Jace's POV
Not that I was ever really a light sleeper before, but the slight movement of Clary's body woke me like an alarm clock, maybe I was just a little extra jumpy. My arms tightened around her reflexively and my eyes flew open. Clary's back was to my chest, my arms around her waist. I hesitated, maybe it was a dream, maybe she was moving in her sleep, but I could feel my heart racing in my chest, I just had an overwhelming feeling that she was going somewhere. I waited, but nothing. Her breathing seemed steady. I glanced at the clock; it was only 5:30. I felt wide awake, although I knew I didn't get much sleep; it took me forever to fall asleep. I just needed some fresh air. Maybe a little walk around the garden. Maybe I'd go bring Wayfarer a carrot or something, if I could find one in the kitchen. I kissed Clary's hair gently and carefully detached myself from her. I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen out of the nightstand drawer and quickly scribbled a quick note. I pulled on a pair of gym shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers. I hit up the bathroom quickly before I headed out. I passed a number of guards and staff on the floor. I was surprised so many people were up. Several people said good morning, but nobody tried to stop me or anything. I stopped in the kitchen and three women were already busy at work. I reached for the fridge door and got a chorus of can I make you something to eat Sir. In no time at all I was heading outside with a mixture of cut up carrots and apples and a nice hot coffee in a travel mug. The coffee was really good. I leisurely walked down to the stables. It wasn't too hot outside and there was a breeze in the air. I could see gray clouds not too far off and was pretty sure we could expect a storm a little later in the day. Wayfarer was already fed and turned out, but he and Blaze were more than happy to have some apples and carrots. It was really nice having him right here where I could just walk over to see him whenever I wanted to. We would never live somewhere in the city we could have a horse and with him boarded so far way it was like I barely saw him. He seemed a little more relaxed today, probably getting adjusted to his surroundings, not that I wanted him to get used to being here, but you can't explain that to a horse. I saw Thomas and Cyril filling water pails in the field and spreading out flacks of hay. They each gave me a smile and quick good morning before they continued on with their choirs. I gave Wayfarer and Blaze the last of the snacks and one more pat for each of them before I cut back through the barn.
It was quiet here. There was none of the hustle and bustle of the day. Vague memories of my childhood kept creeping into my thoughts, a time I had tried so hard to forget. The last years I lived here were the hardest; my father worked so much of the time I felt like I was always alone. Things were different when I was younger though, I could just barely remember, but I was starting to. Maybe it was something about being here again. There was a peace here that I didn't feel in the city. Had things been different I could almost see myself here, in this life. Maybe without the mansion or the maids, but the Lightwoods practically lived in a mansion, not nearly this size, and they did have a woman that came by everyday, did cleaning and cooking. Maybe it was just the peace Clary gave me, with everything that happened yesterday; there was still an overall comfort of falling asleep with her in my arms and walking up with her still there. I was just looking forward to the upcoming chapter of our lives together. I was looking forward to find a place to call home with her. Though I use to love living on campus, something changed. The binge drinking, the drugs, the girls, the craziness, all seemed like a distant part of my life; a distant very stupid part of my life, though I knew it wasn't that long ago. It was only early July, finals were third week of May, and we were partying right after exams finished, before everybody packed up and got the hell out of there, but it seemed like a world away. My priorities changed. I finally realized what mattered. Clary. The life I wanted to have with Clary was all that mattered right now. I sat down on the bottom step leading up to the house. I took the last sip of my coffee and put down the cup as I leaned back on my hands. I looked out at the lake and watched as the sun danced across the water. A small smile ghosted my face as I thought of all the plans Clary and I had for the rest of the summer. I almost forgot where I was as I heard the door to the house close. I looked up behind me and saw Valentine. Well there goes my revere. I looked back towards the lake as he walked down the few steps.
"Just after 6:00 am. It's nice to see you're an early riser, but I'm rather surprised, I hear you were out fairly late. How was your evening?" I shrugged.
"It was a pretty crazy day. I think Clary and I both just needed a little quiet time together." He nodded.
"How are things going so far? Is the suite comfortable? Is the staff hospitable? Is there anything else you require?" There was something about his voice, an eagerness I hadn't noticed when he spoke to me before. I just took a deep breath.
"Everybody's nice and the suite is great." He smiled.
"Does this mean you'll be staying?" I scratched the back of my head and attempted to look a little uncomfortable. Clary and I had talked about it with Michael and right now we were just trying to keep Valentine pacified, but I wasn't supposed to make it look too easy either, Valentine would get suspicious.
"I don't know. I don't' really think yesterday was a good model of what life would be like here, at least I really hope it's not...Just give us a little time to absorb everything." He nodded slowly.
"Where did you go last night when you road Jace?" I looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows. I had to be careful how much I lied about, I wasn't sure how many cameras he had on the property or how many people were keeping tabs on Clary and I.
"We went to the Wayland Manor House. Why?" He half shrugged in a nonchalant way, but with Valentine I think his line of questioning was very deliberate.
"Just curious." I was somewhat surprised when he took a seat right next to me.
"Being back here, especially the manor house must bring back memories for you. Have things started to look familiar a little?" I shrugged.
"A few things here and there, but it's coming back slow." He nodded.
"What types of things do you remember?" I looked out towards the water and closed my eyes.
"I remember the purple lilacs that use to bloom all around the manor house in the spring…the feeling of fresh cut grass under my bare feet…the taste of eating strawberries right out of the gardens…the smell of the wood burning fireplaces in the fall…the way the property looked covered in snow in the winter…and the symphony of a good summer storm." As if on cue there was a faint rumble in the distance and I opened my eyes. He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave a squeeze in a gentle almost caring way.
"Sounds like it's coming back." Valentine said simply. I nodded.
"Yeah." I couldn't help but notice he just left his hand on my shoulder.
"Do you remember much about your father Jace?" I sat forward and rested my elbows on my knees. His hand slid from my shoulder to my upper back, but very smoothly, had it been anybody but Valentine it would seem like almost a natural gesture. I looked down at my hands as I rubbed them together to brush the sand off. I wondered where he was going with this.
"A little."
"Do you wonder why it is I live at this estate and your father lived at a cottage on these very grounds, or do you remember?" I nodded slowly. I clasped my hands together loosely and looked out at the water. I tried to respond how I would have if he had asked me the same thing 24 hours ago.
"I remembered the manor house when I saw it, but when we came here the other day, I didn't remember the manor house was here, on these grounds…" I said hesitantly. I didn't want to get Thomas in trouble, so I tried to remember just what Clary had said Thomas told her the day before yesterday.
"…Clary said…that guy at the barn told her…my father was raised by your…mother?" I said the statement more like it was a question and glanced sideways at Valentine. He nodded as he gave my back a pat. I could hear another faint growl of thunder and the skies were just starting to look a shade darker.
"That's right. My mother raised your father. He was like a brother to me." I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked back down at my hands.
"So you're kind of like an uncle to me?…That's really weird." I shook my head. I could hear him chuckle as his hand grazed down my back in a simple gesture before disappearing.
"In the loosest sense of the word…Actually I saw you very rarely. I lived in Chicago with my family, and your father never once brought you there, though in his defense he was a very busy man. I came home so infrequently and I never went down to the manor house. I really just saw you when the family came home at Christmas, and that wasn't every year. In all honesty I probably only saw you a handful of times as a child." I nodded slowly. Not quiet the same doting uncle it sounded like Luke was.
"Can I ask you a question?" I asked softly. I was still looking down at my hands.
"Of course." I looked sideways at him. He was leaning forward at his point too.
"If you were like my uncle, why didn't you take me in after my father died?" I didn't know why I asked. I knew it would never have been a good life, it was exactly what Michael didn't want for me, but it still sort of nagged at me for some reason. He took a deep breath.
"It just didn't work out that way." He said simply. I nodded and looked back down at my hands.
"Oh…stay still…" Of course my first reaction was to sit up when he said that. Valentine's hand swept my shoulder forward and then across my chest twice. My eyes followed his hand, but I couldn't figure out what he was doing.
"There was a little insect. I believe I got it, but it might have fallen in your lap." I found myself lifting the bunched up hem of my t-shirt and shaking it out. I didn't see anything.
"Whatever it was, it's gone now." I muttered. He smiled.
"Do you remember what your father use to do for a living?" I nodded slowly.
"He worked for his…uncle?...At some sort of research plant?" I asked hesitantly. I glanced back up at Valentine. He smirked.
"Very good…His uncle, or my father actually…Do you remember what he did at that plant?" I just furrowed my eyebrows and shook my head slightly.
"I'm not sure." Valentine's smirk turned up further and he put his hand on my shoulder.
