"Families are messy… Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum." – Rick Riordan
Chapter 30
"Clary!" Jocelyn called.
"Present."
"Jonathan!"
"Here."
"Valentina?"
"I've got Val," Luke supplied.
"Simon?"
"What?"
"Alec?"
"Technically I'm an adult and shouldn't have to answer role call."
"Isabelle?"
"Alec, don't be a pompous ass."
"Isabelle, just because we're going to London doesn't mean you need to use British insults."
"Jace?"
"Is very good looking."
"I'm here," Max supplied winsomely, especially in comparison to the impish teens that had preceded him.
"Thank you, Max," Jocelyn said with a smile. "That does mean we're all present and accounted for."
"With this bunch you're better safe than sorry," Magnus agreed with a smile.
They were in the yard at the Fairchild Manor, it was rather cold as it was late December. Several trunks were piled around them and there was a buzz of excitement in the air. They were all headed to London to spend Christmas at the London Institute, which was run by Imogen Herondale, Jace's grandmother, Jace having kept the promise he'd made to Clary. Magnus had offered to create a Portal at the Manor so that they wouldn't need to travel into Alicante with all their luggage, especially as their group was large. Magnus claimed it was no trouble, and that his house in London needed an airing out, but everyone really knew it was because he liked to stay near Alec.
Following the end of the Faerie Trial, which had resulted in a crippling peace treaty, with the fae being stripped of many of their privileges, Magnus had found reason after reason to stay in Idris, eventually ceasing to give any reason and blithely continuing to exist wherever Alec was as long as the dark haired, blue eyed young man would let him. Magnus was prepared to give Alec as long as he needed to adjust to allowing himself to accept that side of himself. Their 'friendship' was no secret to Alec's siblings and the Morgenstern siblings, but the knowledge had stretched no further. Magnus was trying to maintain his patience and understanding, for he knew the long standing attitude the Nephilim held towards homosexuality, but it didn't stop him from wishing that he could hold Alec's hand in public. So he found as many reasons as possible to hang around Alec and his friends, and had even been a guest teacher at the Academy, which had really been an interesting dynamic.
Simon was making the trip to London with them as a part of his acclimatisation into the Nephilim world. He would be beginning his training at the Academy after the Christmas break, and had welcomed the opportunity to spend Christmas with Clary and his family. All the necessary arrangements had been made on his end in New York for his new life. He had spent Hanukkah with his family in New York before telling his mother and sister that he had been offered a position in a music school across on the West Coast and would be moving there for the second semester, and wouldn't visit much until he graduated, due to summer clinics and airfares. Magnus had been on hand to make sure that Simon's mother and sister accepted the news without resistance and everything was in place.
Maryse and Robert were not going with the initial group, but hoped to make it over for Christmas Eve. They would be missing the week of festivities preceding the big day, including the annual Christmas Ball. Robert had a lot to do as Inquisitor and Maryse wanted to stay to support her husband. Max had been allowed to go under the care of Jocelyn and Luke.
"Alright," Magnus said, his voice commanding the attention of the group. "We will be landing in my home in London, which is filled with several priceless artefacts, and many others of much worth, so please keep the brawling and bloodshed to a minimum. I will call you a couple of cabs as soon as we arrive in London and they will take you across London to the Institute."
"What, you don't want us to stay and visit with you?" Jace asked innocently.
"Not you, that's for certain," Magnus said witheringly. "Now, if we're all ready I will open a Portal and we can get this show on the road."
Jocelyn went through the Portal first, followed by Luke holding Valentina. Jace, Jonathan, Simon and Alec followed, each weighed down by the trunks holding the various needs of those making the trip. Clary followed them, Max's hand in hers, and Isabelle brought up the rear. Lastly, Magnus hopped in, closing the Portal behind him.
He found his short term guests getting themselves together in the large and somewhat dusty drawing room of his home. Simon had fallen when he landed, one of the trunks tumbling with him. Isabelle had stooped to help him but he brushed it off. She rolled her eyes, but let him maintain his dignity.
