Title: Straddling the Sword

Author(s): TemptingDestiny (2 people. Tempting & Destiny)

Disclaimer: Do we own this magnificent piece of work? Hell yes we do, but is it originally ours? HELL NO! The original idea, thought, inkling, iota, you get where I'm going? Belongs to Cassandra Clare and "The Mortal Instruments" series. All characters not recognized from the series are creations from our own thoughts. (Everyone who is not Jace, Clary, Simon, Maia, Raphael, Magnus... etc... It's a long list..) Probably would have been shorter to name the scrappy handful of characters we do own... -- ... mkay...)

Summary: Life's convenient when you stand on the border between two worlds, but when the line begins to blend, which side do you fall on? A war raging between the dark world and those who stand against it leave friends and foes straddling both ends of the sword.

Destiny: So I get the opening statements this time. Yippie! I suppose I should start off with a HUGE apology for how late we are in posting the second chapter. In the begining it was my fault. We posted the first chapter right before I left on vacation for about two weeks, and then I started working six days a week on top of moving all my stuff from me and my sister's room from the second story to our new smaller room in the basement so we could move my grandparents in upstairs... but i doubt you want to hear about my stressful summer and are still aiming fruit and paperweights at out heads. So yeah, the rest was just ill timing. But we are back and we live and we do not have amnesia! And you will be happy to know that most of this story is already written out so all we have to do before posting chapters is revise them. We'll try to start getting them out about once a week or so.

On another note, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who read and reviewed our first chapter! Constructive criticisms really do help. And there was a section at the end I thought I edited that it turns out I didn't that someone pointed out to me, so I did actually edit it and reposted the chapter. None of the ANs or anything else changed, just that part at the end about Kei and Clary being good friends because that didn't fit at all. Just remember that when Tempting and I started this we had no idea we were going to post it anywhere, so if there are any more continuity errors just bear with us, point them out, and we shall correct them. Or any other errors, for that matter...

Anyway. I think I've blabbed on for long enough. So without further ado, I present to you chapter 2! Don't forget to review at the end! Flames will be eaten by Tempting.

Chapter 2

Lee barged into Simon's house unceremoniously without much of a hello as she rushed to the kitchen to find her pocky and other assorted snacks. She tried to place, almost dropping, the multiple cups of bubble tea on the counter she ripped the cabinet open. Kei had gone shopping recently and had notified her previously that she had left food at Simon's house. Why she would leave the food at Simon's house who she wasn't particularly close with was beyond her comprehension. Kei gave a defence to the fact that they were friends with her, they just weren't that close. Her eyes fluttered at the thought and then side tracked, she covered her mouth and tried to silence the rupture of giggles reverberating through her body. Peering into the cabinet, she found her sugary susitence, grabbing her snacks and the drinks she walked back into the room, it was more flouncing than anything. Panhandling the drinks to each of her friends, Kei's face brightened and she began mumbling thanks repeatedly. She waved her hand off and plopped down on the bed beside Kei and began drinking her strawberry bubble tea happily. Her eyes wandered over to her best friend, whose eyes narrowed as she whispered sharply.

"You had a few shots before you left the bar, didn't you?" Kei hissed, her eyes like daggers more in concern of her best friend traveling with alcohol in her system.

"Damn Kei, you act like I did some heroin before I walked out of Hunter's Moon. It's a fucking bar, plus, I really can't help it. Maia and I always compete to see how many shots we can get through before someone notices. We got to about, 6 before Luke came back out after I had said bye and gave us the: 'I'm-only-a-concerned-parental-figure' lecture. Whatever, in Canada and England you can drink at 18." She said offhandedly. It wasn't an odd occurrence, not that she was an alcoholic, but everyone liked to have fun, that wasn't a crime.

