Simon was waiting for Isabelle to walk through Central Park and meet him by the Faerie Court entrance. Large bodies of water were hazardous to vampire health, but it was essential to his plan to be there, standing at the end of the dock when she arrived.
"Simon," she called from the far shore.
"Over here," he yelled back. Even though he was far from where Isabelle stood, he could clearly see the anger on her face turn to a wide eyed stare of fear and worry.
"Simon, what are you doing? You're going to get killed," she screeched.
"Isabelle," he yelled back, "I know I upset you, and you have every right to hate me-"
"Damned straight," she spat.
"-but I made the biggest mistake of my life by shutting you out. I was being selfish when you needed me, and it may have cost me my friendship with you, and I couldn't stand if if that happened!"
"Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you abandoned me and let me think that you hated me," she cried back.
In the fading light, Simon could see that she was about to cry and he knew how much she had been hurting. "Isabelle, I know 'sorry' doesn't begin to cover it. I know you've suffered and to make it up to you I'm going to suffer in a physical way. I am going to swim all the way across this lake for you. If you still hate me when I get there then I'll leave you alone. Isabelle, you have to know that I never meant to hurt you. I love you."
Simon saw Isabelle freeze in shock. Her jaw dropped open and she let out a whoosh of breath, as if she had been punched in the stomach. She recovered quickly though, her shoulders squaring.
"You what?" She yelled, outraged.
"I love you, and I'm sorry that I hurt you so much." Before she could say a word of protest Simon dived into the Lake and was thankful that his mother had made him take swimming lessons as a child. His head felt like it would burst out of his skull and there was a searing pain across his whole body. Thank heavens it's not flowing water, he thought. That's supposed to keep all evil things from crossing…
He reached the other side, gasping for air. A reflex. He was glad that the cold didn't affect him anymore, because as soon as his head broke the surface of the water his hair began to freeze. The outer most layer of his skin was raw as if the water had scraped it off. But despite all the pain he was in, it didn't matter. Isabelle had surged forward and was holding his weakened body in her arms, soaking her clothes.
"You stupid vampire," she said. And then she was kissing him.
~o.O.o~
Clary was shaking with nerves. She could sense Jace's amusement in his mind and it sent a surge of anger through her system. This he found even more amusing and he stepped forward and took her hand, strengths flowing from his hand into her body. I can do this, she thought.
Maryse and Robert were already in the library when Clary and her family walked in. Jace followed behind them and came to stand at her side, taking her hand in his again. She was nervous, but excited too. That must be Jace's emotions flowing into me, she though. If it were just me inside my head I would be dreading this.
Despite that knowledge, she was glad that some of Jace was wearing off on her. It made the task at hand seem easier. They situated themselves so that they were facing both sets of parents. Maryse looked as if she were trying to hide a smile. She seemed to already be in on the surprise. Isabelle, Clary thought acidly.
Luke also looked as if he was waiting to hear something, and he seemed to be expecting what it was.
"So it looks like half of you already know why we're here," said Clary. "But it still has to be said. Mom, I wanted to be the one to tell you… Jace and I are getting married."
Jocelyn's reaction was every bit as horrifying as Clary thought it would be. Her eyes bulged and looked like they were going to pop out of her head. They then seemed to zero in on the ring as her face turned a spectacular shade of crimson. Clary thought it was going to be bad, but she had never accounted for her mother's conclusion to this sudden engagement.
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" She bellowed at her daughter. Her face turned pale and its usual beauty was masked by a rage that would have frightened a greater demon. She launched forward and advanced on Jace as if she were going to strangle him.
Jace, who was right beside Clary, was trying not to burst out laughing as Luke grabbed Jocelyn around the middle and pulled her away from Clary.
Her eyes were swimming and she felt her face turning splotchy as she screamed back, "No Mom! I'm not. I thought you would be happy for me, but-" her voice cut off as if something were choking her.
Jace watched as Clary's eyes glazed over unseeing of what was happening around her. Her face slackened and paled and he could feel her fear and something else… enjoyment. But that didn't make any sense. Without warning, she threw her head back and let out a scream so piercing that all of the tension from a moment ago was forgotten. Clary fell and Jace reached out to catch her. Jocelyn surged forward, worry traced in every line on her face as another cry escaped her daughter's lips. And then there was silence.
Clary watched as a young couple kissed in the park. The boy was soaking wet and beginning to show the first telltale signs of frostbite. The girl had long sweeping black hair that hung as a curtain, dividing her sight from where the viewer lurked. She floated silently closer to the couple readying herself for the moment to pounce. This was going to be almost too easy. The boy was weak and the girl… well the girl would be fun to get inside. With any luck, she would be the last soul needed to be taken in order to become completely corporeal.
With that thought Clary lunged forward, swarming around her victims. Surprisingly, the girl did not scream as the others had. She jumped up quickly into a fighting stance. This may be more fun that I thought, She commented inside her own head. The boy got up too, panting hard, though he stood tall and ready. Clary viewed this, wondering if it would be wise to take these souls.
They were strong- enough to bring solidity to the form that she was in- but were they too strong? Too late to turn back now, she thought. Deciding to attack the weak one, Clary's form flew towards the boy's chest. Summoning all the stored energy that had been shocking him for an eternity in the otherworld he released all he had left into the boy. It should have killed him. He screamed and fell, but did not die.
Clary's vision was starting to fade. She could sense that she was no longer with the creature in central park, but she held on to it as long as she could. She needed details. Whatever was attacking her friends was no mere demon. It was far more sinister in origin and a nagging feeling told her that there was a reason for her connection to the creature.
Jace knew now that whatever had been worrying Clary before was related to what had just happened. The fear was familiar. He looked down into her eyes as they came back into focus. She was paler that usual, but her face was hard with determination.
She looked at everyone in the room and said very clearly, "We have to get to central park. Something is attacking Isabelle and Simon," and looking at Jace added, "and it came from the hell dimension we were trapped in."
Jace sucked in a breath and stood up, lifting Clary in his arms, and took off running down the hall towards the weapons room closely followed by Jocelyn, Luke, and Maryse. Robert did not stop to get weapons, he just ran out the door, pulling daggers from under his jacket.
"How do you know that?" asked Mayrse, sharply.
"I saw it from-" she never finished saying where she saw it from, but Jace knew. My dreams. She saw it from the killer's point of view, just like in the nightmares.
"Did you say it came with you out of that hell dimension?" Luke looked stricken, as if he had information that was disturbing him.
"Yeah," Clary replied. "I don't even really know how we got out; let alone how something else did too."
Luke released a breath, his brow furrowing. "I may have a theory about that, but there's no time to explain now," he said grabbing a battle-axe. Jace set Clary down gingerly.
"Are you alright? Will you be okay to stay here yourself?" he asked worriedly. To his surprise, Clary looked at him as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Grabbing two seraph blades and shoving them into her belt she replied, "I know exactly where this attack is taking place. I'm coming with you." She looked up at Jace with a look so intense that he felt like she would incinerate him with her eyes if he declined her.
Knowing better than to refuse her, Jace took out his stele and drew a rune for endurance on her shoulder. "This should help you move easier. You look like you're dead on your feet." He kissed her softly where he had burned her skin with the mark and then again on her lips. Jace felt her desire, presumably thinking of last night, but knew that this was not the time. There was an evil waiting for them- the likes of which had never before been comprehended in this dimension.
A/N: I know it's been a while since the last update. I am going to work on making it less sporadic! As always, thanks to my wonderful Beta, GeeAnnaB. She's fabulous.
Now you know what you must do- Keep me motivated! Reviews are like orgasms- It feels good when you hit the button ;) ^^
