Chapter 27

Jace's POV

The room was deathly still.

I was frozen into shock while Isabelle's screaming sounded far away as I stared at Clary's body crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes shut and dead-looking.

Dead.

I raced down immediately, as my brain woke up. Isabelle followed suit as she jumped up from her seat on the couch.

Please don't be dead, please don't be dead.

My heart was thumping out my chest as I knelt down over Clary's body with Isabelle. I could hear my blood rushing as I checked for any cuts or bruises on Clary's soft, tender skin.

Oh, God.

Fear strikes me as I gently lift her body off the floor and her head lolled backward like a ragdoll. I froze out of fear, accompanied by Isabelle's gasp, and then gently pressed my ear to her chest. I listened for her heartbeat — healthy— and her pulse, also healthy.

I let out a breath of relief and closed my eyes for a quick second to gather my thoughts together. The scene of how Clary got put into this state replayed in my head almost automatically. More like who put Clary in this state, I should say.

"J- Jace…" Aline started tentatively, hovering above Izzy and me.

I whipped my head at her, sickened by the sight of her in my home. Red hot anger started to course through my blood, threatening to make itself public to Aline right now.

I started to rise to my full length, towering over her as her eyes widened in fear. "What?" I snapped. "Going to apologize? But to who? Isabelle for stealing her necklace, or Clary who is currently unconscious because of you?" What Aline did was no accident. I was disgusted looking at her, knowing the kind of sick person she is to throw a girl like Clary off the stairs because of her crimes.

Aline's knees buckled and she sank to the floor. "Jace, I didn't mean to"

"Save it," I cut in, not buying her victimizing act. "You'll get what's coming to you. I'd love to hear what those French designers think of you if Clary never wakes up."

My heart sank immediately at the insinuation I made of Clary never waking up.

What if she broke a bone?

What if she loses her art abilities?

What if she gets brain damage?

What if she loses her memory?

What if she forgets me—

I spun around quickly and didn't bother to catch Aline's reaction, shaking my head as if it could help shake away the screaming assumptions my mind was forming by the second.

With one go, I scooped up Clary's light body, bridal style, and cradled her to my chest. My temper rose again looking down at how weak Clary looked right now. I glanced at Isabelle.

"Clary's still holding your necklace," I informed her. And she was, in her small, loosened palm was Izzy's necklace dangling. I stared at the expensive heirloom with contempt. This all happened over a necklace. I wanted to believe it was a wrong place, wrong time thing, but couldn't stop thinking about my part.

I had Aline walk upstairs with me, I had her thinking she had some superiority over Clary, I stood there as Clary took the shove.

Guilt hit me like a bus.

As Isabelle unlatched her necklace from Clary's palm, I watched her eyes seek out Aline and give her a steely glare. Isabelle straightened her shoulders and kicked off her Gucci house slippers. I already knew this was leading to…

"Call security," I said, trying to stop the storm before it begins.

Isabelle looked ready to protest before noticing the dead seriousness in my eyes. She nodded and went over to the hidden emergency telephone line under the staircase.

"What's she doing?" Aline asked alarmingly. "Is she calling the cops? Am I going to jail?'

I smirked at her as the security quickly busted in from the door behind her, making her jump and cower. I didn't make a move to stop the security as they tackled her pencil-thin body to the ground, making her yell and flail.

"Get off me!" Aline screamed. "I'm not a criminal, get off me!"

By the time she was handcuffed and pulled upright to stand, her eye makeup was running down her face, along with the tears. She was a hysterical mess, crying and blubbering.

"Not so tough now, are you?" I asked snarkily.

She just kept wailing. "I can't go to jail! I won't last a day!"

Isabelle sauntered over to her, closing in on Aline so closely their noses were touching. "I will never let you go to jail."

Aline sniffled and her face brightened a bit. "R-really?"

Isabelle shook her head and then started cackling. "Hell no. I can't give you a piece of my mind when you're behind bars now, can I?"

Aline was full-blown screaming now, thrashing back and forth. The two security guards tightened their grip on her and started to drag her out of the house.

I don't know where they were taking her, but I knew I never wanted to see her again.

..::TMI::..

"Just yesterday her hair was done to perfection," Magnus complained as he ran his fingers through Clary's curls as she lay unconscious in Isabelle's bed.

I swatted at his hand irritably. "God Magnus, when I called you over it wasn't for this."

