One Hundred and Forty One Shot:
7 Deadly Sins
Clary POV:
There are too many things in the world that have given me a reason to leave the earth. Too many things that have made me think about the multiple ways to kill myself, and not regret it. I had nobody left to care about, and it would be too easy. Maybe that's why I haven't done it, or maybe it's because a sliver of me is hoping things get better, but regardless, I'm still here.
I like to call myself a nomad. I haven't lived in the same state for more than a couple months at a time, and I never live in the same state twice. I don't know why, maybe I'm just wired a little differently, but it's something I've lived by since I graduated high school. I'm working on my 9th state, and so far I've never felt at home anywhere I've lived.
This time though, I had a feeling it would be different. I don't know why, but I've never felt so connected to a place, and I've only just gotten here. As I looked at the house, it didn't seem too special, but it also hasn't been lived in since 1997 according to the state, but there was something about it that caught my attention. So as I grabbed my first bag I made my way into the house to start this new chapter of my life.
Jace POV:
"It's been a long time since someone has lived here." Izzy said as we looked at the new girl moving in. Her vibrant red hair captivated me the moment she arrived.
"It's about time they let someone move in." Magnus said. "It's been over a decade."
"I was really thinking they would condemn it before anyone else moved in." Simon added in.
"Why?" Izzy asked.
"Because the last owner died in here and it's haunted by ghosts?" Simon said, and everyone laughed.
"Maybe she won't care." Magnus said.
"Would you care?" Alec asked Magnus.
"Depends on the ghost. If it were you Alexander, not one bit. You could haunt me all night long." He winked before pressing his lips to Alec's cheek.
"You are such a flirt." Izzy laughed at her brothers blush. But I wasn't paying that close attention to them. I was focused on the red head.
"Stare at her a little harder, and she might see you." Simon mocked and I punched his arm. "You're an ass."
"Than shut the hell up. Nobody wants to hear your speak." I said bitterly.
"Come on Simon, let's get out of here." Izzy said as she took his hand in hers and they disappeared.
"Finally." I said as I focused back on the girl. There was something about her that made me want more, and when I wanted something, I got it.
Time Jump – Later That Night
Jace POV:
Everyone had gone out for the night, but I couldn't bring myself to leave. I found out her name is Clary Fray, and she moved here from California. She graduated high school in 2013, which makes her 23 and that's about all I know about her. She was very quiet, and she didn't seem like she liked to go out, or talk to people all that much, which made me want to know more about the kind of person she is.
Clary POV:
I spent the whole day unpacking, but when night came, I wasn't tired. Sleeping has never been easy for me, so I spent most of my time awake anyway, so this was totally normal.
I was in my bedroom when I heard a creaking noise downstairs. It was an old house so it didn't freak me out, but I wanted to see if there was anything down there just to make sure. But when I got to the kitchen, I was startled.
"What the hell! Get out of my house!" I yelled at the figure in the room.
"Technically you're in my house." The boy said, and that's when I got a real look at him, and damn he was attractive.
"No it isn't. Nobody has lived here for a decade." I explained. "He died here."
"So you know that?" The boy asked.
"Well yea, they have to tell you." I said matter of factly.
"His name was Hodge, and he was a nasty piece of work let me tell you." The boy explained.
"It didn't say he lived with anyone. Were you his neighbor?" I asked tentatively.
"Sorta." He said as he sat on the counter tops.
"What does 'sorta' mean?" I asked.
"It means I lived here with him, but he didn't know." He explained.
"How did you manage that?" I asked curiously.
"You see, I'm a ghost." He said and that's when I lost it.
"Look, I don't know who the hell you think you are, but you're trespassing, and I can call the cops on you." I said angrily.
"You can call, but when they get here, they won't be able to see me, than you'll be the crazy woman in town, and something tells me you don't like to be the center of attention." He said and I sighed. "I was right, wasn't I?"
"If you're really a ghost, how come I can see you?" I asked, trying to fool him.
"Because I allowed myself to be seen." He said.
"When did you die?" I asked trying to catch him in a lie.
"1982." He sighed.
"How?" I continued the charade.
