I AM SO SORRY THIS IS SO LATE! Also this is annoyingly short - my original draft for the chapter deleted itself somehow so I hurriedly rewrote it to a far poorer standard...to everyone who has reviewed and generally supported this story I really appreciate it and seriously you're all awesome. Next chapter will involve more background information and development of certain relation relationships but sorry for how bad this one is! Also check out my new fic if you're interested - it's called 'there are exceptions to every rule' and I'm really enjoying writing it!

Chapter 8

"Whilst it was nice of you to pop by, Jace." The unmistakeable voice of Jonathan Morgestern said into his captor's ear. "The least you could have done was to introduce yourself to my father. Being Clary's boyfriend after all. And, just so you know. My father is very protective of our darling Clary, even more so than me. But I'm SURE she has told you ALL about that." With a sharp cackle Jonathan spun Jace around - so they were face to face with his other hand reaching up to grip the free shoulder.

Jace didn't even bother trying to move at this current moment, he knew that letting Jonathan THINK he had the upper hand was of upmost importance whilst he fruitlessly tried to think of a way out of this predicament.

"We can remedy that situation though, don't worry, if you would just like to come with me."

Now this Jace could control. Without a word he ducked out of Jonathan's grasp, turning to his right to get free before kneeing him in the groin. He was about to turn to go when the unmistakeable cock of a gun was heard.

"From all the commotion anyone would think that you were disrespecting my son by refusing his generous offer of entering our home. Now whilst I know that that is not really the case, how would any other like minded individual tale the situation? If I were you I would come into the house. We don't want to cause a scene, however easy it would be to do so." Valentine even had the audacity to smile at Jace, though it was cold and devoid of emotion.

Very slowly Jace put his hands up and walked towards the house, deliberately stepping over the body of Jonathan who was still writhing on the floor.

Once the three of them were inside Valentine sighed. "That's better." He breathed - whilst indicating that Jace should sit down in the kitchen.

All that Clary knew was that something was very, very wrong. There had been no angry calls, no sudden kidnapping, nothing. Not a hint of an indication that her wayward family were in any way angry at her. But Clary knew better. No something was up, she thought to herself, and she was damn well going to find out what it was. Taking a deep breath Clary prepared herself for the most amount of words she had ever said to Izzy before.

"Isabelle.." Clary had only whispered, but it was enough. From the armchair in which she was lounging on Izzy's head snapped round to look at Clary with lightning speed.

"I'm going to the store, is there anything you want?" She tried to use the smallest number of words as possible to get her point across.

"Hey well I'm good thanks, but don't mind coming with you? You don't know where Jonathan is after all..." Izzy trailed off when she saw Clary shake her head confidently. "Erm okay, well text me if you need anything yeah?"

Internally Clary was mentally gearing herself up for the feat she was about to undertake. Going voluntarily to her own home after recent events was borderline suicidal, but she had to know that everything was okay. Her first mission would be to go back home and then, if Jace wasn't there, and Clary hoped this would be the case, to find him and - Clary suppressed the shudder that threatened to envelop her as she thought her next words - talk.

As soon as she had exited Izzy's Clary set off at a fast jog, adrenaline fuelling her stamina to get where she needed to go. 8 minutes later she arrived at her house and stared in dread at the front door. Sparing a look at the rest of the house she was surprised to see her bedroom window open a fraction, when she knew it had been closed when she left. Trying to ignore the ever increasing dread rising from the pit of her stomach she strided towards the front door, fumbling in her pocket for the keys that she had somewhere.

Jace was struggling to keep his eyes open and remain conscious after the beating he was taking. With no energy to move from the chair he'd been angrily shoved in he just tried to think of other things as he was pummelled to a pulp by Jonathan.

"Don't...you...ever...even...look...at...my...sist er...ever...again...do...you...hear...me..." In between words Jace was lucky enough to receive another punch to his face, which was now profusely bleeding.

Clary...Jace thought to himself...think of Clary...

"STOP!" A voice sounding distinctly Clary like screamed at the top of her lungs. Internally Jace praised himself at his skill to imagine her so vividly. But when the punches did indeed stop another realisation was slowly dawning on him. Opening his eyes just a fraction he was alarmed to see her in the kitchen doorway with anger gleaming in her eyes as she stared at the scene in thinly disguised horror.