Chapter Fourteen

Jocelyn

"How is Clary taking to her new home?" Jocelyn asked, forcing herself to press a little closer to Valentine. She had decided that the best way to discuss her daughter with Valentine was to constantly reassure him that she loved him. She could feel his arm tighten on her waist, pulling her closer.

"She's adjusting," Valentine said shortly, enjoying the feel of Jocelyn in his arms. "I think it will be easier once she really begins her lessons; it will occupy her time most effectively. I also think, that with a little encouragement from Jace, she will settle quite nicely into her new routine."

Yes, yes, I'm sure Jace is just your latest trick, isn't he? How much do you have to hurt him to make him do what you want? Jocelyn considered the young, handsome man she had taken as her son and shuddered to think of the home she had given him. He was better with the Lightwoods, better with Maryse and Robert then he ever could have been with me.

"I don't know if it's fair, Valentine, to use Jace to coerce Clary into performing her studies," Jocelyn said uncertainly, and she saw something like nervousness flicker in his eyes, but it was quickly becoming irritation. Jocelyn back-tracked. "She can be stubborn though, after all, she is my daughter." Jocelyn smiled, flashing him a sweet look.

"Well, it took a Morgenstern to rein you in, perhaps it will take one to rein her in, too." Valentine ran a hand through Jocelyn's hair. "I have no doubt Jace cares very much for Clarissa, and it's only a matter of time before she sees enough reason for me to reward her."

"Reward her?" Jocelyn's stomach turned and she wondered what he meant by it.

Valentine smiled indulgently. "There is to be a rather large celebration, and, if she decides to comport herself like a young, proper woman, I'll allow her and Jace to attend together."

Because that's such a reward. "I'm sure she'd love that. I must say, Valentine, I rather approve of Jace and Clary; how did you ever plan this all out?"

"Plan it? I suppose it is only natural that two children, dosed with the blood of an angel, will be drawn of each other." Valentine tugged Jocelyn and she sighed internally, knowing what she would have to do. "However, I didn't expect that they would be so infatuated with each other."

Jocelyn rolled over, seating herself on Valentine's hips. She bent over and kissed him languorously. "However, I am Clary's mother, and I don't know how much I trust that boy around our daughter…if he's anything like you, that is."

Valentine laughed and allowed his hands to explore her body. "Clarissa is as much my daughter as she is yours, and so I will most certainly make sure Jace is appropriate with her."

Jocelyn didn't say much more on the subject, because she could feel bile rising in her throat; she hated Valentine, and she hated what he was doing to her daughter. As Valentine continued kissing her, holding her, stroking her body, and she tried to close her eyes and pretend she was somewhere else. For a little while, Jocelyn was capable of hiding in the dream, of seeing another man, a man she loved-and had loved all her life-and it was him touching her instead. But, in the end, when she opened her eyes and relaxed back on the bed, it was Valentine who was smiling in a satisfied sort of way at her.

"We ought to be careful," Valentine teased gently.

"What do you mean?" Jocelyn asked, thinking that Valentine had guessed her true feelings. "Be careful of what?"

Valentine chuckled. "Of you, Jocelyn. I don't know if now is the time to start…ah, expanding our family."

Jocelyn flushed. "Oh! Oh, well, no-no we don't want that." She tried to swallow down some of her embarrassment. "Unless, I mean…you don't want to."

"Not now, my dear," said Valentine, and he kissed her cheek. "I think we have quite a handful now, and not until Clary settles down do I think I can handle another child."

"Yes, yes, I think that might be better," Jocelyn said, but didn't like the way he had spoken so callously of Clary. "I haven't quite settled myself, to be honest, besides, I'm just so busy with Clary and Jace."

"I can only imagine," Valentine mused, idly twirling a piece of Jocelyn's hair about his finger. "But, just how busy are you?"

Jocelyn considered her answer before she spoke, knowing one wrong word might endanger Clary's life. "I think I could spare some time for other matters, if you have some you'd like me to attend to."

