Chapter 2

My mind kept replaying the dream and I couldn't get the smell of Jace out and my muscles seemed to ache as if they were cramped in a small space. I put in my headphones and covered my face with my hoodie to try and escape my head. Although I couldn't see my sides I still sensed him as he approached, I grabbed a white muscular hand and looked up at clear blue eye.

"You doing alright?" Jace asked, while I released him wrists. His blonde hair was curling at the nape of his neck wet from his morning shower and I had to fight the urge to move it away from his eyes. I breathed heavily his heady scent of sun and aftershave and nodded.

"Fine, having nightmares again" I simply replied and kept walking alongside him. His face took on a strained look and saw his fists clenched. Jace was always kind of detached from the group, his family had been killed by a demon when he was young and stayed at the New York institute till he was of age. Recently he was overly protective of me, on the outside he was 6 feet with broad shoulders and arms that I've seen throw a 200 pound wolf across a distance, but I was stronger than him. He couldn't protect me from what was inside me.

He stopped me before we entered the classroom: "Hey if you ever need anything you know I'm there right? Ever since that night I just can't stop thinking about if I had just been a few minutes earlier I could've saved you"

"Jace stop don't think like that, it's my own damn fault for trying to be the hero, this is my fault and I should be the only one who has to bear the burden okay." I looked away from his harsh stare.

His hands were touching my cheek and I could tell that he was doing it involuntarily "No, you're not alone you have me" as he said that his face soften and suddenly added "and Alyssa and Chris too of course" I backed up from his hand. "Yeah right, thanks. If I ever get too thirsty you'll be the first I'll call".

His face blanched and I walked to my seat feeling like my insides had been ground up like cow meat.

At the academy our main purpose was to learn how to fight, but we also had class time where we learned of common demons and downworlder etiquette, they also created this school to scout for potential council members and leaders that can run Idris once the current leaders passed.

The professor was lecturing on about some demons but I was out of focus, I was suddenly hyper aware of my surroundings all around I could sense the beating of hearts and it was overwhelming. The smell was intense as well all my sense were being bombarded and I could feel the sweat accumulating on my forehead and neck and my jaw was aching.

"What is the weak spot Rosaline?" I checked back in dazed and next to me, "The neck" Samantha threw in giving me a triumphant smile, not many women were shadowhunters so the few that were, were always in competition with one another. Samantha particularly always took any opportunity to outsmart me. I glared over and she gasped, I looked at the window and saw my reflection which showed my sliver liquid eyes and I looked down.

I heard the familiar grunt from Chris beside me and I looked at him, his eyes opened wide and he gasped out "Your fangs!" I quickly took several breaths and closed off my senses till the yearning past. All of which took several seconds and everyone was staring at me. "Sorry I was thinking of all the many more ways to kill a dragonide that would be more fun than a quick slice through the neck." Some laughed and the professor merely smirked and I spent the rest of class avoiding Samantha's curious glare.

The only part of my days here that I enjoy are when I get to physically exert myself. At the gym, I change in to my shorts and work out tank to prepare for today's fight. They teach us here all sorts of fighting styles so that we are fully prepared for what come our way. Today we were fencing, without armor just face masks. Walking out of the locker room Chris grabbed my arm and pulled me away,

"What was that back there your fangs were completely bared are you insane?" he scolded looking like the big brother he was, but in fact we were the same age he was my twin. I snatched my arm away "I'm fine it was just a lapse I had it under control, give me a break this isn't easy you know"

I could see the pity in his eyes and I got angry "you shouldn't wear shirts like that you know" He said as an afterthought. I looked down and the scars on my shoulder, they were 4 deep ugly and pink surround by white scar tissue, they tried to use healing runes and they seared my skin and the scars stayed. My family was always worried people would put to and two together but we just say a warlock sent a tiger after me. "Its fine, plus it makes me look badass, and you're just jealous you don't have any cool scars."

I punched him playfully but my heart wasn't in it and I just went towards the mat since I was up first against Kent. The battle was over fairly quickly as usual, I was stronger and faster than I was before, I tried to tone it down so nobody would get suspicious but today I wasn't in control. Kent was no match he was on the defensive the whole time and I was able to snap at his wrist making him release his sword and I pinned him down sword at the neck.

"I give" he said hands up in surrender. I immediately backed away and a round applause began. I helped him stand and applied an iratze as customary. Even though he hadn't touched me he wanted to apply one as well. I grabbed the stele before it could touch my skin "No I'm fine back off okay"

He grabbed my wrist as I was leaving "Hey I'm sorry, good fight how we grab lunch loser pays" at first he looked me in the face but then his eyes trailed down to my shoulder and I saw the change from awe to something else. I snatched my wrist away "No I can get my own lunch." I snapped walking away.