AN~ Thanks for the reviews everyoe. Im glad that you are enjoying the story. XOXO ~D.I

Chapter 6

"Clary?" She jumped as her brother's head popped into her studio. "There you are!" She looked over her shoulder at him.

"Here I am." She rolled her eyes, he was grinning. Not a normal grin either. There was an excitement in his eyes, something was up.

"Get dressed, gear, we're going out." He hit the wall a few times with his hand and then disappeared again.

She set her pencil down and ran to their bedroom, changed into her Shadowhunder clothes and grabbed her stele, and weapons belt. She was fixing her hair in a messy bun as walked down the stairs. Jonathan was already ready, and pacing. He stopped and looked at her when she came down just as she reached the bottom step.

"Finally. Come on." He grabbed her hand, and they blinked out of the living room. In the next moment Clary opened her eyes to find herself in a dark alley.

"Where are we?" She looked around as he began to pull her along. "We're in a small town somewhere in Siberia. Her eye's widened.

"What? Why Siberia?"

"Because that's where the next piece to our puzzle lives. Her name is Anika Pavlova, and she dear sister is another Iron sister that left The Clave. Much older than Magdelena was, and this time I'm not going to kill her."

"You're not?"

"Nope. I'm going to turn her dark." His smile shone in dark, his pale hair reminded her of a fresh snow in the moonlight. "I have a few friends keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn't leave. We should be just about th…." His words were cut off as they rounded a corner. There were two young men tied up both with dark hair and by any other description they would seem normal, except that in the darkness, Clary could see their eyes glowed. One an electric blue and the other yellow. Next to them leaning against the wall was another young man, maybe 20, as he lit a smoke Clary could see his hair was some shade of blond. In the dark it looked light brown so she thought maybe more sandy than golden. And when he finally turned to look at them his eyes glowed green.

Demons, the lot of them.

A smooth rich voice cut through the night. It seemed out of place to Clary, if they were in Siberia it should have been thick with an accent.

"Good evening friends. Sorry to disturb you but you see I'm looking for someone. I heard this rumor about a shadowhunter girl who could mark downworlders. You don't know this girl do you?" His deep voice resonated like syrup, thick and sweet. The sound caressing the air. It was unlike anything she had heard before. The sound ended as he flicked and bit of ash off his cigarette and took a long pull, snapping her out of her daze. Clary squeezed Jonathan's hand and he looked down at her. Then Jonathan turned back to the demon.

"And who might you be?" Jonathan smiled; Clary could tell that it was not the nice how do you do smile. It was the who do you think your fucking with smile and what do you what on your epitaph. She cringed, something wasn't right about this.

The young man regarded the two of them evenly then pushed off the wall, took another drag off his smoke and crossed his arms. "The name is Val Dolomir." Jonathan felt Clary stiffen but didn't look at her. "You see this Shadowhunter girl intercepted a delivery of some artifacts and I need them back."

"Oh?"

"A series of statuettes, a set. Very important to me and I want them back. You wouldn't happen to know where they are, do you?"

"Hmm, Can't say that I do." Jonathan lied smoothly; of course he knew where they were. In the library at the house. "So, if you'll excuse me, we really need to be going."

"I don't think so, Morgenstern." Jonathan stopped and narrowed his dark eyes at the young man. "I think that this is the girl, and I think you do know, and I think if you want to see her live, you're going to turn around the way you came and go. Get. Me. My. Statuettes." He flicked the cigarette to the ground and stared cold at Jonathan and Clary.

Clary felt Jonathan tremble with rage he released her hand, "I guess I have to take care of this. Please watch yourself." Clary nodded and stepped back, placing a hand on the hilt of a dagger in her weapons belt just in case. This couldn't be good; she worried more because she had heard the name Val before, but where?

The other man cracked his neck, "As you wish." And pulled out his own dagger seemingly from nowhere. Glamour, Clary thought.

The two stared at each other, the other tried to move to start circling Jonathan, but he wasn't going to let the guy get between him and his sister. The guy could make a break for Clary and there was no telling how that would go. This way he had a bit more control of the situation.

Val struck out first his dagger swiping through the air in a wide arc. The move was so fast Clary barely saw it. Thankfully her brother was fast as well and jumped back. A gasp caught in her throat as it had almost gotten him, but not quite. Jonathan smirked. "Nice try."

"I'll do better next time." The demon man returned and swiped again. This time his dagger blade was blocked as a soft chink echoed off the walls as the metal hit each other.

