Hey guys, did you miss me?

So it's been a hot minute since last I posted and it's because I've been unbelievably swamped with studying for semester finals, which I am still taking btw (unbelievable I know), so I couldn't update for the past three or five billion weeks but anyways, how about I try to make it up to you guys by posting this chapter today and another one tomorrow? Then we'll go back to the original update order which is a chapter every Friday and since this week is my final test I will finally be free.

So are we cool with that?

Well I am doing it anyways since you can't respond yet so onto the chapter...


P.S. I do not own the Mortal Instruments series, okay back to the story...


Clary brushed her fingers through her wig, a nervous habit she had adopted awhile back as she chewed on her lower lip eagerly. She was still worried about tonight and how it will go. She took a big risk convincing Luke and her mom that lie she told but it let her anxiety grow inside her. On the one hand she was absoloutely sure her mother would never approve of this late night outing and she really wanted to go.

But on the other hand, lying to her mother made her weary and nervous, she kept thinking up of all the scenarios she could get caught in. Maybe the restaurant will be closed and they'd head home early, maybe something with Luke's work will come up and he'd cancel, maybe somehow she will run into her mother while she is out with her friends and she'll kill her.

In front of all her friends.

So many ugly scenarios ran through her head, each one increasing its melodramatic nature and its unlikeliness, but each one drew an uglier reaction from her mother that Clary would rather avoid.

The death thing for example, she would really rather stay alive.

She looked over herself in the mirror one more time, seeing the dejected and terrified look on her face. Stop this! she edged herself. What's done is done and she will be going out tonight with her friends, one way or the other. Tonight, for the second time in her life, she will sneak out of the house at night to meet up with her friends, the first time in her life also happened to include some of the very same group of friends.

She heard a soft knock on her door, pulling her out of her thoughts and she looked up to where her mother entered, wearing a simple black dress and just a touch of makeup. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful" Clary admitted, it was true but then again her mother was always beautiful as she saw her. A lot of people had told her before she looked a lot like her mother and she did not believe them but with each passing year, their smiliarities only grew and her features were starting to look a lot like her mother's.

The hair thing is a bitch though. She hates the stupid wig.

"Thank you, honey" she said before frowning, "How come you are still wearing your wig?"

Clary's heart accelerated its speed, but her face remained neutral as she faked a shrug and said, "Hadn't noticed, I've been drawing nonstop since I got home, just now taking a break". She lied effortlessly.

"What did you draw?" her mother asked curious as always.

Clary smiled uneasily, "Just drawings" she said with a shrug, hoping to end the discussion there. "I think I will take it off now, head in the shower and go to bed early".

"Bed? How come?" her mother asked.

"I'm just tired, that's all" Clary said as she played with her wig, tight lipped.

"Oh honey, are you sick or something? Do you want me to call Luke and cancel so I can stay here with you?" her mother asked as she walked over to her, raising a hand to Clary's forehead, trying to see if she has a fever.

"No" Clary said quickly, louder than she had intended, and her mother almost jumped back, surprised by her reaction. Clary cleared her throat and repeated with a lower tone "No, I'm fine. Go on your date. I'll be okay".

"It's not a date" Her mother protested but Clary only chuckled, choosing not to respond to her mother's statement. They heard the doorbell ring then and Clary smirked as she sang the words cheerfully at her mother, who was already walking down the stairs, "Your date is here".

"Shut up" her mother joked in the same tone, stopping to look back at her, her expression suddenly growing serious, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you? Take care of you?"

Clary's chest tightened at her mother's words as another stab of guilt found its way to her stomach, here she was, ready to cancel her plans to take care of her sickness. And here Clary was, lying and manipulating her mother so she can sneak off with her friends after dark. Her conscience yelled at her to admit the truth, but it was quickly silenced and she just smiled "I'm sure, go, have fun. I'll still be.. here when you get back".

Her mother smiled and hugged her goodbye, as soon as Clary heard the front door close she ran back to her room, catching her phone and sending Jace a text saying she was ready. She looked over herself in the mirror again, she had decided to wear black jeans and a V neck dark green top that made her eyes shine brighter. Casual and comfy, she never felt the need to go overboard with her outfits like Izzy did and she never thought to change that about herself.