Kei groaned and shook her head, returning to her bubble tea to settle her nerves. Simon and Clary were in an intense conversation, their eyes said that it was something important. Lee had decided well ahead of time that trying to convince Simon that Clary wasn't in love with him, as he clearly was with her was pointless. It had landed up in a blow out between the two of how she didn't know them and should mind her own business. It wasn't her fault that it was obvious that Clary had a thing for Jace. She had become friends with him after multiple meetings: bars, clubs, parties, they had shared a few words and moments, in the beginning. It had never been anything concrete but that never stopped sexual tension from building up between people, which had furthered them into a friendly relationship. She didn't see him too frequently, they both had busy lives, plus he could a bit too ego-centric for her after some time. Although, she knew that things had changed with him, his manner had become different, more mature, she had assumed that Jace had fallen in love. With who she didn't know, but she had a feeling it would arise soon enough.

"Alright, well since we're all here now, I'd like to watch some fine Valentine and Kadaj if you two are done having your intense bickering." She said rolling her eyes at the dark looks the two of them gave her.

Simon and Clary were very accepting of people, for the most part, they accepted her because she was Katie's best friend. She suspected that if that wasn't the case that they would have no qualms about her not attending. They merely extended the invitation in kindness and sparing of Kei's feelings. Sighing she slid to the wall so her body was lounging across the bed and sipped her bubble tea. Simon had dragged himself away from Clary and had placed the DVD in, the opening was beginning and already her mind had drifted off to somewhere else.

"I say we watch Last Order after Advent Children is over!" Kei declared as the movie started.

"You just want to see Zack," Clary accused.

Kei shrugged. "What can I say? The man is hot."

"Aren't you getting your fix from playing Crisis Core?" asked Simon, who was staring at the screen.

"No," Kei said darkly, glaring at Lee. "Someone 'borrowed' the game and has yet to give it back."

"My brother messed up my file! I haven't been in the mood to play it!" Lee protested.

"So give it back and let me!" Kei complained.

"Guys!" Simon protested. "Movie!"

Kei and Lee shut up. As the movie went on Kei snicked some pocky from Lee and sipped happily at her almond bubble tea. A frap and a bubble tea in one day. It didn't get much better.

The movie was fun. They'd seen it before of course, but streamed on her computer, not on an actual DVD. The girls cheered when Vincent made his appearance, Simon buried his face in his hands.

"Seriously. What's the attraction of the undead vampire dude?" he asked.

"He's hot," was the synonymous response from the three girls. Simon promptly gave up.

At Kei's urging, he began loading Last Order on his computer after the movie was over so Kei could indulge in her Zack fix for the day.

"That was way better on an actual TV," Lee commented, stretching out her arms.

"I hadn't seen it yet. It was cool, though I don't really remember much about Final Fantasy VII to tell you the truth," Clary said.

"Wikipedia is magic, Clary my girl," Kei responded, clapping the redhead on the shoulder. "That's how I learned all there was to know. I never actually played the original game either." Her phone buzzed. "'Scuse me a sec," she said as she pulled it out of her pocket and stepped out of the room to answer it.

"City morgue, you slice 'em, we ice 'em. Hey, Joffery! You guys off work yet? I'm over at Simon's, he got a copy of Advent Children so we all came over to watch. Hey, since you get off in an hour why don't you two meet up with me and Lee somewhere for dinner? No, not Burger King. I don't know what your Burger King fix is, but no. How about the Johnny Rocket's in the village on Eighth? Sound good? Alright then, we'll see you guys in an hour or so. And give Jeth a kiss for me," she added, smirking just before she hung up. Because, knowing Joffery, he would do just as she asked. Snickering at the mental image, Kei walked back into the room.

"Lee, you and me are meeting Jeth and Joff for dinner at Johnny Rockets. If you want anyone to meet you, call them now. And yes, you'll make it back in time for your shift at the bar. Try not to get drunk, the escalators don't appreciate the fights you pick with them."

Lee glared at her while Simon and Clary snickered. Kei was referring to the fact that last year Lee had gotten so drunk that she tried going up the down escalator at the PATH station near her mom's apartment in Jersey City, and then had screamed at it for not going where she wanted it to. Kei grinned at the memory, wishing still that she'd taken pictures, then settled in to watch Last Order before they left.

