Shadowhunters the Mortal Instruments: The Mortal Cup Episode 1

This story will closely mirror the TV show Shadowhunters and I will post a chapter for each episode that premiers. It will have in depth points of view for our characters and focus on the relationship between Clary and Alec, because despite the show and books I ship them like a FedEx package. Enjoy and review!

Alec's POV:

I'm on a quieter street of Brooklyn standing in front of a fresh produce stand, my invisibility rune giving me the perfect opportunity to observe without being seen. I'm not standing here because I particularly enjoy the sights, no, I'm on the hunt. At this very moment standing behind me is a shape shifter. I can almost feel its beady eyes taking in its surroundings, and I'm completely attuned to it. This is what I like most about being a shadowhunter. While most people in this situation would be a ball of nerves I am in complete control I have utter confidence in myself and my training. I feel the shifter continue forward and turn to follow him at a discreet pace, I can see him turn his head to look around suspicious and I quickly propel myself upward onto the roof of a nearby building. Izzy and Jace are spread out further ahead to be sure we don't lose his tail. As I continue to track it I see it transform itself into an African American man in a navy blue track suit before shifting into a woman in a hot pink dress. I hate their abilities, it's what makes them some of the trickier downworlders to track, which is why I'll be immensely happy once we take this one out. I meet Jace and Izzy atop Greenpoint textiles and without words we jump over the building's roof and onto the streets. It looks like our shifter is headed to Pandemonium, one of the hottest clubs in Brooklyn and unknown to the mundanes, also one of the best hang out for supernatural beings. I am so focused on our mission that I don't sense Jace fall behind, as we are about to pass the entrance I turn to see that Jace is a ways behind us and it looks like he's talking to someone. That's weird, we're usually 100% focused on missions.

"Jace!" I call to him and he turns quickly, sprinting to catch up. We enter the club and spread out to find our prey. After all, this is what we were made to do.

Earlier that day- Clary POV

I stop and take a deep breath before I begin my assent up the stairs and into the Brooklyn Academy of art, I can feel my nerves grow with every steps I take, the steps currently leading me closer to the panel of professors ready to review my work. As I approach them I take a moment to assess my beautiful surroundings before introducing myself.

"Hi," I say and I hate that my voice sounds so shaky. "I'm Clary Fray." I continue as I unload my art portfolio from my bag, I take out my art samples and hand one to each of the professors.

"This landscape is very…decorative," The professor in the center says, as though she isn't sure how to phrase it.

"Well, I wasn't really going for decorative exactly." I say in a vain attempt to defend my work.

"What are those?" she says, indicating the drawings that litter my portfolio.

"Oh those, nothing just some ideas for a graphic novel I'm drafting with a friend. Really, it's just there by mistake." I stutter out. Darn, I'm so embarrassed she saw those, I wanted them to see my talent, and not the cartoons Simon and I doodle for fun, this interview could not be going worse.

'The Brooklyn Academy of Art doesn't believe in mistakes." She says. Great, nope, not well at all.

I head into the coffee shop where I promised to meet Simon and school my face into a somber expression. I know I've succeeded when I hear him say.

"Give me the names of the professors and I, I will end them," I send him a shocked look and he quickly backtracks. "You know with a scathing email to the Dean." He defends. I take my seat dejectedly and set my bag down.

"Don't bother," I say and pass him the letter congratulating me and welcoming me into the art academy.

"What?" He says grinning almost from ear to ear. "The sad face really?" and I begin to giggle. "Well played, well played." We both reach over and bump fists like the total weirdo's we are.

"Thank you. You know it's weird, they kind of liked my assigned work but they flipped out over the drawings for our graphic novel."

"You're welcome," he says still grinning.

"This day will go down in history as the greatest 18th Birthday I've ever had," I say as the waitress sets down our coffees and biscotti.

"Which is why we are celebrating tonight, yes, with Maureen after our show."

"Absolutely. So," I say, trying and failing to sound nonchalant. "What's the deal with you and Maureen?"

"What deal? No deal, we sing together." I place my biscotti aside as he stumbles out his answer.

"You seriously don't know she's been crushing on you this whole time?" I ask.

"What?" He says incredulous. "No…no."

"Simon how can someone as smart and perceptive as you not realize that the person sitting right there is in love with you?"

"I guarantee you I'm not the only smart perceptive person to make that mistake." He says looking me right in the eye, feeling slightly off, I look down and my brow furrows in confusion.

"That's a latte," Simon says pointing at my drink, ever the smartass.

"I know, but I could have sworn I had a Biscotti."

"Maybe you ate it really fast and you didn't even notice. It happens to me all the time, when I'm happy, when I'm sad," he says pouting, much to my amusement. That's one thing I love about Simon, he can always make me laugh.

"But I will replace your mythical Biscotti with an actual one."

"Thank you," I smile back.

"You know what, here's to you," He says holding up his drink in a toast. "L'chaim."

"L'chaim," I respond clinking my drink with his. When I put my drink back down I look at the open sketchbook next to me and see a biscotti perfectly drawn, huh weird, I don't remember doing that. I quickly shrug it off though, falling back into conversation with my best friend. This Birthday has definitely been one of the best.

After coffee with Simon I head home to the apartment me and my mom share, which also happens to house her business. As I walk in I see one of her employee's and our family friend.

"Hey Dot,"

"Hey!" Is her enthusiastic response.

"How's the future looking?"

