Wow! It hasn't even been 24 hours since I posted the first chapter and I already got tons of great feedback! You guys are totally amazing, thanks so much. :) Not to mention I asked for 4 reviews and already got 15! So quickly scrambled together the next chapter as promised for you all! Enjoy!

It was a bit of a long ride for Clary. She sat in silence in the very plush royal carriage. The king sat across from her, scribbling on some parchments while Jace sat next to her, his amber eyes set firmly out the window and the scenery around them. In his hands he lightly held onto a rope, the other end was wrapped and tied tightly around Clary's thin wrists. She kept her hands fisted on her lap and her eyes cast down at the floor. She couldn't find the words to describe just how nervous she was. She had no idea what to expect from her new owners and the tense silence in the carriage wasn't helping. Ever so slowly, she allowed her back to sink further down into the deep red cushion behind her, trying to ease some of the tension in her shoulders. The soft fabric seemed to have the desired effect and she became all to aware of just how exhausted she truly was. She tried in vain to keep her eyes open but they were so heavy with sleep that eventually she gave in and slipped into a quiet slumber.

"Wake up!" She heard a deep gruff voice pulling her from her dreams. Her body instantly jerked awake, instinctively knowing that disobeying orders brings pain. Her body instantly sat up straight and her wide eyes took in the angry sight of King Robert. He was scowling at her with his arms crossed. The carriage had stopped moving so Clary assumed that they had arrived. "You were not given permission to sleep, Jace you will do well to teach her to only do as she is told." He huffed before standing up and exiting the carriage.

Clary saw Jace nod out of the corner of my eye before he stood and followed him out, tugging on Clary's rope as he did. Clary winced as the ropes rubbed across her sensitive skin and stumbled after him. Her eyes instantly closed as the bright light of day assaulted her senses. She had been sold back to the trader about three months ago and since, she had only seen the little light from the door so the light hurt and burned her eyes which had adjusted to the dark. She squinted a few times, blotchy shapes invading her vision as she tried to open her eyes enough to follow him. As soon as her eyes adjusted they widened in awe at the beautiful sight in front of her. Their castle was huge and the landscape was beautifully covered in flowers and trees. It was the biggest building she had ever seen and the towers seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky above her. She stood there gaping for only a few seconds before she felt another tug on her ropes as she was led forward into the large wooden doors.

The lobby inside was just as magnificent. The whole thing was covered in gold and marble and the building was all covered in elaborate designs with curious shapes. Runes, the word popped into her head. She had almost forgotten that they were Shadowhunters. Shaodowhunters were usually very highly ranked and in this country, this particular family was handed the throne in return for their protection. The humans that occupied the towns looked to them to protect them from demons and other creatures of the night.

Clary wasn't paying much attention as she walked so she didn't notice when Jace stopped. She turned her head just in time for her to stop before she walked right into him. She bit her lip and quickly took a few steps back before he noticed.

"Ah there you are dear." She heard an older woman's voice and carefully peaked around Jace as she saw a woman she recognized as Queen Maryse walking briskly towards them. She had piercing blue eyes that seemed to glitter with joy and long, flowing black hair that floated behind her like silk. She had a young girl at her heels wearing a maid's uniform. The girl looked to be about her age and had light brown skin. Her dark hair fell in curls down to her shoulders and her brown eyes watched Clary hesitantly. "What took you two so long?" The queen asked them with a smile.

The king greeted her with a smirk but he shrugged at her question. "Slim pickings at the trade today. We went through five cells before Jace picked one out Clary here."

Maryse seemed to accept this answer before her eyes turned to Clary. Jace moved out of the way to give her a better view. Clary instantly looked down and clasped her hands together nervously. She could feel her palms sweating under her scrutinizing gaze. "I see..." She trailed off as she circled around Clary. "She is awfully pale and thin, I don't think she will be able to do housework very well. Why this one Jace?" She asked him as she gripped Clary's chin in her hand, forcing her to look up. Clary's eyes flashed dangerously at the queen. She was trying to be obedient but her comments were staring to agitate her. Why did people always talk about her like she wasn't there?

