17 year old Emily Herondale is the strongest Shadowhunter alive, narrowly beating out her dad, Jace. When threats start to occur between families, secrets are hidden while others emerge. People will be loved, hurt, and struggle to survive, but Emily's family refuses to let the demons of the world prevail
Chapter One:
Her muscles were aching, the pain getting to be excruciating as she dodged the blade that threatened to tear her into two pieces. Emily and her father had been at this for hours, doing the same things, every day, and it was starting to get old. Sure, she understood the point of it, and why he was so hard on her, but she didn't understand why he wasn't as hard on her brother. Just because he wasn't a fighter, like she was, didn't mean he shouldn't miss out on training. And it only made it worse when she was the only one being trained. In fact, it made it ten times harder.
Emily's seraph blade came up, blocking a slice from her left that her father tried, and dipped down, kicking out with her left leg and catching her dad off guard as she dead legged his right quad. He only faltered slightly, but while he was preoccupied with his balance she was able to wrench the seraph blade from his hands. It flew in the air; landing somewhere in the training room with a ripping sound as it sliced the training mats open.
She backed up as her father stood to his full height, towering over her, weaponless. Jace had always been stronger, taller, bigger, and even more cunning than her, but she was faster. Although he was in his early forties, he was still a master with a blade. Michael was like fighting a turtle compared to the lion that Jace was. His fair hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his muscles rose and fell with his steady breathing. He really was beautiful, and it was completely obvious why her mother fell in love with him. He was a jerk ninety percent of the time, but around Clary, he was a totally different person.
"At least you've finally gotten that figured out," Jace smirked as he rubbed his hair, only making it messier than it was before. "It only took you seventeen years."
Her free hand flew to her hip while her other twirled the blade in her hand. "I beat you, didn't it? That's more than Uncle Alec can say."
"MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER HERONDALE!"
Jace and Emily both tensed, looking towards the open door of the training room. Emily tried her best to decide what would be the smartest thing to do. When her mother was angry, which never ended well for anyone who got involved, it was always best to hide away and be as invisible as possible. Jace was showing the same, conflicting emotion across his face. Ever since the whole fiasco almost twenty years ago ended, Jace had learned to lighten up. He wasn't as closed off as he used to be according to her Aunt Izzy and Uncle Alec. But Jace and Emily may be the strongest of the Nephilim, but neither was brave enough to go up against an angry Clarissa Herondale.
Just as they were contemplating what to do, none other than Michael himself burst into the training room. His blond hair was easily recognized, falling into his face as he ran with the look of sheer horror. His black t-shirt and shorts were flowing as he ran, and he skidded to a stop as soon as he saw his sister and father. Michael was much like Jace, while Emily was more like Clary. Michael had the build, the looks, and the same fear of Clary as Jace did. Emily was just barely taller than Clary, with strawberry blond curls that was currently pulled up into a bun, and few freckles danced across her pale face and arms.
Michael's green eyes locked with Emily's, and he let out a breath he seemed to be holding. "Thank the Angel, I need your help."
Emily and Jace exchanged looks, and shook their heads. "Sorry son," Jace said. "You're on your own when it comes to your mother. After the last issue we had between you two, I don't fancy interfering again. The couch isn't as comfortable as it looks."
"I know but–" He froze when he noticed the seraph blade sticking out of the blue training mat. When he noticed the blade in Emily's hand and Jace with nothing, he pointed with a questioned look on his face. "What–"
"Nothing," Jace answered quickly. Emily smiled knowingly, but didn't say anything. "What did you do to your mother this time?"
"Kaden and I were playing around upstairs, just fighting like we always do. He tackled me, and I kind of, sort of, slightly bumped into one of mom's new paintings by accident and–"
"You're so dead," Emily said. "How bad is it?"
"It's ruined," he muttered. "Paint splattered over the top, covering the whole thing a black mess."
Jace exhaled and came up to stand next to Emily. His presence was always reassuring, like if he was there, nothing bad couldn't truly happen to either of them. "Michael, just go to her and get it over with. You're only prolonging a punishment that you're not going to be willing to endure in the first place."
"Well, I was hoping you could help me Dad."
Jace pinched the bridge of his nose. "No matter how sweet and charming I am to your mother, somehow, she just doesn't fall for it anymore when she's beyond being reasoned with. I don't want to get on her bad side. Ergo, you're on your own."
"MICHAEL!" She sounded close, like she was just outside the training room door. Sure enough, just as Emily guessed, Clary rounded the corner looking more than incensed. She froze when she found her family, standing in the middle of the training room, but her green eyes flew right to Michael. "Michael, get over here, now."
Michael shook his head and ducked behind Jace, gripping his shoulders to keep him in place. Michael was barely shorter than Jace, by maybe an inch or two, but he had the backbone of a slug. "Mom, I know you mad–"
"She's more than mad," Emily butted in, but shut up when Jace shot her a look.
"– But I have a perfectly good explanation for what happened. Kaden and I were just–"
Just the look from Clary made him shut his mouth. With her hands on her hips, while being dressed in her training clothes, and the runes burning along with a glare on her face, she was definitely a force to be reckoned with. "Kaden has gone home, and Magnus and Alec are dealing with him. Meanwhile, I'm dealing with you. Now come along. You don't want to be embarrassed in front of your older sister, do you?"
"Oh, please punish him here," Emily begged. "Please!"
"Emily, be quiet," Jace ordered as he grabbed Michael, against the boy's protests, and dragged him towards the door. Apparently he chose the side of his wife instead of his kid, not that Emily blamed him. Michael eventually stopped, knowing that fighting would only make it worse, and he let Clary lead him from the room. Jace followed suite, and Emily was suddenly left in the training room, alone.
She sighed and headed towards the bench where her favorite leather jacket was seated. With one look at her phone, her eyes widened.
Four missed calls from Conan and a text? After reading it, Emily quickly grabbed her stuff and ran to her room in a hurry, trying to block out her mother's screaming but failing miserably.
A/N <3 Tell me what you think? Should I continue the story? Any comments will be much appreciated ! Check out my other stories please.