"Hm, not as good as yours, the tarot cards tell me you got into the advanced program." She says conspicuously.

"And by 'the tarot cards' you mean Simon's twitter account?" I tease.

"Okay," she chuckles. "I follow him."

"Mhm."

"I turns out predicting the future with tarot cards is very complicated." She says while turning over a new card with a cool design of a goblet of some sort. She turns her back to me to pull a gift bag out from under the counter.

"But I do see a Birthday present in your future," she says handing me the bag.

"Dot!" I say surprised.

"Okay open it!" She practically squeals in excitement.

I quickly move the tissue paper aside and pull out a black lace top that is gorgeous and a bit revealing.

"Wow!" I say

"Yeah, kind of keep it on the DL because your mom's my boss and I don't want her to flip out." She adds quickly.

"Yeah, but that's how I know it's cool." I remark making us both laugh. "You know, your way better at gift giving than magically predicting the future?"

"Nothing magical about it. I just buy the things I wanna wear. Happy Birthday." She says enveloping me in a warm hug.

"Thank you."

"I love you Clary," she tells me as we pull apart.

"I love you too." I say and hear her sigh, that's unusual she's usually always so chipper.

"You okay?" I ask. She nods her head as though displacing her heavy thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Go up and see your mom." I nod and gather my bags before heading up to our apartment.

"Mom!" I call out.

"Oh you did it yay!" I assume she's talking about my acceptance into the art program.

"You follow Simon too?" I say in disbelief.

"He only has 92 followers. He needs the retweets." She defends before hugging me to her tightly as only mothers can do.

"Congratulation's," she says into my hair before pulling back.

"Thank you # stalker mom," I tease back.

"Happy Birthday," this proclamation is presented with a gift box topped with a yellow bow. I take the box from her eagerly and open it to find what looks like an intricate silver…pen?

"It's called a stele," says my mother.

"What is it, like a paper weight?" I ask curious.

"No, it's much more than that, it's very ancient. I want you to have it, it's a family heirloom." I chuckle slightly.

"We Fray's have heirlooms?" I ask in disbelief, my whole life there's never been any other family except me and my mom, no cousins, no distant relatives so this heirloom business strikes me as odd.

"Some of us do," my mom says gently.

"You know it's weird, I doodled something like this this morning. I must've seen this around the house somewhere."

"Honey I need to tell you something-" We are suddenly interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing signaling I got a text.

"It's Simon, he's on his way over."

"Bu we need to talk."

"I can't right now, I have to change. I'm going to see Champagne Enema tonight."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know it's the new band name, but Simon and Maureen are taking me out after."

"But it's, it's your 18th Birthday and everything is going to change for you now," she says looking worried.

"Mom, we've had the talk, I'm good." I turn to go but feel her tug me back by my arm.

"We need to have a much different and more important talk."

"And we will, but can it be over breakfast?" I ask kissing her softly on the forehead. "I love you. Thank you for the heirloom, I love you." I say as I head to my room. Once there I quickly change into the new top I got from Dot and take a moment to admire myself in the mirror before pulling my green jacket over my outfit and zipping it up most of the way. Going out to the kitchen I see my father figure leaning over the kitchen table deep in conversation with my mom.

"Hey Luke, what's up?"

"Hey! Incredible drawings."

"Thanks," I respond, glad that he likes my work. I see him pulling out a colorful box out of the bag in front of him before he hands it to me.

"And, I got you these. Spray paint. If I catch any of that paint on my city walls, I will arrest you." He says in his cop voice.

"The paint is for Simon's band," I say giving him a wry look. "I'm insisting they rename the band." I say looking at the adults.

"Oh, yes please," sighs my mother.

"Did your mom talk to you about that?" he says pointing to the stele sticking out of my pocket.

"Oh, yeah, the heirloom." I say dismissively.

"Clary, your 18 now," he starts in a serious voice.

"What is with you guys?" I say exasperated. "I'm turning 18 not going on some epic journey."

"But you are!" says Simon walking into the apartment, his usual smile in full bloom. "See we are going to Lombardi's to celebrate your birthday after out gig."

"You should come back here after." Says my mom. "The city's not that safe right now."

"Ah, thanks Mom, but we're set."

"Yeah, we will take a raincheck. Wait, do I smell chicken cachiatorre?"

"Simon, your gig," I remind him from the doorway where I am trying to make my escape from the overprotective adults in my life.

"Oh, you're singing?" asks Luke.

"Yes. Big gig. And by big I mean not so." He says causing them both to chuckle. My mom meanwhile takes this time to pull me into another hug.

"Mom, can't breathe here." Seriously, that woman has a hard grip on her.

"Breakfast, you and me, tomorrow. Promise?"

"Yup. Mom, mom you have to let me go. I'm biologically and legally an adult."

"Yeah," she says finally releasing me. "That's what I'm afraid of." I give her one last smile before turning to my best friend and handing him the box of spray paint.

"Shall we?"

"Yes!" He turns and I hop onto his back as he gives me a piggy back ride out of my apartment.

A few hours later sitting between Simon and Maureen atop his van I vent my frustrations.

"My mom is so overprotective lately," I sigh.

"Do you remember in Aliens when the alien queen was protecting her eggs from Ripley?" asks Simon.

"In this scenario is my mom Ripley or the alien queen?" I ask.

"Both."

"What?" says Maureen.

"A mother defending her young."

