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Chapter 32…

{Clary's POV}

"I'm bored."

I sighed out loud for about the 20th time - I had lost count.

"We know."

Alec scolded me from his armchair.

I was sitting on the floor, with my legs crossed. All the others were sipping on their cocktails - but I refused to drink.

Truth is, I am a massive lightweight. So I vowed to never drink again - because I would be weak if anyone attacked.

Apparently they drink much more, at celebrations such as weddings and parties.

"What did you do at the Manor when you got bored?"

Jace asked, suddenly all eyes were on me.

"I trained. But since there's no training room here. I have nothing"

I focused a glare on Magnus, who simply smiled in response.

"You speak too soon Shadowhunter - come with me."

Curiosity gripped at me, so I stood up and followed Magnus through his penthouse.

Until he stopped by 2 massive oak doors, I had never seen these before.

Magnus swivelled around to look at me, backing into the doors he pushed them wide. Keeping his eyes on me to watch my reaction to the beautiful room in front of me.

I felt my jaw drop, I was in awe.

This training room has everything : a weapons cabinet, high beams, practising dummies for knife throwing but most of all it had the obstacle at the top of the room.

The ceiling must have been at least 40 feet tall.

I glanced over at Magnus and he winked at me,

"Enjoy yourself Nephilim"

I didn't need telling twice. I bolted straight for the weapons and grinned - today was going to be a good day.

{Jace's POV}

After a while Magnus re-entered the room, but without Clary.

"Where is she?"

I questioned,

"Trust me Shadowhunter, she is having the time of her life"

I raised an eyebrow but he dismissed all of my concern with a wave of his hand.

"So what's the plan for when Clary is better? She can't exactly walk straight into Idris"

"That's exactly what we're going to do"

My reflexive reply caused Alec and Izzy to stare at me wide-eyed, I even saw Magnus flicker his attention to me.

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

"We can portal in, and we'll walk straight into the Guard. They cannot spill blood in a Clave session - it is against the law"

Still, both Alec and Izzy were looking at me like I was crazy.

"Shadowhunter, I cannot portal you in. Warlock portals into Idris have to be agreed upon"

"I am aware, which is why Clary herself can portal us in. Her abilities will allow us to access Alicante directly."

Izzy's face relaxed slightly, having realised that I had thought this through.

However, Alec remained bewildered by my plan.

"So you expect to just walk into the Guard while the Council is in session?"

"Of course not - this is why we will-"

I was cut off by a sharp scream coming from somewhere else in the apartment.

Clary.

Jumping to my feet, I gestured for Magnus to lead me to where she was.

Myself, Izzy and Alec followed him to this huge set of oak doors.

Pushing through, I saw the room was empty - apart from some extraordinary training equipment.

That was until I looked up.

And there she was.

Her auburn hair tied in a loose bun at the back of her head stood out against the shadows of the roof.

I was expecting to come in and find her in pain - but she was smiling. I had never seen her eyes so lit up before - they were full of life.

"Come for the show?"

She asked as she leapt from one platform to another.

Flinching as I realised most Nephilim wouldn't have been able to make that jump, I asked her

"Clary, you're still injured do you really think this is a good idea?"

I could feel her scowl at me even though I couldn't see her face properly.

"I am Clary Morgenstern, bad ideas are kinda my thing"

I stifled a snort.

"We need no reminder."

Alec spoke out into the ceiling.

"Just get down already, if you fall you could snap in half."

Hearing Clary chuckle I stiffened,

Please don't be stupid, please don't be stupid.

Alas, my prayers were not answered as Clary's voice cut through the dead silence.

"What, like this?"

Giving me no time to react, I glimpsed a bit of red hair as she jumped.

My heart was practically in my throat.

{Clary's POV}

I loved proving people wrong.

Because there was always something like,

Oh she's a girl

Or

She's only 16

Exceeding people's expectations was kind of my thing.

So when I leapt off the platform, I heard Jace's breath catch.

Damn it, why was I always paying attention to him.

Shifting my focus to my landing I threw myself forward the second I glanced at the floor - forcing my body into a forward roll.

Standing up smoothly I smirked at Alec, revelling in the look of disbelief on his face.

"But, that was 40 feet? Your legs should both be broken"

Izzy stammered,her gaze a mix of wonder and bewilderment.

"It's all in the landing. If I had landed flat footed - then yes both my legs would be broken"

Allowing myself a brief glance at Jace, I smiled as I saw a look of admiration splattering his face.

I silently cursed myself, why did he have such an effect on me.

The smallest action from him made me beam like a cheshire cat - I had to get out of that habit. Fast.

"Can you do this because of your um… blood?"

Izzy asked, much more politely than I had expected.

"Not this trick, any of you could learn how to do that actually"

"How do you know for sure?"

