Hey guys! I know, I know, it's been a really long time since I uploaded. To be fair, college is really time consuming. I want to state ahead of time that I have decided to split Jonathan and Sebastian into two separate characters, and their physical descriptions may be off because of that. I wanted to make the characters as separate from each other as possible so that their personalities could shape a little easier. For any returning readers after such a big delay, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. Thanks so much. Be sure to R&R if there's anything you want to know and PMs are always welcome. You guys are awesome!
Jace:
Alec sits next to Clary, not expanding on the earth shattering news he just dropped on us. I look at Clary again, my eyes wandering over her. I notice that her clothes have blood on them and her face is very pale. Her hands are shaking pretty badly.
"Izzy, can you get the first aid kit for me?" I ask her, nudging her arm. Her head snaps up and she nods, not saying a word. She comes back fast, placing the first aid kit in my hands. I kneel next to Clary and pull a container of peroxide from the box. I reach for her hand gently, but she flinches away from me, cowering against Alec again.
"It's okay Clary," Alec murmurs softly, stroking her hair with one hand. He gently takes the bottle from my hand.
My entire body feels like it's vibrating. Clary has always been such a bright and stubborn personality. Whatever happened must have been terrible if it caused her to become like this. I don't know how to help, or what to say.
Alec murmurs softly as he bandages the cuts and bruises that seem to be all over Clary. I feel a hand on my arm, causing me to flinch. I look over to see that it's just Isabelle. She tilts her head toward the kitchen. I nod in agreement. I head straight for the fridge to grab some drinks.
"What do you think happened?" Isabelle asks softly, leaning against the counter.
"I don't know," I say honestly," But it can't have been good. They'll tell us when they're ready."
"I guess you're right," Isabelle sighs. I know she wants to know what happened so she can try to help. Her intentions are good, but she can be a bit pushy and that's the opposite of what we need right now.
I set a few drinks on the coffee table next to Clary and Alec. Clary's arms are wrapped around her knees, which are pulled up to her chest. Alec packs the supplies back into the first aid kit neatly, closing it firmly.
"I didn't know what you guys would want to drink so I brought a few different things," I say quietly, hoping that it may make me seem less threatening. Clary peeks up at me, looking at me for the first time.
"Thank you, Jace," she says softly, lowering her knees. She seems to be relaxing a little bit. It's not much, but it's a start.
She reaches for a soda, her hands seeming to have stopped shaking. Even after everything that happened, she still looks beautiful. I notice that she does seem to have grown up more, looking closer to a woman that she did two years ago. My cell phone vibrates in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts.
I pull it out and glance down to see that it's Magnus. I bite my lip, debating just letting it go to voicemail, but I know that he was just call again until I answer. Magnus and I became really close after Alec disappeared. They attended the same university and were best friends.
"Hey, Magnus. Now is not the best time..." I let my voice trail, not sure what else to say. Alec glances up at me, his eyes wide.
"Jace! Standing people up is very rude! You might hurt their feelings if they were anymore sensitive than me," Magnus says, seemingly oblivious. Alec takes a deep breathe and holds his hand out for my phone. I set it in his hand.
"Magnus," Alec says softly into the phone, his eyes closed. Magnus' reaction is instant.
"Alec? Is that you? I'm coming over right," Magnus' response is lightning quick.
"That's fine," Alec says," But please, don't tell anyone. Do you understand?"
Magnus' next response is much quieter. Alec hands me back my phone after that, the call seeming to be over. I raise a questioning eyebrow at him but he just shrugs.
Clary:
Alec looks a little more relaxed now that he's heard from Magnus. During our time in that horrible place, Alec told me all about his secret relationship with Magnus. He wasn't sure he could ever tell his family. I told him that they would still love him but he's not convinced. I lean closer to him.
"I know that you're unsure of their reactions, but it will hurt you if you don't greet him the way you want to. It's been two years since you've seen him. Don't lose him a second time," I whisper, looking at his expression. He doesn't respond, but he nods at me slightly.
I normally wouldn't be so pushy about something like this but Magnus was one of few things that got him through being trapped. I used to spend a lot of time with Alec, Isabelle, and Jace when I was younger. They lived down the road, but they moved right before high school. Their parents wanted to be closer to Alec's college. We still attended the same high school, but it was lot more difficult to hang out because none of us could drive yet, Alec being the exception.
I've only met Magnus a handful of times, but the way Alec talks about him makes me think that I may not have to worry about that. My eyes are drawn to Jace once again. Jace and I have always been close, but two years is a long time. I didn't mean to flinch when he reached toward me, I just didn't expect it. I don't know how to put that feeling of remorse into words though.
A knock at the door startles everyone, all of us lost in our own thoughts. Jace looks dazed for a second but shakes it off fast. He hops out of the chair he was lounging in and heads for the front door.
"About time Magnus..." Jace says, pulling the door open. His voice trails off.
"Hey, Jace. I was wondering..." Through the door steps one of my older brothers. My mom had a set of fraternal twins before she had me, Jonathan and Sebastian. Jonathan has blonde hair and the same green eyes we all got from mom. On the other hand, Sebastian's hair is black.
When my parents divorced when I was in middle school, Sebastian went to live with my father while Jonathan moved in with mom. I got passed around between both houses. I can feel the moment that Jonathan's eyes land on me. I know that he doesn't know anything about my disappearance, but it's hard to convince myself of that because Sebastian knew everything.
"C-Clary?" Jonathan's choked voice brings tears to my eyes. I stand, forgetting about my ankle in my daze. It doesn't matter though.
"Jonathan," I whisper, walking toward him slowly. I'm sure he's noticed that I'm covered in bandages and limping slightly but I don't care right now.
"H-How are you here? When did you get here?" he asks, his hands reaching toward me gently. I force myself not to flinch as he pulls me into a hug.
"We haven't been here very long. We only got here a little less than an hour ago. We were trying to figure out what to do," I say, not sure what to say.
"We should call the police. They need to know that you've been found. We also need to call mom. These past two years have destroyed her and Luke," Jonathan says, leaning back to look down at me. I bite my lip.
"Calling the police wouldn't be a good idea," I say, looking away from him.
"What? Why?" Jonathan's confusion stings, but it also brings relief.
"Your dad and brother would be the ones going to prison," Alec says, saving me once agian.
"Dad and Sebastian? Why..." he doesn't finish his thought. Undertanding dawns in his eyes. Before I can ask him about it, the front door opens again, revealing Magnus.
Magnus is silent as he enters the room, not talking at all. Considering how much he used to talk, I know that he must be scared that he'll chase Alec away. Alec seems frozen on the couch for a second, glancing up at me.
I smile a him gently, raising an eyebrow at him. He stands and nearly runs to Magnus, throwing his arms around him. The tears in Magnus' eyes are apparent. Jace's gaze meets mine, his eyes a little wide. I nod my head back toward the Alec hoping he'll see how happy he looks. Jace seems to visibly relax.
"Guys, I know that this is really touching, but we need to figure out what we're going to do. Clary, your dad is running for a seat on the city council. It's going to be really hard to accuse him of anything," Izzy says, disturbing the peace. She seems to finally have come out of her daze.