"Defending me from what?" I reply. "I spend all day in an art studio, my life couldn't be more mundane. Besides I really don't know much about when she was young."

"Oh, just do what I do and get all the dirt from your relatives." Mumbles Maureen making me scoff.

"Well, I would if I could, but she doesn't have any. And my…my dad died before I was born."

"So you have no one?" She asks. "No uncles, no aunts, no third cousins twice removed?"

"No, just me and my mom."

"That's why the Lewis clan has added three chairs to every Seder since pre-school. One for Clary, one for Jocelyn, and one for Elijah." Simon interjects.

"Yes, of course." I add.

"Obviously." He responds.

"You guys don't think that's a little bit suspicious? You not knowing anything about your family? Your mom could be hiding some deep dark secret." Says Maureen.

"Maureen it's not possible."

"No, no think about it." She advises.

"No seriously. My mother is incapable of concealing anything from me." I respond confidently.

Meanwhile at the institute: Alec's POV

I walk past my twin sister's room on my way down to the weapons room and give a long suffering sigh when I see her door tightly shut. Great, she's still not ready.

"Isabell, let's go." I call out. I hear heels clacking and see her headed towards me in a white two part ensemble, a white wig in one hand.

"Hey there big bro," she says smirking.

"Really?" I say and raise an eyebrow indicating the wig.

"What can I say?" she start as we turn to walk together. "Demons dig blondes." I cross my arms over my chest in boredom.

"Of course they do but that's white."

"Platinum. And they don't exactly like Shakespeare okay Alec?"

"You're pretty distracting on your own." I respond, and who can blame me for playing the overprotective big brother. I hear her long suffering sigh and inwardly smirk.

"So, be yourself. Is that what you're trying to say?"

"Never mind." I should've known she wouldn't understand. "You're looking good let's go." I say as we meet up with Jace in the war room.

"We're ready Jace," announces Izzy.

"Nice choice, Izzy." He says when he sees us approach. "Demons dig blondes." She turns to me with a knowing look.

"Told you."

"It's platinum." Is my comeback.

"All right guys for some reason our demon friends are killing mundanes and draining their blood." Says Jace, getting to work.

"Why do they want blood? Isn't that vampire territory?" I ask, genuinely confused.

"I don't know Alec," says Jace as we follow him through the institute. "Lazy vampire's maybe?"

"There must be something special about their blood," sighs Isabell.

"What could be special about mundane blood?"

"You give me a sample and I'll tell you exactly what they're looking for." Isabell banters cockily.

"We'll have more answers when we figure out exactly who the demons are working for." Says Jace as he hands us each our weapons from the vault in our training room.

"So you don't think they're acting on their own," states Izzy.

"No." Is Jace's reply.

"They're not exactly creative thinkers, shape shifters." I say.

"This is what our target looks like," Jace says leading us to the big screens set up in the main room.

"For now," chirps Izzy.

"Great, I'll get approval for the mission," I say.

"Come on Alec," grumbles Jace leading us towards the exit. "By the time you've sent that message we would have already killed six demons."

"Besides, it's more fun to break the rules than to follow them." Replies my sister as we exit the institute and head out into the night.

Clary's POV:

Seeing Simon and Maureen's gig was fun and painful. Fun because I go to support my friends and they actually are pretty good, painful because I had to watch as Maureen kept shooting longing glances at Simon which he was completely oblivious to. Once the show was done we headed to his van to load up their gear.

"Hey thanks for being our roadie tonight." Says Maureen.

"Yeah and thanks for being our artist in residence."

"Of course," I say as Simon changes his shirt in the back of the van and I try to hide my grin at how Maureen is ogling him. Those two need to get together already.

"So, you went onstage tonight as Champagne Enema." I say dryly as the two band mates look at each other and burst out into laughter.

"What were we thinking right?" says Maureen.

"But now," says Simon dramatically. "We're rock solid Panda."

"Yeah we are!" says his musical partner.

"Rock Solid Panda coming up," I say grabbing the spray paint and walking to the side of the van. "I'm feeling inspired."

"Paint."

"Paint."

Once I'm done redecorating the side of the van, I see Simon looking at it questioningly.

"What's that tag?" he asks pointing to the swirling design in the center.

"Weird, I didn't even mean to draw that. Second time today."

"You know they have confirmed cases of people waking up in the morning speaking French and they never even studied the language." Maureen chimes.

"You think that's some kind of language?" I ask.

"Sans Script maybe."

I step back to get a better view of my work and feel someone roughly brush past my arm, pushing me in the process.

"Hey can you watch where you're going?" I call out to the stranger. He turns to look at me, surprise visible on his face as he walks back towards me.

"You can see me?" he asks

"Yeah, that's kind of the point. You obviously didn't see me." I take a moment to take in his appearance. He's dressed all in black, with a black leather hooded vest covering over his t-shirt, he has close cropped blonde hair but what stands out most are his eyes, each one is a different color. It all adds up to give him a handsome yet dangerous look.

"You have the sight," I hear him say.

"Wait the what?" I respond confused.

"How can I not know who you are?" He says in a deep voice.

"Has that line seriously ever worked for you?" I ask amused. "Even once."

"Jace!" I hear a voice call him and we both turn to look, I don't see anyone but he must know who it is because after giving me one more confused look he takes off after the voice and I walk back to my friends who are waiting by the van.

"Can you guys believe that blonde dude?" I ask.

