Sue loved going to parties or to a club. She loved to dance, but even more, she loved to have a look at all the people. Especially the non-human people. Today wasn't different. Warlocks, Fairies and all the other creatures had been in the Pandemonium as well. But she has never been on one of Magnus' parties – she had been too afraid to meet shadowhunters. But Magnus assured her, that only Alec and Jace would be invited. The last few days made her remember the feeling of anxiety. She had grown afraid to meet Jace, because she couldn't trust herself around him. Since this fateful night when she had shared the bed with him without the thoughtless sex, it had gotten more and more difficult to keep her distance. He had slept almost every night on her sofa, but luckily no other dream had come so far, and he had stayed there on the sofa. For now, she had been successful in keeping her distance and no more kisses had been exchanged. This would cool off eventually, she told herself. It just needed some time. She just needed some time.

In the last few days, Magnus had worked with Alec on a way to get out of the cells and into the building. It included a lot of magic from Magnus, but she hoped that would do the trick. Jace had suggested that she would stay behind, but one look of her, had silenced him. He started to know her quite well.

Sue looked at herself in the mirror. She had decided to dress up as Artemis, because she still had a green cape from when she wanted to go as an elf for German carnival. And she had quite a good bow and knew how to use it. It has always been her favourite tool to practice. You do not need to have the abilities of a shadowhunter to be good at it. The bow stood out behind her back. She liked what she saw in the mirror. She looked good tonight.

When she arrived at the party, there were already a lot of appearances around. Magnus' and Alec's place looked absolutely fantastic. The whole living room area was white and gold. White curtains roofed an all-golden furniture, and everything glowed with magic. At one side – right in front of the big windows – a bar was built up and drinks were made for the fairies, warlocks, vampires and all the other beings. She saw some good-looking fairies who really nailed the whole goddess and gods theme. As she looked around, she saw Alec, Jace and a tall girl with black hair standing in a corner, talking to one another. The girl was beautiful. She was dressed as a typical Greek goddess with an all-white dress. Jace caught her sight and came over to her. He looked stunning and she almost hadn't recognized him. He must be Erebos – god of the dead. He had dyed his hair black. Well, maybe Magnus had something to do with this. All his clothes were black as well. Starting from his jeans and ending with his leather jacket. His face was decorated with black runes.

"Are these real?", she greeted him and tried to touch his face, but held back in the last moment.

"What do you think?", he teased her when he arrived.

"I would assume… real.", she exclaimed. Jace took her hand and laid in on the rune over his left eye. She could feel the magic pulsating under her hand as she touched his skin. Or was it her pulse suddenly peaking up?

"Not bad, shadowhunter. This must have hurt at least a bit."

"Not really.", he said proud, but she just laughed at it. She knew him better. He probably had yelled at Alec, when he did this. He poked her in her sides as an answer to her laugh. Then he went still again.

"You look beautiful tonight.", he simply said. Suddenly she was very hot and looked away.

"Well, thanks. It is just a second hand outfit from carnival back in Germany – I -", but she caught herself from babbling again. Every time it was the same, when she was nervous or got a compliment. But Jace was nice enough to just ignore it.

"Come, I want you to meet somebody.", he said next and took her hand. While approaching Alec and the girl, she noticed the girl had black runes all over her body as well. She was a shadowhunter? Immediately her movements stopped and Jace turned around. When he saw her face, he took both of her hands.

"Don't worry. This is Isabelle, Alec's and my sister.", he explained. So, this was the famous Isabelle. Sue was still cautious. She continued to look at her.

"Did you tell her?", she asked slowly. Jace hesitated.

"Not everything. She overheard Alec and me talking in the institute. That's why she wanted to come to the party. She wanted to meet you. She wants to help."