Her phone buzzed after a few minutes with a text from Jace, saying he is here. She looked through her window and saw his car parked in her driveway, in the back of her mind, the memory of looking through her window and seeing a drunk Jace escorted by Sebastian brushed by but she shook it away as she made her way out the door.

She stopped momentarily as she shut the door firm behind her to look back.

Was she doing the right thing? No, definitely not.

Should she turn back while she still has a chance? No, defnitiely not.

With that thought in mind she smiled as she opened the door to the passenger seat to Jace's car and sat down next to him, for a moment noting they were alone, before looking back at Jace and what a sight that was. He looked stunning wearing all black, jeans, top and leather jacket, making his already bright colors standout more, his light skin and his golden hair, that was overdue for a haircut as strands of golden curls fell over his face, but it made him look even more dashing. Clary was convinced now that Jace could never look bad.

She realized she was staring too much and she has not spoken a word since she got in the car, he was looking at her as if waiting for her to say something or maybe he just figured out she was admiring his looks since he could often tell when she does so she just said the first thing that popped into her brain to deflect his attention, "Jeez, I thought you were joking about the leather".

"I never joke about the leather" Jace said as she buckled her seat and he started driving.

"Of all the things to be serious about, you choose leather?" Clary asked.

"And my baby" Jace admitted.

"Your baby?" Clary asked confused and Jace tapped the wheel and caressed it. Clary looked at him as if he just grew a second head then rolled her eyes. It would have been fine if it were just the leather. "So will you tell me where we are going?"

"It's a surprise" Jace said annoyingly, knowing it was eating at her.

"I hate surprises" Clary said.

"I'll stop planning your birthday party" Jace joked and Clary just gave him the most unimpressed look ever, making him chuckle at her irritation "Come on, you waited all day, what's a few more minutes?"

"Torture"

"You're being dramatic"

"I reserve the right to be as dramatic as I would like" Clary edged as she crossed her arms over her chest and puffing herself out teasingly.

"All that listening in and you couldn't figure it out?" he asked her, raising an eyebrow.

She looked over at him confused, listening in? What was he talking about? A sudden lightbulb sparked in her head as she remebered listening in on their conversation at the cafeteria. But.. how did he know? She thought she was sneaky enough.

"You're not that subtle".

As if he could read her mind, he answered her question and she looked him over flabbergasted. So both Alec and Jace saw her? So much for being sneaky. "I have no idea what you are talking about" she exclaimed.

He raised a single perfect golden eyebrow, she would have cursed at him for being able to do that had she not have been struggling to lie to him, "Really? So that wasn't you hiding behind Bob to listen in?"

She rembered the boy she stood behind and shook her head, "Nope, wasn't me. I don't even know any Bobs". Jace looked her over with an unbelieving expression as he bit his lower lip and then rolled his eyes and Clary couldn't help but swoon, she had found that move sexy. "In fact I have never seen a Bob before in my life".

"How strange, I could have sworn-"

"I wouldn't swear if I were you" Clary interrupted quickly, clearing her throat, desperate to change the subject of her listening in on their conversation, "I really hope you are not kidnapping me".

Well maybe she was hoping just a little bit.

"Well you know what they say about hope" Jace started as he looked her over, "It breeds eternal misery".

"So you are kidnapping me, I knew it" Clary said, "It's my charming personality, isn't it?"

"Yes that's exactly it, your oh so charming personality has made me go crazy and now I have to kidnap you and keep you away from the world for both its sake and yours" Jace said dryly in a tone that implied he didn't like her charming personality much.

"I knew it" Clary said, clicking her fingers as she shook her head, seemingly disapointed with herself as if she should have seen this comming. "Good thing I'm an undercover cop" She said remembering one of their earlier conversations.

"Are you now?"

"Of course, the taser gun in my pocket should prove as much" Clary said dryly.

Jace suddenly turned his head to look at her sideways, his eyes raking her features, trying to decipher her meaning, "See now I think you are serious about that part".

She was. "Come over here and see for yourself". She never leaves home without it.

"Now as much as I love the idea of my organs being fried, and trust me I do" Jace started, sarcasm dripping from his tone, licking his lips as his gaze turned back to the road, "I think I will pass".

"Are you sure?"

"Positive".

"But the crispy smell is-"

"Intoxicating I'm sure" Jace cut her off, "But I will still pass".