Clary saw movement and her attention was drawn to the two that were tied up. They were struggling to get out of their binds, but also had their eyes glued to the fight. When one winced Clary looked back just in time to see her brother bring his hand to his cheek. She gasped. A thin dark line was forming on his cheek and small beads of blood had formed. He looked down at his red fingers and then back to Val who was smiling smugly.

Jonathan charged his face, one of pure determination, "You cut my face."

Val shrugged, "It adds character. Don't you think?" He grinned, holding the blade up to block again. Swinging to the side at the last moment. Jonathan continued and ran up the wall that was behind Val and then flipped over behind him, He then crouched low and swung his foot out trying to get Val's feet out from under him, but Val jumped just in time. Jonathan swung his blade around in a low upwards arc meant to impale the other, but he only succeeded in barely cutting into the other's shirt when Val kicked out as he came down. Catching Jonathan in the shoulder.

"Nice try Morgenstern, I do believe you're going to owe me a new shirt as well now."

"Put it on my tab." Jonathan said as she lunged again.

Val grinned. "I'm going to kill you Morgenstern, as soon as I get what's mine. But before I do, I'm going to make you watch while I defile the pretty girl here." Clary's eyes widened and she stepped back automatically getting in a defensive position as her hand tightened on the hilt of her dagger even more.

"I'm going to watch her writhe while I take her apart piece by piece, and relish the moment as you watch unable to do anything about it." He cackled as Jonathan rushed him again.

"You won't lay a finger on her!" This time Jonathan seemed more determined; his jaw set. A new sense of purpose washed over him and it was like watching him come to life. He blocked each attack and then then landed a punch to Val's jaw. Both were bloody and panting heavily from the exertion. In a last ditch effort Val spun around and punched Jonathan in the kidneys then when he arched his back Val grabbed his hair and and swung the blade around almost slicing the pale-haired boys neck. Jonathan jerked back, the other underestimating his strength lost his footing and they both went tumbling down to the ground where they became a tangle of limbs and swinging arms rolling around on the ground.

Clary had her heart in her throat. They were getting closer to her so she moved in a wide arc to get around them to the others to finally cut their binds. She had just finished when one of them flinched and jerked back his eyes wide at something behind her. Turning quickly with her dagger to swipe blindly around in defense, Val stood there panting and hit her blade out of her hand.

"Now listen here you little thief." He growled as he reached for her.

Thief? Clary's mind shifted to another time.

Third evening at the Warlock Dom Pierre's home.

"I….'hic' …am a very….'hic' …important Warlock!"

"Yes Dom." Clary sighed. She couldn't help but wonder if there was AA for warlocks. He got like this a lot. The only good thing was that she learned a lot of things. Unsure if they would be useful. But they were interesting anyway. Dom got loose lipped after a good bottle of Merlot. What a lush she thought.

"I have someone…..'hic' …..Coming by to show…me..'hic' …. Something." His blood shot grey eyes found hers. She also thought if he spent more time working on her house and less time drinking she might have been out of his hair by then. But apparently this one decided to have work hours, and then the rest time it was either happy hour or sleep.

"Should I go to the guest room?" He shook his head, and she had to suppress a shudder as spittle flew from the side of his mouth.

"I was just..'hic'… I was just letting you know…. Demon." He turned her head waving his hand, as if to brush the words he just spoke away from himself.

"Oh." It was up to her, be seen, not be seen. She decided to stay, if for nothing else curiosity. There was a harsh knock on the door and she decided that it was probably too late to run then anyway. So she just sat there drinking a hot cup of tea while Dom stumbled towards the door and whipped it open.
"Your late!" he spat. Then stepped back allowing a shifty looking boy who couldn't be any older than sixteen.

"I got held up. Val kept stalling and wouldn't tell me where to go. I thought he was going to take the gig away." The boy hoisted a backpack off his shoulder and set it down carefully on the table. He looked her over a slight glimmer in his eyes as his lips curled in distaste. "A Nephilim Dom? What the fuck is this shit? You setting me up?" The boy looked between her and Dom. Clary just rolled her eyes.

"Calm down..'hic'….Ix. She is a…'hic' " Dom cleared his throat and drank some water. "She's a customer."

"She must be desperate." Ix quipped. Earning him a glare from Dom. Clary just smiled into her mug.

"Anyway, this is what he had me get. Said something about he couldn't live without them." Ix shrugged as he pulled out several small statuettes. Not unlike figurines but a little larger. He had used pieces of ripped egg crate foam in his bag to keep them from getting damaged. Clary couldn't imagine they traveled well especially in a backpack. A box maybe, with lots of newspaper or bubble wrap.. but she guessed if it was something he had to snatch quickly then travel choices were limited.

