my nerves, but to tease me to no end. It's like a sick game to him. It really is starting to get on my nerves.

When we finally finish eating we get ready to leave. Kaelie, on the other hand, has different ideas. She saunters up to Jace and presses against him seductively. "I'm off work in an hour. How about you and I get reacquainted tonight?"

Jace looks at Kaelie for a second then pushes her away. "Sorry, Kaelie, but I'm not interested. Not anymore."

"Since when did you start playing hard to get?" Kaelie pouts.

Jace arches an eyebrow. "Since someone I want started playing hard to get."

Kaelie crosses her arms. "Who exactly might that be?"

"That is none of your business," Jace grabs my hand and pulls me out of the restaurant.

I grab my bag quickly and we're out the door. I look up at the name of the restaurant. Taki's. Maybe I'll come here more often. I don't think I've ever seen this place before. I don't know why though. It serves humans and those who aren't human.

Jace is still holding my hand when we go into an ice cream shop. He lets go as we enter to open the door for me. "Ice cream after breakfast is the best. Come on."

I go inside and order two scoops. Butter pecan and pistachio. Jace gives me a look. "That's disgusting."

"Oh, chocolate and mint ice cream is better?" I throw back at Jace.

Jace licks his ice cream. "This is the best combination of ice cream there is. I don't know what's going on in your head. Maybe it's because you're ginger."

"Me being a ginger has nothing to do with the flavor of ice cream I like, Blondie," I lick my ice cream.

As I lick my ice cream I don't notice Jace watching me with hooded eyes. I stare out the window as I enjoy my ice cream. I don't care what Jace says, these are the two best flavors. I feel some drop onto my hand. I frown then lick it off quickly.

I grab a napkin just in case it happens again. Then I look up at Jace. He turns away quickly and finishes off his ice cream. "We should really get going."

When I finish my ice cream Jace takes me back to the institute. I go inside to find that no one is awake yet. We got back just in time. Jace takes me to the space bedroom. "You can stay here."

"Thanks," I wouldn't have minded staying in the green house though.

I set my bag on the bed and look around. It's not too over the top. At least it's clean. Jace leans against the door. "So, you're okay with staying here, right?"

"Well, I didn't pack my things for nothing," I unzip my bag.

Jace moves over to the window and looks down at the street. "We'll go check out the basement at your house after everyone is up and we tell them what you told me."

"Actually, could you not tell them about Arcadia?" I look up.

"Why?"

I give Jace a look. "Because I promised I wouldn't say anything about her. I just want to keep my word with her. She knows a lot more than she told me and I don't want to get on her bad side."

Jace nods then goes to the door. "There's a bathroom over there if you want to get cleaned up."

Then Jace is gone. I start unpacking. I put things where they should go then I go downstairs where Isabelle is trying to make breakfast. I see her trying to put salt in something that smells sweet. I hurry over and grab Isabelle's hand. "Don't put that in there."

"The recipe says it needs sugar," Isabelle frowns.

I pull the salt away. "Sugar. Not salt. Try paying a little more attention."

Isabelle frowns. She takes the salt back and frowns at it. "Where's the salt then?"

I grab the sugar from one of the cabinets. Then I hand it to Isabelle. "How about I label them so you don't mix them up again. It's one of those classic cooking screw-up moments."

After that I go into the living room where the others are waiting. I sit on the arm of Jace's chair. "It looks like Isabelle is making something sweet for breakfast."

Everyone groans. Jace looks up at me. "And you didn't stop her?"

"Well, I stopped her before she put salt instead of sugar so I think that will make a difference," I cross my legs.

When Isabelle sticks her head in the living room everyone gets tense. "Breakfast is ready."

I turn to Jace. "Come on. At least try it."

Jace crosses his arms over his chest. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't feel like going to the hospital again."

"Don't be like that," I grab Jace's arm and pull him with me.

Jace lets me drag him after me. I sit down next to him to make sure he doesn't try to run. Isabelle sets down a plate in front of each of us of what I think is a pancake-waffle hybrid.

For a second I just stare at it. Then I lean down to sniff it. I cut a piece and hold it up. Everyone watches me carefully. I've never had a problem when it came to food. I've eaten raw meat before. I don't think anything could top that.

So I put the pancake into my mouth. I chew for a second before it hits me. I wince. "God, Izzy. How much sugar did you put in this?"

Isabelle looks at the counter. "It said a cup."

"This is way too much to be just a cup," I spit the food back out onto the plate.

Jace takes a bite and makes the same face as me. "Seriously, Izzy. If this doesn't make me sick it's going to give me a migraine."