Izzy asked quickly with eager eyes.

"Because my father taught me how."

I knew the topic of my father was going to come up at some point, but it didn't make it any easier talking about him to those who had grown to resent him as he does them.

The silence was becoming more awkward by the second, however I was saved my Izzy pleading with me.

"So you could teach me then?"

Alec's body shifted slightly before he said,

"I'm not sure if that's such a good ide-"

"Technically yes I could. When I am recovered"

I cut him off quickly - making a split decision in my mind that if I was to reside amongst these Nephilim, I had better started making some sort of peace with them. And if that meant teaching them some easy stunts then so be it.

"You can do that later, I'm shattered. It is 12"

The others silently agreed with Jace, ending with Izzy and Alec retiring from the training room for bed.

"You can go higher can't you?"

"What do you mean?"

I responded, puzzled by his question.

"50 feet is child's play for you isn't it - you can jump from higher"

He stated - not questioned.

I blushed slightly, his belief in my abilities was something I was not used to.

"I wouldn't call 40 feet childs play. But to answer your question, yes I can land from higher"

I smirked back at him, seeing the satisfaction bloom on his face as I confirmed his speculation.

"How high can you go?"

"I've never actually tested myself before"

He frowned before asking again,

"So what do you do, you don't know your limit? What if you hurt yourself?"

It was my turn to frown now,

"I do not believe in limits. If I believed there were limits then I would never have improved, when I'm in the field I must act on instinct - if I doubt myself then I can hesitate, and sometimes that's the difference between life and death"

My voice carried with wisdom far beyond my years.

And that was true, these were the same words my father had told me when I was 9.

Thinking about the memory made my face harden.

"You continue to surprise Clarissa Morgenstern"

His eyes glinted as he looked at me, not with greed as my father had, but with awe.

"Let's head to bed Blondie. I can show you all my tricks tomorrow"

I winked sarcastically at him as we headed out of the room.

{Jace's POV}

Clary was changing in the bathroom as I grabbed a pillow and duvet and crashed on the sofa.

Strolling out into the darkness with her hair trailing down her back, I heard her collapse onto the bed and exhale with exhaustion.

"Night Blondie"

She called out, making me roll my eyes.

"Night Tiger"

I called back, I'm sure I heard a little chuckle.

{3 hours later}

I was woken abruptly to the sound of someone saying something, the same thing over and over again.

"He's here. He's here"

Recognising the voice instantly I rolled off the sofa and sat gently by Clary on the bed.

Watching her toss and turn violently made my stomach flip - was there no end to her torment? Even in her sleep she relived trauma.

I grabbed her shoulders and shook her softly,

"Clary? Clary wake up"

She was still shaking, I could see the cold sweat forming on her forehead.

I clutched her shoulders more firmly this time,

"Clary, it's not real. Wake up"

This time she did, her eyes flew open.

Though I was not met with her fiery green orbs, her eyes were black.

It made me flinch a little, but I kept hold of her shoulders.

After she had blinked a few times her eyes had swam back to a deep green, relaxing my somewhat.

Sitting up to lean against her headboard, Clary was breathing raggedly.

"Sorry, uh Jace. I woke you didn't I. You can go now, it was nothing."

I shook my head,

"Clary it's not nothing. You don't have to pretend with me, I want to help you."

When she finally looked up to meet my gaze I saw her eyes were glassed over, it dazed me that she was on the brink of tears.

"Jace when I met you I thought I knew everything, but you've shown me something different"

"Come on, you still think you know everything"

I smirked at her, causing a light smile to play on her lips.

"You see the best in me, you see what you want to see."

Clary breathed deeply as she continued,

"Except that makes me scared, because you're going to see something in me you don't like."

Shifting my head, I moved to interrupt. But she held her hand to silence me.

"And when that day comes you won't look at me like you do now. That's why I keep pretending, if I keep you at an arm's distance - maybe you'll still see the version of Clarissa Morgenstern you seem to be fond of."

I felt a swell in my chest at how much she believed in those words.

This girl had only ever known pain and anger, all her life. To hear her say she didn't think happiness was remotely possible for her made my heart sting.

"Clary, I see you for who you really are. You could have killed me in those woods, twice. Yet you didn't, because Clary that's who you are. That's who you can be. Just let me in and I can help you."

Her face crumpled as I spoke, silent tears running down her face.

I shuffled beside her, resting against the headboard.

I pulled her against me, placing her head into my chest.

"Amar es destruir"

Clary whispered against me,

"What is that?"

I spoke softly,

"A lesson I learned long ago"

This was a very long chapter - but I hope it was worth it !

Tell me what you think about the Clace scene at the end of this.

Love you all !

Song 10 ~ Bruises - Lewis Capaldi