Chapter Text
The training room of the Institute in San Francisco looked more like a ballet studio.
There were two walls of mirrors, running parallel to each other. Wooden ballet bars were screwed into the wall. The west-facing wall was one large pane of glass that looked out over the city and the bay. Along the fourth wall ran racks of weapons and a ladder up to the balance beams suspended 15 feet off the floor.
Sienna Penhallow practiced her arabesques, jetes, and pirouettes there in almost complete silence. The quiet had once been unnerving but now she couldn't live without it.
Overall, the Institute of San Francisco was small compared to most. There were only three levels; the main floor which featured the kitchens, library, and dining room, the second floor, comprised mostly of bedrooms, and the third floor, of which the training room took up most of the space. Because it was so small, the Institute didn't get many visitors. The largest Institute in North America was in Los Angeles so most of the passing Shadowhunters (and demons) went there.
But she wasn't alone in the house. She had a mundane with the Sight employed as a butler. His name was James and reminded Sienna of Alfred from the Batman comics. That made her Batman. He cleaned, cooked, and occasionally treated Sienna's wounds. But the practice of employed mundanes was outdated in all the other Institutions.
After the Mortal War, Shadowhunter numbers were dwindling. That was the only reason the Clave had allowed a 19 year old girl with very little combat experience to run an Institute.
There was only a small werewolf pack in the city and they rarely caused any trouble. Vampires hadn't been seen in San Francisco since Alcatraz and warlocks preferred the glamorous lifestyle of Los Angeles.
There was a knock at the door to the training room. Sienna kept her balance on one perfectly pointed foot, using a bar for support. Her other leg reached up to the sky, forming just shy of a 180 degree angle.
"Yes?" she called, voice somewhat strained. Her foot was beginning to ache.
James entered.
"You have visitors, miss," he said. She dropped down to two flat feet.
"Visitors? Who?" Sienna asked. She feared the worst. The Clave. The nosy Inquisitor. Werewolves. Trouble in the city.
"A Mr. Jace Lightwood and his companions, Miss Clarissa Frey, Alec Lightwood, and Isabelle Lightwood," James said.
"Where are they now?" she asked, voice somewhat panicked. She wasn't prepared to receive visitors. Not in the sweaty state she was in.
"In the foyer," James said. Sienna wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead.
"Would you mind preparing some food for our guests? Heaven knows how they got here," she said. "You said Alec was with them?"
James simply nodded.
Sienna stopped herself from getting too excited. She had heard about Alec's new boyfriend-- the warlock Magnus Bane.
"And tell them I'll be down in a few minutes," she added. James nodded again before leaving the room.
Sienna turned back around to the mirror. Her brown hair was up in a perfectly formed bun. She didn't have to worry about applying makeup. The Lightwoods wouldn't care. But it was the new name that bothered her: Clarissa Frey.
With one last sigh, Sienna left the training room.
...........
Jace remembered Sienna very well.
Her parents had died while invading a vampire nest in Seattle when she nine. She had spent a few months at the New York City Institute so she didn't fall behind on her Shadowhunter training while they found someone else to run the San Francisco Institute and take care of her. After she left, shortly after Jace's 12th birthday, he hadn't seen or heard from her. He knew that Isabelle still talked to her but Sienna wasn't a frequent topic over dinner.
She used to watch him and Alec train at the New York City Institute for hours on end. She even managed to convince Alec to train her how to use a bow. In his mind, Sienna was still flirtatious twelve year old with the manners and grace of a 19th century duchess.
And up until a year ago, such grace and elegance wouldn't have bothered him, until, of course, Clary came along and turned everything upside down. All other girls seemed to disappear from his sight. They were nothing compared to her.
Jace, Clary, Alec, and Isabelle sat on one of the over-stuffed modern couches in the foyer of the Institute. An older man in a suit came downstairs, his skin free of runes.
"Miss Penhallow will be with you shortly," he said. He had told the young Shadowhunters his name at the door but Jace had already forgotten. "In the mean time, can I offer you any sort of refreshments?"
All four of them declined. He nodded and exited the room through one of the doors.
"I don't remember her being this late," Jace noted.
"I don't remember you being forced to come," Isabelle snapped.
"I don't remember us actually giving her any warning we were coming," Clary reminded them.
"Please," Alec begged, "just be quiet."
"Are you nervous?" Jace teased. There was an audible smack when Clary hit his arm.
"Leave him alone," the red-headed girl snapped.
"I'm not nervous," Alec said. "I just don't want to be here."
"You're afraid Sienna's going to get mad at you and beat you up," Isabelle said.
"Who am I going to beat up?"
Everyone looked up at Sienna who was descending the stairs in black training gear.
"Alec," Jace said. Her head turned to one side, curiously.
"I don't think I would do that," she said, slowly. She reached the bottom of the stairs. It was impossible not to notice her perfect posture. She held herself so elegantly. . .
Clary. Jace took her hand in his to remind himself of her. He couldn't lose sight of her. Not again.
Sienna walked directly to Isabelle, giving the girl a hug.
"It's been too long," Sienna said.
"You really should come back to New York sometime," Isabelle said. "There's so much you're missing."
"San Francisco is New York on a smaller scale. I'm a fan of it," Sienna said. Her hair was in a tight bun that was probably giving her a major headache. "Anyways, you don't want to hear about San Francisco. Let's go into the library."
The group entered the library which smelled of stale cigars and musty books. A grand piano was set up in the corner. Jace's fingers itched to play it.
Everyone found a couch to sit on.
Sienna took an armchair across from Alec.
"So how can I help you?" Sienna asked. A door opened noiselessly and the butler entered carrying a tray of tea with five cups. He set the tray on the empty desk in the room and began pouring, despite the fact that they had all said "no" to refreshments.
"I'm afraid you might not like what I have to say," Alec said.
"I won't bite, Alec," Sienna said. She smiled slightly.
"I've been given control of this Institute," he said. Her smile didn't falter.
"See? Was that so bad?" she laughed lightly. "You can have the Institute, Alec. I'm sure you'll do a much better job at running it than me."
"I don't want you to leave or anything--"
"I should hope not," Sienna said.
"I feel bad," Alec admitted.
"You shouldn't," she said, reaching across the space between them and patting his knee. "Don't worry about it."
Alec still looked guilty. He had been dreading breaking the news to Sienna. He had received word from the Clave that he was going to be head of this Institute almost a week ago and he had successfully put it off until now.
"I don't even really want this position," Alec said. "I'd rather have the New York Institute."
"Well, of course," Sienna said. "Your family is there. Your boyfriend."
"You know about--"
"Of course," Sienna said. "Who doesn't?"
"It is quite the scandal," Isabelle noted. Sienna simply nodded.
"So when do you plan on moving in?" she asked. "I'll have James prepare you a room of your choice of course."
"I'm in no rush," Alec said, mournfully. Jace hated seeing Alec like this. He'd been so happy for the longest time, being with Magnus, but now he was back to an older, less vivacious version of himself.
"Actually," Jace said as the idea entered his mind. "Clary and I were thinking about spending the summer out here. You know, training in a different environment. Different demons out here."
Clary looked at him with some shock on her face but she tried to hide it from Sienna. Jace knew Jocelyn Fray would never allow her daughter to spend the summer in California, but it was worth a shot if it cheered Alec up.
"Really?" Alec said. He was already looking a little more excited.
"I'd love to have you two," Sienna said. "Well, sorry-- I'm sure Alec would love to have you here with him."
"Well if everyone is here," Isabelle said, "I might as well join."
And that's how it was settled.