"Wow… did they just..? Wow!" said Maia very surprised at watching Clary's "special way" of solving her own problems. Everyone in the cafeteria cheered endlessly, but all her friends were just astonished.
"Claps for Maia, everybody!" said Helen proud of Maia's work with Clary as her psychologist, for what they could see… she had done a very good job.
"This is a miracle, really!" agreed Eric.
"May the angel bless Maia's abilities!" Kirk said and they laughed with him, they were really happy for her "Well, now that you're Doctor Heart…" he pushed Helen again and sat next to Maia, as they both scowled "This girl hasn't stopped calling me, you see? …"
But Simon just lost himself right there, in the second that Clary's fury melted away when she kissed him, the guy that has ruined everything for both of them, the reason why Simon would never be with the girl he loved, the one because of whom Clary wouldn't never dare to discover if he felt the same for him; Since that day when Clary had gone to visit him, he had won so much hopes with her, he really thought that Clary would hate being married some day and that she'll go back with him in the first chance that she could do it… but now it was more than clear that it would never happen. He had never felt so defeated. He didn't say a word as he stood up and made his way out of the cafeteria, knowing that his friends looked at him in pain. The weight of the world and his own mistakes seemed to be right on his shoulders, and every new beat of his hurt more than the other, for so long Clary had been the center of his world… and now he knew and accepted finally that he had lost her, forever. She belonged to someone else.
"Simon?" said a familiar voice at the front door of the Academy, he didn't know where he gathered some strength to look up. A rush of joy ran over his body when he saw Isabelle approaching, as beautiful as always, her eyes showing concern. "Are you alright?"
" Hey, Iz!" he said in broken voice, trying to smile; but he couldn't deny the fact that his heart was still broken "What a surprise to see you here"
"Oh, yes… I just came to pick Clary, Jace and Alec up, I had to clear my mind so…" she put a lock of her long, dark hair behind her ear and as her eyes went up from the floor to his own, Simon seemed to feel hypnotized by them. What was about her that made him feel so… dumb? Like nothing he could say could possibly make sense to her.
"Sure… uh, I think that… Clary and Jace… finally get along" he confessed and he was surprised that it hurt so much to say those words.
"Really? That's so…!" began Izzy excited about the good news, and then understood why he was feeling so down; Becky had told her a thousand times that Simon's only love was his best friend… it hurt her to know the reason of his sorrow " I mean… is there anything I can do? Do you want to talk or anything?" she offered, he smiled sadly.
"I don't think so, but thanks… I'll just go home and rest a bit… I have to think about a lot right now, I don't want to upset you with my teenage geek problems" he ran a hand through his hair feeling uncomfortable, she bit her lip ashamed.
"No, it's really ok… Uh, you can call me if you want to get something off your chest, I owe you that, remember?" she giggled sweetly.
"Sure, I'll… think about it" he waved and walked away from her, leaving Isabelle's heart with a hole in it, she felt guilty for not being able to help him, she sighed and got inside the Academy to look for her cousins and brother. The cafeteria caught her eye as it had become a sea of students with cameras and cell phones recording something, it looked like a concert in there; she slowly walked in and looked for familiar faces as her eyes went from one table to the other; her heart stopped when she saw Clary and Jace kissing like there was no tomorrow… on the top of a table? No wonder why Simon looked so shattered, she took careful steps until she was behind her brother's chair.
"What the hell happened?" she whispered to Alec who was pale white.
"I don't know… they were just yelling at each other as always, and Jace demanded for an answer, and then she was like: do you really want to know? And then they kissed! And everyone started clapping and I'm… I don't know how love works in straight people, sorry" he tried to explain, but with that answer Izzy's mind made up a bunch of new questions.
"Ok, let me put this in a way your tiny mind understands is… Are they together now? Like for real?" she looked at them shocked.