Lee pushed herself off the bed as Last Order began to play, her phone was vibrating against her hip and she was trying to be cordial enough to walk out of the room. Pulling the door closed behind her she looked at her i730 Nextel screen, the blue bar glowed reading Raphael. She smiled and flipped it open and used the crook of her neck to hold it. She began digging in her pockets for her pack of mini cigars and headed downstairs, she would smoke in the back to prevent getting yelled at. When she heard his voice, he was talking to someone in his clan, immediately her mind flashed to his smooth olive skin, oily black tresses, golden eyes and then his mouth, soft and delicious red lips, what lay behind those lips was the most erotic and forbidden thing, fangs. Raphael had been a vampire for a long time. Living that long and being so powerful despite that lanky body, his arms felt like walls around her, protecting her. Realizing that she had been dazing out, she could hear his heavy breathing on the phone, it was usually when he was impatient, riled up, or had said something important and she wasn't listening.

"Shit... Sorry babe, I was lost in thought. What's up?" Her voice had become much lighter, but it still kept her defensive edge, she focused for a moment, the smile on her face still there.

"Gracias mi amor, I was starting to think I was talking to myself." He spoke smoothly into the phone, his accent becoming more prominent when he was flustered, which made her giggle; his Spanish was sexy.

"Permiso mi amor, tell me what's wrong. You never call during any sort of daylight." She said, her voice losing most of it's seductive nature. She was being honest, usually when she was leaving she would know when he rose, so she didn't need a phone call.

"It's alright, I was calling to make sure you're still coming? If not, I'm going to go out. I have to go speak to some of the other houses and speak to other leaders. Apparently there have been killings in other boroughs and we want to make sure there isn't a pattern." His voice sounded strained, as if there was something more to it than he was letting on, she would let it slide till she saw him.

"Shit, that's important business, baby. What time are you heading out? I'll come see you-" She was frantic, usually when things like that went down, she knew he was immortal, but battles were battles and she had her share of battle wounds.

"If you come here... I'll never leave, you know that. I can come see you after the meeting mi amor. Stop worrying so much it's-" He sighed as he could hear her rustling about, he could imagine her already walking towards the front door.

"Raphael, I'm coming to see you, don't think I forgot that you are involved with Jace and the other Shadowhunters. I know about Valentine, I know that-" She heard him hiss and winced some, he was now upset.

"Who have you been talking to mi preciosa? It's dangerous for you as a mortal to be talking and asking too many questions, despite you being an elementalist. I have ears everywhere, there's no need for you to be stretching your neck out... Are you getting on the bus?" He said, resigned; she had walked out of Simon's house without a word. From what he could hear, she had been spending time with friends, or Katie's friends, it was a matter of opinion.

"Don't talk to me as if I'm a child! Dios mio! See! Now I'm speaking in Spanish because of you, making me worry about you. Yes, I'm on the bus and then I'm transferring, I'll be there in less than an hour. Te quiero." She said the last part tenderly and closed the phone with a snap and placed it back on her clip, sighing she ran a hand through her hair, her fingers shook a little as she plopped down in a seat.

Kei listened to Lee muttering into the phone outside Simon's bedroom and heard when her voice went sharp with worry. It wasn't really a big surprise after that when she heard Lee leave.

'Gee, thanks for the goodbye,' she sent along the mental link she shared with her best friend. On the computer screen she watched Zack take out all the Shinra Soldiers that had been chasing him and Cloud, without using his sword. "That's my Zack", she crowed to herself.

'Sorry. Raphael called. There's been some deaths recently and he's worried. I'm gonna go check it out with him.'

Kei glanced to the side at Clary and Simon, who were cheering along with her at the on-screen action. Her thoughts went to the twins, who would be getting off work soon.

'Should I be worried?' she asked Lee.

'Don't know anything yet,' her friend sent back. 'I'll let you know.'

'Alright,' Kei allowed. 'I'm getting a headache, so call me later when you find out anything. After dinner I think the twins and I will head over to The Hunter's Moon. If there's any gossip to be heard from the Moon Children's side of the spectrum, we'll hear it there.'

