Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Mortal Instruments, just love the series
Italics are character thoughts
I went through and edited the last two chapters a bit to correct some spelling/grammar mistakes. I'll try to do better about that in the future but I tend to catch mistakes better after a few days. Sorry if this isn't that great but I'd rather put something not great out than nothing since I'm prone to not continuing stories.
Izzy was back at the stove stirring her stew and scowling at it. Another failed attempt at dinner… Throwing the spoon in disgust she turns and looks at Alec at the table, "Takeout from Taki's?" she asks. Before Alec could reply Jace walked through the doorway looking destroyed. "Are you okay" Alec questions, rising from the table and walking to his adopted brother. Jace wearily raises his head and mumbles "Clary broke up with me." Disbelief colors Alec and Izzy's faces. "What?!"
Meanwhile Clary is wondering the hallways of the Institute, having already cleaned herself up. She wants desperately to go somewhere… anywhere to try and quiet her raging thoughts but the thought of walking the streets alone fills her with a fear that simply adds to her level of disgust she feels for herself. She can not call or go to her parents (Jocelyn and her step-dad Luke) and Simon knows her too well for him not to tell something is wrong. Izzy would just keep asking questions until she breaks and Alec… well she thinks she may be able to talk to Alec she knows he would feel obligated to tell Jace whatever she says and while she trusts him to keep his mouth shut if asked she doesn't want to put him in such a difficult situation. Shaking herself she begins to walk to the weapons room. I can not let fear control me. I am a shadow hunter damn it. I will go for a walk and I will go armed and prepared. If anyone decides to cross my path with ill intentions they'll regret it. Having reached the weapons room she proceeds to load her body with daggers and a short sword that she throws across her back in a sheathe. Making sure that she is covered with the standard runes for strength, endurance, speed and one for soundlessness. After hesitating for a moment she adds a fearless rune and almost instantly she stance straightens and she is no longer afraid. Why didn't I think of this earlier? I still feel disgusted and worthless but I'm not afraid. Why should I fear a freaking mundane? No one should have to fear him ever again. I'm going to find him and I am going to kill him. Filth like him doesn't deserve to walk the Earth. Turning back to the wall of weapons she grabs a small crossbow as well and, turning on her heels sharply, stalks off down the hallway. Silent thanks to her runes she briskly walks past the kitchen and out of the Institute.
A few minutes prior-
Izzy crossed the kitchen and slapped Jace across the face. He raises his head and looks at her in shock while Alec asks "What the hell was that for?" "Jace you need to snap out of it. This isn't you. Clary loves you and something is obviously wrong . Now instead of wallowing in self pity, how about we figure out what is going on." Pulling him in for a quick hug, Izzy then steps back all the while holding on to Jace's shoulders. "We are going to figure this out, okay." Jace gives himself a mental shake and returns her look. "You are absolutely right. We'll figure out what is going on and fix it, I mean come on. How could anyone let a winner such as myself go?" Encouraged to see a bit of Jace's cocky attitude return the siblings looked at each other in relief. Looking back, Izzy just barely catches a glimpse of red hairs before it disappears down the hallway. Poking her head out of the doorway and pulling it back in she turns to her brothers. "Maybe we should figure out where little miss red is going completely decked out in weapons by herself hmm. Shhh… no need to spook her, let's follow her and see where she's going. I'm already armed so hurry up and let's go!" The trio quickly etches runes for speed and stealth before grabbing their normal weapons and taking off after Clary. She has already managed to get a street ahead of them and the trio follows quickly behind. Under the influence of her fearless rune, Clary doesn't bother looking behind her and stalks quickly down the streets.
Whispering, "What the hell is going on? This isn't like her, we're heading for a pretty bad part of town and she looks like an avenging angel!" "I don't know Alec, but I plan on finding out," mutters Jace with a newfound sense of resolve to his voice. "I don't like this though, not one bit."
Up ahead a small demon leaps out of an alleyway as Clary pauses at its entrance. Before the trio can react, Clary has skewered it with her seraph sword and moved on. In shock the three share a brief glance before taking off once again after the red head. "You might want to call Simon," whispers Jace to Izzy.