***************** Chapter 11 *******************

She left the library and practically ran to her room. She grabbed the cards that Madame Dorothea given her out of her bottom drawer. Clary placed her hand over the cards and felt one burn her skin. She pulled the card out and gazed down at the ace of cups. It was a picture of the mortal cup. Her hand hesitated over the card. She flipped the card over again and again before looking deeply into the painting.

Clary was the only one who shared her mother's gift to reach through paintings. She knew that she should leave the cup in the card but a part of her was curious. Her mind got the better of her though and she withdrew her hand reluctantly. She took the stack of cards and hid them in the secret compartment within her dresser.

Behind her drawers was a small compartment with a lock. She kept a stele in there for safe keeping. Now she placed the cards in and locked the cabinet using a special seal rune. Only she could open up the lock now. She put her drawers back and was getting up from the floor when her mother and brothers came in.

"Are you okay?" her mother asked. Clary looked up.

"Yes. I just needed a moment to catch up on everything that has happened these last few days." She smiled weakly.

Her mother wrapped her arms around her.

"Well there is nothing to worry about now. The cup is gone where even a great warlock like Magnus can never find it." Her mother smiled. Clary nodded and looked at her brothers. Jace refused to make eye contact.

"Well I better get packing. Father still expects me to go to this school and I wouldn't want to make him angrier than he already is." She said flatly.

Her mother let her go and kissed her forehead. Clary gave her another fake smile and watched her mother leave the room. She can do this. She could take her mother's burden from her. It was now her secret and hers alone. She decided that she would not tell her brothers. Maybe after her father was gone she would consider returning the cup to the Clave... maybe. After a few minutes Jace left to his room but Jonathan stayed to keep her company as she started to pack.

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"Did you search everywhere?" Valentine spoke sternly.

"Yes Lord Valentine! Everywhere. There is no way she could have escaped on her own." The man replied.

Valentine frowned. Someone was going to pay and they would pay dearly. Valentine walked down the narrow hall to the room on the far end. He entered the room and smiled. Gabriel was shackled to the wall with blood running fresh down his face from the gash in his head.

"Lord Valentine please! Please I swear I had nothing to do with her escape!" the poor man screamed.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk Gabriel. Is that why you think you are here?" Valentine replied with fake civility. The guard looked at his master with confusion.

"I..I…I don't understand my lord."

Valentine took a few steps closer.

"Dear dear Gabriel You have been a loyal follower of mine for many years."

"Yes! I have been with you for 10 years now my lord. I am loyal and you're second in command." The man said breathlessly as the hot rope holding his wrists burned once again into his skin. The man's master looked at the smoke coming off the man's skins curiously.

"I know you didn't help the witch escape." He smiled.

The man looked at his lord with relief.

"You believe me! Oh thank the angel." Gabriel smiled.

Valentine took a few more steps. Slowly getting closer to his prisoner.

"Of course I do! I know you would never betray me."

Gabriel looked confused once again. Why was he being tortured if Valentine thought he was innocent?

"My lord….if you are sure of my innocence than why am I here?"

Valentine grinned. He leaned forward slowly and put his lips to the man's ear.

"You are here to show the others what happens when they fail me."

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"Well that does it." Clary sighed zipping up the last of her luggage.

She laid down next to Jonathan on her bed resting her head on his chest. They were quiet for a few moments.

"I'm going to really miss you.." her brother whispered into her ear.

"I'm going to miss you too." She whispered unable to hold the tears back.

Jonathan wrapped her up in his arms and began lightly rubbing her back.

"It will be alright. We will get through this and you can portal home anytime you need to. Which…better be at least once a week." He chuckled.

Clary smiled. Her brother always had a way of making her feel better. She laid on his chest for a few more minutes before getting up to splash some cold water on her face. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Jonathan called out.

His mother walked in with a long green summer dress in her arms. She looked at Jonathan laying on the bed and smiled. Clary came out of the bathroom and looked at her mother.

"Is that… for me?" Clary forced a smile. She wasn't the biggest fan of dresses.

"Yes. I thought it would be very pretty and cool in the New York heat." Her mother smiled.

Jonathan and Clary were confused.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that the school was moved to the New York institute. I guess it is a good thing that you already meet and befriended the Lightwoods then."

Clary's face was blank. Oh great! Three months with Ms. America's next hottest Shadowhunter. Clary tried to smile.

