I Shall But Love Thee Better After Death

1: Prologue

I wanna dedicate this chapter to PointlessPro, who so awesomely designed my cover for me... thank you, Silver_Eyre for letting me use your drawing... looks hawt :P so yeah.. thnx Ashwin... looks really good!

Prologue

London, England

TWO YEARS AGO.

"Please, Clary!!"

I was disgusted. Clenching my fists, "Get away from here. After you killed everyone I love... after killing my family... after destroying my whole life... you can't expect me to be your anything!"

"I am your family. You won't need them, when you're with me!"

"I can never trust you again, Anton. You slit my baby brother's throat in front of me. How do I know you won't slit MINE??" I shouted.

He banged his fists on the table, "I love you, damn it!"

Ashton came forward, ready to hold his brother back, if required.

"This isn't love, Ant... it's third stage OCD!" I replied, "You are obsessed. It'll pass. Now leave. Please, Ash! I... I won't tell the cops your names. I'll tell them you were masked men. Not because I want to... " Ashton nodded. I continued, ignoring him, "I'm thinking of our friendship... how it used to be, Ant. I don't want to cause you harm."

Ashton tried to take him away, but he resisted, "You mark my words, C... I will make you love me. If it's not you and me, then it's you and nobody!"

With that, he left. Only then, did I let myself cry... for my family, for my best friend... and for the love of my life, my boyfriend. But mostly, I cried because I had lost a dear friend, Anton. Huh!

******

NOW

"Charlie! Char, you arse! There's a call for you!" I shout.

"Okay! Okay! Calm the fuck down!" my roommate, Charlie, calls back, from the kitchen.

"Language!" I remind her rather loudly.

She chuckles, and walks into the living room, putting the call on speaker.

"Ms. Lance?"

"yes. Who is this?" Charlie answers cheerfully.

"this is from the drug store. You had ordered a package of pre..."

"Yes! Of course!" Charlie breaks in, rudely and obnoxiously, "What of it? Has it arrived yet?"

"yes. Just this morning. Would you like to come pick it up... like now?"

she looks down at her watch, her face suddenly pale, "um... I...um... actually," then she looks up at me, "a... a friend will be coming to pick it up?"

"oh! Of course, miss Lance. Hope to shop with you again!"

And the man on the other line hung up.

"a friend?" I raise an eyebrow. Charlie smiles her sweetest smile, "please, Clar?? I really need that package..."

I knew I would do it in the end, anyway, so, "ugh! Fine! Any special instructions?"

"oh! Thank you! Thank you!" she hugs me. It was usual, though. "Bring it in one piece. Handle with care. And do not, no matter what, open it!"

I smile, and mock a salute, "aye, aye, Captain!", making Charlie smile.

*****

I walk back quickly from the drug store. Had I not left only around fifteen minutes ago? I look at my watch.6 o' clock. Yep.

How had it become dark so quickly? I quicken my pace, anxious to get home. These streets aren't safe once darkness sets in.

hastily making my way up the stairs, I walk to the apartment, ready to knock... when I notice the door is ajar.

"Charlie?!" I call out, slightly frightened. "Char? You here?"

there's no answer. This freaks me out more.

"Char! Not funny anymore." I drop the package on the table. I check my room, but it's empty. Not in the kitchen, not in the study. Her room! I make my way to her room.

And that's when I smell it. That coppery smell... the smell of blood. I am supposed to scream... freak out... but all I can think is that they got to her too......