Chapter Four

Clary was in the back of the bookstore sorting through books. She had been helping out at the store everyday after school. She had only been to the a few times hospital to see her mother since the accident. Luke had told her it was not good for her to see her mother in the state she was in. He always gave her updates everyday. Luke was a good father to Clary even though he wasn't her biological one. He loved her like his own daughter.

Today seemed like an ordinary day for Clary. She went to school, helping out at the bookstore. Clary asked Simon to help her to sort out all the books. As they were going through the boxes Simon noticed a box sitting on one of the shelf. He went to investigate.

"Clary what's this?" he said holding the box out to her.

"I don't know. I have never seen that before." She said taking the box. Clary examined the box carefully. It looked very old. The metal was tarnished almost to a blackish green color. The corners were covered with what appeared to be leather. Clary rubbed her hand over the top of the box. It was carved with a symbol that look a star and a moon. She wondered what could be in the box. As Clary held the box it felt cold like something dark was being kept inside. It made her shiver.

"Clary, are you OK?" Simon asked placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Yea, I'm fine." She answered putting the box aside.

They finished sorting out the books until eight that night. Clary and Simon left the bookstore together. Clary held the box tightly in her arms. After they got home and finished dinner, Clary sat on the bed next to Simon who was fast a sleep. The box they found sat in her lap. Clary flipped the box over in her hands before opening the box. Inside was a journal, a photo, a newspaper clipping and a pair of baby shoes. Clary took out the journal. She flipped through it. She started to read page that caught her eye.

Saturday, June 10

I have noticed the boys have fighting a lot lately. Their behavior seems out of control. They continuously hit each other with toys and their hands. I have tried to tell Valentine about it but he keeps telling me not to worry. He would just tell me they were just boys and I shouldn't stress my self out especially not in my condition. I didn't know what to do I was afraid that they were going to seriously hurt each other.

Clary continued reading the journal entry. Tears started to run down her cheeks. It was disturbing to hear her mother talk about her brothers this way. Why would her mother think something was wrong with Sebastian? Scared to finish out more she quickly put the journal back in the box then closed it. She set the box on the floor then curled up next to Simon.

Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Max stood at the library door with books and backpacks. A note was placed on the door that read "Lessons canceled for the next two week. Please see table for assignments." On the table were four folders. Isabelle walked over to investigate.

"Canceled? You mean no classes for week." Alec said turned to grin at Jace.

"Are thinking what I'm thinking?" Jace grinned back.

"If your thinking what thinking."

"Halo 3!" Both boys said together as they high five each other.

"Cool it you two. Do you honestly think Hodge is going to let us off that easy?" Isabelle said standing near the table. "Look." she held out the folders handing one to each of them.

Jace open the folder to find several assignments and take home quizzes. He curled his lip at the amount of work he had to do. "Your kidding right."

"No, apparently not. Look we have to do a 500 word essay on the segregation. Then another 500 word essay on the process of photosynthesis." Alec said.

"What's photosynthesis?" Max asked curiously.

"Is the process of how plants process energy from sunlight." Jace answered.

"Hey how come Max's folder isn't quite so thick?" Alec noticed that his little brother's folder was so much thinner.

"Duh Alec, his only nine." Isabelle said in a smart mouth.

"Yea but he'll be done before we will." Alec said shaking his head. "Man, it will take us forever just to finish all this."

"More like eternity" replied Jace.

"God, you two make a big deal out of everything." Isabelle rolled her eyes then stomped off toward her room.

"You two make a big deal out of everything." Jace mocked. "Can we locked her up in room until she 30?"

"I don't think mom would approve of that but it sounds good." Alec chuckled.

Jace and Alec walked back to their rooms to put their stuff away. Max followed closely behind. When Jace got to his room he threw his backpack on the floor then flopped on the bed. He thought about Clary. She seemed to be on his mind a lot lately. Jace closed his eyes and pictured her in his mind. As her image came in his head, his phone began to ring.

"Hello." he answered.

"Hello," the voice replied, "is these Jace."

"Yes, who this" Jace said.

"Clary."

"Hey Clary, I was wondering when you were going to call. What's up?" he replied happily t hear her voice.

"I was calling to see if you wanted to hang out later."

"Sure."

"OK, meet at central park at 4." she said.

"I'll see you there." said Jace.

Clary sat in the park waiting for Jace to show up. While she waited she thought about the past few days. Her mother was in the hospital, finding the box in the storage room of the bookstore, meeting Jace it seemed to have happened so quickly. Something was still bugging Clary as if there was a secret that was being held from her. She had looked at the family picture in the box many times. It didn't make sense to her at all she looked nothing like her father Valentine, but more like her mother. Clary tried to put it all together but couldn't. Just then she heard a voice.

"Hey Clary." the voice said.

"Jace, hi."

"So what do you want to do?" Jace asked.

"I don't know." She replied. "I thought we could just talk."

"OK, what do you want to talk about?"

"I ...well.." She began, "I thought we could maybe get to know each other."

"Uh, sure." Jace said with a half smile.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yea."

"If you suspected that something was being kept from you what would you do?"

"I don't understand the question."

"You know like a secret." She verified.

"I don't know why do you ask?"

"I'm not sure. It's nothing. I'm sorry."

"It's OK," he said "hey want to go get a smoothie?"

"Yea, I love too." Clary smiled.

A black sedan sat on the side of the street. Two men were in the car watching Jace and Clary. The men looked like each other. Both had the same blonde hair, blues eyes and same facial features. As they watched Clary walk down the the street with Jace. They wondered if they could trust this kid or not.

"That's diffidently not Simon Lewis she's walking with." The man in passenger seat said.

"You think," the other man said, "Jonathan, I swear you so stupid."

"Well I only meant she's usually with Simon. I was just wondering why our sister is walking with this guy."

"Maybe he's her new boyfriend." Sebastian laughed.

"I thought Simon was her boyfriend."

"Please that boy couldn't get a girl to date him even if were the last man on earth." Sebastian said sarcastically.

The two men continued to watch Clary and Jace a little while longer. Taking in any unusual behavior about the golden blonde hair boy. He seemed trustworthy but Jonathan and Sebastian weren't going to take any chances. They were very cautious about who hung around there sister. Both were trained how to lookout for suspicious behavior. It was part of the secret society they belonged to.

"Do you think we can trust him?" Jonathan asked his brother.

"Only one way to find out." Sebastian replied as he put the car in gear following Jace after he walked Clary back to Simon's house.

When Clary entered the apartment Simon was sitting on the couch playing his favorite video game. He didn't notice she had entered the apartment. Clary shook her head as she walked towards the bedroom. She didn't understand why video games were more important than anything else. Clary set her messenger bag on the floor then sat on the edge of the bed. Simon soon entered the room.

"Are you OK, Clary?" He asked sitting next to her.

"Yea, I'm fine."

"You sure because you've been acting weird lately."

"I'm sorry. I guess with my mother in hospital and finding that box in storage area the other day I've been in my own world. Luke's not helping either." She said.

Simon rubbed Clary's back. "I don't blame him really. I mean his wife's in the hospital and he's under a lot of stress. I sure you Clary things will get better."

"I hope so Simon." Clary leaned on Simon's shoulder.

Simon laid his head on Clary's. He wished he could tell her how he felt, but he knew that now wasn't the time or place to tell her. He held Clary in his arms until she fell asleep. Like a gentlemen he laid her on the bed putting her feet up then taking off her shoes. Simon covered Clary with the blanket then left the room.