City of bones (fan fiction)

Chapter 6

The group had gotten to-go food at Talkies and headed straight to what Clary assumed was the New York Institute. It was massive and beautiful, though heavily glamoured from the Mundanes. It was glamoured to look like an abandoned church, tall and crumbling.

As they walked in and went down a small elevator, Clary looked around curiously. Everyone was holding their own styrofoam containers of takeout. It smelled delicious and her stomach growled loudly. Jace, who was standing next to her, looked down at her and smirked.

Clary rolled her eyes but felt her lips twitch upward.

The elevator lurched to a stop and everyone got out. The halls were dimly lit. As the group walked, Clary and Jonathan following the others, they passed several empty bedrooms.

"Where is everyone?" Clary broke the silence.

Jace turned to look back at her, "Hodge is the only one else here right now but he's probably in the garden. Izzy and Alec's parents are in Idris with our little brother, Max."

"Our?"

"I'm adopted," Jace said dismissively.

"Okay, but I meant, you guys live in an Institute, aren't there supposed to be more people? There are a ton of empty bedrooms."

"There are occasional drifters, as I like to call them. If any Shadowhunters need housing for a while, or just are in the city, the Institute is open. We don't really get many people, though."

"So we are some of the few exceptions?" Clary teased.

Jace made a tutting noise, "So many questions little Red. Or maybe you are flirting."

"Oops, you caught me, now I suppose I should stop before your already big head explodes."

Alec stifled a laugh.

"Oh, what a great Parabatia you turned out to be," Jace muttered.

"Sorry, but she kind of has a point," he said, shrugging.

The group slowed their pace as they approached two heavy wood doors. Isabelle pushed them open and Clary's jaw dropped.

Books. Hundreds upon thousands, perhaps. So many books. The library was huge, with a spiral staircase even leading to another level. Books, books, books.

Jonathan appeared unimpressed, however, despite the fact he liked to read sometimes, too.

"You like to read?" a voice called from somewhere in the room.

Clary turned to a large wooden desk where a man sat, reclined in a desk chair.

"Yes, I love reading," Clary said, still in awe of the quantity of books.

"Well, we have plenty of them, your welcome to them anytime. That is as long as you return each to their rightful place on the shelves," the man said, pushing his chair back and sitting up.

"Thank you."

Jace stepped forward, "Hello, Hodge, I figured you would be in the garden."

"Coincidently, that is where I'm headed right now. The library is all yours." Hodge said. He looked at Clary. And then he saw Jonathan. Fear laced his eyes, but disappeared in an instant, leaving Clary wondering if it had even been there at all.

Hodge hurriedly left, the heavy oak doors closing behind him.

"Well, we have the library to ourselves," Isabelle stated making Clary feel the urge to say 'duh'. They all sat on the plush couches. "So, who are you guys?"