Sorry for the late update, I was busy, but here is a new chapter enjoy.
(Also English is not my first language, so excuse any mistakes, and feel free to point it out to me.)
Summary: Luke and the others attempt to gather clues about Simon's disappearance and a surprising person comes looking for Simon.
Chapter 3: Playing Detective
Luke P.O.V
"So, what's is our first step?" Jace voiced the question at Luke
"We start with Simon's texts," He told him.
Turning to Maia he asked her "When did you get his last text?"
"About two days ago, when he didn't answer I assumed that he was busy, and that why I went visit today to surprise him, and you know the rest," told him looking distressed as she was sitting on the couch.
"I see, so when was the last time you saw him in person?" he asked trying to determine as to who was the last to see him before he disappeared.
"The night at the hunter's moon, when we were celebrating Valentine's defeat?"
"But that was a month ago, you're telling that none of you saw him since then?" asked Magnus's friend Catarina, not meaning an ill intention, as she genuinely looked curious.
At that statement everyone looked guilty, after all its been an entire month and none of them even noticed that Simon was gone, it's true that it was a crazy month, dealing with ramification of siding with the Seelie queens, going to meetings, managing new members of the pack, he was busy, but that was no excuses, he should have called, or texted, anything to check on Simon, so much for thinking of him as a son, he didn't even know that Simon went missing.
"No, I didn't, he texted all the time, claiming to be busy with school work every time I wanted to meet, and I didn't think much of it because I was myself busy with my studies," Maia told with such a guilty look that he felt little sorry for her.
"Did say he anything to you before he left?"
"He said he was going to the Dumort to update Raphael on everything that wants down." at that statement he shared a look with Magnus, as Magnus figured out what he is probably thinking.
"Well, it looks like we're going to visit the Dumort," told them Jace looking ready to fight, it looks like he already made up his mind about how took Simon.
"Raphael wouldn't do anything to Simon" it was Magnus who came to Raphael's defense, which is not surprising, Raphael always was close to Magnus, in a way they had their own father-son relationship.
Jace raised one eyebrow and asked Magnus "Are you sure about that, after all, Simon has what every vampire want, you can't tell me that Raphael is not as desperate as any other vampire to walk in the sun without burning."
"And considering the fact he refuses to willingly share how it happened, Raphael may have turned to drastic measures to get the information out of him." chipped in Clary who looked like she was ready to tear down the Dumort if it meant finding Simon, and from the looks of it Maia seems to agree with them.
Alec and Catarina were the only ones who stayed quiet, but in Alec's case, he suspects he is staying neutral for his boyfriend's sake in hopes of not upsetting him further, as he looked already upset at the fact that they assumed Raphael is responsible for Simon's disappearances.
And before the situation could escalate he spoke "Ok let's not jump to conclusions without any hard evidence, let's speak to Raphael first and find out what happened that day with Simon" they both raised a good point but he was going to accuse Raphael just based on assumption, one thing he learned as a detective is, always investigate first, because jumping to conclusion without actual prove could lead to innocent person paying the price for something they did not do.
Magnus opened a portal in his living which they use to go to the Dumort, as he stepped out followed by the others he found himself in an office.
It was empty, but he figured that it belonged Raphael, the room looks like something Raphael will use, judging by it fancy design.
Before he could look around more, a voice comes from behind him, "To what do I owe this pleasure?" turning around he found Raphael standing at the doorframe of the office, looking surprised by those are present.
He was about to answer when Clary beat him to it "Where is Simon?"
Raising an eyebrow at her question "Straight to business I see, and why would I know where is he?"
"Don't play with us, Simon is missing and you are the last one who saw him," told him Jace looking ready to attack Raphael if necessary.
At that accusation, Raphael looked angry "How dare you, you come to my home and insult me"
"Everyone, calm down and let's deal with this civilly" it was Magnus who spoke trying to lower the growing tension in the room.
"Civilly? you are the ones who came here and accuse me of harming the daylighter"
"Nobody is accusing you of anything, we simply want to know when was the last time you saw Simon," He told him while looking as calm as possible to show Raphael that he means no harm, then he asked, "And did he mention anything strange you?"
Shrugging his shoulders in a dismissive manner he answered, "I'm not sure, I haven't seen him in a long time, it's not like we're friends"
"Ok how about we narrow it down, did you see him the day the day we were celebrating Valentine's defeat at hunter's moon?" he asked.
"No, I didn't" He replied firmly.
"You sure? Simon told me that he was going to the Dumort to give you an update on everything that went down," told him Maia with a skeptical look.
"Well he didn't, it was Magnus who updated me on what happened, I haven't seen the daylighter that day, and nor since it" as he said that Magnus nodded along to confirm that he did inform Raphael on what happened with Valentine.
"And you expect us to believe that?" Asked him Jace, clearly not believing him.
"He is telling the truth"
At that everyone turned their head to sources of that statement, which surprisingly was Isabelle, who looked very uncomfortable with the way everyone was looking at her, she hasn't said a word since they arrived, but now she is backing Raphael's story, he has to admit he is kind of surprised.
"How would you know that?" Alec asked her the question that was on everyone's mind, looking at him he looked a little bit angry as he asked that as if he already knows the answer to that question.
"I was with him that day, I left the party and went to the Dumort," told him Isabelle as she looked everywhere but her brother.
So that rolls out Raphael from their list.
"So, Simon lied to me," said Maia looking at him, there was worry in her eyes but now it was mixed with a little bit of anger.
