Tale of Two Flirts
Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns all rights to Jace and Clary of MI fame.
Chapter 27
Clary carefully placed the ring back in the drawer. She left Jaces' room and wandered around the institute. No one was around and after she read in the library and stopped by the kitchen for something to eat, she finally headed up to the greenhouse.
Once inside, she made a nest on the ground with blankets and she looked around at the beautiful flowers. Out of nowhere she felt a breeze. It was scented also and it smelled like an open field after a rain, fresh air and wet dirt. Clary looked trying to be on guard for any demon activity, but then she relaxed. What was she thinking, this was the Institute, no ordinary demon was going to make it through and if some real trouble were up , the whole family would be here. She decided to lay on the blanket and take a nap.
After an unknown time she was awoken by someone playing with her hair. She rolled over and found herself looking into Jaces' eyes. Oh, the gorgeous eyes. She smiled, on reflex, at seeing him and he smiled back.
"Hey, sleepy head, do you need me to get you to a bed for real rest?" asked Jace.
"No, I had a long enough rest, what time is it?" asked Clary.
"Almost time for dinner. Are you hungry?" asked Jace.
"Sure." said Clary as she sat up and stretched. She did some yoga stretches and then stood up. Jace watched her as he folded the blankets. She was moving slowly with deliberate stops to emphasize the stretches. Jace could not look away, but he was finding it more difficult to keep his hands off of her and if she only knew what he was thinking, she would turn beet red. She got a whiff of the scent again and it reminded her, so she told Jace.
"Do you smell that?" asked Clary.
"What?" answered Jace coming back down to earth.
"That breeze with a wet dirt smell, like after a rain." said Clary.
"We are in a greenhouse, dirt and water are abundant." said Jace.
"No, this is different, I feel a breeze." said Clary and she tried to look in the direction it came from when she remember the ring. She almost said something to Jace. She was going to apologize for looking in his drawer. She was going to ask many questions and then thought better of the whole idea. She would let him do whatever his plan was and she would act all surprised.
Then she saw it, a new plant. Jace saw her register it in her eyes and he thought to himself that his plans had been foiled.
"What is that?" asked Clary.
"It is called 'Portale Ecfloro'" said Jace with the resign that she may find out more then he wished.
"I think it is smoking and I think that is where the breeze is coming from." said Clary as she made her way over to the potted plant. There were wisps of foggy vapor escaping the magic flower.
"It will blossom in another day and when it does it will open into a portal." said Jace. Clary looked up at him for more information and he continued.
"I brought it here and Magnus made it for me. Yes, you felt a breeze from the winds on the other side of the portal. They escape through before the flower is ready. Once it opens it stays in bloom for about a week, plenty of time to cross over back and forth." said Jace.
"And you need to visit some place, Idris?" asked Clary.
"Yes." answered Jace. Clary looked down, she did not understand anything other then Jace was going to leave her. Even if it was just for a few days, she would miss him and then she thought about the ring. She was probably jumping the gun on at this whole wedding thing. Jace noticed she was contemplating something. He wished he could just tell her, but he wanted everything to be right, so he left her to sulk for now.
'No big deal, I just to see some people at the Clave." said Jace trying to keep his voice from sounding strained at this discovery.
"Can I go with you? Asked Clary. Oh if she only knew Jaces' plans.
"Maybe, I'll see." said Jace acting all indifferent even though he could not wait to take her to Idris and propose.