"You mean the imaginary dude you were talking to?" asks Simon slowly as though he were speaking to a child.

"No, the guy right there running into the club."

"Clary there's nobody there." Says Maureen looking where I indicated.

"The guy covered in tats-."

"What guy are you talking about?" asks Simon genuinely confused.

"You guys seriously don't see him?"

"No." is the unanimous response.

"Okay could you stop making me feel insane?" I ask fingering the sleeves of my jacket.

"Could you stop acting that way?" Counters Maureen.

"Clary what was in your latte?" asks Simon as I unzip my jacket and toss it back to him. "Clary where are you going?" He calls after me.

"To get some answers." I quip heading to the clubs entrance.

"Remember your fake ID sucks," He yells.

As soon as I enter the club my senses are assaulted by all the lights and people, my whole body feels like it's humming with the reverberating beats from the club music that's streaming through the speakers. Everywhere I look people are dancing and grinding, and I'm soon caught up in the sea of bodies. As I press forward I spot a familiar blond head not too far ahead and decide to follow him. In the distance I can hear Simon and Maureen.

"I'm going to go fail at getting some birthday drinks."

"I'm going to go fail with you."

"Do you want something, Clary?"

But I ignore them not wanting to lose the guy currently in my sights. I see him heading towards a curtained room with a bodyguard posted on each side, he does a sweep of his surroundings before heading inside and closing the curtains behind himself. I spot another guy heading for the same room and quickly put my arm through his elbow walking with him.

"Someone works out." I comment and he turns to me with a blank stare. "Cool contacts." I say when I notice the eerie blue color of his eyes. We make our way through the curtains and I see the blonde guy from before, he's standing awfully close to a beautiful girl in a pink dress, they must be together. As I watch them closely I suddenly see a glowing white sword appear in his hand, the tip aimed towards the girl he was just talking to.

"Watch out!" I shout, trying to warn her. I run towards her and shove her as hard as I can away from the line of fire. I see the blondes head whip towards me in shock but before I can react the girl I just saved turns on us her mouth opening wide and some sort or tentacles and teeth emerge.

"Careful!" The guy shouts shoving me behind him so forcefully that I am soon falling backwards, I land on my bottom and skid across the floor. With a swipe of his sword the blonde decimates the girl, her body turning into a pile of flames before disappearing completely. On the other side of the room is a beautiful girl wearing a revealing white top and mini skirt who seems to be using a whip to take out the other guys in the room. The blonde guy turns back to me and extends his hand to pull me to my feet, once I'm upright her quickly looks me over.

"Are you hurt?" Before I can answer he is attacked from behind and his sword falls to the couch at my side, I stare in fascination as it seems to shrink into itself until all that's left is the hilt, I pick it up tentatively and the glowing white blade extends itself again. The man the blonde guy had been fighting is suddenly pushed my way and impales himself on the blade I am currently holding. I gasp in disbelief looking around taking everything in but unable to comprehend what's going on. The guy, I believe his name is Jace turns to look at me then the sword in my hand before he snatches it from me and throwing himself back into the fray. I hear growls and grunts and the sounds of fighting surround me, suddenly I see a guy swoop down from somewhere above us and into the battle his movements can only be described and graceful and beautiful and for a moment watching him takes my breath away. I see him and Jace fighting side by side but he is weaponless.

"Alec." I hear Jace grunt and in the next moment he is throwing him one of his own swords. So that's his name, Alec. He catches the sword perfectly and they both turn to their attackers, their movements perfectly synchronized, they take down their opponents and like the girl, there is a fire that engulfs their bodies before they disappear. My brain finally starts to process what I am seeing and my self-preservation instincts kick in, I can hear my ragged breaths and I know I have to get out of here. Whipping past the curtains I throw myself into the crowd in a poor attempt to run. I feel myself fall into someone's arms and when I look up I see an oriental looking man with gold eyeliner and the most unique eyes I have ever seen looking down at me with interest and recognition. My brain goes fuzzy and I see an image of this man standing before me in a different outfit his hands are moving in an intricate dance and I suddenly see a blue ball of light coming at me. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, this is just getting crazy. I mumble a ragged sorry and resume my frantic pace to escape this place. I need some fresh air maybe that will clear my head, maybe I haven't gone completely insane. I feel myself getting jostled but I don't stop and once I make it outside I don't allow myself to relax until I'm in a cab and headed home Once there I begin to tell my mother about everything that happened to me.

"…And then these creepy tentacles seemed to come out of the body builder's face…and then the guy just…vaporized. I was drugged right?" I ask, oh God, please let her say yes, I don't want to be crazy.

"What did the markings look like?" Asks my mother, completely calm. "On the blonde boy you were talking about?"

"Who cares mom Okay?" I snap at her. "Are you even listening to me? I think I killed a guy."

"Clary… did they look like this?" She asks me pulling up the sleeves of her blouse and waving a stele, similar to the one she gave me earlier over her arm. As she does I see a little white light coming from it before swirling marks appear on her arm.

"Mom, what the…" I mutter, unable to complete my thoughts. She stands up an approaches me slowly.

"Everything you saw tonight has a meaning and an explanation, and I've dreaded having this conversation with you since the day you were born."

"What is going on?" I ask desperately needing answers. "Am I going insane?"

"No, you're not. But the protections are wearing off. You're 18 now, and you need to know the truth

"Protections? What does that even mean, mom you scaring the hell out of me!" to my own ears I can hear the barely controlled hysteria in my voice.

