If you don't want to read this story don't read this story. If you think threatening to unfollow it is going to bother me you have another thing coming.

Also, I want to just warn you guys, I don't think I have or if this is clear: The Clave has basically lost this war with Valentine. There is no "Clave winning" and there isn't really much "Clace." I apologize for that but its not what this story is about. It's about Clary struggling with he father and brother. Just a little tidbit of information. I don't want to get anyone's homes up. Love ya'll and R&R!

Chapter 16

Jonathan wathed Clary with raised eyebrows as she cut off the head of a demon. That was the fifth one that night. Something or a blond someone had pissed off his baby sister. Jonathan wasn't upset about it. He didn't "feel" like that, but he was intrigued. He'd angered Clary millions of times and she'd never reacted like this.

Jonathan unfolded his arms and pushed himself off of the wall. "You alright?" He asked slowly. She still had the weapon, and though he was positive she couldn't hurt him, she had the fire in her eyes. Sighing Clary swung the sword, sheathing it in one swift movement behind her back. She wiped her hand across her face. Her face contorted, like she wanted to say something nasty right back, but she relaxed and shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah," she breathed. "Why?" Jonathan shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Well…" The look she gave him made him stop. "No. I like you like this." Clary rolled her eyes and turned away, heading down the road. Jonathan followed her movements with his head.

"You coming?" She called back. Jonathan groaned and followed his sister. They had another 2 hours before their shift was over. It was going to be a long night.

Their shift ended at 10:30. Of the 10 demons and magical creatures they'd come across Joanthan had participated in about two of the fights. "Something's up with Clary." He said once he'd approached Valentine's desk. Valentine set down his pen and looked up at his son.

"Explain." Shamefully, Jonathan told his father about the attacks.

"Is it Jace, Father. I mean, she cares about him, doesn't she?" Valentine nodded.

"I don't really think this is much of a problem Jonathan." He said. "It's what I wanted." Jonathan scrunched up his eyebrows. Valentine continued. "Not for Clary to be angry. I want to see her try. I'm aware she normally holds back during your shifts. Jace, with his short lip, is bringing the fight out. She's going to be a great part of our team, Jonathan." Jonathan bit his lip. "Now if you don't have anymore childish worries, I'm going to retire to my room. It's late, and I need to be up early tomorrow."

Clary stood outside of her brother's door. She'd been there for a ten minutes, trying to get up the courage to knock. It was well past midnight. Jace had finally fallen asleep. From the moment she'd walked into her bedroom, they'd been arguing. He hadn't read the Codex and, on top of that, he'd found another one of her sketchbooks.

Clary knocked twice and waited. Deciding he wasn't there, or in his comatose-like sleeping state, she turned to go. She was halfway to her door when he spoke. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Jonathan said sarcastically. Clary stopped, took a deep breath, and turned around to face her half naked brother. That was an understatement. The only thing Jonathan wore were black night pants that rode the lower part of his hips. His arms were crossed over his bare chest in his normal posture.

"I-"

"You want help with Jace, don't you." It wasn't a question. Clary nodded once. "I could hear you guys duking it out in there. Come on." He stepped back to allow Clary into his room, which was messy as usual. "You need to break him to get Father's approval, you know." Clary looked at the ground.

"I don't want to torture him, Jon." He shrugged.

"It would help."

"Why are you even trying to help me?" Jonathan turned to look at his baby sister and shrugged.

"Can't I just do it for kicks?"

"No." Jonathan sighed.

"You two bickering at midnight, is interrupting my beauty sleep." He said. "Why don't you and Jace spare tomorrow." Clary shrugged.

"I don't know…."

"Show him whose stronger."

Jace fell hands first on the mat. His hair was dripping sweat. Clary rested her hands on her hips. She'd woken him up, at 6:30 in the morning, to train. He'd thought it would be a breeze. He had more experience. However he should've taken into account the fact that he'd seen her kill a demon with little help from her brother. Jace Wayland did not get beat. Ever. And at the moment he was getting his ass whipped.

Clary kicked him in the stomach and he toppled over, groaning. "Really? Talk about hitting me when I'm down." Clary didn't smile.

"You need to take me seriously Jace. I'm not fooling around." Jace stumbled to his feet and spit off to the side.

"No duh." Jace snapped back. "You captured me for a promotion." Clary's leg came up and wacked Jace's side. He groaned.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jace lunged at Clarys stomach but she stepped out of reach. He was getting worn out.

"Y-you know what I'm talking about." Clary rolled her eyes.

"Sure Jace."

"Wow Clary, this is what you looked like when I started training you." Jonathan said, grinning slightly. Clary pushed Jace to the floor and turned around, placing her hands on her hips.

"What do you want Jonathan?" She snapped, ignoring Jace as he collapsed onto his side.

"Father would like a word with you in his office. It seemed kind of important." Clary grit her teeth. "I've been ordered to take Jace down to the cell room."

"What?" Clary asked sharply. "Why?" Jonathan shrugged.

"It's what Father wants. I don't know why. You go ask." Clary glanced down at Jace and sighed. As she walked out of the training room she said,

"Be careful with him Jon. I beat him up pretty bad." She didn't wait for a response.

I would like to congratulate you, Clarissa." Valentine said, once his daughter had been seated in front of him. "I talked to Jonathan last night and he informed me of your success during your shift. It's the first time I've heard of you willingly participating 100 percent." Clary wanted to look away. In truth she was ashamed of how she had acted. She wished Jace hadn't gotten under her skin so much.

"Thank you Father." She said.

"I was also very much impressed with this morning's performance." Clary's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm aware Jonathan gave you the idea to 'train' Jace, but the way you handled yourself this morning was exemplary."

"You were… watching?" Valentine nodded.

"I'm always watching Clarissa. Always." Valentine stood. Clary gulped. "I know you use the space above your room to hide your paintings of your friends. I know you make faces at times behind my back. I also know that you love your friends and the others you call family." He rested his hands on her shoulders from behind. Clary stared straight ahead. "I'm not blind, Clarissa. And I know you. You are my daughter after all. "However, I know that the runes you have are still working and so I know I can trust you. You never held back when fighting with Jace today. You gave him what you had to injure but not kill him. You were punishing him. For what, Clary?" She really wanted to snap back and ask him, if he could see everything, then why didn't he know, but refrained from doing so.

"I gave him orders before I left. We got into an argument and he refused. When I got back he still hadn't completed the work. Jace needs to learn his place." Valentine nodded.

"I agree completely." Valentine said. "Which is why you did the right thing. I've been liking your attitude lately Clarissa. You've gotten much better. I've rethought you having to deal with Jace's antics. I'll have Jonathan deal with him from now on." Clary stood slowly and turned to face her father. "I'm going to start giving you night patrols around the Castle. It'll be more work but I think you'll come to enjoy it a little bit more than following your brother around all of the time. Of course you'll still have a few of those shifts, but it'll be… not as often." Instead of arguing Clary kept a blank face, and nodded her head.

"Thank you Father." She said. "I do appreciate it."

DO NOT WORRY JACE IS STILL IN THE STORY! I don't want people panicking that he's gone.