Just a little filler chapter for now ^-^ next soon enough and thanks for the lovely reviews x

Cynthia found New York fascinating and pretty soon, she forgot about her mission to find the renegade demon boy.

She strolled along the bustling sidewalks with her eyes wide in wonder as she passed the shops and restaurants. No, she had no money on her to buy anything, but that didn't matter.

As for finding Jonathan… it was impossible. She had no weapons on her except for the dagger she kept in her boot. Something that made her nervous-

She didn't want to be caught alone in this place at night with just that. Who knew what roamed the streets, both human and demon wise after dark? At least she had her stele to keep her glamour up.

Cynthia sighed lightly as she walked down yet another alleyway with night fast approaching. It was cold and she'd found literally nothing of Jonathan. It was like he'd never been here in his life.

She wanted to head to the New York Institute and ask for shelter for the night, but knew she couldn't. Valentine would be beside himself with anger if she did that. But… she wasn't stupid. She'd never give herself or them both up. Who would be suspicious of a lone teenager visiting from Idris?

Tugging her coat more around her, she hurried down the darkening sidewalk, glancing up regularly for the tell-tale sign of a cathedral that was the place. Nearly an hour later after her wandering, she found it. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the door and bit her bottom lip a little before knocking hard a few times.

A few minuets later, the door was opened by a young woman her own age with long back hair and inquisitive eyes. "Yes?"

"I'm looking for a place to stay? Just for the night?"

The girl nodded, then stepped inside, looking around at the bare stone walls as she followed her as she was lead into the Institute, hearing a "What's your name?"

"Cynthia." She smiled and the black haired girl replied with "I'm Isabelle Lightwood. My parents run this place, but they're not here at the moment, sorry. It's just me, my brothers and Jace. Are you hungry? I made food."

"I'm starving" Cynthia replied truthfully, wishing the girl would stop talking for she had a headache and her stomach was rumbling. She wanted to go home, but didn't dare without Jonathan.

She was led into the kitchen where a black haired boy Cynthia guessed was Isabelle's brother was hovering over the cooker, making the girl snap as she started forwards "Alec? What are you doing to my bacon?"

"Saving it."

"Get off! I did it perfectly!"

"It was raw in the middle."

"Did I hear the door?"

There was something familiar about that voice. It made her heart wrench and twist in such a way that it shocked her. Soft padding footsteps sounded and she turned to face the figure walking into the room adding on "Do we actually have some food to-?" but he stopped dead as his eyes fixed themselves upon the new figure stood awkwardly next to the table. Cynthia just stared, all color draining from her face in an instant, the same as his own.

"Jace-? Are you okay?" Alec asked in concern, looking to Cynthia who was looking sick- was he missing something here? Why were they both so horrified to see the other?

"I'm fine." He replied curtly, but everyone could hear the falter in his voice and see his bone white face. Cynthia swallowed hard to force the tears back, shaking her head a little as she muttered out "Jonathan?"

"Wait. You two know each other?" Isabelle asked in a suspicious voice. Cynthia was still staring at the young man stood there in black jeans and a loose white t-shirt, his hair and eyes still their beautiful gold. His feet were bare. She felt herself turning and dashing back down the corridors and outside, doubling over as the cold night air hit her as she almost threw up. She just carried on running down the dark sidewalks, trying to get as far as possible.

He was alive. How was that… possible-? How could he be alive?

But there was one thing Cynthia knew; Valentine had lied about the fire, which he'd apparently died in. She had no idea what to do, or where to go. Cynthia wanted to go back inside, but that same thought made her feel like truly being sick. She was full of anger at her adopted father. How dare he lie to her like that, making her think he was dead? It was horrifying. Cynthia played with the ring on her finger, so sorely tempted to twist it and go home to just run a sword through that bastard for what he'd put her through. But then she realized he was alive. It was like all her prayers had been answered, but in some cruel way- she couldn't tell him the truth. He'd been lied to as well, that was clear on his face. What if he'd been told she was dead too?

She stopped running, her heart crashing against her chest and tears finally making an appearance as they streamed down her face.

It was all just too much.

Cynthia knew the demon boy would be okay on his own, at least, better off than her. Which was why when dawn was near, she made her way back to the Institute, finding it open. They'd obviously guessed that she'd be back, it wasn't hard.

"You're Cynthia Darkstone, aren't you?"

Cynthia jolted at that voice, spinning around to face Isabelle who was in red silky pajamas and messy midnight hair. She paused, then asked "He's spoken… I mean, he's talked about me?"

"A few times. Enough to know that you both grew up together. That he cared about you… a lot." A pause "then he woke up one morning and you were gone. You'd gone to live with your aunt on the other side of Idris."

What the hell?

Isabelle rolled her eyes "And then that night, his father was murdered. Talk about unlucky."

"Thank you Isabelle." A cold voice said and she jumped a little, turning to see the young man himself walk into the kitchen, asking "Are we having midnight meetings in the kitchen now? Do I need to wake Alec?"

Isabelle rolled her eyes and waved a hand in no direction in particular, indicating that she was going to leave the pair to it.

They stared at each other for a moment and Cynthia couldn't believe just how much he'd changed; he was taller than her now with tangled golden hair and she was sure his eyes were even more intense. Her mental image of him was when he'd been so young, bubbly with big eyes and even bigger hair.

"Hello." Cynthia muttered, staring at him. Then something inside her kind of snapped and she dashed forwards, throwing her arms around him and burying her face into his neck. She just hugged him as tight as possible, feeling him raise a hand and rub her back soothingly. He was in as much shock as she was she guessed.

He held her at arms length now, blinking a few times before saying in surprise "Not a little girl anymore, are you?"

"No. I'm not." Cynthia muttered and his aureate eyes flickered down to the voyance rune on the back of her hand, nodding a little "I can tell just from your eyes."

"What do you mean?"

"They're so dark now."

Cynthia paused, then frowned "Did they call you Jace?" another pause and he nodded "That's my name now."

"I like it."

Silence and Jace cleared his throat "I bet you're tired?" she nodded and Cynthia noticed he hadn't smiled once yet. By the angel it was so weird to see. Jace started forwards and she hurried after him until he reached a door, not meeting her eyes as he told her "This is your room. Mine is the one at the end of this side if you need anything. There probably won't be breakfast- Isabelle can't cook."

"Jona- Jace?"

"Yes?"

"It's good to see you. Truly."

He looked like he wanted to say something else to Cynthia's eyes, but instead he just nodded and replied with "The same." Then he turned around and walked down the corridor and vanished inside his room, the door snapping shut behind him.

Cynthia just stood there feeling cold and if it was possible, even more alone.