Dom scoffed. Valefor is a vagrant. Demon of thieves indeed. He sees something and has to get get it no matter what. Even sending a peon like you to go fetch it for him." He waved dismissively as he drank some more water. "Not to mention his children who by the way couldn't magic themselves properly out of an open door." Ix and Clary just stared at him openly talking about the demon kid's boss, who apparently was a demon as well, and not just any demon, but one with a job in hell.

Clary turned her gaze to the statuettes again. They were of people in various states stages of sadness. They were beautiful in a sad way. The peculiar thing was is, she wasn't sure of the medium though used to create them. Marble? Plaster, wood? She didn't' want to touch them. As it was they looked dark red, with black in the grooves and creases. Like each one had been blackened by flame and then certain areas were sanded down.

Dom didn't look impressed and shook his head, "I don't want any worthless decorations." And strode off towards the hall. Probably to the bathroom Clary figured. She turned back to the pieces.

"Why are you selling them if your boss 'can't live without them'?"

"If I can make a profit out of it or find something worth my while. I've gotta look out for me. Not doing Val's dirty work for some eye candy for his pad. If they were really so important. He would have sent some one higher in the food chain than me."

That argument did make sense but something seemed off about the situation to her anyway. And for some reason she wanted those statuettes. "What do you want for them?" The boy looked her up and down skeptically.

"What do you got." Damn Clary thought, not much. Except…

"I could mark you with runes."

"Runes? No thanks, runes can kill."
"Not mine. My runes are …special."

Clarity dawned on the boy suddenly as his eyes widened. "Your THAT girl? The Clave is looking for you. That blond living glow stick is threatening the accords with his crazy. And your brother is looking for you too, That stunt you pulled has made it hard for others to deal with him. He's so pissed at you."

Clary tensed gripping her cup but waved it off, "My brother will get over it. Not sure about Jace though." She shrugged, he's kind of a jerk."

He looked thoughtful, Clary could see the cogs working in his head. "I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into If it was anyone else, your brother might pay for the information leading him to you, but he's so pissed off he'd likely torture it out of me and then kill me once he did get it. I go to the crazy nephilim and he'll defiantly kill me. And then I'm not sure if your runes will kill me, There is a lot to consider here."
"I could hide you." Clary shrugged.

"Hide me?"
"Yes, hide you H-I –D-E you. One permanent rune. You can never be traced unless you destroy the rune yourself. And I'll give you another rune of your choice. Strength, agility…..fearlessness, for example." She took a drink from her cup. "I just want the statuettes and the promise that you won't tell Jace or my brother where I am."

It didn't take long for him to consider. Demons were always greedy, and anything that could give him a one up from the others was always what they were looking for. "I want to know things, things that others don't. Like before they happen."

"Enhanced perception or foresight?"
"Foresight."

She nodded and took out her sketch pad and pencil. Holding her pencil to the paper she concentrated. Focused on the word, the idea, the fact that it was for a demon. She thought of how it would look and soon even though her eyes were closed her pencil began to move across the page. When she opened her eyes she nodded and then stood taking out her Stele and looked at the boy. "Where do you want it?"

"Does it matter?"
Clary thought about this for a moment. "I'm not sure. I've never placed a future telling rune on some one. I guess it would have limitations. Be focused in the point of where it is. Like, if it were on your hand, then you could only tell the future about that object or things going on around that object. If it was on your head you might just be able to think about something. But honestly that could get tiresome. Since your always thinking."

He looked at her bewildered, she could tell he hadn't thought of that.

"Okay on my hand, on the palm so it's harder to see." She nodded and held out her hand, he placed his hand in hers and she began. She felt him wince a little as the burn ran over his skin, but he stayed still. And when she was done he looked down at his hand and then looked around the room. He touched the table. Closing his eyes for a minute.

"Dom is going to want to move from here soon." He blinked and then looked at her. "That was strange. Not what I expected. I didn't see anything, but I got a strong feeling that Dom was planning to leave. It was absolute, like he already had it planned out."

Clary shrugged. "Runes are complicated. Sometimes they work the way you want them to, and sometimes they have their own way of expressing themselves. Now where do you want the hiding rune?"

He lifted his shirt with a cocky grin and patted the skin over his heart. She gave him a dry look. "What? If we're going with your theory on where to put runes, then it would make sense to put it near my heart. You might not think we have one in the sentimental aspect of things but we still have one pushing blood through us."