"I know, and that's why I've put this off until the last possible minute- "

"Jocelyn!" We are interrupted by Dot's panicked voice as she runs into the living room to join us. "Look out the window, Magnus called to warn us. They found you."

My mother rushes away from me to look out the window, I don't know what she sees but whatever it is has her scared, I have never seen her like this before and I still didn't have a clue what was going on.

"Dot, It's time," she calls headed back towards us. "Okay listen to me." She says looking into my wide eyes. "You cannot be near me."

"What's happening?"

"I got a very powerful person angry."

"What did you do?" I cry watching her rush around our apartment gather a necklace from a hidden compartment.

"I stole something from him and his followers."

"Followers? Why can't you just call the police?"

"The policeman you need to call is Luke," She says forcefully, swiftly turning me around to put the necklace on me. "Keep this with you and think of me when you wear it."

"Mom this is not the time for more birthday gifts, what the hell is happening?" I yell.

Suddenly Dot is there thrusting a blue green vial at my mother. "Only if you need it," she says.

"Trust your instincts. You're more powerful than you know." Says my mother gripping me by the shoulders.

"Mom, I need to know what's-." She steps back from me and turns to her friend.

"Dot, open it!" she commands.

I turn to see Dot holding out her hand towards the doors that separate our living room from the bedrooms and I see that her palm is glowing blue, the light in her hands is flowing into the doors and creating some kind of portal, as soon as it appears my mother drags my limp body towards it.

"Everything I've done. Every mistake I made I did because I love you more than words."

"Mom what are you doing?"

"Luke will explain everything. He'll hide you."

"Hide me?"

"From the circle. He's the only one you can trust. Trust no one else."

"Mom I do- "

"Where's Luke now?" she shouts.

"At the police station!" I cry.

"Remember, I love you," she says tears now flowing freely down her cheeks, tears that match my own.

"Mom! Mom!" I cry out before I feel myself being sucked away from her, the last thing I hear is her frantic cry.

"Clary!"

Soon enough I feel myself stop and I unclench my eyes to take in my surroundings, looking around I see a banner with the American flag on it, in the bottom right corner there is an image of the statue of liberty and on the right there is a badge for the New York Police department. Luke! I'm at his job. Still trying to adjust to how I got here and what just happened I am surprised when I hear a voice call my name.

"Clary?" I look up to see that it's Luke's boss.

"Captain Vargas," I say as I stand up, did I forget to mention that the portal dropped me at the precinct on my ass? Figures.

"It's 2:00 in the morning, what are you doing here so late?" she asks concerned.

"Um, uh." I fumble for words and look around. "Luke said he'd, uh, drive me home if he was still here."

"Still doesn't trust those cabbies huh?" she says with a grin. "Well he's in the middle of an interview, it could take a while."

"Cool, I'll uh, wait in the cafeteria," I respond forcing a grin even though happy is the furthest thing from what I'm feeling right now.

"Hey, uh… is there some sort of problem." She asks eyeing me critically as I start to walk away. "Guy trouble?"

"Yeah sure," I say deciding to play along. "Guy trouble, it's something like that." I can tell she doesn't really buy my excuse but after a moment she just nods her head slightly before turning to continue down the hall and towards home. I silently make my way to the staircase leading to Luke's desk and decide to stop there and wait for him to finish his interview, sound carries and I'm able to hear every word clearly and am stopped short when I hear my mother's name. My heart stills in shock before kick starting and I move closer so that I don't miss anything.

"…The minute we found out Jocelyn Fairchild was alive you were easy to track." Fairchild? I think to myself, that's not right, my last name is Fray. I shake off my thought and focus on the conversation taking place below me.

"…Turns out you and Jocelyn were never that far apart. The circle has her now, it's just a matter of time until we catch the daughter."

"You can have them both if you give up the mortal cup." Interjects the woman. She is wearing an unmissable orange dress that perfectly complements her ebony skin and is perched on the corner of Luke's desk, her male companion has dark features and is wearing a suit that reminds me of a mobster.

"I don't care about either of them... They mean nothing to me." Says Luke in a steady voice, I feel my heart break at his words and can't hold the gasp that escapes my lips. This is the man I've loved since I was a little girl, my father figure, the man that mere hours ago I trusted with my life!

"…Kill them both if you like. My people want the Cup. Why do you think I've been hanging around here all these years? Now when I find the cup," he says getting to his feet causing his 'visitors' to stand abruptly as well. "I'm gonna keep it. And you can tell Valentine and the circle that."

"No one mentioned Valentine." Snapped the woman.

"You didn't have to," says Luke.

"Listen to me." Interrupts the mobster.

"No, you listen to me." Luke snaps pointing at them before making a swiping motion with his finger. "Get out of my office." The mobster scoffs before primly buttoning his suit, seeing that they might see me I quickly duck and hide behind the stairwell my breath coming in ragged gasps as I pant.

"Mom…mom…mom" pulling myself up I run out of the precinct and am met by sheets of pouring rain but I feel nothing. I make my way through the now empty streets my feet unconsciously carrying me back home. I enter the alleyway that will take me to the back entrance of our apartment and hear my raged voice, a lone shout in the rain. "Mom! Mom!" I stop short when I see the puddle of blood beneath the balcony, I quickly move the door aside and enter my mom's shop on the lower level and find it deserted, glass is strewn all over the floors, a sure sign of a struggle. By now sobs are wracking my frame and I fold into myself collapsing into the floor. I stay there unable to move, unable to feel, somehow I gather myself together and pick up an axe, one of many artifact on display in my mom's shop. Gripping it tightly in my hand I make my way towards the staircase, every step measured, my senses on alert. I'm jumping at shadows, trying to control my breathing when I turn and see her, I drop my weapon to the ground in relief.