"Aren't you watching them? They'll need a room if this doesn't end now!" he pointed at the "happy couple" with his hand, and that rang Izzy's danger bell.
"Oh, by Raziel… you're right!" she shivered and slowly got close to poke her cousin's arm, who was still very busy with Clary's lips. "Uh, highnesses… I don't mean to be rude or meddlesome or whatever but… I remind you that you're in the public eye so…" they both stopped with their kissing cession and looked at her terrified.
"Tell me that they aren't filming this…" begged Clary with flushed cheeks.
"Oh, no actually… and I'm a giant unicorn, of course they're filming it, you pair of fools! I'm really happy for you both, but we have to leave… right now" she reminded them with a sarcastic smile, the lovers exchanged panicked glances for a second before Jace strongly grabbed his wife's hand and ran off there, almost dragging Izzy and Alec with them to reach the limo that waited outside, as they closed the door they saw the odyssey they had created on the school, someone had called the media and there was thousands of reporters following them.
"Congratulations, now your little romance has created a scandal! I don't even want to imagine what Lady Amatis will say about this… or Uncle Stephen or aunt Celine! Oh, God… you're so screwed…" said Alec so positive as always, as they were on their way to the palace. Jace was about to reply something rude when he realized that Clary still got his hand on hers, holding it tightly as her eyes looked down, Jace felt as his heart has been stabbed, she deserved no scolding for anything that had happened.
"I'll explain it to them, this wasn't her fault…" Clary glared at him surprised and blinked a couple of times.
"But they'll yell at you to death, they might even punish you… I don't…" Jace shut her with a soft kiss on her cheek.
"I don't care, it was worth it… I'm happier than I've ever been" he whispered at her ear and Clary smiled.
"Oh, you two! I'll have a diabetic coma because of such sweetness! It's so wonderful, you love him back! I'm so excited!" said Izzy hugging them both tightly as the three of them laughed.
"Pathetic…" said her brother rolling her eyes, Izzy turned to see him and smiled playfully as he grabbed his arm and got him into the hug.
"You know that you're dancing of joy in the inside, Alexander! It finally happened!" she squealed, but Clary didn't feel uncomfortable anymore, she felt like it was her own family celebrating the fact that they could at last take the chance of being happy while they were together, for the first time she truly felt welcomed by the royal family, she felt… home.
"Your son is such a shame, isn't he?" told Robert to Stephen as he looked out his office's window, his arms crossed, his eyes analyzing every movement inside and outside the room; His brother sighed with his face hidden by his hands, he was absolutely frozen on his chair in front of the desk; Jace's little scene with his wife was everywhere; and Robert wouldn't stop saying how embarrassing would that be for their reputation, like he didn't know.
"What do you mean?" he asked trying to get out of his own mind, but Robert was far too smart to think that he didn't understand, he laughed sarcastically as he turned to face him.
"Brother, please! You realize that you're crowning a mess more than a prince as the king? Jonathan has always been like that… reckless, lovesick, far too hopeful … a dumb kid… But you have to accept that it's your fault that he's like that, you and Celine raised him that way… As if love was what makes world go round, that kind of fairytales don't exist, Stephen… With such example as our father you should've learned that" he reminded him disgusted, looking at his own brother like he was someone despicable.
"You're going to begin again with the speech, Robert?" he got up from the chair, answering his brother's shameless words.
"I have no idea of what you're talking about…" pretended him, Stephen smiled at his effrontery.
"You think I haven't noticed how you blame my family for everything that's wrong with your life? I thought you were better than that, brother, really! Look, what father did or didn't doesn't concern us, alright? Leave the past behind! Look forward" he didn't even try to get mad this time, they were brothers after all… he wasn't a fool either.
"It's my duty, as the late king's first son, to correct his mistakes and make sure they don't happen again. You may pretend to be the fair, joyful, nice and almost perfect king all the time you want, Stephen; but you know as well as I do that one day the Herondale's sins will lead them to misery, and you won't be able to help it… you're exactly the same as father" he replied threatening him, but Robert was not the only one who knew his brother's dirty little secrets.
