Clary sat at the foot of Jace's bed, while being bombarded with questions. She retold her story to Isabelle and Alec about how she found out, the things she saw, and her brother. She also told them that he had disappeared. She was slightly sad because she no longer shared such an intimate secret with Jace. Clary told them everything and anything she could think of; it was what they deserved, they had befriended her at a time she needed it most. She recounted her first and only fight with a demon, this story was new to Jace as well, and as she told it she could feel his grip tighten around her hand as if trying to protect her.

"It was actually at a library if you can believe it," she started, "I had come back to the states for a break after studying and training in Idris for a year and a half. It was my second night back, and all I wanted to do was read in bed, so I went to the library."

Isabelle faked a yawn as if telling her to get to the good part.

"I was in a back corner when a little old lady came up to me, she told me she was trying to find a book but didn't know where it was, we searched and search the library, it wasn't until we got to the furthest and quietest corner that she found the book. I knew something was wrong because she said it was about Michael Angelo's work, but the book that she found was a love story about a modern day vampire. When I turned to ask her if she was sure that was the right book when the skin on her forearm became slimy and black; covered in scales. I had learned a lot in training, but I was still scared. I panicked at first."

Alec tsk'ed as if it was an amateur mistake, which technically it was. Clary ignored him and continued.

"Anyways," she said sharply in his direction, he looked down. "I froze for a second, long enough for her claws to shoot from her hands, or tentacles, I don't remember. She, it, swung at me and knocked me into the shelves. It swung at me again but I rolled out of the way and pulled out the blade my mother had made me bring. When I stopped, crouched, I was behind the demon and that's when I remembered the move Jonathan had made me practice over and over again."

She looked up, realizing she had closed her eyes so she could picture it. Her three friends were looking at her as if silently begging her to continue. They were entertained, and why wouldn't they be? This was literally what they lived for, fighting demons, it was an adrenaline rush for them.

"I took two steps, sort of half climbing, half running up the shelves, I grabbed my blade with both hands, naming it at the last second, and drove it into the back of the neck, I remember it bursting into flames and smoke then disappearing, when I landed on the ground I expected to be covered in blood or guts or slime or something, but it was as if nothing had happened."

Silence.

"I walked home without getting any books or anything, I was too shocked and confused, I kept trying to replay what had happened but at the time I just couldn't. It wasn't until I walked into the house and my mother started freaking out when it all hit me. I looked down at my clothes, my shirt was ripped to shreds and blood was pouring from my neck." Jace looked up at her neck, finally knowing the story behind the thin, white scar.

"Anyways, my mother drew an iratze on the cut and wiped the blood from everywhere else. It healed within minutes which surprised her, since it usually takes longer for an iratze to take full affect."

"At least a couple hours" Isabelle said quietly.

"Yeah, my mom said that too, she also said I just sat there apologizing for getting blood on the carpet, over and over and over." Clary laughed, as if the story was a cheerful one.

"Clary? Do you know what kind of demon it was that attacked you?" Alec asked carefully.

"No, I never really cared to know, I could draw it for you?"

A few minutes later Jace had reluctantly left the room and come back with a pencil and piece of paper, she was only part way through the drawing when the three other Shadowhunters gasped. She looked up.

"You fought…a Malkenite" Isabelle gasped.

"A what?"

"They're one of the smartest demons there is, I mean they're still demons so they're stupid but…not many Shadowhunters are able to fight them, especially not alone. Usually they're sent by someone, they hardly ever just appear out of no where."

"Not many people are able to summon them either, let alone control them," Alec started.

"Do you think someone sent it?" Isabelle asked, "I mean I can only think of one Shadowhunter who is powerful enough to do that, but I'm sure there's more."

Clary shook her head, unable to think of anyone. Jace stiffened, he gave Isabelle a warning look that Clary didn't see.

"Who's the Shadowhunter?" she asked, suddenly very curious.

"Valentine," Alec said quietly, looking down at his crossed arms.

Jace's grip on Clary's hand tightened even more, she winced slightly. Isabelle and Alec didn't seem to notice, too busy arguing over whether or not Clary would have even heard of Valentine. She looked down at her free hand, which had started shaking, she thought that if Jace hadn't been holding her other one she would have been a human earthquake.

"It's getting late, and unlike you two Clary and I have class first thing tomorrow morning," Jace said ushering his cousins out of the room.

When they closed the door Clary climbed onto Jace's lap, at first she hesitated, unsure of whether she should or not, yes she and Jace had had a very private moment earlier that night but she wasn't sure what it meant to him yet. Jace could feel that she felt nervous and grabbed her hips pulling her closer to him and wrapping his arms around her.

"Do you think…" Clary started. Jace closed his eyes.

"I don't know," he whispered quietly. She leaned against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

Jace sat there stroking her hair for a few moments when he felt her body go slightly limp, as she fell asleep. He smiled and carefully stood up, shifting slightly so he could put his arms under her bum; she tightened her grip around his neck, still asleep. He stepped onto the balcony and climbed onto the railing like she had done a few hours ago. He easily stepped over to her railing and onto her balcony as if he had only walked down a couple of steps. Jace carefully laid her on the bed; he looked at her jeans, thinking how uncomfortable she must be. He saw a pair of shorts lying on the floor by her closet, he picked them up and placed them beside her incase she woke up.

Clary whimpered slightly and reached out, Jace reflexively grabbed her hand and knelt beside the bed in case her dream became worse.

She opened her mouth to say something then closed it again, he watched her intently.

"Jace," she mumbled, sleeping soundly. He waited to see if she said anything else, she was silent for a long time. Finally he kissed her forehead and got up, walking towards the window, just before he closed her window he heard her whisper.

"I need you," she said quietly. He almost hadn't heard it. Almost. He smiled, closing her window and went back to his room.