Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instrument series. Everything recognisable belongs to Cassandra Clare.
So here is the next chapter,it's a long one. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.
Warning: Some might find it to be minor disturbing scenes in this chapter.
The dagger hit the target with such force only the handle was left visible. She walked slowly toward the dummy and yanked the silver knife out of its chest, leaving it with a large rift.
A lethal throw.
She smiled cautiously at her own strength.
She closed her dark gloved hand around the handle and threw it again, hitting the target at the exact same spot.
Not bothering to take out the knife a second time, she brushed her palm gently over her forehead. Sweat stained the black glove and she turned towards the mirror.
She was dressed in black gear; around her wrist she had knife sheaths and she could easily detect the elaborate white patterns of runes that were woven into her skin.
She looked into her own pale face, her luminous emerald eyes shining back at her.
Clary licked her lower lip; a drop of salty water hit her tongue. She had lost track of time. That usually happened when she came down here.
The training room was a large room. The only sunlight allowed inside came from two small windows on the side of one of the walls. Other than that, she relied on one of her perfected runes giving her exactly the light she needed.
Clary looked around the room, her eyes darted towards the door, which opened slowly.
"If you are here to lecture me about my attitude again, you can just leave right now." She told the man harshly. She picked up one of the long silver swords hanging on the left-side wall and avoided facing the irritated man standing by the door.
"I'm not here to lecture you about anything Clarissa." He began, but as he drew a deep breath, starting his next sentence, he was cut off by the sudden movement in the room.
Clary was standing a few feet away from him with the sharp blade pointing at his throat.
"If so, then I strongly advise you to leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for company." She hissed at him in acrimony. She could see the nervous movement in his throat and without a single argument he backed away leaving her in her angry state.
'Pathetic' the thought ran through her head before she walked straight for the changing room leaving her training aside for the day. Or night. She couldn't really tell the difference anymore.
Inside the changing room she let her heavy gear fall off her body, blotting her naked skin. She was covered in faint scars from the burns of the stele. Her body filled with a satisfied spirit.
Letting her flaring red hair fall down her shoulders in light waves she turned to face her daily hot shower. Her neck was sore from all the angry punches she had thrown at the punching bag.
Even as much as her dad had told it was not worth, it Clary had convinced him to let her train and learn the mundane ways of fighting. She found it to be the best way of controlling her temper.
xxxx
The last few days had been long and he couldn't believe another year had come to an end. His eyes roamed the room, taking in the calming lights of the enormous hall. People was streaming past him and smiling goodbyes towards him.
A strong hand knocked into his back and he heard the voices of his friends.
"Your last day Jon, can't say we're going to miss you." He heard the mocking voice and turned around.
Jace Herondale stood in front of him with his signature smirk plastered on his face.
"That's not true. The academy won't be the same without you two." Isabelle Lightwood said and gave her brother, Alec Lightwood, a light smile before turning in the direction of Jace and himself.
"That's nice, but I can't say I'll miss you and your abnormal lack of understanding the simplicity of when to not open your mouth, Jace." He replied, one of the corners of his lips curved upwards.
"Pardon me for asking Fairchild, but are you calling me stupid?" Jace let out a jokingly gasp of hurt and smiled daringly at the other boy.
"I'm not saying you are stupid, I'm just saying you have bad luck when it comes to thinking." Jonathan smiled back and turned to face Alec and his sister.
He could detect Jace cursing him behind his back, and shook his head slightly.
xxxx
The trip back from the academy wasn't really anything to bother with. The four teenagers turned up at their own homes using the school portal leading them to their manors.
The redheaded woman took a short glance toward her son before forcing him into a tight embrace.
"Mum, really?" he teased and tried to get out of her slender arms.
"It's good to see you too Jonathan." She beamed at her son.
The corners of his lips tugged into a soft smile as he studied his mother. Her slim, short body and dark-red hair gave him a warm feeling of familiarity. Blazing jade eyes stared back at him; a soft expression covered her whole face.
"Jon!" A loud voice called from the inside of the house. He could hear the excited voice of his mother's husband, Luke.
The Downworlder gave him a fatherly hug before letting him go and, him as well as his mother, smiled brightly at him.
"Okay. Have I missed something? Because you two seem to be awfully excited about my return." He averred.
They both kept the smile on their faces before shaking their heads and giving him approbation to walk away from them.
xxxx
She stood in front of her father, giving him a stern look before seeing his mouth open slightly.
"Clarissa." She fought the urge to keep from rolling her eyes backwards. She hated that name.
"Learning how to defend yourself isn't an extracurricular activity. It's mandatory. You can't waste your time threatening my supporters. You need to stay focused." He did not take his eyes off of his daughter's face for even a second while talking.
"Maybe you should pick your followers with more care next time then." She replied acerbic.
Her father met her eyes, his black orbs fastened on her green.
Suddenly his mouth twisted into a smile and he let out a laugh. "I have to agree with you Clarissa, Starkweather might not be the boldest of my men, but he is a wise man worth keeping." He explained with the hint of a smirk dancing on his thin lips.
"I know father. I apologize for my behaviour, and I'll try to be nicer to the old git." She said with a cogent voice.
"Good. Good." Valentine began, "But that is not why I called you to me tonight dear."