"I want to ask you something Jace…" There was something in the way he spoke that made me furrow my eyebrows even further. He moved his hand to the back of my neck and squeezed a couple times, not roughly, more like a brief massage. He left his arm resting across my shoulder, his hand gently draped at my neck.
"Is Michael Wayland alive?" I shook my head. Well I didn't expect that one.
"No…He died when I was ten." I said as evenly as I could. He nodded as he took his hand back and rested it in his lap.
"I'm sure you're surprised I asked such a question, but your pulse accelerated exponentially when I asked you if your father was alive and then when you lied to me." All I could think of was human lie detector. He put his hand on my neck to feel a difference in my pulse. I could tell he was trying to slip me up, but I already had a cup of coffee, I was good.
"My father isn't alive." I said matter-of-factly. Valentine smirked.
"He was a very talented employee you know?…He specialized in…technical support. He made things work however he'd like them to. For example he could make a couple tweaks so that when you got a phone call on your cell, your car just spontaneously exploded…" I was shocked and I'm sure it was written all over my face. Not because I didn't know that already, but I couldn't believe he just told me that.
"…I see you're surprised…Clarissa has had a recent tragedy in her life and I'd hate to connect that back to your father. That might put a damper on her feelings towards you. Don't you think?" My breath caught for a moment as my heart began to race.
"I…I don't understand…My father died ten years ago…and…and…he wouldn't do something like that." He smirked a very unsettling smirk.
"My personal mechanics confirmed that what befell Clarissa's mother was no accident, and in my business there is always somebody seeking revenge for something…Just a small job really. My boy your father has done so much more than that. You should have seen what he did to the family that took Jonathan from me. That was spectacular, really showing off with that one. He really has a special touch with explosives, though lets keep that one between us men. Clarissa's a little skittish like her mother. Not going to help my cause if she thinks these rumors about the Morgenstern family are true…So you keep me happy by keeping Clarissa close to home, and she never has to know any of our little secrets." I just stared at him for a moment agape. I shook my head slightly.
"Are you trying to blackmail me? I won't be blackmailed. I don't believe you. My father is dead." He looked sinister.
"Now come on, neither one of us truly believes that Jace. I just keep playing over the last day and I really do think you were the target, the thing is…you're still here. Somebody even took the time to rescue that horse of yours. There must be somebody out there watching over you. Then there was the little debacle at the auto repair shop earlier this week, again you appear to have a guardian angle. I've looked into you thoroughly Jace and you just don't know anybody of significance, nobody of the caliber to deal with such things, yet remain invisible. Nobody that is, except your father." I knew he was gauging my reaction, but I was so shocked by this whole conversation I didn't really need to act too much, I just had to watch what I said.
"I don't believe you."
"Just because you don't believe it doesn't make it any less true and I'm rather inclined to think you do believe me. The evidence is all there Jace. Do you think she'll be upset? Clarissa does get awfully upset easily. She holds grudges too. It won't go over well if she finds out." I just furrowed my eyebrows and found myself standing up. I was shaking my head.
"Even if you're telling me the truth, and I don't believe you are, Clary's not going to hold me responsible for something my father did years after I thought he was dead." Valentine nodded still smirking he leaned back on his hands casually. He looked out at the lake as he spoke.
"Let me explain something to you Jace. Listen carefully. I rarely give a person options, so you should feel privileged you have some say in this matter. The only reason I even waste my time with this little negotiation if you will, is that I prefer for Clarissa to be here willingly. Now, I've tried asking you nicely, which is something I rarely do. I tried bribing you handsomely, which is really saying a lot for how highly I value your involvement in this affair. I can blackmail you coldheartedly, which is more of my style, though I find it's very hard to blackmail a person for any extended length of time. Lastly, you can leave, walk away, which I feel is preferable, however I fear for your sake, may have negative repercussions. No matter how you wish to reach a compromise my boy, the end goal is the same. I've decided I would like Clarissa to be an integral part of this family, and therefore she will be. Though I do prefer she stay willingly, she's staying either way. How you fit into this picture is really up to you?" He stood and brushed off his hands before clasping them behind his back. He had a very overconfident look to his face. If I just folded, he'd know something was up. I was cocky and defiant, that's how I was going to play this.
"First of all, I know Clary, you don't, so don't pretend you do because you've spent all of a couple teatimes with her. Clary is just looking for a reason to walk away from you and never look back. All she needs is the smallest shred of evidence that you're the guy her mother warned her about, and I promise you, you'll never see her again. One word from me and she'll run like the wind. Second, you can't blackmail me. I don't believe Michael Wayland is alive and even if he was I don't believe he's killed anybody, and even if he did, I wouldn't expect Clary to blame me any more than I would blame her for all the sins I'm sure you've committed. So the way I see it, you can be nice to me and try to bribe me to keep my mouth shut and get on board, but you really don't have any other options." Though I was trying to act confident, I was trying not to overplay my hand, I had no idea what this guy was capable of. I'd gone head to head with him several times yesterday, but he wasn't this ominous yesterday. He looked almost amused.
"I can't tell if you're attempting to be brave or if you're just stupid. Unfortunately for you, I've been at this much longer than you've even been alive and I have much more leverage. Nice try though. I think you've had your chance at negotiating, but you're really not all that good at it. Maybe in a few years I'll give you some pointers, for now though, this is what's going to happen; you do what I say and I'll let you spend the rest of your life happily with my daughter. From this moment forward, neither you nor Clarissa will be leaving the estate, at least not any time soon, and definitely not permanently. We all live as one big happy family. I'll have an iron clad prenuptial agreement put together by my lawyers, which you will sign without protest. Though, I warn you, you cross me Jace and you might just go missing. You won't be the only one either, Isabelle, Alexander, Simon, Magnus, Jordan, Maia, Robert, Maryse, everybody you've ever touched will share in your fate. I'll even throw in that horse of yours for good measure." I glared daggers at him though my heart was racing in my chest. Any rational not to stir up a hornets nest was gone. Part of me knew I should play nice, get to Clary, and maybe go to Michael, but right now the larger part of me was just completely furious.
"You'd never get away with that. She'd know what you did, she'd leave you." I seethed. He shook his head as he flourished his hand nonchalantly.
"No, I don't think so. I'm rather good at what I do Jace. Her mother didn't seem suspicious in the slightest when her parents died; they never cared too much for me, terrible fire at their house…" I just stared at him agape and he smirked.
"…You know my good friend Lucian didn't seem to make any connection at all to the deaths of his sisters, though…" I couldn't help but gasp.
"…Oops, nearly forgot who I was talking to…that hits a bit too close to home now doesn't it?...In my defense, he spent years panting after my wife, I couldn't just let that go…I don't let things go Jace. I don't ever let things go, and I won't ever let Clarissa go either. Though, your father was the closest thing I ever had to a brother, and that makes you as close to a nephew as I'll ever have, so I'll give you one more opportunity to leave. The money and check are where I left them. So run along and think of exactly what you want to do. If you are as in love with my daughter as you claim, you better figure out how to convince her that the best thing for the both of you is to remain right here, for I guarantee you she's not stepping foot off this property any time soon, and the only way you're leaving is alone. Now, if you feel the sudden urge to open your mouth and share our little conversation with my daughter, think carefully. You may be the closest thing I have to a nephew, but at the end of the day, you're still a Herondale, say the wrong thing, and you'll find yourself at the bottom of the lake…" I swallowed hard. I had a strong feeling this guy wasn't joking. I didn't even know what to say. I felt completely fucked right now. I wanted to hold Clary in my arms and know she was alight. Suddenly Jordan's suggestion I wear a wire didn't sound that crazy. Like a truck it hit me, Valentine's hand on my shoulder, the almost affectionate way he patted my back, the insect…he was subtly making sure I didn't have a wire.
Clary's POV
I took a deep breath as I felt more awake. I wasn't cool, but the heater I had grown accustomed to wasn't next to me warming me up. I stretched my arms out, but when they didn't encounter another body, I opened my eyes. Jace wasn't in bed with me. It took me a second to realize I was at my father's estate, Valentine's estate; I didn't even want to think of that man as my father anymore. I was immediately disappointed. I sat up and glanced around the nightstand and then the bed looking to see if Jace left a note. There on his nightstand was a little scrap of paper.
Morning Gorgeous,
Went for a quick walk down to the stables. Be back soon.
Love,
Jace
I flipped the paper over, it was blank on the other side. It would have been nice of him to give me an idea when he left, but at least he left a note. I glanced at the clock, it was just about 6:00. Why was he up so early? Why was I up so early? I put the note back in the nightstand drawer and climbed out of bed. I pulled the shades open. I could see the gray skies in the distance and I scowled. It looked like it was going to storm today, which would really suck. I went to the bathroom before heading to the living room area. A little part of me hoped Jace was just watching tv in the other room. I was walking around the suite in merely a red satiny thigh length slip, but it was supposed to be my private suite, right? I jumped when I opened the bedroom door and saw a woman straightening up the throw pillows on the couch.