"So what did you call me over for?" He questioned as he rubbed the knuckles I abused. "You tell me nothing over the phone, just demand I get here ASAP to see a sleeping Clary."

I looked at him in surprise. "SLEEPING? Magnus, I told you she was pushed down a flight of stairs before she blacked out."

Magnus' glossed lips popped open. "When did you tell me that?!"

"Right now…?" I replied avoiding his eye contact.

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I usually get called in for fashion emergencies, not real emergencies."

Real emergencies?

My palms started to sweat as he emphasized the weight of the situation. With one last glance at Clary, I slid to my knees quickly, cupping my hands into a prayer. "Please Magnus, please help me. I don't want Maryse or any press to know about what happened." I begged. "I didn't know who to call, and you just look like you know a thing or two about healing."

Magnus stared at me before sighing. "As if I could ever object."

My head fell in gratitude.

"But," He interjected. "Maryse will have to know somehow, she's my employer and if anything goes wrong then..."

"What would go wrong?" A voice interrupted from the door.

I quickly looked over my shoulder to see Alec at the door, looking confused as ever.

"Jace, why are you in Isabelle's room, with Magnus… on your knees?" Alec questioned.

I hastily sprung up to my knees. "Oh my god Alec, don't say it like that," I quickly explained to him the Aline incident. An expression of sorrow painted his face.

"T- that's horrible." Alec's blue eyes flicked to Clary's unconscious state, and he paled slightly. I inhaled deeply.

"Yeah." I agreed stonily. I felt physically pained to pretend like I wasn't being eaten up alive in front of Alec. I'm trying everything to remain stoic and composed as I usually am, but Clary's state was really getting to me.

And I wish it wasn't.

"Jace?" Alec said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I answered. Magnus green glowing eyes bored themselves into me. I suppressed a shiver running up my spine as I felt like he was reading my thoughts.

"Turns out you were right, Magnus used to be a private masseuse and knows a thing or two about the human body." Alec's eyes twinkled at Magnus.

I scoffed at the sight in front of me. "When are my hunches ever wrong?" I boasted confidently, hiding my increased sense of relief.

"Don't get too cocky now," Alec brushed past me towards the door and stopped."You coming, Jace?"

My head whipped towards him. "Coming where…?"

"Magnus needs to be left alone to work his magic," Alec stated matter-of-factly. "That is why you called us right? To help?"

I looked between the two boys, and my eyes rested on Clary's frail body. I gulped. "Why can't I stay in the room?" I blurted out. I internally cringed at the pleading note in my voice.

Magnus eyed me carefully. "You don't trust me?"

I paused for a moment, careful of choosing which words and expressions to convey. I frowned, realizing I have logically no reason to want to keep an eye on Clary, other than to just keep an eye on her.

Magnus seemed satisfied with my silence to his question. "I see…" He murmured. "I promise you she's in good hands. You'd probably have me exiled and homeless otherwise."

I didn't smile at his attempt at a joke, but I appreciated it. My eyes stayed glued to Clary's limp body, her curls cascading over Isabelle's mountain of pillows her head was propped upon.

Beautiful.

"Come on Jace," Alec's hand pressed onto my shoulder. As he led me out the door like a child wanting to stay longer at a sleepover, I looked over my shoulder and arched a cautious brow at Magnus as a reminder.

Magnus' cat eyes just stared back at me, emotionless and relentless.

Alec suddenly slammed the door shut behind me, and it felt like my windpipes were shut as well.

Anxiety sunk into my stomach almost immediately. My hand reached toward Isabelle's doorknob, itching to storm back in that room.

In a final decision, I dropped it and spun away to come face-to-face with Alec, who I did not realize was still standing there with crossed arms.

"You look a lot like Isabelle right now," I commented, taking in the rare irritated aura Alec had coming off him.

He stared blankly back at me. "I get that you're a little shaken up Jace, but you've got to get a grip on yourself and stop taking it out on other people."

I scowled at him. "This isn't about 'other people', this is about Cla—"

I was cut off by Alec holding his hand up in a stop motion. "I just don't understand," Alec said, worry in his eyes. "You just haven't been you these past couple of weeks, specifically when Clary joined the manor."

I stared back at him with a blank and dumbfounded expression painting my face, sure to give off no reaction as Alec's icy eyes stared at me for an explanation. He shook his head in reply and started to walk down the hallway, mumbling, "What has gotten into him…"

I stared after him, his question swirling around in my head.

