Chapter 21
A red headed girl stood in the doorway of Maryse Lightwood's office, flowing curls cradled her head and fell down her back and blanketed her small pale face. Her head was cocked on an angle like she was looking at something, examining something actually or someone. Her deep concentration and the look in her emerald green eyes showed it was something she adored, they glinted and shone like bright jewels. A small smile cupped her face and presented a face of admiration and happiness entwined and tied together with a bow.
She was looking at the Angel haired, beautifully faced Shadow hunter who she'd been stealing kisses with at midnight the night before; it was almost like a romantic but heartbreaking plot to a movie. She was a little annoyed at him for telling the Inquisitor what he had; she thought she'd convinced him it wasn't his fault. You would never be able to guess she was angry at him, she felt she could never be annoyed at this kid. He had the best looks and the best intentions out of anyone she had ever met, there was simply just nothing wrong with him other than the fact that he was facing some kind of trial.
Her mother had explained to her what could happen at these trials and she had to find him instantly. She had looked in every room and asked every person she could find in a ditch attempt to find him before he went home wherever that may be. After everything she'd heard Jace tell her yesterday about his brother she couldn't imagine it was a very nice place.
Jace was sat in a desk chair in Maryse' office he had his feet on her desk and was staring up at the gigantic canvas portraits of various famous Shadow hunter's and Angels that plastered every wall. Every picture showed the great Shadow hunter's before him and he could always remember as a kid that he wanted to be on there too, he wanted to earn his place next to the rest of the great Shadow hunter's that ever lived, he guessed he'd probably blown it now. Alongside that all Jace had ever really wanted was to be appreciated, of course Jace wasn't short of attention or adoration for his looks and physic but that wasn't enough it didn't fill the gap. It was a place in a family that well and truly loved him for him and didn't make him compete for his place and right to be there. He felt that with the Lightwoods, they held him in their hearts and deeply loved him as a son and a brother. Nobody looked at him like he didn't fit, nobody treated him like he didn't belong. Of course he was the complete polar opposite to each and every one of them, he couldn't look any less like them if he tried and he could never share their blood and DNA but Jace had learnt you had to make your own family nobody comes from a perfect place, and genetics doesn't make you the same as another. Family is where you felt at home and at peace and that is how he'd felt at the Institute with the Lightwoods for a very long time. He'd felt a shift since he'd told the Inquisitor about his mistakes, The Lightwoods were very big on reputation since the circle and the uprising, Jace felt like he'd shattered the dream of his family and home with his revelation but he'd just have to live with the consequences of this and pray by the Angels they see why he had to own upto what he'd done and eventually forgive him. He didn't share their name but they'd always treated him like one of their own so he'd disgraced their name like he'd done with his biological family name but there was no other way. He couldn't live knowing he'd nearly killed the girl he was pretty sure he was in love with. Maybe he was trying to hurt himself as much as she'd got hurt and in some way that would make up for his mistakes or attempt to make amends.
Jace had to go to the Wayland Manor and get a few things, he hated to admit it to himself but he wanted to see Jonathan and his father for a last time if this was about to be the end and he also wanted his leather jacket. He couldn't be buried or thrown in the city of bones wearing a lame denim jacket. He'd be a laughing stock of the Shadow hunter world, if he wasn't already.
Jace span around the on the desk chair, as his glance whizzed past every picture stared down at him in a blurry haze, as he went around the third time he noticed red in the corner of his eyes. He put his feet down to stop himself and he span slowly around before coming to a slow grinding holt facing Clary. She quickly stood up correctly and straightened herself out, she was sure she'd been drooling over him.
"Clarissa, welcome to my office" Jace grinned invitingly; she smiled at him and laughed a goofy little laugh that made Jace snigger. Clary stopped realising how awful she sounded.
"I didn't realise you lived in here" Clary replied a little sarcastically, as she leaned against the doorframe with her back and but her hands behind her back a little nervously. Here was something about him that made her feel the most amazing feeling it was kind of jittery and she had butterflies thrashing around in her stomach but it was intoxicating it amazed her deeply. Jace smiled at her little joke, at least she'd taken notice when he'd told Alec he was going home, this was his home but he guessed he said it to piss him off. Of course she'd taken notice, the whole Institute had.
"I live threw there" Jace said crossing his legs back onto the desk, he pointed towards a wall of like a clear light blue watery substance. Clary looked at Jace in amazement; her mouth fell open as she stared at it. This world was full of wondrous things she just could not get enough of. She walked towards it slowly and reached out slowly and touched it with her fingers. It felt wet like water, it made her hand drip as she pulled her hand back out but how could water float like that it didn't make sense.
"So through here is your house?" Clary asked as she looked back at Jace drying her hand on her trouser leg.
"Through there is wherever you want to go "Jace said in an embraced smile, he got to his feet and walked slowly towards Clary. The shining blue reflected against her disgruntled face at Jace's reply.
"It's a portal, you think about where you want to go and it transports you there" Jace spoke so plainly like he was used to it, but Clary didn't hear it in the way he'd told it she heard it in the most magical way. If it could take her anywhere then why the hell were these Shadow Hunters still here she'd be on a beach in Hawaii and she would never look back.