"My boys and I were in the middle of a street race. Our rivals were talking shit for months about how much better they were than us so we had to teach them a lesson." He explained.
"Looks like you lost." I pointed out and he laughed, a beautiful angelic laugh.
"The brakes gave out on me, and I went off the bridge. I suspect my car was tampered with, but the case went cold." He said.
"How old were you?" I asked.
"I was 19 when it happened." He said. I didn't really have any reason not to believe him, and I never really disbelieved in ghosts as a kid, so they could be real.
"And you aren't lying to me?" I asked.
"I have better things to do than lie to you Clary." He said.
"How do you know my name?" I asked, slightly confused.
"I've been watching you all afternoon." He said.
"That's called voyeurism, and it's a crime." I said.
"Does it look like I care about crimes? I'm dead." He said and I rolled my eyes.
"Are you the only ghost who haunts this house?" I asked.
"No. There are 7 of us." He said.
"7?" I asked.
"We represent the 7 Deadly Sins." He explained.
"That's oddly specific." I pointed out.
"I didn't make the rules." He said as he held his hands up.
"If you don't make the rules, than who does?" I asked curiously.
"The Angels." He said nonchalantly.
"So if you represent the 7 Deadly Sins, which one are you?" I asked curiously. He smirked, and licked his lips seductively.
"Lust." He said in a deep sexy voice, that made my mouth run dry.
"Why are your still earth bound?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.
"We can't go to Heaven, and there is no room for us in Hell." He explained.
"How is there no room in Hell for the 7 Deadly Sins?" I asked confused.
"It's a long story." He said. "Do you have the time?" He asked.
"I have nothing but time." I laughed, but the sad thing was, it's true.
"Than I'll start from the beginning." He said as he took a seat and I followed. "I'm Jace by they way." He added. "Pleasure to meet you."
And a pleasure I'm sure it would be.
Time Jump – A Couple Months Later
Clary POV:
Since Jace appeared to me, his friends have also let themselves be seen, and I had to admit, I thought they would be creepier, but they're just like normal people, only they're dead.
Most of them were pretty cool, but Sebastian and Kaelie rubbed me the wrong way. There was just something about them that I didn't like, and I tried to keep away from them as much as possible. Which is a lot harder when they decide they don't want to show themselves.
Jace has been a real help adjusting to living in a house that's haunted. He was always showing himself around, and letting me know when the others were in the room, but not visible to me. It was nice, almost like I had a guardian angel, although I'm not quite sure what Jace would be considered.
Tonight was like every night, but Jace was finally going to tell me the story about everyone. When I originally asked, he told me that he had to talk to the group before hand, not wanting to tell her something they were uncomfortable with. I totally understood that. If my past was reveled without my knowledge I'd be pissed. A part of me was excited about learning all about the people who I shared my home with, but another part of me was nervous about finding out about them.
"So, who to start with?" Jace asked as we took a seat in the living room. Thankfully everyone went out that night, so it was just us.
"How about with the first person who arrived?" I asked and he nodded.
"That would be Magnus." Jace explained. "He was born in 1860, died in 1884 due to influenza."
"And he's Gluttony right?" I asked.
"Yup." Jace laughed.
"How did he get that Sin?" I asked.
"You see, the Sin we represent isn't random." Jace explained. "It kinda symbolizes who we were in our life, and how we were doomed to live in the afterlife."
"So why was Magnus chosen as Gluttony?" I asked.
"Gluttony is often an over indulgence in something. Whether it be material things, or whatnot." Jace said.
"And what was Magnus's?" I questioned.
"Alcohol." Jace said. "Grew up in a house where his father was always drunk, and he started early. He used it to escape the abuse, and to take him away from his terrible life."
"And he is still like that?" I asked.
"Yea. It carried over into his immortal life, but he can't get drunk." Jace said. "Which Magnus thinks is utterly unfair."
"I can't imagine why." I laughed along with him. "Who was next?"
"Kaelie. She died in 1910. She was 18." Jace said.
"And I can see why she's Envy." I said and Jace laughed.