"You said it, you're his first son… you're much like him, maybe even more than me… it was your mother who decided to call you a Lightwood, but that last name died with your stepfather, you're a Herondale on the inside, Robert… don´t try to lie to yourself saying that you're better than your own blood. If it wasn't for father… you wouldn't even be here right now" he reminded him. None of them were angels; it was no use to pretend the opposite.
"I'm father's smarter version, visionary… thirsty for justice… and don't think I'll hesitate at getting what is mine by right!" they were about to begin a great discussion, but they both knew very well that it would only lead to trouble; they both needed to hide their mistakes, one for better reasons than the other.
"You have such a twisted vision of reality, justice and family, Robert. I really don't think you'll hesitate but… I know as matter of fact that you'll drown only yourself if you don't wake up right now … I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, brother…" he approached him and put his hands on Robert's shoulders, looking right into his eyes "I know that I'm not perfect, and I'll never be… why don't you accept it also?" Robert got his hands off him furiously, almost killing him with his glare full of hatred.
"Never, you'll all feel what it's like to be betrayed by those you thought loved you… I wouldn't even sleep if I were you, Stephen… shame on you, Herondales! Shame on all of you!" he screamed and left the office shutting the door strongly behind him. Stephen sighed, there was no use in trying to make him understand, he had finally lost himself.
"Everywhere! The newspapers, the social networks, the radio… There is no place and no person in all Europe that doesn't know about your new romance!" Clary had never seen Amatis so nervous and angry at the same time, she constantly ran a hand over her hair and she went from one side to the other of the library; but in all the time since they got to the palace, Jace hadn't let go of her hand, and kept telling her that nothing would go wrong, that comforted her somehow. 'If she doesn't calm down now, she'll explode' he whispered and she giggled; with him, nothing seemed too bad anymore.
"I don't really understand why it should be a problem, Lady Amatis! Everyone enjoys a good love story, especially went it comes to the monarchy, then… why would it bring trouble?" he smiled satisfied; he was far too joyful to try to hide it.
"It seems that I have to remind you, highness… that you're the future king and queen of our nation, not Romeo and Juliet version one hundred! When you're the main characters in some romance novel you may act so stupid and imprudently! But now, you both are the crown princess and should act like such!" her voice tone was too high for being her, Clary shivered with her words. Someone entered the library suddenly.
"Enough, Lady Amatis… I'll take care of it" Clary's nerves got even worse when she saw her father in law standing right in front of them, looking nothing but displeased; Jace courage also melted away.
"Y-Yes, majesty" Amatis made a bow and left with her head down.
"I see that you both are enjoying yourselves far too much… am I wrong?" he sat on the biggest chair, the one that no one had ever used since Marcus died.
"Father, let me explain…" began Jace, the sharp guilt stabbed Clary on her heart… knowing that if she would've continued their little conversation in private as she knew they must've done it, Jace wouldn't have to stand so much yelling.
"I don't want to hear you, Jonathan… Not now, it's always the same story… It was an accident, you were joking, you thought it wouldn't hurt anyone, and what's worse… it just happened, that's your favorite one, son" he turned to his son with pure disappointment on his eyes. Clary took a deep breath and gathered strength to reply.
"You shouldn't really scold only him, majesty… I was the one who started with… well, you know…" she was surprised that the king would only giggle but still replied as indignant as he felt.
"Don't try to teach me how to correct my son, princess… I still must admit you were very brave to do something like that… "He looked down, smiling sadly "I trusted you kids, I had faith in you… I believed that if I could just give you a chance to show you were responsible you wouldn't let me down… I said improve your relationship, not make your idea of love a public thing… But you've let me down, Jace… once again"
"My lord, I must insist that this wasn't his idea…" he had already put his hands on fire for her, it was time to do the same "We didn't plan it and I agree that we were imprudent, but it's not really that big of a deal" she continued.
