A/N: AHHHH so sorry that this is so late! Pinky promise that it won't happen again! Thanks to all of you that reviewed the late chapter, whenever I see that someone has reviewed I'm like: Ooh whad they say? So Thanks:)
Thanks so much to TheEternalDaylightingRanger for being my Beta!
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
A shiver zipped up Cary's spine, waking her. Groaning, she lifted her head, shook her hair out of her face, and surveyed her surroundings. Or rather, she tried to. After she opened and closed her eyes to make sure she wasn't missing anything, then waved her hand in front of her face, confirming that she was in utter darkness.
"Jace?" Clary whispered to the darkness, her fuzzy memories of what had happened rushing back to her. A moan answered Clary, proceeding the sound of someone moving around.
"Clary?" The redhead exhaled in relief at Jace's voice. "Shit, what happened?"
Clary shrugged, then realized that Jace wouldn't be able to see her either. "I don't know. The dressing room door flew open, then I think I was drugged. Do you have your stele?" Clary felt her pockets. Nothing.
"No." Jace growled in frustration.
"What happened to you?" Clary tried to keep the surprise out of her voice-how had whoever knocked Jace out manage to sneak up on him and knock him out?
"That faerie girl-the one who had been behind the counter- asked me to try a perfume. I said no, then she just let the aerosol can loose on me." He sounds super pissed. Clary noted.
Suddenly, harsh light flooded into the room as a door slid open. The faerie girl from before strode in. She motioned sharply for them to stand up, reaching a slim hand to Clary, who scrambled up immediately."Wh-" Jace's was quickly silenced as the girl swiftly placed a pill in his mouth. He immediately silenced, and became docile.
"A paralyzer of sorts." Her musical voice was cool. "Let's go."
Clary sent a dark glare towards the faerie, but the girl had already turned and left the room- Jace being dragged behind her. The redhead exited the dark room and into a modern, clean room. It was furnished with chairs that surrounded a table, a microwave, sink and a bright light fixture on the ceiling.
The faerie sat at one of the table chairs and placed Jace beside her. A man was sitting across the table, his head bowed as he read a book. Clary sat tensely beside Jace, subtly poking his arm under the table. No reaction.
The man across the table lifted his head. Woww. Strange guy. Was all Clary could think. The one thing that struck her was his cat-like yellow-green eyes, that seemed to hold the knowledge of centuries, yet remained playful and mischievous. The man was wearing a sparkly blue silk shirt, his strange eyes were lined in electric-blue and glitter was scattered all over him, sticking his black hair up.
His eyes widened a fraction as he met Clary's gaze. "Well, well, this is where you've been hiding, Clarissa."
"Who are you? Are you a faerie?" Clary asked. How does he know my name?
The man chuckled low, and without humor. "Me, a faerie? How can you not know who the high warlock of Brooklyn is?" Upon seeing Clary rather confused look, he sighed. "Well, since you're new, I'll let your ignorance slide." He smiled slyly. "Lylac, hun, please escort Jonathan out of the room whilst Clarissa and I have a chat?"
After the faerie-Lylac- left the room, dragging Jace behind her, the warlock turned to Clary. His gaze looked slowly up and down her, making Clary squirm in awkwardness. He seemed as if he could see all the bad things she had done-from stealing the last cookie from Simon when they were 5, to running away on her own with Jace and Sebastian- and was judging her.
"My goodness, Clary," He finally sighed. "How did you end up here? Don't you know that all your friends are worrying their heads off?"
" Being new and all, the title of 'High Warlock of Brooklyn' has not much of a meaning to me. Besides the fact that I am guessing you're quite powerful." Clary spoke formally; as she had no clue if he was good or bad. "Do you have a name?"
"Bane. Magnus Bane." He announced with a flourish in his voice, smirking at Clary. At her second lack of response, he pouted slightly before continuing. "Clary, you probably should know that I am acquainted with your Shadowhunter friends at the New York Institute."