"Pageant girl gone wild." Jace smiled. "Her main competition was favored to win over her, that sparked her envy, something that had always been there, and while she was trying to sabotage her, Kaelie ended up dying in the process."
"How?" I asked.
"Back in 1910, things weren't very safe." Jace said. "Kaelie is very vague about the whole thing, so we don't really know the whole story."
"Than who?" I asked.
"Sebastian. Who as you probably noticed, is Wrath." Jace said. "He died in 1955 when a turf war went wrong, and he was shot and killed." He explained.
"How old was he?" I asked.
"26. A little old to be involved in a simple turf war, but to each their own I suppose." Jace said.
"I want to try and guess the next one." I said and Jace laughed.
"Go for it." Jace smiled.
"You?" I asked.
"Close, but it was actually Simon." Jace said. "Simon represents Greed, and he died in 1972."
"What happened to him?" I asked.
"Greed can manifest into multiple things." Jace began. "For Simon, it wasn't a possession greed, but a parental one."
"I don't get it." I admitted.
"Simon lost his dad a few years before he died. And he didn't like that his mother moved on." Jace explained. "He got greedy, and it drove him mad."
"How did he die?" I asked.
"House fire." Jace said. "He started it to kill his mother and step father, but also died in the process."
"How old was she?" I wondered.
"20." Jace said and I nodded. "Want to guess who's next?" He asked.
"Was it you?" I asked again and he laughed.
"It was." Jace said. "You obviously know how I died, and when."
"But I don't know why you're Lust." I said.
"Pretty simple actually." Jace said as he kicked his feet back. "I was a player, who liked to sleep around, and could get any girl I wanted."
"Wow. You are so modest." I said sarcastically.
"What? It's true. I've clearly toned it done a lot since my death, but the afterlife doesn't care how much you've changed." Jace said and I nodded. I shouldn't be surprised, he was very attractive. "You only have two more." Jace said.
"Alec and Izzy." I said. "It's a tragedy that they both died."
"Sometimes things happen, and the result is sucky." Jace said and I couldn't agree more.
"I think Izzy died before Alec." I said.
"You'd be correct." Jace said. "Izzy represents Pride. She's probably the most vein person I've ever met, but with her looks, I can't say I blame her."
"How did she die?" I asked.
"It was 1996, and she was fixing her make up in the car when she got into a accident." Jace said. "She was only 17."
"What about Alec?" I probed.
"Suicide." Jace said and my heart literally sank to my stomach.
"Why?" I found myself asking.
"After Izzy died he was pretty devastated. I mean, who wouldn't be? But his younger brother died a few years later, and that sent him over the edge." Jace explained. "It was 2000 when he took too many sleeping pills and never woke up. He was 23."
"Hence why he's Sloth." I said and Jace nodded. "Thank you for clearing all that up."
"You're stuck with us. Might as well know us." Jace laughed.
"Why do you haunt this particular house?" I found myself asking before thinking.
"It's the only place where people normally don't come." Jace admitted. "It's been a decade since the last person lived here, and even than it wasn't a sought out place to live." Jace explained. "We felt safe here."
"I guess I understand that." I said honestly. "That's why I move so frequently. I never feel safe anywhere."
"Maybe this place will bring that same level of comfort." Jace offered and I nodded, not knowing if it would be real or not. "So you know about us, but I don't know that much about you." Jace said after a few moments, and I sighed.
"There isn't much to tell." I said, trying to keep my past a secret.
"Well, you're 21 years old, so you've had 21 years of experiences. There must be something interesting about at least one of them." Jace said.
"I didn't have a great childhood, so when I was 18 I decided that I would move around until I found somewhere I felt I belonged." I explained.
"How was your childhood bad?" Jace asked sincerely.
"My parents weren't nice." I said bluntly. "I spent the majority of my days thinking about death."
"Why?" Jace asked, seeming very concerned.
"I wasn't happy, I'm still not that happy. School sucked, my home life sucked, I didn't want to continue it." I explained.
"Do you still feel that way?" Jace asked.
"Do you want the honest answer?" I asked and Jace nodded. "Sometimes, yea. I'm not going to be happy now that I'm away from them. I'm just not a happy person. I don't think that will ever go away." I explained and Jace nodded. I didn't want to continue, and I think he noticed so he stopped asking questions.