Lee gave her affirmative before gently breaking off the mental connection. Kei pinched the bridge of her nose to kill the buzz that usually signaled an oncoming headache. Normally the mental bond that connected her to those she cared for didn't cause her any problems. But she was primarily an empath, used to receiving and channeling emotions and so her telepathy was limited to those with whom she shared a particularly strong connection; Lee, Jethry and Joffery, and Magnus. Because it wasn't natural to her, like her empathy was, it caused discomfort sometimes and headaches if used too long or too frequently. But since this conversation had been so short the buzz faded almost as soon as it had formed and Kei breathed a sigh of relief. Even she had trouble recovering quickly from backlash headaches.

"Ah crap," Kei muttered as the truck scene came up. Last Order was almost over. Clary gave her a curious look. "Wait for it," Kei muttered. She sighed as Zack cried out for Cloud to run and the anime short ended. "Last Order rocks, but I hate the end."

"How is Zack your favorite character if he was dead when the original game began?" Simon asked as he closed the screen.

"Dunno," Kei replied as she stood, stretched, and began to gather up her things. "I just really like him, that's all."

"You're gonna cry when you get to the end of Crisis Core," Simon muttered.

"Oh I know I am," Kei said cheerfully. "That's not gonna stop me from playing it over and over. You guys wanna come with and get burgers?"

Clary glanced at Simon and answered for both of them. "Thanks, but no. I think we'll hang out here a bit. We haven't had a chance to hang out just us in a while. Oh, why did Jubilee leave already?"

"Raphael called, there's something going on with his clan," Kei said with a shrug. "You know Lee, she got worried and ran off without a backward glance."

Clary laughed. "Sounds like her all right. Don't forget your ipod."

Kei, who actually had been about to leave it plugged into the wall, swore and turned around to unplug it. She had to take her backpack off to put the charger away, then put her ipod in her purse.

"See you guys around!" she called, waving as she walked out of the house. The train ride to the village was packed with rush hour commuters, but Kei lucked out and managed to grab a seat on both trains. She flicked through her J-Pop playlist before she got off at Astor and walked quickly to Johnny Rocket.

She still had her earbuds in as she walked so when someone grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her into the air she shrieked in surprise, swinging her legs back forcefully to kick whoever was behind her. There was a startled yelp and Kei's feet were rather rudely reintroduced to the sidewalk. She whipped around angrily to glare at Joffery, who was bent over furiously rubbing his knee but still had a smug grin on his face all the same.

"Damnit, Joffery! Are you trying to turn my hair white or something?"

"Nah, you're just way to easy to scare," the boy taunted with a smirk, hazel eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kei growled and another set of arms draped themselves leisurely over her shoulders.

"You know, Joff, you'd think all the bruises Kei gives you when you do shit like that would teach you not to do it in the first place."

"Hey, Jethry," Kei greeted Joff's twin without turning around.

Joff shrugged, the pain in his knee already gone. "What can I say? Watching Kei jump thirty feet in the air is just too much fun to resist."

"Consider yourself shunned for the rest of the evening," Kei muttered, turning herself around in Jethry's arms to give him a quick kiss before walking through the doors of Johnny Rocket's.

Jethry grinned smugly at his twin. "And that would be why I don't spend nearly so much time as you annoying her."

The twins had gotten a table before Joffery decided to wait outside just to scare the liver out of her, so Kei slid in to the booth across from them and gratefully plopped her backpack down next to her, taking time once again to roll her aching shoulders in relief.

"Need a massage later?" Joffery asked, eyes lighting up as if someone had flipped an 'on' switch.

Kei rolled her eyes. "Fine, you win, you don't get shunned and I get a massage later."

Jethry snorted as his twin pumped the air with a fist.

"Where's Lee?" asked Jethry, tucking straggling locks of his orange-brown hair behind his ear.

Kei explained again and watched the boys' eyes darken. "We'd heard rumors but we haven't known what to make of them," Jethry mused.