"Good…Good morning Miss." She stumbled over her words; I'm sure was taken by surprise when she noticed my attire. I quickly closed the bedroom door partway, just sticking my head out.
"Morning." I said hesitantly. She smiled.
"Can I get you anything? Some tea, coffee, breakfast?" The thought of coffee sounded really good. I couldn't help but give a little smile.
"Coffee sounds great." I said timidly. She smiled.
"Excellent. I'll be right back." She was out of the room immediately. I shut the bedroom door and went over to my purse that was on the bureau. I was thankful last night when I found out Izzy brought my purse here; it had my birth control in it. I took my pill last night, but didn't take the time to really look through my purse. It wasn't actually one I normally carried. It was much bigger than my usual purse; it was closer to a sack. I dumped the contents on the bureau and smiled when I noticed she shoved my colored pencils and a new sketch book into the bag. She could be so thoughtful sometimes. I wondered if she got a new sketchbook because she was afraid it would get taken away from me or looked through, or something. Just because I was stuck here didn't mean I had to mope around. I grabbed the sketchbook and pencils and quickly surveyed a few of the other items. Izzy's idea of necessities: a small see-through makeup case with a handful of makeup and a few bottles of nail polish; a couple pushup bras; a few pairs of thongs; a couple satin and lace slips; my bottle of grapefruit shampoo in a Ziploc bag; a handful of condoms; a toothbrush; and a one pound box of junior mints. How could she think I didn't have a toothbrush? I had a feeling those junior mints were more for Jace than me. I stopped my survey and just chucked everything back in my purse, shy of the junior mints, I left those on the bureau for Jace. She was such a sweetheart when she wanted to be. I walked over to the bed and tucked myself back in leaning up against three pillows I had propped against the headboard. I was on the side Jace slept on the previous night, the side closest to the window, though I was still probably a good ten or so feet away from that wall, this room was huge. I had the blankets pulled up to my chest and I flipped the sketchpad open to the first page. I pulled my knees up to use like a table and grabbed a black colored pencil. I wasn't sure if it was the pencil I had chosen or just the memory that nagged at me, but I soon found myself drawing a picture of Jonathan, starting with his eyes. There was a knock on my door and the maid came in with my coffee. It was so nice to be delivered coffee in bed; I'd never had service like this my entire life. I asked her to just leave the bedroom door open when she left; I figured Jace would be back soon anyway.
I felt like I had gotten the eyes just right, and the jaw line, that strong Morgenstern jaw line like Valentine. I had the eyebrows and the nose, and I really simplified the hair and his ears, but right now I just had a line where his mouth was supposed to be. I couldn't picture his mouth right, probably because I spent so much time looking at his eyes. I heard the bedroom door shut and didn't even bother taking my eyes off my sketch pad as I just barely registered Jace out of my peripheral vision sauntering up to my side.
"Looks like me." I jumped and let out with a scream to the sound of Jonathan's voice. My black pencil was projected across the room, and my box of colored pencils and sketchpad went flying across the bed as I held the blankets tighter to my neck. My heart felt like a stamped the way it was pounding in my chest. I snapped my head to Jonathan with a glare on my face; he was smirking and chuckling a little.
"I didn't mean to startle you." He said simply. His hands were clasped behind his back and he was close to me, so close, his legs almost touched the edge of the bed. He had on a pair of tan cargo shorts and a black t-shirt he wore untucketd; as oppose to everything I had seen him in previously, he looked pretty normal right now.
"What are you doing here?" I scolded. He just smirked further.
"I just wanted to see you. I saw the maid bring you coffee, so I figured you were up. Low and behold, you are." I just glared at him.
"Don't you knock?" I snapped. He shrugged.
"You didn't lock the door to the suite and your bedroom door was wide open." I furrowed my eyebrows at him, and couldn't help noticing my bedroom door wasn't opened any longer, he had closed it.
"The door to the suite has a lock?" He chuckled.
"Yes, and if you lock that door, a little red light goes on outside your suite to tell the maids you wish not to be disturbed."
"Hump…Good to know." I muttered.
"I was going to see if you wanted to go for a walk outdoors with me, but it looks like rain." I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"Why would I want to go for a walk with you?" He looked amused.
"I had rather hoped we could talk a bit, get to know each other. I'm not really supposed to be in this wing, so if my father finds out I'm here, it won't go over very well." I believed that.
"Jonathan I don't even think we're supposed to talk to each other." He nodded.
"That's why I wanted to go for a walk outdoors. Much of the estate is well monitored, but I know how to sneak out without anyone noticing." I rolled my eyes.
"Well like you said, it's going to rain." He sat on the edge of the bed and I slid over slightly. He glanced down and back up towards me in almost a bashful way.
"I could stay here, you could send the maids away if they come." Well that definitely was a bad idea.
"I don't think so Jonathan. I wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea." He took a deep breath. The amused look was fading into a more serious expression.
"Can I ask you why you wish to marry Jace?" Ok, this was definitely a bad line of questioning.
"I love Jace." I said simply. He nodded as he looked down at his hands that were clasped together in his lap.
"Do you know that he's not really a Wayland, not by blood? He's a Herondale, his biological father was a Herondale. Have you ever heard of the family?" Yeah this was definitely not a conversation I needed to be having with Jonathan.
"Yeah, I mean I knew his biological father was a Herondale. He doesn't ever talk about his biological family though." Jonathan nodded.
"I can imagine why, it's not a very respectable family." I sighed loudly.
"Well he was raised by Lightwoods, and they're a pretty respectable family I believe." He nodded.
"True, but some things run blood deep…" He took a deep breath. I just rolled my eyes.
"…You know my life used to be perfect. I had everything I wanted. There was nothing I could think of that would make my life more full. Then I first saw you out by the stables and I find myself thinking about you all the time. I do wish it would stop. I can't focus on anything, I can't concentrate at all. I nearly lost a hand yesterday while fencing. I feel odd. I constantly feel weak. I don't like the way you make me feel. When I'm near you though, there's an exhilaration I've never felt before, and I find myself drawn back to you, no matter how many times my father tells me to stay away." He looked up at me with desire in his eyes, and the look was extremely unsettling.
"Jonathan, I'm getting married to Jace. I'm sorry." He looked annoyed.
"I am well aware that you are engaged. You're not married yet!..." He snapped.
"…You could give me a chance, just some time to get to know you, just one chance. I just want to spend some more time with you. If after that you're still dead set on marrying your fiancé, so be it." His words were gentle and almost sounded like he was pleading. I was shaking my head.
"I'm sorry, but no. I'm in love with Jace and you won't change my mind." He stood up quickly, his fists balled at his sides, he looked pissed.
"You're so frustrating. You have no idea what you're doing to me. Do you think I like this? Well I don't. Whatever you did, whatever you're doing, you need to stop it. You need to make it go away. You're driving me insane. You did something and I'm not leaving until you undo it." I rolled my eyes.
"It doesn't work like that. I didn't do anything to you." He took an exasperated breath.
"Then what cruel ailment do you suppose I'm inflicted with?" I scoffed.
"Jonathan-" He reached down and snatched up my sketchpad as though he just remembered it and I found myself reaching for it, the covers falling away. He was quicker though. He was examining the drawing as he spoke.
"You act as though you are completely indifferent towards me, yet you can't deny this drawing is a likeness?" I rolled my eyes, yeah that probably was going to be hard to explain.
"It's not like that." I muttered.
"You think of me. On some level you must wonder. I could give you anything you ever dreamed of Clary. Just give me a single chance to prove it to you." He put the picture down and looked up at me. He gasped slightly and just stared. That craving look of lust thick in his eyes. I really didn't like that look. I was suddenly aware I had dropped the blankets and snatched them back up to my chest.
"Can I help you?" I said sarcastically. He had a slight smirk.
"Is that your normal attire for drawing?" I rolled my eyes.
"I just got up…You know what? It's none of your business…Let me make this clear. I don't have feeling for you like that. Nothing will ever happen between us. I'm engaged to Jace." He scowled.
"You say you don't have feelings for me, but I don't believe that. I can't believe you affect me as you do and I have no similar effect on you. As for your affianced, where is he now? I find it hard to believe you have the level of esteem for him you claim to yet you sit idly and draw as opposed to rush to his side. Had I such a beautiful young woman, I would not leave her unattended." I rolled my eyes.