"Dot!" She looks up at me with vacant eyes.

"They took her. They took Jocelyn," she says.

"Who took her?" I demand.

"Rogue Shadowhunters searching for the mortal Cup." She says moving towards me.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Think Clary, did your mother ever talk to you about a cup? A very important cup. It's gold, almost like a chalice." She asks me, a crazed look beginning to fill her eyes.

"No! No, I don't know anything about a cup Dot. One of the antiquities downstairs?"

"No, no, not those. Think Clary this could save Jocelyn," she says almost desperate, every measured step bringing her closer and closer to me.

"I can't think! Someone kidnapped my mother!" I yell.

"You know more than you think you do, Clary Fray." She growls before her mouth opens wide and the same tentacles and fangs as the girl in the club had emerge from her along with a bone chilling shriek. She lunges for me grabbing a hold of my shoulders, I'm grunting as I try to shove her away. I see her fall on the floor, her body convulsing unnaturally until her face and body slowly begin to morph into an ungodly black beast. It jumps up and grabs a hold of one of the exposed beams using it to propel itself forward, its feet outstretched as it crashes into my stomach sending me flying back. I scramble to my feet before I feel it grab a hold of me and I can't hold in my sharp cry of pain. It pins me to one of the posts in the kitchen. I hear its awful screams and it gets closer. One second I'm sure I'm about to die and the next the monster is being incinerated before my very eyes, as the ashes disappear I am left looking at the place my captor once stood and I see… Jace? I can't hold the gaps that are escaping me, I no longer know if they're from shock or because I literally cannot breathe.

"What no 'thank you' for saving your life?" he asks. Completely serious. "Careful. That demon got a piece of you." He says coming towards me and gently moving the wet hair plastered on my face to asses me better.

"Demons?" I ask not completely aware of what's going on, I don't think I could manage a coherent thought even if I tried.

"Yeah. What do you think that miserable disgusting thing was?"

"I, uh, thought it was Dot."

"No, Ravener demon, shapeshifter."

"You're just saying words now," I say as his image begins to blur. "Why is the room spinning?" I ask, my breathing becoming increasingly difficult.

"I don't know."

"Is that bad?" I ask before I feel myself collapse and my body go limp. I feel warm arms catch me and a voice say.

"I got you." Then I'm lost to the darkness.

I feel myself lying down on a soft surface, my hand strewn haphazardly over the stone around my neck. I see flashes of my mother, she is laying on her back ensconced in a purplish haze, and a man is leaning over her.

"Jocelyn," I hear him say before his voice turns forceful. "Jocelyn!"

I gasp and force myself upright and unintentionally feel myself come in contact with something.

"Um, ow."

As I open my eyes I see a beautiful girl with dark brown hair sitting on the edge of the bed where I was laid out and I instinctively start to move away from her.

"Wait, I don't know who you- "

"I'm Isabell." She says with a smile. "And I've never seen Jace so curious about a mundane, or distracted. Like you saw earlier distractions are dangerous in our line of work." What does she mean earlier? Suddenly recognition flickers and I remember her as the girl from the club, she was fighting alongside the other two guys.

"I have no idea what you talking about. Who's Jace?"

"You really don't know much, do you?" She asks still smiling as I shake my head.

"All I know is some psychos took my mother, and now you people have taken me." I see her chuckle softly and it only serves to irritate me more.

"And by 'taken' I assume you mean 'saved your life'?" before I can react I see the boys walking in.

"The mundane shouldn't even be here." Says the dark haired one.

"Where is 'here' exactly?" I ask.

"She's not a mundane Alec," says Jace both boys ignoring me as they surround the bed.

"How do you know that?" he responds.

"Because the seraph blade lit up when she touched it." He says gesturing towards me. "Look Isabell can you- ." She catches onto his meaning and moves from her perch on the side of the bed as he comes closer. "I'm Jace Wayland," he says taking her seat.

"I'm, uh." I stutter.

"Clary Fray, we know who you are."

"Am I the only one who finds this unusual?" Asks Alec. Now that he's not jumping off of things and there's good lighting I take a moment to take him in. He's tall and has the same dark hair and skin as Isabell which leads me to believe they are related. His face is in a word, breathtaking. He has a strong jaw and high cheekbones, his body looks built but that's not even the best thing about him, his best feature is his eyes, they're absolutely beautiful. The kind of eyes you read about in silly romance novels, eyes you can get lost in, the only turn off is his surly attitude but I'm sure he's not like that all the time.

"You find everything unusual, Alec." Quips Jace, breaking me from my intense stare to focus my attention on him but not before I see Isabell's smirk from the chair she's draped in across the room. I quickly avert my eyes.

"I have to report this to the Clave." Says Alec.

"You know what, dial it down a notch." Snaps Jace and I am surprised at the way he talks to him.

"My brother doesn't have a dial. I love you Alec, but you have a switch that's always on." She says smirking.

"I love you too," he says softly, before changing to address Jace. "But this-."