In this moment Isabelle noticed her with Jace and came over to them, Alec right behind her. Sue seemed to have a real suspicious face on, because as soon as Isabelle arrived, she hugged Sue enthusiastically and said:

"So nice to meet you, Sue! I am Isabelle Lightwood, but you can call me Izzy. Don't you worry, I am not a clave girl anymore. Please, you need to trust me. I am on your side. You do trust me, do you?"

All this, she spoke in such a rush, that Sue felt a little dizzy, when Isabelle finally let go of her and looked at her expectantly.

"I guess, I don't have any other choice.", Sue said slowly, but not unkind. She looked Isabelle in the eyes.

"Seriously. The only thing I know is that you are their sister. I hope this will be enough."

Isabelle nodded slowly.

"I cannot imagine how you feel. I can only tell you, that since I was so deeply disappointed in the clave years back, that I grew a healthy portion of suspiciousness against rules. Also, I am married to a Downwordler and have a beautiful daughter with him. You have every right to not trust the clave, even if I tell you otherwise, but you can look in our eyes and decide on your own to trust us. Also, I really think you should have more women in your little circle."

With this, they both had to smile at each other and Jace and Alec just changed a glance.

"Ladies, today we don't want to have dark thoughts. Let's just have a drink.", Alec suggested.

"A man, a word.", Sue agreed and was relieved that she didn't need to answer. She made a mental note to think about all this tomorrow. The four of them made their way to the bar. Jace laid a hand on her back and she needed to bite her lip, while she tried to position herself between Alex and Isabelle. A secure zone. The three of them started an argument over what to order, while she continued to look around. Suddenly someone laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry, do you happen to know what to order around here?", a soft voice asked. She looked around and felt herself in front of a good-looking guy. He had dark, short hair and a full beard. He looked at her with sparkles in his green eyes.

"Uhm… depends on what you like. I am pretty sure Magnus has everything that is available.", she answered cautious.

"Oh, I like every drink, which will come with your company.", he replied and smiled at her. She didn't know what to say. She was a little taken aback by this kind of aggressive flirting. She wasn't used to it. Normally, people ignored her and she liked it that way. Maybe Jace was right and she did look beautiful tonight. In this moment Jace shoved himself discreetly between them and gave her an intense look.

"Is he bugging you?", he asked her under his breath, and Sue thought she could see jealousy in his eyes. Her mind went numb and got to places, she didn't want to go. In a split second she remembered how her past made her feel so vulnerable after committing to someone. She never wanted to feel like this again. The only option was to never fall in love like this ever again.

"No, Jace, he doesn't. And even if he did, it isn't your duty to decide to whom I am talking to."

He looked at her, hurt and irritated at the same time. The guy behind him wanted to talk again, but Jace didn't move. He looked into her eyes.

"Can we talk?", was all he asked. She sighed, steeling herself for a conversation she didn't want to have. Then she nodded. Jace just took her hand lightly and pulled her into a small room beside the living room. Sue looked around. It was another bedroom. How many bedrooms did Magnus have? She was taken back to the present, when Jace started to speak.

"You know, I thought that after all these years I kind of understood people. That I could grasp the concept of someone liking me. But not with you. One moment you act like that there could be something between us – hell I had the best sex in my life with you! – and next, you treat me like a stranger!"

Her heart fluttered after his little speech. Best sex in his live, huh? He paused and seemed to want a response. Fuck, this would be so hard. She took a deep breath.

"I am sorry if you feel like this, Jace. I told you: I am not looking for something serious.", was all she managed to say. She knew she was a poor liar. Her hands shook so hard, that she needed to fold them in front of her breasts. Jace looked at her and she couldn't hold his gaze. He let out a shaky breath.

"And you think I believe this? Look at you. I am trained to see through people. And I see through you. But I also have self-worth. I will not beg you to take me. You claim to be such a badass, but you are not. You are a coward, Sue, because you are not true to yourself. I want to make things serious between us, so take it or leave it, but don't lie to me and pretend there is nothing between us."

Before she could say or act in any way, he scoffed and left the room. She was alone.