"Would you all like some tea?" Magnus offered, his words an empty offer, a courtesy.
Jocelyn smiled at his feeble attempt and said, "No, Imogen is expecting us and we should get settled in at the Institute. Thank you for your kind help, as always Magnus."
"I thought I was being paid," Magnus said innocently.
"If you continue to loiter and offer your services it will decrease the likelihood of remuneration," Jace pointed out wickedly.
"And with that, I shall call you a cab, or several. You will need one alone for Mr Herondale's ego," Magnus said drolly.
Soon they were all on their way, Jocelyn, Luke and the children in one cab, Alec, Jace and Clary in another, and Isabelle, Jonathan and Simon in the last one, with the luggage crammed into any spare space in each vehicle.
The closer they got to the Institute, the quieter and tenser Jace got. He kept opening his mouth to try and distract himself from the situation with dark humour, but failed each time. The company of his parabatai and girlfriend did little to ease the pressure he was feeling, but had it been anyone other than them he would probably have been spouting a snarky diatribe the whole way.
"Jace, if you don't actually say something soon I am going to be concerned," Clary said lightly.
"You haven't met his grandmother," Alec said darkly.
"I'm sure I have," Clary began to retort.
"Oh yes, you may have met Imogen Herondale, but you haven't met Jace's grandmother," Alec countered. "Those are two different things, although each can be terrifying if they choose to be."
"Jace, I don't care what happens on this trip between you and your grandmother, I mean, of course I do, but only in so much as I just want you to do what makes you happy. You can only be you. This isn't a reconciliation trip, I just want to spend Christmas with the people I love. Meeting your grandmother and seeing another Institute is just an added bonus," Clary explained, her hand resting on his leg lightly.
Jace just nodded which caused Alec and Clary to share a look.
"Very covert guys," Jace said dryly.
"Oh, he is still in there," Alec said with feigned surprised. "Just in time for our arrival. I hope you're in better form once we get inside. We wouldn't want the best Shadowhunter of his generation to only be a shadow of himself."
With that Jace sprung out of the cab, gallantly offering a hand to Clary who slid out behind him, with Alec brining up the rear. The other two cabs were at the curb as well, and the trunks were soon out and the cabbies paid.
They stood at the front gates, and looked past the Glamour that only showed an old, abandoned church, to the magnificent London Institute. It was a palatial, glamorous building, its top spire stretching high into the grey, London sky.
"My goodness," Clary said almost breathlessly. "It's nothing like the New York Institute, is it?"
"Well, only because it more closely resembles a castle than a church," Isabelle mused. "I bet there are over 50 rooms in there."
"There are, and finding your way from a to b is much like being in a maze, at least at first," Jace added with a faint smile. "Well, let's get the initial greeting over with. I am ready to bask in the warm embrace of my nearest relative."
With a carefree attitude that belied his feelings he ascended the steps, single-handedly hauling the largest trunk as if it weighed nothing.
Isabelle and Clary shared a look and then followed, with the rest of the group trailing in the wake of the young man who was the reason they were all there.
Clary watched as the front door was opened before Jace could reach it, and followed him through, wondering if it was his grandmother who had opened it.
It was not. It was a butler, actually dressed in coattails. Apparently Imogen Herondale was one of those who had not let go of the old ways, or perhaps it was just something special for the season. There were a lot of house guests expected. Clary somehow thought it was more likely to be the former however.
A woman who appeared to be somewhere close to sixty appeared. She was wearing a navy blue suit, and her greying light blonde hair was pulled back in a severe bun. Her skin was pale, as though it had not seen the sun for some time, which was entirely possible owing to the London weather, and the fact that demons didn't come out in the daylight.
"Hello Grandmother," Jace said quietly.
"Jonathan. It is good to see you," Imogen said, stepping forward and pressing a cool kiss to Jace's cheek.
