City of Heroes (The Mortal Instruments Fanfiction)

Chapter One

"There's an abandoned hospital at the south end of Roosevelt Island called Renwick's. I think Valentine's there." Clary said, hanging up from her call to Simon.

Luke shoved his glasses up again. "Blackwell's Island. Of course."

"What do you mean, Blackwell's? I said-"

He cut her off with a gesture. "That's what Roosevelt Island used to be called. Blackwell's. It was owned by an old Shadowhunter family. I should have guessed." He turned to Gretel. "Get Alaric. We're going to need everyone back here as soon as possible."

His lips were curled into a half smile that reminded Clary of the cold grin Jace wore during fights. "Tell them to ready themselves for battle."

***

They made their way up to the street via a circuitous maze of cells and corridors that eventually opened out into what had once been the lobby of a police station. The building was abandoned now, and the slanting light of late afternoon cast strange shadows over the empty desks, the padlocked cabinets pocked with black termite holes, the cracked floor tiles spelling out the motto of the NYPD: Fidelis ad Mortem.

"Faithful unto death," said Luke, following her gaze.

"Let me guess," said Clary. "On the inside it's an abandoned police station; from the outside, mundanes only see a condemned apartment building, or a vacant lot, or..."

"Actually it looks like a Chinese restaurant from the outside," Luke said. "Takeout only, no table service."

"A Chinese restaurant?" Clary echoed in disbelief.

He shrugged. "Well, we are in Chinatown. This was the Second Precinct building once."

"People must think it's weird that there's no phone number to call for orders."

Luke grinned. "There is. We just don't answer it much. Sometimes, if they're bored, some of the cubs will deliver someone some mu shu pork."

"You're kidding."

"Not at all. The tips come in handy." He pushed the front door open, letting in a stream of sunlight.

Still not sure whether he was kidding or not, Clary followed Luke across Baxter Street to where his car was parked. The inside of the pickup truck was comfortingly familiar. The faint smell of wood chips and old paper and soap, the faded pair of plush gold dice that she'd given him when she was ten because they looked like the gold dice hanging from the rearview mirror of the Millennium Falcon. The discarded gum wrappers and empty coffee cups rolling around on

the floor. Clary hauled herself up into the passenger seat, settling back against the headrest with a sigh. She was more tired than she would have liked to admit.

Luke shut the door after her. "Stay right here."

She watched as he talked to Gretel and Alaric, who were standing on the steps of the old police station, waiting patiently.

Clary amused herself by letting her eyes fade in and out of focus, watching the glamour appear and disappear. First it was an old police station, then it was a dilapidated storefront sporting a yellow awning that read jade wolf Chinese cuisine.

{STOP. Everything after this point is my original work. Carry on.}

Suddenly, somebody burst through the police station doors. It was a girl about Clary's age, though maybe a little older.

"Thought you could get away without me, Luke?" Her voice had a teasing tone to it. She was tall, much taller than Clary. She had light hair that flowed freely in slight waves to her shoulder-blades. This reminded her painfully of Jace, and his tousled blonde curls. Her eyes were a striking blue-green color. Her features were strong, quite like Isabelle's but much less sharp.

"We couldn't get that lucky." He sighed, but Clary could tell he was joking. "Did Brady bring you?"

"More like I forced him too." She grinned. "How could you expect me to miss a fight against Valentine?"

"This one will be dangerous." Gretel said, worriedly.

"Danger is my middle name."

"Actually, her middle name is Hollis." Clary heard, and watched to see an equally stunning teenage boy walk up behind her and put his arm around her shoulders. This must be Brady, Clary thought. While he wore a casual plaid shirt and jeans, she was dressed in tight-fitting black Shadowhunter gear, a sleeveless black shirt and pants made of a leather-like material. An arrow sheath was strapped around her and she held an elegant black bow in her hand. The handle of a dagger stuck out from her belt, inlaid with sapphires.

"Sir, do you really think it's a good idea to let a 16 year old girl come with us?" Alaric asked Luke quietly.

"Excuse me? I'm top of my class at the Shadowhunter Training Facility in Alicante!" The girl snapped. "Besides, Luke's bringing a thirteen year old along." She said, indicating Clary.

"I'm fifteen!" Clary retorted.

"Sorry." The girl said. She laughed a little. "Really?"

"Yes, really!" Clary spat.

Luke cleared his throat and put his hand on Clary's shoulder. "Rory, I think it's time I introduced you to Jocelyn's daughter, Clary Fray."

"Really?" She asked Luke, her eyebrows raised. Luke nodded. "It's really very nice to meet you. Luke talks about you all the time. I'm Aurora Dawnstrider, by the way." Aurora said, grinning with new-found enthusiasm. She held her hand out, and Clary shook it.

"Clary Fray." she said, smiling slightly.

Brady stepped out from behind Aurora and shook Clary's hand also. "I'm Brady Anderson." He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "If you value your continued existence, never call her Aurora." He stepped back and flashed a white grin, which she returned gladly.

"So," Aurora said, applying fresh runes to her bare forearm with a shining silver stele decorated with swirling patterns and dotted with small sapphires. "Now that we know who the thirteen year old is-"

"Fifteen year old." Clary stated.

"-Sorry, who the fifteen year old is, on to a more important question. Who's getting the food?"