This was going to be a short chapter, but PurpleAi brought to my attention that what happened with Jace at the end of the last chapter was confusing and a POV change was wanted. And I thought that was a great idea! So I apologize if the two scenes in this chapter fit awkwardly together, but separately they are too short to tease you with so I figured I'd just give them both with you!
I hope you enjoy! And please review about what you like and/or what you want to see because I really do value your opinions! And thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to let me know what you think! Stay awesome :)
"So, uh, what are you up to today?" I ask Clary.
Clary slows down, seeming surprised at my question. "Well I am headed to meet Maia in the pool house, we're thinking about maybe watching a movie. Or we could invite your friends over for some board games?"
"I think Alec is busy today, but I can text Izzy. I'll meet you guys in the poolhouse."
She heads outside while I head up to my room. I call Isabelle and she said she'll head over soon, but when I call Alec he says he is busy with Magnus today. I figured he was doing one of their ritualistic date nights. I know not to interfere with those. I throw on a nicer shirt and put on some cologne while I'm in my room. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help wanting to impress Clary. I know it is wrong, but I love to see how much I can affect her. It makes me feel better about how she seems to affect me.
When I'm done I head down to the pool house and look around for the girls. I find Maia playing the pinball machine by herself and Clary is nowhere to be seen.
"Hey Jace, I didn't know you were hanging with us. Where's Clary?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. She was headed this way when I left her. I figured she would beat me here. I guess she took a detour. Wanna play air hockey?"
"Sure."
We play against each other for about twenty minutes and she is destroying me fourteen to twenty-five when Simon shows up.
"Simon! Hey, have you seen Clary? We thought she would be here a while ago?"
"Nope, she called me and invited me over about a half hour ago. I called her back shortly after to see if she wanted me to stop and get food or something but her phone went straight to voicemail."
"That's weird. Her phone's never off."
"Try again," I urge. He obliges and we all wait for a few seconds as he dials and it goes straight to voicemail again. Now I am getting rather worried. The morning after the wedding, Valentine told me I should keep an eye on Clary because she likes to skirt out on the bodyguards and her safety is pretty important right now considering they are undergoing a risky deal. He wouldn't delve into further detail, but apparently his business is not so cut and dry as they make themselves out to be, and it could potentially put Clary in danger. Knowing this, I am extremely on edge with her sudden disappearance. Maybe I should have told her about this so she could have been more careful. "We should go look for her. I'll let security know and they can check the cameras and see when they last saw her."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea. Simon come with me and we'll check the house while they are looking at the feeds," Maia says, and we all take off for the house. I know exactly where the security guards are posted so I quickly find one and fill him in on the situation. He immediately runs me down to the security office and we start rolling back the tapes. I tell them to start with her walking out of the back door shortly after our meeting with Valentine. We quickly find a camera that caught her walking out the back door. She is looking at her phone and texting someone, who I presume is Simon. When she is done she goes to put the phone in her pocket but she looks at it again and stops, making a weird face at the phone. She answers it, looking confused, but quickly her face turns very angry. She starts walking again but walks past the poolhouse. She proceeds to walk quickly to the garden and she disappears.
"Don't you have a camera in the garden?"
"Sorry sir, the camera in the courtyard is the last camera before you get to the garden." Then he fast forwards the footage to the current time, and Clary has yet to emerge from the garden. "Why don't you go check to see if she's still out there?"
"Got it. Keep looking for her though. She could be in trouble."
I quickly make my way down to the garden, which is completely empty. I yell her name several times but I get no answer. Now I start to panic. After ten more minutes of searching and yelling her name, I head back to the house. When I get back, Maia and Simon and Izzy are standing in a circle talking.
"What are you guys doing? Why aren't you looking for Clary?" I question impatiently.
"We can't find her anywhere. I don't know where she could be," Simon responds.
Now I am getting furious. "Well keep looking! You're supposedly her best friend! Shouldn't you know where the hell she would go?"
"Yes, we are best friends, but that doesn't mean I stalk her everywhere!"
"I'm sure you'd like to-" I start to respond as I get up in his face, but I am quickly pushed back by Izzy.
"Hey, don't you dare take this out on him! This is not his fault! And it's not yours either so stop getting so worked up! The security guards are more than capable of finding her so sit your ass down before we brawl. And you know I don't go down without a good fight." She's not lying. She is probably the only girl who could come close to beating me. And while I may be in the mood for a fight right now I know it would not end well. It's hard for me to restrain myself when I fight angry. I've put a few people in the hospital doing that, actually.
So I do as she says and unhappily plop down on a couch. Maia sits on the couch next to me after after few minutes and Izzy and Simon sit down on the love seat across from us.
We wait quietly for hours, no one wanting to say anything possibly for the fear of setting me off. My leg jiggles impatiently and Izzy occasionally rubs Simon's back reassuringly. Eventually I get so impatient that I have to stand and pace back and forth to keep myself from going crazy. I've run every horrible scenario in my head, from mobsters kidnapping her to someone dragging her from the gazebo and sinking her body in the water. I just know something bad has happened to her and I feel helpless just waiting here.
