I paced across the room, my body aching with each step. The training took a toll on me but that wasn't what worried me. I groaned, so tired. I needed to get out of the house. I walked to the door but my hand froze at the knob. There was no point of it. Why was I even trying? I shook my head and let myself drop on the bed. It was okay. I could deal with this. Just a little more time. I stared at the ceiling as my palms grew hot. I jumped up from the bed and raced to the bathroom. Opening the tap, I let the cold-water wash over my hands and put out the flames dancing on my fingers. I groaned. Having powers was supposed to make life easy, not be a lot of work in itself.
Moments went by and my feet took me to Magnus' office. I knocked and the door flew open. He looked up. "Biscuit?"
I opened my mouth and then shut it. I knew what his answer would be. Don't know why I was still bothering. "I want to go out."
His brows furrowed. I continued, "I… I'm really tired of staying locked up. I need to go out. Just for a walk. Please…" I begged.
He sighed. "Clary… You can't. There are demons searching for you. We can't risk it."
My eyes stung and I looked down. Magnus rubbed his temples. "Clary…"
"I'm fine." I strode out and ran to my room, a weight settling in my stomach.
JACE POV
I walked into the room and turned to look at Magnus. He nodded and said, "I'll be in my office. Don't push her." I raised a brow as he shut the door.
I turned to face Clary and froze as my chest tightened. She looked so tired. I had never seen her like this. Not even the day we found her at the warlock's house.
"Hey…" she whispered.
"You seem tired little girl."
She glared at me. "Call me a little girl again and I will kill you."
"Somebody's cranky. Didn't get time to nap, did you?"
Within moments, she had a shoe in her hand and then it was slamming in my face.
I rubbed my forehead and wrinkled my nose. "Your feet stink."
Her cheeks flushed as I tried to stifle a smirk.
"You-"
"Anyways," I drawled, "Let's get to the lesson already."
Her face dropped and she nodded. I cursed at myself. Something was definitely up. She got into the position and I readied myself. She attacked and I huffed when she landed a punch. She would die if she continued to fight like this. My hand grabbed the top of her head as she tried to land another punch.
I drawled, "Seriously…"
She growled and clung onto my arm. She was so tiny. My lips twitched as I twisted her arm and slammed her against the wall. She scowled and looked up and her eyes hardened into a glare. "I… I… did better yesterday," she muttered and looked away. I let out a laugh. Yeah, Alec must have gone easy on her. Her lips curled in a snarl as she punched me.
I let go and clutched at my stomach. My eyes gleamed. "Now that is something we can work with."
Her eyes widened. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"
I rolled my eyes and cocked my head. "Rule number one of fighting. Don't stop to apologize to demons."
She narrowed her eyes. "You are not a demon."
I frowned. "No, I'm Jace." Much worse.
She huffed as I corrected her stance.
"Now, we need to work on your kicks." I stepped away from her and kicked towards her face, stopping only inches away. I sighed eyeing her frozen form. "When someone throws a kick, you duck down…"
She stared at my leg with wide eyes and nodded.
I narrowed my eyes. Where was her mind today? Alec told me she had a hold of the basics.
"What are you thinking?"
She blinked and then shook her head. "Nothing. Sorry, I'm so distracted…"
She got into position but I stopped her by taking her hand. She stiffened as her eyes shot to mine. She snatched her hand back and ran it through her hair. Her hand was trembling. Was she okay? Was she worried? I promised her that I would find her mother and I planned to keep it. There was nothing to worry about. 'Well… there is Valentine.' I thought with a wince.
"Clary did something happen?" I asked with caution. If it was something the warlock did… I didn't let myself finish that thought as my eyes bore into hers.
She stuttered, "Its… I just…nothing…" She bit her lip.
"Look I can't help you if you don't tell me why you are worried."
She groaned. "I'm not worried… I just need some air but I can't go out."
The color drained from my face. "You can't-"
She glared at me and hissed, "I know! Can we continue?"
I glared back. "Concentrate and we will."
She rolled her eyes and walked back into position. My brows lifted. I hadn't noticed we were standing so close. I shook my head and narrowed my eyes.
She clenched her fists and got into position. I nodded and she ran towards me, lifting a hand to punch. I grabbed it midway and twisted it, my other hand going for her throat. She was too small and too slow. She grabbed my wrist her nails digging in. I locked a leg at the back of her knee and twisted. She groaned as I got out of the way and she fell face first. She was getting up when I bent over and held her down. She froze and tapped out.
I sighed. "Seriously! You wouldn't even try to do something about it."
