Chapter Four

Jem was glad to be out of the Silent City, but he was rather taken aback by… well, by all of this. He'd been forced to borrow clothes from Magnus, having only brought one outfit. After Jem had selected the plainest and least sparkly items, Magnus had announced that he looked 'fabulous'. Jem wasn't exactly thrilled by this comment. Marvelling at the flashing neon signs and loud dance music, he tried – and failed – to ignore the argument going on a few metres away.

"Magnus, you know how I feel about this place."

"Sometimes we have to let go of bad memories, Alec. It's the only way to be happy."

"I... I don't know what you're talking about. What I meant was that this place is quite popular with demons."

"You're not kidding anyone. Look, we won't be there for long, we're just showing Jem and Tessa what the modern world is like. Please? Pretty please?"

Alec paused, looking into Magnus's green catlike eyes. "Fine! But never say 'pretty please' again."

As they entered the nightclub, Jem felt dizzy. Bright lights and fast-moving figures swam before his eyes. The music seemed louder than anything he'd ever heard. Until Tessa took his hand.

"This is the first time I've been in a nightclub, too." confessed Tessa, worry flickering in her eyes. I'm sorry if taking your hand seems rather forward; I'm really quite scared."

Jem smiled wistfully. "Tessa, you forget - we were engaged, once upon a time."

Tessa blushed and looked away. Jem stood still for just a moment, mildly shocked at what had passed between them - but a moment was all it took. He was separated from Magnus and the others.

Eyes darting through the crowd, Jem searched for his friends, but it was no use. The nightclub was too large, too crowded, too overwhelming. Jem resigned himself to watching the people around him, and wasn't surprised to see a few Downworlders. They were glamoured, of course, but lightly. Jem's Sight allowed him to easily see through these glamours, like lifting away a layer of gauze. His eyes settled on a young woman near to him; her hair was scarlet - dyed? - and her eyes were dark as an abyss. There was a glamour on her, but heavier than the others - like a curtain of velvet rather than gauze. Squinting, Jem managed to lift a glamour and see what the woman really was.

A demon.

Nephilim, it hissed seductively. Come here, angel boy.

"Who do you think I am - Benedict Lightwood?" replied Jem scornfully. He saw the shock on the demon woman's face. "Yes, I thought you might remember him. I know your game."

The demon's manner abruptly changed. I despise you, Nephilim brat. It spat out the words. I shall rip you to shreds and drag you to the fires of Hell. It began to walk towards him. Jem had no weapons, no stele, nothing to protect him.

"How delightful." Magnus had appeared behind Jem, with Tessa and an irritated-looking Alec. "James - RUN!"