"Oh…." Clary said grabbing the dress. Jonathan looked at her curiously. She didn't mention it to Jonathan that Isabelle threw herself all over Jace. She didn't feel like really ever telling him either. Though her brother wasn't stupid. His always watched her like a hawk and keeping things from him was next to impossible.

"So who is going to this school anyway?" Clary asked nonchalantly heading to the closet to change.

"Well, Isabelle Lightwood, Helen Blackthorn, Aline Penhallow and you for starters." Her mother answered her through the closed door.

Jonathan stretched his arms out and laid back down on the bed.

"I might just have to come and visit. Four beautiful girls, can't let Alec have all the fun!" he grinned wolfishly.

Though it was pretty obvious given how he was lusting after that warlock that Jonathan knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to Alec. A relief really. He liked the boy and holding him by the collar as his feet dangled over the Brooklyn Bridge wasn't a way to keep him as a friend. Though it proved quite effective in keeping boys hands off his sister. He was relieved for that he didn't have to put down the law with Alec.

"Well you're more than welcome to visit as long you don't plan on staying in someone's bedroom all day." Clary joked stepping out of the closet. Her mother's face light up. Did the dress really look that good?

It was a soft mint green dress. It was short in the front but had see-through lace that fell just above her knee and to her ankles in the back. It had a little belt that hugged her waist and thin straps that showed off her shoulders. The dress made her legs look long and beautiful. She was no Isabelle Lightwood but she felt attractive. She confusingly turned to her brother to gauge his reaction. His jaw was hung in the air as she felt his eyes look her up and down lingering in inappropriate places. She knew he couldn't help it but it was still annoying.

Jonathan had tried to kiss her when she was 14. She was so confused and shoved him away. She hadn't talked to him for a week, which was the longest they had ever fought. She had gone to the library in Alicante to try to figure things out. She ended up going through many demon books before coming to a passage that discussed blood and relationships. Apparently demons are very strongly attracted to their own blood and thus siblings often coupled. She didn't agree with it but at least she understood what he was going though. Since then she had to walk a fine line between brotherly affection and incest with her brother.

Clary looked up at her brother. This was Jonathan, her brother and she needed him as much as he needed her. They were a team. Plus her brother's demon blood and inappropriate thoughts did come in handy from time to time. If she would take his breath away she couldn't help but feel anticipation to see Jace.

"Honey you look beautiful!" her mother cooed. Clary smiled.

The sun was about to set and her father would be home anytime now. She doubted he would mention what happened this morning. They had caught him in a state of shock and anger. She was sure he would have composed himself by now. Valentine was going to have a warlock create a portal into the New York institution and see her off. Clary sighed and followed her mother out of the room. Jonathan followed with the suitcases. Clary braced herself for the last dinner she would have with her family for a while.

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Valentine got home right before dinner. He seemed a lot calmer but obviously someone paid the price for the Witch's escape. Clary's father had to excuse himself to change out of his blood stained clothes. As he was leaving Jace walked into the dining room. He looked at Jonathan before finally gazing at Clary. The setting sun peered its light through the windows and fell on her petite body. His jaw dropped and eyes grew wide before he corrected himself. Jace sat down at the table first unconsciously taking his usual spot. Clary couldn't help but smile as she took her seat beside him. She was going to enjoy making him a little uncomfortable during their last dinner.

Valentine returned newly dressed in a white shirt and took his place at the head of the table. They began eating and the meal went by in a blur. Clary couldn't help noticing the small glances Jace and Jonathan were giving her. The glances seemed to be filled with sorrow. She was going to miss them both dearly. When the meal concluded she hugged her mother, Jonathan and even Jace goodbye. Her mother was trying desperately to hold the tears back as she followed her father into the library.

"Well my daughter, it is time." Valentine whispered wrapping his arms around her. Clary nodded and her father chuckled.

"Are you really that nervous?" he asked. She looked down at her hands. Being this close to her father always made her uncomfortable but going to live with a house of strangers made her even more so. She was having difficulty concealing her true feelings.

"A little." She peeped. Her father held her closer and tightened his grip.

"My darling you are a Morgenstern. We are powerful and the ones who will lead shadowhunters into the next millennium. You have nothing to fear. If anything they should be nervous to meet you. They get to spend the next six months with Clarissa Morgenstern."

The old we are better than everyone else speech. Typical Valentine response. This did little to calm her nerves.

"And when these six months are over? What will happen then?" she asked. She could feel Valentine's body tense.

