The next day, Jace found himself standing in front of the Lewis' front door. After repeated phone calls, Jace had finally gone to Hotel DuMort to talk to Simon. It was there that Raphael told him that ever since becoming a daylighter Simon had moved back in with his mother and sister. Jace also took this opportunity to apologize to the New York clan leader regarding his mistake with the soul sword.
Raphael waved away all his attempts and assured him that the vampires knew about the fact thay Jace, was at one ready to sacrifice himself just to save the downworlders. Maia and Magnus had been quite vocal in that regard. But Raphael did tell him to be careful of the seelies who weren't ready to forgive him so easily.
Taking a deep breath, Jace finally knocked on the front door. The door was opened by a pretty girl who looked like she was a few years older than Jace himself. So definitely not Mrs. Lewis. That left only one option.
"Rebecca, right?" Jace asked, with his most charming smile. Jace maybe a skilled shadowhunter but he also had impeccable manners when he chose to use them. And they always worked on people, especially females.
She just blushed. "Yes, thats me. How can I help you?"
Jace realised that she was actually quite pretty. Atleast he knew where the good genes of the family went.
"Um..I am a friend of Simon's. I have been out of town for quite some time and he's not picking up his phone. So, I came here to meet him?" Jace told her, with another smile aimed her way. He knew that his story was weak and if she asked when and where Jace had met Simon, he had no plausible scenario he could tell to a mundane. So he hoped that his smile was enough to charm his way, and Rebecca wouldn't ask a lot of questions.
Thankfully, his plan seemed to be working, Rebecca opened the door wide and allowed him in "Sure thing. Should I tell him you are here?"
Jace thought about it for a moment. Even he knew it was not a good idea to barge in on a vampire unaccounced. Rebecca made her way upstairs. So thats where Simon's room is. Jace filed it for future reference.
"Simon told me its fine. You can go on upstairs." Rebecca said as she coming down the stirs, after a few minutes.
Jace was going to have a serious talk with Simon about letting strangers in so easily. With everything going on with Valentine and the disappearance of the Mprtal Sword, he needed to be more careful. Clary was the main target and Simon was the easiest way to reach Clary.
Jace knew this was going to be a long day. But he still went up and knocked on Simon's door.
Simon just called "Come in, Jace! It's open."
Now Jace was confused. How did Simon know it was him? But none the less he went inside. Simon was sitting on the chair, with his legs crossed on the desk in front of him. He was drinking something, which Jace guessed was blood, from the flask. Other than that the room was completely dark, with all the curtains drawn.
"Simon, you do know sunlight is okay now, right? Or do you just like the dark that much?" Jace asked as he made his way to the windows to open the curtains and let some sunlight inside.
Simon just stared at him, completely expressionless.
"And anyways, how did you know it was me?" Jace finally asked the question nagging at him.
"Well, my sister comes here all blushing, telling me that I never told her I have such a hot friend. She then proceeded to babble about your blonde hair and multicoloured eyes. It wasn't hard to guess." He said as he finally uncrossed his legs and turned to look at Jace.
Jace just nodded and turned his attention back to the view available from Simon's window. He didn't know what to say to Simon. How to tell him the truth? The silence was finally broken by Simon.
"You spend a long time in Idris? Is everything all right? You aren't in any trouble." he asked.
Jace shook his head. "No I am not."
The silence which stretched was not exaclty comfortable and maybe Simon felt it too. "So, I broke up with Clary, just thought you should know." he finally said. Why Simon felt this topic will make the atmosphere any less tense, Jace didn't know.
But he finally turned to look at the new vampire. "I know. If you don't mind me asking, why did you guys break up?"
"We realised that best friends don't always make the best couple, I guess.." Simon said "..but Jace, your sister, she's.."
"She's not my sister." Jace cut Simon off abruptly. "She's not." It was good to finally say it out loud. Sure, people already knew, but he had never personally told anyone this. He felt an odd satisfaction in saying the words. Nothing was wrong with him. The girl he was in love with was not his sister.
This made Simon stop whatever he was saying and he just stared at Jace for a long moment.
"Explain." he finally said.
So Jace did. He told Simon everything. About Valentine confessing under the influence of the Mortal Sword that night when the Institute was attacked. About Valentine proving it to the clave. He talked of what he had been doing in Idris for the past six months, trying to understand his new family, trying to reconcile himself with his new identity. And everything in between.
After he had finished, Simon just sat there quietly for quite some time. Then he got up and gave Jace a long hug. Jace did not expect this at all. But he couldn't argue that it felt good to be hugged. Sure they had gotten off the wrong foot, but Simon was actually a very good person and a loyal friend, and given time Jace could like him. If only he stopped talking so much.
As they drew apart, Simon went back to his seat and looked at Jace excitedly "You are going to tell Clary, right? She will be so happy. Angry at first and you may have to grovel a bit but you are so gonna get back together. I know Clary, she will understand."
Jace smiled. "I would go meet Clary. But I tried everywhere. She isn't at her mom's loft. Magnus hasn't seen her. And she hasn't been to the Institute for ages. Luke knows but refuses to tell me shit. Where is she?"
"Oh you don't know? She's living at Luke's place at the moment. So, can go and meet her there. Tell her the truth dude." Simon told him.
Jace just nodded and smiled. It was then that he remembered something else. "So you ans Izzy huh? When did that happen?"
Simon blushed. Jace didn't even know it was possible for vampires.
"Its nothing..I mean it not nothing but its not that serious.." Simon trailed off.
Jace laughed "I get it. Its just casual, right. No problem, just stay away from overprotective big brother Alec. And don't fuck her over. Won't end well with you."
Simon gulped.
"Also your sister is kinda hot. Is she off limits or do I have a chance?" Jace asked.
"Dude no. Thats wrong. You love Clary, remember? And Rebecca does not need to be involved in this whole shadowhunting business anyways." Simon told him.
"Damn it! Okay."
It was then that Simon's phone rang and Izzy's picture lit up on the screen. Jace couldn't keep the smirk off his face. "You should pick that up. Wouldn't wanna mess with Izzy, if it was me."
With that Jace got up, said goodbye to Simon and went on his way but not before clicking a photo of Simon staring like a love sick fool at his still ringing phone.
When, a few days later, he showed this picture to Izzy, she just blushed and buried deeper in her vampire boyfriend's arms.