"Really?" She expressed impressively
"Yeah. That reminds me, I should probably go" Jace cut into Clary's imagination of all of the places whizzing around her head she was trying to figure out where the hell to go first.
"I want to come with you" Jace's house wasn't the first on her list but she'd let Jace take her to hell and wouldn't bat an eyelid. She grabbed onto his arm to avoid him from leaving without her.
Jace paused for a few seconds and looked down at the grip she'd got on his arm, her hands were warm and it sank through his shirt and onto his skin. He then answered with "Clary you can't"
"Why not?" Clary was confused, why Jace didn't want her to go with him. Last night was one of the best moments of her life and she felt on cloud nine being beside him she didn't want that to end, and there was only a few hours before the trial she just wanted to spend every second with him. Her eyes were wide and full of love as she looked at him, when he glanced away from her they dimmed a little and she was taken back surprised that Jace was acting so shifty.
"Because my family are complete arseholes" Jace said.
Clary cocked her head, she wasn't sure if this was his genuine reason or it was just an excuse, she'd heard what he'd said yesterday but she didn't care. She'd like to see his brother try and attack her. She knew Jace would protect her. Besides he wasn't the same scared eleven year old anymore.
"If you don't take me with you i'll jump after you anyway" Clary tested
"It doesn't work that way, you have to be trained to use a portal or else you'll be stuck in limbo forever" Jace resided, he pulled his arm out of her grip in his protest. He wasn't sure what was worse taking Clary with him or having her stuck in limbo. At least she'd be safe in limbo. Jace took a step forward
"So I'll still jump" Clary called after him as she edged closer also
"How hard did you hit your head?" Jace laughed turning around to look at her.
"Pretty hard, but the choice is up to you Wayland, I either get stuck in limbo jumping through with you or jumping through after you" Clary announced determined. She just wanted to be with him.
"But either way it's my fault?" Jace frowned, he arched his eyebrow questioningly at how he either of them benefitted from each scenario.
"Well you're already going to pay the price for endangering my life. May as well actually endanger my life before you face the consequences right?" Clary smirked, it was a little dig at his admission for something that wasn't his fault but she didn't lay it on like Alec.
Jace shrugged his shoulders, and smiled back at her.
"Fine but on one condition " Jace subsided realising she was not going to let this go, besides he also wanted to spend all the time he had left with Clary. He just hoped like hell she'd turn out to be the miracle she thought she was and she actually got through.
"What is it?" Clary asked, she'd do anything to go.
Jace took hold of her hand. She felt tingles go through her body at the sense of Jace's touch she smiled ecstatically. The smile soon faded and her attention shifted from Jace's eyes and down to a burning sensation on her arm. Jace had taken his stele and was drawing a sort of out of proportion number 3. The top half was huge and he bottom was little and it connected through the middle with a little loop. Clary shuddered a little the pain was manageable but it fucking burnt, her skin was smoking. When Jace retreated his arm and put away his stele Clary looked down at it and frowned up at Jace. Jace wasn't looking at Clary any longer.
"Jace" Jace heard Alec's voice calling his fast footsteps echoed against the floor, moments before he ran through the door and came to an abrupt stop when he saw Jace glaring at him.
"I need to explain" Alec pleaded, he had been frantically trying to get to Jace after his parents had given his this massive lecture he'd just sprinted from one side of the Institute to the other, in case he didn't have time later he just wanted to apologise and explain to Jace that he wouldn't have done it or called him a coward if he knew he'd try and prove him wrong. Alec knew he would that's what Jace is like but he couldn't help it, it had just come out.
"I have to go" Jace said coldly
"Let me come with you" Alec's response sounded so sad and pitiful, but Jace wasn't convinced.
"Three's a crowd" Jace shrugged his shoulders, and took Clary's hand to prepare them to go through the portal.
"Oh yeah right, Hey Isabelle" Alec waved
"Isabelle!?" Clary screeched looking from Jace to Alec in complete confusion. She yanked her hand from Jace's, and marched over to the only reflective surface in the whole office, a mirror on the wall behind Jace. Alec was not wrong, she was also looking at Izzy through the mirror.
"Jace?" Clary asked questioningly.
"Jace are you crazy? She can't go through the portal she's had no training she'll end up god knows where" Alec began; he knew at a time like this h probably shouldn't interfere but he could never help himself. He's always been the older know it all brother it was hard to conform from the act.
The flash look from both Jace and who looked like his sister but was in fact Clary signalled for him to 'shut the fuck up'
"Look you have to go looking like Izzy, I don't trust my family and they know Izzy so it'll just be easier this way" Jace explained to Clary. He reached out his hand and shrugged his shoulders. Clary said she wanted to come and Jace was trying to make it happen without getting either of them killed, of course Clary didn't know that but he did.