"Trust me he barely does, but I think he went for a walk down to the stables. He should be back soon. I bet he'll be really excited to see you." I said the last part very sarcastically. Jonathan furrowed his eyebrows at me.
"Do you mean to tell me you share the same sleeping quarters?" Oh god not him too. I took a deep breath.
"Yeah." I said lazily.
"My father is usually rather strict in regards to such matters, but you are merely guests, I imagine it's difficult to enforce such a thing."
"Believe me he's tried." I muttered. Some of the anger left Jonathan's face and he sat down on the edge of the bed. He was looking into my eyes, but more like he was trying to read me.
"Then our time together is limited." I could hear the disappointment in Jonathan's voice, though he really had no idea how limited our time together really was. Michael didn't just want to kill Valentine, he wanted to kill Jonathan too, and besides the fact Jonathan hated Jace with a passion, which seemed more understandable now, he was my brother, and I really wondered if he was being dealt with fairly. I felt bad, really bad. Maybe Michael was being unreasonable just throwing him in with Valentine. He was branded as deserving of death by association. Will thought he had something to do with his sister's death, but that was the only story that directly related to Jonathan, and Will wasn't even sure what happened. I kind of did want to spend time with Jonathan, get to know him; maybe he was worth making an exception for.
"Maybe we can go for a walk later." I said softly. Jonathan smiled and before I knew it he had reached out his hand and placed it on the back of my neck as he crushed his lips to mine. I pushed off of his chest and pulled back.
"Jonathan!" I snapped. He looked offended.
"I thought…You said…" I rolled my eyes.
"I said maybe we can go for a walk." I snapped.
"Yes but…I thought…" I took a deep breath.
"No. Whatever you thought is wrong." I said firmly. He looked frustrated.
"You're being stubborn, but you can't deny you felt something." I rolled my eyes.
"I felt nothing." I said matter-of-factly. Maybe I could have been a little kinder. He made an irritated noise.
"You're just saying that because you wish to remain loyal to Jace. You're denying your feelings for me." I started to shake my head. He looked like he was searching my face.
"No-" Before I knew it he crushed his lips to mine again his hands holding my face firmly in place. I kept my mouth still and shut as I pushed his chest. He was unyielding and I moved my hand up to physically place it between our mouths. He pulled away, but left his hands cradling my face.
"God Jonathan stop that you're my brother!" I snapped. He dropped his hands from my face and his eyes got wide as he sat up. Oh well, nothing I could do now, and I really warned Valentine.
"What?" He snapped. I took a deep breath.
"Jonathan I wanted to tell you, but father was adamant-" I started delicately. He put his hands back on both my cheeks as he cut me off. He was looking at me with a crazy intensity.
"Clary, be very specific, what exactly were you told, are you my sister or are you Valentine's daughter?" There was a quick little knock on the door and Jonathan dropped his hands from my face. The maid that had given me coffee earlier opened the door.
"More coffee-" She looked startled and I nearly thought she was going to drop the coffee pot.
"Jonathan-" She started, but he cut her off abruptly,
"Shut up." He snapped. He quickly returned the same intense gaze to me, his hands back on my face.
"Clary?' He asked expectantly. I was suddenly connecting the pieces, those eyes that didn't go with the picture in my head.
"Your sister." I said hesitantly. The door to the bedroom closed and we both looked back to see the maid had gone.
Jace's POV
I was in shock, just standing there; neither of us speaking. I felt like the weather mirrored everything going on, though it had started as a peaceful day with clear blue skies, now the skies had become gray, and the rumbles of thunder once few and far between were becoming more prominent; it was going to be a stormy day in more than one way. Valentine's cell phone range and something about his whole demeanor changed. There was almost a look of distress that ghosted his face before he reached for the phone. He pulled it out quickly and I couldn't help but see the simple text.
He knows.
He turned back towards the house and one hand reached out and grabbed my upper arm swiftly as he roughly yanked me up the stairs. The first drop of rain landed on my bare arm. There was a tension in his body that was completely foreign to anyway I had ever seen him act previously.
"Now listen very closely Jace…" Valentine said softly, but firmly. He towed me through the doors and down the hallway, though for some reason I had no urge to pull away, except for the fact the amount of force he was using to hold my arm was really unnecessary and somewhat painful.
"…You wanted to know why I haven't told Jonathan about Clarissa, well you just might find out…It may be hard for you to believe, but my daughter's best interest is of the utmost importance to me. If we have nothing else in common I would imagine we have that. It is crucial that you keep your antagonistic mouth shut and no matter what I say, you mustn't contradict me. Do you understand?" He was walking much quicker than normal; we twisted and turned through the halls. I just furrowed my eyebrows at him in confusion. The look he cast me sideways was severe and extremely menacing. He shook my arm hard. I could hear footsteps and I glanced behind me. I could see Starkweather walking hastily towards us but Valentine never turned or acknowledged him.
"Do you understand?" His words were sharp and venomous. Between his demeanor, what he had just said, and the look on his face, I felt like I really should cooperate, at least for the time being.
"Yeah." I said softly.
"The word is Yes, not Yeah!" He said curtly and finally released my arm as we approached the staircases. I couldn't believe how fast Valentine was moving, he even took the stairs two at a time. He was practically running. Of course he had said enough at this point that I really wasn't about to stop walking with him. Starkweather caught up to us surprisingly fast. For a shorter man he was unexpectedly quick.
"Where?" Valentine snapped.
"Master suite Sir." Starkweather said almost hesitantly. Valentine made an irritated noise.
"Lock down the wing!" Valentine snapped. Starkweather simply nodded.
"Already done Sir." My mind was working quickly to piece the few things I knew together. This involved Jonathan I just knew it, and from what I gathered he now knew Clary was his sister, and we were heading to the master suite on the third floor, east wing, mine and Clary's suite. Between the urgency in how Valentine acted, and the number of guards we passed as we spilled out of the stairwell onto the third floor up until we reached the bedroom door, I was unquestionably on high alert. We had to have passed about twenty guards and there had to be an additional half a dozen guards outside the master suite door alone, not to mention two more just inside the doorway. The bedroom door was closed and that's where the talking was coming from; it wasn't yelling or screaming, but it was sharp. Valentine opened the door swiftly and walked into the hostile situation. Clary was sitting up in bed with the blankets pulled up to her chest. I could just see the cherry red spaghetti straps to her lingerie showing. The look on her face wasn't anger, but compassion. Jonathan on the other hand looked fuming. He was standing in front of the bureau and when we walked in he dropped a partially filled bag on top of the bureau. I could tell by the open drawers that he was putting Clary's clothes in the bag.
"Jonathan-" Valentine started, but not harshly, almost in a calming tone, but Jonathan pointed his finger at Clary as we walked in, cutting Valentine off.
"My sister? She's my sister?" Jonathan snapped in an elevated tone. Valentine raised his arms partway, palms down, in a gesture that clearly meant calm down as he took a couple steps into the room.
"Now Jonathan we can talk about this-" Jonathan shoved a few more of Clary's things in the bag as he cut Valentine off.
"When were you going to tell me?" Valentine's face was a shear mask, completely unreadable.
"This is a very complicated situation Jonathan." Jonathan stopped packing and looked back up at Valentine.
"You were going to tell me weren't you?" Jonathan snapped.
"We can talk about this in my office." Jonathan shook his head.
"Answer me! Is she my sister?" Valentine took a deep breath.
"Yes. Clarissa is your sister." Jonathan looked livid.
"I had a sister and you never told me! How could you keep this from me?" Jonathan was talking in an elevated tone, not full out yelling, but borderline. Valentine shook his head.
"I had no idea Clarissa existed up until just a couple months ago." Jonathan took an exasperated breath as he looked from Clary to Valentine.
"Months! You knew for months!" He seethed. Jonathan looked flustered and completely pissed off. He ran his hand through his hair. He took another frustrated breath and narrowed his eyes at Valentine as though he was trying to read his face, but Valentine gave nothing away. Jonathan turned back to shoving Clary's clothes in a bag.
"Jonathan what is it that you think you're doing?" Valentine asked rather monotone. Though he had taken a couple steps in the room I couldn't help but notice he didn't approach Jonathan, nor did he once acknowledge Clary, though she and I had exchanged a number of puzzled looks with each other.
"Clary is moving to my wing where I can watch over her." Jonathan snarled in the same frustrated tone.
"The house is filled with guards, whatever will you be watching for?" Valentine said as he crossed his arms. The blatant aggression seemed to be at bay, but Jonathan was still clearly hostile. Jonathan cast me a cold vicious look.
"I don't want him anywhere near her." He growled. I took a step towards Jonathan and he dropped what he was doing in a confrontational way, but Valentine swiftly put his hand on my shoulder to keep me from advancing.