Clary sighed theatrically as she teasingly slumped her shoulders down and said, "Alright, your choice". Her eyes then wandered back to the road as she noticed they were almost at the city boarder now, just outside of town when Jace had pulled the car into a driveway.

It was relatively empty, no more than twenty or thirty cars parked, the sound of music pumping faint but not missible. As she stepped out of the car she took in her surroundings eagerly, the parking lot was on a small hill and as she looked down, she saw a big field, she could faintly make out blinking lights to encompass a round shaped.. track? She wasn't sure.

Jace lead her to the building with the big red sign that flashed back and forth consistently reading 'Pandemonium', she never heard that name before but she followed Jace towards it. A security guard took Jace's car keys and let them in, openning the door for them. As soon as he did, the faint pumping music sound turned into blasting music that filled her ears.

Her first thought was that the cars outside lied, the place was in fact crowded, or maybe everyone dancing and grinding on each other in the stripper lights only sent the impression it was full. Clary looked over in wonder as the beat of the music and the flashing lights played with her brain's ability to focus, she hadn't noticed when she slipped her hand into Jace's, afraid of losing him in the crowd of sweaty bodies and colored lights.

He dragged her away from the mass of people, shuffling their way through their dancing forms, the smell of sweat and alcohol distinctive in her nose as Clary held on to Jace's hand for dear life. Sparks flied from where their hands met and it was all Clary could focus on through the noise of the place. But the more she did, focus on their interlocked hands, the more she realized that this was the first time she had slipped her hand in Jace's as he did so casually to hers.

It felt so natrual to do that. Too natural, in fact.

They had reached the back of the club where Clary assumed was the private section and another guard let them in, doors opened and closed again until they reached a staircase, where the music was quieter there. "You brought me to a club?" She asked in disbelief. Was this it? Was this the big secret?

"Yes" Jace said.

"I hate to break it to you Jace, but clubs aren't very secretive, I know about clubs" Clary said with sarcasm.

"No" Jace said dramatically, feigning shock as he stretched the 'o' making it as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Say it ain't so".

"Yes" Clary argued with that same tone, "Where are we going, anyways? The dancing is that way".

"Who said anything about dancing?" Jace said as they decended down the stairs, at the end of it, Clary could make out a dimly lit bluish color and whatever Clary expected would be at the end of it was not at all what was before her.

She took in the sight of the place, her eyes raking over the people in there, people of all ages, sitting around circled tables playing cards, poker she assumed as half naked ladies strutted back and forth serving drinks with sultry smiles, in the middle of the place she saw a bar. Two bartenders were working, exchanging smiles and laughter. One hand blond hair, soft features and beautiful golden eyes, the other's hair was a mass of silver and gold with hard features, a set jaw and similar golden orbs.

Both's eyes were almost identical to that of Jace's, the only difference was that Jace's eyes seemed just a shade darker, dark gold, like they hold so much emotion inside, like he held the weight of the world on his shoulders behind sarcastic remarks and will never let you know. They were mysterious, secretive and alluring. Clary blushed at her train of thought and looked back at Jace worried that he somehow can read her mind and hear what she was thinking.

Luckily he didn't seem to notice.

A certain white light flashed by quickly, momentarily blinding Clary, as she looked to the side, she saw huge windows stretching over the length of the wall. She walked closer, ever the curious one as she tried to get a better look, it was the field that she saw from outside. The flashing light before from the parking lot was actually a 40 feet projectory light raking over the field. Actually not one but four projectory lights.

Clary could see a track, a car racing track as the light followed two speeding cars below, she could faintly make out the cars as they turned and circled the track, the vrooming sound of multiple cars echoing in her ears as she heard the voice of a broadcaster narrating the scene. The track circled around a lake as clear as the night sky, but inside the lake a hexagonal field standing ten feet above the water surface, on it, two guys were brawling.

"We're almost at the end folks, both cars are at the last lap and from the looks of it, we have a clear winner. Number 415 is in the lead and he's partner isn't doing too bad himself and ooooh, spoke too soon, let's hope that bite mark fades out. That should really be illegal." The broadcaster's voice spoke, taking a moment for dramatic effect before he came back with even more excitement, "But it isn't, so all we can do folks is hope that it doesn't turn into a kickey, that would be awkward. Don't you think, folks?"