"So, what do you want to do now. It's kinda early, and the others won't be back until dawn." Jace said, ending our previous conversation, which I was happy about.
"We could watch a movie." I suggested.
"Cool, but can I pick the movie?" Jace asked.
"I guess." I said and we made our way to the living room.
He sat on the couch, and I got everything ready. After everything was set up, I turned the lights off and pressed play. As the movie started, I couldn't help but think about Jace, and how as we sat on the same couch there was no chance that I could accidently fall asleep on his shoulder, or rest my head on my lap. We were forever destined to be separated by death, and something about that didn't sit well with me.
Time Jump – One Year Anniversary of Her Move
Jace POV:
Clary has officially been living here for a year, and I was planning on celebrating it with her. Not only is it the longest time she's lived in the same place in years, but because she really has become a staple around here for us.
Clary was currently at work, so I was going to get the gang together and figure out what we could do for her, and what she would enjoy the most. Clary was an introvert, and didn't have many friends, which wasn't a bad thing, I just wanted to do something she would like and not feel uncomfortable with.
"Why are we doing this again?" Kaelie asked, kinda snobby.
"Because Clary is our friend." Izzy shot back at her.
"She's not my friend. She just lives in the house." Kaelie sneered.
"Fine, you can leave, but don't come back for at least a day." I said and she scoffed and disappeared out of the house. "Anyone else?" I asked.
"Yea, I'm outta here." Sebastian said.
"Good riddance." Simon said.
"Now, we have to think of something." I said and everyone nodded and we started thinking. Clary was going to have a great night, that much we were sure of.
Time Jump – Hours Later
Clary POV:
Work was actual hell today, and I couldn't wait to get home, get in the bathtub, than curl into bed and fall asleep. It made me wonder why I do this every single day. I wake up, I go to work, I get yelled at, and I still do it all over again the next day. What was the point?
As I fumbled with the keys, I was just getting more and more annoyed with my life. I wanted to fall asleep and not wake up. Forget a hot bath, forget everything, I just want to go to bed and not have to torture myself with this thing called life again tomorrow. I finally got the key into the lock, and when I opened the door, I was honestly stunned silent.
"Surprise!" Came the chorus of voices. As I took in the room, I couldn't believe what was in front of me.
"What is all this?" I asked when I regained my voice.
"Well, you've been living here for a year officially, and we wanted to throw you a little party." Jace explained as he walked towards me. "Do you hate it?" He questioned.
"No. Not at all. I'm just stunned." I admitted. "Nobody's ever thrown me a party before."
"Not even for a birthday when you were little?" Jace asked.
"I never celebrated my birthday when I was a kid. My parents didn't care." I said and I could tell that bothered him, but he didn't say anything about it, which I was grateful for.
"Well, consider this your first official party." Jace smiled and I just felt like so much of the disappointment, and frustration of the day was slowly slipping away.
"Thank you." I said as I looked at everyone. "All of you, really. This is great."
"I'm never one to turn down a party." Izzy said as she sauntered over towards me, and I smiled.
"Izzy can get a little crazy at parties." Jace whispered to me. "You looked annoyed when you walked in, everything okay?"
"Honestly, it wasn't, but this made it better." I told him truthfully.
"Than let's get this party started." Jace smirked. The music started, and the atmosphere of the house was so light, and energetic. It was exactly what I needed today, and I was spending it with the people who truly meant the most to me in the world. Nothing could ruin this.
Time Jump – Clary's Birthday
Clary POV:
Another miserable year has passed, and now I have to suffer through another one. I don't know why I keep doing this. Today at work was one of the most frustrating days I've had in all my time I've lived here, and everything in me wanted nothing more than to not wake up tomorrow.
When I got home, I was thankful that nobody was there. I could easily take a bath and just lay in bed for the remainder of the night. My birthday held no special meaning to me, so I was completely content with ignoring the fact that I was now 22 and literally going nowhere in life.