"Jonathan, he's my fiancé." Clary said softly as she made to move. Jonathan turned his head towards her. I couldn't see the look he cast her, but she froze and looked taken aback.
"No sister of mine is marrying a Herondale!" Jonathan snarled through clenched teeth. My fists clenched at my sides and I attempted another step, but Valentine's hand was firm on my shoulder.
"Though your display of brotherly protectiveness is commendable, Clarissa has yet to decide if she wishes to even live here with us." Jonathan cast Valentine a dark look. I found his statement odd, but I wasn't about to argue. I figured this was part of the whole, go with the flow and keep your mouth shut thing he wanted me to do.
"I wonder where her apprehension lies?…" Jonathan said sarcastically. He turned his gaze to Clary.
"…I'm not letting you out of my site." He said gently. Clary rolled her eyes.
"Jonathan I-" Valentine cut her off.
"This is Clarissa's decision, not ours. However long her stay with us may be, her and Jace will remain in this suite." There was a malicious look in Jonathan's eyes. He took a step closer to me. Valentine pulled me back a half a step closer to him, his hand still on my shoulder. I found it so odd, Valentine, the same guy that was threatening me moments ago, the same guy that wanted me to be in a separate bedroom from Clary, suddenly was defending me, and defending us sharing a suite. I couldn't figure out his angle.
"It's time for you to go." Jonathan seethed as he crossed his arms over his chest. His hands were balled so tightly in fists they were turning white. My fisted hands were clenching and unclenching at my side. Not that I thought I could bet Jonathan in a fight, but I felt I could at least get a few good swings in. I wasn't a coward. I wasn't going to back down to him just because I was pretty certain he could kick my ass. Though, Valentine's fingers biting painfully into my shoulder were reminding me to keep my mouth shut.
"Jonathan, I knew this would upset you. You need to come to grips with the fact they are getting married." Another odd statement for Valentine to be making.
"NO! He's a Herondale!" Jonathan growled.
"He wasn't raised as one and he has no connection to the Herondale family." Jonathan's dagger gaze was unrelenting.
"He does. He's been hanging around William." Valentine shook his head slightly.
"They've just been introduced, a fleeting acquaintance I assure you. I shall see to it that both Clarissa and Jace are well enough informed as to why that association has no future." Jonathan and I just stared each other down.
"No. He's a Herondale by blood. I won't have it!...Leave while you can still walk." Jonathan snarled. My feet tried to advance, but Valentine was extremely strong.
"We're engaged. Leave him alone Jonathan." Clary's voice sounded more like she was pleading than anything else. Jonathan turned his gaze back to Clary, I couldn't see his face, but she shrank back slightly.
"If I'm informed correctly, and I nearly always am, your engagement is recent and your courtship almost nonexistent…" He turned his daunting gaze to me.
"…I know more about you than you'll ever know, and without diminishing the integrity of my sister, I do wish to acknowledge that one need not marry a girl that one dates more than once!" The way he accentuated the word dates it was pretty clear he was using it as a euphemism. I was getting to the point I was literally biting my tongue, of course every word that came out of Jonathan's mouth caused Valentine's fingers to dig further into my shoulder. I would definitely have a hand shaped bruise there later.
"How dare you-" Clary started as she sat up in bed abruptly, kneeling upright, the blankets dropping to the bed, her hands on her hips. She had one of her, if looks could kill glares. The thigh length red satiny slip she was wearing was not going to help this situation though. Jonathan snapped his head to her as he cut her off.
"Enough! One day you'll realize this is for your own good…" He turned his menacing gaze back to me.
"…Had you not been a Herondale, you still wouldn't be nearly good enough for my sister." He snarled. Those fingers just kept burrowing painfully into my shoulder. Though, the anger boiling inside me was definitely offset by the fighting urge to recoil from Valentine.
"Jonathan!..." Valentine snapped.
"…This tantrum has gone on long enough…They're getting married. That's final. This is not open to discussion." Valentine said evenly. Jonathan narrowed his eyes at Valentine.
"Why are you defending him? He's a Herondale. Why are you so adamant they marry? Clary hasn't said more than two words to defend herself and I'm beginning to think Jace has laryngitis..." Valentine just looked at Jonathan with the same unreadable mask. Jonathan turned his dagger gaze back to me.
"…You certainly don't act like a Herondale; they're known to be much more courageous. Yet you seem quite comfortable hiding in my father's shadow. Unable to fight your own battles? How chivalrous you are. Won't even defend the woman you claim to love?" I couldn't stay quiet anymore.
"Come on Jonathan. Is it really because I'm a Herondale that you're so pissed off? Having trouble coming to grips with reality? You're falling for her, but she'll never be yours." I didn't think it was possible, but Jonathan's face darkened. He looked murderous. I was pretty sure I hit the nail right on the head. He took another half a step closer. I also didn't think it was possible for Valentine's fingers to dig any further into my shoulder as he held me back.
"She'll never be yours either." Jonathan snarled coldly. He looked sadistic. I just smirked back at him.
"She already is…in every way." I said heavily. Valentine's hand, firm on my shoulder, attempting to cut off all circulation to my arm, made it nearly impossible for me to do anything but duck as Jonathan's fist flew towards my face. Not only was Valentine incredibly strong, but he must have been well trained in fighting. His hand reached out lightening fast and grabbed Jonathan's quickly approaching fist before it connected with my face. In a swift move he twisted Jonathan's arm and spun him around as his hand came off my shoulder. In a blink of an eye both of Jonathan's arms were being pinned behind his back, as Valentine pushed him hard up against the wall. It was rather impressive to watch. Jonathan's teeth were clenched, his jaw set, he looked in pain, not to mention he likely was a tad bit embarrassed. Clary was still kneeling on the bed, her hands thrown up to her mouth as she gasped. I personally had to suppress a chuckle. When Valentine spoke his voice was a low growl, though Clary would never had been able to hear him, I could.
"I've put up with this outburst for far too long. You'll do well to remember your place. You feel entitled to answers, but you're not. Your recent conduct does not nearly meet the standards of that which I raised you. You requested earlier I not frighten our guests, I must insist the same from you. I don't doubt your ability to overcome Jace, so do refrain yourself from demonstrating the obvious. Whether or not your sister knows it; both Jace and she will be living here, so it may take a bit for everybody to adapt to the new living arrangements, but I must ask that you go out of your way to set a good example. I understand Jace's personality can be abrasive at the best of times, but should you lay a single finger on the boy, I'll break every bone in your arm…" Valentine pulled upward slightly on the higher of Jonathan's arms, and Jonathan visibly clenched his teeth hard, in obvious pain.
"…He's very soon to be your brother-in-law, so I will expect you to act cordial, and if you must insist on knowing why despite his terribly undesirable heritage and their ever so brief courtship I'm adamantly supporting their matrimony, it has little to do with my negligible regard for the young man, and everything to do with propriety. It was deeply instilled in me that one need be hastily married if one is expecting a child…" I tried not to look too shocked at Valentine's suggestion that Clary was pregnant. Jonathan definitely looked like he was stunned.
"…Though, should you breathe a word of that to anyone, you'll find yourself consuming all of your meals out of a straw until after she delivers the baby..." Valentine repositioned Jonathan's hands roughly so he was holding both of Jonathan's in one of his. I couldn't imagine Valentine's grasp could really be that much stronger than Jonathan's, but I really had no idea. Valentine gently patted Jonathan's hip, hardly noticeable. He dropped his voice lower when he spoke this time, but I could still just barely make out what he was saying.
"…You come back to this wing again, you'll be in trouble. You come back to this wing again armed; you'll be in pain..." Valentine finally released his hold on Jonathan and took a step back. Jonathan looked completely guarded, no emotion at all on his face as he turned around. He rubbed his wrists that were clearly red and possibly starting to bruise.
"…Now. Why don't you go to the Martial Arts training room and let out some of that pent-up aggression?" Valentine said in a very patronizing tone. Jonathan's eyes darted briefly to Clary's. She looked in complete shock, though I really doubted she heard any of the exchange. Then Jonathan's eyes rested on me briefly, still a guarded emotionless mask. His eyes fell to Valentine's ever so briefly before he shifted his gaze to the floor submissively. He walked out of the room, but when I looked behind me I couldn't help but notice how a swarm of silent guards waited in the living room and as Jonathan left they all surrounded him and left as well.
"Jace do fill her in discreetly, you now have pretenses to uphold. I'll have a prenuptial agreement here by late afternoon and a Justice of the Peace here before dinner." Valentine took a step towards the door.
"What?" Clary and I both said simultaneously.
