Chapter 1

"Clary, wake up."

The moment she heard that voice, her eyes fluttered open and she jolted awake. She squinted a little before her vision finally adjusted to the person standing before her. Dark green eyes met her light green ones. They were filled with worry, and it brought nothing but queasiness to her stomach.

"Jon, why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, nibbling her bottom lip. Jonathan released a heavy sigh. He averted his gaze for a moment, contemplating on how to tell the news to his younger sister.

"I overheard father on the phone." He started. "He was talking to the Verlacs. I'm not sure if I heard it correctly, but marriage was mentioned." Clary took a sharp intake of breath. "And now, Father sent me to fetch you."

Clarissa started to hyperventilate. She felt like she couldn't breathe, and something was squeezing the life out of her. Jon immediately wrapped his sister in a protective embrace, whispering sweet nothings on her ear. "Sssssh, Clary," he began to soothe her. "It might not even you getting married. What if it's an arrange marriage for me?"

Clary looked at him, her eyes blazing with tears that threatened to come out –but she forcefully stopped them. "That's not any better!" She cried adamantly. "I don't want my brother to be married to some random girl! I don't want you to be a pawn of father's twisted plans."

Jon heaved another sigh upon hearing the words. "Only one way to find out, huh?" He smiled weakly. "Get dressed, and do it fast. We don't want father to lose his temper again."

~"~

"You wanted to see us, Father?" Jon's voice remained steely calm and collected, unlike the one Clary saw earlier. His face was void of any emotion, which made Valentine smirked in satisfaction. Clary mirrored the emotionless façade that her brother put on. She wouldn't want her father to notice her fear.

"You remember the Verlacs, do you?" He asked, but those cold dark eyes were directed to Clary. He looked at her, practically oozing an answer from her. Clary's response was a nod, but it was enough for Valentine. "And I supposed that you remember, Sebastian?"

How could I forget? She thought sourly. She could remember how his mouth turned as his eyes travelled from her face down to her body. She could hear his malicious voice, taunting her and making comments that caused her body to spasm with anger. She could remember how he held her against her will, his rough hands gliding with her skin. She shed a tear when he did that, but all she got was a devilish smirk, and a look that haunted her even up until now. He tried to remove her clothing, but Jon arrived on time and punched the living daylights out of that asshole.

Jon, on the other hand, was angered by the mention of that name. He tried to remain cool in front of his father; because he knew it would end up badly if he didn't. He casted a glance on his sister, and it angered him even more to see a glimpse of a fear-stricken expression.

"I asked you a question, Adele." Valentine was clearly losing his patience now as he sent a glare over her way. He referred to her using her second name, making her cringe ever slightly. However, it didn't faze her –she was used to it. Although she feared on what way this conversation is heading...

"Yes, father. How could I forget that charming young man?" She laced her tone with sarcasm. Valentine's eyes narrowed into slits, before his expression turned into a smug look.

"It's good that you remember him." Valentine sent a smile towards her way. To some, he might appear quite charming, but to the siblings, it looked diabolical. Clary did not like it one bit. "After all, he's going to be your future husband."

~"~

Normally, Clarissa Adele Mongestern does not cry. She was taught not to cry, since it shows weakness, and Valentine wouldn't settle for a weak daughter. Every tear she shed was worth a beating, she learned that the hard way. But as of the moment, she couldn't stop her tears from falling.

"I can't do this, Jon." She sobbed in her older brother's arms, as he held her for comfort. "I can't marry that monster." The mere thought of being wedded with Sebastian made her skin crawl. She hated this feeling. She hated crying, and hated how pathetic she was. She couldn't even stand up to her own father, and drag herself away from this hellhole.

"Don't worry, you won't." Jon assured her, sending a confident smile towards her way. He thought of this the moment he heard his father on the phone, but he's not quite sure that it would work. He tried to remain positive for the both of them. "I have a plan." He told her confidently, earning an earnest smile from his sister. "We need to act normal for tomorrow, so that they won't suspect a thing."

Clary nodded. Their father told them that Sebastian would be over tomorrow, to help for the wedding preparations. She could not bear the thought of tomorrow, how Sebastian and her would scamper all over the place, preparing for the perfect wedding to please her father. Just the thought of it made her stomach churn. She could feel anger burning inside of her. How dare her father made her do this, and how dare Sebastian to go with this plan?

"What's your escape plan?"

Jon led her to their dungeon, a place where Valentine keeps all the downworlders that he captured. Their father absolutely hated downworlders, but he still uses their blood to enhance his abilities. Clarissa never thought of that action as hatred but rather an act of insecurity. She was taught to believe that downworlders were beneath the Shadowhunter race, yet they possess some abilities that Shadowhunters do not acquire. Valentine was angered by that. He believed that their race were superior, yet they lack the abilities that an 'inferior race' possesses.