"Jace, please calm down. I'm sure she's fine," Izzy orders.
"What in the world makes you think she's okay? She has been missing for hours and her phone is off the grid! What other explanation is there?"
"Don't yell at her!"
"What did you say rat face?"
"Jace stop being an asshole! If you insult Simon one more time I'm going to beat your face in! We are all just as worried as you!"
"Are you? Do you know that she's actually in danger because her father-"
"Hey, who's there? I think it's Miss Morgenstern!" we hear from outside. All of us are on our feet and running to the back door. The security guards are on her asking her questions while she shies away from the flashlights looking like she just woke up. Simon and Maia run to her and the scrawny kid jumps on her almost knocking her over. He asks her why she hasn't been answering her phone and her response sets me off the edge. When she nonchalantly says that she threw her phone in the water I turn around and leave. Izzy calls after me but I don't stop as I storm off to my room and slam the door.
Enraged, I turn around and punch a hole in the wall. I shake off my hand - I've honestly punched harder things - and I run my hands through my hair, pulling the hair at my scalp to calm me down. What the hell was she thinking? Does she not give a shit that we were worried about her? That I was fearing for her life and afraid that it was all my fault? That I care about her way more than I should and that it is driving me crazy? The thought of losing her had set me off the edge, and she isn't even mine. How would I react if she was mine and something happened? I've never felt so much emotion for a girl, never had my heart actually hurt at the mere thought of losing her. What is wrong with me? I am pacing back and forth trying to cool off when a knock on the door stops me dead in my tracks.
I don't want to answer the door. I'm afraid I might say something I will regret. I can't tell her how I really feel, but I am compelled to answer the door. Reluctantly I make my way to the door and open it to find Clary trying to escape to her room. To prevent myself from saying something I shouldn't, I just stay quiet and let her talk. She spins around and stops when she sees my face.
She nervously picks at her nails as she says, "Um, hey. I hope I didn't wake you. I just wanted to apologize for this afternoon. I'm so embarrassed about what happened, but honestly I'm not used to people caring where I am. My mom called me and royally pissed me off. Then like I used to do when I was a child and she or Dad made me mad, I ran to my hiding place in the garden to cool down and the sound of the soothing water made me fall asleep. I'm sure you find that last part utterly shocking." I can't help but smile at that part. She does have a terribly adorable habit of letting water lull her to sleep. "And I didn't get anyone's phone calls cause, uh, I threw my phone in the water."
"Wow. So full on teenage immaturity, huh?"
"Well there's no way to throw a temper tantrum like an adult, so yeah."
"Your father expressed some concern to me, about your safety, the morning after the wedding and he asked me to look out for you. When you disappeared today I really thought he was on to something, and that you could be seriously hurt or in trouble and I failed to protect you. But now I realize your biggest danger is yourself. You let your shitty parents have too much control over you, whether it be your lifestyle or your feelings. And because of that you are closed off, untrusting, and just plain not happy."
"You're right. But I want to change. It's just hard. This is all I've ever known."
"Yes. But that is the point of change, isn't it? You brave the unknown and make a difference now that can change your life for good. Don't you want to be truly happy?" Before I say any more than I should, I slip back into my room and throw myself down on my bed. My mind and my heart are racing and I can't stop thinking about everything that has happened today. I can't stop thinking about her...
I stand on the pedestal observing the results as Camille finishes adjusting my dress. My curls have been tamed and brought back in a half up-do. My silky green dress is somewhat flowy but hugs my body while making me, with some help from a dreadful three inch heel, look like I'm not so short. The brown smokey eyeshadow brings out the green in my eyes and my lips look perfectly pouty and red. I hate dressing up, but I have to admit I look damn good. Camille is pretty much a bitch, but I have to give her credit if she can make me look this good.
"Wow," I say, a little shocked. I look so mature, and well, not me.
"Surprising what a little makeup can do, huh? Makes you wish you wore it more often doesn't it?"
"Actually no, but thanks anyways."
Camille gathers her things and leaves. I look at the clock and realize it's time for me to start making my way out to the limo. I carefully step down and make my way to the foyer. As I reach the top of the stairs I look down to see Jace is already down there waiting, sternly shaking hands with an unfamiliar face with black hair. Jace looks even better than he did at the wedding, and doesn't fail to yet again take my breath away. He breaks away from the boy and looks up and sees me. I see his eyes widen as he looks me up and down. I feel a blush creep up over my face so I look down and focus on making it down the stairs in these heels alive.
When I reach the bottom stair I see a hand reach out for me and I take it before I look up to see who it belongs to. I am disappointed to see that it is not Jace, but instead the boy, no the man, he was talking to. He doesn't look as good as Jace, but this guy is definitely attractive.
"You must be Clarissa. I am Sebastian, and it is a pleasure to meet you." He puts emphasis on the word pleasure, and I can't help but be momentarily weirded out by it before he takes my hand and presses it to his lips.
"Pleasure is all mine Mr., uh-"
"Verlac. But please, call me Sebastian."
"Verlac? As in Verlac Industries?"