"Stop being such a woman," Izzy huffs and storms out of the kitchen.

I already have something sweet this morning. I don't want to have any more. Sweet things tend to not sit well with me. I'll need to work it off later or I'll get super hyper. It's not a pleasant experience. Knowing Jace, he would probably tease me with it.

"Can we go to the training room?" I look at Jace.

Jace nods and wipes his tongue. "Yeah. Anything to forget this mess of a breakfast."

I hit Jace in the ribs. "Stop being so mean."

"You said the same things," Jace grabs his side.

"All I said was that there was too much sugar," I push Jace then go through the door first.

Jace comes up behind me and grabs me. He lifts me and throws me over my shoulder. "Why do you have to be so aggressive? You should act more like a girl, Clary."

"Put me down, jackass!" I yell.

Jace thrusts his shoulder making it dig into my stomach. I let out a puff of air and hit the back of Jace's head. He takes me to the training room where he drops me on the floor hard. I roll over and get onto my knees with a glare.

Jace walks over to the wall of weapons and throws me one. "I want to know just how good you are at sword fighting."

I roll my eyes and grab the sword. Then I stand and rub my stomach. "That really hurt, asshole."

"Watch your language," Jace laughs.

I growl and run forward. Jace holds up his sword and dodges. He thrusts forward which I parry then swing at his head. There are a lot of memories for me that involve swords. It used to be my favorite weapon. Then I stopped using it because of the memories. I switched to guns.

At this point I think I'm no longer lingering on the past. I decided that I can't let it hang over my head for the rest of my life if I wanted to move on. It's something that can't be forgotten, but I can forgive myself for it.

I put my mind back to sparring with Jace. His movements are so fluid and agile. There is no hesitation in his actions. Jace knows what he's doing. He's been doing this for a very long time. I can tell that by just looking at the way he moves while fighting.

Finally my body is depleted from my body. Jace lays on the floor next to me. "You know, I've never been this exhausted after training. Usually it's only the other person collapsed on the floor."

"It's called a sugar low," I turn my head.

Jace stares up at the ceiling. "Maybe, but it's interesting finally meeting my match. Who trained you?"

I turn my face toward the ceiling. "Well, I remember Luke being really worried about me. Mom told me that when I was old enough to walk Luke started teaching me. It was just self defense at first. After my mom died I got into some bad crowds and ended up being a gun-for-hire. That's where I really started training seriously."

"So it was Luke who started you off," Jace sits up and looks down at me.

I look up. "What is it?"

"Luke's your biological father, right?" Jace asks.

I nod. "Yes. Why?"

Jace sits with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees. "Well, Luke is a werewolf. Does that mean you're part werewolf as well?"

"But I was injected with angel blood," I roll over onto my stomach.

Jace rubs his chin. "I don't know. You could be part shadow hunter, part angel, part Downworlder. It would be the ultimate creation."

I set my head down on the cool ground. "Arcadia said that was the main reason for me being created. To be the ultimate weapon."

Jace looks at me with a stern expression. "You're not a weapon, Clary. Luke made sure that you weren't used like that. You're more angel than anyone else. You can't be bad."

"Whatever…" I close my eyes.

Then I hear some shuffling. I open my eyes and see Jace leaning over me. My face flares up with heat. Jace leans down and stops just a millimeter from my lips. "You're not a weapon. You're an angel. Nephilim."

Jace's eyes burn with an emotion I've never seen in him before. I swallow hard trying not to move. "Jace… I-"

My breath catches when I feel Jace's hand on my waist. Jace pulls away quickly when he hears someone coming. I sit up try to return my face to it's normal color. I stand and leave the room mumbling something about taking a shower.

When I get to my room I quickly head for the bathroom. I want to get what just happened out of my head. I make the shower as hot as I can take it. Then I just stand under it for a while before I wash the sweat off my body. I push the thoughts of Jace away.

I step out of the shower and look at myself in the mirror. I look more alive than I have in a long time. Maybe it's because of all the excitement. An image of Jace flashes in my mind. I shake my head. There's nothing between us. Jace just likes teasing me. That's it. Nothing else.

After getting dressed I go to the picture of me and my family I put on the nightstand. I can't believe I can't remember her voice anymore. I miss her laugh. I don't want to forget Luke's voice either. I don't want to lose my dad too.

I set down the picture then head downstairs. I find the others sitting around the television in the living room. They're talking and laughing together. I really don't feel like I belong here. I go to the kitchen instead.