"Everything… that you do while being a royal is a big deal, highness…. Maybe you don't understand that because you haven't been here that long, but Jonathan was born knowing those rules… and that's why the blame falls on him" Jace had never looked so hurt before; and that also hurt his father, he didn't want to make him feel like a mess when he had absolutely no right to tell him that, he just wanted him to become a better man than he was.
"He's right… "He whispered.
"No… not really, I'm also…" but he stopped her before she'd finish digging her own grave.
"It's no use, Clary…" he looked down to their hands, tight around each other's "Still I'll tell you something, father… You might think that showing how much you love someone is embarrassing, but I don't … I don't regret this, and I don't regret marrying her anymore… I don't really care what you think of this… because this is not something you have to think about with your head, you have to feel it with your heart… that, if you ever had me in it" Jace got up from the sofa suddenly and took Clary out f the library, tired of the fact that everyone tried always to control his life. They went through the hall and Clary wondered where would he take him, but he stopped walking before getting anywhere, he covered his face in shame.
"What kind of fool are you? I told you it would be an infinite speech! And it was also my fault…" she told him as he raised his head to see her eye to eye.
"No, it was not… I demanded an answer, you gave me one and that's it… I just… he doesn't understand, he has never loved anything or anyone… how could I make him notice that?" Clary took his other hand on hers and smiled tenderly.
"Part of giving us the chance to be together for real, is supporting one another no matter what… You see… all this time, it has been you and I separately…. But now, we're a team, a couple… we're not you and I anymore, it's us, only one… I want it to be that, only like that we'll be stronger… and happier I must say" Jace also smiled to her and stroked her cheek.
"So… my problems are your problems and vice versa or what?" they chuckled at their cheesiness.
"More than that… is sharing our lives, we're married after all… it's time to act like it and feel it…" she said happily.
"You talk with your heart in hand, princess… but I must remind you that talking about feelings, we have too many of them" Clary laughed as she felt his lips meet hers once again, his soft kiss making her forget about everything.
Clary was surprised that she didn't feel tired while listening to Amatis the next day. After 8 hours in the Academy, she used to be barely awake on her two –hour history lesson, but the mystery about The Circle had obsessed her, she had so many questions about it and she was willing to get the answers to them.
"So… no one ever saw VM physically, the police never knew what was he like?" she asked, Amatis seemed to be pleased with her attitude, and she had to admit she was glad, after all the fuss she had created…
"No, never… and it made only worse that he never was present during the constant threats… he always sent his followers to the palace, an obvious way of protecting his identity and staying out of danger… all they ever knew about him was what his voice sounded like, they kept every recording he sent to try to recognize it, but it didn't work" She replied closing the books, as the lesson was about to finish, but still her student needed to know more.
"And they just gave up? So easily?" Clary said her hopes about to be crushed if she didn't answer what she was expecting her to.
"Of course not, princess!" she assured her, she sighed relieved. "Actually, they're still looking for him, and anyone who ever had something to deal with him also… close people, friends, family, even his children..." Clary froze with that last word.
"Why?" that didn't sound very fair to her.
"Because as traitors… all the family must be punished" she got up from the desk and left the history books on the shelf, just like they have been before she took them; the always perfectionist Amatis "But don't think of it as cruelty… think that you might've never become a princess if he had gotten what he wanted; and for what I understood yesterday… that wouldn't have been very good for you…" she finished playful, and Clary blushed. Suddenly her phone made a sound on the desk; she took it and saw that Jace had sent a message.
"My father might kill me for this, but I can't stand those reunions for a second longer. I'll wait for you in my grandpa's garden, come quickly!"
She shivered when she finished reading; he had escaped one of Stephen's long, boring but still very important meetings? No doubt if he was crazy about her or not. Clary stood up in the speed of light and went to the door.
