CLARY POV

Light filled my vision and I squinted my eyes. I blinked a few times and attempted to sit up. My head pounded and my body protested. I ran my fingers through my hair and rolled my stiff shoulders. Where was I? My eyes widened and I jumped off the bed as if it was on fire. Fire. My home, the slug, mom. It all came rushing back. As I stood up, my legs gave away and I fell. I rubbed my face with shaking hands and took a deep breath. I needed to be calm and rational. Tears filled my eyes and my throat clammed.

Yes Clary! Crying was so rational!

I pulled on my sneakers and stumbled around the room, trying to find anything of help. There was nothing. The room was empty except for a bed and a washroom. It was warm and simple and white curtains covered the window. The window! This was not the best idea, but it had to do for now. I strode towards it and looked down. My head spun and I pushed away from the window. It was only the second storey, but no way was I climbing down. I rubbed my arms and sat on the edge of the bed.

I gripped the wall for support and gathered the courage to walk to the door. My trembling hands twisted with the knob, checking if it was locked when it clicked open. My lips parted as I exhaled with relief and searched the hallway to see if anyone was standing guard. It was empty. My brows knitted as I crept outside. Was the person who brought me here stupid? Wait! Was it Jace? What was his motive? Was my mom here as well?

I tried to make possible connections of the information I had. I met Jace, mom got abducted, I got attacked and then saved. Only, it made no sense to be saved. Unless it was by someone else. I shook my head and exhaled a long-held breath. I didn't know who got me out of there but they wanted something from me.

My heart raced and my steps hurried. I reached the stairs and sprinted down. My knees buckled and I clung onto the railing, preventing a fall. My breathing turned harsh as I scurried down the stairs. I rushed to the main door and reached out to grab the knob when a warm energy wrapped around my hand and thrust it back. I froze and grabbed for the knob again and the force repelled it. I backed away from the door and darted towards the window. The same happened.

I snooped around the living room, still aching and trembling with weakness. The sunlight streamed in through the windows brightening the room more. The space was vibrant, sparkly and spirited. Basically, everything I wasn't feeling. I shook my head and started to head towards the stairs when a cold energy settled in the air. I shuddered and spun around. The door flew open and I sprinted and crouched behind the couch, hoping they didn't see me. Footsteps grew louder with each step and I held my breath, my heart beating faster than ever. Shoes appeared in my sight. I groaned. They did see me.

My eyes slid up from the shoes to find a handsome Asian man stood before me; his arms held behind his back. Was he hiding something? A weapon? His cat-like eyes met mine as he looked at me with concern.

"What are you doing down there, biscuit? The floor must be uncomfortable."

I stood up and backed away from him.

"Wh.. who… are you?" I croaked; my throat sore and hurting.

He beamed. "Magnus Bane. High warlock of Brooklyn and your rightful guardian, in the absence of your mother."

My jaw dropped. "War… Warlock?" Was he the one my mother talked about? Or did she know more warlocks? Were there more warlocks?

He sighed. "I think we should sit down for this conversation. Do you drink tea? It will help with the throat."

Unable to speak, I nodded.

"Very well."


After Magnus conjured up some tea, we sat facing each other. I took a sip of the warm liquid and instantly relaxed.

Magnus glanced down at me. "So what exactly happened? Why'd you set your house on fire?"

I choked and stared at him. How did he… I sighed. Never mind. "Mom got kidnapped and a giant slug attacked me."

"Demons."

"Hm?"

"The slugs were demons. How many were there?"

"I just saw one."

He tapped his foot and made a clicking sound with his tongue. "There must have been more outside the house, they are slow alone."

"You should know. You came in to save me. Didn't you?"

He smirked. "I did, but not through the door. Anyways, you are safe for now. The potion will help you with the weakness and your throat. Unfortunately, that will take some time to heal. I would ask you to refrain from speaking though, you inhaled a lot of smoke."

I ignored the advice and croaked, "Potion?"