Jonathan and Clary, however, did not inherit the malicious trait of their father. Clary often goes to their dungeon, just to check up on the downworlders. She cares for them as much as she could without getting caught. She even made friends with one of the vampires, Simon Lewis. Jon, on the other hand, is not as openly friendly to the downworlders unlike Clary. However, he does not treat them like he's above them.

The dungeon was a dark and eerie place, with barely enough light to brighten the room. There was a chair on the middle, with straps on it where Valentine tortures some of the downworlders. Clarissa cringed at the mental image that popped up into her head while her eyes glanced at the chair. The dungeon is filled with many cells, which contains downworlders that Valentine locked up for his own sick amusement.

Jon stopped in front of a cell, which made Clary halt too. "Clary, Jon!" Dot, a warlock, exclaimed the moment she laid her eyes on the Mongestern siblings. "It's nice to see the both of you again."

"It's good to see you too." Jon smiled, but the warlock could tell that it was strained. "Dot, we really need your help." A pleading look came across his face, and Dot looked at him expectantly. "Are you still able to make portals?"

Dot's brows furrowed in confusion. She concentrated in her magic, trying to see if there was anything left. She could feel a small tingling sensation on her palm, and she could see a light blue fire dancing on her hand. She smiled triumphantly. "I could, but my magic will only allow one person to enter. Although I need to rekindle my magic first before I could do the portal. Being in this place drains out my magic."

"Good." Jon smiled, relief washing all over his face. "How long would it take you to rekindle your magic?"

"A week, so that the portal would be fully operational." Dot answered.

"Hear that Clary? You'd be out of here in a week." Clary felt happiness surged over her as those words escaped from Jon's lips. She beamed at her brother and opened her arms so wide, before attacking him into a hug. Caught by surprise, Jon staggered backwards, but placed his arms around his sister, patting her back earnestly.

"You're leaving?" A strained voice said, and Clary knew it well enough to know that it belong to Simon, her vampire friend. Despite the darkness, Clary could make out his expression; eyes brimming with sadness and mouth drawn into a suppress line. Clary's happiness died down; a lump rising on her throat, making her unable to speak. If Simon was just a normal mundane, he wouldn't be able to see the curt nod that Clary gave. His eyes moistened with tears, but he held them back. "I'll miss you."

Clary was the person who kept him alive in his hell hole. There was a patch of sunlight during daylight visible from his prison cell, and he could easily step into the sun. The light will kill him, but he deduced that it was better than the hell he was in. Yet whenever he thought of it, the thought of Clary would instantly vaporize it. She made his prison feel more un-hellish. She made him feel alive, even if he is technically dead. Her laughter and her mere presence caused him to imagine his heart thumping again; causing him to fall in love with this gorgeous girl that calls him a best friend.

She was the only good thing that happened ever since he was captured by Valentine, and now she's leaving.

"Oh, Simon." Clary croaked, tears welling into her eyes as well. "I'm so sorry, but I have to." Pain rose in her chest. She considered Simon as her best friend, a brother even. "Father wanted me to marry Sebastian." Her voice choked out the name. "I- I just can't…"

Simon nodded grimly. He could remember how Clary used to describe Sebastian for him. One particular memory stood out; Clary telling him how Sebastian nearly forced himself on her. He don't want the girl he loves, to be married to that kind of monster. "I understand. Best wishes on your journey." He forced a smile.

Jon was watching the exchange silently. He gazed over the vampire, who was looking at his sister with an expression filled with so much love and pain. Poor guy. He thought with a hint of sympathy, while directing his gaze towards his sister. There was fondness in her gaze, but love? There wasn't. And he was sure Simon knew it too.

Jon walked over to the corner, to give them and himself a bit of a privacy. He pulled out his phone. He scrolled on his contacts and his finger stopped on a number he was sure he was never going to call again, before he pressed the call icon.

A few rings later, the person picked up. Before the person could hang up or talk, he immediately spoke. "In a week or so, Clarissa will be going back. Inform my father none of this, or else I will kill you." His tone has a dangerous hint to it, and the person he was calling knew that Jon isn't to be messed with. "You owe her this much." He said quietly, but the accusing tone was there. "Clary endured many sufferings because of you. Welcome her in the institute, and do your best to hide her from Valentine. I do hope you understand me, Lightwood."

AN.

I know, I know. I'm a horrible person. There's no excuses for not updating for over 2 months, but please give me and this fic another chance *puppy eyes*.

And this chapter is quite horrid, I agree. Just a filler chapter and the next one will be as well. Although I have a lot of things planned so don't worry! Love you all! *sends virtual hugs*

DISCLAIMER: I don't own TMI nor its characters.