The Mortal Instruments: Book of Mercy

Chapter Three: Home is Where the Heart is.

"This will never be home." Maddie whispered as she ran out of the room. She decided that she'd find Elise, get her to do the mist thing and go home. She ran in the general direction she'd seen them go in before she heard them talking. She followed their voices until she came to a kitchen. Elise was no longer wearing her jacket which meant that Maddie could she more of her outfit. She wished so was confident enough to wear crop tops and skinny ripped jeans. There were so many holes in them. Maddie could never wear something like that without being judged, where she lived at her age she just couldn't, but Elise? She pulled it off easily. Theo was wearing a top and jeans. And then there was the other boy who just came in front of Maddie. Older than the others. Hot. With lightning blue eyes and rough black curls. He came closer to Maddie's face. Her lips puckered.
"So this is the famous Mads."
"Yeah, Sebs, it is." Elise said. She looked like she was dying of laughter while still trying to cook. Maddie looked down to hide her bright red blush. It was a mistake, 'Sebs,' was shirtless. He picked up his jacket and walked over to the table Theo was sat at. Elise, now carrying a plate of Scrambled Egg placed it down and sat with them.
"Hey Mads, bring the toast over would you?" Elise asked, still with a slight giggle. Maddie nodded before grabbing it and sitting down with them. Everyone but Maddie had a plate.
"Elise, I think Mads needs a plate." Sebs said.
"Got it!" Elise murmured before waving her arm around. A plate appeared before Maddie.
"How'd you do that?" Maddie asked.
"I just teleported it. I'm not supposed to but who cares? Anyway, tuck in!"
After a few bites Maddie paused. "So what's Sebs short for?"
"Sebastian. I'm Elise's cousin. I'm actually leaving soon, tomorrow's my last day. I'm going to Idris for a week."
"Idris?" Maddie asked, confused.
"It's the Shadowhunter home country. Hidden from Mundanes. It's perfect. Nothing beats it." Theo explained.
"Everyone finished?" Elise asked. Maddie looked down. She wasn't.
"Great, I'll just-"
"Maddie isn't Elise." Sebastian interrupted. It was too late. Her meal was already gone. She smiled gratefully at Sebastian, at least he tried. Elise grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the table with Theo. Away from Sebastian. Maddie frowned.

