Welcome back peeps lol I'll admit this chapter isn't as active as others but I tried to put in a little cliff hanger at the end. I hope you'll enjoy it!
I sat next to Jace in the library. My legs were crossed and my fingers were interlocked tightly with my other hand.
I bounced both of my legs awkwardly. And since I was sitting so close to Jace, my foot tapped his leg repeatedly. After a while, Jace slapped his hand on my knee to stop it from moving.
I looked up at Jace expecting him to look irritated but his features were calm.
"Relax," he whispered.
I don't know what it is about Maryse. She just make me nervous. I guess she just has that type of face. A sharp nose, piercing blue eyes and dark brown, almost black hair.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Jace was leaning back against the sofa comfortably with his arm lying lazily on the back of the couch. His legs were spread open a little and he was taking slow even breaths as if he were about to fall asleep.
"Ok," Maryse said finally breaking the silence. "Jocelyn and I have had a long discussion about what the two of you did last night."
I winced and Jace gently took my hand and squeezed it.
For some reason that sounded a whole lot worse than just saying sex.
"We still think your actions were beyond irresponsible and uncharacteristic of you. But until now, we thought the two of you have been very mature for your age especially now as you train."
I doubt Jocelyn agreed to that but I kept my thoughts silent.
"We won't punish you," Jocelyn said almost reluctantly. "But only under one condition."
Maryse gave Jocelyn a strange look but didn't object.
Sensing that her words would make me nervous, Jace tightened his grip on my hand and traced my knuckles with his thumb.
"What is it?" I asked with a surprisingly steady voice.
"No sex."
I was shocked to see Jace's face begin to flush. But not other part of him was showing his embarrassment.
"In this house," Maryse added.
Jocelyn shot her a glare.
She cleared her throat. "No sex," she corrected.
"Is that fair?"
Jace and I nodded.
"Good. Now get the hell out of here."
With a smirk, Jace stood up and pulled me up with him. He waited until we were out of the library to speak.
"See how easy that was?"
"Easy?" I repeated. "Do you know how hard it is to keep my hands off you? No sex?"
"That's actually considerably dangerous," Jace said. "Multiple girls have dropped dead just from glancing at me. You're already at risk of sudden death."
Normally, I would've poked fun at his arrogance but this time I rolled my eyes. I was serious when I said it was hard to keep my hands to myself. Even as we held hands, I wasn't satisfied. And it didn't help that Jace had a thing for torturing people. Especially me.
I'm in love with a sadistic mother fucker.
We were on our way upstairs when we ran into Isabelle again. This time, Simon was with her. His hand was resting lazily just above her hip.
A flash of hatred went through me and I didn't bother hiding it. Isabelle knew how I felt about what she was doing with Simon but she acted as if she were completely oblivious.
I clenched my free hand and waited for her to hit me. I wanted her to do it in front of Simon. I wanted her to show him how wrong she was for him.
Simon needed someone who was willing to commit to a good relationship. Someone who wasn't going to think with her…hormones, for lack of a better a word. And certainly someone who wasn't an expert on manipulating men. She even managed to get a faerie to date her for Christ's sake.
Isabelle slid past me and Simon followed but only after glancing between the two of us with a confused look.
I shook my head silently and took Jace to my room. I couldn't stand walking so close to her for long. I just wanted to get out of her presence. She drove me crazy.
"Ok, what's going on with you and Isabelle?" Jace asked when the door was closed.
"She's just pissed because I called her out on using Simon."
Jace opened his mouth to say something and then closed it and sat down.
I sat next to him with a sigh. I knew it wasn't right to act this way in front of him. I couldn't make him choose between his family and me. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound like a bitch."
"It's ok," Jace said. "She does have a way of getting underneath people's skin."
With a laugh, I turned on the TV.
We had only been watching for a few minutes when Simon opened the door without knocking. But I heard him coming. Even as a vampire he hadn't mastered the element of surprise. When Camille moved, she was cat-like.
"You're lucky I'm not naked," I said.
Simon ignored my comment and sent an awkward glare towards me. I surely wasn't expecting to see that. It resembled Camille's a bit but hers was much more intimidating. Simon looked like he was slightly constipated.
"What did you say to Isabelle about me?"