What has gotten into me?

..::TMI::..

I was in a grassy field, basking under the sun fully naked.

I was at peace, plus it was about time I even out those tan lines down there…

My eyes were sliding shut and that's when I saw it… like a leaf in the wind, a hint of a red curl standing among the greenery.

With no thoughts, just pure curiosity, I gravitated to the redhead whose pale bare back was facing me. I felt my brows knit together.

"Clary?" I questioned, reaching a palm out to her.

She quickly spun away from the apple tree she was facing, her body nude as well, but blurred like I couldn't fully grasp the image of her nude body.

Bummer.

Clary glared at me for a second before her eyes glazed over. "Who's Clary?"

I lauIghed, but quickly cut off when I realized she wasn't kidding. She stared back at me with a weird look in her eyes. Or maybe it was her eyes themselves looking a little bit off…

"Well," I started. "When you see Clary around, tell her Jace is looking for her."

Clary Clone just stared at me again, unblinking. "I don't know what you're talking about Adam, but i found this marvellous apple." Her hands cupped a red juicy apple, outstretched towards me. "Delicious looking, isn't it?"

Now it was my turn to exchange weird looks with her. "Um, I'm Jace and thank you…?" I trailed off.

"Eve." She answered curtly, her pupil dilating.

"Yeah Eve," I offhandedly replied, taking a bite into the apple. I choked on a bit, "Wait, Eve-?"

Like lighting, Clary Clone — I mean Eve— lunged for my throat, snakelike fangs piercing through her gums and latching onto my neck.

I screamed and flailed, trying to pry the savage off me as non-human vibrant green eyes bored into mine as if holding me in place.

While my world came crashing down, One sentence loudly rang through my head like a gong.

'To love is to destroy."

..::TMI::..

My eyes snapped open to soft, dark emerald eyes looking at me worriedly. My heart was still beating fast from that nightmare, Clary's very human self calmed my nerves in a way she doesn't even get. Everyone's amused faces behind Clary didn't even get to me, not right now.

I must've fallen asleep in the chair I dragged into the hallway outside Isabelle's room. The room Clary was in after…

I swiftly gathered Clary into my arms and swung her around. "You're okay! And most importantly you're you! You're not a snake!" I cheered carelessly. "I never should've eaten that apple, oh my god…"

"Put. Me Down." Clary bit out.

I immediately stopped and apologetically set her down. Her cheeks were rosy and her hair was freshly frizzed, further confirming the evil Snake Clary was gone. Isabelle cackled loudly.

"Wow bro," She snarked. "You went from fighting in your sleep to reenacting a classic rom-com scene."

Isabelle could be so annoying. "Whatever," I rolled my eyes. "Those scenes are never complete without a dramatic kiss in the rain. Duh."

Clary's cheeks got even brighter, and Magnus stepped forward placing his hands on her shoulder.

"Are you okay love?" Magnus questioned. "You just survived a concussion, and someone decided to shake you up like a coke bottle."

I promptly rolled my eyes at Magnus now. "First off, no one shakes coke bottles, Magnus, that's how an explosion occurs— "

"That's the point, Jace,"

"—and secondly I'm sorry for what happened," I genuinely said, ignoring Magnus and his slick replies.

Clary gazed up at me, unblinking. I gazed back, trying to decipher what she was thinking, and coming up blank. Her eyes suddenly drifted over my shoulder and widened.

"Oh," Clary said, prompting me to follow her line of vision which was directed at a clock. "It's almost 8, we should get down before it starts."

"Before what starts?" I asked cluelessly.

She smirked up at me. "It's almost like you're the one that suffered a head injury, not me."

I chucked at her smart-ass comment. "Can't help it that I'm a little senseless around you," I said, still grinning.

She rolled her eyes unbothered, but the pink tint on her cheeks sold her out. "Yeah yeah," she said unconvinced while starting to walk down the hallway, following the others who all seemed bored of waiting around.

"Wait up," I quickly called after her, a little unnerved that my flirts were wearing off on her now. Clary paused and looked at me expectantly.

I quickly caught up to her and stared down at her, contemplating how I'm going to start this. I felt the back of my neck heat up and cupped my hand around it.

"I… um…" I started not so coolly. I cleared my throat as a reflex. "I wanted to apologize, but for real," I stated clearly. Clary stared at me blankly, unresponsive.

