Disclaimer: I am not Cassandra Clare, the author, and I most certainly do not own the Mortal Instruments or the universe it is based on. This is my personal take on CoHF, and this has not been approved in any way by Clare.
|~•o•o•~ Prologue ~•o•o•~|
"Simon?" Isabelle peered through the crevice of the open door. Not receiving any response, Isabelle decided to break in. Not break in, since the door was already open, but... explore one's house without one's permission.
Isabelle remembered that time she spent here, when she came over looking for Simon and ended up getting advice and tequila from Jordan. Truthfully, Isabelle didn't know Jordan's apartment all that well, so she just hoped that she wouldn't barge into the wrong room.
That's exactly what happened.
"Jesus!" Isabelle screamed in horror. Two naked figures who were rolling around in Jordan's bed immediately broke apart at the sight of Isabelle.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I was just looking -" she started.
"Simon's room is the one across from mine," Jordan interrupted. Was it really that obvious that she was looking for Simon? She supposed so; she really had no other reason to come to Jordan's apartment apart from that.
Isabelle hoped she wasn't blushing, "Alright, thanks. And thanks for keeping the steam within your bedroom. My bad."
She quickly threw the door closed and walked over to where Jordan pointed her to go to. After her previous experience, Isabelle decided to knock to double-check if Simon was in there, or if he wasn't ready to see her - as in, he was naked or something.
"Come in!" Simon's voice came from the door.
Isabelle opened the door recklessly and stepped into Simon's room. "Hey," she said.
"Hey. Is something wrong?"
"There's always something wrong. Sebastian's on the loose, he has the Infernal Cup, and he's probably out there raising an army against the Clave." Isabelle paused and added, "And his hand grew back."
"But that's not all, is it?" Simon inquired.
"Of course not. Alec hasn't been home for days. Jace is angry with my mom because she won't let him patrol. I just walked in on Maia and Jordan doing... it, and I'm probably scarred for life. Not that I haven't done it before. Then there's Clary, who's freaking worried about Luke and Jocelyn, and their wedding has been postponed indefinitely. And then there's you."
Simon stared at her for a moment, and cleared his throat. "Me? Oh, you mean my problems with my mom -"
"Actually I was talking about us," Isabelle interrupted.
Simon continued to glare at her, so Isabelle took the initiative to speak first. "Look, over the past few weeks, you've really been there for me. I told Jordan this once, that I only ever trusted a few people in my life: mom, Jace, Alec, and Max. I'm starting to add Clary to that list. But, the thing is, I've never felt more at home with anyone than I have with you."
Simon held on to his silence. Isabelle could feel tears coming up to her eyes. Did he really feel nothing for her?
"I guess what I'm saying is... I think I'm in love with you," Isabelle finished.
There was still no response from Simon whatsoever. Isabelle choked down a few tears. Isabelle Lightwood did not cry, especially not for a random boy who was just an ignorant mundane not so long ago.
Her face grew hot with rage and embarrassment, "Simon, don't just sit there like a statue. Say something."
Finally, Simon's face formed a grin. "Well, I guess that changes everything, doesn't it?" There was a subtle patronizing tone to his voice - one Isabelle didn't understand.
"For worse or for better?" Isabelle's voice wavered as she spoke.
Simon moved his hands up Isabelle's arms until his hands cupped her cheeks. "That depends if you want this as much as I do."
And he kissed her like the world was ending.
I ~•o•o•~ Capture ~•o•o•~ I
"No. Absolutely no way am I going to let you out of my sight," said Maryse with crossed arms.
"Oh come on. I've been with him the longest. I know him the best. Besides, I have the heavenly fire in me -"
Maryse raised her hand to cut him off. "Jace. Don't talk of the fire as if it's a gift from heaven."
"You make it sound like a curse."
"It could be. Look, as far as the Clave and the Silent Brothers can see, the fire isn't going to wear off anytime soon. Don't think you may be able to use it to your advantage, as in burning Sebastian by shoving your hands down his throat - well, actually if you really did that he'd be dead for sure, fire or without. The point is -"
"The point is, I'm joining the hunt. I can give the Clave invaluable information I obtained from my experience with Sebastian -"
"In point of fact, you don't have any information to give the Clave. The Silent Brothers told us that much."
