I know, I know! Its been forever! Don't get your pitchforks and start an angry mob! Please? lol. School has been hectic and I'm naturally a procrastinating person (sadly) so this chapter came out late, but that's not an excuse...shame on me. haha. I apoloigize. Hopefully future chapters won't be so far apart.

Yes, for those of you who had questions, chapter four was Maryse having a flashback and yes Alec is still in London. As i re-read the last chapter, I do admit that i should have added a few things for it to not be confusing.

Thank you for all your reviews. They mean so much:)

I want to give a shout out to Emme Lilone Kensington because she uses words like radical. But i have no idea is she reads this story...lol

And as always, a very special thanks to Izzy for beta-ing and knowing what its like to disappear from the face of the earth due to homework:) Enjoy.

Chapter Five

Stupid big-ass clock.

"Isn't it gorgeous? It was only completed about 20 years ago." Violet noticed that I was staring out the window. "We all hope it stays standing for years and years from now." She had that dreamy look on her face that all girls get, the "I'm dreaming endlessly about that perfect fantasy" look.

It was times like these where I wondered why girls always picture that happily ever after. The story in their head plays out with their Prince Charming coming out of nowhere and whisking them into the beautiful orange glow of the sunset that seems to never fade.

Why don't the fairy tales show the work relationships take?

Stupid authors of all those children's books.

I snorted, breaking out of my daydreaming of fairy tales and paid attention to the girl next to me.

They really shouldn't worry about the structural stability; it stays standing for about a century and a half where I'm from. I wonder what would happen if I said that out loud, probably something along the lines of "somebody get this kid to a mental hospital!" That has to definitely be avoided.

I told George and Violet that I was from the Americas and traveled over here to explore England before I turned 19 in a few months. It wasn't a complete lie. I really was turning nineteen in a few months.

They took sympathy in me since I didn't have any family here. I was surprised, and maybe a little proud, that they fully believed my lie but I have to admit I felt ashamed that they did.

Apparently I had landed in the manor of a very high man of society. He was having a party in couple of days which explained the commotion of everyone running around to get things fixed and ready. Very wealthy, very powerful, George says.

I tried to remember what high and powerful meant during times like these but the way his face contorted into one of secrecy and whispers, I kept my opinions and statements to myself.

They gave me a pair of clothing to change into. I changed in a room that was more of a closet and as I pulled my stiff, dark t-shirt over my head and nearly breaking an arm in the process, I noticed my scars.

The thin scar that littered my body and most specially my chest were even more thin and faint. The permanent dark Marks over my body that should resemble what Mundanes call tattoos were faded.

Practically gone.

Still there but so faintly than before that no one would recognize or notice unless then stared at my skin with a microscope for an hour and two. And no one would get that close before I punched them in the face.

I didn't look like a Shadowhunter at all.

I could pass for a human that was repeatedly abused in the past. Maybe to a trained eye of all things magical and other worldly, they could guess what I really was but know that something had to be wrong.

I should really be thinking about finding a way home.

There was a knock on the door. "Alec?" The feminine voice could only belong to Violet.

"Coming!" I grabbed my things into a ball of fabric and pushed the wooden door outwards.

My two new friends showed me around the place. It was huge, the type of mansion you see in an old and dated movie. Well, dated for me at least. It was the type where the rich family had vast marble walls and expensive paintings covering them, different ballrooms, and dining areas that were bigger than three rooms mashed together with tables adorned with lace and silk.

It was beautiful.

Something about it all captivated me. I wanted to sit a dark corner and drink it all in, see every little aspect that you couldn't see otherwise, every absolute detail that the creator put into it, see the love and care and thought. It reminded me of the Institute, but only a few times better.

Oh my Angel.

I think realization was still setting in.

Why me? Jace could've handled this much better and live to tell the tale and charm all the girls. Well I guess he really shouldn't be charming anything now that Clary is in the picture, but that's not the point.

How am I going to get home? Am I going to be here forever? Would I never see my family again? Sure they're agitating, but they're family. Do they think I'm dead? Do they think they already lost another son?

"Cut it out Vy!" I was once again taken out of my thoughts by George and Violet. They looked so carefree and happy with their mouths opened identically wide in laughter.

I'm sure they thought I was in conversation with them and not thinking of other things while they gave me the grand tour. I wish I could say that I wasn't jealous.

There was definitely a little bit of envy in the back of my mind as I watched them. Izzy and I, even Jace, didn't have things like that. Of course there was laughter and good times in our lives but an hour later after a joyous moment, Dad walked into the room discussing strategies for the next demon attack that was downtown and off we skipped to bloodshed.

But I shouldn't be talking; I've only known George and Vy for what? A few hours? They can have a few heart-breaking secrets of their own for all I know.

" . . . I help out in the kitchen and Vy helps wherever she's needed for the day. I'm sure you'll be doing the same thing once we tell people that you're here. Is that alright?"

"Oh sure, its fine. So your . . . boss, the owner of all this, who is he?"

They opened their mouths to speak but the hall door was opened in a quiet but noticeably angry manner, if that was possible, and the man I thought I would never have the pleasure to be with in the same room again was walking towards another entrance.

The man I'm in love with and also the man that ended our relationship for reasons unbeknownst to me had just walked by.

I don't know if his presence or his short hair shocked me more.

I stared at him.

Magnus Bane.