Thanks for the hits and reviews. I hope this chapter isn't too complex or intense. I randomly decided to switch it up. Where one thing was supposed to happen, another took its place because a certain someone was wanting to talk. I really hope you like it.

Chapter 3

"I'm not entirely sure how washing up is going to help us find my brother," Jace said behind Clary's back. She couldn't just leave the place to rot while Magnus was...wherever he was. For all the takeouts she, Jace, Simon and Izzy - much to her distaste - had been consuming, they were running out of glasses and plates fast.

"Unless you plan on explaining to Magnus when he returns why his flat has turned into a scene from frat boy's after party, then you'll help me tidy up." She turned, her hands covered in suds and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Besides," Clary murmured into his chest as he pulled her closer. "It might help keep you distracted."
She felt his body vibrate with a hearty chuckle. He kissed the top of her head. "You're the only distraction I need," he said. She couldn't stop the broad smile across her face. Pulling away reluctantly, she pretended he hadn't made her gush, and faced the sink once again, sighing when she saw the half stack of crockery that needed washing. A second later, she was all too aware of Jace's closeness and his hard body pressed up against her back. His hands wove themselves around her arms and his lips touched the side of her neck, causing her to momentarily forget what she was supposed to be doing. "I don't see why Magnus doesn't just buy a washing machine," he said against her skin. A rough shiver coursed through her and she closed her eyes against his touch.
She had to shake her head to come back to reality. "He doesn't need one," she said. "He's a warlock, remember. He has magic fingers."
Jace snorted and Clary rolled her eyes, knowing full well he was trying to hold back a snarky remark. Hands poked her bottom and she jumped, squealing and splashing water all over her clean tee. She gave up on the sink and spun, ready to fight back but quickly realised they weren't alone. Simon stood in the doorway, fists stuffed in his pockets. His head down, probably hiding how embarrassed he was. She knew how awkward he got over the smallest of situations; being a vampire hadn't stopped that part of him, at least. Even if it had prevented the red rising in his now pale cheeks. She supposed the lack of a beating heart would have something to do with that. Clary sighed.
"Hey, Simon," she said, wiping her hands on her already wet tee and going across to hug him. He smelt of rain and sweet bodyspray - most likely Isabelle's.
"Clary," he said. "Any luck?"
She grinned. "At what? Washing up?" She glanced back and saw Jace staring at foam on his hand like it was new found treasure. "Not really," she said through a laugh.
There was a faint smile on his lips and she missed it. Since his fall outs with Isabelle, he'd been up and down with his moods. And more so since Clary had been back from her fail of a birthday weekend three days ago.
Clary's cell rang from the front room where she'd left it. She hurried to answer but was beaten to it by Isabelle who had her hair wrapped in a towel turban, the phone pressed to her ear and her eyes as wide as orbs. She had been more panicked than Jace was, but Clary supposed that was because Jace liked to deal with things internally and or by killing demons. Clary held her hand out, waiting for Izzy to pass the cell.
"And?" Isabelle was saying. "What? I swear to the angel that he didn't tell me," Her voice was rising by an octave, lips in a constant shape of worry. "No, he didn't," Her eyes met Clary's and she sighed. "Gotta go." She passed it over. "Here." she said to Clary, who glared and put the phone to her ear and a second later cursed.
"IZ! They hung up!"
Isabelle smirked, so much like her brother. "Well then, you shouldn't have interrupted."
"It was my cell phone," snapped Clary. Isabelle shrugged. Groaning, Clary searched for who called. Maryse. Why would Maryse call her? "It was your mother,"
"Well, yeah."
Impatience was getting the better of her; Clary kept from snapping again. "Then what did she say? What did she want?"
She waited for Isabelle to stop checking her nails and answer her. A long minute later, she was granted her wish. "Oh, she didn't say."
Before Clary could scream, Jace ran toward her and wrapped her into a hug. He stroked the back of her head and cooed comforting words. Her heart would not stop pacing like a wild rabbit and she couldn't cope with all this stress.
"Iz, don't be awkward," Jace said, reprimanding his sister. Clary heard her sniff theatrically. "We're all worried about Alec,"

"And Magnus," chirped Simon.

"- but we have to think rationally." finished Jace, sounding put out that he was interrupted.