"Does Chris know anything?" Kei asked. Their boss, Christine Kross, was a mundane woman but well familiar with downworld society and the Shadowhunter world. She'd been in the 'know' for years, ever since her son was turned into a werewolf. He'd been bitten as a child and Chris had done everything in her power to help him. He was an adult in his twenties now and a loner, currently traveling. Chris, as a result, was aware and accepting of the downworld races and created the schedules for any downworlders she hired based around their needs. Jeth, Joff, and Kei, for example, were never scheduled for the days around the full moon, Jeth and Joff for obvious reasons, Kei because she spent those days with Magnus so she wouldn't be alone in the apartment since Lee spent quite a few of her nights with Raphael. The fire elementalist constantly offered to stay home those days but Kei, hating to feel like a burden, always refused the offer.

The waitress took their orders and the three chatted for a while, Joffery handing Kei the finished pool schedule for the upcoming swim lesson session. This session all three were scheduled for the weekends, the full moon in a few weeks time fell in the middle of the week, and life guarding Fridays, though the twins had also been given a guard shift on Mondays.

"A few spots might open up on Thursdays," Jeth said helpfully, knowing Kei was going to fret over the limited hours she was working. "I told Chris to let us know."

"Sounds good. At least we're working just enough hours to keep our benefits covered, such as they are."

"As long as we have medical, I don't care," Joffery commented, smirking.

Kei rolled her eyes. "I am your medical benefits, Joff, you dolt."

"I know. Like I said, as long as we have medical, I don't care."

"Well I don't know about you, Joff, but I like our dental plan, thank you very much," Jethry interjected as the food came. Kei, who hadn't actually eaten anything except a frap and a bubble tea since an early, hurried breakfast, was ravenous. So were the boys after working all day. The burgers and shakes were soon gone and they were left munching contentedly on onion rings. When those too were done Kei suggested going to The Hunter's Moon to chill.

"We'd like to check up with Luke anyway," Jethry commented, stretching out his lean body as he stood. Joffery reached over and nuzzled Kei, his reddish-blonde hair mingling with her brunette. She smiled, leaning against him and taking hold of Jethry's hand.

"Luke's been driving himself crazy lately, according to Clary," Kei agreed. "Let's go see if we can help. That, and I'm craving some Bailey's," she added with a wicked grin.

Lee stepped off the bus, sighing at how much time had passed. The MTA really did need to work out some of their kinks. Taking in her surroundings, she began power walking to gain speed and ground, her blood rushing through her veins as she walked to where Raphael and the rest of his clan lived. Ducking into the alleyway she searched around for the window, and swore under her breath. Vampires had the best eyesight besides lycans but she had to struggle to find a damn window. Forgetting to pay attention to her surroundings, she didn't hear as feet slowly traveled down the alleyway. She thought she heard something and felt her hair prickle up on the back of her neck. She turned her neck slowly when a shadow descended upon her and she felt herself launched into the opposite wall. As she hit the wall on her side, she rolled to her back with a smack against the wall. A small gasp escaped her as a firm thin hand wrapped around her neck and began squeezing the gentle life from her body. Opening her eyes slowly she peered down into fierce golden hues glaring at her with a hunger so fierce she wanted to scream. She smelled the air and winced, she could smell the coppery tinge of blood, not fresh blood, that she could handle, but old dried blood, that was mixing with the air around her. Trying to focus despite the fact that the corners of her sight were beginning to spot, she choked out a sound and used her lower half momentum to snap out her legs and lock around the waist of the vampire. Using the heel of her boot she dug it into the back of the vampire; it hissed and tossed her across the alleyway into a pile of trash bags.

"You smell like a wet beast... You've been with the wolves again..." He hissed, she realized that it was Azrael, one of the higher vampires in Raphael's clan and could be considered his closest friend.

"You don't... Fucking dictate who I can hang out with... Puta sucia..." She rasped out, holding a hand to her throat, she saw his lips curl back into a snarl and his fangs bared he moved towards her.

"That's enough!" Raphael's voice roared into the alleyway as he dropped from the roof to directly in front of her, his expression was smooth but she could see the stiffness in his body, coiled, ready to attack.

"Raphael, I'm only trying to protect you from this... Whore... She spends her free time with Moon Children, dogs of the downworlders, who call us the beasts." He hissed out, his venomous look sickened her and she looked away, touching her throat gently.