She gave him a confused look, but he seemed to ignore her.
"It's been identified presence of demonic frequencies on the outskirts of Idris. And before you try one of your snarly comments, this demon might have the answers we need."
She didn't bother telling him off, only replied with a short, "I understand."
Listening to her father's voice calmed her more than she wanted to admit. He told her the basics of his plan, and when she would be leaving. It took about two hours for the whole mission to be explained in details, before he strictly told her to go to sleep.
The next morning went rather slow for Clary. She went straight down to the weapons room and she provided herself with the necessary weapons.
She picked up two dull tubes with blunt edges and secured them onto her belt. A witchlight was placed in her inner pocket along with a thin, strong stele.
When she had all the equipment she needed to face the demon, she walked slowly out through the large doors of the weapons room.
She drew her stele out of her pocket and took a deep breath. These runes were the hardest to make. The ones where she needed to put all her energy into the swift movements of her hand.
Before drawing the rune she closed her eyes and let her hand wander freely.
A few seconds later a large portal opened in front of the redhead and she gave away a satisfied smile. She pulled her hood over her red curls before stepping into the mist of the portal.
xxxx
The sky was clouded and it felt like rain was coming her way as she approached the large building. She could see hints of burned grass under her feet and the wind was blowing vigorously trying its best to knock her out of balance.
She could feel the pulse of the black opal pendant around her neck. And it didn't take long before she stood face to face with the demon.
She had taken the form of a beautiful young girl. Her raven hair falling down her back, her black eyes and blood red lips expressed anger and desire to cause havoc.
"Hecate." Clary said with a confident voice.
"How do you know my name, young Nephilim?" The girl's voice echoed in Clary's ears.
"I know a great deal." She replied before taking a step closer to the greater demon.
The demon hissed an unpleasant comment back at her and mimicked the redhead's moves.
"Hecate." Clary repeated. "I'm not here to fight you. I come for answers, and you will be the one giving them to me." She told the black eyed girl. Hecate's lips had curled upwards and she looked ready to attack.
"How dare you give me orders you fatuous Nephilim." She hissed and Clary could see a fire rise inside her black irises.
Clary let out a fractious chuckle, "Me, fatuous. No, I don't think so."
Before the demon could make a move Clary smiled impertinent. "I come for Valentine Morgenstern." She told the greater demon and held eye contact with her as the demon pondered.
"And what would I have that could help Valentine Morgenstern?" Hecate asked irritated.
"As I so candidly told you earlier, information." Clary returned with a stern gaze fastened on the demon.
"I can't promise you anything Shadowhunter." The girl's voice told her in a calmer voice.
"The mortal cup." Clary demanded.
"I don't know anything about your cup Shadowhunter." The demon replied without leaving Clary's eyes.
"Speaking untruthfully won't help you here Hecate." She told her before taking out the small device in her hand.
"You are not going to fight me young Shadowhunter." Hecate replied before letting her eyes turn flamingly red.
"Try me." Clary smirked and whispered quickly, "Eremiel". When the name was called, the blade sprung to life, growing into a bright, glowing dagger.
Clary could already feel how strong the effect of her runes was on her. She swung the dagger towards the demon and hit it hard in the arm.
A sputter left the greater demon's mouth before she transformed into her true self.
Clary watched her grow a few feet, turning a horrid black colour with sharp claws replacing her nails.
"Impressive." Clary muttered and staked the demon again. "Now, have you changed your mind, or are you still up for that fight?" Clary roared and held her blade in a defensive manner.
The demon threw herself at Clary, who swiftly stepped out of the way. Her fortis rune making her glow of strength.
The demon attacked again and covered the view of the sky for Clary. The transparent skylight overhead rippled and bent as the demon lowered toward her.
Clary was sent backwards into the burnt grass, almost losing her seraph blade in the fall.
A low laughter slipped from the demons lips and Clary erupted off the ground. She felt like she was flying as she performed a graceful backflip and landed elegant on the grass barely a foot away. Her blade was clutched tight in her hand and she swung it with all her force at Hecate.
The demon stopped, her eyes glowed with rage and Clary could feel the heat in front of her.
The seraph blade slashed into the demon's large body. Black ichor hit Clary on the right arm and she leaped backward. The fluid burnt through her gear and she let out a pained gasp.
Again Clary was back in the fight, she could feel warm blood welling from a shallow burn in her arm.
Both demon and girl sprung at each other, the demon trying furiously to rip the Shadowhunter apart. Again Clary could feel the awful pain hit her as more acid bit down on her skin.
The redheaded girl screamed and let the blade sink into the demon's body ones more.
Clary backed away as she heard the dreadful scream of the demon. She was blinded by the black ichor as the demon exploded and disappeared in thin air.
"I said you shouldn't fight me." She whispered before taking out her stele and letting another pleased smirk fall on her lips.
With the stele she drew another portal and jumped back to the Morgenstern manor.
xxxx
The four Shadowhunters stood silently in awe. They had watched the whole fight as they approached the manor, but right before any of them could help the mysterious girl behind the hood; she had disappeared into thin air along with the large greater demon.
Thanks for reading. If you guys review, favourite and follow I would really appreciate that. And the next chapter might be up faster.