Clary straightened, letting go of Jace and fixing him with a dubious stare. "You? Rational?" She snorted and poked him in the stomach playfully. "When have you ever thought anything through first?"

He looked back at her, dumbstruck for anything to say. "Well...I..."

She grinned. "Yeah, thought so." Her cell rang again and she grabbed it in a flash. "Hello?"

"Clarissa," drawled an eerily familiar voice. Chills ran over her skin. She turned away so the others didn't see her bite her lip, her eyes flicker with nerves.

"Sebastian," she muttered and Jace's arm weaved around her waist, pulling her close to him protectively. "What do you want?"

She heard his cruel laughter. "Aren't you wondering how I got your number?"

"Answer the question," she said between gritted teeth. "Before I hang up,"

"Oh, you spoil everything," he replied. Condescending asshole, she thought with disgust. A long few seconds went by and she set her thumb on the cancel call button. "Fine," he sighed. "I don't suppose you've considered my offer?"

Pain spiked in her head, forcing her to bent at the waist, one hand flying to press against her temple. His offer, as he so plainly called it, had been one of pure cheek. Sebastian had confronted Clary after a fight several months ago, where he had escaped without so much as a scratch, and offered her an alliance. One that would require her to help him with something, and vice versa. She had been grateful that until this moment, he had yet to ask for a favour. "I don't remember agreeing to anything," she said.

"Oh, I remember our particular meeting differently. Meet me at the back of Pandemonium tomorrow night at seven,"

Clary opened her mouth to protest but before she could, he hung up. She lifted the phone away from her ear and stared at it, gobsmacked.

Jace's jaw was set sharp, his entire body taut tight with tension. "What did that son of a bitch want?"

"Careful," she warned, aware that he was getting himself worked up. Simon and Isabelle had gone elsewhere and she was glad. She didn't think she had the energy to calm everyone down. "He wants to see me."

"No way," he said.

Clary didn't want to argue. It wasn't like she wanted to see her sick and twisted brother anymore than Jace wanted her to. But she knew from experience that Sebastian - aka Jonathan - always got what he wanted. And she got the feeling he wanted her. She shivered.

"I'm going to Luke's for a bit," she said. She grabbed her jacket. His expression said he didn't want her to go, that he wanted to discuss this some more, but what Clary really needed was time to think. She opened the front door and glanced over her shoulder at him. He had a tortured look in his eyes again; almost like he might be losing her. But he wasn't; she'd never leave him. He just had to accept that he couldn't fix everything. "See you later," she half whispered before leaving the flat.

The door to Luke's flat was unlocked. This was surprising, but she deduced that he must be expecting someone. Or maybe just her.

The door clicked closed behind her and a female voice called from the living room, "Clary, is that you?"

"Just me, mom," she called back, less enthusiastically. It was nice to be somewhere she didn't have to put on a pretense. Her mother knew her too well for her to hide anything; something which she was both supremely glad and irritated by. It made conversations tough to hide from, but also her mom was supremely good at avoiding certain topics. Namely when it came to Jace and her growing relationship. Clary had been bombarded with questions about her trip away.

Darting a quick look in the direction from which her mother had called from, Clary went the other way, to her semi-permanant bedroom.

She dumped her bag on the five foot bed and felt the sheets; memories flashed in her mind from last year; when her mother had gone on her honeymoon, so long after her actual wedding. Her and Luke had left the place to Clary, and Jace would come around and they'd have fun time. She smiled; remembering. How she wished things were still like that. She sat down on the end of her bed and bent over, head in her hands. What was she going to do about Sebastian's request? She couldn't ignore him; he'd just find a way into her life whether she wanted it or not. They'd all thought he'd left. He had made a deal. They stayed away from him and his pathetic excuse for an army, and he wouldn't kill us. Well, that's what it had sounded like. To be honest, she'd just been glad to be alive and rid of him.

Now he was collecting that offer and she was frightened; at what he would ask and what it would cost her.