Clary gave Jace a small appreciative smile, she walked over and took his hand as they both faced the wall of water. Alec backed out of the room, defeated. He'd fucked up and now his parabatai didn't even want to look at him. But Alec was hurt and quiet annoyed that Jace was taking Clary back home and not him. Alec barely got the pleasure to be in the Wayland's residence and Jace always argued against him being there but he just took Clary's hand and waltzed right in with her. It wasn't right.
"Don't think of anything; keep your mind completely blank. It's got to register my thoughts to take us" Jace instructed to Clary. Clary closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Jace grinned at the sight in front of him as Clary tried to make her mind blank. "Ready?" Jace called to her "I'm ready" Clary confirmed, she was extremely sick to her stomach kind of nervous but she was also a really ecstatic head rushing kind of exited.
Jace and Clary hand in hand ran towards the wall of water, Clary had her eyes screwed shut and Jace had his eyes fixed onto her. Their grip tightened onto one another just before they leapt, and with the splash which sounded like they'd dived into a swimming pool and a few seconds of silence, and just like that they were gone. Maryse Lightwood's office was left empty once again.
Two slightly wet bodies emerged into the thicket of huge pine trees that towered above them. The ground was a wet mudded surface that squelched underneath their feet as they arrived. "Fuck, we're in the middle of nowhere" Jace called out when they landed, Clary who was masked with Isabelle's face still had her eyes closed shut Jace thought it was quite comical to see Isabelle look so scared. She opened her eyes slightly and began to turn around where she stood. All she saw was tree after tree her feet were sinking into a thick black mud and she felt a little chill as a cool air swept past them. It prickled against wet skin and made her shiver a little. Her face rather Isabelle's face was a look of complete worry. She thought she'd been prepared to jump through the portal and end up anywhere as long as she was with Jace but now it was beginning to sink in how crazy that was. "At least we're together" Clary called after Jace as he began to stride towards a clearing up ahead of them. Jace knew she was trying to sound confident and unfazed by the situation they'd found themselves in. Jace laughed in response as he came to a stop at the edge of an embankment, the trees had stopped beyond that point looked like a field of grass. Clary couldn't remember thinking about this place and she had never been here but she couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Why is that funny?" Clary asked defensively yanking her shoes out the mood below her feet and jogging towards Jace. She swung around him like a pole standing in front of him and glaring at him requesting an answer unimpressed by hi dismissing her words as funny.
Jace shook his head a little a grin appeared wide across his face, he let out another laugh this time he seemed a little more amused and unfazed by Clary's interrogation.
"Hey, don't laugh at me" Clary screwed up her face and hit out at Jace with a balled fist jabbing him in the chest, she folded her arms and began to sulk like a petulant child who couldn't get her own way. For Jace looking at her as Isabelle and seeing her act this way it reminded him of when himself, Alec and Isabelle were younger and used to train, when Alec and Jace trained without her and told her she couldn't join in this was the reaction she gave.
Jace's sniggering turned into a relaxed smile and his face warmed as he rejoiced in his memories. He missed this stage in his life, he and Alec up to this point were completely inseparable and Izzy was never far behind. He felt like all of this had shifted and it didn't feel the same as it once did.
Jace took hold of Clary's shoulders and guided her body around the fact the way he was facing. Clary subsided from her sulk and cast a glance at the view Jace had been looking at, it was a field of grass but it was also the vast front garden of one of the biggest mansion sized houses Clary had ever set eyes on. Every blade of grass of the 7 acre front garden was all cut to precision; the border of the garden was edged off with an army of pine trees that were all stood to attention in a straight line. In-between each tree grew every kind of colourful wild flower you could ever imagine, there was a grey cut pathway of small circled stones leading up to the courtyard like stepping stones. A pond shadowed the bottom of the garden it was home to as kinds of colourful fish and other species such as frogs and kingfisher birds. "I wonder who lives here?" Clary asked in amazement, she was at the edge of a gardeners dream and it was magnificent.
"Yeah, I was kidding. We aren't in the middle of nowhere" Jace announced a little quietly. He purposely thought about the woods of Wayland manor to trick Clary into thinking they were in the middle of nowhere, and the reaction on her face was absolutely worth it.
"Idiot! I thought I'd never see anyone but you ever again" Clary answered shoving against Jace, she was pretending to be annoyed but she couldn't help but smile. "Hey, what happened to 'at least we're together?" Jace mimicked Clary.
"I can't believe you live here" Jace announced in amazement, her eyes were open in wonderment as she gazed at possibly one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. Her eyes saw every pretty sight, her ears heard the crashing water of the waterfall deeper in the woods, every flapping, buzzing croak, song or call of any and every creature filled her up with an immense amount of excitement. She smelt the smells of pond water and freshly cut grass, the green wilderness scent of nature filled her nostrils. After all of the magic, demons, angels and magical creatures she'd met in the last few days she didn't believe any of it was quite as magical as the place in front of her.
"Are you coming?" Jace yelled. Clary had been so amazed and filled with wonder she hadn't realised Jace had began to make his way across the wet grass towards the Manor house that towered above them. Clay could feel herself smiling from ear to ear as she skipped after Jace who was steaming off ahead not even mystified by any of this.