Jace looked at me then. He wasn't angry but he had that older brother look on his face. He was ready to stand up for his sister at any time.
I crossed my arms. "I told her to leave you alone if she was gonna keep being selfish. She's just mad because-"
Faster than I could see, Simon had grabbed my wrist and took me inside the study and shut the doors.
"I know you're trying to protect me," Simon said, "but don't. I'm eighteen. You're not my mother."
"I distinctly remember you confessing your love for me in a park and when I rejected you, you didn't talk to me for two weeks."
Simon rolled his eyes. "I was young and naïve then."
"That was three months ago."
"Whatever. The point is that I like Isabelle and I think she likes me back."
I stifled a laugh. "Fine. I'll let you go. But only if you tell me what happened with Maia."
Simon groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're kidding right?"
"Tell me."
Sighing, he said, "All she talked about was her ex-boyfriend, Jason or something like that. She said she hated him but it seems to me he's all she thinks about."
"Breakups are hard, Si," I said. "Especially for us girls. No offense but we're a tad bit more sensitive than you. And what was all that vampire/werewolf bullshit you spewed to me?"
"They've been broken up for a year and a half!" Simon said a little too loudly. "And I asked her if she needed more time but then she just said no and went on another rant about her ex."
I rolled my eyes.
"Why am I even explaining this to you? What's you're problem with Isabelle anyway? You think I don't know about her past flings her mistakes? You may think you do but I know the details behind them. She told me."
My eyes widened. "She told you?"
"Yes. It's something called trust. Now can I go or are you going to forbid me from seeing her?"
Hating the fact that Simon was right and realizing how much of a mother I was becoming, I ripped the door open. "Just go."
And he did. But only after ruffling my hair and saying, "You're still my little redhead."
That didn't make me feel any better but sitting down next to Jace did.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, we're good."
"Even with Isabelle?"
I shook my head. "Not yet but I'll keep trying, I guess."
Jace tossed me my phone. "Someone texted you while you were out."
I opened the message.
"Who's it from?"
"Maia," I answered. Then realizing he didn't know who that was, I said, "The wolf who brought me home after Simon was Changed."
"Oh…is she nice?"
I smiled at Jace. "If you're asking if she's safe then yes. She's a good friend."
Need someone to talk to. Am at my house. Come over plz?
I sighed and sent her a reply saying I'd be there as soon as I could.
"What's wrong?"
"She needs me. It's kind of important."
"Do you need me to come with you?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No, I have a feeling this is gonna be a girls night. I'll be back soon."
"If Maryse asks do you need me to cover for you?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't think we should risk anymore lies. We're already in the doghouse. Besides, Maia's house isn't that far away. With a speed rune I could get there in two minutes."
"Ok."
After taking a quick shower and grabbing a small dagger with me just in case, I crept downstairs and toward the front door. But Jocelyn and Luke were there foiling my plan.
"Hey, Clary,"
Jocelyn must have told Luke about Jace and I. But if she did, Luke didn't address it. He hugged me warmly just as he always does and congratulated me on my first battle.
"I'm guessing you're on your way to Maia's?"
"How did you know?" I asked.
"I'll let her explain. You want a ride?"
I looked over at my mother. "Can I?"
"You're an adult now aren't you? Go."
I didn't exactly like her response but I accepted it and hopped into Luke's truck and smiled as he started the engine.
It had been so long since I'd gone for a drive with Luke. It was stupid things like that I missed the most.
If I had a bad week at school, Luke would take me to his farm and we'd sit by the lake and talk until I forgot what I was so upset about.
And when I turned fifteen, he taught me how to drive his truck. And on my sweet sixteen, I got my permit. I hadn't exactly found time to actually take the driver's test with all these demons haunting me now.
"So, what should I expect when I get to Maia's?" I asked.
Luke sighed. "Well, I wasn't there for the whole thing. But it's something about her ex-boyfriend. Maia was visiting one of our pack members at a bar when a druggie started hitting on her. Her ex happened to be there and picked a fight. It didn't end pretty."
"Did anyone get hurt?"
"Well, let's just say they're lucky to be wolves. If they weren't, both fighters would need stitches."
"What about Maia?"
Luke smiled. "Maia was smart and hauled ass out of there the minute things got bad."
