Bind To

Chapter 2: Awakening

Clary awoke, her head pounding and her body stiff, but she felt no piercing pain. For the first time since Clary had been with her mother, she felt safe. Clary peeled her radiant, emerald green eyes open and peered around. She was in a large, bright room, clearly alive, filled with many windows and many lights, which brightening the white walls. It reminded her of pictures that she had seen of hospitals. She was lying on something soft, a bed. Clary recalled having a bed from when she was with her mother, but her father never supplied one. At the foot of the bed was a chair and in the chair sat a raven-hair girl, much like the one she remembered seeing in the cell, although a different gender. The girl seemed to be asleep, so Clary tried to sit up quietly. She winced as the bed creaked and groaned beneath her and turned to the side, her legs hanging over the edge. There was a mirror lying on the table and she picked it up, glancing at her reflection. There was a long cut across her eye and one on her right cheek, but both seemed to be healing. Clary's bright red hair was pulled back from her face wildly, but clumps were stuck together with blood as glue. Her body felt like it was caked in blood and grime and her clothes were in shreds, but new ones lay next to the beautiful girl. Clary put the mirror back and for a brief moment, envied the girl. She seemed so peaceful and tough, as though nothing could hurt her. Clary had believed the same thing until her father, Valentine, had come. That terrible night, everything changed. She sighed and stood up, wavering slightly and wincing at the chilliness of the wood against her bare feet, she padded to the large door and stepped out. Clary put her hand to the painted wall and leaned against it. Her head still hurt but she had to get some information on where she was. Clary slowly started down the everlasting corridor, following the slight murmur of voices. Her vision clouded slightly and she had to pause to regain her balance and control. Then she once again continued. Finally she stood before a large, wooden, oak door that towered above her. The voices had grown louder and she stepped up to the door, placing her right ear against it to listen.
"She needs a place to stay Alec!" An angry voice protested
"I understand that Jace, but she is also Valentine's daughter. Don't you remember what he did to your family? She could be a spy!" A slightly calmer voice retorted.
"She is not a spy!"
"Do you have feelings for her?" There was a brief pause and the angry voice lowered. "We'll give her a week."
There was a sigh and then, "I'm going to go check on her."
There was no response, but footsteps started towards the door and Clary jerked back a little too quickly. The door opened and she fell to the ground, her head pounding even more than earlier. She tried to look up to see who had been talking in her defense, but her vision clouded again and she put her head between her knees, breathing hard. The footsteps became hurried and she could feel the presence of someone in front of her. A golden hand went between her legs and forced her head up. The view was enough to take her breath away again. It was the angel she had seen in the cell, his golden eyes poured into hers, filled with slight concern and something else that even she couldn't place. He reached out, brushing a hand over her scar and she flinched away from him. Hurt flashed over his face and he stood up, calling out something. Another boy, the raven-haired one, came out and glanced at her. She scrambled back and the raven-haired boy shook his head. The golden boy approached her slowly, like she was a wild animal, until he was directly in front of her, then he began murmuring. She didn't catch all of it, her hearing seemed to fade in and out, but she got enough.
"Clarissa-I'm Jace-you're hurt and we need to get you to the infirmary-you don't need to be afraid-Let me help you." And then the best thing of all, "You're safe now."