Still wary, Clary questioned, "Good kind of acquaintance, or bad?"
"If it were bad, do you really think I would tell you the truth?"
"I guess not." Well, excuse me for being so used to the apparently foreign concept of people telling the truth. She mentally huffed.
"Well, lucky for you, I am...neutral." Magnus smiled secretly, as if he knew something very important that Clary didn't. "Although," he mused, cocking a glittering eyebrow at Clary, "I suppose your mundane friend would think different. Probably because I had a little chat with him."
Clary could feel a headache coming on. "My mundane fr-Simon? What do you mean?"
Magnus sighed then continued, though it sounded more as if he were talking to himself. "I'm sure that before you ran away-"
"I didn't-"
"Yes, you did." Now his strange eyes focused intensely on Clary. "Now hush. As I was saying, I bumped into your friend and asked him to relay a message. But then you decided to run away without listening to your best friend. Tsk, tsk."
"Hey!" Clary began indignantly, but Magnus simply continued on as if she hadn't said anything."
"If you had listened to your friend, we wouldn't be in this mess. But since you have no clue what he was going to tell you, I'll let you figure that out on your own. Not that it would be much help anymore."
Clary massaged her temple. "I have no clue what you want me to do or what is going on." Magnus shook his head slightly, as if disappointed-or amused? Clary couldn't tell. Then he slid a small, rectangular object across the table.
"A phone?" Clary exclaimed in surprise as she palmed the object.
"Yes. You're welcome. Call your friend. After that, you should leave. Do not tell your Shadowhunter boyfriend of our conversation."
Clary nodded, she had a feeling that this strange wizard-guy was more of an ally than an enemy. Then she dialed Simons number, praying he would pick up.
"Clary?" Simons familiar voice sounded strained and tired. "Oh my God, are you okay? Where are you?"
"Yeah, Simon, I'm okay." Clary subconsciously bit her lip, eyes slightly misty. "I'm so sorry I ran away, Si. I'm with a guy-uh, wizard, warlock," Clary corrected as Magnus shot her a- mock?- annoyed glare. "And he said that what you had to tell me before I ran away is really important."
"That's why you called? 'Cause some guy told you to?" The hurt in Simons voice stung Clary.
"No! Si, I've really missed you. It's just- look, I don't have a lot of time. I'll try and call you after this soon, but I might not be able to. Sebastian took my phone and money and all my stuff. Magnus got me my phone though." How did he get it anyways?
Simon sighed. "Magnus knew where your mom was for a short time, but she's gone by now and that was our chance to rescue her."
"What?" Sadness, mixed with a burning frustration boiled in Clary's veins.
"Yeah." Simon sighed again. "So I guess now you really do have to rely on Jace and Sebastian." He gritted out the names through clenched teeth and Clary could imagine her friend, brow furrowed as he explained her mistake.
"Oh my God…" Clary groaned. "How could I have been so stupid?" She whispered to herself.
"Clary, that's just who you are." Simon teased.
"Oh, shush." Clary cracked a tired smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Magnus tap his wrist, indicating that it was time to go. "Hey, Si, I have to go now but I'll try to call you soon."
"Okay, try to be careful. For once."
"Sure, Si. Bye."
"Bye."
Clary hung up and pocketed her phone. She stood and looked around for Magnus, who had disappeared. Then, feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned around to face Magnus, who was a mere inch away from her. Jumping back a little, Clary stumbled into the table.
"Might want to work on your reflex's there." He smiled. "Here." Magnus handed her a bag.
"Uh, thanks." Clary blinked. Then she recovered her composure and smiled back. "Really, thanks for everything."
"No problem, Hun. Just call me Magnus." He ushered her towards the door. "Remember, don't tell Blondie about this, okay?" Clary nodded, closing the door behind her and Magnus. They stepped out into-to Clary's surprise- the store. Turning her head, Clary saw that she had just come out of the staff room.
"Clary." Jace was standing in front of her now, arms crossed.
