Chapter Four
Simon could hear the fight outside but he had no idea what was happening. He stared at Camille's casket and wondered how he hoped the fight would end. Of course he hoped that Raphael would win but he was worried about what the price of victory would be. Would he ever recover his relationship with Clary? It was seeming less and less likely.
He still hadn't decided what he wanted when the door swung open. From the sound of heels on stone he knew it was Izzy. "Come on, Simon," she said softly. "You don't have to do this. Just tell Raphael you couldn't stop me and we can both get what we want."
Simon turned to look at her. She was gorgeous, as usual, but Simon didn't seem to notice it as much as he usually would, or at least, it didn't seem to matter anymore. Instead, he focused on her face and the emotions he saw flickering behind her eyes. She was sad, and he could tell that she did care about him, but there was also confidence. She was sure that he would give in to her, certain that he would step aside.
"Raphael!" he yelled instead, bending his knees and getting into his fighting stance in front of the casket.
"We don't have time for this," Izzy said, lashing her whip out at him, disappointment clear on her face. Simon dodged the whip but only barely. Through the open door he could see Raphael struggling to get to him being held back by Jace. Simon desperately needed to hold Izzy off until Raphael or one of the other vampires could get to him but he knew that Izzy was a stronger fighter than him. He would have to find another way.
"Do you know how we knew you were coming?" Simon asked her, jumping out of the way of her whip again. "Alec called me." It was only slight but Simon caught the second if hesitation before she cracked her whip again. "He didn't want you to make yet another mistake that would get you into trouble with the Clave. You barely survived last time, I doubt the Inquisitor would be so kind if you were to return so soon."
"Some things are more important than the law," Izzy said.
"But are some things more important than your family?" Simon asked. Izzy's attacks were getting sloppy and slow and Simon could see Raphael overpowering Jace in the corner of his eye. "I know what Alec would say. That's why he called. Because he didn't want to lose you again." That was it. That got her. Izzy lowered her whip and Simon could see the pain in her eyes. He relaxed his stance, straightening up. "What are you doing, Izzy?" he asked softly. There was silence in the room although the battle outside still echoed around the walls.
"The right thing," she whispered, hand tightening on the whip to raise it in the air once more. Before she could attack though, Raphael appeared over her shoulder, grabbing her and flinging her into the wall, unconscious.
"Well done, baby," he said with a toothy grin, but Simon could see sadness in his eyes.