Honestly, there was little she could do, but she should have at least tried. She should have fought. She turned, still on the ground.
"Clary?"
My eyes widened. Her hands were on fire. I searched her face as realization crossed my eyes. Her breathing grew erratic and she looked like she was going to be sick.
"Umm… The trashcan is there," I said without thinking.
That shook her out as she threw a weak glare my way. I kneeled before her, taking her hand but she froze and snatched it away. I tried to ignore the sting of that action but she whispered, "Fire…" Oh… She would have burned me.
"Clary…"
She looked ahead, dazedly when she spoke. "I keep feeling like this house will burn down as well…" She sighed and shook her head. "I'm not safe anywhere, am I?"
With Valentine as her father… no.
She stared ahead gloomily. In the past five days I had known her I had never seen her be angry for what had happened. All she had focused on was how to make that right. I guess, she was half human. Nephilim always seemed forget that.
"You need to get out."
Her eyes shot to mine and her eyebrows lifted. "What?"
I started getting up and held out an arm for her. "You've been inside for too long. After nearly being burned to death, you need to get out and get some air."
She grabbed my arm. "But, there are demons looking for me…"
I smirked. "You will be safe as long as you're with me." I was far worse then any demon.
I was a Nephilim who had demon blood coursing through his veins.
CLARY POV
"Where are we going?" I tried to keep the relief I felt stepping outside hidden.
"To find out about your mom."
I straightened up. Jace might have been an obnoxious jerk but he was smart. I couldn't let him find anything that could put her life on stake. I tried to call the fire to my heart to remind me not to trust him but I still couldn't help but feel a little grateful. I shook my head. He might be helping me but he was doing it for his own benefit. Best to remember that and not fall into a trap that will only escalate my problems. We walked along the road for a while when something… no… someone caught my eyes. I grabbed Jace's arm and pulled him further along the road.
He looked at me and then followed my vision and I knew this was nothing good when I felt him go rigid beside me. I stiffened as well. "You know him?"
He met my eyes. "It's more concerning that you seem to know him as well."
"Where does he fit in this….situation?"
He huffed a quiet laugh. "Situation? More like a fucked-up mess." He shook his head as we drew closer to the person and wrapped his arms around my shoulder and pulled my back to his chest. I stifled a sigh as his warmth enveloped me. He whispered, "He is Valentine's Parabatai."
Valentine… "Paraba- what?"
He sighed. "It's a Shadowhunter thing, well discuss it later." He bent down and his warm breath brushed my ear. "Now tell me how you know him."
I grew rigid in his arms and he noticed as he pulled me closer. That's when I started to get it. This position was supposed to be threatening, you know, with the risk of him strangling me and all. My heart pounded and my cheeks flushed as I tried to avoid his gaze. I shook my head and answered. "He is my uncle. Although I'm sure you have already figured that out."
He pulled away from me and I told myself that it didn't affect me. We kept following Luke from a safe distance when Jace said, "He can be involved with the abduction of your mom."
"No!" His eyes widened in panic as we stopped walking and looked in Luke's direction. He was nonchalantly walking, although something told me he had noticed. I looked at Jace. "He isn't involved in this."
His eyes narrowed. "How are you so sure about it?"
I started to speak when I paused. I couldn't tell him about the letter I had found or how… how Luke had tried to defend my life. I had always held a grudge against him that he didn't try to do more. I thought I still did but everything was falling into place. Mom and Luke were running from Valentine and they wanted to hide me as well. My eyes watered as I remembered the strict curfews and… well mom. I knew they wouldn't work with Valentine. I thought back to the vision I had of mom in a dungeon. I sighed. I didn't trust them… I couldn't risk that. I needed to know more. I met Jace's eyes as they softened. "What did Valentine do before? How did he 'almost destroy the world'?"
His face paled as he tried to speak but stopped. He sighed, "Clary… I don't think-"
"Clary! Is that you?"
Air escaped my lungs and the ground beneath my feet seemed to sway. "Simon?"
"Clary?"
And Luke…
"Seriously…" muttered Jace.
Oh Shit…
A/N: Hey guys! I'm back! I really loved writing this chapter! Anyways, I have a question. Does anyone think that in the books Clary was a bit of a Mary Sue? I have read way too many great fanfics that I never realized it till I saw a post on Tumblr. I love Cassandra Clare but I have really started noticing that Clary didn't really have any flaws and was kind of flat compared to other characters like Tessa and Emma. Anyways, that's just my opinion… Hope you enjoyed :)
