Hey guys! Wow, long time no write, sorry 'bout that, I've been super busy and had come down with a bit of writers block :P Oh well, I'm determined to write this chapter, one way or another so I hope you like it!

CHAPTER 3

I scowled deeply, crossing my arms over my chest, a weak barrier between myself and Jace. He was standing so close, and what he'd said . . . Well, neither were helping me keep my cool, remain the calm, strong, and cool Clarissa Morgenstern. My father's daughter.

"You're disgusting." I snarled at him.

He took half a step back, a false look of pain crossing his golden features. "Oh, that hurt, Clarissa. That really hurt."

My eyes narrowed. "Don't mock me." I ordered.

Jace opened his mouth, his eyes twinkling mischievously, but before he could say anything, Isabelle stepped forward, grabbing Jace by the arm. "Jace, this is no time for flirting, this is serious. We need to get them back to the institute."

Jonathon growled in his impatience. He took me by my shoulder and pulled me over to where he and Rachel were standing together. "Clarissa, we should run now, while they're distracted."

I bit my lip, looking at the two black hair shadow hunters and the Golden boy. "We can't" I told Jonathon.

Rachel looked at me like I was crazy. "Why not?"

"I'm . . . fascinated with them." I admitted. For some reason the three of them just, reeled me in. I felt the need to be here, with them. It was a strange feeling, something buried deep that I'd never felt before. I brushed it off, though, telling myself that I only felt compelled to stay so I could find out what they knew about my father.

"Are you kidding, Clarissa?" Jonathon whispered harshly at me. I glance at the three people at the other end of the alley to see if they had heard. They seemed to engrossed in their own conversation to notice ours.

"No, I'm not Jonathon." I told him, glaring. Jonathon and I were constantly fighting to dominance, with everything we did, it was a challenge between us. An angel and a demon fighting. I wondered who would win this argument, if I would stay with these people or if I would be forced to come with Jonathon and Rachel.

Jonathon looked at me for a long moment, his black eyes flickering all of my face, as if looking for something. Finally, his eye met mine again and he pursed his lips. "Father is going to be murderous." he whispered. "I'm not going to be at the receiving end of his wrath. I'm not going to stay. You can if you want, but I'm leaving back to Idris."

I nodded at him, feeling we had tied this round, we each won. I turned to Rachel. "You're welcome to go, too, you know." I said.

She bit her lip and looked over my shoulders to where the strangers were. "No, I can't leave you, we're parabatia. I'm sticking with you." I smiled at her, happy I would have someone I knew with me.

"Thanks."

Jonathon hissed. "They are coming back over here, I'm going to go." He looked at me. "Don't die." he said, surprising me, that was just about the nicest thing Jonathon had ever said to me.

"Of course not." I replied.

Suddenly, he spun around and darted for the end of the alley, running out onto the street. I heard pounding footsteps from behind me and suddenly the three shadow hunters were beside Rachel and I.

Isabelle looked a little peeved that Jonathon had escaped but she turned to me and smiled a little coldly. "Clarissa, you and you're friend are going to have to come with us."

I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Yeah, we know, that's why we stayed."

Jace raised an eye brow, looking a little disappointed. "What with you, Goldy locks?" I questioned.

"Goldy locks?" Jace said, grimacing. I smiled. He shook his head. "I was looking forward to a fight, thought it would be fun to drag you all the way to the institute."

I ignored what he'd said. "Which way?" was all I said.

Alec scowled. "You're not going to be running around on your own, what if you planed to kill us with your brother?"

I shrugged. "Fine whatever." I held out my hands. "Bring on the hand cuffs."

Jace smiled. "With pleasure." he took out his stele. "This will hurt if you try to escape so , you know . . . Don't." He drew a rune on my hand and a ring of flames appeared around my wrist. They weren't hot but they licked around my wrists, warming them.

He moved to Rachel next. She was more reluctant when holding out her hands. She and I had worked on fighting with our hands tied. I had gotten it right away but Rachel had some more trouble with it.

When it was all done I looked at the three of them, Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. They looked at Rachel and I and for a few minutes, the alley was quiet, nothing but the distant sounds of car and our breathing could be heard.

Jace broke they silence, coming behind me and leading me surprisingly gently down the alley way. "Isabelle, you get the other, Alec, you take up the rear. It's time we figure out what going on with the Morgenstern family."

Jace sounded confident and calm, even a little fierce. But his hands against my shoulders were gentle and warm, heating my chest and stomach strangely. It was a new feeling and a good one.

I wondered which was the real Jace, this hard, dangerous hunter, or this soft gentle man, and if I'd every get to figure it out.

Yeah, it was another short chapter but hey, at least I finally updated. J I hope you guys liked it, I know it wasn't my best chapter but . . . J haha anyway, review, pleeeeaaassse, it would totally make the new year for me J Coome on, you can do it, press that little button down there, it'll only take a few seconds J

Love and Hugs, Booky.