Valentine smiled at her. "You were always by my side during the first rebellion, and I would love to have you there again. I want you to be as active a member of the Clave as you were before."

You mean spend as much time away from the house as you can make me so you can torment my daughter without my knowing. "I'd love to, but…well, I want to have time with my children, too. You know, I've spent so much of my time over the last fifteen years working and struggling, and now, that I have time to relax and breathe, I find that I like being a mother."

"It doesn't mean you can't be both," said Valentine quickly, sitting up. "Come with me today, Jocelyn. It's the first Conclave I've organized, and I want you by my side."

"Is the whole family going to be there?"

"No, Jace and Clarissa will remain here," Valentine said guardedly. "I'm going to be leaving Clarissa in Jace's care actually, trusting that he'll be able to instruct her in languages while we're gone."

Well, so long as you're not alone with them… "This is important to you," Jocelyn mused, looking into Valentine's eyes. She knew what her answer had to be, there was no other option. "I'll do it."

Valentine's smile was victorious while he took her hands and kissed them. "It will be as it was before: the two of us, leading the Clave into a bright new future. The life we should have been leading all along."

Jocelyn turned to look away, thinking fast. "It does seem so unfair, though, leaving Clary and Jace locked up here while the rest of us go off to Clave business."

"What do you propose?" Valentine watched Jocelyn closely. "They're both too young to be proper members of the Clave, besides, Jace never was truly inducted into it…"

"How do you mean?" said Jocelyn sharply. "He is as much a shadowhunter as any of us, more in some ways."

"I meant only that he was, and always has been, living a life that was never his." Valentine looked rueful. "I meant him to be your son, but that meant that he never knew his own family, his own heritage, Jace isn't even his name."

"He's still a member of the Clave," Jocelyn argued.

"Just barely, and I don't want him at a Conclave until I know I can trust him," he said, and Jocelyn knew there was no point in arguing.

"I'm sure he's loyal to you," Jocelyn said, more like an afterthought than anything else. "You raised him, Valentine, and I have no doubt he is fond of you. You're the only father he's ever known."

Valentine smirked at Jocelyn's dismissal of Robert Lightwood as his father. "I only want what is best for the boy."

"Best for your children," said Jocelyn meaningfully. "What I was actually getting at was that Jace has been so well-behaved lately, that perhaps he deserves a reward."

"Oh?" Valentine raised an eyebrow.

"I know he wants to go out and visit the rest of Alicante," Jocelyn began. "I'm sure he'd be grateful if you let him explore the city…and take Clary with him."

"Are you referring to a date, my dear?" Valentine asked, smiling at her.

"I think Jace would be very happy with it, and besides," Jocelyn said, tossing her hair out of her face, "I want him to be happy. I think the loss of the Lightwoods, especially Isabelle and Alec, has really upset him. You remember how he tried to sneak out of this house to visit them the first night he was here?"

"He hasn't done it since," Valentine pointed out.

"Yes, but only because he hurt himself. Please, Valentine, I look at him and I see this sad, young man, and I think Clary is the only person who really makes him happy anymore." Anyway, the farther from this house Clary is, the better. "If you think they need an escort-?"

"No, no that's not necessary," Valentine sighed, looking thoughtful. "You really want this?"

"You and I had all the time in the world when we were young, why can't our daughter?" she pressed, making her eyes round and wide.

Valentine looked away, but his lips were curled up in a smile. "Alright, alright, while the rest of the family goes to the Conclave, they can go to the city circle and look around."

Alec

"I never thought I'd see Isabelle in a leotard," Alec said casually as Isabelle entered the studio in a black leotard with pink tights. She shot him a nasty look and he chuckled to himself. "This almost makes me want a picture of it."

"Emma, since Alec is in here with us, and you are instructing him, perhaps he should be required to wear the uniform?"

Alec's mouth snapped shut. "Isabelle-"

"Men wear shorts, regardless," Emma said in her thick, accented voice. "To the barre with you, girl, and do your warm-up, I trust you know it by now."