"You want us to get married today?" I was fairly confused right now.
"Yes, that would be the general idea. Did you have other plans that would necessitate you to reschedule?" I was speechless. He just looked at me expectantly. This guy was like dealing with somebody with multiple personalities.
"I don't understand." Clary said as she shook her head slowly. Valentine glanced back at her and seemed to take a double take. I wondered if he really could have been paying so close of attention to Jonathan that he never once noticed what Clary had on.
"Do cover-up Clarissa. You may be in your bedroom, but you're well underdressed for company…" Clary dropped to her ass and pulled the blankets up to her chin with a scowl. Valentine shifted his gaze to me. He had an annoyed look on his face at this point. I was really leaning towards he never saw what Clary had on before.
"…I had rather thought when we spoke earlier you made clear your intentions of staying here. Seeing you're so persistent about this…living arrangement…" He flourished his hand between Clary in bed and me standing next to him.
"…I'd like some piece of mind. You made clear you wanted a small wedding, and you can't get much smaller than us three and a Justice of the Peace. We can have a larger reception at a later date where all of your friends are welcome to attend. However, if you're second guessing the marriage, feel free to enjoy the comforts of your own separate bedrooms. If you'd like my opinion, I've become unexpectedly partial to this predicament. Having Jace in your room appears to be a significant deterrent for Jonathan. Though I'm rather surprised he disobeyed me in the first place, both times he came into this room it was when Jace was out." I was shaking my head slightly.
"I kind of thought that what you just said to him would be a pretty big deterrent." Valentine shrugged.
"He's highly unlikely to attempt to trespass again while I'm home, but I spend a great deal of the time away from the estate and he's rather cunning when he so wishes. It also doesn't help matters that the guards tend to be a bit apprehensive when it comes to Jonathan."
"I don't get it. I got the impression you were more concerned that Jonathan would hurt me than you were worried about him getting to Clary. Now you're saying I'm a deterrent for Jonathan to come here. What's that suppose to mean?" Valentine took a deep breath as he took a step forward clamping his hand down on my shoulder. I was silently thankful it wasn't the shoulder he previously tried to destroy. He looked me dead in the eye with an interesting expression.
"You're a bright boy Jace. I think you can figure it out." He went to take another step, as he dropped his arm, but I quickly reciprocated the gesture and put my hand on his shoulder.
"For arguments sake, let's say I'm not that bright. Are you suggesting that you think Jonathan will make a play for Clary?" Valentine took a deep breath and looked towards the ceiling before he returned his eyes to mine.
"We don't want that now do we." He said simply. I shook my head.
"He knows she's his sister. I don't understand. I thought you were concerned he'd come and kick my ass." Valentine half shrugged.
"With Jonathan you never know how he'll react to something. He quiet certainly didn't reacted to learning about Clarissa the way I would have anticipated." I was still shaking my head.
"She's. His. Sister." I slowly annunciated each word. Valentine just nodded slowly.
"I believe I have a lawyer to contact, you must excuse me." He said simply as he took a step forward. My arm dropped from his shoulder. I just shook my head slowly and watched as he walked away. He was such a whack job. I locked the door before I walked over to Clary. She just had the oddest look on her face; she looked somewhere between deep in thought and scared. I sat on the edge of the bed and she scrambled right over to me and threw her arms around my neck tightly. I wrapped my arms around her waist as I kicked my sneakers off. She nuzzled her head into the crook of my neck, and she was trembling. I rubbed her back gently. I wanted to talk to her, not just about what just happened, but about everything that was going on, though I could hear Thomas's words in the back of my head telling me nowhere in the house was safe to talk. I repositioned us both in the bed, covering us up with the blankets. We were facing each other, my arms tightly around her, my chin gently resting on her head. I held her for a long time. With everything else going on I hadn't noticed the weather had gotten increasingly worse. A bright flash of lightening had me glancing towards the open shades. I watched as rain pelted the window. It was pouring, there was no way we were going outside anytime soon, which meant we couldn't talk about this, and more importantly, we couldn't talk to Michael about this either.
After a couple silent hours went by, quite literally, the storm outside finally died down some, but still not enough to go outside. I finally broke the silence.
"What's wrong Clary?" I said softly. Though, I felt like it was a stupid question to ask. She took an exasperated breath.
"I just feel like everything is about to change." I nodded slightly.
"Well, honey it is, but how much is really up to you. If you decide you want your father to be part of your life you can't expect things to stay the same." Though I'm sure this isn't the answer she wanted, it was almost more of an act than anything else. I still couldn't be sure we weren't being listened to. Things were going to change all right, but the outcome would depend entirely on how the next few days went. I kissed her hair. She looked up at me and gently laid her hand against my cheek. I gazed into those beautiful green eyes and leaned into her touch.
"Jace, I know my life will change if Valentine is a part of it, but I'm afraid things will change between us." I brought my lips to hers gently and kissed her.
"We're getting married…today it looks like…" I couldn't help the little chuckle that escaped, but it was more of an uncomfortable laugh than anything else. Her face fell and she looked a little upset.
"…and you're expecting…apparently…" My face scrunched up slightly and she just furrowed her eyebrows at me.
"…I don't know…your father told Jonathan you were…I have no idea why…" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She took a deep breath and her bottom lips pouted out. She closed her eyes for a long moment and I brought my lips to hers again. As I pulled away I leaned my forehead against hers. She opened her eyes and she looked sad. I put my hand to her cheek and she leaned into it.
"…but listen…we are getting married, whether it's today or next week or next year…and we will have kids…some day…of course things are going to change between us. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing." She smiled slightly.
"Clary I love you so much." I said softly. Her lips curved up a little more.
"I love you too Jace." She said quietly. I brought my lips to hers for another soft kiss.
"Nothing else matters." I whispered. She brought her lips to mine again. She took a deep breath.
"Do you want to know why Jonathan hates you so much?" Clary looked up at me; there was a strained look in her eyes. I looked down at her and furrowed my eyebrows.
"Is that what's bothering you, Jonathan?" I said softly.
"He thinks he's in love with me." She muttered quietly. I half shrugged.
"Well too bad." I said sarcastically. I smirked. I brought my lips to hers and kissed her softly. When I pulled away there was a look of concern on her face.
"Remember when we went horseback riding and you told me you loved me and no matter how much I tried to reason with you that I didn't have feelings for you, you wouldn't listen to me? You were so confident, so blinded by your feelings, I felt like you would have moved the moon and the stars to prove to me you loved me." I smiled.
"You did love me." She rolled her eyes.
"I know that, but you didn't…Would you have eventually given up if I didn't breakdown?" I shook my head.
"Never…I would have done anything." I said softly. Her face fell.
"That's what I'm worried about…Except you have boundaries." She said softly. I furrowed my eyebrows at her and shook my head.
"I don't understand honey." She just shook her head and rested it against my chest.
"Jace, I don't think Jonathan has boundaries." I took a deep breath.
"Honey, are you afraid he's going to do something to you." She shook her head.
"No. I'm afraid he's going to do something to you." I kissed her hair.
"Clary, just give him a little time for it to sink in that you're his sister. Just the fact alone that you're his sister and your father kept it from him has to be huge, and if he really thinks he was falling for you, then that's got to be a huge slap in the face…"
"…Don't worry about me alright, I'm a big boy, I'll be fine. Everything seems crazy right now, but before you know it we'll be curled up in my bed laughing about all of this." She made a small almost amused noise. Of course I left out the key difference that by my bed I meant the cottage, not here, but I hoped she got the idea. I didn't know if I believed that though. I kissed her hair and held her tightly; her forehead still against my chest.
Another half hour of silence passed as I watched the gentle constant rain fall outside. I picked up my head just enough to see the clock, it was just after 11:00. I was definitely starting to get hungry. I squeezed my arms around Clary again.
"Hey…" She picked up her head and looked at me.
"…No more sulking alright. I know Jonathan is upsetting you. I'll go talk to your father and see if there is anything he can do about this. Why don't you take a shower and get dressed. We'll go have some lunch and then find something to do on a rainy day. There's got to be something worth doing in this place." She nodded slowly, but her eyes still looked troubled. I gave her another soft kiss before I jumped in the shower. About ten minutes later I was showered and dressed, I have no idea why girls can't get ready quicker. I gave Clary another gentle kiss before she got into the shower and I headed out to find Valentine. Suddenly I was having flashbacks of our last conversation. A chill went through my body. I just prayed as long as we were here at the estate he would give me a break. I wasn't even to the stairwell before I saw Starkweather. This guy was everywhere.
"How are you doing Sir?" He said formally. It felt off. He usually referred to me as Mr. Wayland or occasionally Jace.
