Hey reader! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and added me or my stories to their favorites! Please keep with the story and keep reviewing….the effort never goes unnoticed. Now without further ado, here's Jace's POV!
Chapter 11
I couldn't get out of bed this morning. My muscles seemed to spasm with pain every time I attempted to move, but of course the world was calling as my phone vibrated.
The Center 3:00p.m- Status Update
I groaned into my pillow. Have you ever had one of those days where you don't want to get up and do anything but just roll over and go back to bed? This was one of those days…and a greater power is forcing me up….a power greater than my parents that's for sure. I pushed myself off the bed and stumbled into the bathroom for a hot shower.
The door slammed as I went for my keys and I looked up in surprise at Sebastian.
"Where have you been?" He shrugged.
"Status update at HQ." I gaped at him.
"What the hell? Why didn't you wake me up asshole?" Again, he shrugged, making me realize two things. One, how much I wanted to dislocate his freaking shoulders and two, how my level of violence isn't…healthy.
"They told me not to bring you…..guardian updates are separate so while you're at HQ, I'll watch over the girl." I was tempted to correct him and tell him her name was Clary, but I was already running late. Just before I reached the door our phones buzzed again.
Bring Verlak, there's already someone watching the subject…there's an update that both of you need to hear.
It seemed like forever since I had been here. The wind was unusually strong today as I pushed open the heavy wooden door. The office was busy…as usual. Valentine's office was located at the top floor and my stomach was rolling at the possible news that he could tell us. What if there was more danger directed towards Clary than we realized? Had she found out what I was?
The doors slid open and Hodge greeted us. We sat down and I eyed Valentine suspiciously. He had on the impassive mask as he always did. He didn't say anything as he entered a videotape. I watched in amazement as my Clary stood up to the jackass of the detective. I couldn't help but feel impressed at her determination to find her mother. They must be close.
"Wow...that's hot." Sebastian comment. He took the words right out of my mouth, I watch with a slight smile as she stormed out of there. Valentine slammed his palms on the table.
"Gentlemen, as "hot" as that is, she is persistent in trying to find her mother. One of our spies has told us that she has been doing a bit of…research.
"Spy?" I thought this was just a single mission for two operatives. "What spy?"
"Someone who…has been getting to know her a lot these past weeks… not really any of your business." Hodge put in. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm sorry but if I'm to protect her I need to-"
"You don't Herondale," Valentine interrupted, "that's not what I called you here for. Jocelyn Fray was…taken. She was kidnapped and Clarissa Fray's investigation is…intruding on our current investigation as to the whereabouts of Jocelyn Fray." There was an investigation going on? Why wasn't I told?
"What do you need us to do?" Sebastian asked. Of course, always the crowd pleaser.
"Make things…..difficult for her. I assume you know what I mean?" Valentine flipped a page.
"Yes sir." We responded in unison. I felt guilt blooming in my chest. It was obvious that Clary was dedicated to finding her…to finding out what happened to her. Was it right for me to stop her even if it was for her own good? That would be hypocritical especially after what happened to my mother….I took a deep breath.
"You're dismissed…oh and Herondale?" I turned around. "Your father wants to speak with you in conference room 6."
He was sitting in one of the chairs when I got there. Everyone said I looked like him…except for the eyes; I had my mom's eyes. I tried not to wince every time someone affiliated me with….him.
"I hear you've taken on an important job." He said, his cool blue eyes appraising me carefully.
"Hello to you as well father." I muttered as I sat down.
"I have also heard that you haven't lost that despicable tone of voice and now I've seen that is true." I rolled my eyes, feeling more like a teenage than ever. Who was he to dictate how I speak? Especially not after what happened. "So…Clarissa Fray hmm?" A shudder went through my spine as he said her name…it just didn't sound right. "You are her guardian." It wasn't a question.
Before I could answer he reached over and in a split second pain exploded in my jaw and I tasted the metallic liquid of blood. It took a few seconds to register that he had punched me. He then roughly shoved me to the wall, his hands gripping my shirt tightly. This was all too familiar and I couldn't help but smirk.
"You know this is wrong on so many levels….I'm technically jailbait."
"Shut up," he hissed, "shut up, shut up! How dare you stain the Herondale name by taking on this job protecting some girl?" He spat, "her mother is missing and yet the stupid bitch decides to put herself in danger. They won't let her die and waste your skills on her? How dare you take the case?" I felt a flare of anger at the fact that he referred to Clary as a stupid bitch.
"I really didn't have a choice in that...You know what a tight ass Hodge is." My smirk more pronounced. He slammed me in a chair.
"You've gotten cockier." He stated. I shrugged.
"I've always been this cocky…you just haven't taken the time to notice." He starred at me long and hard.
"You're getting off this case." That was all he said as he walked out.
During the ride home, I know I should feel relived at the possibility of being released from this case but….did I really want to be? My phone buzzed and I looked at the caller ID and smiled.