"May I ask what's the rush for?" said Amatis surprised, Clary giggled uncomfortable.
"Uh… I have to go check someone… I mean something! Right now, like in this very second!" she told her, hesitating with the words, she smiled tenderly.
"Don't misunderstand me, highness… There's no person inside here that feels happier for you both on here than me… but let me tell you something; If you do love your husband… hold on to him, protect him, support him… a lonely soul is the first one to be hurt and dark times are coming to the palace… don't let anybody harm him, or you'll be harmed too" Clary had never seen the feelings that experiences brought to someone so clear in anyone's eyes, she wondered how could she know something like that, but still she had other things to attend to.
"Yes, of course… and thank you" she bowed quickly and ran off to the garden. When she got there, sweating like a pig because of the rush, Jace was sitting on which was now her favorite bench, the one she always sat on; the sun made his golden hair look even brighter, and his eyes glowed more than they had ever done, he was truly an angel… her angel. "Are you freaking out of your mind?" she told him, still sounding sweet, he smiled to her.
"Maybe… I missed you insanely" he got up and walked to her offering his hand "Let's take a walk" Clary took it happily and they walked slowly trough the garden, Jace led her to the large field that was behind the palace, where the garden looked much like a forest instead, colorful flowers and giant trees everywhere, just what she liked.
"I didn't know this was so big" she told him.
"There's much things you don't know about the palace yet, I'm not surprised…" he said condescending, but Clary wouldn't take that so easily. He took him by his neck, pressing their foreheads together, that way his eyes couldn't do more than meet hers.
"And there's much things you don't know about me yet, Mr. Herondale" she said threatening; Jace chuckled and kissed her nose softly.
"Really? Like what?" he asked her, completely thrilled.
"That my just discovered abilities work much better if I use them for my own benefit!" she almost threw herself right into his arms, and they both fell on the green grass surrounded by thousands of flowers, without hurting each other, they laughed at her strength and Clary kissed every part of his face until she reached his lips and kissed him strongly, as strong as her heartbeat went when she saw him. Jace stroked her cheek gently with one hand as the other one rested on her back making her get closer and closer to him.
"If that's your way of behaving cruel and selfishly…" he said with his lips still pressed on hers "I give you my permission to do it whenever you want" Clary smiled and gave him one last kiss.
"Actually… I need your permission and help for another situation…" they got up as Jace looked at her confused and a bit scared by the way her expression turned to sadness.
"Oh by the angel, you killed somebody?! Don't worry, I'll take care of it!" he shivered and took her on his arms, like if his hug would protect her from everything, Clary laughed again and hugged him back.
"No, you fool! I'm not a murderer… at least not yet" Jace scowled, she thought it was cute "Here's the thing … I've hurt badly someone that was really important for me, I'm afraid I might have shattered all his dreams and hopes and… with all that happened yesterday I doubt that he feels better… I need to talk to him but there's no way I can get out of here without being punished again" she bit her lip nervously, Jace took a deep breath and replied.
"So… you want me to help you get away from here and fix the other little mess you created?" Clary hit him softly on his arm and that made him giggle again. "I will… but we have to go now! It won't be long until my parents realize I lied to them".
"Oh God, thank you so much!" she kissed his cheek tenderly.
"When it comes to you there's nothing I would do… It's us now, remember?" okay, the question was now… how could she help of falling in love with him? she squealed joyful and they both went to the garage; Clary's jaw fell to the floor at watching Jace's incredible 18th birthday present, a luxurious and shiny black convertible worthy of royalty; and she thought that her parents were the best on earth, they still were! But she had never gotten a car!
"You should put your glasses on, just in case…" he said as he put on his seat belt and winked at her.