I decided to continue. "I- I never should've pit Aline against you, I mean I sensed her jealousy but I just thought it was fun and games, you know?" I paused to think. "Actually you might not, but anyways I wanted to apologize for being the reason behind your head. I should've stepped in a lot sooner, I should've never put that thought in Aline's head that you're her competition, because she never had a chance, to begin with." I finished, holding my breath hoping she didn't catch the allusion that Aline didn't stand a chance against Clary when it came to dating.

I mean, obviously, I'm not saying I want to date clary, it's just I would pick her over Aline. Actually I would pick Clary over the majority of the girls in Hollywood… but not because it's Clary, just because I could hardly stand to be around a lot of people for a long time and Clary is kinda cool, I guess.

It's totally not because of her unmatched wit, great sense of humour, or attractive fierceness… no.

Ugh.

The guilt deepened as I peered into her innocent eyes staring up at me. I felt extremely uneasy, apologizing was never my strong suit, hence why I never made the effort to bother. But with Clary… it was different for an unspecified reason.

Just when I was going to explain further since Clary didn't look like she heard me, a soft, warm, cushion made of two lips planted themselves for a fleeting moment on my cheek. Electricity shot through my body and I looked back at Clary in surprise who was smiling up at me sheepishly.

"Wh- what was that for?"I stammered.

"A thank you," She beamed. "And also to get you to drop it. Wasn't really your fault at all, Aline is just lucky I was knocked out before she caught some of these hands."

Clary jumped into a cliche karate pose, a look of fierceness showing on her face. I laughed and slung my arm around her small frame as we walked downstairs together.

"Don't worry Chuck Norris, you'll catch her someday," I reassured her, chuckling.

I felt that fuzzy feeling once again but just overlooked it for now. I'm not going to overthink again today.

Oh.

I see why everyone was excited to go downstairs.

The grand flatscreen HD T.V hung on the wall and was the only light source in the dark living room that was packed with everyone.

Jordan was missing as usual but I don't doubt he's with his high school lover cozied up watching the same channel.

No one noticed as Clary and I slipped in, everyone's eyes were glued to the screen in front of us, waiting patiently for the feedback from Clace's publicity stunt I assumed.

I instinctively sat beside Clary, seeing as no other spots were empty. I thought for a split second this two-seater couch was left empty on purpose as I caught Isabelle's wicked smirk thrown at me. That girl is hell-bent on playing on Matchmaker between Clary and I, like that was realistic.

Well. Might as well take advantage.

I slid up a little closer, almost instinctively. I bumped my knee at her playfully, and Clary shot me a side glance, her eyes glowing in the dark. She opened her mouth to probably snap at me, but before the words left her mouth, the channel flipped and a voice boomed out from the T.V.

"And, our Golden Boy seemed to have found a new girlfriend, but there's more to this little one!" The male host giddily let out.

Clary's head whipped towards the television, while Isabelle and Magnus gasped dramatically loud.

"Oh god," I whispered under my breath.

"Hello everyone, hope you've got your snacks ready because tonight's story is juicy!" The buff host rang out. "I am your host Ragnor Fell, welcome to The Tells Of Fell!"

The audience goes wild, and Izzy and Magnus happily roared along as if they're on ,he T.V themselves.

"Don't you just love Ragnor?" Magnus said to Meliorn and Isabelle. His and Isabelle's tall frames sandwiched Meliorn's short profile. I watched Alec's body stiffen at Magnus' remark, but it obviously went unnoticed by his couch neighbour, Sebastian, who was intently focused on Ragnor and munching away at his M&Ms.

Never pegged Alec as the jealous type.

I smirked in amusement.

"Seb doesn't know?" Clary whispered over to me. I swiftly turned to her a little confused, before our eyes locked and the unspoken context behind her words clicked into my brain as if I could her mind through looking into her eyes…

"No." I answered, exhaling. "And he won't for a while, it'll crush him if he finds out his cousin got dragged out by— Woah."

I cut off abruptly, the view on the T.V captured my attention immediately. Pictures of Clary and I began to flash across the screen, us looking like an out-of-place yet completely perfect couple. The first picture was us holding hands, Clary trailing a little behind me as we first exited the limo.

"When was the last time we saw Jace Wayland holding the hand of his 'lady friend' publicly?" Ragnor commented with a giddy smile. "Oh right! Never!"

I rolled my eyes at Ragnor's wicked chuckle.