Even though I didn't eat breakfast I'm not all that hungry. I just need something to comfort me. I grab some ice cream and make myself a sundae. I know I just ate ice cream in the morning, but I need some more now. I sit on the counter while I eat.

Then I decide it's time to go to the others to tell them about what Arcadia told me. When I walk in Jace looks up. "Hey."

"So…" I look around at everyone. "What's up with them? They look a little depressed."

"Oh, I told them what you told me and they're letting it sink in," Jace looks back at the others.

I stop and look around again. I thought we were going to do that together, but I guess it's out of the question. "Oh… okay. I'm going for a walk. Is there anything anyone needs while I'm out?"

Almost immediately everyone starts giving me a list of things they need. They give me the money then I head to the door. On my way Jace catches up to me. "Hey, what's the matter?"

"Why would anything be the matter?" I frown slightly.

Jace moves in front of me and blocks my path. "I know you well enough by now to know that you're not telling me the truth. I haven't told a lie to you in all the time I've known you. Now tell me what's going on before I pry it from you."

I look up with a scowl. "Get out of my way, Jace."

Jace crosses his arms. "Make me."

I throw my hands up in frustration. "Ugh! You're so immature. Why can't you just listen to what you're told for once in your life and stop being such a jerk?"

"Because then I would be throwing away my bad boy reputation," Jace grins.

Before I can yell at Jace again I hear someone walk up behind us. I turn to see Magnus with an amused look on his face. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting a lover's spat?"

"No," I push by Jace.

Then I'm through the door and walking down the street. I go into the store and buy everything everyone wanted. I scare away some people as I'm going through the store. I guess I must still look really angry from when I was yelling at Jace.

When I'm done shopping I head out with my arms full of bags. I'm stuffing some money into my pockets when I bump into someone. I look up and I'm about to apologize when I see who it is. I groan and roll my eyes. "Just great."

Maia looks up at me with a surprised expression. "Clary? I didn't expect to see you here."

"Right back at ya," I move past her and start walking.

Maia follows me. "Let me take some of those bags for you. You're going to the institute right?"

I give her a look then decide it couldn't hurt. If she steals anything I can just use the extra money I have to go get a replacement. Maia takes a few bags from me and walks silently as we make our way to the institute.

After a few minutes Maia breaks the silence. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you at the pack meeting. It's just that Luke never really mentioned anything about having a kid. He was pretty adamant about keeping his pack life and his human life separate."

I stare at the ground. "I don't understand why he would keep this whole other world from me. It's not like I wouldn't have believed it. Maybe he was just ashamed of me."

Maia looks up, surprised. "Why would he be ashamed of you?"

"You tell me," I sigh.

When we get back to the institute Maia hands me the bags. She shuffles her feet. "I have to get back to my pack. We're going out to search for Luke again tonight… you know you're welcome to join us. I believe that you're his daughter."

I shake my head. "No. I need to stay with these guys. Thanks for the offer though. Try not to get into too much trouble."

With that I go inside. I find the others talking in the living room about my prophecy. I drop all the bags on the floor. They all turn to me. They all rush over to get their stuff. Jace looks up at me. "Come sit down, Clary. We were just talking about the stuff you told us about."

I move inside and stand against the wall. Isabelle sits on Simon's lap once again. Alec and Magnus are sitting on the couch. Jace is sitting on the only other chair. That leaves me to stand. I don't mind.

Magnus starts up the conversation again. "So, does this mean that we're all supposed to fight in a war? I don't like war. I've seen enough of them to know that they're not pretty or easy. I'm also old enough to know that it's going to be dirty."

"No one said war is going to be easy," Jace throws at the warlock.

Alec gives Jace a look. "All Magnus is trying to say is that none of us is prepared for this. Only Magnus knows what it's like to be caught up in the middle of a war."

Jace looks at me. "No he isn't."

Everyone turns to me. I look up and sigh. "Jace, I was running for my life."

"But you were running because of war," Jace responds.

Magnus narrows his eyes. "Which war?"

"Africa," I cross my arms.

"Very specific," Magnus rolls his eyes.

I scowl and look at the floor. "I was caught up in an uprising. That's all. It doesn't mean I was apart of it. I went on the run when the compound I was staying at was attacked and taken. I hid in the jungle for a week while I was being hunted."

"Hunted?" Isabelle covers her mouth with her hand in shock.

I shrug. "I guess that's the right word."

Jace sees the look on my face and stands. "Clary, come with me."

Before I can say anything Jace grabs me and pulls me out of the room. I have a feeling this is going to be really awkward and annoying.