**Warning 2 stars indicate a description of events some people may find too graphic.
The sun inevitably rose, illuminating the small room and the two teenagers that lay curled together against the headboard.
"What do you want to tell them?"
Jace's heart rate spiked for a moment at the sudden sound of her voice. He glanced down at her, thinking about his answer.
Taking a deep breath he replied, "We tell them the truth."
"But do you think they'll believe us?" Clary said doubtfully.
He shrugged, "I really don't know."
Clary sighed and wriggled even closer to him. She had spent a good part of the night checking him for wounds then drawing an iratze rune just in case. Paranoia was getting the best of her but after what they went through last night it was unavoidable .Re-telling the nightmare was going to be even harder.
But she had Jace. And he had her.
The door suddenly burst open. Jocelyn came storming through, looking like a woman on a mission.
"I am not even going to comment on Jace still being here. But you both need to be downstairs in 10 minutes. Maryse and Robert are coming for breakfast instead" and with that she turned and left the room.
Clary rolled her eyes and exchanged a glace with Jace who huffed in annoyance. They both would have preferred to just stay where they were.
"Alright. Let's get this over with" Jace murmured.
She shook her head defiantly. When he didn't make any move to get up she relaxed; thinking he'd given up. But then his callused fingers were dancing across her rib cage making her squeal.
"Ahh! No! Jace! Uncle, Uncle!" she pleaded through breathless laughter.
His deep arrogant chuckle sounded in her ear as he continued to tickle her mercilessly. She flailed around in his hold, trying to escape. After much begging and pleading he finally released her. She jumped up and away from him.
Jace watched with male amusement as she stood on the far side of the room with her hands on her hips, scowling at him. He snickered and her scowl deepened. He linked his fingers behind his head and waited for her to give in. He didn't have to wait long.
"Alright, I give up. Let's go or my mother will come back up here and drag us down there by the ear" Clary informed him bluntly.
He laughed and leapt up off the bed. In a very un-Jace like move he opened the door for her, indicating she should go first. Cautiously Clary moved past him and toward the door, only to be snagged around the waist and pulled back for a cheeky kiss on the cheek.
The boyish mischief in his eyes made her smile as they left the room and descended the stairs, walking towards the sound of their parents' voices. A sense of Déjà vu came over her as they walked into a kitchen full of curious, judgemental and animated eyes.
"Sit" Maryse demanded instantly and they both sat, linking hands under the table.
Robert calmly took over the situation before his wife could over react, "Now why don't you start off by telling us what happened last night?"
Clary glanced at Jace silently asking if she should tell the story. He nodded briefly so she proceeded.
"It started as soon as I went to sleep...
"Well sis what a nice surprise. Thought I might find you here. Father would be so proud" a voice sneered from behind her.
She knew that voice. Vile, rough and evil.
"Jonathan" she acknowledged softly, turning to face her brother.
She glared at the smug amused smile on him face.
"Oh, are you not happy to see me dear sister?" he asked sarcastically.
"What do you want?" she asked boldly.
"I want a lot of things Clarissa but most of all I want you. However there is a pesky little blond child in my way" he frowned before grinning wickedly and clicking his fingers.
Jace stood in her brother's hold now. One hand grasped his blond locks the other wrapped around his neck.
"You see children, there are thing about me you are yet to learn, most you probably never will; well except one. As I am the only 'demon-child', no-one knows the ability one would have. Now as I hinted you will be lucky enough to witness one of those abilities tonight but that is going to have to wait. Because I am so nice I am going to give you a chance to surrender" he told us with false cheerfulness.
Clary stared at Jace trying to tell him to say no. Jace closed and open his eyes slowly, showing he understood.
"Well 'angel-child' yes or no?" Jonathan asked impatiently.
"No" Jace said firmly.
Then there was pain, pain so intense she cried out begging him to make it stop. It gripped her head, lungs and heart in a harsh grip. She felt like she was being turned inside out and compacted.
She vaguely heard Jace begging, "Leave her. Not her. Not Clary."
Gradually the grip on each part of her body began to loosen. She gulped air into her starved lungs. Her pulse was loud in her ears, pounding insistently like a base drum. All of a sudden her head was unwillingly jerked up to look at her brother.
"You're going to want to see this, sister" Jonathan cackled.
He abruptly released Jace's hair and splayed his fingers wide. Clary gasped in horror as it became coated in black and green flames.
"Pretty neat huh?" the boy once thought to be Sebastian asked rhetorically like it was a party trick, "but watch this."
** Jonathan swiftly drove is fingers up into the front of Jace's rib cage. An almighty scream of agonizing pain ripped from Jace's lungs as the sickening sound of burning flesh filled the air. She tried to run to him but she couldn't move. Clary watched helplessly as he plunged the flaming fingers deeper into Jace's tanned skin. **
"Jace. No. Please!"
She shouted out his name again and again until her throat was sore and she could no long make a sound.
** Then her brother let Jace go. She ceased her bawling believing the torture to be over only to watch him withdraw his fingers and plunge them into her boyfriends back making it arch sharply. More anguished howls filled the air. **
Clary's knees buckled and she fell to the ground. Then he really did stop. Jace's screams silenced and when she looked up only her unknown brother stood there. With deliberate slowness he closed his hand into a fist and the grip on her organs began to appear once more.
A pleased smile appeared on his face, "We will be seeing each other again soon, sister."
...and then Jace woke me up" she finished.
Her voice was barely audibly by the time she was finished. She had also moved closer to Jace and was now tucked into his side as he wiped away the salty trails of water that ran down her face. Looks of horror, disgusted amazement and grief masked each adults face.
Silently Jace and Clary stood, retreating up the stairs to the dusty old room where they latched onto each other awaiting patiently for the adults' verdict of the situation.