Chapter two
JACE groaned and rubbed his eyes. He looked around the basement taking notice of Alex and Magnus curled up together in the back of the room, Isabel with her mom and dad, and Clary's mom with Luke. A few other families along with Simon slept here and there. No matter the difference between them they all had a common goal: hide away from Valentine and his goons. Some of them may hate each other but all had concluded it was better tolerating each other than dying.
Jace noticed that Clary's mother was awake staring up at the cracked ceiling. Jace maneuvered his way around the room, avoiding the sleeping bodies on the floor. They all slept during the day. It was safer to roam at night, where they were less likely to be spotted.
"Hey" Jace said sitting next to the older woman. She smiled slightly at him and sighed.
"Hello Jace." She breathed not looking at him.
"How are you doing?" He asked sincerely. It was hard for her, more so than the others to cope with the loss of Clary. She was her mother after all. They all thought she was dead. Even while Valentine's men attacked the city they'd all searched for her, calling her name. There was screaming. There was crying. Even though a body hadn't been found they'd concluded she was dead.
Jace knew she wasn't gone. He felt bad for not telling the rest of the family but there were very good reasons. It had been four months ago that he'd spotted her. She'd been different; thinner, more toned, and deadly. She'd been on the back streets with him in an Enforcer Uniform. He'd contemplated running to her and killing that stupid Sebastian, as Jace had decided to call him. However, all that changed when Sebastian had smelled a demon. The two worked in sync, like they'd been fighting together all their lives. Clary fought like she'd been trained from a baby, with brute force. He'd known the moment Clary killed that high-powered demon that Valentine had done something to her.
Clary's mom spoke, and he came back to the present. "Living but not living." She answered bleakly. Jace brushed his hair back.
"I'm going out tonight." He told her. She turned then to look at him.
"Take someone with you this time will you?" Jace nodded, not liking the idea but choosing to make Clary's mom happy.
CLARY walked slowly behind her brother checking the alleys for any sign of movement. It had been quiet the last four hours and the night shift was beginning. Her feet hurt, her legs hurt, and her earlier shower felt pointless. "Come on Clary. I know you can walk faster than that." Jonathan's voice echoed off the close buildings. She hadn't noticed that she'd stopped walking. Grumbling to himself Jonathan stalked back over to her. "Did you not hear me?" He snapped grabbing her by the arm.
"I'm tired." She whined. Jonathan rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes," He growled. "I just wanna-" His voice faded as he turned towards a dark ally to the right of them. He took a sniff and reached behind him to pull out one of his swords. "Looks like we're gunna get some action tonight Clar" He nudged her forward. She always went first and she hated it.
She crept into the dark space pulling out her sword on the way. In case of an emergency she had a gun inside her jacket and knives sheathed inside her wrists that popped out with a flick.
The thing that attacked her looked like a gigantic white tiger and she knew immediately that it was a shifter. The thing bared it's teeth at her, drool dripping from the corner of it's mouth. Clary cried out as the thing pranced on her. It was the second time today that she'd been thrown to the ground.
"Here kitty Kitty." Jonathan chanted through clenched teeth. He ran at the creature. Clary stood up and brushed the dirt off of her pants before looking to help. Jonathan seemed to be doing fine until the cat's humungous tail whipped around and slammed into his stomach. That much force would've knocked Clary back down but he held his ground, being pushed back about five feet. He was unscathed and was hissing back at the creature. It was his stupid demon side. Clary took the cat's distraction to plunge her sword into the creature, all the way to the hilt. It cried out in rage, wobbling back and forth as blood leaked out of the wound. Together Clary and Jonathan pushed the creature to the back of the dead end ally. The cats features flickered before it shifter into a girl with long blond hair and freckles under her eyes. The sword stayed where it was inches from her heart.
"P-please." She whispered. Jonathan laughed evilly.
"You were trying to kill us!"
"Only… trying… to protect… myself. You… were going to… kill me. You… enforcers… are all the same." At that Clary whipped her sword to the shifter's neck, fully prepared to chop her in half. "W-w-wait!" She struggled to get the words out. "I can help you. I.. I know where they're hiding. The ones you've had bulletins out for." Clary tensed. Jace. She pulled her sword back ready to swing.