"Fine. I was actually looking for Valentine, do you know where he is?" He simply inclined his head.
"Certainly Sir. In his office. I can show you the way." It didn't take long to weave our way down to the second floor and to Valentine's office. Starkweather knocked once and opened the door a crack.
"Mr. Wayland is here to see you Sir."
"Let him in…" Valentine motioned for me to come over. Unlike the other day, he actually had on a pair of reading glasses which he removed as I came into the room. He put the glasses on his desk and leaned back in his chair.
"…Have a seat…" He flourished his hand in a gesture for me to sit. I took a seat across from him.
"…Eager to review the prenuptial agreement?…I'm afraid I'm still waiting for my attorneys to fax the documents over." I shook my head.
"No…I wanted to talk to you about Jonathan…" I started hesitantly. He nodded, but didn't say anything.
"…Clary's pretty upset about some of the things he said to her earlier. I was just wondering if there's anything you can do." He exhaled.
"Would you care to elaborate?" He said simply. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"I…ah…he seems to think he's in love with her."
"Hump…That's rather unexpected…What do you suggest I do?" I shrugged.
"I don't know. Something." He nodded.
"I see…Well if anything more precise comes to mind, do let me know." I shook my head.
"She's afraid he's going to do something. I don't know what, but something." He leaned forward against the desk resting on his crossed arms.
"I can send fifty guards to your wing Jace, would that appease you?" I took a deep breath.
"Yeah….or maybe just like half a dozen to stand in front of our door." I said simply. He furrowed his eyebrows at me and sat back again.
"I had rather thought you didn't wish to live like you were in a prison." I shrugged.
"She's worried something's going to happen, and if the guards don't seem to care what Jonathan does, than maybe enough of them-" He cut me off.
"I never said that Jace, I said they were apprehensive when it comes to Jonathan. Do you know the minute Jonathan was escorted out of your suite he immobilized ten of my guards before he left the wing on his own; he broke three of my guards' arms and one man's leg. I could put fifty men on that wing, and if he really wants to get to Clarissa, he will."
"So she's in more danger here than she was before!" I snapped. Valentine took an exasperated breath.
"I have no indication he means her harm…Jonathan lacks all resemblance of humanity, I had rather thought he'd remain indifferent to her as long as he knew not who she was. He's never been so concerned with my affairs before, I couldn't begin to imagine the reason he was so interested in you particularly is because he believes he holds a high regard for Clarissa…I've never had a sister and it's been such a long time since I had a significant other. You have both, so you're the most knowledgeable on this subject. We'll put you in Jonathan's shoes, how would you defend your sister's honor, how far would you go to protect the woman you love?" I sat back in my chair. Clary wasn't afraid Jonathan would hurt me, she was afraid he was going to try to kill me. I didn't even respond before Valentine spoke again.
"Yes, that's my concern too…Now what to do with you." I gave Valentine an incredulous look.
"What do you mean?" He took a deep breath.
"I can't very well have you wondering around the estate, Jonathan's just going to kill you, Clarissa will be devastated." I was out of here. I stood up from my seat.
"Jace sit down." I shook my head.
"I don't think so."
"Perhaps it would be better if you left the estate, just for the time being-" I cut him off.
"I'd rather take my chances and stay with Clary!" I snapped. I walked around the chair towards the door.
"Don't take this the wrong way Jace, but I will have you escorted off the property if need be…" He stood up as I reached for the doorknob. It was locked. I couldn't open it, but there also appeared to be no way to unlock it either.
"…I assure you this is for your protection and not as a punishment…" A bookcase on the wall to the left of me opened, much like I had seen that first day in the library.
"Guards!" Valentine said in a stern authoritative voice I hadn't heard him use before. Four men walked into the room, this didn't look good. I darted my eyes to Valentine's. I'm sure I looked pretty irate right now. I was quickly going into fight or flight mode and even though I was pretty confident I couldn't take these guys, it didn't mean I wasn't willing to try.
"Do escort the young man discretely off the premises." I was starting to wonder if the whole act earlier was for Clary's sake. Maybe he just wanted it to look like he was siding with us so when I disappeared he could make it look like he hadn't been involved. I had a really bad feeling if I went with these guys, I wasn't going to just end up safely off the premises, nor did I have any intention of leaving Clary here by herself. The guards wore firm well disciplined masks. They looked terribly unsettling. I really didn't think I could take them, but I had my hands fisted at my sides ready and waiting. I darted my eyes between the men just waiting for somebody to make a move. Valentine walked around his desk and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Jace, you need not be so confrontational." I glared at Valentine.
"Can we rough him up boss?" One of the guys asked with a smirk. The other men stood silently with the same disturbing expressions. I never heard anybody around here call Valentine anything but Sir or Mr. Morgenstern. Though, just thinking about his question caused the hairs on the back of my head to stand on end. Valentine gave the guard a firm look.
"No…I would have let you know had I wanted you to rough him up as you put it. I make no expectation that you have the ability to think on your own. He's not to be touched and I mean that quite literally." The guard just furrowed his eyebrows at Valentine. It was kind of odd; the other three guys were like stone, no change to their expression at all, but this guy, what was his deal. Valentine started to turn.
"How about if he gives us a hard time?" What was up with this idiot? Valentine furrowed his eyebrows and took a step closer to the guard. Valentine's face changed, it became dark and malice. The guard paled as his whole face fell. The other three guards may have had unfaltering expressions, but I'm sure they all wanted to tell this guy to shut the hell up.
"I lost six men this past week and by some unfortunate twist of fate you managed to survive. If only Darwin were here now so as that I might point you out as the perfect specimen to undisputedly debunk his theory…There are four of you and one of him. I have the utmost confidence that you are more than capable of transporting him from point A to point B unscathed. I also have every expectation that should you use the utmost restraint and refrain from any action that may appear the least bit threatening in nature, the young man will comply without protest. Should you be unable to accomplish this simple task, I would like a full report as where the disconnect took place, though I would hold great expectation that any shortcoming would lie solely with you. I'm quite certain that should there be any problem whatsoever we can rectify the issue from ever occurring again with the right level of corrective training." The guard seemed to shrink back as Valentine spoke and looked like he was going to be sick. I felt a little weight come off my shoulders. At least it didn't look like I was going to get the shit beat out of me, though I had no idea what they were going to do with me. I couldn't take these four guys though, there was no way in hell I stood a chance between them, and Valentine was right, as long as they didn't touch me or threaten me, I was better off if I complied. Though I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Clary here for one minute, something told me I should just go. I needed to get in touch with Michael, and Will was my best bet of doing that once I was off the grounds. I hated the thought of not being here to protect Clary, but I really didn't think putting up a fight was going to help either of us right now. Valentine might be telling these guards not to touch me, but if he wanted me out of the picture, I had a feeling he could just as easily change his mind about how he wanted to go about accomplishing that goal. I couldn't protect Clary at all if I was dead. I wondered if Valentine could really be letting me walk off the compound. I never knew this guys angle. Maybe he was trying to figure out who I'd contact once I was off the property. I had to be really careful reaching out to Will.
"Yes Sir." Was all the guard managed to say. Valentine seemed to be staring at the man and not saying anything. The same guard reached for a pair of cuffs hesitantly, with his hand on the cuffs, but not yet unclasping them, he seemed to be searching the faces of Valentine and the other men. Valentine's eyes were trained on the man. He released his hold on the cuffs and clasped his hands behind his back, eyes forward, much in the same fashion the other guards were standing. Valentine took a step closer to the man, and he leaned forward towards the man's ear like he was going to whisper something to him. The man's eyes glanced sideways at Valentine, but shifted forward again quickly. He had visible sweat trickling down from his temples. Though Valentine spoke softly, it was well above a whisper, and the eerie sound of his voice was terribly disturbing.
"Had I wanted him bound, do you think I would have made clear my command?" The words alone might not have seemed that terrifying, but the tone, there was something about the way he spoke, it sent a chill through my body, and for some reason I knew I was catching a break by what he was saying. Don't cuff him, don't rough him up, I felt a little like I was coming off easy. Though the guard never spoke he glanced sideways at Valentine again. Valentine's knee came up hard into the man's stomach at precisely that moment. The man let out a short gasp of air and leaned forward slightly before he semi righted himself. He never yelled out or brought his hands to his stomach. Valentine took a step back and brushed the guard's shoulders down as though he were merely straightening the man's uniform.
"Should the young man need transportation, do see that he is accommodated." Valentine said evenly.
"What?" That same dumbass muttered. Valentine smirked and his hand smoothed down the length of the man's arm until he reached his elbow. He jerked the arm forward sharply so it was no longer behind the man's back. Valentine held the man's hand in one of his own.
