Bind To

Chapter 3: Safe?

[Clary was back in the cell, her father once again towering above her, grinning wickedly. She cowered against the wall, pleading for him to stop. He grinning and brought his fist down.]
She opened her eyes, gasping and heard someone murmuring in her ear, she opened her eyes and rubbed them. Clary turned to where the sound was and saw the golden boy sitting on the floor next to her bed. He was gazing at her, she sat up hurriedly and immediately regretted it. A shock of pain went through her head again and she curled in on herself. The boy moved onto the bed and she felt it dip beneath his weight. She waited for the pain to pass before removing her head from between her knees and wrapping her arms around her legs, staring at the beauty before her. He smiled slightly and she averted her eyes.
"Clarissa, I'm Jace. Are you alright?"
She hesitated and opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out. It was then she realized how parched she was. As if reading her mind, Jace picked up a cup off the side table and held it out to her. She took it with two hands, both of them wobbling slightly. After lifting the cup to her mouth and spilling quite a bit, the boy reached out for it.
"May I?"
She sighed and nodded, placing it in his hands. He lifted it to her mouth, tipping it up slightly. She gulped it down, finishing within seconds. He pulled it back, chuckling softly, and set the cup back on the table.
"Thank you," She whispered, her voice raspy. He nodded.
"Can I ask you something Clarissa?"
She hesitated and nodded. This place wasn't perfect, but it was safer than with Valentine. Clary still wasn't sure how he knew her full name, but decided that she would address that later. Instead she glanced at him, waiting for him to continue, but found herself studying him. He was even more beautiful than she remembered. He had beautiful, deep-set golden eyes and golden skin as well. His face seemed to be proportioned perfectly, his eyes were the right size, his nose in the exact center and his plump pink lips formed into a smirk. She realized that he was smirking at her, but she couldn't seem to draw her eyes away. His hair curled perfectly at his temples, and one piece fell in front of his eyes. He was wearing a black sweater, the classic Shadowhunter color, with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing the beautiful skin beneath. Her eyes traveled back to his lips and he began speaking, as if sensing that she was done.
"Do you know where your father is, Clariss-"
She cut him off, still speaking softly so he had to lean forward to catch her words. "It's Clary. H-He was in the building with me...Y-You didn't find him?"
Jace shook his head sadly. She put her head in her hands. So, she wasn't safe after all.