The walked into Elise's room. It was reasonably tidy. Everywhere Maddie looked she could see drawings. There was paint spiralling into intricate patterns on the wall. Elise had set up a camp bed.
"Why would she want to stay with you??" Theo question brought Maddie back to her senses.
"Because we're buds!"
"Er, no, we're not." Maddie concluded.
"Well, we were and your memories are going to come back so we'll be besties again soon." Elise smirked.
Theo shook his head and shrugged, "I guess."
"Okay then, let's go!" Elise was still smirking. She grabbed a hot pink leather jacket and pulled it on
"Go were?"
"To Pandemonium, of course! Now Theo, out! I need to get Maddie ready."
"What!" Maddie shouted, "what's wrong with this?!" She looked down at her school uniform.
"You can't go clubbing in that!"
"Clubbing?"
"It's fine, you're a Shadowhunter, you can get in. Also my Dad owns it so.."
"Elise we can't go." Theo said.
"Why not??"
"Because, you promised Jace you'd make tea so Izzy didn't try to."
"I guess I did, screw that."
"Elise I'm not eating Izzy's cooking again." Theo looked disgusted at the thought.
"Whose Izzy??" Maddie asked, at a loss for what to do again.
"My aunt. She's pretty awesome."
Theo rolled his eyes and stomped his foot, "come on, let's give Mads a tour or something Elise."
"My name is Maddie."
"I don't care." Theo sneered. Maddie rolled her eyes but felt too weak and confused to bother fighting back. She looked at Elise.
"Actually I was wondering if I could talk to you about going..." she got distracted by Elise's wardrobe.
Elise smiled. "Like what you see? I get my clothes mainly from Clary and Izzy. Want to change?"
Maddie thought. She inspected the wardrobe, everything looked like it was too harsh to suit her. She sighed. "Do you have anything in a more pastel colour?"
Elise chuckled. "Sure but it won't help you fit in here." She routed to the back of the wardrobe. "How about this? I wore this quite a few years ago but you're kinda small so it should fit."
Maddie smiled and nodded. It was a blue dress with a white leather jacket, still not quite her style but she'd deal with it. "Thanks."
Elise shrugged. "No problem. Shoo Theo!" She pushed him out of the door so Maddie could get changed. She changed quickly and walked out into the corridor with Elise who put on more black but it looked more comfy.
Theo chuckled. "Elise, if anything she looks more mundie!"
Elise sighed. "Shut up Theo. She's too pale for black at the moment but one week in American sun will change that."
Maddie's face dropped. "I am not staying here a week!"
Just then they heard a booming voice behind them. "No you're not. You're gonna stay here for a lot longer than that."
Maddie jumped with shock and her breathing went funny. She looked behind her and it was Jace. She calmed down quite quickly. He stood firmly in front of Theo, making sure he had a firm grip on Maddie's shoulder first. "Theo I can't believe you! And Elise you too! You're both in so much trouble! Do you understand the amount of pain and stress you've caused me?!"
Theo looked shocked and embarrassed. "I-I'm Sorry Jace... It was all a big accident."
Elise gave him a small scowl and then a big smile. "You should be sorta pleased! And I got my best friend back! Well... as soon as she remembers me..."
Maddie had begun to cry during this, she tried to hate Clary and Jace but she couldn't. She wanted them both to like her too. Jace noticed and calmed down. "I'm sorry Maddie... C-C'mon. Why don't I show you round a bit?" It was clear he was struggling with the whole parenting thing. He gently took his hand away and looked at the other two. "And whilst we're busy I expect you two to be making dinner to apologise." He said and turned around.
"We have to do that anyway idiot" Elise muttered under her breath. Maddie followed behind him after giving the other two a little wave. Jace sighed. "I remember that dress, your aunt used to wear it all the time when she was younger than you."
Maddie frowned. "But... Elise's aunt gave it to her..."
He chuckled. "Izzy's a lot like my sister as well. I'd appreciate if you saw her as an aunt." Maddie shrugged, she wasn't going to see any of them as family. Jace lead her up to his room.
"These are the rooms... We'll get you your own soon, there's one across the hall from us we'll move you into... For now we can set up a bed here." He was trying to be nice, she could tell.
She just didn't want to hear it. "I'm not staying. Not one night. I'm going to find Elise and she's going to send me home." She turned towards the door, clearly upset. Jace sighed and grabbed her arm. 
"Maddie... Listen to me... Talk to me..." She begun to sob.
"I don't understand this! Magic isn't real! It just... Can't be! I want to go home! This is stupid! I want to go back to the real world that makes sense! I-It's just too much..."
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. "I know... I know... It's difficult. But this is home now... It'll be alright. I promise, you'll like it here really soon." He spoke calmly and she didn't have the energy to do anything but listen and cry into him. She hoped it was all a bad dream.

A really, really bad smell began to flow from the kitchen. Jace looked up and gently pushed Maddie off him. She almost choked at the smell.
"That little! Alec's daughter or not, I'm going to kill her!" Holding Maddie's hand he began to storm down the corridor. They came to the kitchen to find a tall slender woman with long locks of straight black hair 'cooking.'
"Want some??" She asked.
"Izzy I would never eat your cooking, it's probably so bad that it would even ruin these perfect looks." Jace grinned.
"And the Angel forbid that happening. Well, since Auntie Izzy made a mess of tea, I'll order some pizza, whose with me??" Elise drawled. Sebastian poked his head though the door "did I hear pizza?"
Maddie felt faint. How was any of this normal??