Chapter 10

"Clary, you never told me you knew such a delicious Shadowhunter." Magnus said to me once we separated.

The Shadowhunters standing next to us were, of course, listening in to our conversation, so Isabelle thanked Magnus at the same time Jace said, "She just wants me for herself." They both looked at each other, some rivalry passing between them, but before they started to argue about who Magnus was talking about, Magnus spoke up.

"I most definitely was not referring to either one of you, especially blondie there with the bad attitude." He gestured towards Jace, who frowned. "I was referring to him." Magnus said with a seductive smile in Alec's direction.

Blood rose to Alec's cheeks immediately. He coughed and mumbled, "Thank you," before awkwardly turning towards his sister. "Are we ready, yet?"

Magnus looked disappointed that Alec hadn't really acknowledged him or his confession. I placed my hand on his arm, grabbing his attention. "Are you hunting with us?"

He snorted. "And piss off my father? I think not." I laughed, knowing first-hand how difficult Magnus' father really was. But then again, what did one expect from a powerful Greater Demon?

"Who's your father?" Alec asked, intrigued. Isabelle elbowed him, and Alec simply looked at her with confusion.

Magnus, now pleased that Alec had addressed him, replied, "Perhaps I'll have to tell you over a cup of coffee sometime." He winked, and Alec blushed again but smiled slightly.

"Alright, enough with that. Warlock, a portal would be nice." Jace stood impatiently with his arms crossed.

Magnus, not appreciating Jace's tone or word choice, narrowed his cat eyes at Jace. Slowly, Magnus raised his forearm, with his index finger pointed at Jace. Oh no. Magnus' signature blue sparks flickered at the tip of his finger nail. "You better watch yourself. Your good looks can't get you out of every moronic situation you put yourself in, Shadowhunter, especially when I'm doing this for free. You're-"

"Magnus." I cut him off with a stern tone. He turned to me and sent a smile in my direction.

With an affectionate tone, he said, "Yes, biscuit?"

"Don't." Pouting like a small child, he put his finger down, his flames extinguishing. He walked briskly over to me and pointed back at Jace who watched us with a calm demeanor.

"He has a bad attitude and a repulsive personality. No one would miss him." I gave him a look that questioned that. "Not really. Soon, everyone would realize they're better off without him."

I leaned closer to Magnus' ear, a knowing smile on my face. "That delicious Shadowhunter you enjoy? Jace is his parabatai." I dragged the last word out, anticipating the frown that would be on Magnus' face.

Pulling away abruptly, Magnus looked behind him at Alec and then Jace, his eyes portraying a desire to something naughty to both of them, but in different ways. He sighed in frustration. "Damn. Damn Shadowhunters and their ridiculous partner tattoos." He threw up his hands. Addressing me, he said, "I still think you're better off without Sergio, over there."

"It's still Simon!" Simon yelled, and I could hear him complaining to Isabelle. "I've been friends and Clary's parabatai for years now, and he still can't get my name right."

"I honestly don't give a rat's ass, Shiloh."

Simon groaned. "Not the rat thing, again. It was one time, Magnus. ONE TIME! Let it go already."

Isabelle who was now laughing, choked out, "Rat thing?"

Before Magnus could tell Simon's most embarrassing moment (at least in Simon's eyes,) I interrupted them. "Magnus, Simon has been the best parabatai I could ask for, okay?"

"Fine, fine. I'm making the portal, now. Chairman Meow's waiting for me." At that he walked over to the wall of the nearest building and began to draw.

"I'm sorry, but can we go back to the whole 'biscuit' thing?" Jace had been quiet this whole time, but now spoke up. A smirk adorned his unnaturally attractive face.

I rolled my eyes. "No. It's a long story. One that has a beginning I'm unaware of." I shot daggers at Magnus' back. Magnus looked over his shoulder at me and waggled his eyebrows. I love him, but I certainly do not understand him one bit.

"I still want to know the rat story." Isabelle poked Simon with here stele. Simon gave her a horrified look and shook his head.

Jace placed a hand on my bicep, drawing my attention back to him. "I appreciate you stepping in earlier, but I can handle myself, biscuit."

Magnus clapped his hands and whirled around. He began to shake his finger at Jace. "No, no no, you arrogant brat. Only I call Clary that. Don't make me conjure up a duck." Jace visibly paled and took a step away from Magnus. "Goodness, you Herondales haven't changed." Magnus rolled his eyes. After sending Jace a final warning look, he turned back and continued to draw the portal with chalk.

I opened my mouth, about to ask Jace why Magnus was threatening him with ducks, but Jace simply shook his head and went to stand by Alec.

Well, that was weird.

20 minutes later we were walking through Brooklyn. Magnus had said his goodbyes and handed Alec a piece of paper, which I imagined had his number on it, before heading off towards his apartment. We strode at a fairly fast pace. Jace, Alec, and Isabelle took the lead while Simon and I walked behind them.

It felt so good to be back in New York. It still smelled as horrible as I remembered, and tons of people still crowded the sidewalks. The five of us had an invisibility rune on, so we were navigating our way through the foot traffic, avoiding bumping into people. We passed a favorite restaurant of my family. I almost stopped but kept going. Simon, on the other hand, couldn't resist and halted in his tracks. Pausing, I noticed Jace and the Lightwoods kept on going, so I rushed back to Simon.

"C'mon. We're here to hunt Raum demons, not eat pancakes."

"Coconut pancakes. They're delicious, and I'm hungry." With that, he waltzed into Taki's.

I mumbled a few expletives under my breath as I took note that the others were much farther ahead now and followed Simon in. I ended up running right into his back. He seemed to jostle out of whatever stupor he was in and pulled out a Seraph blade. "Sanvi." The blade reacted immediately to its given name, and I peered around Simon to see what had caused him to enter into battle mode. Identifying the danger, I cursed Jace for his antics as he currently had my sword strapped to his back as part of a joke I didn't understand. I pulled the twin daggers out of my boots, moving into battle stance.

We had found the Raum demons, and they weren't attacking people on the street. They were attacking Downworlders.