Isabelle pouted. "You got lucky, Alec," she tossed over her shoulder and went to work at the barre.

Alec watched nervously as Emma approached him. Like Isabelle, he thought her small and delicate, but there was a steely glint in her eyes that forced him to remember that she was a shadowhunter, and probably a talented one, given that Malachi knew her. She stood before Alec, her gaze flicking over his body, assessing him; when they're eyes met, he stuttered.

"I-I don't know if you can help."

"Help?" she asked in a low voice. "I can give strength back to your limbs, life back to your movements, and precision back to your strikes, but I do not think your problems stem from physical weakness."

Alec gulped loudly. "The current ones do."

Surprisingly, Emma smiled. "Yes, yes, they do right now, but I think there is much more for you than finding your strength. It's as much about finding your courage."

"But you can help with, you know, the physical part?" Alec heard Isabelle snort into her hand and continue stretching and flexing her legs in time to the music.

"I have said I can," Emma said. "So, you will start with muscle strengthening. Join your sister at the barre, but you must focus on your legs only. Follow me while Isabelle works."

True to her word, Emma led Alec in a number of exercises that seemed to destroy his legs. Lifting them, holding them, kicking them, bending them and everything in between; by the end of the first hour, he found himself panting. Emma told him to breathe and stretch while she led Isabelle, but returned quickly, snapping her fingers.

"Again, everything from the last hour again," she ordered. "And do it without my lead."

Alec looked aghast. It's not like I'm in practice, Alec thought angrily. In case Isabelle forgot to mention, I've recently had my parabatai stripped from me! However, Emma didn't seem to care.

"You are hurt, but that doesn't mean you can stop," she said swiftly. "How would you recover yourself if you live like this? Now, do it again!"

Though Alec wanted to argue, he reminded himself that Emma didn't have to do this. She was putting herself at great risk, helping a disgraced member of the Clave in the house of the Counsel, no less. If anything, he forced himself to recognize that he should have been grateful, and then pushed himself back to his feet to begin again.

It was a long hour, and by the end, Alec's legs were shaking; with a sigh, he's knees gave way and he collapsed to the floor. Emma stood before him. "You are tired? Good, it is a sign of a job well done." She favored him with a smile. "Sit and stretch and drink water; watch your sister dance." She offered him a large glass of water from a picture and he leaned against the wall.

Isabelle was watching her brother from across the room; when he looked up he met her eye. "Looking good, Alec," she called, and he smiled back.

"I'd say you too, but…" Alec smirked at the skirt she had tied around her waist. "You never were one for frilly things."

"You really think so-" The door to the room opened suddenly, and Isabelle felt her words dry in her throat. "Malachi," she said evenly.

"I thought you would be rehearsing by now," he said eyeing her outfit. Alec felt a rush of brotherly over-protectiveness hit him, and he wanted to hit Malachi for looking at his sister like that.

"She is about to begin," said Emma, stepping up. "You shouldn't be here. You need to wait until the routine is mastered."

Malachi raised one eyebrow but snatched a look at Alec. "I didn't think you'd make it down here, Alexander."

Hoped I wouldn't, more like, Alec thought angrily. "I'm back on my feet."

"Good to know," Malachi sniffed. "You need to go back to school anyway, though only the Angel knows where they'll place you."

"Alec is already trained!" Isabelle said rather sharply, eyes flashing. "He's more than capable of taking class with other shadowhunters his age."

"He is also sick," Malachi answered.

I'm sick? Alec thought bitterly. I was in love; there's nothing wrong with that!

Isabelle opened her mouth to argue but Emma made herself heard above the two and Alec found himself again impressed with her. "There will be no arguing in my studio! Malachi, you need to leave; Isabelle, I'm starting the music."

Malachi's nostrils flared, but he forced his face into toothy grin. "I was just hoping to see my ward perform, was all. I trust she is beautiful as always."

Stay away from my sister, Alec growled.

"You will be the judge of that in a month when she is ready to perform for you," said Emma stiffly. "Until then, I would ask you not to disrupt us."