"Fine." And Clary stepped closer and drew the rune. "Now your hidden."

"How do you know it works?"

Clary lifted her sleeve to show her arm, "Because I'm using one. Which is why The Clave and my brother can't find me."

"He nodded. "Fair enough. "Then reached for the bag to finish pulling out the last one and froze. His eyes got shot open and he looked at her and then back to the figurines. "Oh shit.." He looked panicked.

"What?"

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. fuck." he swore cussing and grabbing at his hair. "I'm gonna die. Val is going to kill me! I'm so dead there's nowhere to go nowhere to hide. I'm gonna…." He trailed off and started pacing.

"For shit sake calm the fuck down. He can't find you. Super rune remember?" Clary crossed her arms when he stopped to look at her incredulous.

"You don't understand. When I touched that….I felt.. I felt him. Valefor."

"What do you mean you felt him."

"I thought it was a rumor, a myth, urban legend. But there was a story that Val never trusted anyone with the most important parts of himself. Demons don't have souls, but unlike popular belief we do have the capacity to love, and I mean other than ourselves. But it's rate. And when it happens we are…..overcome. And if our feelings aren't returned then we go ballistic. Stalker crazy jealous killing spree that usually ends up getting the one who denied us love, killed. Valefor didn't trust himself to keep his head. And at the moment he found himself falling for someone. He pulled that capacity out of himself and placed it in several objects. These changed over time. Or so they say.. and.. right now. It looks like these."

Clary couldn't fathom the idea of doing something like that and couldn't stop herself from asking, "Why didn't he have them with him in the first place?"

"I don't know. All I was told was to retrieve them. But if what I heard is true, and what I felt in there is right…" he shook his head.

"What?" Clary was becoming impatient. Her curiosity brimming and he was being a little punk by taking too long to spit it out.

"Okay so when demons get offed here, we get sent back to wherever. Val is a greater demon. He'd float around in the void until he was strong enough but if he wasn't whole when he was offed then he wouldn't be able to reform properly. Not without a ritual I mean there is a chance he could reform but, he would be jacked up. You see he was whole when he got here and even though he is separate from parts right now. He was whole when he came in, so he's not weird looking, or acting weird. Say he did get killed and somehow reformed. He would either A: look weird, or B: look normal but act strange. Or C: both. I'm betting on both. Because our character can be expressed visually. Tats why even with identical twins if their personalities as polar opposites, people can tell. I mean it can be hard, but it can happen. But with demons it's like insane. He could come out looking like a slug and be a genius." He rubbed his face. "I'd renig but I think you can kick my ass, and if your rune really does work then I need to go to some place like….Guam." And without another word, he left.

Clary stood there staring at the door and then to the statues, Dom must have passed out. So she packed up the statuettes and put them in the guest room. Wondering what the hell she had just gotten herself into yet again.

Present time

Val stood over her seething, clary chanced a glance behind him to see her brother pulling himself up, but it was slow. Val must have gotten lucky because she knew her brother would get him.

"I think it's time for you to get my belongings little girl."

"Okay, I'll go. Just don't hurt me Valefor."

That startled him. "You know who I am? And you still defy me?"
Behind Val her brother's head had turned sharply to look at them, "The thief demon?"

Val growled low in his throat and turned around, "I really would prefer the term opportunist. Do I need to kick your ass again?"

"You hurt him and I'll never return your heart."

Both of the boys froze. Jonathan's eyes opening wider with understanding and then Val turning her eyes narrowed with hatred. "What did you say?"

"I know what they are, and I know what will happen if you die. We won't kill you but you won't see your precious statuettes until my brother and I decided that it's in our best interests to do that. I mean you could kill us I guess, but then they will be lost and if someone else kills you then you're either doomed to nothing or doomed to look like shit."

Valefor looked between the two Clary had crossed her arms and Jonathan stood there ready with his retrieved dagger. A mix of smugness and pride for his sister.

The other two boys had run off leaving just the three of them. "One day Morgenstern siblings will feel my wrath, mark my words you two. I will have my revenge." And with that he disappeared in a cloud of miasma. Clary rushed to her brother and hugged him then grabbed his arm and her stele and quickly traced an Iratze.

He looked down at her. "Just what have you gotten us into little sister?" He smiled down at her and she grinned shrugging innocently. Which made him laugh, and the both of them continued on their way. They had wasted enough time, and they needed to get to Anika's.