"Escuche mi Azrael, but if you place a hand on her ever again I will make sure that it will be your last. Entiende?" His voice was low, the growling that emitted from his throat was possessive, angry, protective even.

Azrael said nothing and within the blink of an eye, he was gone and Raphael was reaching down to examine her. His hands, once balled into fists and deadly were now tender and soft, caressing the bruising skin. Closing her eyes she swallowed and felt the small pang of irritation but decided that a bruise was better than a broken neck and she was grateful for Raphael. He picked her up with ease and nuzzled his face into her neck and hair, feeling his cold lips on her skin made her shiver in delight, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled closer. She could hear a soft chuckle as his tongue licked her pulse vein and she gasped in delight, feeling her head spin she closed her eyes and let him take her inside. They were going to talk, whether he liked it or not. Opening her eyes once more she could see that in a matter of a few moments they were in one of the many bedrooms in the hotel. Despite it's immensely dilapidated appearance, Raphael had made a gorgeous room for himself complete with black and red decorum. Taking a few steps he was across the large room and placing her down on the bed, he looked over for a few moments and then decided to lay down beside her.

"Raphael, if revenants... Sorry. Vampires are being killed in the other boroughs, why doesn't anyone assume that it has to do with Valentine? From what I've researched, he's a pretty fucking big deal." Her eyes were clouded with concern as she looked at him, his brows were a bit furrowed at her knowledge of the situation at hand.

"You made me worried, mi amor. Entendes mucho, pero, it's going to get you killed one day. Sometimes I wished that you weren't so intelligent, but I take that back the moment I think it." His voice was hard to read because it held so much in the sentence, leaning over he was now straddling over her, his lips descending to capture hers in a kiss.

Lee took the kiss with ease and slipped her arms around his neck pulling him closer while her leg slipped around his waist and brought him down to press against her body. Her hands played with his hair and he growled and nipped her lip playfully, she winced very slightly, now used to this sort of play and licked the blood of her lips. She moaned softly and pressed herself harder against him, a grin formed on his lips as he sucked her lip momentarily before releasing it. Blood now dripped down just beneath her swollen lower lip which he licked up with ease and kissed her softly once more. Her eyes were now glazed over with lust, almost black at the darkness that shrouded them. She was insatiable to be so enamored with him despite his cursed undead, cold corpse, she felt for him and he treasured that, sometimes more than his immortality.

"Escuche mi, we know it's not Valentine because it would prove no purpose to kill a few fledglings, at least not to us. Pero, it seems that someone, besides the moon children are having issues with the downworlders. I could say that I would hope that it's not Shadowhunters, but that would make me un mentiroso, and that, I am not." He said quite seriously and kissed her once more, running his hand along her form and grinning devilishly, he had to let her go and see her friends, he didn't want to hold her back. Even if she did associate with moon children, shadowhunters and warlocks, at least she had no prejudice.

"Okay, but if you're lying. I'm going to kill you. Plus, if I keep speaking Spanglish... Kei might figure out what I'm talking about when we're on the phone. I can't have that..." She said with a light wave and he kissed her fiercely once more, releasing another moan from her throat, he groaned himself and desired to have her, but not now.

"Por favor Jubilee, let me go to this meeting, I have to keep my own safe as well as others. Yo juro, I will come back before sunrise and if you're awake, I'll come see you. If not, then you will have to wait till mañana, okay?" He had kissed her through this to convince her of his swear that he would return to her, he didn't say unscathed, but that he would return.

"Don't think for un momento that because you're a vampire that I'm going to let your swear slide. Entende? If you break a swear, yo juro, I will come back and kick your ass from here to Brooklyn." She said with such fierceness that he couldn't help but growl at her for her abrasive nature to always fight and to be so honorable to her word, but it made her all the more enticing.

"Si, mi amor, entiendo. Vamos. Katie is probably already finished eating and is waiting for you patiently. She's probably fed up with you leaving all the time." He said as he got back up with her, with ease they left through an alternate exit and he kissed her goodbye before forcing her off back to catch the train to Chinatown, her shift was starting soon and Bat and everyone else would kill her if she was late.

