Chapter 1: When Life Shifts

Clary Fray lived with her mother Jocelyn who everyone said Clary looked like, but she just didn't see it. Her mother was also a wonderful painter. Clary loved to draw and paint, but she always hoped one day she could paint as beautifully as her mother. She never met her biological father, but who worried about biology when you have a step-father like Luke. Luke has been with her mother since before she could remember, and as always treated her and her brother Jonathan as if they were biologically his children. Her older brother Jonathon was 2 years older than her. She always wondered how they could possibly be related. Jonathan was tall, lean, and muscular, with straight black hair. She on the other hand was short, petite, red hair, and freckles. By all accounts Clary had a wonderful family. She knew from an early age she was lucky in the family department.

She also loved where she lived. She couldn't have picked a better place if she had done it herself. Her family owned the right half of a duplex. The duplex at one time had been one enormous house. From the outside there were no signs of the single family home that once was. On the inside on the other hand there was a single door in Clary's room that connected the two houses. The door was never locked due to who lived on the left side of the duplex. To the left was what she referred to as her "bonus brother" Jonathan's best friend Jace Wayland. Jace lived in the left side of the duplex with his father Stephen. Jace's mother passed away while giving birth to him.

Jace had always been protective of Clary even at times against her own brother. Jonathon loved to torment his little sister in the way that all big brothers love to torment their little sister. Clary remembered once when she was 10, Jace was spending the night and Jonathon took it upon himself to encourage Clary to watch scary movies with them. Jace didn't think it was a good idea, but Jonathon whispered, "Shhh… just wait." After one monster movie, one zombie movie, and a slasher film Jonathon got up, turned off all the lights and disappeared into the hallway. Clary had remained brave though all of the movies to prove to her brother she wasn't a scared little girl, that she had what it took to hang with him and his friends. It really seemed like a good idea until now, because she was terrified. Then suddenly she heard the rocking chair start rocking next to her, but there was no one there.

Clary in a panic voiced, "Jonathon...Jace?" there was nothing but silence. The chair began to rock again, and Clary couldn't take it anymore and began to cry.

It was in that moment Jace said, "That's enough Jonathon! She's crying…"

Jonathon turned the light to the living room on laughing hysterically. Clary looked over at Jace who had a concerned look on his face, and she ran to her room crying.

She cried herself to sleep that night. Nightmares invaded dreams quickly. She couldn't even remember what the nightmares were about all she remembered was hearing a voice.

"Clary…Clary…wake up Clary It's alright, you're alright" As she began to return to an awaken state she recognized the voice; She would recognize that voice anywhere. She slowly opened her eyes to find Jace sitting on the side of her bed leaning over her with his hand on her arm. She was still crying even though she was awake.

Jace began, "Clary I'm so sorry. I tried to tell Jonathon it wasn't a good idea to let you watch those movies. He said it would be funny, but clearly it wasn't." Clary listened while he spoke; there was something about Jace that had always made her feel safe.

"Are you alright?" Jace asked all Clary could do was nod. "Are you gonna be able to sleep Clary looked away from Jace. The next thing she knew he was pushing her to move over.

"What are you doing?" Clary finally asked.

"Well the fact that you can't sleep is my fault" Jace admitted "so I'm gonna stay with you so you can sleep. I'll make sure you stay safe."

That's where he stayed the entire night watching over her. Looking back over it now Clary thought how thoughtful 12 year old Jace had been, and it still amazed her how someone that young could should so much care for someone else.

When Clary was 16 her world, came crashing down around her. Jonathon and Jace were on their way home from a friend's house, and they were hit by a drunk driver. Jace was the lucky of the two he ended up with a broken right arm, and some minor bruises and scratches. Jonathon on the other hand took most of the impact, and died an hour after arriving to the hospital. Clary cried every night for 6 months, and every night for 6 months Jace would come through the door that separated their bedrooms when he heard her tears, and wrap his arms around her, comforting her until she fell asleep. During these times late at night they never spoke. A few times on the really rough nights especially in the beginning Clary would lay her head on Jace's shoulder crying and Jace would put his arms around her, and hum until she fell asleep.