"I'll do it when we get there, as an artist I must admire all this beauty as long as the trip lasts" she rubbed the comfy seat amazed by such perfection, she was not very into cars and stuff… but Jace's was just beautiful! They got to Simon's house very soon even though he didn't drive fast, that made Clary get a bit nervous, she'd have to talk with her heart on her hand… and she knew just what to say, but it wouldn't be easy at all.
"I'll be waiting, but don't take too long okay? We have 70 percent of chances of getting caught and 30 percent of not…" she felt panic gather up inside her.
"But…?" she asked, there must've been a but!
"But I make my own possibilities… now go!" Clary smiled and got off the car, walking slowly to the door and knocked with her shaky hand. With every step Simon took to open the door, her heart rushed even more. She felt her soul leave her body when she saw him, it was clear he felt terrible.
"Clary, what are you…?" but she didn't let him finish, Simon had said already too much, it was her turn now, she had too much to say.
"Before you tell me to go and cry my eyes out for being such a bitch with you… I must tell you something and I want you to listen very clearly …. Simon, you cannot really believe that I'd do anything to hurt you, you're my best friend, my mate, my partner, my brother… and I'd kill anyone who'd dare to harm you, even if that was me… and trust me, I've been feeling as miserable as you have; because I cannot feel happy about anything if you don't feel the same; you must know how important and dear you are to me … and I love you, truly and deeply, just… not in that way, because… the only thing I can be sure of… is that you deserve someone who loves you with every part of her heart, but it just can't be me… I'm not you're one, I'd know if I was and I'd fight for you… but I'm nothing more than a hollow and stupid pumpkin who has dumb enough to let you go; and it's cause all these things had to happen one way or another, we couldn't have helped it… and it has made me realize so much things, and appreciate what I have even more… So, I'll tell you this… I don't want you to give up on love because of me, I'm not worth it…. And I know that if you just see farther than what's right in front of your eyes you'll find the most beautiful and perfect girl in the world… and she'll be lucky and smart enough to love you back… I know you will… but still always remember that half of my heart and life and joy… is, has been and will always be only yours…" she didn't really remember when had she taken his hands, or started crying a bit, but that definitely went better than what she had planned. He sighed.
"You know what? You're right…" Clary smiled brightly "You're really hollow" she giggled knowing that he felt better for real now. "Thanks, pumpkin… You really touched me with that… and don't worry, I'll be fine! I just… Thought that when I'd finally say "I love you" to someone, she'd said the same back…" she looked down, but still he was relieved.
"And that someone will" she assured him "So… are we okay?"
"Better than ever" he responded brightly, she laughed and hugged him tightly.
"That's perfect! Because I want you to meet someone personal and officially…" she said playful as she went to the car and made Jace get off.
"Hey, hey! This is your problem not mine!" he said uncomfortable as his wife almost dragged him to meet Simon.
"What part of "sharing our lives" didn't you understand?" she answered when the three of them were finally together, she smiled. "Simon, this is my husband Jonathan. Jace, this is my best friend Simon… now love each other as much as I love you" they both looked at each other from head to toe.
"So, you're the one who pretends to win my baby girl's other half of heart, uh?" said Simon like he was Clary's father, Jace just followed the lead.
"Yes, I am, sir… and I'm willing to try everything to accomplish it" he assured him.
"Well, then… I give you my permission, but if you dare to hurt her… don't be too surprised if you wake up member-less one morning with absolutely no idea of what happened" then they both held hands, with calculating glares as if they belonged to different teams, but they knew that they only wanted the best for Clary.
"Awesome!" she squealed happily "But now we have to go or we'll be dragged to the dungeons, goodbye, I love you!" Clary kissed Simon's cheek and made her way to the car, and just when Jace was about to follow her, Simon spoke again.
"I'll just tell you this, Goldilocks… I'm leaving our angel on your hands, take good care of her; she deserves only the best…"
"I swear by the angel that I will; that's my only intention" Jace replied knowing that Simon had actually agreed. And the last thing he'll ever want would be to lose her.
To be continued…
Dreamer.