Daniel POV
I woke up to the over-whelming smell of rotting garbage and spoilt food. Groaning groggily, I sat up realising my not-so-classy location. I laid behind a strong smelling dumpster in a narrow alleyway. Rats scattered quickly as I stood up, my head pounding as the memories of yesterday flashed in my mind. The strong aroma of meat wafted around me making my stomach grumble.
I stumbled into the busy life of New York, unsurprisingly fitting in with the dull, busy life of stiff office workers and focussed runners despite a few stares. A huge glowing sign that read 'Taki's Diner' lit up above me. Through it's foggy windows I could make out a bunch of gothic looking vampires scanning menus and a waitress, tall and slim collecting plates from a table. My eyes immediately caught the sight of the left over food scraps making my stomach growl even fiercer. Maybe she was going to dump it out. Maybe she would let me have them (it wouldn't be the first time I had to beg for scraps). I looked back at the waitress, wondering if she would be that kind when she sharply looked up. Her eyes were completely blue. No pupils or irises, just blue. I was suddenly snapped out of my ravenous trance. It was still very hard to accept the shadowhunter world.
Memories of the night before came flooding despite my growing headache and hunger.
The dark, cloudy sky hung over New York like an ebony blanket. Large, thick clouds loomed across the sky blocking any sign of stars or the moon. The tension in my body was overwhelming though. It was like this every time I changed. I could feel myself physically shake as sweat ran down my face like a waterfall. It was building up like water in my body. Then, like lightening, it struck. I got a quick glimpse of the glowing moon, shining behind cotton like-clouds before an unbelievable pain hit me.
It was like rising lava was spreading through my blood. It burned my veins like roaring fire and filled me up, making me bare the feeling of wanting to vomit heat. I withered on the floor, holding in my shouts of suffering. My heart raced rapidly and my vision blurred. I could feel my bones break and reform, the sickening 'snap' bouncing of the walls. My organs rumbled as the coursing fire circulated my insides and made me I howl, loud and sharp as my fur sprouted out of my skin like blunt needles.
I opened my eyes, taking in my heightened atmosphere. I felt stronger and lively despite my transformation. The moon was now clear, it's pale halo outlining silvers of the drifting clouds.
What was I going to do? Luke was somewhere in New York with Clary's mother. Mia wouldn't want to see me either and I already knew Bat would rip my head off I got any closer to him. I couldn't stay in my bedroom for the whole night.
I padded out quietly into the dim hall. I could hear silent snores from the halls on either side. The exit had to be somewhere but I didn't know the Institute that well. Slowly, I moved silently by the closed doors of the Institute, trying not to make a sound. I noticed that the walls were completely bare and neat. No pictures, designs or portraits. There were so many doors but not a lot of people to fill them. Weren't there Nephilim in New York?
Finally I came across one room with it's door half open. Faint moonlight shone through the gap like a light. I could tell by the smell of wild flowers and faint murmuring that it was Kali's room and the exit wasn't far. I wanted to head for the door, run wild and free in the night like I was suppose to but something didn't allow me. Curiously, I turned back to Kali's room, examining the slight opening of her door. For some unknown reason, I felt a need to check on her. I didn't know anything about her but she seemed to be scared all the time and I felt a unexplainable need to protect her.
The rest was fuzzy and distant but something had happened. All I could remember was glass, shattered glass everywhere but what had happened?
The air was cool and the mild breeze made my headache settle. I had to mentally plan a story for the guys back at the Institute. I didn't want them to think I had gone rogue. I grew closer to the Institute yet I grew uneasy at the thought of confronting them. As I turned around the next block, I heard distant voices. They sounded violent and nasty as if they taunted someone. Focusing closely on the conversation, I heard another one. It was stern but wavering as it defended itself with a dangerous, familiar undertone.
"Don't touch me," warned the stern female voice.
"Oh hon, trust me, I want to do more than that," replied another gruff voice.
"Behave Jonah, it'll only hurt her more if she's scared," someone else ordered gravely, rough as the second. "Now are you ready to comply sweet'art, or will I have to persuade you?"
The brave voice chuckled silently. "You really think you could persuade me? Listen, you don't want to mess with me and I sure as hell don't want to kill anyone today. You better get away from me before I hurt you... badly."
There was a silent pause. It sounded like the girl's threat had worked.
"You could have made it so easy," the harsh, dominate voice whispered. "Boys, grab 'er."
I bolted to the noise, my nose picking up the powerful scent of burnt sugar. The sounds of a struggle ensued as I got closer. I finally stopped at the back of an old factory. Broken bricks and sharp metal littered the dry grass and the smell of burnt sugar intensified.
"Ow! You bitch!" snarled the gruff voice. Running towards it, I came across two big looking men trying to grab a squirming body on the floor.
"Hey!" I shouted. The two men turned towards me, stunned, along with the body on the floor. It had pale skin and vibrant red hair. Clary.
"Daniel?" she gasped in surprise. "Duck." Rapidly, I dropped to the floor as she pulled out a small, sharp looking dagger and flung it in my direction. Seconds later, I heard shocked gurgling and a body hit the floor. Steadily, I turned to the corpse behind me. It was so still and weird-looking with it's dark bronze skin and pale eyes. Suddenly, it started to fold into itself, smaller and smaller till it disappeared. I had never seen something so scary in my life.
"Nice throw," I smiled turning back to Clary despite my thumping heart.
"Thanks," she breathed. The remaining men ran off in blinding speed.
"Aww, you're not going to stay?" I called smugly.
'We will find her and you, haha, you'll be mine to kill' echoed the laugh of the grouchy voice. It sounded all around in my head and sent bleak pressure down my spine.
Clary grunted in pain as she sat up. I rushed to her side as she struggled.
"You ok?" I asked.
"No, I feel... I...can't," she whispered before collapsing back to the ground motionless
What's happened to Clary?
Who were those guys?
Who is Daniel and what was his past?
Sorry chapter's bad, I've had a really hectic week and I'm getting used to my routine again which means less sleep and hard work. YAY!
New chapter coming up, hopefully before next Friday. Watch out for more soon ;P
P.S Meeting Tobias chapter 35 will be up before Thursday! And remember, comments keep me going