city of fallen tears

chapter 1:

"Clary!" A voice spoke, breathless, at her shoulder. She turned in surprise to see Sebastian standing beside her. He was wearing gear, and it looked right on him somehow, she thought, as if  he were born to wear it. Where everyone looked bloodstained and disheveled, he was unmarked- except for a double line of scratches that ran the length of his left cheek, as if something had clawed at him with a taloned hand. "I was worried about you, I went by Amatis's house on the way here, but she said she hadn't seen you-"

"Well, I'm fine," Clary glanced from Sebastian to Magnus, who was holding the Book of  the White against his chest. Sebastian's angular eyebrows were raised. "Are you?  Your face-" She reached up to touch his injuries.  The scratches were still oozing a trace amount of blood.

Sebastian shrugged, brushing her hand away gently.  "A she demon got me near the Penhallows'. I'm fine though.  What's going on?"

"Nothing. I was talking to Ma-Ragnor," Clary said hastily,  realising with a sudden horror that Sebastian had no idea who Magnus really was.

"Maragnor?" Sebastian arched his eyebrows. "Okay, then." He glanced curiously at the Book of the White. Clary wished Magnus would put it away- the way he was holding it, its gilded lettering was clearly visible.  "What's that?"

"Magnus studied him for a moment, his cat eyes considering. "A spell book," he said finally.  "Nothing that would be of interest to a Shadowhunter."

"Actually,  my aunt collects spell books. Can I see?" Sebastian held his hand out, before Magnus could refuse, Clary heard someone call her name, and Jace and Alec descended on them, clearly none too happy to see Sebastian.

"I thought I told you to stay with Max and Isabelle!" Alec snapped at him. "Did you leave them alone?"

Slowly Sebastian's eyes moved from Magnus to Alec. "Your parents came home, just like you said they would." His voice was cold. "They sent me ahead to tell you they were all right, and so are Isabelle and Max. They're on their way."

"Well," said Jace, his voice heavy with sarcasm, "thanks for passing that news the second you got here."

"I didn't see you the second I got here," said Sebastian.  "I saw Clary."

"Because you were looking for her."

"Because I needed to talk to her. Alone." He caught Clary's eyes again,  and the intensity in them gave her pause. She wanted to tell him not to look at her like that when Jace was here, but that would sound unreasonable and crazy; and besides,  maybe he had something important to tell her. "Clary?"

"Fine. But only for a couple minutes,  then I'm going back in." Clary said.

Suddenly, she started to feel uneasy, as she followed him. She felt wary as she followed him outside.

"So? What was so important that you had to drag me out here?" She asked.

She didn't even see it coming.  Only a fist connecting with her head. And suddenly the world went black.