"Miss me?" said a deep, sadistic voice from a few feet away. She grimaced into her hands and dared a peak. Sebastian stood against the window to her room, dressed in a fitting white button down shirt open at the collar, snug and muscle defining; tight black jeans; his golden blond hair as rumpled as the moment he probably woke up. Despite how attractive he was, the constant curl of his lip, like he was eyeing you up and down with wanting, and the fact he was her brother, made her feel sick to the core. The memories of how he played her on their first ever meeting still played in her mind like a never ending reel of torture. Sebastian stalked toward her, eyes like a hawk, predatory. He raised an arm and brushed icy fingers over her shoulder, lifting her head and she flinched away from his touch; somehow, he didn't seem to care or even mind her disgust. He seemed to get off on it.

"You haven't changed a bit," he purred. Strands of his hair fell into his eye and he brushed it aside without so much as moving his gaze off her. Clary felt a bone deep chill and she wanted to run; but she couldn't. She was literally rooted to the spot. When his hands came to touch a necklace around her neck; a silver heart with a fearless rune etched into it like a promise, her veins turned to ice over. But yet, despite this, she couldn't deny her brother, whom she barely knew other than to be cruel and charming when he wanted to be, made her feel important. Jace had this effect, also, but in a less...heart-stopping devil may care manner.

She knew this was silly and she shouldn't feel anything but pure hatred. But knowing and doing were very different things.

Clary cleared her throat, but her words still came out hoarse. "What are you doing?"

Sebastian - Jonathan - smiled. Alarms went off in her head and she stared at the closed door, praying someone would hear that silent alarm and barge in the room, saving her from the terror she felt. "Come now, that's no way to welcome your own family,"

"You're not my family." she spat, tasting spittle on her lips. He frowned; the lines between his eyes becoming more prominent.

He dropped his hand that had been hovering just over her breast area a tad too long in her opinion and she felt the tension leave her. The smirk that spread his lips was terrifying. His eyes were black as coal. "Now, that's better," he said.

"What do you want?" she said between her teeth. She watched him shrug once and turn away, walking around the room like he owned it.

"You already know that answer, dear sis. I've come to collect."

"But-" Her heart thumped rapidly against her chest, threatening to escape. "I didn't ask for a favour."

He faced her, eyes shining in the reflected moonlight. "Did you not? I recall you asking- No," he chuckled darkly. "begging me to leave you alone. Was that not your request?"

Clary blinked once, momentarily lost on what he was talking about. "Yes, but-"

"And so I have returned, naturally, to collect my debt. Since I did leave you and your shadowhunter friends alone. Safely, might I add," he said, then sat down on her bed, bouncing the springs happily. "No need to thank me."

Fury burned through her veins. "How dare you!" His head shot up and his eyes narrowed on her. She couldn't stay still any longer. She paced the width of her room, Sebastian always keeping track like a tiger and his prey. "You come in here and demand something that isn't even your right,"

He was in front of her in a second before she catch her breath. His cold fingers reached up to her neck and she was frozen once again, unable to move a muscle.

His voice was low, threatening. "You dare talk to me like I'm a liar," he said. He curled a lock of her red hair around his forefinger and studied it wistfully, his features softening slightly. "I only wish for us to be closer," he added after a long pause.

She couldn't respond until the moment his touch left hers and her chest rose and fell so fast she pressed a hand to where her heart was, attempting to hold it back.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Perhaps I came across too strong." For the smallest second, Clary thought he looked sad, remorse for his actions. Then his lips pulled back, showing perfectly white teeth and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer until his lips were on hers, kissing her greedily like he had every right to her body, her passion. She tried to struggle against his stronghold but the most she managed was to bite his bottom lip until she tasted sickening blood - like tar on a hot day - demon blood. He cursed, pulling away and slapped her across her face. She felt heat spread across her cheek. She touched the spot and felt something wet. Her fingers came away bloody. He licked his lips and smiled, his once white teeth now stained black. "You fight like a Morgenstern. You'd do well to not antagonise me."

He disappeared with a twist of the ring on his left thumb. Clary knew it wasn't over; he'd be back for his debt soon enough. She'd merely pissed him off; somehow she'd gotten off lightly this time.

A/N: Don't we just love how bad Sebastian is? I don't know what it is about him that makes me want to hit him and have my wicked way with him at the same time. I suppose that would be called sadism. LOL

Please remember this story isn't 100% canon. I have it set a year or more after everything in City of Lost Souls - assuming everything goes back to normal - and that Sebby doesn't die (that's just my preference because yes he's evil but damn he's interesting to read about)

Please review. :)