"Sorry Kei, I just left from Raphael's. I'll fill you in on everything when I can, if you want, meet me at Hunter's Moon, I have my shift in fourty five and if I'm late Maia might just bite a new hole in my ass. Love you." She sent the mental link quickly before swiping her MetroCard and entering the station to get to Hunter's Moon as quickly as possible.

"Lee's meeting us at the bar," Kei informed her two companions. They had managed to secure three side-by-side seats on the train and Kei was sandwiched between the twins, one of whom had his arm around her waist, the other his head on her shoulder. Both gave affirmative mumbles. She chuckled, ruffling Joffery's hair since it was within reach, and leaning her head on Jethry's shoulder.

She yawned, a late night and early morning beginning to overcome her caffeine intake and closed her eyes. Jethry's arm tightened around her waist in a kind of one-armed hug. Joffery blew a quick breath of cold air in her ear.

"No going to sleep," the older of the twins complained.

Kei groaned in response, swatting at his head.

"Let her close her eyes if she's tired, Joff," Jethry chastened.

"You kidding?" Joffery asked, tilting his head up to face his twin and raising his eyebrows. "We're going to be on the train a grand total of three minutes. It's three stops from Astor to Canal. You let her close her eyes now, she won't want to open them again." His eyes narrowed and he snorted. "Lee's right, Jeth. You coddle her too much."

"I'm still right here, you know," Kei muttered peevishly, opening her eyes to glare at both of them. "And I really would appreciate a few minutes to close my eyes. If I can do it on an elevator, I can do it on the train."

"Yeah, and you whine when you have to get off that, too."

Kei opened her mouth to reply but a voice saying, "This station is, Canal Street," cut her off and rendered all arguments pointless. She sighed in resignation, standing up. Joffery nuzzled her neck as they stepped off the train and neatly grabbed her backpack out of her hands before she could swat him. Considering her shoulders heaved a sigh of relief at not having to carry the thing again she opted not to say anything. Instead she let Jethry get a step ahead of her, then leaped onto his back, arms locked around his shoulders and legs locked around his waist. She nuzzled his cheek with her nose and he grinned at her through half closed eyes as he shifted his arms to secure her legs.

"Don't get too smug, you get her bag on the way home," Joffery said with a toothy grin. "I get her."

"But she's gonna be drunk on the way home!" Jethry protested. "She's like a little sex kitten when she's drunk!"

"You snooze, you lose," Joffery replied breezily.

"Thanks for talking about me like I'm not here," Kei grumped, pretending to sulk. She actually loved watching them play-fight over her, still marveling over the fact that they never actually got jealous of each other. Then again they'd all been good friends for several years before she'd fallen into bed with them that first time, and they knew her inside and out about as well as Lee did. And like her best friend they hated it when she was upset; being an empath she tended to project distress everywhere when she was and they, not being gifted, couldn't shield her out like Lee and Magnus could. But still, she was an empath and had never once sensed a flash of jealousy from either of them.

Kei slid off of Jethry's shoulders half a block away from the bar and linked hands with both boys. They stepped inside and Kei called a greeting to Maia, who looked up from her seat on the patron's side of the bar and waved them over.

"Lee's on her way. She should get here just in time for her shift," Kei told the girl before Maia could even open her mouth to ask. Freaky Pete, overhearing, nodded as well and took the orders of the three new arrivals. Kei sipped her Sex on the Beach slowly. She wasn't in any particular rush to get intoxicated.

Ten minutes later, Lee rushed into the bar without a moment to spare before her shift began. She darted through tables, spring boarded over the bar itself to land facing the patrons and smartly asked the person nearest her if she could get them anything. The entire bar, as one, applauded and there were several impressed wolf-whistles throughout the establishment.

"Nice," the twins commented in unison, lifting their drinks, a screwdriver and a straight vodka respectively, in a toast. Kei chuckled at the display, too used to her friend's antics to toast this one, then her eyes narrowed as she stared at Lee and she let out an angry snarl that earned an impressed stare from both boys and Maia. Pete, who was walking away after handing Lee her apron, raised his eyebrows, shrugged, and moved down the bar to tend to a customer.