"Of course," Malachi said with a bow. "I trust your judgment."

As he left, Emma raised one eyebrow skeptically that reminded Alec of Jace. He chuckled and she glanced his way. "Yes, Alec?"

"Nothing…" he said, but just the slightest memory of Jace remained and for some reason, it left him feeling warmer than before. It left him feeling more whole.

Jace

"You're to stay within the city circle," said Valentine firmly, and Jace felt his mouth drop.

"You're letting us out of the house? With no one to watch us? Together?" Jace narrowed his eyes. "Why would you do that?"

"Because Jocelyn thinks you deserve it, though the Angel knows why…" Valentine sighed, looking distracted. "And so, you and Clarissa will have the few hours that we go to the Clave to relax and explore. Be grateful."

Jace glowered. "I'd don't suppose there's some malicious reason you're allowing this?"

Valentine grinned suddenly. "I knew I raised a smart boy. Actually, yes, there is a reason I'm going to trust you. Whether or not you believe it, I have spared the life of your pathetic Daylighter friend-"

"Simon?" Jace rasped.

"Yes, that one. Now, I trust that, though he was quite in love with my daughter, you still have feelings of comradeship with him? If you and my daughter get up to any…mischief, I will see to it that the Daylighter pays the price. And I will make you two watch."

Simon's alive, Simon's alive somewhere in this city, Jace thought frantically, considering all the places he could possibly have been. "What have you done to him?"

"Nothing," Valentine said evenly, "yet. And I hope you won't make me change that. Now, do we have an understanding, Jace?"

Jace looked away. "Yes, I'll keep an eye on Clary for you."

"This is as much a reward for you as it is an excuse for me," said Valentine, smirking. "Enjoy yourselves, show my daughter a good time; Clarissa is quite taken with you."

"You really are a sick bastard," Jace said under his voice.

"I know," sighed Valentine. "She's certainly not as stunning as her mother, but, like I said, you may grow to like her over time-"

"Stop doing that!" Jace snapped, watching Valentine's smile widen. "Stop saying things about her; she's your daughter and all you do is make fun of her."

"I'm sympathizing with your situation," Valentine said matter-of-factly.

"No, you're not. You just like cutting her down is all." Jace made to leave but Valentine's hand snapped out and pulled him back. "Let go!"

"Not yet, young man," Valentine breathed in his ear. "I want you to understand, Jace, that I must treat her this way. She's too willful, too stubborn, and too strong for her own good. I think, like you, she is willing to bear great pain, but, perhaps, unlike you, unable to stand such cruel words."

"You're making her miserable, and Jocelyn will notice," Jace hissed.

"Then it's your job to make her happy," Valentine replied curtly, and then glanced toward the door to the sitting room where Jocelyn was entering with Clary in tow.

Jace gave a pause, as he always did whenever he saw Clary nowadays. He knew how much she hated dresses, and he knew he preferred her in her usual jeans and loose shirts wear, but Clary did cut quite a beautiful image in the gowns Valentine had bought for her. Tonight, it was a simple, gold, A-line piece that fell to the usual length just below her knee. Jace's eyes rose from the hem line up to the waist where it was fitted to her narrow hips, and then up to the straight neckline and halter. It would have been perfect, but for the look of discomfort on her face.

This isn't fair to her, Jace thought sadly, and tried to meet her eyes. He noticed, as well, that her make-up wasn't hiding the nasty black eye Valentine had given her. They had had to tell Jocelyn it had been a training accident, but Jace had seen the doubt in her eyes. You deserve better than this, Clary.

"You look lovely this evening," said Valentine, kissing Jocelyn.

Jace saw Clary flinch at the display and he came forward, looping her arm in his. "We're going out tonight."

"I heard," said Clary with a furious look at her father. "My mom came up to tell me to remember to thank him for letting us go."

Jace pulled her in closer. "It's okay. It's out chance to have a look round and see if we can't find any old friends. Maybe Isabelle or Alec…"

Clary could hear the hope in his voice and didn't have the nerve to tell him how much she doubted it. Instead, Clary nestled up to his side and smiled dauntlessly. "It will be nice to leave the house, even for only a few hours."