As I got into bed I stared at the ceiling, my mind wandering to the fact that this was life, and it was never going to get better. I wasn't happy with my job, I wasn't happy with the way I looked, and I wasn't happy with the way I felt. The only thing that made me happy was Jace, and of course he was a ghost so I couldn't even find comfort in him when I needed a hug.
As I slipped in and our of consciousness, I couldn't help but dream about the possibilities, and how amazing it would be if things between Jace and I could be different. If he was alive, would we be as close as we are now, or if I was dead, would I even see him again? Each possibility was more alluring than the next, and most of me wanted to know what would happen in my afterlife.
Time Jump – Christmas
Jace POV:
Clary seemed off to me, but no matter how many times I asked if she was alright, she just brushed it off as her not getting enough sleep. Which I knew was a lie. She slept all the time. It was like her mechanism to avoiding life. She would take many naps a day, and than go to bed early. So there was no possibility that she was just tired.
"Merry Christmas Clary." I said once I found her in the yard.
"Merry Christmas to you too Jace." She smiled, but it didn't meet her eyes.
"Is everything okay Clary?" I asked once more. "You seem very out of it."
"Christmas isn't my favorite holiday." She said. "This is like the first time in years I've actually celebrated it."
"I'm sorry." I said.
"It's okay." She waved me off. "Once it's over things should be normal again. Sorry I'm such a Grinch." She laughed.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Some Holidays aren't for everyone." I said and she laughed a little.
"Thanks Jace." She said before heading back inside. I wanted nothing more than to just scoop her up into my arms and tell her everything was going to be okay, but I couldn't and it was the worst form of torture I've ever experienced in my afterlife.
I went back inside where everyone was celebrating. Christmas wasn't my favorite holiday either, but this year, having Clary in my life was something I was going to be eternally grateful for. She was the best gift I've ever gotten and I was going to treasure her for as long as I possibly could.
Time Jump – A Couple Days After New Years
Jace POV:
It was like everything happened in slow motion. Clary was acting strange all day, but she wouldn't tell me why. I figured the best thing to do was give her space, and talk it out with her later. I just didn't know there wouldn't be a later.
When I didn't find Clary in her room, I was confused. She didn't leave, and the bathroom was empty, so where the hell did she go? That's when I heard the swish outside of her bedroom window. I ran over to it just in time to see one of the most heart wrenching scene unfold of me. Clary was lying lifeless on the grass, bleeding from her head, and I knew she was dead.
I didn't know what to do, so I did the only thing I could, I called 911. I couldn't say anything, but once you call the cops, they show up no matter what. I knew they'd find her body, and I wasn't ready to watch them carry her away.
I stood at her window waiting for the cops to show up. I could hear Izzy calling me in the background, but I didn't answer. I couldn't pull my eyes away from Clary. She looked so peaceful. An expression I never saw when she was alive.
"There you are." I heard Izzy say. "I've been calling for you."
"I know." Was all I could say.
"Where is Clary?" She asked, but I didn't answer. I felt her walk over to me, and I heard her gasp. "What the hell happened?" She asked.
"She jumped." I simply said.
"Why?" Izzy asked, clearly upset.
"I don't know." I admitted. "And I don't think we ever will." Izzy opened her mouth to reply, when a bright light appeared in the room. One I haven't seen in along time.
"Jonathan Herondale, Isabelle Lightwood, it's been a long time." The angel said.
"Raziel." I whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because you're getting another soul." He explained.
"You mean – " I said as I looked out the window.
"Clarissa Morgenstern is not your average human. She's blessed with angelic characteristic that make her your counterpart." He said.
"What does that mean?" Izzy asked.
"You 7 make up all the Deadly Sins, but Clarissa is the Heavenly Virtues." He said.
"All of them?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes. Although rare, she embodies every virtue we hold dear." Raziel said. "We've been waiting for her to complete you."
"Compete us how?" Izzy asked.
"You can't have the Deadly Sins, without the Heavenly Virtues." He simply said. "She should be here momentarily." He said before disappearing. I looked back at the window, and finally saw the cop cars coming down the street. I didn't know how to process what I was just told, all I knew was I was going to be seeing Clary again, and I couldn't wait.