Jace threw his hands up in exasperation. "Fine! I'll just lock myself up in the infirmary while I 'heal.' I've been healing for 10 whole days!"
"10 whole days isn't enough to rid your body of the effects of Michael's sword," Maryse snapped. Before Jace could say anything back, she continued, "I don't want to hear it. I don't care if I have to lock you in the Institute; you are not going anywhere. Do you understand? This is the Clave's job."
"Fine!" Jace screamed, aggravated. "You sound just like Jocelyn," he added under his breath.
Then he stormed out of the library. Screw the Clave, the Silent Brothers and Maryse's maternal overprotectiveness. Why couldn't they see that he had his own issues to settle with Sebastian? First off, he tried to rape Clary. Jace supposed that if he wasn't so in love with Clary, he would have sought revenge more for Sebastian possessing him and steering him around like a pet dog. But really, Sebastian or Jonathan - Jace rarely acknowledged him by his birth name, partly because he shared the same name too, but mostly because it reminded him of his upbringing and Valentine's harsh methods of discipline - was Clary's brother. As far as Jace was concerned, you don't get serious with your own sister.
Then again, who was Jace to judge? Even when he thought he was Clary's biological brother, he wanted to get into her pants just as much as he wanted to now.
No, Jace thought. Sebastian is different. My incestuous transgressions were driven out of love and yearning, not selfishness and lust. Sebastian doesn't love Clary, he never has. I doubt he even appreciates her pulchritude. Jace let out a shudder, because the thought of "pulchritude" triggered a memory of Sebastian's soulless black pits that passed for his eyes. Then he was reminded of Sebastian's brief demonized-Shadowhunter army, and Amatis, who was coerced to drink from the Infernal Cup. He remembered how swift and potent Amatis immediately became, as opposed to her old self. Jace thought of Luke, how much he must have been hurting - he hasn't seen Luke for a while, since Maryse forbade him from leaving the Institute in any way, shape, or form - and Jocelyn, troubled that she cannot pull her beloved out of hell or grief. From what Jace heard from Clary, Luke wasn't holding up so well.
"Luke hasn't been eating for days, and I once eavesdropped on a conversation between him and my mom... and he said he wanted to leave the pack. He wanted to leave New York, actually, completely. From all this hell. He even said... he said if he ever had children, he would do the same thing Jocelyn did to me," Clary sobbed.
Jace sighed, and stared at his hand. He pictured a fruit of some sort, and tried to peel off its skin in his head - like he would do to unveil a glamour. Sure enough, his hand turned transparent, and he saw the fire coursing through his veins for what was the billionth time. It's not that he was proud of the fire - hell, he sort of hated it because he couldn't touch Clary freely anymore - but because he was curious. Never once has man had contact with an angel's blade - and certainly not the sword of Archangel Michael. Was this going to be a part of him forever?
The clang! of the elevator snapped Jace out of his thoughts. Jace sighed again - he has been doing that very often lately - anticipating a member of the Conclave, or a Silent Brother. The Institute has been teeming with Shadowhunters lately, as it usually holds the Conclave meetings, which have been held much more frequently these days.
The familiar red-head Jace dreamt about every night appeared before him. Despite the fact that this was probably the gazillionth time he's seen her, he couldn't help but to breath in for air.
"Clary," he greeted her amiably, trying to hide his annoyance from his conversation with Maryse earlier.
But Clary saw right through him and frowned, "Is something wrong?"
Jace flushed and prayed that he wouldn't stammer on his next sentence, "Of-no. Nothing's wrong." He gave her that smile of his that always caused girls to squirm.
Clary wasn't fooled though, "Is this about you not being able to patrol? Look, Alec and the rest of the Clave are already looking for Sebastian with every fiber of their beings -"
"Not Alec. Just don't talk about Alec." Jace waved his hand impatiently. "Alec hasn't been patrolling. Look, we each have our own worries. You're worried about Luke's condition; I'm worried about Alec's. He hasn't been eating, or sleeping, and as a matter of fact, I haven't seen him for days."
"Maybe he went patrolling," Clary suggested.
For an accountable reason, Jace lost his temper. "He's not patrolling, Clary! He's too upset to do anything, so he probably jumped through a Portal to sulk in hell!"
