JACE POV
The warlock hissed. "Shadowhunters!"
"We come in peace," I said.
He shuffled on his feet and the movement pulled my eyes over his shoulder. Red hair popped into my view. I probably remembered the angels more times since I met her, than I did in my entire life. My heart went wild as I exhaled in relief. Clary. She was alive. But, what was she doing here? I met her green eyes as they widened and her face turned white as a mourning gear. My eyes ran over her, as if having a mind of their own. I eyed her dress when Magnus quietly cleared his throat. My eyes snapped back up as she bit her lip. My cheeks flushed. By the Angel Jace! I narrowed my eyes and snapped at myself.
"And, it looks like you have what we came for," straightening up, I stated.
I turned towards the warlock as his eyes flared with magic. "Then, I will do you a favor and ask you to go look for something else."
He moved to close the door when Alec stepped forward and stopped it with his foot.
He looked up as Alec said, "We just… Let us talk to her, you can kick us out any time you like," he raised his hands, "we won't raise a weapon."
The warlock glared at us and looked at Clary. She observed me for a moment as a frown twisted her lips. Looking at Magnus she nodded. I sighed. This didn't seem good.
CLARY POV
The Shadowhunters settled on the couch and adjusted their weapons. I swallowed and looked at Magnus. His gaze was trained on them and his gait was so rigid, it looked like he was made of stone. If he was worried, then I had to be prepared.
Magnus gritted out. "Why are you here?"
"We need Clary's help to find Valentine and the Mortal cup," stated Alec.
I shut my eyes and dug my nails in my palm. This wasn't supposed to happen. I met his stare. "No, you don't. There is nothing I can do to help you."
Jace cocked his head. "You can talk your dad out of insanity."
I gasped as my eyes widened. How did he know? We only ever met once. My heart thumped in my chest and its sound filled my ears. I blanked my face and raised a brow. "My father is dead."
"As you heard back in the Pandemonium, Valentine is alive."
I paused, if they were looking for him, they could be of help. I shook my head and glared at him. "Why are you looking for Valentine? Who is he?"
Jace stared back and Alec narrowed his eyes.
Izzy spoke for the first time, "You don't know your father? Isn't Jocelyn your mother?"
Great! More people who knew more about me than I did. I turned and gazed at Magnus. He met my gaze. What should we do?
Magnus looked at them and sighed. "Jocelyn didn't tell her. She doesn't know anything that can help you. Don't tell the clave."
Alec studied him for a moment. "We weren't planning to. We are in trouble with the clave and finding Valentine and the Mortal cup might be our only chance to prove our innocence. We won't jeopardize it."
They wanted to prove themselves innocent. They could do that by blaming it on me. I mean, I was his daughter. My chest burned and my lips thinned. I was not going to fall for this. "Fine, then go ahead and look for him, but leave me and my mom out of this."
Jace blurted, "Where is your mother?"
My face paled and I looked at Magnus. He said, "Valentine abducted her."
Izzy deadpanned, "Family dinners must be a joy."
Alec warned. "Isabelle…"
I glared at her. "Anyways," I drawled, "you should leave."
Izzy arched a brow. "We could find your mother…"
I stiffened and shook my head.
"Valentine will come for you as well, you know. Even the Fae said so."
"I don't care," I whispered and clenched my fists, "You can go look for him if you want. I am not involving myself with your clave."
Jace said, "Didn't you hear us little girl, we don't know where he is, you are the only one who can help us with that."
"I don't know where he is either, you idiot!"
His eyes flashed at the insult and he sneered, "Yet you are the only one who can find that."
Magnus stiffened further beside me.
After what he had told me about the Shadowhunters, I wasn't involving myself in their games. I swallowed and said, "Maybe I can, but that doesn't mean I will."
He leaned forward and lowered his voice and gritted out. "Look, Valentine is a Shadowhunter. He stole the Mortal cup years ago and it hasn't been found, ever since then. Word is spreading that he is alive and the clave suspects that our family knew all along and have kept this from them. If the clave decides that we are guilty, you will be caught as well," he took a breath and continued, "But, if you help us find Valentine and the Mortal cup, all will be well. We wouldn't be prisoners; you will find your mom, and we will return to our normal lives. We have to get at this now before the clave finds out about you."
My eyes widened. Shit! I glanced at Magnus as Jace finished his speech. My lungs constricted and I knew exactly what he was thinking. We were trapped. On one side there was this clave and on the other, Valentine. My throat clammed up as I dug my white knuckles into the couch. How will I get my mom back?
Jace's obnoxious voice rang through the silence that had enveloped the room. "I see you are starting to see my point."
"Leave," I whispered through the burning in my chest.
His eyebrows shot up and I spoke louder this time. "Leave."
His jaw clenched. "Don't be stupid little girl."
"I am not a little girl!" I snarled through my clenched teeth.
"Well you definitely got the maturity of one."
Heat gathered in my palms as I closed my eyes to shake it off. The warmth spread through my body and my heart thumped against my ribcage. Just as quickly the heat had built, it dissipated and a foreign energy spread. I opened my eyes and exhaled deeply as I felt a hand on my arm starting to loosen. I looked up and saw Magnus releasing my wrist. The Shadowhunters stood there with their jaws hanging as I broke into a series of cough.
Magnus handed me the potion and I took a gulp of it. Everyone was settled and silent, and then Isabelle spoke, "What are you li- Clary?" She corrected herself at my glare.
I sighed. "I wish I knew the answer to that," I groaned, I didn't want to lose the little freedom I had, "Anyways whatever it is, don't tell the clave."
Moments went by and no-one spoke. It was clear that they wouldn't leave us alone until we agreed. I looked at Magnus and he shrugged.
I shut my eyes and cleared my throat. "I will help you look for Valentine."
Jace looked up and I continued, "But, on certain conditions."
His scowl deepened. I raised my brow and he nodded his go ahead.
"We will get my mum back. Alive. No matter what."
He nodded.
"Under no circumstance will you take advantage of the situation and tell the clave about me and my mother."
He stiffened and then nodded.
"After this is over, we will all go back to our normal lives and neither I, nor my mother will ever be subjected to any laws of the clave. That's it."
He released a deep breath as they all got up.
Alec looked at Magnus and me and said, "We understand your concern and agree to your conditions. We will come back soon to discuss what we have to do next."
He turned to leave as Magnus hastily said, "Tell me before you do."
Alec gave a half-smile as his cheeks flushed. "Here's my number."
His eyes widened. "Ummm…. Okay…." He trailed off.
I bit my lip and turned to Jace to find him watching me. We stared at each other for a moment. I opened my mouth to speak but he interrupted, "You need to train."
My brows scrunched. "Hmm?"
"You need to learn to defend yourself and control your… magic."
"And who will teach me that?"
"I'll see to your training and the warlock will handle your magic."
Before I could argue further he turned away as the they made their way to the door. He looked back with a slight smirk. "See you tomorrow, Clary…"
My lips parted as I nodded. He was trouble.
JACE POV
She was trouble and she was my sister. I shook my head as I knocked on the door of the mundane's house. I needed to ensure she wouldn't run away or betray us. He was my solution. She would do anything if it meant he was safe. That was probably why she hadn't told him about her being alive. Unless, he wasn't that important. Thinking back to how they looked at each other at the pandemonium, that was unlikely.
The door creaked open as a girl appeared.
She started to speak but I interrupted, "Is Simon here?"
She looked inside and turned back towards me. "Yes…Who are you?"
"Clary's friend…" I mumbled.
Her face shuttered and her eyes filled with tears. I fidgeted as she motioned me in. "Come in."