Clary POV:
I felt like I had just woken up from a dream. Only, nothing hurt, I wasn't tired, and everything felt new. Like I was starting over in life, and nothing bad had every happened to me. I looked down at my hands, than my feet. I was still in my clothes that I remembered putting on, and I was still in the house, but something was different.
"What the hell is wrong with you Clary?" I heard and that's when I saw Jace, which confused me. "Are you that stupid?"
"Why are you so angry?" I asked confused.
"You killed yourself Clary. You jumped off the roof. What kind of idiot does that?" Jace said, but he pulled me into a hug, one I've dreamed about so many times.
"I'm confused. Why are you yelling at me. We can finally be together." I said as we pulled apart.
"Because you had to die in order for us to be together." Jace said. "You're dead." He said and that's when it all hit me. I looked at the scene unfolding out the window behind me, and I saw them lift my lifeless body into that dreaded black body bag.
"I did it." I muttered to myself. "I finally did it."
"Did what?" Jace asked confused.
"I freed myself." I explained. "I don't think you understand how miserable I was alive." I continued. "I had no family. No friends. I didn't like myself, what I was doing, where I was going in life. I was stuck in my own personal hell."
"Clary." Jace said but I wasn't done.
"You're the first person who I ever felt close with, and you were a ghost. I couldn't touch you, feel your warmth, or anything." I said. "It's like life was shoving it in my face. The only person I've ever truly been able to smile around wasn't alive? I couldn't handle it anymore. I needed it to be real."
"And now? How do you feel?" Jace asked, and I couldn't help but smile.
"I feel at home." I said confidently. Jace took me into his arms again and I rested my head against his chest and sighed with happiness. "So what happens now?" I finally asked.
"What do you mean?" Jace asked.
"Well, you all are still on earth because you're the 7 Deadly Sins and you aren't welcome in Heaven, and there is no place for you in Hell, but what about me?" I asked curiously.
"Before you got here, we were approached by an angel." Jace said.
"Really?" I asked stunned.
"It happened before each of us died. Kinda like instructions on what to do." Jace explained. "Your soul had a few missing minutes before it left your body entirely, and before you showed up here."
"What did the angel say?" I asked.
"He explained to us that you would be joining us here on earth." Jace said and my eyes widened slightly.
"Really? How come?" I asked.
"You see, we might be the 7 Deadly Sins together, but you are the Heavenly Virtues." Jace said.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"You posses all the qualities of those virtues." Jace said as he took his hands in mine. "Chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, forgiveness, kindness, and humility."
"I don't get how I'm all of them." I said when he was done listing them.
"You don't see yourself the way others do Clary." Jace explained. "Chastity - you're innocent, and bold. Temperance – you're self resilient. Charity – you're so giving in everything you have. Diligence – you are a hard worker, and dedicated to whatever you put your mind too. Forgiveness – you never hold a grudge, no matter how awful a person has been to you. Kindness – you are the most selfless person I've ever met in my life, even for those who don't deserve it. And humility – you are incredibly humble, even when you deserve bragging rights." He explained, and I just stood there in awe. "You are every single one of those things Clary, and you complete us. Especially me."
"So what do we do?" I finally asked when I got my voice back.
"We continue doing what we've been doing all along." Jace said. "But this time – together." He said as he took my hand in his.
"Together."
Authors Note:
Okay, so this one hit me right after I read the suggestion, but it took me forever to get it just right, but I think I've done it justice. Although it is slightly different than what the reviewer wanted, I always love giving my stories an ending that feels like a happy ending, even if it doesn't use traditional methods to get there, so instead of giving Clary all the tools to succeed in life, I made the executive decision to have her commit suicide. I in no way, condone suicide, and if you are having these thoughts, I strongly suggest talking to someone professional or personal, just get your feelings out there, and seek help. It's the best for your and everyone around you.
I left it opened, so you all can interpret it as you please, but I hope that you like what I did with it in it's entirety. I loved the originality that this reviewer gave, and since I've not yet read a story that focused on the 7 Deadly Sins, I thought it was perfect to get out there to hopefully give inspiration to other authors who want to write about the same topic! Let me know what you think and leave a review!
