Once Upon a Time
Chapter Two
I'm so sorry for not updating in forever! My laptop charger cable thing broke and I had to steal my sisters computer while she's at swim practice! I will try to crank out at least 4 chapters today to make up for it!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments or this chapter. Those belong to Cassandra Clare and Bibee!
Clary P.O.V
I may not be terrifying to behold, with my iron mirror and flaming red un-brushed hair. To be completely honest, I probably look like a mad woman. But I expected at least some shock on the boy's behalf. It is not every day one is ambushed by wild-haired women.
Then again, perhaps this boy is ambushed by women on a daily basis. It wouldn't surprise me, he is very handsome.
"What are you doing here?" I demand, taking a hesitant step forward.
"I could ask you the same thing." He takes a step forward and into a patch on sunlight, which sets off his golden hair and eyes.
It takes just about all my strength to stand my ground and not rush off to experiment with the pretty metallic paint Oliver sent me last week. I take another step forward, matching his. "Well, I asked you first." I reply with indignation.
He takes another step forward, a smirk on his lips. Now he is right in front of me, barely 3 inches away. "I'm not the one who just knocked a man unconscious am I? So I believe that you will be the one answering first, for recompense reasons of course."
This falters my guard and the hand holding the mirror drops to my side, the mirror clattering to the floor. I take a step back and trip over the other boy's body on the floor. In my fall, I must've kicked the satchel, because know the hatch is open and something is glimmering within it.
My eyes flicker to the conscious boy, who is looking between me and the bag with rising panic.
Without a second thought, I dive for the satchel and snatch it away before the man can even move.
"Now," I pant. "You will answer the question. What are you doing here?"
A war is fighting behind his eyes; there is obviously something in this bag of great worth to him. I shove my hand inside and my fingers close around cold metal, I pull it out and suck in a breath.
In my hands is the single most beautiful item I have ever set my eyes upon. It is circular and made of delicate silver, with beautiful metal work swirls and, as the centerpiece, a gorgeous jewel the same green as the paint I had asked Oliver for this morning. A wave of Deja Vu crashes over me as I stare at my reflection in the beautifully cut jewel. "What is this?" I whisper.
"Nothing you need to worry about." He replied sternly, his golden eyes hard.
The boy on the floor starts to murmur and the blonde immediately goes to his aid, completely ignoring my presence as I continue to stare into my own reflected eyes.
"Alec," The man said, pushing dark hair out of the other boys' face. "We may have a problem."
"What?" The boy, Alec, slurred as he got up and leant back on his elbows. "Wha-what happened?"
"A fiery young maiden bashed your head in with a mirror."
"Very funny, Jace."
"There is nothing funny about it, you might have a concussion." Jace said back with a smirk.
Alec looks my way, his eyes meeting mine.
"Uh, hi?" I say, giving him a smile wave.
His eyes harden like a sheet of ice on his blue eyes and a frown creases his mouth. "You weren't kidding, were you?" He says, directed at Jace. His gaze finds the thing in my hands and his mouth opens in shock. "What are you doing with that?!" He yells leaping to his feet.
Sitting on the ground, I look like a child before giants. I never quite realized how short I was... "You can have it back once you tell me what it is."
"I thought the deal was we tell you why we're here?"
"I changed my mind."
Alec pinches the bridge of his nose and Jace smirks at me. "It's a crown. Well, a tiara really." He says.
"And why do you have a tiara? Did you steal it?"
"No, well, yes. Sort of. We were hired to return it to its original owners-"
Alec pushes him to the side. "Jace! Shut up!"
"There's no point in hiding it, what's she gonna do? It's two against one and she's a girl."
At this I stand up and try to look menacing. "Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm weak." I hiss through gritted teeth.
"Actually, I think it does." He moves towards me with cat-like grace and takes the tiara from my hands. "And I believe that it is time we part ways, I would say it was nice meeting you, but it-"
"Where are you going?"
He looks at me strangely and tilts his head to the side, as if studying me. "The Kingdom not far from here."
I think of the town I see every day. Could it really be a Kingdom? And before I know it, I'm saying, "Take me with you."
Both of the boys, Alec, standing on the balcony, and Jace, one foot over the ledge, look up at my outburst. "What?" They say in unison.
"Take me with you," I repeat, softer this time. "I've lived here 13 years. You are the first people I have ever spoken to and I want more than this." I say, my voice regaining its power as my rant continues. "I don't want to live here for the rest of my life. I don't want to die alone with no one to ever know I even existed. I want a life." The last words come out with such longing, I can almost feel it suspended in the air. "Take me with you. Please." I can't bear to meet their eyes, so instead I stare at the wall as tears gather in my eyes and fall to the ground.
A sigh breaks the quiet. "Alec," Jace says. "I'm going to need your help getting her down."
o.O.o.
"You want me to climb down that?" I ask, staring at the rope dangling from the marble ledge. Alec is on the ground, one hand in his pocket and the other shielding his eyes from the sun, staring up at us.
"It's easy, really." Jace says. He is on the opposite side of the ledge, preparing to make the descent down. "All you have to do is hold onto the rope, entwine your legs around it and make your way down. Simple."
"Yeah, for you." I mutter under my breath.
"What is this?" He asks, feigning horror. "Did you just say I can do something you can't? Could it be perhaps that you're a girl?"
I set my jaw and gesture at him in a very unladylike manner, he only smirks. I watch as he makes his way down the rope with ease. I can almost imagine him, a fallen angel, descending from the heavens. I shake away the thought and continue to study his technique. When he reaches the ground, he bows and grins up at me, the look in his eyes saying go on, I'm waiting.
I take a deep breath and climb over the railing, making sure to position myself in a way that would not give the boys below a direct view of my under garments. My heart is pounding in my chest; I can feel my pulse like a drum beat and my palms are sweating. I wipe them on the fabric of my dress and clutch onto the rope for dear life, doing as Jace instructed and wrapping my legs around the rope.
I begin to make my way down, not daring to look below me. Just as I'm getting the hang of it, a noise makes my heart leap into my throat. Tearing.
I look up and see the rope is unravelling, ripping at a point above my head. "Oh dear God," I murmur, my voice shaky and unstable. "Jace, the rope, it's breaking!" I yell.
I hear a chorus of curses as I cling to the rope, terrified of falling to my death.
"Uh, girl, whatever your name is, climb down now!" He shouts, panic in his voice.
"I can't!" I shriek at the top of my lungs, my palms are sweaty again and my grip is faltering. "Help!"
"Calm down!" He shouts. "Just climb down, I know you can."
I glance up at the tearing rope; it is just strands away from snapping. A whimper escapes my mouth.
I close my eyes and the rope snaps.