"We're almost there folks, they are head to head, and we are so close to the finish line, get your money ready folks" A blazing horn sound screeched her ears when one of the cars crossed the finish line for the third time, perhaps, and the broadcaster's excited, cheerful voice echoed all around "What a victory, folks! The kid won by a landslide, everyone who bet on 415 is eating heavy tonight".

A mass of cheers and boos errupted around her, making her jump in fear and shock as she turned back to Jace, she saw him with a wide captivated grin on his face as he looked over the scene. "Betting? Illegal racing? Poker and what is that? The cheapest WWE wrestling arena? What is going on?"

Jace chuckled as he dragged her back to the bar, he got the attention of the two barmen quickly, no shock there.

The carefree smile they both held was a shocker though. It seemed heavy with such familiarity. "Clary, this is Raziel and his brother Ithuriel. Guys, this is Clary, you'll be seeing a lot more of her".

"Well why haven't we seen a lot of her before now?" the man with the soft facial features, Ithuriel said with a grin as he turned to her.

"Some people would be usually wary of introducing others to the illegal activities center, at least so I'm told" Clary said with sarcasm as she looked around the place.

"Oh you mean sensible people" Ithuriel said.

"Yes so if you see them, please let me know, I want to be with my own kind again" Clary said jokingly.

"So then what are you doing with Jace?" Raziel asked with a smirk and Jace only sent him a teasing glare.

"To hell if I know anymore" Clary admitted.

"Well if he gives you any trouble-" Ithuriel started, seemingly wanting to tell her that he would help her deal with Jace if he caused her any trouble.

"I'll kick him in the shin" Clary interrupted with a grin, making the two brothers laugh.

"When have I ever caused trouble?" Jace asked.

The two looked him over with raised eyebrows, and Clary thought in the back of her mind, wonderful, two more people who know how to do that. "Do you want a list?" Ithuriel asked.

"Cause we have three, one in Alphabetical order, one in chornological order and the third one is according to a stupidity-ometer" Raziel added.

"I don't doubt it" Jace grinned, "Did you see the rest?"

"Over there, by the window" Ithuriel pointed to somewhere in the corner of the place and Jace nodded as he walked over there, their hands still interlocked, dragging Clary with him when she quickly recognized the familiar faces. All of their friends were here. What the hell was going on? What is this place? She had so many questions but not the right words to form them properly.

She couldn't even guess how to ask the right questions.

"Am I dead? Is this hell?" Clary asked. Apparently, she could.

"If it is, it's a pretty sweet gig this hell thing" Jace said.

"Then is this the lair of everything that is bad?" Clary asked again and Jace laughed.

"No" Jace answered.

"Then what the bloody hell is this place? I mean this place is short of a stripper pole and it would have all the twenty seven deadly sins" Clary said.

"There are only seven deadly sins" Jace pointed out.

"Not what I counted in here" Clary argued and Jace laughed again.

"No, this place is called Pandemonium" Jace said.

"I figured that on my own" Clary said through tight gritted teeth, "There was a sign outside bigger than your head, which should be impossible".

"I do have a big head" Jace nodded, looking pleased as he agreed. "This is basically where everything halfway illegal happens" he said as he turned her around to look at the scene fully.

"There's no such thing as halfway illegal" Clary argued.

"No? Then pretend I said shady business" Jace said grinning, "Underage drinking, drugs, underground poker, betting, street racing, ultimate wrestlting. Now that I think about it, your stripper pole idea is not a bad thing".

"Please don't ever say that stripper pole is my idea, in any context" Clary said with a sigh, "I'm still so confused, what are these people betting on? The car races? The wrestling? Who owns this establishment? And who thought it wise to open everything shady all in one place?"

"One place that is an underground for a legal club. It's the perfect front" Jace said.

"I had other questions as well, if you haven't noticed" Clary said.

"I noticed" Jace said as he started walking back to the group.

"Clary" Isabelle reacted first as she saw her and jumped up to give her a hug. Clary hugged back, hoping her confusion didn't show in the hug. Can you feel confusion in a hug? She shrugged unsure.

"So what do you think of it?" Isabelle asked as she let her go and strutted back to sit in her place between Alec and Sebastian.