I hang around werewolves too often, Kei thought as she leaned over the bar and put a hand on the base of Lee's throat. The look in the girl's eyes said "Crap…" in capital letters.

"What happened?" Kei asked in a growl as she let her healing energies repair the damage to Lee's neck.

"Azrael," Lee said with a sigh. "Raphael took care of it," she added before Kei could demand that the twins take her to beat the shit out of him.

Kei let out her breath in a hiss, passed clenched teeth. She liked Raphael well enough and knew he led his clan well, better than most could have, but that didn't mean she had to like his lieutenants, especially when his top ones treated his girlfriend like this. She reached a hand up to Lee's lips, still swollen and just slightly bloody, and raised a questioning eyebrow. Lee shied away from her fingers and Kei shrugged, settling back into her seat.

She finished her Sex on the Beach and ordered a shot of Bailey's, ready to start enjoying the evening again. So of course everything had to go to hell with speed. No sooner had she downed the drink then Jace Wayland stalked into the bar, trouble brewing in his eyes and a fight in his posture.
There is no way this can end well, Kei thought. Fuck.


Ending AN by Tempting: Hey all! Alright, so that's our latest chapter, which is fun to say the least. If you have read City of Bones, you have realized that Chapter 1 & 2 basically take place at the very end/beginning of Bones & Ashes. We've decided to write between the lines of the story, which is how hanging out with Raphael works, and his sexy self. In any case. We have written out at least 1/2 of this fanfiction already... At least I'm pretty sure that we have. Of course, once City of Glass comes out... The day before my 20th bday, we shall have more to write I imagine. But in any case, please read and review. We really do like the criticism, constructive or flames.

We do understand that everyone loves reading shipping stories, like Clary/Jace. So do Destiny and I, but we decided when we were writing this that we wouldn't post it anywhere. I'm friends with fellow fans who are on the Downworlders group/ Pandemonium forum with me, so I decided to give it up, with Destiny obliging as well. So I'm sorry if that's what you were hoping for, but please give our fanfiction a chance. I promise you, their relationship and everyone else's is mentioned as well, if not exploited. Lee and Kei may not be main characters, well except in here. But friends exploit each other all the time, it's quite amusing, and yes there are loop holes in this. But there has to be in order not to re-write Cassie's great work. So, yeah I guess that's all. Hope to see all of you reviewed and readers in Chapter 3! xoxo

Destiny: Hey! I'm back! I decided to treat you all to a brief glimpse into the world of StS pre-editing. Some of the things we wrote in the original draft are really quite amusing, as are the comments we made about each others errors.

"Lee stepped off the bus and began walking at a heightened speed..." - I feel like I'm becoming a giant, like I'm getting taller instead of moving faster... lawl

Tempting: Okay! In my defense, we wrote this fanfiction at really odd hours because college students don't know what common hours are for sleeping, besides, I have her originals too. They're just not in my possession right now...

"Using the heel of her boot it dug into the back of it and it hissed and tossed her across the alleyway into a pile of trash bags." - Your boot hisses? Where did you get it? I want hissing boots!

Tempting: ... Shut up Destiny... Srsly.

Destiny: alright, alright, here's one of mine. Shush.

"...knowing Joffery, he would do just as she asked.

"Lee, you and me are meeting Jeth and Joff for dinner at Johnny Rockets..." - Wow! You can teleport! You are aware you never actaully reentered the room, right?

Another note from Tempting: Now, I realize that not everyone speaks Spanish, sorry about those who didn't understand that. I'll rectify that right now so it's a bit easier for those non-spanish speaking people. Whom I love just as much.

Mi Amor- My love

Entiende? - Understand

Yo juro - I swear

Mi preciosa- My precious

Pero - But

Gracias - Thank you

Dios mio - My God! Or God damn.

Te quiero - I love you/I want you

Escuche mi - Listen to me

Puta Sucia - Um... It's a very vulgar term...

Mentiroso - Liar

Por Favor - Please

Mañana - Tomorrow

Tempting: Alrighty? I'm pretty sure that I have all of them, so sorry for the inconvenience if you were wondering through it all.