The response from the first chapter was really positive so here is the continuation. Just a warning: this story will skip PoV's frequently.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments.
Jace stood, letting the servants fuss over him and prepare him for the event later. Their constant buzz of excited chatter irritated him slightly, but he bore it for the sake of the gossip that he always heard around this time. Usually he wouldn't care, and forget it, but this time he paid attention at the mention of a specific name.
"...Lightwood will be leaving court soon." One of them said. The boy looked about thirteen, with dark brown hair. The maid he was talking to absently nodded, eye fixed on the line of stitches she was doing.
"I expect Miss Lightwood and Miss Fray will miss him sorely," she agreed. Jace began to pay attention to their conversation. Any knowledge about Clary Fray was an asset at court.
Everyone knew about the little red-haired girl, fifteen years old but short for her age, who had been accepted into the court when abandoned. No one knew why the King had agreed to it; he could be unyielding when he wanted to be. Jace had always suspected something suspicious surrounded the entire ordeal, but that was between Robert Lightwood and King Stephen and if anyone else knew, they weren't sharing.
"Will she though?" Mused a third servant, another dark-haired boy, slightly older than the first. "Can she, even? There's something off about that girl, more than her undefined status at court, though I'd wager she has as much right to call herself a Lady as a pig." Jace started to strain very hard to listen in, though he tried to appear like he wasn't. "She keeping a secret; mark my words. It's probably-"
"Enough chatter. It's annoying," snapped a cool voice. Jace breathed an exasperated sigh. Apparently he wasn't the only one who found idle chatter irritating.
Turning only his head, Jace gave an infuriated glance to the teenager sprawled in a plush chair to his right.
Jonathan Morgenstern grinned, eyes shining maliciously. They were an odd colour, one that sent shivers up Jace's spine. The dark, glossy green of poison ivy. His colourless hair was swept back in a way that seemed both careless and elegant, and his slim, tall figure was clad in a white dress shirt, with a black waistcoat over the top. Knee length black breeches came above white silk stockings, and his shoes had a silver buckle on each. One leg was lazily draped over the other. His long dextrous pianists fingers tapped a rhythm on his thigh, where a black mask shaped like the birds eye view of a raven in flight lay. The whole monochrome ensemble made his already pale skin almost deathly white. He caught Jace's glare with a smirk.
"Eavesdropping, are we? Honestly, I would have thought a Crown Prince wouldn't stop so low." Jace's only response was to narrow his eyes. Jonathan's posh way of talking annoyed him. The Morgensterns were visiting to try and kick-start a peace treaty that Alexander Lightwood could discuss with them when he went travelling to meet them. That was the entire reason the ball was being thrown, as a welcome, though only a select few knew that the Morgensterns were in the palace. They were meant to be introduced as the guests of honour once everyone had shown up.
That was the plan. Therefore, it probably wouldn't go down well if Jace murdered Jonathan before the treaty was set in stone. But it was tempting.
"Of course," the obnoxious idiot drawled. his fingers slowing their tapping. "One would wonder why that particular piece of gossip intrigued you, considering you looked just as bored as I earlier." His eyebrows rose and his lips curved into a mocking smile. "Perhaps you have... admiration for this 'Miss Fray'?" Jace's expression was stony. Jonathan shook his head, now smiling open-mouthed. He was clearly enjoying winding Jace up. "But you are engaged to my sister so..."
"Your sister is dead." Jace said thoughtlessly.
Jonathan's expression darkened. He stood up, face contorted and snarled "Lissa is not dead!"
In shock, Jace stepped back, breaking the small knot of servants hovering about him. They looked at him in alarm, but he waved them away and they left the room. He turned back to Jonathan but he had already composed himself. "Something you would do well to remember, Jonathan." He finished, spitting the words.
"My name is Jace." He snapped.
"Oh, I beg to differ." Jonathan had turned away but now he turned back. "Your parents named you Jonathan, that is the name on your birth certificate, and that is the name I will call you."
Jace's lips twisted. "I have as much right to be called Jace as your sister did - does" he corrected at Jonathan's heated look "of being called Lissa." He retorted hotly.
"Do not talk of my sister in that way!" Jonathan's hands were squeezed into fists, his jaw clenched in fury. All of a sudden, the anger seemed to drain out of him, replaced by sorrow. His hands unclenched as he fell back onto the chair, wiped his palm over his forehead. "She never did anything to you."
"She didn't have the chance." Jace replied softly. Jonathan's eyes were deep and mournful as he met Jace's butter-coloured gaze. The poison ivy colour of the Morgenstern's eyes didn't seem so menacing any more.
Then again poison ivy was only poisoned to prevent the world from tearing it off the tree trunk.
A loud knock sounded at the door. The look in Jonathan's eyes vanished, replaced by casual boredom. "Come in!" Jace called. The door swung open, revealing an unfamiliar boy - almost a man - of about Jace's age. He had dark curly hair, an oversize nose that somehow suited his features, and black eyes that somehow seemed full of warmth. He wore featureless travelling clothes. He seemed to have a sort of charisma that followed him and made everyone like him.
His eyes skimmed over Jace and rested on Jonathan. A wide smile broke out. "Jon!"
To Jace's astonishment, Jonathan smiled back. "Seb." He greeted warmly, standing up and clapping him on the shoulder. "You made it." When they broke apart, Jonathan noticed Jace's raised eyebrow. "This is my best friend, Sebastian Verlac. His father is a highly respected Duke." He turned to Sebastian. "This is Jona- Jace," He corrected, with a sideways glance and a curt nod, "Herondale."
Sebastian beamed at him. "It's nice to meet you!" He said cheerfully.
"Indeed." Jace murmured in response. But Sebastian had already turned back to Jonathan.
"Well then," Jonathan said, standing up. "As fun as this has been, I shall take Sebastian back to the guest chambers to get ready." He took his friend by the elbow, talking over his shoulder. "Jace, I believe you were assigned to be our personal tour guide for the duration of our stay-" He was twisting the words; Jace was pretty sure his father had simply said 'make friends and try not to kill each other', "-so I would appreciate it if in one hour when the ball is scheduled to start you turn up outside to guide us down." He grinned and gave Jace a mock salute. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Jace." The prince's voice dripped with false sweetness.
"And I you, Jon," replied Jace, mimicking his tone. Jonathan scowled. But when they were out of the door, Jace sighed.
The Morgenstern prince was confusing, to say the least. Violent mood swings, irrational anger, and fathomless thoughts. And he was supposed to tolerate him for a week?
Even so, he reckoned he could get through this ball. How much could happen?
A lot, Jace. A lot.
This will probably be the average length of the chapters from now on.
What did you think of Jace? Sebastian? Jonathan? I know he might be a bit confusing at this point, but it gets cleared up later.
Do you think Jonathan's a good or bad character? Sebastian?
Review!