After a bit of internal commentary and pep talk I hesitantly moved forward.

"Stop!" My voice trembled as I held the rod in front of me.

All eyes turned on me. "You can't kill him!"

There was pin-drop silence for a moment.

Jace glared at me and pinched his nose bridge. "By the Angel! I thought I told you to leave little girl!"

I glared at him and before I could stop myself, words escaped my mouth. "Well then good for me that you don't get to order me around!" I had a death wish.

He lowered his dagger form the boy's throat. "You shouldn't have come here."

"You are going to kill him?"

"Yes."

"But… You can't."

"And why is that?"

"Because it's wrong!"

He stared at me for a long moment. His golden eyes intense and analyzing. I felt like a deer in front of a lion.

"What are you, little girl? There is no way you are just a mundane."

My face drained of color. Gods, I wish I knew the answer to that. I was going to ask him the same thing. I swallowed. "I don't understand…"

Izzy stepped forward and sneered. "And neither do I! Why are you wasting our time on some stupid girl? Kill the Fae, and then kill the girl."

Shit! Okay. Focus. I could get myself and the boy out of this situation.

The blue-eyed boy rolled his eyes. "No. We can't kill her. But Jace is right. She is not a mundane. What are you girl?"

I sighed and tightened my hands on the metal rod. "Why are you asking me that? I am Clary."

His lips thinned. "I asked what you are, not who you are."

I stared at him blankly.

Jace walked towards me. "You don't know what you are?"

My face shuttered. What was happening? I started, "I-"

The Fae stood up within moments and pounced at Jace. His hands wrapped around his neck. I screeched and followed my instincts. I lifted the metal rod and hit his head. His hands loosened and he fell to the floor.

He looked up at me as a snarl curled his lips. "Valentine will find you! He's been looking for you!" He looked at Jace and continued, "You won't be able to hid-"

Jace raised his dagger and slit the Fae's neck. He disappeared into vapors. He then adjusted his jacket and gaped at me, his face white as paper. Wait… why do I have a feeling I messed up big time? Who was Valentine? I swallowed and tried to breathe through the heavy pounding in my chest.

The blue-eyed boy growled and stepped forward. "You almost got him killed you stupid girl!"

Jace patted his shoulder. "Calm down Alec. She didn't."

Izzy sashayed her way forward. "Look at her hands. She has mist seeping out of them."

I looked down at my hands gripping the rod. She was right. I lifted a trembling hand and saw … smoke. The mist was smoke. What was happening? This never happened before.

Jace lifted his brow and asked, "Are you a warlock girl?"

Warlock? I wasn't normal but… warlock? My mother's words flashed in my head, '-what she is…', '-take her to the warlock…', '-I can't…' My breathing grew harsh and my hands trembled.

"Clary?"

I wheezed. "No. I… can't…"

What was I? Out of control. Everything was out of control. I was clueless. I knew nothing. I didn't even know my mother. I took a gulp of air. "I am human…"

Jace narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure about that?"

I glared at him. "Yes! I am human! Aren't you all human?"

He rolled his lips as if trying to hold back a laugh. "You just saw me kill a Downworlder and then saw his body vaporize in front of you and you are asking if we are humans."

Okay, so not my smartest moment but I did just see a dead body vanish. I was bound to doubt my sanity. I struggled for words. "I…I…don't."

He sighed and started. "Look little girl-"

I cut him off with a growl. "I am not a little girl! And I have a name!"

His lips twitched. "And what is that?"

I wanted to punch him. "Clary."

"Clary …?"

He seemed to be waiting for my last name but I wasn't that stupid. I didn't want him to run a background check on me. So, instead I said, "Clary None. Of. Your. business."

"Well that's a long name. Anyways, you are coming with us to the institute. You might be of some help."

Alec protested. "No way, that is not happening Jace. We can't let her in the institute."

Jace ignored him and stared at me some more. "You really don't know what you are?"

My lips parted. "I… don't…" I looked down at my shoes.

Jace sighed. "Look, Clary…"

I looked up at him as he walked toward me.

"You don't know what you are but we can help you find that out. All you need to do in return, is help us find Valentine…"

My eyes widened. They could help me… "I don't know any Valentine…"

His eyes narrowed. "No, you don't, but it seems like he knows you." He looked at the spot the Fae died at.

"Who is he?"

His eyes darkened. "A Shadowhunter who almost destroyed the world once."

A what? No way… I looked behind him. Alec and Izzy were arguing. My lips twitched. They were definitely siblings.

Izzy gazed at me. "It doesn't matter, Alec. She is the only lead we have on Valentine."

Jace raised a questioning brow. "So… You coming?"

I opened my mouth and then shut it. They could help me or they could use me… Was it worth the risk? Maybe… But… did I really want to know the truth? What if I was way in over my head? What about this Valentine? He was looking for me… Did he want something from me? My face paled. No! I couldn't trust them. I couldn't trust anyone. If… if my mother was scared of what I was… What's to say they wouldn't kill me or take advantage of me.

I swallowed and backed away from him. "Yeah, I don't think so…"

Jace smirked at me. "That's fine. I don't need your cooperation for that."

He lunged at me, a pen like blade in his hand and I dodged him. Barely. I held the rod in my hands and ran towards the door. Izzy was standing in my way, her whip in her hand. "Where do you think you are going stupid girl?"

Her whip swung at me and caught my wrist. My self-defense training kicked in and I twisted her whip around my wrist and pulled it down. She fell down on a knee and threw a venomous glare at me. I kicked at the shelf to knock down a few items from it, all of which landed on Jace's head. I kicked the door open and almost expected Alec to be the next one coming at me but what happened next had my knees weak with relief.

Simon ran up to the door. "Clary! Where were you? I've been searching for you."

He had been panicking. I felt my cheeks warm due to guilt as we started walking away.

I looked behind me. Jace and Izzy were looking at me as if hatching a plan and Alec with relief.

So much for answers.

I met Simon's confused gaze and saw him looking behind me. A rueful smile curled my lips as I rubbed my bruised wrist.

"So…" He asked, "Where were you?"

I shook my head. "I went looking for you," I lied.

His cheeks turned red as he looked away from me and rubbed his neck. "Oh, yeah… I met this girl and we talked… I'm so sorry that I took so long."

If only he knew how on time he was.

He eyed me for a moment. "Are you okay? You look… rattled."

"Yeah… Yeah I am okay, sorry I got you worried. I'm just tired. This place is too crowded. Want to get out?"

He chuckled. "We just got here."

I bit my lip. What do I say to that?

He started laughing. Was he okay?

I groaned. "What happened? Why are you laughing now?"

He calmed down and smiled. "Every time I see you being the socially awkward you, it makes me feel like I'm great at conversing."

I rolled my eyes and scolded. "Hey! No making fun of the Birthday girl."

He raised his hands as if surrendering. "Come on, we can go and meet up with the band."

I looked behind me one last time.

They were gone.