"So, she's not hurt?"
"Not physically, no."
I sighed. "Good."
Luke pulled into Maia's drive. "I'll be back at the institute with your mother. Call when you're ready to come home."
"I will. Thanks, Luke." I got out of the truck and went to ring the doorbell as he drove off.
When no one answered, I rang again and tried the doorknob. It was unlocked.
I slipped inside and closed the door quietly. "Maia?"
My right hand hovered over the dagger I had shoved underneath my belt as I looked around the house.
No one was here and it didn't look like anyone was here.
"Maia?" I called again.
A muffled voice from upstairs said, "Up here."
I scurried up the steps and into the room that had the door open. I relaxed when is realized it was the huge clump of peanut butter in Maia's mouth that made her sound weird.
My hand dropped from my belt and I sat down behind Maia who was crying over a jar of Skippy.
I pulled her hair out of her face and looked around for the headband she usually wore and found it broken on the floor.
I ran my fingers through it as I admired the tight curls in her hair.
"Maia, what happened?"
She sobbed a little and cleared her mouth of peanut butter before speaking. "My ex! He got hurt because of me!"
"What?" I moved to sit in front of her and she offered me her spoon. I took a small scoop of peanut butter and then gave it back to her. "Start from the beginning."
"I was going to see my friend Phillip. He's part of Luke's pack. He was on watch last night and he thought he saw something. He couldn't get a hold of Luke so he called me. But anyway, I was at the bar 'cause that's where Phil works and…" she paused to cry.
I took her hand and encouraged her to continue.
"…some retard came and started hitting on me! I told me to leave me alone but he wouldn't! He grabbed at my shirt and tried to undo my pants."
"Jesus Christ, Maia!" I moved the jar of peanut butter hugged her sideways, trying to calm her down so she could keep going.
"And then Jordan-he just came out of nowhere and shoved the guy off of me. Phil tried to break the two of them up so he could throw them out. But then he shifted!"
"Who?"
Maia had her head in her hands.
"It's ok, you're ok, tell me what happened after that. Who shifted?"
"Jordan shifted. And then the other dude did too. But he was way bigger than Jordan. He sunk his teeth into one of Jordan's legs. Phil was able to throw the druggie out as he shifted back."
"What about Jason- I mean Jordan." I silently cursed Simon for getting the names mixed up.
"His arm had a huge chunk missing! He looked at me and I knew I should've called for a doctor or taken him somewhere but I ran!"
Maia reached for the Skippy jar again but I snatched it away.
"I don't want you getting sick," I said as I put the cap back on.
"Who gives a rat's ass! I want my comfort food!"
I would've laughed if she wasn't already so upset.
I sat back down next to her and was about to ask if she wanted to watch TV when I noticed how ill she looked. There was a shiny coat of sweat on her skin, her hair was a little messy and she was shaking. I wasn't sure if she was going to turn into a werewolf or if she was going to hurl.
"Are you feeling ok?"
She shook her head and put her head in between her knees. "I feel lightheaded and nauseous."
"Why don't you take a cold shower or something?"
"You think that'll help?"
I nodded. "Yeah, just relax. You're probably just stressed."
She wiped at her eyes. "Ok. Listen for a fall if I pass out."
I laughed. "Who's your favorite band?"
She gave me a confused look but then smiled when she saw I had my iPod in my hands.
"Theory of a Deadman."
I logged onto Pandora and had Maia take it in with her as she cooled down.
I sat down and wished I had brought my sketchpad. Maia's hair was so curly and her eyes were a unique golden brown. It made my fingers itch for a colored pencil or a paintbrush.
As I waited, I played around with my stele and ended up drawing a hearing rune on my arm. I was able to hear Seether playing on Pandora and Maia was singing along. I took this as a good sign.
I smiled when I realized it was the song Jace was singing before our parents freaked out at us for having sex.
I couldn't help but sing along with Maia who was off key. But then again, so was I so I had no room to talk.
"I feel so alive tonight.
You've got me feeling sublime.
I wanna yell it from the rooftops down.
Until it's over and we're older."
When I heard a tapping on the window, I stopped singing and was glad that I drew a hearing rune.
There was a whispering voice coming from outside. It was hard to block out the music but I could hear someone calling for Maia.
