Chapter 14

Luke paced the across the floor in front of the fireplace while Robert sat at the desk talking to Maryse. Isabelle sat in the sill pouting. The library doors suddenly flew open. Everyone in the room jumped looking towards the doors. Alec, Jace and Clary filed in. Luke had stopped pacing the moment he saw her. He was relieved she was all right.

"Clary, thank god." Luke said embracing her. "I'm glad your safe."

"I'm okay Luke really." Clary looked up in his eyes.

Luke smiled. In his heart he knew Clary was just as brave as her mother. She reminded him f her everyday. Luke looked at Jace and Alec. "Thank you boys."

"Your welcome, Luke." Alec nodded.

Clary looked around the room. She saw Robert Lightwood standing by a large desk. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't place it. She could see he was a kind man. He didn't look much like a chief dressed in jeans and a white linen shirt, which was unbuttoned at the top. His dark hair hung down his forehead.

"Clary" Robert said looking at her.

"Mr. Lightwood." She beamed.

"You don't remember me do you?"

Clary shook her head.

"I'm not surprised. You were just baby when I first saw you. I remember that day. Your father Valentine was very proud."

"He was?"

"Yes." Robert replied as he stepped behind the desk and sat down in oversized chair. "He was good man, Clary one of my best friends."

"I don't know very much about him." She turned to Luke who was standing next to her. "I wish I knew more about him."

"I know." Luke said.

Clary sat down in one of the chairs next to the fireplace. She set her bag down next to her then back in the chair watching the flames. Jace walked over to her kneeling on the floor next to her.

"You know Clary I never knew very much about my father either." He said grasping her hand.

Clary sighed. She placed her hand over eyes.

It was late in the evening; Clary was sitting on the bed in Jace's room. Luke told her to stay at the Lightwoods while he and Robert went to check on her brothers. They had planned to move them and her out to his Ranch. The ranch was a few hours out New York City. Clary loved the ranch she hadn't been there since she was little. It will be safer there for you and your brothers until can arrange to the dragon's temple. He words echoed into her head.

"Clary, Are you Okay?" Jace said bringing her back to reality.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I worried I never see you again."

"Oh, Jace." Clary says caressing his.

She took his head in her hands finding his lips. Kissing him hard. He kissed her back leaning back on the bed taking Clary with him. They had made out on his bed for maybe twenty minutes or so. Jace removed his shirt. He wanted to show Clary how much he loved her. His hands crept up her shirt. Clary noticed. This is what she wanted. Him. Finally she thought to her self.

"Where's Jace?" asked Max. Looking at his brother then his sister. It had been over an hour since dinner was served.

"He is playing a game with Clary." Isabelle answered awkwardly.

"What game is playing?" He asked with curiosity in his eyes.

"A two person game." she tried to say. "Alec help me out here."

Alec laughed. "What do want me to tell him?"

"Tell something." She scolded him.

"Like what? You don't what he's doing his room anymore than I do." Alec said just as Clary and Jace emerged into the living room. "Oh look Max! It's Jace."

"Hi, Jace." Max looked up. "Did you have fun playing your game with Clary?"

"Ugh, yeah I did." He looked quizzically at Isabelle and Alec.

Isabelle hide behind her magazine embarrassed. Alec went back to flipping through channel guide not saying a word. Jace shook his head then lead Clary to the couch.

Camille sat at her desk plotting her plan to the journal in her hands. She wanted that journal and the girl. Ragnor had told her that Clary could be useful. How useful she didn't know. What could this little red head girl know anything about the dragon? There had to be reason she was kept hidden all these years. There was however something very familiar about her, that red hair and those green eyes.

"Who does that girl remind you of?" She turned to Ragnor who standing in front of the fireplace.

"I would say she looks like Jocelyn Fairchild."

"Of course," Camille pondered. "A splitting imaging of her mother. Ragnor I want you to find the girl. Bring her alive. She has what we need to get in the dragon's lair. I have to go out of town for some business. I except you to have everything ready when I return."

"Yes, my Lady." Ragnor bowed in respect. "As you wish."

"Oh, take Raphael and his companions with you." Camille said as he took his leave. Ragnor nodded in acknowledgement.

The sun had started to in the distance, it made Clary squint her eyes. She put down the visor to shield her eyes. Her brothers Jonathan and Sebastian were sitting in the back of Luke's truck. Jonathan was asleep while Sebastian stared out the window blankly. She worried about him for it was hard to him in this state. It was like the Sebastian she knew had disappeared and this Sebastian took his place.

Clary looked over to Luke. "You know I still don't get why we have to go to the ranch."

"I told you it's for your protection." Luke scolded.

"Protection from what? And about Jace?"

"I need to keep you safe Clary." His tighten on the steering wheel. "As far as Jace goes maybe some time apart from him will do you some good."

Clary scowled at Luke. "You know rescue me all you have to say is I time apart from him?"

"Clary, honestly I didn't realize how serious you were with him until…" Luke trails off shaking his head.

"Until what?"

"Something his little brother Max said at dinner." Luke looks at Clary above his glasses.

"What did he say?" Clary asked nervously.

"He said you and Jace played a game in his room."

"Oh god." Clary slumped in her seat feeling embarrassed.

"Clary, tell me did you sleep with Jace?"

"No." She muttered softy.

"What? I didn't here you"

"No, I didn't. I was going to but I chicken out at the last minute."

"Ok, so you didn't have sex with Jace."

"No, Luke! I didn't." Clary fought back tears. "For crying out loud I'm still a virgin. I wanted to but I got scared."

Luke looked at Clary not pushing the matter.

Once at the Ranch house, Luke was outside making a few phone calls. Sebastian stared blankly out the window. Jonathan sat on the couch with his leg elevated on the ottoman flipping through channels. Clary sat next to him. She had never been so bored in her life.

Jonathan typed in the voice app on his laptop he had in his lap. Clary, are you ok?

"Yeah, I'm fine." She answered.

You seem a little on edge.

"Sorry" She said leaning forward putting head in her hands. "It's just all this stuff that keep going on. I'm so confused."

If dad were here he would know what to do.

"Yeah well dad isn't here and neither is mom." Clary started to sob.

Jonathan closed his laptop, moved his leg from the ottoman then lean forward wrapping his arm around his sister. He kissed her hair tenderly and rubbed her back. Sebastian moved from the window grabbing some tissues from a box and handing them to Clary.

"It will be okay Clary." Sebastian said reassuringly.

Clary took the tissue. "How do you know?"

Jonathan and Sebastian exchanged looks. "We don't, but we're your brothers Clary always. We'll protect you no matter what. If you think I'm going to let that woman get her hands on my sister again. She has another thing coming."

"You will always be here for me." Clary sniffed.

"Clary, always. We're family remember. Dad used to say 'A family is strong when we stick together.' and that what we are going to do stick together." Sebastian said squeezing her knee in reassurance. Her brothers were right they needed to stick together especially now.

Clary thought of everything that had happened in the pass months. It was like the life she knew was gone and that it never be the same again. What would happen now? She thought of Jace, her mother, Luke and her brothers. Clary didn't want to lose any of them. Then the door opened.

"The lightwoods will be here tomorrow. There bring Simon too."

What? "Simon, why I are they bring Simon?"

Luke looked at Clary shaking his head. "Apparently Simon mother has been getting threats and she's worried for her sons safety. So she called me to take him in for while."

Clary was shocked. Someone was threatening Simon, but why? Who would do such thing?