"Hey, you know what? Give me a minute." Says Jace while I just look down at the sheets. I really don't want him to leave but I can't speak up, besides, the whole reason he's upset is because I'm here. "Here's a word you never hear me say. Please?" He gestures towards the door with his hand and from the corner of my eyes I can see Alec cross his arms in a defensive position before looking at me and sighing so softly anyone could have missed it if they weren't hyper aware of him like me.

"What is with you? Really no, what is with him?" he asks, voice full of frustration. I see Isabell get up quickly before tucking her arm in his elbow.

"Walk with me big brother." I don't miss the way she puts an emphasis on the word brother while subtly winking at me, from her angle I am absolutely sure none of the guys could have seen and I look down in confusion. What's up with that? With that she leads him out of the room and I am left alone with Jace.

Alec's POV:

I feel Isabell take me gently by the arm and pull me out of the room and away from her. I mean them.

"I'll explain it to you." She says.

"We don't know this girl. There's no such thing as new Shadowhunters." I ground out.

"There is now," she quips.

"You don't find that strange?" I ask stalking ahead of her, there are too many emotions vying for my attention and just want to be alone, but in typical Izzy fashion she won't let it go until I talk about my 'feelings'. I feel her tug my arm and I grind to a halt.

"What I find strange is that you're so upset. Maybe you're upset by the way Jace is looking at her." She says chuckling, she's the only person who knows my secret, who knows about my feelings. But then again maybe she isn't, maybe she picked up on my reaction to her, she always was too observant. "You know you should be happy that Jace is interested in someone other than himself.' She continues.

"Maybe I'm pissed that she's ruined the mission. We never found out who was buying the blood. That was our one job." I say looking her straight in the eyes before looking behind her at the infirmary that is currently housing Clary and Jace. Turning on my heel I stalk away from my sister and make my way towards my room. Once there I shut and lock the door behind me before leaning my back against it and releasing a heavy sigh. Clary Fray. What is it about her? When I saw her tonight at the club what caught my attention first was her hair, her bright red locks were like nothing I had ever seen before. I spared her a quick glance before I swooped in to help Izzy and Jace fight off the demons, I was so caught up in the fight that I didn't even know when she left. I thought for sure that'd be the last time I'd see her, but when I saw Jace walk through the front doors of the institute with her cradled in his arms I knew in my gut that things were about to go to hell. Since I was young I had never found myself attracted to girls. More often than not I was noticing the guys in my sparring classes, if my parents knew they would be ashamed and dishonored because of me. Isabell is the only other person in the world who knows aside from me because I trust her explicitly. Tonight though, with Clary is the first time I have felt any sort of attraction towards a girl. She has me questioning myself and my feeling and that's not okay with me. I'm confused and it's all her fault. I've always been the serious one of the group, most would label me uptight, but with this girl around making me feel things I don't want to I seem to be getting even worse. I can't help it, I'm going to have to keep my distance from her and treat her with indifference, it's the only way. My decision made I head into the restroom to shower before trying to get some much needed rest. A niggling doubt in the back of my mind is saying that I've made the wrong decision but I push it aside. For the sake of my sanity, this is the way it has to be. Besides, Jace seems to like her, I'm sure she'll be falling all over him in no time. I shake my head wondering why that causes a pang in my chest.

Isabell's POV:

As Alec stalked away from me the smirk I had been sporting grew into a full blown smile, remembering his scowling and brooding face had me in a fit of barely contained laughter as I wandered the halls to my own room. Back at the infirmary I hadn't been surprised at how Clary was looking at my brother, girls started ogling him at a young age but he had a gift for blocking them out. What surprised me was how she couldn't tear her eyes away from him when Jace was in the room as well. Usually his good looks and confident swagger had girls swooning at his feet but Clary seemed immune. Good for her. She was a beautiful girl and she had attitude, I could tell we would be good friends. What caught my attention was Alec's reaction to the new Shadowhunter. I know Alec's never shown interest in girls before, he just always knew they weren't for him, but his insane aversion to Clary was proof that he felt something for her and I was looking forward to getting those two together. Oh yes, things here at the institute were about to get interesting.

Clary's POV:

As Alec and Isabell leave the room I am so caught up in my thoughts that I don't notice Jace until he comments that my wound has healed causing me to look down in surprise.

"How is that even possible? So, what, I'm miraculously healed and all of you…stunning people have magical powers?" I ask, unconsciously picturing Alec's handsome face, and I blush when I hear Alec scoff softly.

"No, no, don't confuse me with a warlock."

"A what?"

"A warlock. It's one of the Downworlders." He states it as though I should already know.

"Okay, you're not making any sense."

"Warlocks, Vampires, Seelies, the-. "

"Literally my brain is about to explode," I say almost hysterical now. After everything I've seen, I don't know how much more my brain can process.

"Jeez, all right. Well, I'll keep it simple for you. All the legends are true. We're Shadowhunters. We protect the human world from the demon world. So those people you saw murdered at the Pandemonium, they weren't people at all they were shapeshifting demons."

"I'm not interested in being a part of your supernatural fight club. I just want to find my mom. The rest of it, whatever it is. All I care about is finding my mother. Please, please help me find her." I'm begging now.

"I'm the best chance you've got." He says, eyes full of steely determination.

"I don't even know you," I say unwilling to trust anyone at this point. Were stuck in a face off until I break away at the sound of my phone ringing, seeing the caller ID I hop off the bed and answer.

"Simon."