I got up from the bed and looked out the window.
"Maia! Are you there?"
I couldn't see who it was but when Mystery Man saw me he flipped his shit.
"Who the hell are you? If you hurt Maia, I swear I'll kill you!"
With a roll of my eyes, I opened the window. "Would you relax? And keep it down! You'll wake up the whole neighborhood!"
"What are you?"
Sighing, I closed the window again.
"Hey!" He threw a pebble at the window. "Get back here! Tell me what you are."
I took the Skippy jar and knocked on the bathroom door. "Maia, I'm gonna call my parents," I lied. "Just to let them know where I am. I'll be just outside."
"Ok," she said. "I won't be out for a while I've got this huge knot in my-ow!-hair."
I laughed. "Ok, take your time."
I put the jar back in the cabinet and cranked up the AC. No wonder Maia was sweating. It was nearly eighty degrees in the house.
I opened the door after turning on the porch light and saw a boy standing there. He looked to be about twenty.
I didn't need to see the gold ring around his eyes and the huge muscles on him to know he was a werewolf. I could smell him. I was learning that every supernatural creature had a certain smell.
Demons had the strongest odor. It was like I was standing in front of the sewer. Witches and warlocks smelled like a hospital or maybe a science classroom. Vampires were harder to smell. With Camille, I couldn't smell anything at all but Simon reminded me of a morgue. Although, I've never been in one that's what I picture when I get a good whiff of him. And werewolves smell like dogs.
Thankfully, my sense of smell wasn't that great otherwise Jocelyn and I would've kicked Luke out of the apartment long ago.
"What are you?" the wolf growled.
"Who's asking?"
"Don't play with me, Blondie."
"If you're going to address me by my hair color at least get it right. I'm a strawberry blonde. What do you want with Maia, brunette."
"What do you want with Maia?"
The wolf stepped farther into the light and was about spit something back to me when I saw gauze wrapping around his shoulder and down to his bicep.
"Are you Jordan?" I asked.
He looked surprised at first. But then he snarled and his eyes began to glow and a low rumble sounded from his chest. I would've been suspicious and ready to fight if some stranger called my name too.
"I'm Clary," I finally said. "I'm one of Maia's friends. She told me what happened at the bar. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, we heal fast. Can I see her?"
I shook my head. "No, she's in the shower. And I'm not sure if seeing you will make her feel any better."
"I really need to speak with her, Clary."
I shoved my hands in my pockets awkwardly. "I don't-"
"Jordan?"
I turned around and saw Maia in a white tank top and boy shorts.
"Maia, I need-"
She interrupted him but jumping into his arms. That didn't strike me as hatred. But Simon was onto something.
"Are you ok?" she mumbled into the crook of his shoulder.
"I'm alright."
"You swear?"
Jordan nodded.
Maia unwrapped her arms around him and shoved him harshly. "Then get off my property! I never wanna see you again!"
I probably should've followed Maia inside but I was taken aback by Maia's sudden change of emotions.
Maia motioned for me to get inside but Jordan was back on Maia's porch.
"Just listen for a second," Jordan pleaded.
"Why?"
"Because I think I can help your pack figure out where Valentine and Jonathan are."
That caught not only Maia's attention but my own as well.
"I know things are a little weird between us," Jordan said, "and I would love to just explain things out here but I'm sweating like a mofo. Please let me in."
Maia opened the door wider and let Jordan and I in.
"How did you know about my-" I corrected myself. I didn't know who Jordan was or if I could trust him. "-about Jonathan and Valentine."
"I just graduated from Praetor Lupus. It's a pack but also kind of a school. We've been tracking the situation for a while now. But anyway, a few weeks ago, I was on watch and I saw Sebastian Verlac, who I later realized was Valentine's son, go through this portal. But he dropped this."
He laid a silver ring on the table.
Maia picked it up. For some reason, I was surprised the silver didn't burn her or Jordan. I guess I've been watching too much True Blood.
Looking over her shoulder, I saw a design on the ring that I recognized. I drew that before.
It was the Herondale Crest.
"You've got a traitor on your hands," said Jordan.
Alrighty! That's it! I promise the next chapter is much more interesting than this one.
Review plz!
l
l
v