"Yes, yes. But I don't want to talk any business right now. Tonight will be all play, no work. Now, Beautiful, may I escort you to the limo?"
I look over at Jace who seems to be glaring daggers at Sebastian. I nod halfheartedly and tear my gaze away from him. Why is he so upset? Did Sebastian say something to him?
We make our way to the limo and pile in. Our bodyguards for the night are already seated inside, waiting quietly as always. I slide in and wind up seated between Jace and Sebastian.
Sebastian jabbers away, talking what seems like only to me while a tense Jace sits silently next to me. I point out some landmarks on the way but mostly just nod and smile at what Sebastian is saying. For someone who isn't good at making friends he sure knows how to talk my ear off.
Finally we get to the restaurant and the valet opens our door. Sebastian gets out and holds his hand out for me. I take it with hesitation and climb out of the limo. Suddenly a few flashes blind me and I realize someone has already figured out who we are. Did they know we would be here or did they just get really lucky? Jace climbs out of the limo behind me and pushes my stunned self toward the door as more flashes go off. Sebastian seems to enjoy the attention while Jace and I try to get away as fast as we can, but finally we're all inside and waiting to be seated. The host's face lights up and she quickly escorts us to our table in a private room. Her eyes are fixated on Jace as we take our seats and she hands out the menus. I notice she is not shy to shove her breasts in Jace's face as she leans over to hand me my menu. I can't help the tinge of jealousy that overcomes me.
Sebastian starts talking about the great food here and how he has visited several times while visiting New York and he has never been disappointed. Jace is still not talking and he seems to be even more angry. I wish I could know what is going through his head.
The waitress comes by and requests our drink orders. Jace grumbles a response and I ask for a glass of red wine. While Sebastian is ordering what sounds like some fancy wine I can't pronounce, I reach over and put my hand on Jace's forearm.
"Are you okay?"
He looks at me fiercely but he seems to relax a little. "Yeah, I'm fine," he responds before dropping his eyes to my lips and looking back down at his plate.
"You were supposed to be the big talker here. I thought you had my back, Goldie?" I joke. Jace smirks slightly and lets out a small chuckle.
"I hope it's okay that I have already ordered the whole meal for us," Sebastian informs us. I see Jace tense beside me again. He seriously does not like Sebastian for some reason.
We spend most of our meal listening to Sebastian talk and giving curt responses when he lets us. I still do most of the talking, but Jace manages to speak a few words.
When the meal is over, Jace excuses himself to the bathroom, leaving Sebastian and I alone.
"Can I show you something?" Sebastian asks enthusiastically as soon as the door shuts behind Jace.
"Uh, sure?" I respond hesitantly. Sebastian holds his arm out for me to take, and I do. He leads us out the door and to an elevator. The bodyguards start to follow us but they back off when Sebastian tells them we are just going to the roof.
"Shouldn't we wait until Jace gets back?"
"He'll join us soon," he responds flippantly before leading us to the elevator. He tells the elevator attendant to go to the roof and whispers something I can't hear before handing him a hundred dollar bill. This place must have too much money if they have an elevator attendant. Considering this is one of the nicest hotels containing one of the nicest restaurants in New York, I guess I'm not surprised.
When the doors shut Sebastian hands me a champagne glass I didn't see him grab, and holds his up for me to clink. I give him a small smile and do as he wants before taking a big gulp. The elevator doors open and he leads me out to the roof, which looks over the city with a breathtaking view. I walk up the the railing and try to take it all in.
"It's great isn't it?"
"Wow, that is truly amazing."
"Well that's funny," he chuckles to himself, his eyes never leaving me.
"What?" I ask hesitantly.
"I got to show the New Yorker New York."
I chuckle. He does have a point. "Well it's not like I get out much," I reply offhandedly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean my father keeps me on a tight leash. And I hate being shadowed by bodyguards so usually I'd rather not go out at all than go out with them."
"Yeah I know that feeling. I've become an expert at ditching them. Gets me in trouble but hey, it's worth it."
I giggle and nod. "Yeah, me too." After we stop laughing, we stare into each other's eyes for a minute without talking. He has beautiful eyes. And we seem to have more in common than I anticipated.
Our gaze is broken when the door to the stairs bursts open and an incredibly pissed off Jace emerges. He storms over to us and tells me, "It's getting late. We need to leave. Now."
"Whoa there, what is the problem?" Sebastian suavely intervenes.
"Nothing. We need to leave."
"Hold up. She doesn't have to leave with you. You are her brother, not her boyfriend."
"Step-brother," Jace and I say in unison.
"So it seems. Maybe the tabloids are on to something."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jace spits.
"Just that you two clearly have some incestuous feelings you need to work out before it gets out of hand. You know how those paparazzi can be."
"Can we stop this shit? I am so over it! You know what? I don't have to deal with this. I am leaving." Jace takes a step towards me, and right now I am so mad that I just need some time to myself, so I add curtly, "Alone." I storm away and take off down the stairs because I don't want to stand awkwardly and wait for the elevator. I am storming off and trying to make a point, and that would kinda ruin it.