She was already there when I got there, swinging lightly on the swings. I could see her from a mile away with her long, red hair flying in her face and her eyes closed as the swing squeaked.
"What happened to your face?" She asked, alarmed. I shrugged.
"Got in a fight with four men that just broke out from prison." I grinned. "Doesn't it make me look rugged?" She didn't say anything but just looked away.
"Hey Nancy…you ok?" I asked, truly concerned. She looked up and sighed.
"Why are all of your files locked?" The words seemed to spill out of her mouth and she blushed a furious red before clamping her palms to her lips. I smiled.
"You ran a background check on me?" My grin grew wider as her blush grew deeper.
"No-I just-it was-Simon-"She took a breath, "It was a matter of personal safety." She nodded her head, satisfied with that answer. I chuckled.
"What so you weren't able to find my criminal records? Break into highly secured areas? Robbery of precious gems?" Her eyes widened. I laughed, "Only joking Nancy." Her expression morphed into annoyance. "I'll tell you why my records are sealed…if you tell me what's with you and this park."
"I don't think I know you well enough for that…"
"All the better, I'm a stranger…not a person to judge you or this place…and if you dislike my reaction you can just never speak to me again…although I will be very hurt if that happens." I dramatically clutched my chest. She laughed.
"Alright…..uhm…my mom used to take me to this park almost every day. She said it was a place of inspiration…of peace and I always took her words for granted. She was-"She broke off and cleared her throat," she was umm….she went missing a few weeks ago and now…well now I come here just to see what she meant."
"Do you?" I asked quietly. I saw why she was looking for her mom now. You never know what you have until it's gone. She gave me a small smile.
"Maybe….it's your turn." I cleared my throat.
"Uhh...right well there was this….accident, it was …pretty bad and the police started suspecting my dad of having something to do with it. He was cleared but….he and his super high in government lawyers decided to close my files for my own protection, just in case anyone started to snoop around again."
"Can I see your arm?" I was thrown off by her question but for some reason, m arm gravitated towards her hand. She gently pulled my sleeve up and examined my scars. "Are these from the accident?" She asked softly. She looked up at me, not with pity or sympathy but with sensitivity and curiousness. I swallowed my guilt as I fed her another lie.
"Yea…they could never get rid of those."
"What about the tattoos?" She asked. Tentatively she reached and gently traced it. My muscles stiffened in reflex but relaxed as she traced paths, alternating between black strips of ink to faint pink lines swirling around my arm.
"They cover the scars….and they make me look bad ass." She smiled slightly at my lame joke.
"I have a scar on my knee you know," she said casually, "From falling off the monkey bars." I glanced up and saw a set of green monkey bars and smiled wickedly.
"I don't think this is a good idea!" Clary exclaimed as she climbed up the first few rungs. I could already see her shaking.
"Come on Clary, face your fears." I had already scrambled up the bars leading to the rows of vertical rungs. I sat on top of them looking out past the trees at the clusters of people. "Great view!" I could hear her cursing me out as she carefully climbed up the next few rungs. My grin grew wider.
"Ok…this is kind of high…I'm going to go down now." I looked down to see her going down as fast as she could.
"Clary," She stopped and looked at me, "don't think about where you are just keep going." She looked at me and took a breath and paused and closed her eyes. She then began to slowly climb up. "Don't think about how far you have to climb, just climb…you're almost there!" Her eyes were squeezed shut as she finally got up here. I scooted over and gently guided her hands along the rungs. "Ok, now slide your legs in front of you and lower your butt…oh yea it might be a good idea to open your eyes about now."
Her eyes slowly opened as laughed breathlessly….nervously.
"Wow..."she breathed. "I can't believe I did this!"
"Yep enjoy the view of the street dancers and doomsday proclaimers." I lied down. She laughed.
"My mom could never coax me up here." I shrugged.
"It was nothing…just me incessant charm."
"Well…thank you." I shrugged again. We sat there for a while, drinking in the sounds and sights of New York. It was a comfortable silence; for once I wasn't cracking any jokes. I looked over at her and grinned. She was way too interesting of a case to be taken off of.
"Jace?" She asked, interrupting my thoughts.
"Yea?"
"Get me off of here now."
"So…thanks again." She smiled at me.
"Well…whenever there's trouble you know who to call." She started to walk away when she stopped.
"Oh and Jace? You're not a stranger."
I walked down the street, smiling as I thought about that. Sebastian probably wasn't going to cook so I guess it was up to me to get dinner. The flickering sign of Taki's was visible in the dim light of dusk as I approached it but froze. In the window, it was Clary…and Alec and Isabelle Lightwood. I snapped my phone open.
"Clarissa Fray has come into contact with Clave agents." I muttered into the phone.
Just a small note: reread the part while Jace is watching the video ;) You know what I mean.
