**The characters names of The Mortal Instruments are owned by Cassandra Clare. The original content of this story are owned by Ms sweets, 2020. Please do not copy or reproduce my story without written permission.**

A/N Hi everyone, so with us all being locked in our houses and quarantining ourselves, I've finally decided to take the plunge and write a story after many years of reading others on this site. Please be kind and do leave a review so I know you are there, any constructive criticisms I receive I'll try to take them on board. Again, thank you to those that do take the time to read this story, much love x

Prologue – The Beginning Part I

"Shit." Clary heard come from behind the rustling bushes as she lay on her picnic cloth, startled she sat up and she called out "Who's there?" but heard nothing in response but the continuation of the bushes rustling.

Her mother had only just left her to retrieve something from the house and she was starting to get slightly worried, again she called out "Is anyone there?" as she moved closer to the sound, but again she was met with nothing. As she began to walk back to where she had been laying, a soft voice came from behind her "Hi." Was all they said, Clary froze where she stood with panic rising in her chest, she hadn't really thought she heard someone, only that a small animal had been on its travels making a lot of noise. But instead she heard a voice and was unsure what to do, she could either continue to walk or even run to her house without looking back, her house was not too far and once she reached she would be safe in her mother's arms or she could turn around and see who the mysterious voice belonged to.

"Please, please don't scream. I mean you no harm." As Clary heard the man's voice again, she took a deep breath, gathering all her courage, she began to slowly turn towards it, but was promptly stopped "Don't. Don't turn around." He said with urgency, "Erm, I know this may sound strange, but could you throw me your blanket please? His voice was far more calmer that time. Clary couldn't figure out whether to do as he asked or to run, but something in her small mind told her that it was ok and that she should give him the blanket. So without further thought she walked over and grabbed it when she heard him "Ok, right. So when you turn around, if you could cover your eyes with your hands and take 5 steps and when you reach to five I'll take the blanket, but you must keep your eyes covered, ok?" "Why?" she replied, still standing facing the opposite way to the voice, with her blanket in her hand.

"Because it would seem I have ruined my clothes and I need something to cover myself in, I don't wish to frighten you any more than I already have, with how I look." That answer seemed to satisfy Clary and she began to turn around with her hand covering her eyes, "1... 2… 3… 4… 5." She counted aloud and stopped, never peeking to look at the man she so wanted to see, with her arm outstretched she felt a slight tug and the blanket was gone.

"Thank you. You can open your eyes now."

When Clary removed her hands from her eyes she finally saw a figure of a man, first she saw his toes that were covered in tiny cuts with dirt and blood, she wondered where his shoes were and how he shouldn't have been in the forest without them. As her eyes began to ascend she saw the face who the voice belonged to, an angel. A tall, golden man, with a halo of golden curly hair that fell in front of his face obscuring his eyes, she really wanted to see them but the sun that shone above him blocked her view, she was always taught to look someone in the eyes when speaking to them. Her mother had always said angels were real but she never thought she would actually meet one. She never thought she would be standing in front of an angel, let alone helping them; it was too much for her to understand "Are you an angel? She asked, wanting to know if what she thought was true.

He bent down, so that they were eye level and that's when she finally saw his eyes, they were like nothing she had ever seen before, the only thing she could think of, that was even remotely close was honey. They reminded her of the amber ring her mother wore, they were beautiful. With a slight smile he said "Unfortunately I am not. But, many have called me so."

Her head sunk a little as a wave of disappointment washed over, for a moment she had thought an angel stood before her, but it was soon replaced with curiosity, as her head slowly raised she asked "Then what are you? If you are not an angel."

"I am merely a man…" he said before looking around and then continuing his sentence, "that has found himself in a slightly awkward position."

Clary was confused, "What is awkward?"

He let out a half chuckle as his gaze returned back to hers "That I am in the middle of nowhere talking to a four year old."

"Hey! I'm five." She said with as much authoritativeness she could muster. The man raised his hands in mock surrender and said "My apologises." With a smile pulling at his lips.

"It's ok. I'm Clary by the way. What's your name?" She said as she extended her hand out

"How rude of me, it would seem as though I haven't told you my name. My name is Jace." He said as he accepted her hand and shook it.

She smiled "Nice to meet you Jace." And he smiled right back.