Valentine and Jocelyn turned to face the pair just in time to see Jace lifted her chin up for a kiss. Clearing his throat loudly over Jocelyn's soft giggle, he said, "Excuse me, but I don't think you two are alone."

Clary pulled back a little at the sound of her father's voice, but Jace held his ground. "Just thought I'd make my intentions clear. Clary is, after all, my…girlfriend."

"I don't remember agreeing to that," began Valentine, but Jocelyn plucked his sleeve. "Ah, well, I certainly won't stop you two having your fun. Come, we will escort you to the city circle."

Jace made sure to put a small gap of space between himself and Clary, but held her in such a way that made clear to Valentine he was going to protect her. They left the house walking before Valentine and Jocelyn, and Jace could feel Clary's heart beat through the pounding blood; he used his thumb to rub the inside of her arm, calming her down marginally. It was a long walk, down the drive and down into the cobblestone street where a large fountain held court. All around them, there were shops with lovely displays and very large houses with beautiful, stretching lawns.

Valentine turned about to face them. "Be back here in three hours' time; we will collect you then." When Valentine turned to Jocelyn, she shot him a meaningful look and Valentine sighed, reaching into his pocket. "Here, take this and treat my daughter to the niceties of Idris," he added to Jace, handing him a few small bills.

Jace eyed the money in his had suspiciously. "Do I really need it?"

"It's only appropriate." Valentine turned on his heel and Jocelyn came to his side. For a moment, her eyes peeked over at Jace and Clary, and Jace knew she was completely responsible for all of this. He nodded his head to her.

As they left, Jace rolled back on his heels. "So, Clary, where do you want to go?"

Clary looked up and down the street, but saw only the shops and the road that twisted out of sight through them. "Is there anywhere you want to go?"

Jace considered for a while and then nodded away from the fountain and the Gard. "There's a bakery down the road that has amazing apple tarts. Would you like one?"

Clary's mouth watered. "That sounds fantastic."

Jace smiled politely and bowed. "I'll lead the way." Jace set off, leading Clary along and trying to keep up the conversation. "It's a beautiful city, especially in early evening when the sun sets over the mountains."

Clary looked around her as Jace took them through the city. It was oddly empty, but the stores were still open, and when Jace pulled her aside, into a small, sweet-smelling shop, she forgot it all. "Look at this place," she breathed.

The walls were lined with shelves, all of them filled with cookies, cakes, donuts, and other sweets. She saw frosting in every color of the rainbow, sprinkles like a circus tent, and colored foil in pinks, greens, and blues. Behind a counter, a woman stood, watching them curiously and before her was a beautiful display of breakfast pastries.

"Hello," said the woman, smiling faintly at them. She took in the sight of Jace and Clary, her eyes resting a moment on her red hair, and her gaze darkened. "Just finished your studies, I suppose?"

Jace glanced around him. "Yes, and I thought we could both use a break from the stress. I've promised this lovely, young lady an apple tart."

"I don't get many of the young ones in here," she commented blandly as she wrapped an apple tart in wax paper and placed it in a bag. Again, her eyes moved to Clary, but she said nothing of it. "I suppose everything will get back to normal after a few more weeks. Things settling down, yes…"

Jace handed the woman a few bills. "Is there anywhere around here the two of us can eat? Somewhere quiet? Picturesque?"

The attendant behind the counter turned her mouth up into a pleasant smile. "Yes, just around the corner here is the canal, and a nice bridge that you can look out over the city on."

"Thank you," said Jace, taking the tart and then drawing Clary up close to his side. "Have a nice evening."

The women tipped her head carefully, but the smile was gone from her face. Clary saw her expression and frowned. "Thank you," she said a little loudly, but the woman didn't respond.

Jace opened the door and took Clary down the road. "She didn't seem too happy to see me," said Clary softly to Jace. "Do you think she knows who I am?"

