A/N: Thanks for all the positivity so far! :) I really appreciate it.

Chapter 2

(Evangeline POV)

When I stepped through the Portal, I saw a large and beautiful cathedral with many people standing in front of it. There were about five or so, with one being an adult woman and the rest being teenagers. I froze, suddenly very nervous and bashful, as they all looked at me. I waved weakly, suddenly worrying that I had made the wrong choice in coming so soon.

"Don't be afraid," the woman said, which drew my eyes to her. And… she looked just like my Mama. Her black, curly hair was bluntly chopped off at the shoulders, which was different, and she was wearing high-fashion clothes, but the overall similarity was uncanny. "You must be Evangeline. I certainly see the family resemblance." Her full mouth tilted up into a very familiar smile that made my heart ache. This had to be Mama's twin sister.

"Y-yes, I am Evangeline," I said shyly. I was timid by nature, as I had known everyone at my mansion from when I was a little girl. I did not know anyone here, and it wasn't like I had ever known many people my age. Would they accept me?

"Well, it is very nice to meet you. I am your Aunt Maryse. And these are your cousins, my children Alec and Isabelle." She gestured to two teenagers who stepped forward. They also looked like me, especially the boy, who I assumed to be Alec.

He had black hair that hung a bit haphazardly in his eyes, which were identical to mine. Alec, too, shared my finely boned features and winging eyebrows, as did his sister, Isabelle. They both could have easily passed for siblings of mine, although they both were much taller than me. Isabelle, even, had to have been at least three inches taller than my 5'6". Her eyes were dark brown, and made up in heavy eyeliner. She was wearing a short, form-fitting, dark green dress and tall black boots. Her outfit wasn't really my style, but it looked nice on her. Alec, meanwhile, could use some help, I decided. Tattered and faded sweaters didn't look nice on anyone.

I took the initiative in being sociable. "Hello," I told them. They were my cousins, after all. Hopefully, they would like me.

Isabelle smiled hugely, walking up and immediately wrapping her arms around me in a hug. "I can definitely handle another girl in the house." She pulled back for a second, grinning in my direction. "And I've always wanted a sister."

I was touched by her friendliness. Was this what it was like to have siblings? "I've always wanted a sister, too."

I looked to Alec to see if he would be as openly affectionate, and found him still standing where he was with his hands in the pockets of his shapeless jeans. He was half-smiling, at least. Regardless, I was embarrassed by expecting better treatment, and found my cheeks growing warm.

Finally, he shrugged, "I guess I can handle another sister, as long as you're not crazy like Izzy," ending in a playful sneer at Isabelle. Was that her nickname? It had to be.

"Shush, Alec," commanded Isabelle, an arm hooked around my shoulders. She added to me in an undertone, "I find it best to ignore him."

I laughed, and stopped when I heard a young man saying, "Maryse, aren't you going to introduce me? I'm very hurt by your omission. I thought I was a part of the family already."

Maryse said, "Oh, forgive me. Evangeline, this is Jace."

I glanced up at the young man, my lips parted in surprise, and found myself staring at an extremely handsome boy in his late teens. His hair was a dark gold color and fell in curls around his face. And I instantly registered that we were locking eyes, his being the same color as his hair. The way he was staring at me was bemused but equally interested and curious. It was all I could do to stare back at this glorious representation of a man.

"Evangeline, eh?" he said in a low, seductive voice from where he was standing. "You look an awful lot like your cousins. Welcome to the family."

It abruptly struck me that the two of us could be related. I felt my nose wrinkle, and sensed a sort of disappointment that welled up inside me, for reasons that I didn't really understand. It was just that he was so handsome, almost like my visions of princes from the fairy tales Mama had told me when I was a child. "Surely you aren't my cousin, too?"

He smirked and crossed his arms. The arrogance that seemed to trickle from him was almost palpable. "Thankfully, no. I'm adopted."

Someone cleared her throat from next to him, which drew my eyes to her. "Eh-hem," she said in a high, expressive voice, "I think I deserve an introduction, too."

She was a tiny thing, barely coming up to Jace's shoulders, with flaming red hair that was twisted into braids and huge emerald eyes. She didn't have the classic looks of my family or the over-the-top looks of Jace, but she was incredibly adorable in some strange way. I found myself wishing to get to know her.

When no one said anything, she said, "Okay, then. I'm Clary, Jace's girlfriend."

The disappointment that came over me was more of a crushing blow this time, as opposed to my previous sense of slight discomfort. I looked to Jace for confirmation and found him staring down at her bemusedly, playing with the end of one of her braids.

"Oh," I said, recovering faintly. "That's wonderful. Nice to meet you."

She smiled kindly back at me, and I was overcome with silent remorse for my feelings. "You too," Clary beamed at me, her face lighting up in a very pretty way. "And I'm sorry to hear about your mom."

My brilliant blue eyes welled with tears and my lip started trembling at the recent memory of losing Mama. Isabelle must have noticed from standing so close to me, because she began leading me towards the gigantic cathedral ahead. "Come on," my lookalike told me kindly. "I'll show you around."

A/N: Review please! xoxo