"I don't even know what it is" Clary said.

"Oh? Well it's basically where everything-"

"Halfway illegal happens, I get that, my question though is" Clary interrupted Maia, having heard this part before. "What?"

"Just sit down, we'll explain everything" Isabelle said, gesturing to the seat beside Alec, who in return, raised his legs to rest on the chair, crossed at the ankle. What a petty, petty person. Clary thought grimly as she glared at him slightly and said "I'll stand".

"Well they say standing makes you taller" Alec said in a dry tone.

"Well your poor ass must have never felt a chair before... or a foot shoved inside it" Clary said the last part lowly but she was sure he heard, Jace chuckled at that as everyone hid their grins.

Alec only narrowed his eyes at her and looked away, Maia on the other hand moved aside closer to Aline on the couch to make room for both Clary and Jace, Aline in return shuffled closer to the edge of the couch, shifting uncomfortably. "Hey Clary, come sit here".

"Come on Jace, it's your turn soon" Sebastian said.

"Where is Al with my keys?" Jace looked around and as if on command, a security guard came over to him, handing him the keys into his free hand.

"Hey Jace, one of the wheels was-"

"I know what it was" Jace interrupted.

"So I-"

"I know what you did" Jace interrupted again, "Thanks Al".

Al, apparently, nodded and left, Clary then noticed she still had her hand in Jace's and quickly drew it away as if it stung her. She didn't notice his face but she saw Alec get up. "You are competing?"

"Yes" Alec replied dryly.

"Yeah" Jace said more enthusiastically.

"You're serious?"

"Of course" Jace said as he went to walk away after Alec, stopping to ask Clary, "Aren't you going to wish me luck?"

"Are you going to need it?" Clary asked worriedly. This game seemed pretty dangerous.

"No but it would be nice to hear" Jace answered with an easy carefree smile.

"Good luck" Clary called after him and he grinned, Alec's hand then appeared on Jace's shoulder, pulling him forcefully away.

"He wasn't going to give me the chair when he was getting up anyways?" Clary asked the group, referring to Alec.

Izzy looked uncomfortable as she said, "Alec is just, you know..."

"An ass?" Clary suggested as she sat down next to Maia on the couch for a better view of the arena and because they.

"It just means he likes you" Is tried.

"Well then he must love me" Clary said with sarcasm as she looked back at the arena and she could see Jace's car on the track. How did it get there? And how does this 'game' work?

"I'll explain it to you as they go along" Maia suggested and Clary nodded eagerly. She could barely make out anything in the dark except for Jace's golden head which shined prominent. She saw him get in the car as someone got in another car.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have another match, get your bets ready. Number 415 stands ready, feeling giddy after their last win but as you all know number 2300 is a dear favorite of mine. Better get your money ready folks and off they go" the broadcaster announced.

"Okay so this game has two options, you play alone or with a partner. In the singles game, it's a race of five laps around the place and whoever finishes first, wins." Maia started explaining as Clary's eyes focused on Jace's car that vroomed to life, "But in partners game, you compete with partners, each one races on the track, two races, whoever finishes three laps first, wins. The partners win if each one of them finished first against the other team".

Clary's eyes followed Jace's speeding car as it swang back and forth from side to side, making sharp turns and dusting off after it. She became more and more fascinated with each turn and each screech of the car, with each lap her eyes grew wider, becoming instantly interested. "What's with the arena?"

"Settling ties, they flip a coin and whoever wins chooses who fights and who races. In settling the tie the objective is to guard front while the others race. You see how the lines are divided symetrically? Each one has their own space they can move in and if the other one pushes you behind on of those lines, you can't go over it, unless you get them out of your territory first. If the partner fighting falls over the arena before the race is settled, the team loses" Izzy explained.

"Falls over? Into the water?" Clary asked.

"Yup" Izzy nodded.

"They say that the water is poisonous too, makes you hallucinate" Aline added, "It's the myth of Lake Lyn".

Clary saw and heard as the broadcaster announced Jace's win as he crossed over the line four seconds before his competitor and around her, she heard an echo of cheers and boos, she looked over the side to Aline and noticed she wasn't the only one.

"You're booing Jace?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes, I want to get my money tonight" Aline said.

"You bet against Jace and Alec?" Sebastian asked again, not believing.