"You should really have that wrist looked at, I think it's broken." In a quick movement Valentine pushed the man's hand all the way back so the back of his hand hit his arm. I could hear the multiple snaps resonate in the room. This time the man did give a short yell out in pain. Valentine took another step back.
"That will be all." He said simply and walked back around his desk and sat down. I wanted to ask him what the fuck he was doing, but I really didn't want to push my luck right now. Two guards walked through the secret doorway back in the direction they had come, one being the guy with the broken wrist, and a third guard gestured for me to go next with a flourish of his hand, never saying a word or placing a hand on me. I glanced back at Valentine. He had his glasses back on, sitting halfway down his nose. He was glancing up just over the lenses. He watched silently. My choices didn't look good right now. The only other door in this room was locked, Valentine alone could probably take me, but I didn't stand a chance up against these four guys either, even if one of them had a broken wrist. Things didn't look good at all, but I had a feeling if I didn't cooperate, they could look a whole lot worse. Valentine said he was doing this for my protection, but I really doubted that. I begrudgingly found my feet following the two men that had already walked through the doorway. The two men left in the office followed. We walked down two flights of stairs and through a labyrinth of tunnels. The men were silent, never saying a word, but they also never so much as walked so close to me that they might accidentally brush up against me. The hallways were dark, very poorly lit, and at times all four men walked with flashlights. It was cool and damp down here, and had a funky smell, like there was little to no air circulation. The ground was noticeably slick in spots, like algae or something was growing in places. I was actually happy I couldn't see that well. I was also happy two guards walked out in front, because I imagine there had to be a million spider webs down here, though I didn't see or feel any. I had my arms crossed over my chest, partially because it was chilly down here, and partially because I was still completely pissed off.
I heard footsteps that appeared to be coming towards us, a single light that was pointed at the ground some distance ahead. The guards all stopped, flashlights in hand and I stopped as well. I couldn't tell how many people were approaching, but it sounded like several. I couldn't help but notice a tapping that sounded almost like high heel shoes. The tunnels were so dark the guards just stood there, waiting. The footsteps were getting much closer, though I couldn't see anything up ahead at all except this light pointed at the ground. These flashlights the guards next to me had really didn't give off much light. The circle of light on the ground drew closer and closer, but I still couldn't see any people behind it.
"Now who do we have here scurrying amongst the tunnels?" I heard a woman's stern voice. The bright light flashed towards us, much brighter than any of the lights the guards with me had. Though, we still couldn't see them.
"Ma'am-" It was one of the men behind me that started speaking, but he was immediately interrupted by Starkweather's unmistakable voice.
"Jeremy Pontmercy…Archer Walker…Jonathan Wayland…" The light flashed right at my face when he spoke my name and I closed my eyes and looked away. That thing was bright.
"…Malachi Dieudonne…and Charles Freeman Ma'am." I was blinking. Though the flashlight was no longer pointed directly at me, I had leftover starbursts of light still distorting my vision.
"Hmm…Dieudonne…Freeman…and Pontmercy…Well aren't you just thick as thieves…I must say I've been given the most displeasing reports since my return, and I would like to emphasize the point…I. Have. Returned…In light of recent events I'm terribly disappointed that I need to take my time to personally make it crystal clear that Jonathan has yet to assume any such resemblance of authority…Is that understood?" The woman's voice sounded scolding and very cold.
"Yes Ma'am." Three of the guards murmured almost lazily around me.
"I don't feel you understand the severity of your actions…I know you are all new since I was last at the estate and I find it's nearly impossible to correct bad habits, so let me just rectify the situation so we don't have any similar incidences in the future…Kill them." I hadn't even registered what she said when I heard an odd noise, one, two, three times and three of the guards around me fell to the ground like dominos, their flashlights falling and turning off as they hit the floor. Ironically the only guard still standing was the idiot with the broken wrist. He pointed the flashlight at the men that had fallen; all three of them had been shot in the forehead. I guess that odd noise was a gun with a silencer. These guys were all dead. I was so shocked right now. Well this didn't look too good. I debated running, but odds are with that aim, if they wanted me dead, I would be. Also I wasn't really one to run. I was more of a fighter. Though seeing I was unarmed and they had guns, I did have a mounting urge to flee. The last standing guard glanced at me and he looked petrified. His arm fell to his side, his flashlight pointing towards the ground, and I was half afraid he was just going to plain drop the damn thing on the ground. I wanted to reach for the flashlight, I wanted to see these people if they approached us, but I was concerned that wouldn't go over too well. The light jumped slightly in his trembling hand.
"Now that that's been taken care of…Whatever are you doing with that young man?" I heard the woman's authoritative voice again. It was quiet for a long moment.
"I assure you Walker I'm not nearly as patient or understanding as Valentine…So don't make me ask again." Her voice was low and stern. The guard next to me cleared his throat.
"We were escorting him off the grounds Ma'am." He said with a slight waver to his voice, the flashlight still pointed towards the ground. I still couldn't see anybody though.
"I don't see how that's advantageous in the slightest…" The woman spoke sharply.
"…You and you…" Out of nowhere two men grabbed my arms, not overly roughly, but not all that gentle either. I instinctively tried to break free from their hold, but they just tightened their grip.
"…Lock him in the dungeon…" I couldn't help but cringe, that didn't sound good. The man with the broken arm still had his flashlight pointed down, but it wasn't very bright and I still couldn't tell how many people were here, I could only really see from the man's upper thigh down and then about a five foot radius out from that.
"…I'll be down shortly, so do leave the lights on and turn the heat on as well; I'd like it tolerable when I get down there…" The woman spoke harshly; her tone wasn't pleasant at all, but very authoritative and distinguished.
"…give me this…" She took the flashlight from the man's trembling hand. With the flashlight pointed at the ground I could just make out the woman's black heels and that she was wearing a medium blue pencil skirt that went to her knees. There were still other individuals from where she had just come from, a light still pointed at the ground. I still had no idea how many people were down here, but I was sure Starkweather was among the group.
"…now move…" She commanded in the same authoritative tone. The men at my sides pushed me so I had my back against the wall, which was terribly cold and damp, the two men stood on either side of me. The woman walked by us, stepping over the bodies on the ground.
"…and clean this mess up before I come back." She ordered. After she passed, the guards forcefully pulled me away from the wall and shoved me roughly forward. I heard the woman's tapping heels briskly retreating. A number of guards passed us, but I didn't see any of their faces. There had to have been a dozen guards down here. One guard stayed on either side of me holding me firmly, and I could tell one or two guards continued walking in front of us and one or two behind us.
The walk to where we were heading, the dungeon it seemed, wasn't that much further and one of the guards started flipping on a number of switches and the room lit up. There were a total of six guards with me, seemed a bit excessive if you asked me. There were four or five cells down here. They looked more like jail cells than anything else, but what really got my attention was that somebody was actually in one of those cells. A guy was lying on his back on a cot in one of the cells, he was quiet, and he never sat up or moved. I was worried he might be dead. Oh, I felt really fucked right now. I mean every time I thought things couldn't possibly get worse, they did.
It was nearly pitch black down here a second ago and cold, at least that woman told the guards to turn on the heat, though I couldn't be sure how long that was going to last. I could already smell that funky smell that comes from turning heat on after leaving it off for a really long time.
One of the guards unlocked the cell next to the occupied cell and held the door open, while the two guards on my sides ushered me towards the open door. I tried to struggle to get away from them, but it was no use. They forcefully shoved me into the cell. The cell door slamming shut behind me was a horrible sound. The men left as quietly as they had come and thankfully they did leave the light on. Not that I'm afraid of the dark or anything, but I'd lose my mind if left in complete pitch blackness for too long. I instinctively tried to pull at the door, to see if there was any hope of getting it open, but it didn't budge. I noticed movement out of my peripheral vision and glanced over to see the guy in the cell next to me pull his legs up so his knees were bent. I was relieved he wasn't dead. He was wearing a pair of shorts, which seemed completely underdressed for how cold it was down here, but then again, I was just wearing shorts too. At least it was starting to warm up a little. I wondered what that guy did to deserve to be locked up down here.
I looked around the cell. There was a simple cot, no pillow, no sheets, no blanket, a less than inviting toilet without a seat, no sink. Oh yeah, I did not want to be stuck here. I walked over and glanced at the cot, looking under it as well, it wasn't noticeably soiled, but it definitely wasn't my standard of clean. I hesitantly sat down and looked at my hands. I had no idea how I was going to get out of this situation and I really missed Clary. I heard the squeak of the mattress on the other bed and didn't bother looking up.
"Jace?" The voice was hoarse, but familiar. I looked up with furrowed eyebrows.
"Sebastian?"
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