The queen seemed taken aback by the fire in her eyes and took a step back from her, releasing her chin. Jace let out a small chuckle as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I liked her confidence." He told him adoptive mother with a shrug.

Maryse looked back and forth between Clary and Jace before letting out a sigh. "That isn't a very desirable trait in a servant my dear." She sighed as she glanced down at Clary's arms and legs. "She seems to have had quite a few beatings in her life though, I am surprised she has any spunk left." She commented as she arched her brow at Clary. Clary frowned and resisted the urge to spit in her face. She had to be careful for now, this was a king and queen after all, they didn't have to trade her back, they could just kill her if they wanted to. "Ah well, she will learn. This is Maia, Clary. She is my personal servant and one of the head servants here. If you are not answering to Jace or any of us, you will be answering to her, understand?"

Clary looked over at Maia and nodded. "Yes," she mumbled out.

"Yes, what?" Maryse hissed at her.

Clary gritted her teeth and felt her nails digging into her palms. "Yes, your majesty." She mumbled out through clenched teeth.

"That's better." The queen replied before walking away, her husband joining her and Maia nodded to Clary before following behind them. As soon as they disappeared into another room Jace let out a deep sigh and turned back to Clary. Slowly, he started to undo the ropes from around her hands. His fingers moved slowly over the knots, being careful not to rub the rope against her already red wrists. Clary watched him with wide eyes, his movements were so... gentle. Her eyes traveled up to his face watching his concentration as he worked to undo the tight knots that the trader had done. She could feel the ropes finally slip off of her wrists but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Jace's perfectly sculpted face. She had heard the legends behind the existence of Shadowhunters, but to be honest she had never believed them, until now. Jace was most definitely an angel, he was too perfect not to be. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she barely noticed when his his golden gaze connected with hers.

His eyebrows raised into two blonde arches and a smirk broke out on his face. "I know I am perfect, you don't need to stare." He scoffed at her, finally breaking her of her reverie.

Clary's face instantly turned beet red as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I wasn't staring!" She retorted angrily, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly.

Jace's eyebrows lowered and knitted together. "Ah so you do have a temper on you, don't you?" He asked and Clary winced slightly in response. Jace noticeably straightened his stance and crossed his arms as well. "Is that any way to speak to your new master?" He threatened, his voice raising a few octaves as one of his hands moved towards her.

Clary's eyes widened in horror and she quickly shut her eyes and flinched away from him, preparing herself for the inevitable punishment she was sure to come.

Jace's eyes widened in realization when he saw this and his stance faltered. He instantly slumped his shoulders slightly, his eyes swimming with pity for the girl before him. "Hey now," His voice was softer now as he brought his hand down to pat her head. She tensed up at the feel of his hand before opening her eyes in surprise at the gentle pressure on her head. She glanced up at Jace who was watching her reaction with a sad smile on his face. "Did you really think that I was going to hit you?" He asked her and she nodded slightly, enchanted by his subtle show of affection. He frowned at her answer and ruffled her hair slightly. Clary mentally wondered if he was disgusted by how dirty and greasy it was.

"Disobedient servants are supposed to be punished aren't they?" Clary replied, her voice cynical and laced with venom.

Jace sighed at her and turned away, walking towards a staircase to his right. "I am not like that you know?" He called after her, motioning for her to follow. "I am only interested in killing demons, I don't see the point in me having a personal slave and I don't see the point in physically hurting others." Clary stayed silent as she followed behind him, not sure whether to trust him or not. On one hand he could be telling the truth, on the other hand he could just be toying with her emotions until she trusted him. Then he would cut her down like all of her masters before him. She had seen it before. She continued to follow him up the stairs and then down a long corridor.