When Jace saw the shocked look on Clary's face, he knew he went too far. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I lashed out at you. It wasn't as if you were at fault. The situation wasn't even intense and you just came here. I'm so sor -"
He was cut off by Clary's hand, caressing his cheek. "It's okay. Just stop apologizing. It's probably some kind of side effect from Michael's blade. You know, mood swings."
Without any volition on his part, he pulled Clary in and kissed her for what seemed like eternity. Their lips parted and eventually their tongues wrestled together; Jace felt a mild pain on his back and realized that Clary must have scratched him - she always does that doesn't she? Jace backed Clary against a wall and rubbed his hand across her back in a circular motion. Later, their lips broke apart and Jace trailed kisses down Clary's neck. She then lifted the hem of Jace's shirt, but before she could fully pull it over his head, she let out a scream.
Jace jumped back in surprise. He was about to ask her what happened, when he saw what he had done to her. Initially, he thought those were hickeys down her neck, but as he looked closely, he saw that they were burns.
"Oh my God, I'm so sor -" he started.
"I thought I told you to stop apologizing," Clary interjected with a frown. Was she frowning because they got interrupted? Or was she mad that Jace burned her?
"It's necessary," he reasoned.
"I know you well enough to know that when you say 'sorry' once, you really mean it."
"Well..." Jace tried to speak. Damn, he was stuttering again.
Clary put her fingers on his lips and silenced him. She went on her tip-toes and whispered seductively in his ear - or at least he thought she sounded seductive - "I love you and I don't care if you're a human version of the Burning Bush. I will still love you and I always will."
For a moment their eyes met, and Jace saw something in Clary's eyes. Yearning? No, she already had him. He was about to kiss her again when they heard the sound of high heels reverberate across the room.
"My God, use the freaking bedroom! This is like what, the tenth time I had to chastise you two for this!" Isabelle shrieked. She continued her path to the elevator and after she was out of earshot, Clary and Jace burst out into laughter.
"Do you want to?" Clary whispered in his ear.
"No. Not when I'm burning -"
"I don't care if you're burning. I trust you enough to control your fire."
"On the contrary, with you I lose whatever control I have."
Clary's lips curved into a smile. "Oh, just shut up and kiss me. Life's too short to waste time bickering."
"Magnus!" Alec screamed at the top of his lungs. "I don't give a damn whether or not you hate me, but at least show me your loft!"
Nothing happened.
"Magnus!" he screamed again. "Magnus! Magnus! You freaking bastard! Show yourself! Chairman Meow!"
"Shut up!" one of Magnus' neighbors yelled. "Can't you see you're disturbing the entire neighborhood? As a matter of fact, just get out of this place for good! I haven't been sleeping for days because of your nonsensical incessant yelling."
That was true. For the past few days Alec has been camping outside the lot that used to be Magnus' loft, screaming out his name. He tried throwing rocks across the lot, hoping it'd hit an invisible barrier, but no such luck. Evidently the spell Magnus casted on the building was much more than an invisibility spell.
It wasn't glamour either. Everyday Alec would try to peel off whatever glamour was on the lot but nothing would appear in the stead of air.
Alec casted out a defeated sigh and walked towards the empty lot. He expected to be transported backwards onto the road, or transported back to the Institute if Magnus was feeling generous. Instead, his feet anchored itself on dry soil. Maybe there was no spell after all to conceal the building. Maybe it really was gone. Maybe Magnus really was gone.
Alec fell into a crouch and tried to fight back tears. You freaking son of a bitch, he screamed inwardly. I just wanted another chance; did you really have to leave me in such despair? Suddenly, he was jerked back and that halted his tears from streaming out of his eyes. Materializing from the dirt in the middle of the lot...
Was a stone pedestal with a white-blue pentagram.
Really? Alec thought. You're going to give me a useless slab of rock?
As he crawled out of his bawling position and moved nearer to the pedestal, he saw that there was a scroll perched atop it.
A letter.
With renewed effort, Alec threw himself at the stone, nearly cutting open his jaw, and scooped up the letter. It was neatly tied with a clean blue ribbon. Alec didn't bother with the knot, so he tore the ribbon in half and hastily unrolled the parchment. In it wrote:
Alexander,
It was never my wish to conceal my home away from you, but I cannot stand to face your excuses. Please do stop with the crying and shouting, as you are pestering my neighbors. I will tell you this: while you were busy screaming my name - which by the way I find very endearing - I was busy packing my stuff. I'm leaving New York and, until the war between Heaven and Hell blows over, I'm not coming back. I don't know if by then you will still be alive, but frankly - it doesn't matter. I will surely remember you for the rest of my life, Alexander, but that doesn't mean I won't get over you. I hope you will find someone else and move on, if you survive the fray.