"Then you come home and all of my children will take their rightful place in the circle." He grinned.

Clary rolled her eyes. He was holding back on something and she was pretty sure she knew what it was.

"Oh, okay." She answered hesitatingly.

"Does that not seem desirable to you?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered quickly. "I just thought you were going to say that you were going to marry me off to the highest bidder or something."

Valentine was silent for a moment. Clary couldn't help but make a face. She wasn't stupid. Her father had been taking her out to 'meet' other prominent shadowhunter families. All of these families had sons of course. She wasn't stupid.

"I would be lying if I said that I haven't thought about it." He chuckled.

Clary's eyes grew wide with fear and anger.

"It isn't like I haven't had a few offers already darling. Quite a few families are interested in you and your brothers." He stated flatly.

Clary couldn't help remembering that silly Disney movie she use to watch growing up. She wanted desperately to stomp her foot like a princess and tell her father that she was 'not a prize to be won.' She knew that wouldn't work in this situation. No, not with a father who didn't know what love really was.

"And your actually considering marrying your only daughter off to a complete stranger?" she asked bitterly.

"No my darling. I am not a monster. I want you to be happy. After this school you will join the circle with your brothers. From then on you can choose any boy of a good name and I will set up the arrangements. However, that is in the future. This is the present and we should seize the day my daughter."

"Yes…. father." Clary said flatly. There was no use arguing about it now; she would bid her time. If he thought she was going to marry anyone anytime soon he had another thing coming.

"Very good. Now follow me my child." He spoke softly picking up her suitcase and pulling her behind him through the portal.

Clary landed softly next to her father in a giant library filled with books. She was getting good at landing now. In front of her stood Isabelle, Alec and two adults that Clary could only assume were their parents.

"Ah good day my faithful Maryse and my good friend Robert. How wonderful it is to see you again. Ah yes and these must be your children?" Valentine spoke cheerfully.

"Yes," Robert spoke. This is Isabelle and Alexander, Alec for short. We are honored and humbled that you choose our institute to hold this school."

Valentine smiled. He had seen the children in passing but never introduced himself directly. There was something very intimidating about him and it was clear that Isabelle and Alec were not a fan. He brushed this off and continued.

"Well my friends I am afraid I must be leaving. There is much work to take care of as you know Robert and Maryse. I leave my daughter in your charge. It is an honor that I have not bestowed on anyone. I trust that you will look after her and keep her safe as one of your own?" he spoke sweetly but there was a depth of very real seriousness in his voice. It was a warning.

"You have my word that I will do all I can to look after your daughter just as if she was my own Isabelle." Maryse smiled.

"Very good then!" Valentine said. He kissed Clary on the cheek and with that walked back through the portal. In a flash the portal sealed itself and he was gone.

Clary stood there quietly for a moment.

"Welcome to New York Clar-"Maryse began to say but was cut off by Isabelle who jumped forward and wrapped her arms around Clary.

"Clary! I am so glad you're here! I can't wait to train with you and do your hair and makeup! We will have so much fun!" Isabelle squealed.

Her parents looked shocked but Alec just chuckled. This was his sister's way of trying to make up when she did something wrong. He couldn't help but laugh a little seeing the surprised look on Clary's face. His parents were too shocked to really say anything.

"Come on Iz! You're going to scare her away with all that nonsense! She has only been here for two seconds." Alec jested.

"It's okay." Clary spoke forcing a smile on her face.

"Come on Clary! Let me show you to your room." She said dragging her towards the door.

"Alec bring her bags!" Iz commanded.

Clary barely had time to wave goodbye to the Lightwood parents before Isabelle had her out the door. I guess there would be plenty of time to get to know her parents in the next six months. Isabelle seemed friendly though a part of Clary was still upset with her about the Jace incident. It is something they might have to talk about later if he ever visited. She had only been in New York for five minutes and she already missed her brothers. Aside from that though a part of her did feel at home here. She reminded herself to seize the day like her father instructed. Who knows? Maybe she could actually be happy here.

***********************************************Authors Note *********************************************************

I know, I know! I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope it was worth the wait. Things are about to get very interesting in the next few chapters. I didn't know when I started this story how long it was really going to be but I am in it for the long haul. I hate leaving stories unfinished. I actually do read many of the fanfictions on this site too and it always annoys me when people abandon a good story. This will not be the case for any of my stories. expect another update before Friday. Leave a review and let me know what you think of the story or what you would like to see happen.

Peace Out!