He nodded at the tea. I stiffened. Sneaky warlock. This brought back some of my senses and I put the cup back at the table. I rested my back at the couch and stared at the space above the window. This wasn't making any sense.

I bit my lip. "Demons and warlocks are real." I whispered to myself.

He pointed at himself. "Yes, as you can see for yourself."

"But…How?"

He stared blankly and raised a brow.

I sighed. "I'm sorry, what I mean to ask is what am I? Am I a warlock too? What about my mo… mom?" My voice cracked and I broke into a coughing fit. My throat was burning so I relented and took another sip of the… potion.

"You are not a warlock and neither is your mom. You both are Shadowhunters."

"Shadowhunters?" Like Valentine… "Is that why I can touch and set things on fire?"

His lips thinned. "No, that's definitely not it. I'm not exactly sure about my theory but I have a friend researching it. Your mother never told me how you got the fire."

How I got the fire. What did that mean? Was I not supposed to have it? 'She is a mistake…' 'She shouldn't exist…' I swallowed. I was definitely not supposed to have it.

"What about my mother? I have to find her. Jace has her." I muttered, doubt evident in my voice. Did he though? He wanted me, not my mother.

"Jace?"

I ignored the question. I thought I was human. Jace said I was a warlock. Magnus said that I was a Shadowhunter. Oh God! What was I? More importantly, why did I not know the answer to that question?

I rubbed my face with my palms. "How did I never know that I could control fire?" I whispered.

Magnus froze. I looked up at him to see a guilty look in his eyes.

I stiffened and glared at him. "How exactly do you know my mother? How did you know that she was 'absent', as you put it?"

He visibly swallowed and opened his mouth to speak.

I held up a palm. "You came just when I needed you to. How did you know that I needed help?"

"I came to see Jocelyn. I was just at the right place at the right time."

That did it for me. I leapt up from the couch. "Bullshit! This was not a coincidence!" I seethed. "Did you plan to kidnap me? Did you send those demons?"

He took a step forward and I took a couple back.

He held his arms up in a non-threatening gesture and looked me in the eye for a long moment. "I did none of those things, Clary."

I stared at him for a while, then sighed and relaxed. He was telling the truth. I knew it and my intuition was rarely wrong.

"You are not telling me everything."

"Now is not the right time. Besides there are things I myself am unclear about."

I rolled my eyes. "I am pretty sure you are clear about how you know my mom, or who abducted her."

He sighed, clearly exasperated. "Fine! I first met your mother when she was just a little older than you. She helped me with some situation and we became friends. Anything else?"

I froze. He had known her that long. He was close to her. He had all the answers. I took a deep breath and swallowed.

I paused for a moment, unsure if I should ask this but my curiosity got the better of me and the whisper left my mouth. "Did you know my father?"

I stood there in complete silence for God knows how long. Magnus seemed as stiff as a stone. His eyes were distant and his jaw was clenched. I fiddled with the hem of my t-shirt and prepared myself for the same reaction I was used to. I had been used to it for years.

Magnus whispered "Yes…"

My eyes widened and my heart pounded with anticipation. I had just opened my mouth to speak when he cleared his throat.

He continued. "I knew him and I know enough about him to know that any intelligent being would not meddle with him."

I readied myself to protest when he interrupted. "I know you will find out about him soon enough, especially with how things are going right now, but I can't tell you more. Not at the moment."

The resignation in his voice made my tone soft. "Does that mean he is alive?"

Magnus met my eyes. "Yes."

Everything was now making sense. I looked at him and saw pity on his face. Oh no…. My eyes brimmed with tears and I couldn't stop myself from asking. "He is the one who has abducted mom, isn't he? He found out about us because of me."

Magnus nodded.

I bit my lip as my mind connected the dots. My throat clammed up and I took in a deep breath.

"Magnus…" I began with a cautious voice. "What is his name?"

"Valentine Morgenstern."