Chapter 9: Simon to the Rescue

Clarissa slammed down the phone. Warlocks were the enemy. Weren't they? Her father had always been adamant that all downworlders were inherently evil, with warlocks being the worst of the lot. Why would her mother be calling a warlock?

She called Simon's phone number. Perhaps he could offer them refuge, at least for the near term. Mundane's were weak, but at least they weren't downworlders.

"This is way to early, Eric," a groggy voice murmured. "I'm going back to sleep."

"Wait, wait," Clarissa said. "I'm not Eric."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the voice cleared up. "Who are you?" Simon asked, wondering why a girl was calling him. There were girls who liked him, it was a hazard of being a member of rather popular - well locally popular - band, but he couldn't imagine why one would call him before nine on a Saturday.

"Um, we met last night, at the Pandemonium Club. My name's Clarissa."

A vision of the pretty red headed girl surfaced in Simon's mind. There was something about her, something more than just an elfish beauty. It was as if he was supposed to know her, as if she was an integral part of his life that had somehow gotten lost. "Oh, yeah, I do remember you. That was weird with the fire alarm, huh? I guess you made it out okay."

"Yes I made it out, but I'm having a bit of a problem, and I don't really know anyone in New York," she said.

"Oh. You need help?" His eyebrows shot up. A surge of hope coursed through him. He had been afraid he would never see the girl again.

"Yes, I ... it's difficult to explain. And I realized I'm asking too much of someone I just met. You see, the boy you saw me with at the club, he and I need someplace to hide for a while. Is that something you could help us with?"

Simon shut his eyes in pain. "Is he your boyfriend?" God, Simon hadn't meant to ask that. He could hear the pathetic wheedling in his voice and he would have given anything to take back the words. But the words were out, and now they demanded an answer.

"My boyfriend? No. No, I ... this is going to sound strange, but ... I'm not allowed to date. And to be fair, Jace isn't my type, he's much too full of his own self-importance."

"Huh. Um okay. So you need a place to hide? Family problems?"

"Yes," Clarissa paused, an image of her brother looming in her mind. "Family problems."

"And your friend is having family problems too?"

"Yes. Sort of the same family problems."

"Are you related?"

"Probably." Clarissa paused. "That sounds weird doesn't it?"

Maybe they were distant cousins, or belonged to the same cult, Simon thought. It didn't sound like she wanted to reveal anything. Maybe it was too soon to be probing into her problems. Normally this sort of strangeness would cause him to bolt from the conversation. He wasn't the sort of guy who chased drama, but he felt drawn to this girl.

"My mom's out of town, she's visiting my sister. You could hang out at my house. She's out of town for a week. Why don't I pick you up? I've got a friend's van."

"That sounds good. Could you pick us up as soon as possible?" Clarissa asked.

"Yeah. I can leave in a few minutes. Where are you?"

Clarissa gave him the address that Jace had gave the cab driver the night before.

"Thanks," she said.

"No problem," he said, before handing up.

Clarissa walked back to Jace's room and groaned. Jace's neat room had exploded with what must have been Jace's entire wardrobe. An empty bag was on his bed and he was pacing the room, his too beautiful lips pressed in a frown. "How am I supposed to pick?"

"Are you serious?

"Look, I'm a very attractive guy. It's my duty to dress well."

She grabbed to pairs of jeans off the bed and two tee shirts and shoved them in the bag. "There, you've picked."

"Hey," he said.

She glared at him.

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"Did you pack a few seraph blades and steles?"

He nodded. "The bag has a secret compartment. You know, we could just stay and wait for Hodge and your brother. I bet I could take him if he tried to fight me."

"He's crazy, Jace. Really crazy. Insanity is an advantage."

"Okay, okay. Where will we go?"

"I called that boy Simon, we met last night. He said we could stay at his house. I figure we stay there until we find a way to contact the council."

"We just met him. Don't you think that's a bit early to be imposing on him?"

"I just met you last night. And I've been imposing on you."

"But, I'm a Shadowhunter. He's a mundane," Jace argued as he hoisted the duffel bag onto his broad well-muscled shoulder.

"I don't see another option. And anyway, he seemed nice enough." Clarissa paused. Simon had seemed more than nice. She had felt an odd heavy sense of familiarity in his presence. She felt she could trust him, even though there was no reason why she should feel that way.

Jace smirked. "Yeah, I'm sure he seemed really nice. He was probably thinking all sorts of questionable thoughts about you."

"Well, look at it this way: you can protect me if he gets overly familiar. How can I be in danger if you've got my back?"

He nodded, and threw his free arm around my shoulder. "I can't argue with that logic. I'll definitely endeavor to keep you safe. He might be useful in another way too. I met another Shadowhunter kid in hiding about a year ago when Hodge and I were in Prague - Alec Lightwood. He said if I ever needed help I should email him, he gave me what he called an email address. I have no idea what to do with it, but he implied the mundanes knew all about email. Maybe your friend Simon can help me contact Alec."

"That sounds reasonable. Let's go," she said.

They reached the intersection she had given Simon just in time to hear the heavy squeal of wheels coming from a large, beat-up van screeching to a halt. The side door of the van slid open from the inside.

"Hop in," a voice called to them.