"Jonathan?" Simon mouthed to Isabelle, an eyebrow raised.
"Later," Isabelle mouthed back.
"How nice of you to bring some friends with you for the holiday," Imogen said. "Would you care to introduce them to me?"
Jace took a deep breath and started with his siblings, moving along to the Morgensterns, and finishing with Clary.
"And you're a mundane?" Imogen asked, a delicate eyebrow arched in curiosity.
"Simon's Ascension has been approved by the Clave and he will begin training at the Academy once we return to Idris in the New Year," Clary explained a little assertively.
"We thought it would be nice to spend some informal time with us before his training begins," Jocelyn added politely.
"How nice," Imogen said blandly. "Come, I shall have Pauline show you to your rooms."
Apparently Pauline was the maid, bringing the total of seen staff to two. Clary had a feeling that number would climb further before the day was out. It wasn't like she didn't know some Shadowhunter houses kept help, after all, they kept a man, but it just seemed so formal and unfriendly here. Well, Imogen's attitude would not stop her from being friendly to the staff. After all, they all had to have The Sight, and in Clary's mind, that was something to be respected, as was their service to the Nephilim.
Jocelyn and Luke had been given a large suite, with enough space for Valentina in a small room of their room that was once a dressing room. Down the other end of the long hall each of the young people had each been assigned a single suite. Simon was closest to Jocelyn and Luke, and then came Jon, Clary, Isabelle, Max, Alec and lastly Jace.
"Well, our rooms could be further apart," Clary murmured wryly to Jace. "Especially in a building this size."
"And your parents could be closer to us," Jace pointed out truthfully.
"They're still under the same roof as us," Clary muttered despondently.
"I can be really, really quiet," Jace said with a wicked glint in his eyes. "But I suppose you're more worried about how noisy you might be once I'm with you."
"Jace Herondale!" Clary exclaimed, flushing.
"Jace stop flirting with Clary so she can unpack and then we can all explore," Isabelle called from the doorway of her room.
Clary gave Jace a smile and turned to go to her room, but Jace grabbed her hand, spun her around, pulled her to him and made a show of kissing her thoroughly while Isabelle watched, rolling her eyes.
Jace let go of her all too soon, place a final gentle kiss on her lips and said, "Don't take too long unpacking," and headed for his own room.
Clary stood in the hall looking somewhat dazed.
Isabelle snickered and said, "Do you need a reminder of your name or where you live?"
"Laugh all you want, but I can promise you you've never been kissed like that," Clary said with a sheepish smile.
"I should hope not. He's essentially my brother, so there's a bit of an ick factor there," Isabelle said with a grin. "Now seriously, unpack your stuff. In fact, I'll help. I'm already done. Now, please tell me you brought something suitably fabulous for the Christmas Ball. It's a masque this year!"
"I think my dress is plenty nice, but I doubt it would suit you. Definitely not flashy enough, and the slit in the leg is decidedly not high enough for you," Clary teased.
"No worries, I can fix that with a little help from a seraph blade," Isabelle said cheerfully. "Let me guess, your dress is green?"
"Affirmative," Clary owned serenely.
"And it was your mother's?" Isabelle continued.
"Right again," Clary answered. "Do you know me that well or I am just predictable."
"A bit of both," Isabelle answered.
"Well, I'm guessing your dress is red, with a decent amount of cleavage, a high slit in the skirt and probably cling to your body in all the right spots," Clary guessed.
"Okay, so we both have a defined style, doesn't mean we don't work what we wear," Isabelle replied, grinning.
"Enough with the girl talk you two, we want to explore," Alec said from the doorway. "Max is going to stay with Jocelyn by the way, apparently Val can't do without him, and Max is happy to play with her, at least for now."
"Does anyone have a witchlight stone on them? I feel like we could get lost in this place," Jon joked.
They meandered through the massive building, eventually ending up in the training room, located in the attic.