"Hold up Clarissa!" He spoke walking closer to the girl. Clary lowered her arm. It was an order. She had to listen to him. Her brain struggled with the conflicting thoughts. "I know when people are lying." Clary swallowed. "So choose your words carefully."
"John-" She began.
"Shut up!" He smiled at the girl. "Tell us and your death will be quick." He swore smiling at her. She whimpered.
"you'd kill me anyway." She stated in a whisper. Jonathan sliced his knife down her cheek. "OKAY OKAY!" she exclaimed in fear. "On Meldeeve Street. There's a small hose with pink curtains in the windows. They're hiding in the basement!" Smiling Jonathan stood up and began walking away.
"Y-you're not-"
"Clary, Finish her will you?" Clary turned to the shaking shifter with hate. The girl studied her with half closed eyes.
"You're Clarissa Fray aren't you?" She whispered. Clary tensed. "I've… met your mother…She thinks your dead." Clary gripped the sword tightly in her hand and swung, not wanting to hear another word from the girl.
"What took you so long?" Jonathan snapped, grabbing Clary's ponytail and pulling her back to him. She groaned in discomfort. "Answer me!" She swallowed.
"The shifter started talking about Mother." She cried. "Let me go Jonathan!" He pushed her and she stumbled a few feet. "What the hell!" She yelled turning to look at him. Jonathan smiled.
"If Father would let me I'd beat you up all day." He said casually. "Unfortunatly, I have orders. Come on." Jonathan turned in the other direction. Clary stood for a few minutes to control her breathing then followed him down the street. Jonathan stopped in front of a small building. Clary, knowing what it was, groaned.
"Jonathan-"
"Shut up."
"But-"
"Clarissa I am ordering you to shut up!" That one did it. Clary didn't say another word but she did cross her arms over her chest. They were supposed to be working not going to a bar. Clary wasn't even old enough to go into one. It wasn't the first time he'd skipped out of work to go drink though. Jonathan opened the door. Clary looked around the deserted street. For some reason she felt like she was being watched.
The bartender eyed Clary wearily. She kept her head up high and stared the amn down. He quickly went back to cleaning the tables. "Sit." Jonathan told her pulling out a stool. She sat slowly and he leaned over the counter.
"Miller's light and get her some chardonnay." Clary tensed.
"I don't drink." She said quickly.
"Sh-she's underage sir-" Jonathan turned his shoulder to show his enforcers emblem. The bartender paled.
"S-sorry. I-it's hard t-to see in here. I'll get them right away. O-on the house." He added.
"That's what I like to hear." Clary glared at her brother.
"You're so mean." She muttered. Jonathan rested both his hands on her shoulders.
"If you're lucky maybe you'll turn out just like me." She held back a snarky remark. The bartender handed them both their drinks. Jonathan took his and walked over to a booth on the other side of the room.
"I gave you gingerale." He whispered. "And some cherry coloring." Clary nodded.
"Thanks. He's an ass." She muttered shaking her head and taking a sip of her fake alcohol. She watched Jonathan chat with a blond girl. They seemed to know each other.
Clary had thought about running more than once. Jonathan had never looked at her more than a minute at a time giving her enough time to sneak away. However Valentine had drilled teachings into her head.
About a month before they'd moved into their new home Clary had still been fighting with them, arguing, and screaming at Valentine and Jonathan. He'd grabbed her by the neck, chained her in the closet, and made her listen to rerun tapes drilling instructions into her head; what was right and what was wrong. He'd left her there for two days without food for water. She'd learned her lesson then. Also, she'd realized that her brother had too much fun punishing her.
An hour passed and Jonathan still made no move to leave. Clary couldn't leave without him. They'd both get a beating from Valentine. Getting annoyed she stood up and walked over to Jonathan.
"What do you want?" He snapped.
"Going out for some air since you won't take me home." The girl studied Clary, clicking her long nails together. Jonathan rolled his eyes.
"I'll be out in a few minutes." A few minutes could turn into a few hours real quick. Nodding, Clary turned and walked out of the bar and into the refreshing cool night air. Her feet felt better since she got to sit down but her body was sticky with sweat. She wanted a shower. She unzipped her uniform jacket and slid it off her arms allowing the cold air to hit her sending chills up her body. She leaned against the next building and watched down the street. She felt uneasy though. She really felt like someone was watching her.