Jace shrugged. "It doesn't matter. The worst she could do is not sell you something."

"Do you think Valentine was just making up the whole thing about protecting his family from angry shadowhunters, or do you think there was something to it?"

"I don't think any reasonable person would hurt you," said Jace, but he did glance about. "Everyone knows you were fighting against your father."

"But does it matter?" Clary drew closer to his side. "I'm stilling living with him, aren't I? I look like I'm benefiting from Valentine's rise to power."

"Don't worry about it," said Jace firmly. "If someone wants to hurt you, they'll have to go through me first."

Clary settled uncomfortably into step beside Jace, but she was worried. What if the shadowhunters really did dislike her? What if she actually was in danger because of her father? Jace didn't care, though, and he directed Clary to the bridge the woman mentioned and dusted a spot on it off so that the two could sit and look out on the river and the buildings turned red-gold by the sun.

"It is beautiful here," said Clary softly as Jace handed her a half of the tart. "I can see why you'd want to come here in the first place. Did you miss Idris much when you were living in New York?"

Jace frowned as a mess of memories assailed him. There were the good, the days he'd spent in the sun training, the stretch of stars above him as he'd look up at night, the quiet, peace that fell on the hills and valleys. Then there were the bad, the anger and the bitterness, the pain and loss. He sighed, staring down at his hands.

"Yes, I missed it here, but when I came back, I missed New York." Jace glanced over to her. "It's hard to feel so drawn to one place, but to have so many bad memories of it. But if you told me I'd have to go live in New York tomorrow, I wouldn't want to leave."

"I might," said Clary. "I miss it."

Jace smiled and then turned Clary's face so that she was looking at him. "Then, I suppose, I would have to go with you." With the sun touching her skin, Clary was glowing, and Jace found himself mesmerized by the sight. His heart skipped a beat and he leaned a little closer just as she did. "Clary, I think I lo-"

"Well, the baker was right," said a very sharp, sneering voice, "Valentine's daughter in the flesh."

Jace jerked back, his eyes flashing just as Clary gave a small gasp. There was a group of three teenagers, wearing training gear and bitter frowns. One of them, a tall girl with curly brown hair squinted at Clary and then gave a derisive snort.

"For the daughter of Valentine, she's not much to look at," the girl said. Her eyes glinted angrily in the sunlight and Clary noticed how weaponless she and Jace were. "I feel a little bad, but then, someone has to make a point to Valentine, don't they?"

"What do you want?" Jace said evenly, standing and positioning himself before Clary.

"We heard that Valentine's daughter was out and about," said one of the boys, eyeing Jace carefully. "We were just going to send a message, express our dislike of the current political campaign." His eyes flicked over Jace. "Who are you?"

"Jace Lightwood," he said carefully, and was satisfied that a fission went through the group.

"We heard you'd gone off to live with him…" said the other boy of the group. "Taking the princess out for a stroll, are you?"

"Screw off," said Jace, and he nodded to the other side of the bridge. "Come on, Clary."

Jace turned to go, but the girl scooped a stone off the ground and threw it. Jace jerked back and caught it before it hit either him or Clary, but the girl already found another. She looked a little discontented that Jace had caught the stone so deftly, but she arched back her arm for another throw.

"Go!" Jace hissed at Clary and pushed her.

"Jace, no," said Clary, clutching his arm. "I'm not leaving you with them."

Clary!" But another rock came pelting their way. Jace ducked but the girls aim was off and it bounced off the railing of the bridge. "Clary, just go-"

Jace's words were cut off as he looked to the other side of the bridge and saw a small group of four more teenagers, some of them carrying what might have been daggers. At his side, Clary swore. "Great."

Glancing from side to side, Jace saw they were truly cut off. He pulled Clary against him. "Do you know any hand-to-hand combat?"

Clary shrugged. "Valentine taught me a little."

Jace bit his lip. "Just stay behind me then, alright?"

If push comes to shove, I guess we can always just jump off the bridge. By the Angel, I hope Clary can swim.