Clary was intently watching the T.V as well. I nudged her to get her attention, which gave me a typical annoyed shove back from Clary.

"Told you the hand-holding was the right touch," I whispered. "Ragnor is eating that up."

She flipped her curls away from her face. "My apologies, Your Highness, you know all while us peasants would be lost without your wisdom." She snarkily replied.

I was about to snipe back right when the photos switched, and the ugliest choked-up burst of laughter escaped my lips.

"I- I can't breathe," I gasped out, clutching my side with laughter as Clary stared at the T.V frozen in shock.

A picture of Clary face straight on from an overhead angle popped up on the screen on the T.V. Her face was scrunched up, yet her mouth was lazily agape and left in the goofiest expression ever.

I caught my breath and leaned back into my seat, trying my best to keep my composure to listen to what Ragnor had to say about this picture and how thoroughly his background check was on her.

"Jace you're so rude," Isabelle called out. "It's not even that bad, I mean look at how perfect her skin looks under that crazy HD flash."

"How'd the paparazzi even get that close?" Meliorn inquired.

Sebastian turned to him. "Isn't it obvious? The pap must've had some vampire venom get into his bloodstream somehow so it isn't hard for him to climb up tall structures and still click away. He must've climbed up a lamppost and waited his turn to strike like the true Child of the Night."

"Actually it was a tree," I added in, a little surprised at how wild Seb's imagination was for a second.

"Ah," said Magnus. "Must be that one troubling pap De Quincey. He thinks he's immortal."

Sebastian sat up a little. "Like vampir—"

"Anyways," Isabelle cut in as usual. "Why did no one ask Clary if her eyes are okay? Did we all forget how much those flashes sting?"

All heads turned to Clary, whose pale skin managed to look a little red in the dark. Or maybe I'm staring a little too hard…

"I'm fine guys, thanks for the concern," she nervously laughed them off. "Ironic Jace is all smiles now, yet he was fuming when that same photo was snapped."

My face dropped immediately, and the room went dead silent. I felt my heart start thumping faster in… embarrassment? Nervousness? Humiliation? I didn't know how to react, my flight or fight response kicking in.

I did not expect Clary to call me out like that.

"Maybe I didn't want- erm, De Quincey flashing his camera lights in my gorgeous eyes," I stated. "Everything beautiful is fragile, you know Gingersnap."

I held eye contact with her in the dark, hoping my facade doesn't crumble in front of her. This staring contest was starting to get a little hot until Clary broke it by rolling her eyes.

"Sure Jace," Clary said unconvinced. "No need to pretend you don't like playing my knight in shining armour."

Isabelle burst out laughing, working my nerves as well. "Yeah, Jace—"

I drowned out whatever dumb remark she was going to make by turning up the volume of the T.V.

"Looks like sparks aren't just flying with Jace," Ragnor dragged out dramatically. My eyes automatically flicked to Alec who was nervously glancing at Magnus, who was stoically watching Ragnor.

Two paparazzi snapped photos flashed on the screen. The first one was a lanky male standing against one of my limos with a leggy pale figure, and the second was the male entering the limo and the pale figure walking around the limo.

It was a little blurry but it was clear who these two people are.

"Isabelle Lightwood and a mystery man were pictured leaving Magnus Bane's party a little too early," Ragnor announced grandly. "Who do you guys think he is?"

Clary let out a tiny gasp. "Simon?"

"WHAT THE-" Isabelle roared out. "Mystery man? WHY? I DON'T LIKE HIM!" Izzy grabbed the remote from my hand and switched off the T.V.

I couldn't hold in my laughter anymore as I stood up and got ready to head upstairs. "Why'd you turn it off, Izzy! I wanted to see who the mystery man was!" I feigned interest.

In a blink, the T.V remote came flying at my face and I quickly ducked through instinct. I heard a loud snap behind me as the remote broke into pieces, leaving a hole in the wall it came in contact with.

I looked back at Isabelle as she started to scamper up the stairs and smiled to myself as I remembered the night after the party when roles were reversed.

"You're getting that fixed before Maryse comes home," I called up at her. "And don't let you and Simon take away me and Clary's shine."

A/N: Finished my first year of college, WOOHOO! I will be uploading EVERY SUNDAY! If not twice! I love you guys so much for sticking with me and I'm sooo sorry again. Also, this story will be 45 chapters long, so 18 chapters that are planned and ready to go! Stay tuned for Clace and everyone stay safe xoxo