She watched his back as he suddenly stopped and sighed in annoyance. "Listen here," He told her as he whirled on her. She instantly took a few steps back in surprise, flinching once again out of habit. Jace groaned impatiently and softened his tone once more. He really was trying to make her feel comfortable with him, but he didn't want to have to baby his own servant either, what was the point of that. "I don't care if you keep up the slave act around my folks and such, but when it is just you and me, don't walk behind me, it creeps me out okay?"

Clary opened her mouth in surprise at his request. Did he really want her to walk alongside him as his equal? "Y-Yes, sir." She muttered out nervously as she took a few steps forward.

She heard him sigh again and she turned to see him running a hand through his golden curls. "Please, none of this sir or master stuff, just call me Jace." He told her before flashing her his signature grin. "Okay, Clary?"

Clary felt her cheeks heat up from the way her name rolled off of his tongue. Unable to find her voice she simply nodded to him. His grin grew wider, as if he knew what kind of an effect he had on her, before turning and walking away again. Clary let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding and then scurried after him. She had to walk very quickly to keep up with his long stride.

They arrived at his room soon enough. He walked right in while Clary hung by the door, a bit hesitant to enter. His room was just as elaborate as the rest of the house. There was a small fireplace surrounded by a couch and chairs and two glass doors that seemed to lead out to a wide, stone balcony. He had a four-poster king-sized bed surrounded by dark blue curtains and one wall was covered entirely in weapons, ones that Clary had never even seen before. The most noticeable thing about his room was just how neat and organized everything was. There was also an open door next to the fireplace and Clary could barely see what she assumed to be a bathroom.

Jace made his way to a door on the opposite wall and opened it before turning back to address Clary. He motioned for her to join him and she quickly made her way over, not wanting to get yelled at again. Once she was next to him he opened the door and her eyes widened in realization. This was her room. "Since you are my personal servant you have to be able to tend to my personal needs at all times, so you will sleep here." He explained but she barely heard him as she slowly step foot into her room. It was nothing too special, just a small single bed, a desk in the corner, a wardrobe that that was filled with her uniforms and some other random clothes that she assumed they had picked out for her, and a few other random pieces of furniture. There was also an open door in her room that led to her own personal bathroom. This was definitely a lot better living conditions than she had ever had. "Is... Is this really mine?" She was almost afraid to ask.

Jace chuckled slightly and ruffled her hair once more. "Of course silly, I just said that." He told her before walking back into his own room. "Take some time to bathe and make yourself look decent and then you will join me for lunch." He ordered her before walking out onto his balcony.

Clary closed her door behind her and took a moment to glance around her new room, grinning to herself. She entered her bathroom which just consisted of a sink, toilet, and tub which was all done in a light pink tile. Happily she started to fill the tub with hot water and stripped off her rags before settling down into the tub, letting the hot water slowly fill up over her body. She sighed in contentment, it had truly been ages since her last hot bath and she couldn't handle how amazing it felt. She winced slightly as the hot water seeped into a fresh cut on her back from the trader's whip a few days ago, but she soon adjusted to the feeling and sank back into the water. "I could get used to this." She muttered to herself, surprised by her own statement. She couldn't get used to this, she couldn't be fooled by all these pretenses. They would try to hurt her just like all of her other masters. She had to get away, the only thing she wanted in the world was her freedom. She would stop at nothing until she had it. And no angelic face was going to prove her otherwise. She sighed and drew her legs up to her chest, letting her eyes slip closed. She tried to hang onto these few moments of relaxation while she could. No doubt she would have a long list of arduous tasks waiting for her after lunch after all. "No matter what, I could never be happy here." She sighed, not even trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

So what did everyone feel about this one? Would I be greedy to ask for 5 reviews this time before I post the next chapter? I did get well over the needed amount last time after all. Anyway, sorry it was kinda short again but I wanted to hurry up and post again just to show how much I appreciate all of the wonderful comments I got. And I assure you I will hammer out another chapter asap for you all. Anyway please let me know what you guys think! ~Nikki~