I wish you the best of luck,
Magnus Bane. Or as you once called me, Warlock Bane.
Alec could almost hear the animosity in Magnus' voice as he read the letter.
It doesn't matter.
But that doesn't mean I won't get over you.
I'm leaving New York.
I'm not coming back.
Warlock Bane.
Still holding the blasted piece of paper, Alec sunk down to his knees and buried his head in his hands. His despondency was so great it could move mountains and drain the sea.
Just then a click sounded, and Alec immediately whirled around.
Surrounding him in a perfect uniform circle were demons.
Their tongues entwined and Isabelle let out a soft moan.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Simon remarked, sounding out of air.
"Keep up that attitude and I might sneak out on you tonight," Isabelle teased.
"I know you won't."
"Oh yeah, what makes you so sure? I have never stayed the full night with any of the guys I made love to before."
"Because it's me."
Isabelle frowned wryly, "That doesn't make a big difference."
"Uh huh?"
"Uh huh."
They kissed some more, rolling around in Simon's bed when Isabelle's phone rang.
"Damn," Isabelle cursed while fishing out that device. "Who the hell dares interrupt me while I'm - oh, it's Jace."
Flinging her hair to one side, she pressed the phone against her ear. "Bad timing, Jace."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Just cut to the chase or I'm hanging up."
"Oh, look who's getting feisty. I bet you're making out with Simon right now."
Isabelle flushed. He's just being his old sarcastic self, she told herself. There's absolutely no way he knows...
"Isabelle?" Simon asked anxiously. He must have read her face.
"Ha! I knew I was right!" Jace rejoiced over the phone. "Izzy and Simon, rolling on a bed... K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
Isabelle's temper exploded, "Oh shut up Jace! Why did you call me?"
"I was just wondering if you knew where Alec went, and if you did, to tell him that I need to talk to him."
"Talk to him about what?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, but -"
"That's all I need to know. Jesus, where can he be?"
"Why do you need to talk to him?"
Isabelle heard Jace release a sigh over the phone. "Alright. I don't need to talk to him, but the Conclave requires his presence. I just thought that he'd be more motivated to come if he didn't know it was because of a Conclave meeting."
"Stop pressuring him. He's been having a rough time coping with his breakup with Magnus."
Instantaneously, something Clary once said to Isabelle replayed in her head. Actually it was a retort Isabelle made to Clary, but whatever - it involved Clary in some way, alright?
He's never dated before Magnus. He gets jealous...
"That's it!" Isabelle exclaimed a bit louder than she intended. Underneath her weight, she felt Simon's heart skip a beat in surprise.
"What's what?" Jace inquired.
"He must be near Magnus' home. Stalking him or something," Isabelle explained.
"Great, go fetch him and bring him to the Institute."
Isabelle let out a... was that a whimper? She felt herself go red, as if she wasn't red enough already. "I'm busy, Jace. And if you're going to say making out with Simon, go ahead. It's not my responsibility to bring my brother's brooding to a halt. Go do it yourself."
"You're forgetting I'm housebound."
That was true. After spending a few hours with Simon, Isabelle completely forgot about Jace's altercations with Maryse.
Exasperated, Isabelle got off Simon and told Jace, "Fine, I'll bring him back."
After she hung up, she bore her eyes into Simon's, wondering how to form her farewell. But the look on Simon's face already told her it was unneeded.
"I'll go with you."
Alec instinctively reached down to his belt, feeling for a seraph blade, only to realize that his belt was devoid of weapons. He cursed under his breath for forgetting to arm himself. How was he supposed to fend off 20 demons with his bare hands?
He remembered what Jace told him during training. Anything can be used as a weapon. Alec glanced around, as if he hadn't explored his environment enough to write out every single detail on paper from memory. There, a lamp post. A mail box. A bench. A tree. Gravel. So many things he could use to his advantage... if he could cross the barrier the demons created between him and the apparatuses. For some reason, a picture of Clary drawing a Portal rune appeared in his mind. If he could duplicate that rune and create a Portal...