"How come you haven't answered your phone in two days?" comes his worried voice.

"Things are…all ripped apart."

"Where are you? My Find My Friends app says your phone is in an abandoned church on Deighton. I'm outside." At this I make my way to the nearest window, eager to see someone familiar again.

"I see you," I say and expel a relieved breath.

"I don't see you," he says frantically.

"Give me five minutes. I have to get dressed."

"Dressed? What are you doing undressed in an abandoned church? Clary, is there… Is there a meth problem we have to talk about?" Honestly? Meth? I roll my eyes in exasperation making sure he can hear my annoyance even through the phone.

"Simon, just give me five minutes okay?" With that I hang up the call and turn to find my clothes.

"Um, what, uh… What happened to my clothes?" I ask Jace who is sitting on the bed looking through a book.

"Demon venom, remember?" he answers me. "Isabell left you those." He says gesturing to the tiny and all black pile of clothing resting in one of the infirmary chairs. I laugh as I pick up a pair of thigh high leather boots.

"You're kidding right?" I ask him incredulous.

"She's… very comfortable with her body." He says smirking.

"Okay," I mumble quietly before picking the least revealing choices, I dress quickly and turn to the mirror to pull my hair into some semblance of order. That's when I see the swirling mark on my neck. I quickly turn to the liable blonde culprit.

"How did that get there?" I ask showing him the mark.

"I drew that." He says calmly. The smug little rat.

"Okay, listen. I still don't get everything that's going on here but you do not tattoo my neck. That's creepy."

"Dully noted. I guess next time I'll just let you die." And I am taken aback by his words. "And it's not a tattoo." He says getting up to join me. "It's a tune. They have enormous power. Good for Shadowhunters, lethal for humans. But you already know all about runes, don't you?" He says holding my sketch book up for me to see a page full of the swirled symbols like the one's visible on his arms. I don't know what he was expecting from me when I saw the symbols and as he reads the confusion on my face his own expression quickly turns to mirror mine.

"Maybe you don't. Which is what makes you so interesting, Clary Fray." Turning quickly he begins leading me to the entrance, towards Simon. As we get closer I see him pull out and brandish his glowing sword.

"I saw something behind your friend." He says in explanation to my inquiring look.

"You're not going to kill Simon are you?" I ask annoyed.

"Protect the humans, kill the demons. You'll get it eventually." While that may be true, I don't think I'll ever get used to his cocky attitude. Ugh boys!

"So why can't Simon see you I ask as we exit the church and make our way down the front steps.

"This is a glamour, a rune that makes me invisible to mundanes. It's a shame really, because…well I'm denying them all this." I can't decide if he's serious or not but from what I've seen in the last half hour, he's probably serious.

"What do you have on Clary?" Simon asks as I make my way to him, he quickly takes off his coat to place over my shoulders. "Let me take you home."

"I don't think I have one anymore," I say gratefully taking his coat.

"Why? What do you mean?"

"Well-."

"Clary Fairchild." A rough voice interrupts and I whip around to see the dark mobster from the precinct standing behind me holding a sword identical to Jace's. He doesn't see Jace but I do, he steps forward wrapping his arms around the man's neck and upper chest like a vice.

"If you give us the girl, I'll let you live." He manages to gasp out from the confines of his cage.

"You're in no position to be making rules." Says Jace, voice tight. I gasp and suddenly Simon is there grabbing my shoulders.

"Clary what's wrong, what are you looking at?" He asks panicked and then I remember their darn glamour's. With inhuman speed I see Jace and his attacker battle it out, their grunts and my gasps of alarm breaking the still night air. I see Jace punch the guy in the face before yanking him forward only to have him impale himself on Jace's sword. I think I hear the man say 'we'll never stop hunting her' but I'm too far away to hear Jace's response. I see the end of Jace's knife protrude from the man's back before I hear it being yanked back out and I see his lifeless body fall to the ground. Worried I run towards my protector.

"Jace!"

"Excuse me?" says Simon.

"IS he dead?" I ask pointing at the man on the ground.

"Is who dead?" asks Simon following me. "What the-." He states as he sees the body appear.

"Could you deglamorize, or whatever, so my best friend doesn't think I'm losing my mind?" I say exasperated, as Jace becomes visible I see Simon start to shift nervously.

"Um, what is happening?"

"We don't have the luxury right now kid, everyone back inside." Says a clearly put out Jace.

"Clary who is this? Your meth dealer?" shouts Simon.

"I've seen him before. At the police station." I say to Jace indicating the now deceased man.

"He's a member of the Circle. Clary, he's here for you."

"He's with the people who took my mother." I say.

"Right, your little best friend here led him right to you. He's here to capture or kill you."

"There's a dead body there we have to call Luke." Says Simon.

"We can't trust Luke, Simon. We can't." I argue back.

"Clary." Jace says capturing my arm and attention. "I need to keep you safe. I promise you, I promise I am going to help you find your mother. But you're one of us. You're a Shadowhunter."

"What are you talking about?" Cuts in Simon. "Clary… you don't know this giy all right? Come with me. I can get us help." He pleads.

"Clary please," interjects Jace and I feel like a ping pong ball being bounced between them.

"Clary come on." Says Simon.

I need to make a choice, the boy I've known my whole life or the guy who has saved my life multiple times already and knows more about me than I do myself. I think I've made my choice.

END

Let me know what you guys think, more Alec and Clary to come!