"We don't know that yet" he told her, because there was no point in jumping into conclusions without all the facts, as it tends to lead to misunderstandings, and he wasn't even sure if the person who was communicating with Maia really was Simon, as she mentioned he only texted but never spoke to her, for all he knows someone could have his phone and was pretending to be Simon.
looking at his watch it was almost 3 in the morning and they spent the entire day trying to look for Simon "Everyone go home for the night, meanwhile, I will pull any security footage I could find of that day and try to find any clues as to where Simon is"
"We also could go back to the Institute and pull any footage we could" Alec informed him as he himself looked tired like everyone else, including Raphael as the sun is about to come up soon.
"Good, you do that and the rest of you head home and rest"
At that clary and Maia looked like they about to protest "Luke, I can't rest, Simon could be in grave danger as we speak, I have to help," Clary told him that, as she looked so exhausted and yet so determined to help.
"I know you want to help, but there is nothing that you could do at the moment, and you are no use to anybody if you're tired"
"That goes for the both of you" he looked at both Maia and clary as he said that "don't worry we will find him, one way or another"
As he said that he wasn't sure he was reassuring, them or himself.
The next day they all met at Magnus's apartment because it was the safest place for them to talk without being overheard.
Among the present were Magnus, Alec, Jace, Clary, Maia, Isabelle, and for some reason both Dot and Raphael, who Alec stared daggers at, oh if looks could kill Raphael would be six feet under.
"What are you two doing here?" He asked Dot and Raphael.
But it was Clary who answered, "I called her, maybe there is something she could do to help"
He wanted to tell her that if Magnus couldn't find Simon then Dot probably couldn't either, since Magnus is much more powerful than her, but he didn't want to crush her hope, and from the looks of it Dot knows that there nothing she really can do, but she is her just to ease Clary's mind and support her, so he didn't say anything.
Instead he said, "We could use all the help that we could get"
Turning to Raphael he asked, "And you?"
"I'm here for moral support" which did not sound sincere at all and Raphael knew it but didn't seem to care.
"You mean you don't want to lose the only thing that will help you walk in the sun" Snarled Jace.
"You make me out to be such a villain shadowhunter " Raphael responded as he set Jace with an exasperated look.
Jace looked like he was about to reply and he knew if he let them be, things will not end will so he interrupted.
"I looked through the footages, it looks like Simon left hunters moon and went central park"
"Hold on a second, central park?" Asked Isabelle and you could see the wheels turning in her eyes.
"You don't think he went to the Seelie court?" Asked him Clary.
"Why will he even go there?" Muttered Alec
"I think I know why?" Maia told them looking paler than she already was if that is even possible.
"What do you mean?" Dot Asked her wanting her to elaborate on what she said.
"I think he made a deal with the Seelie queen, for Maia's freedom," He told them.
"Hold on, what are you guys talking about?" Asked them Dot, who didn't know about Maia's kidnapping.
"The Seelie queen kidnapped Maia, when we went there to rescue her, she just let us go, I did find it strange that she lets us go so easily" He explained to her.
"Now we know that she didn't" Uttered Jace.
"It will also explain why the magic that was used on Simon's mother was so powerful," Told them Magnus.
"That's not all, he then left shortly after, went home, and the next day he called a moving truck where he moved some things to a storage unit which he purchased"
"What exactly are you saying?" Asked him Clary, fear evident in her voice.
"I think Simon himself moved his things or anything that has to do with him when his mother was out of the house and if he did that, he may have been the one who made the Seelie queen erase his mother's memory"
"But why will he do that?" Asked Alec.
And Luke hated what was he about to say and he didn't want to believe it, but from what he gathered there was only one explanation he could reach "Because he is not planning on coming back".
At that statement, the whole room went silent socked by the statement.
Magnus P.O.V
After what Lucian said sunk in, the whole room turned into chaos, clary and Maia are panicking, then cursing the Seelie queen to hell and back, and trying to find ways to help Simon, and wondering what kind of deal did Simon make, while Isabelle, Dot, Jace, and Luke were trying to calm down both girls, emphasis on the word trying.
Those two were more alike than they knew, both are brave, strong, determined, ready to jump in into the cold water without thinking if it means saving those who they care about, he is starting to think that Simon may have a type.
Just then someone rang his doorbell, that made everyone quiet.
Turing to him Alec asked, "Expecting somebody?"
"No, who on earth is that. I made it very clear that I'm not meeting any clients today"
He opened the door ready to send back whoever is at the door, but before he could say anything the other person spoke, "Magnus Bane?" it was more of a question to confirm that they got the right person.
"Yes, who are you?" he asked because he has never seen this person before, she looked to be in her early twenties, looking closely at her he noticed that she has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and freckles across her nose.
Instead of answering him, she pushed him aside and entered without saying another word, that action surprised him and it took him a second to register that this girl is trespassing into his home.
"Hey, stop there lady, who do you think you are to enter my house without my permission" he grabbed her arm to stop her, but she just surged his hand and continued to walk further into his house like a girl with a mission without caring about his presences.
Seriously what is wrong with this girl?
It seems that the commotion caught everyone's attention, they came out wanting to see what's going on.
He was about to use magic to kick this girl out.
"Rebecca?!"
At that he blinked and turned to the person who spoke, it was Lucian and Clary, they both asked at the same time, with a look of shock on their faces.
Turning to the girl who he now assumed is Rebecca to see her reaction, she looked relieved, like she found what she was looking for.
Looking around he noticed everyone's confusion with exception of Maia who wore the same shocked expression as Lucian's and Clary.
"Good, you're all here" spoke the newcomer as she let out a sigh, this declaration was directed at Luke, Clary, and Maia.
And before anyone could even utter a word, Rebecca expression turned from relieved to anger, like she was ready to murder someone, looking at Lucian she said: "Now where the HELL is my brother?"
Will, how was it? please leave a review or feedback, I really like to hear your thoughts. and don't forget to share.