Guys, sorry that I haven't been able to update recently! I've been completly swamped with choir stuff. Here's the next chapter that I had time to squeeze in, though.

Chapter Three

Flashbacks invaded my sleep. I saw my father and Jonathan, memories about days in the dark, dingy cellar. Finally, I had enough, I screamed.

I woke up in a sterile white bed. I later found out that I was in the infirmary. There was perspiration on my back and stomach, and I was breathing rather heavily. There were three people around my bed, all wearing worried faces, including the golden boy. They all looked tired, and they were wearing their nightclothes. I sat up.

Many thoughts ran through my mind. Had they found out? They couldn't have, nobody knew what Valentine's daughter looked like, only that he had one.

Isabelle was the first to speak, "Why were you screaming? Are you alright?"

In my mind, I panicked a little. "Just flashbacks. And yeah I'm okay," I replied, with my hand running through my hair nervously.

She visibly relaxed. "Okay. We were all a little nervous, we didn't know what had happened to you. It's great to see you're okay."

I smiled a little. Then, I remembered why I was here in the first place. "What happened, and what time is it?" I asked, dreading the reply.

Alec spoke this time. "Well after you uh- passed out, Jace carried you to the infirmary and you have been here ever since. It's about two in the morning. We all heard your scream and woke up, wanting to see if everything was alright."

"Did I wake anyone else up?" I asked.

"Not that I know of. We all have the closest bedrooms to here because Max sleeps in the room next to our parents, who are farther away." Alec said.

Jace frowned. "You gave us quite a scare Jessica. What really happened?"

I came up with an excuse rather quickly. "You just reminded me of someone that I don't want to see again."

He stood there a moment, and I could tell that he didn't believe my answer. Suddenly, Isabelle broke the uncomfortable silence. "Well, I'm gonna go to bed, because I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."

Alec nodded, and let out a small yawn. "Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow Jessie." Both him and Isabelle started for the door, but then Alec turned around. "You coming Jace?"

Jace nodded. "I'll be out in a minute." He sat down on the foot of the bed, and but a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're alright?"

I nodded. "I'm fine."

He let out a sigh. "Okay, it was just worrying me. I mean, I wasn't sure if you were scared, or something like that."

I laughed, hoping that he wouldn't be able to sense the nervousness in my voice. "Yes, I'm fine."

Surprisingly, he hugged me. "You know if you ever want to talk about it, your secret's safe with me."

Sure. Wait until you know what it is. "Okay." Why the heck did you just say that?

He smiled a real, genuine smile. At that moment, I could really tell how angelic he actually was. Maybe it was the little extra angel blood that my father injected into him. My hands itched to have a pencil and paper, so I could draw the boy in front of me. As much as I hated to admit it, he was beautiful.

I mentally slapped myself. This boy thinks that you killed his freaking father! You shouldn't be having thoughts like that!

He waited a minute, and then placed a hand on the top of his head. "When I was born, my dad knew I was different. My mother died in childbirth. He found out that II was injected with angel blood by Valentine Morgenstern."

I cringed at that name. Valentine Morgenstern. Boy, did I hate that name. He paused before going on. "My mother and father decided it best that I train with him and his son, Jonathan, who was injected with angel blood. He had a daughter, Clarissa, but I didn't see her much." He frowned when he mentioned my name.

Aw,damn. "Anyways, Valentine was always rough on me, and when I was eight, he started whipping me."

I gasped. Not him, too. Surely my father wouldn't hurt someone who wasn't his own child! However, this is my father that we're talking about. He did kill an innocent man. "Well, eventually, my father found out. He and I fled the country of Idris and hid for a while, but then his son found us and brought my dad to the Morgenstern Manor. I escaped and told the Clave what had happened, and they invaded the Manor. There was nobody there, except her."

He said her with a certain disgust in his voice, and I wanted to tell him, wanted him to know. However, then I wouldn't be able to tell the truth. All I would be able to say is guilty, all over again. It was best if I kept quiet. "Clarissa Morgenstern. There's never a day that I forget that name, and when I see a redhead on the street, I am prepared to kill them. You see, this little innocent looking ten year old killed my father. I vowed to kill her. I still think about it today. You'll see, one day I will. She fled Idris with that traitor, Lucian Greymark." He stared at the ground, lost in thought.

How could he say such things? How could you suggest so much evil on someone who wasn't even allowed to use a Seraph Blade? Well, if someone was accused to murdering Luke, I would want to kill them too.

I still needed to stick up for myself a little though. So, in my softest voice, I said, "Maybe she had a reason."

He looked up at me sharply, a kind of fury in his eyes. "Why would you say that? She killed my father, Jessie. She killed him!" Even though he probably didn't mean it, he brought his hand out, like he was ready to punch something.

On pure reflex, I flinched and cowarded. He immediately looked me in the eyes. His gaze rested on his arm for a moment, and quickly lowered it. His eyes softened before pulling me into another hug. "Oh my god, Jessie. I'm sorry. I just don't get what you mean."

"Well, think about it. There are many reasons why that could've happened. Maybe she was forced to. Maybe she didn't really kill him at all, and she was framed."

He ponders this for a moment. "Well, at her trial she said that she killed her father and brother, too. She's not innocent. And when I find her, I will kill her, no matter what it takes. I want to avenge my father.

I inwardly sighed. There was no way that he was going to change his mind. I was certain that my death would be to his hands. "Okay. Thank you for telling me that. It means a lot to me. "

He grinned. "I just feel like I can trust you, you know?"

I nodded. "I feel the same about you. Hey, do you know when I'll be able to go back to my room?" I asked.

He nodded. "Since you're up, I can take you back up to your room. Follow me."

He led me down twisting hallways and eerie corridors. Eventually, though, we got to a hallway that I recognized as the bedrooms.

He pointed toward one against the right side of the hall. "That's my room. If you have any questions, just ask me or Izzy. You're right here."

He led me to a room right next to his. Inside were a full sized bed with clean, white sheets. Next to it was a end table with a plain lamp on it. On the other side was a dresser and a door, presumably leading me to the bathroom. "This is your room. It's plain right now, but tomorrow Izzy's gonna take you shopping for clothes and some decor."

I groaned at the thought of shopping. I absolutely hated it. On the other hand, it probably would be good for me to get some new stuff. "Okay. Thank you for everything you've done."

He smiled. "Don't sweat it. Now, go to bed. You're gonna have lot's of fun shopping tomorrow!" he said with sarcasm in his voice before disappearing into his room.

After that, I climbed into bed. No more nightmares came that night.

I will try to update faster in the future, but I don't know how long it will be until the next. Bare with me! I will try to post it in unfer a week.

-Josie