"Is it so bad that I want them to lose just once?" Aline said with an annoyed sigh.

Clary noticed Jace step out of the car and tag Alec as two people changed the cars that were on the track, Clary instantly recognized Alec's car as they brough it in, and Alec jumped inside quickly.

"You guys are insane you know that?" Clary said as her head wrapped around this dangerous game, "Who owns this place?"

"Raziel and Ithuriel" Sebastian said as he pointed at the bartenders, "Raziel handles the games and Ithuriel deals with legality issues".

"You mean he covers the illegality issues?" Clary guessed.

"Atta girl" Sebastian said.

"And Jace and Alec play in this game?" Clary asked hesitant.

"Yes" Izzy nodded.

"Do you guys..?" Clary asked, wondering. Were they all just racing illegally in their spare time?

"Yes, all of us" Izzy nodded.

"All of you?" Clary asked, her eyes widening.

"Yup, Sebastian and I play in singles and Maia and Aline are partners" Izzy explained.

Clary turned abruptly to Maia and Aline as she wondered outloud "What do you guys do in case of a tie? You don't... fight, do you?"

"No" Maia answered immediately.

"Oh good, for a second there I thought-"

"We don't get ties" Maia said with an offended shrug.

Clary fell silent as she looked at everyone again, "You guys are messing with me, right? This is all just a prank. You guys don't street race and play illegal poker. That would be ridiculous... right?"

They all gave her blank looks, none of them were laughing, then Alec's race started and the cars zoomed through the track. Clary couldn't believe her eyes or her ears. This was like the all time lair for everything shady.

Everything that is halfway illegal, Jace's voice popped in her head. She kinda liked that expression.

"I'm gonna go play some poker" Sebastian announced and Clary could hear Izzy mutter a 'Have fun' but she was transfixed on the racing itself. She couldn't believe this is what her friends did in their downtime. Now she could tell why they were so hesitant to tell her about the place, especially Alec. This place is illegal and she bets they can get in lots of trouble if they are ever caught.

The broadcaster announced Alec's win with excitement and Clary found herself cheering happily at their win. Maia chuckled, "Your eyes grow three times its size, Clare. I'm guessing you like?"

"I very much like" Clary nodded.

"So you don't think we're crazy?" Aline asked hopeful.

"Oh no, I totally think you guys are crazy" Clary corrected, "I just think your crazy is rubbing off on me".

"No I am sure all of that was pure talent, we found you like that" Izzy said, raising her hands in the air as if it to say 'It wasn't me'.

That looked so amazing to her, she was so fascinated by the racing that a sudden idea popped into her head. What if.. what if she learned how to race?

No that would be crazy, right? Absolutely crazy.

She doesn't even know how to drive.

But then again, if someone taught her.

No she couldn't, she just couldn't. It would be dangerous.

And fun.

And stupid.

And fun.

And reckless.

And fu-

"So what did you guys think?" Jace's voice interrupted her train of thought and she looked up at the two people coming their way, Jace immedaitely taking a seat next to her while Alec sat down where Sebastian was sitting before.

"That was amazing, congratulations on your win" Clary said enthusiastically, as one of the skimpily dressed waitresses brought them shots to their table muttering something about 'celebratory drinks on the house'. "Oh my, that looked so fun, I mean you guys totally killed it".

"So you liked it?" Jace asked as Clary took a shot, drowning it in one gulp. She hadn't realized how easily she had done that, a few months ago before she met the group, she would never have done that.

"I loved it" Clary admitted, "This place is... damn", she then shot up abruptly, the alcohol probably having most to do with her excitement, "I'm gonna go see if I can make Sebastian teach me poker".

"Good luck with that" Jace said chuckling as Clary looked around for Sebastian, finally spotting him and practically running towards him.

"Sebastian, Sebastian, Sebastian" Clary cheered as she made her way towards him, hearing her friends chuckle after her.


A/N: Hey guys like I said, sorry for not updating sooner, I was kinda updating weekly up until now, almost every Friday (you could almost say like clockwork.. ha?) but finals are driving me crazy but anyways thank you guys so much for the support and all the follows and favs and the reviews, you guys are too nice to me, all of you are amazing and I hope I never miss another week of updating hopefully.

So anyways I'll see you guys in the next chapter.