Jace's eyes followed her. He was looking for any similarities between them, he found none. She was small, at least a foot shorter than him, her skin was pale white with a golden undertone, and white blond curls fell down her back. Large moss green eyes, almost to big for her face darted around the room.

They arrived via portal to the New York Institute. For Clary who had only ever left the manor on her last four birthday's, (even then she never left Idris,) New York was a sight to be seen. Nothing she read about the city could have prepared her for this. The air tasted foul, and traffic could be heard even with the library windows closed. Out side the window she could only see concrete, metal, and glass. When she and Jonathan were children her father brought home some mundane comic books for Jonathan. He showed little interest in them, but Clary thought they were wonderful. Batman was one of the first she ever read, that is what New York reminded her of, Gotham City.

"Rebecca did you remember to take the American Mundane emergency kit Father prepared for me?" Clary asked almost nervously.

"Yes Lady Clarissa."

"Your father gives you slaves? Was she a birthday gift?" Eric Starkweather asked with a sneer.

"I am not a slave, I'm her attendant." Rebecca answered indignantly.

"Better than a bath of spaghetti, wouldn't you agree Jace?" She winked at him, Jace felt his cheeks warm, and smirked at her cockily.

"I don't know, I think spaghetti baths are highly under-rated." She laughed at him, a beautiful musical sound. Distracting enough to make Jace forget that everyone in the room was looking between them like they were insane.

"Spaghetti bath?" Isabelle looked confused, and disgusted.

"Hmm.." Clary agreed. A black phone on the large desk that was the center point of the room started ringing. Maryse rushed over to answer. She listened for a long moment.

"We're on our way." She hung up turning to the adults. "Valentine has left a message, the Clave is meeting now. Magnus can you open another portal?" Magnus sighed and stood.

"It's going to cost you double, my reserves are almost depleted."

"What did Valentine say?" Jace asked also getting to his feet. Maryse looked to Clary quickly before looking back to Jace.

"We'll talk when we return, for now show Clarissa and Rebecca where they can stay."

Clary felt her body relax slightly after the adults left. The warlock having also used the portal to return to his home. She was left alone with Rebecca, Jace, and the two Lightwood children. It was silent for a moment then Isabelle let out a long breath and stalked over to a table surrounded by chairs, to the left side of the large library. She sat gracefully, and looked them all over.

"Well, are you just gonna stand there all night? Take a seat, and spill Morgenstern." She gestured to the seat across from her.

"Spill?" Clary asked confused, but she did walk over and sit across from Isabelle. The others, followed taking seats around the table. Everyone, even Rebecca, (who would never dare ask such a blunt question,) was interested in what Clary would say. Isabelle rolled her eyes.

"Your story, what was it like growing up with Valentine your whole life?" She made a face like the idea sickened her.

"My father has always been wonderful to me." This got all their attention, but Rebecca's- she had seen Valentine dote on his daughter many times over the years.

"Never made you kill Downwolders, or raise demons?"

"What? No, of course not! I have never even seen a Downworlder before tonight, and I've still never seen a demon- well not up close anyway."

"Never?" Jace and Alec both asked completely bewildered. Clary shook her head.

"Never. My father has always tried to protect me, and keep me hidden."

"Why?"

"He's been on the run almost my entire life. The Uprising happened before my first birthday. And I think he feared Jocelyn finding me."

"But everyone thought you were dead." Jace stated, almost as if were an answer to a question.

"She left before my father faked our deaths."

"No, she's the one who found the house burning. She didn't leave until after it was nothing but ash and bones. I learned a lot about Valentine and Jocelyn when he was after the Mortal Cup."

"No. You are mistaken, she left weeks before the Uprising. Left my father for his parabatai who turned into a werewolf! She called me and Jonathan experiments, and left us all." Clary's face was flushed in anger, Jocelyn never was a good subject for her. Jace looked at her with pity.

"I think Valentine lied to you."

No one but Jace was looking at Clary now, Rebecca seemed to find the table interesting, while Isabelle, and Alec looked at each other. Jace's face was emotionless, but his eyes showed pity. She hated him for it. Who was he to pity her? The boy who doesn't even know his own name, she didn't need his pity, or want it. And now she was kicking herself for losing her temper. She should have never let them see how much the topic bothered her. Clary composed her face into an emotionless mask.

"It has been a long day, I think I would like to rest now." Clary stood, and Rebecca scrambled to her feet after her.

"I'll show you to your rooms." Jace stood as well. Clary nodded her good byes to Alec and Isabelle, (who returned the gesture,) and followed Jace with Rebecca close on her heels to their luggage.

Rebecca's room was right beside Clary's. When she went in leaving Clary and Jace alone, he looked down at her. She knew he was looking, but refused to look up at him. She felt embarrassed by her outburst. Damn Jocelyn Fairchild to the deepest depths of Hell.

"What do you think Valentine said? His message to the Clave, I mean." Now she did look up at him, they were in front of the door to the room she would be using. He was leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Again she noticed how angelic he looked. After the warlock removed the blood off him and Alec Clary could see exactly how handsome he was.

"I think he said he would raise Hell and burn Heaven if he didn't get me back." Jace's eyebrows shot up.

"You think he would go through all that just to have you back?" He didn't ask as an insult, he was actually curious. She gave him a sad smile.

"I am the only pure thing in his life. I know the worst and best of him, and love him unconditionally despite it all. He's told me countless times that I'm all that's left of his humanity, he will never just let me go. Anyone keeping me from him is in very grave danger." Jace ran a hand through his hair.

"He loves one child to much, and the other not enough." He laughed, but Clary saw through it. It pained him to think he was less than her in Valentine's eyes. Again she was hit with guilt for knowing his true parentage. She made up her mind then, she would tell him the truth. Her father would be furious, but he would expect no less from her.

"Jace-" She reached out and grabbed his wrist. The skin to skin contact sent tingles of heat through her, and by the astonished look on his face Jace felt it too. She pulled her hand back as if he burned her. She looked up into his eyes, they were reflecting the same questions she was sure he could see in her own. Before either of them could speak a loud ringing was heard through out the building.

"Someone's at the entrance."