But he didn't have his stele with him either. He was inexorably screwed.
Just then, a demon leaped, but before he could react, a familiar streak of electrum flew through the air and cleanly decapitated the demon. Its body parts hit the floor in front of Alec. Another demon leaped, but this time a humanoid blur buried its face into the demon's body; the sound of ripping flesh piercing the night.
Alec didn't even have to look to see who were his saviors. "Isabelle! Give me a seraph blade!"
His sister tossed him one and he quickly named it "Tahariel." Then he stepped into battle, swinging his weapon with all his might.
Isabelle was handling 5 demons just fine, thrusting her whip around her to form a rotund barricade. Simon, on the other hand, was having a bit of trouble taking down 3 of them. He grabbed at one and used his fangs to tear out its entrails, but as Alec watched, another demon sprung from behind him -
Without hesitation, Alec headed towards Simon's direction. He threw his body at the demon, and when he was close enough, he struck at it. Demon blood spilled all over Alec, burning him in several places; some of it got onto Simon - but in less than a minute, Alec saw that Simon's burns had already reduced to bruise-like patches on his skin.
Alec tried to assume Jace's arrogance, but only managed out a "You're welcome" before Simon could thank him. After killing a few more demons, Alec realized that he and Simon made a pretty good team. Simon used his fangs to turn demons to shreds, while Alec guarded his back, slicing through any ambushes on them. God, Alec thought to himself, Tell me I'm not in love with Isabelle's vampire. After all the demons were killed, Alec stole a glance at Simon, and at the sight of his protruding fangs, the thought quickly vanished.
Right then, a deep baritone laugh broke Alec out of his reverie, followed by a scream that unquestionably belonged to his sister. In almost perfect synchronization, Simon and Alec both whirled around to see a tall man and a crumpled Isabelle at his feet.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" the man asked condescendingly. "Oh, and don't even bother trying to fight me. You won't succeed. Your sister can attest to that."
He stepped over Isabelle's motionless body and moved nearer to Simon and Alec. "The gay Shadowhunter and the Daylighter. What an odd combination."
Alec blushed. "We're not -"
The man raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't implying that. But since you had such a big reaction -"
"Who are you?" Simon interceded.
The man laughed maliciously. "Eager little things, aren't you two? Very well, my name is Malone Niles -"
Alec frowned. "You're not a Shadowhunter, are you? Because I don't remember reading across a Shadowhunter family called Niles."
"Actually, I am. Or I used to be."
Simon's eyes widened and he gripped Alec's arm, as if that could help transmit his thoughts to him. Alec glared at him and watched his lips, as they formed words.
Dark Nephilim.
Then, should we run? Or should we fight?
Alec mouthed in reply, fight.
They turned their faces back to Malone in bold defiance, then everything was a blur. Alec saw Simon reveal his fangs and lunge at Malone - all happening within a split second - but the Dark Nephilim swatted him away like a fly. Alec wouldn't let that deter him though; he reinforced his grip on his seraph blade and drove it home -
Malone gripped Alec's striking arm and jerked it back, causing a pang of pain to course through Alec's veins. The seraph blade fell to the ground, and in the brief moment before Malone's impending blow, Alec saw an immobile Simon and an unmoving Isabelle.
Then the world dimmed into nothingness.
PLEASE REVIEW!
So that was that. Sorry if everything was a bit rushed, but I just wanted to get everything settled first. I really wanted to make Simon/Isabelle official because it's long overdue. I also wanted to add a fight scene of some sort there.
Anyway, I'm just going to spoil this for you right now: Alec and Simon aren't going to make it home that night.
Also, Magnus doesn't hate Alec as much as his letter implies :) He just wants to get back at him for hurting him.
I'm shipping Malec and Simon/Isabelle all the way, so there is absolutely no way I'm going to make Alec get serious with Simon.
And to all you Clace shippers, I promise for more Clary/Jace next chapter :)
I haven't written FF in a long time, especially a multi-chap, so if you sincerely enjoyed my story, please take the time to write a review to show me your appreciation. Otherwise I might be discouraged.
Alright, I'm going to stop begging and ranting now.
~SoMuchForSobriety