Jace began a series of complicated flips and tumbles causing Alec to cough "Show off."
"Just thought Simon would like to get a taste of what's ahead of him at The Academy," Jace said blithely.
"Except no one else moves like that, Angel Boy," Jon muttered.
"Want to spar then?" Jace offered. "Maybe you'll learn something. I'll even go easy on you."
"That must be frustrating," Simon remarked.
"What?" Isabelle and Alec asked together.
"Not being able to give him the smack down he so richly deserves because he is in fact as good as he says," Simon answered with a bold grin that belied the nerves he felt.
Isabelle and Alec both chuckled, as did the Morgenstern siblings.
"Yes, it's true, I'm an ass, but I'm an ass you want by your side in a fight," Jace said, unperturbed. "And seriously, you can learn a lot from me, so I'm here whenever you'd like to watch and learn."
"Let's hit the streets and have a look around," Isabelle suggested. "It would be nice to have a look around before night falls. I mean, I assume we'll be making ourselves useful while here, even if it is Christmas. It would good to have some familiarity with the popular spots."
Accordingly they hit the streets, taking in the sights and noting various Underworld haunts.
They returned to the Institute and were advised that they should change for dinner, which would be served in half an hour.
"So, it's a rather formal world here," Clary murmured to Isabelle.
"Didn't Jace warn you?" Isabelle asked.
"Well, he told me to bring nice things to wear, but I didn't think it would be quite like this," Clary replied.
"Well, it probably isn't always, but his grandmother is probably doing her best to make things as nice as possible. I think there will be a couple more families here for the holiday too," Isabelle replied. "I mean, Mom and Dad are supposed to come in a couple of days, and the Penhallows, which means the Inquisitor and Consul will both be here. I think the Verlacs are coming too actually, including that weasel Sebastian."
"Oh goody," Clary said dryly.
"Well, it could make things more interesting. Jace might deck him again," Isabelle said with a laugh.
"My knight in shining armour," Clary said sarcastically.
"More like your bad boy, all dressed in black," Isabelle retorted accurately.
Dinner was a formal affair with another maid attending the table and the butler doubling as a footman. Clary felt rather underdressed in the simple cream dress she was wearing. Isabelle was wearing yet another show stopping dress, a floor length black gown which made her look elegant and sophisticated. Clary felt young and insignificant in comparison.
During the meal she looked for opportunities to make conversation with Imogen, or to encourage Jace to do the same, but Imogen devoted herself almost exclusively to Jocelyn and Luke. The young people stayed fairly quiet, all sensing that a rowdy discussion would be frowned upon by Imogen.
The rest of the evening was quiet, they were not asked to patrol the streets and no one was called out for anything. The young pepole scattered, Isabelle and Simon to a dark corner, Jonathan to the library, followed by Max until his bedtime. Jace disappeared and Clary found him in the music room bringing life to the baby grande piano. She curled up in an armchair and watched and listened. It was nice to have a quiet evening, but she kind of hoped things would liven up before their break was over. She thought it likely, seeing as the house would be much fuller in a couple of days, in time for the Christmas Ball. She hoped by then Imogen would warm up a little too, but without Jace setting off any sparks. She didn't want the stern woman to warm up too much. Just enough to show some interest in her grandson. It was Christmas after all.
AN: Hi all, thanks for reading. Firstly, please let me offer my sincere apologies that I have been so long in updating. My only excuse is that I have been busy with other things and this dropped down my priority list. I do appreciate each and every one of you who was read this, and especially those who leave reviews asking for an update. The good news is, I have the final chapter of this story left, and only two more to write between this chapter and the end, so my aim is to get this all done in the next month or so.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, and if you feel like leaving a review I'm always happy to hear thoughts. The next chapter will contain the Christmas Ball and Christmas, and the next one will probably have lots of bits and pieces that happen between now and the final chapter, which takes place a couple of years into the future.
MaddElise