Love To

Chapter 30: (A/N Kind of singing the Final Countdown as I write this… :[)

I sighed as Jace/ Jonathan and I stood in the cold November air. It infiltrated and caused my chest to prickle and my body convulse into little tremors.

"Are you cold?" Jace wrapped his arm around me and I couldn't help but shy away from him. I mean he was my Jace on the inside but on the outside he was…that.

"No touchy-touchy as Jonathan." I growled and wrapped my arms around myself. A few moments later a taxi pulled up and Jace and I were off to meet my lunatic of a father. The radio blared a Christmas station and I scoffed. Thanksgiving was two weeks away and Christmas decorations were already breaking out of their dusty hiding places.

"What?" Jace looked over to me.

"Christmas already? I mean Halloween was only three weeks ago?" I sighed.

"You are just not having it today are you?"

"In all honesty I'm still upset that I didn't get to see you in a dress." I sigh.

"If you want to see me in a dress all you have to do is ask. I must say that your taste is…"

"Weird? Risqué?"

"I was going to go with kinky." Jace laughed.

"Oh that works too." I smile.

"So Clary, I wanted to ask you something."

"No I am not going to marry you." I turn to look out the window.

"I was actually going to ask if you'd go to the Winter Formal…" He stared at me like I just grew another head.

"I'm sorry Jace but I already have a date."

"Oh." His face fell. "With who?" Was he serious?

"His name is Mallard." I stared at him and then started to laugh like a mad woman.

"Funny!" He glared.

"Oh come on. Did you honestly think I wouldn't go with you? I must say that you're not very good with the timing." I set my head on his shoulder even if he does look like my (swallow) brother.

"So you will go with me?" He grinned.

"Duh." I sighed. It was maybe fifteen minutes before we made it to the hotel.

"Are you ready?" Jace squeezed my hand.

"As much as I'll ever be." I wriggled out of the car, Jace behind me. "Do you have the key?" Jace whispered in my ear and I nodded in reply. The doors swooshed open and the warm air of the lobby slapped me in the face. I felt for the seraph blades checking that they were safe and secure. Jace tried to grab my hand but I knocked it away. It would be strange if we walked into the hotel holding hands as if we were a couple when in reality we were brother and sister. Well Jonathan and I were. Honestly, if Jace was my brother I would have no problem dating him…okay that was weird shut up Clary.

"Play it cool." I mutter to Jace. He starts to swing around limply. "That's not cool. Act nonchalant, wear that smugness like you own it." I hiss under my breath and he starts to laugh. Leave it to Jace to be a clown in a time of crisis.

We've been moseying around the lobby for only a minute or two when his voice speaks only inches from my ear.

"Clarissa and Jonathan, where have you been?" He booms and I jump out of my skin. Jace doesn't. He plays it off like whatever while I am mentally kicking him.

"We've been enjoying the city. Clarissa took me on a little tour and I guess we lost track of time."

"For two days?" Valentine pressed, glaring down on us. Well more me, seeing as how Jace/Jonathan is about the same height of Valentine.

"We came back but you were never here." I slipped in.

"I suppose I've been absent these last few days, but its part of the plan."

"The plan?" I'm confused.

"I thought Jonathan told you? I thought that was what you were going to do. I'm disappointed Jonathan." He gave Jace a pointed look.

"I did. Remember Clarissa." He prodded at my rib cage and I almost yelped.

"Oh yeah…the plan. Now I remember." I nodded as if I did.

"Okay, well then I suppose we should look over the plans somewhere more private." He ushers Jace and I to the elevator. It dings and we follow Valentine off. He escorts us passed Jonathan's room, down the hall a few doors and into another room that's obviously a suite. Not that the huge living room and even bigger connected bedroom gave it away…

He has us sit down and he sits across from us. He stares me down until he folds his hands on his legs and smiles. I think he's trying to give me a kind smile, but to me it just looks evil. His dark unyielding eyes bore into my green eyes.

"Clary, you look so much like your mother."

"Thank you." I smile timidly and try to avert my attention." Jace stiffens slightly next to me.

"So what did you do in New York?" Valentine somehow had a cup of coffee materialize next to his hand. He took a sip and then stared me down again.

"Well, we went to the Statue of Liberty." Jace spoke, his voice smooth, even though I could see by the set of jaw that he was trying to not hit Valentine.

"Clarissa, in Idris—have you heard of Idris?" I nod. "Of course you have. There are even more splendid statues of the Angels and some are taller than the Statue of Liberty." Valentine smiled as if remembering a fond memory. "What else?"

"We went to the Empire State Building." I lied.

"Yes, nothing compared to the demon towers of Idris." Sigh. Idris again? "Anything else?"

"We went through the Lincoln Tunnel." Okay I'm pushing it. Luckily Valentine had nothing to say about any major tunnels in (finger quotes) "Idris". "And that was about it." I smiled and Valentine returned it and turned to Jace.

"Shall we continue with the plan then?"

Bum, bum, BUM! I know cliffy and I know many of you are probably mad at my lack of updating and I'm sorry. I've been extra-ememly busy though! I had no time this weekend. Saturday I slept my life away because tis the season for wheezing and coughing. Sunday, usually I get a little break, but no we had a family birthday party and I had to go. Then I was going to update when I got back but my sister was on until 10 which is my internal clock's time to crash. So I was down for the count. Any who I missed you guys :)! And what did you think of the chapter? I will update this week again I promise! And thanks to those who did review I loved reading them :) I hope you guys are having a wonderful week!

Bye Bye for Now! - Emma