"Hi." What did he and Lylac talk about when Magnus and I were in there? She wondered. I could ask later, like he'd ever tell me.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yup. Oh, wait, Magnus, do you know where the bathing suit I was trying on before is?"
"I took the liberty of picking one out for you; you're welcome to use a dressing room." Magnus commented, indicating at her bag.
"Oh, sure. Thanks." Breaking away from Jace's tenseness, she darted through the store to the changerooms.
Clary slipped inside a change room, avoiding the one with her name still scrawled on the mini whiteboard. Inside the bag Magnus had given her was a deep green bikini and a sundress/cover up. She slipped the bikini on, which fit her surprisingly well. Then she pulled the cover up over top and stuffed her clothes into the bag.
What am I supposed to tell Jace? Clary thought worriedly. If I tell him that I can't tell him what Magnus and I talked about, he'll become suspicious. I could tell him that I was negotiating with Magnus...as if. I could tell him M-
"Clary?" Lylac's musical voice snapped Clary out of her concentration. The redhead stepped out of the changeroom, a tight smile on her face. She wasn't exactly ready to play nice with the faerie who had drugged her. Albeit with good intentions.
"Yeah?"
"You're boyfriend says you two have to go." The faerie started to walk away.
"He's not my boyfriend." Clary protested, following Lycac to the door, where a still-frowning Jace waited.
"Bye Magnus." Clary smiled at the warlock.
"See you another time." He winked a glittery eye at Clary. Then, in a lower tone he whispered in her ear: "Whatever anyone does, or says and whatever happens, remember what you started this all for." Then Magnus gave her a small smile.
"Clary." Jace, who had started ahead of Clary, motioned for her to come.
With a final wave, Clary jogged up to Jace. They were back in the hot sun, and Jace seemed to know where he was going as he walked down the street. Before he could question Clary, she started to talk.
"So we're going to the beach now? What time is it?" Clary looked around. "Yeesh, three thirty already? I hope Sebastian isn't worrying too much. Anyways, are we just going to walk there?"
"Clary." Jace's flat voice stopped her babbling. "If you're not going to talk about what happened between you and Magnus Bane that's you choice." Slightly stunned, Clary just nodded.
Jace turned to her a smile growing on his face. "I guess I'll have to talk you into telling me huh?"
"Good luck."
"There certainly are other ways I can make you tell me." Jace wiggled his eyebrows.
"Wha-Ew!" Clary shook her head. "No way."
"Oh, Clary, such a dirty mind. I only meant that I could take you out for dinner, maybe tomorrow?" Jace cocked an eyebrow, as if challenging her.
"How did you turn this conversation into a dinner invite? But sure, sounds good."
Jace smiled back, "Great. We're walking to the beach by the way; it's only a few blocks away." Clary groaned. "What? You can't handle walking?"
"I'm still tired from this morning." Clary objected.
"Wimp."
"I am not!"
Jace grinned, "Really?"
"Really." She nodded firmly.
"Okay, then. I'll race you. To that store." Jace pointed about two blocks down to a cafe advertising the best coffee in Canada.
"That's not fair."
"You can get a head start." Jace offered.
"That's not fair either."
"Okay, then how about we settle things tonight." Jace chuckled as Clary's cheeks involuntarily reddened. "At the beach. Surfing, Clary. Although we could settle things another way. Ideas?"
"Nope. Surfing sounds good." Clary smiled, absently laying a hand to her cheek to cool her face. It was then that Clary realised her heart was beating erratically fast. No. You are not allowed to like Jace. She scolded herself sharply, remembering why she was bantering with Jace in the first place: To get to her mother. She turned away, smile fading.
"Clary?" Jace couldn't ask more as his phone started to ring in his pocket. He gave CLary a brief concerned frown before picking up. "Hey. Seb. Yeah, I'll fill you in later. What? Okay, We'll be there in ten." Jace turned to Clary. "Change of plans. We're going to Miami tonight."
A/N: Thanks so much to all of you who have read this extremely late chapter!
X-Elle