Disclaimer: Cassandra Claire owns all, except for the kids!

Chapter 8

The Circle :

*Jace POV*

I had just finished dropping the kids off at home before getting back into the car and leaving, hopefully unnoticed. Late last night while I was carrying Clary back home, her father had a hushed conversion with me and by the way he kept stealing glances over at Jocelyn I knew it was meant to be kept a secret. He had wanted me to meet him somewhere on the outskirts of Idris. He had scratched down the address and that was the end of it. The drive was fairly quick, about a ten minute drive from home, and was a secluded area. There were no homes that I could see, just empty farm lands and a long and twisting dirt road. If it weren't for Clary and how fondly she had always spoken of her father I wouldn't have gotten this far into this creepy place.

A small, rundown house sat at the end of the dirt road. The old, most likely used to be white but with age had turned a faint brown, siding was barely hanging on to the sides of the house and the roof was in an even worse condition, there were most definitely leaks. As I walked up the steps of the front porch on of the wooden steps gave through and I had to yank my foot out, I'd have to be more cautious with this place. I knocked on the door, causing a puff of dust and dirt to float up into my face and I was coughing and spitting by the time the door opened.

In the door way stood the man I saw last night, Clary's father. He had pale blonde hair, practically white and a strong jaw with matching stubble. He had a stern face that spoke of confidence and leadership, but his eyes contradicted that cold front. His eyes were a dark color, either a dark green or dark brown but it was hard to tell in this lighting, but there were smile lines in the outer corners of his eyes as well as around his mouth. This man was no stranger to happiness, but it was clear he had had his fair share of hardships. I would notice that look anywhere, after all I've seen the same hidden sadness every time I look into a mirror.

"Come in," Valentine said as he ushered me in and glanced out the door into the empty fields as if someone would have followed me. What kind of idiot would really want to come here, but the Clave certainly wasn't stupid, they had to have at least some insiders just as we do. "Did anyone notice you leave?" Valentine questioned, his voice was deep and each word came out in a crisp and clean accent. "No," I shook my head as I took in the dilapidated room before glancing back at him. "Great," he offered a small smile before returning back to a serious expression, "Now, let's get down to business, shall we?"

Valentine led me through a long and narrow hall with peeling wall paper in the shade of a ghastly pea green. "Um, sir?" I questioned, "What kind of business are you talking about?" Valentine stopped and I could see his shoulders shaking before a loud and hearty laugh escaped him, he turned around with a genuine smile in place, "The rebellion my son, the rebellion!" He continued through the house, which was much larger on the inside than I had originally thought, after his brief and undetailed explanation.

'Was he crazy? Was this man seriously bonkers!?' I thought to myself as I hurried to keep up with his long strides. He was still laughing a bit and muttering under his breath about the rebellion and how I should have guessed by now. 'What the hell kind of drugs was this man on to think about starting a rebellion against the Clave, and I've got to get myself some of that if he can be this carefree with talk of rebelling. The Clave is powerful and will certainly crush us like bugs if we attempt to get in there way. Sure I hated the way they worked and wanted their ways gone, but the Clave will stop at nothing for power, just how many innocent lives will be lost? And besides, how on Earth are we going to go up against them with just two people, this man is certainly bonkers!'

At least that was what I had been thinking before Valentine opened a door to reveal the mother load of all rebellion supplies. Weaponry of all sort were stored in this room, as well as medical supplies, gear, maps, walkie talkies, and so, so much more. I could feel my mouth gaping at the sight and quickly shut it before the man caught me. "She's a beauty, isn't she?" Valentine said proudly before shutting the door and locking it up tight. It was a solid steel door with about five locks, that certainly wasn't out of place in this home.

"Now for the best part," Valentine said almost giddily as he headed for the next door, this one a simple wooden one. He opened the door to reveal a training room filled with hundreds of men, all of them working hard until they saw Valentine, which they then stopped and raised a hand sharply to their foreheads in a solute. "So, how would you like to join the Circle?"

Author's note:

hey guys! I'm back again and this time with a bit of action! So was this what you guys thout was coming or no? This is my idea, the original one, a rebellion aagainst the Clave. There will be no spoilers for what is to come but there will be more characters, at least tthat's what I'm hoping. Also since there are so many in the army if you send me a name you like I will find a way to incorporate it, it doesn't have to be a character from the book by any means. Anyways I hope you guys stick with me through this, its my first 'war' story so I hope it isn't too terrible. I love you all and bank you for reading!

-Haybell