Chapter 29:
They entered the Institute, still careful of any traps that Jace may not have noticed.
"Can we unfreeze the children now?" Clary asked.
"Let's check out the Institute a little more thoroughly first," Magnus suggested.
Jace handed Stephen to Clary, and continued to carry Liz. "It would probably be best not to leave the children alone while we check out the Institute."
They searched the Institute completely. From top to bottom and vice versa. They didn't find anything. Not even Isabelle and Simon.
"Where is everybody?" Clary questioned.
"Yeah, come to think of it, it is a little bit strange that nobody was here to help us," Jace agreed.
"The location of Isabelle and the daylighter are a mystery. You would think they would want to be around for something like what just happened," Magnus remarked.
"We'll have to ask them when they return from where ever they went," Clary said.
"I believe it's safe to unfreeze the children now," Magnus said, once they had finished searching the Institute.
"Good. The sooner they are unfrozen the better I'll feel," Clary sighed.
Magnus snapped the fingers on his unbroken hand. The children stayed frozen.
"Magnus?" Jace asked.
"Sorry, I'm having trouble concentrating with my broken hand," Magnus winced.
Magnus snapped his fingers again and the children unfroze.
"Woah, what happened?" Stephen inquired.
"Stephen, my baby!" Clary cried, rushing forward to hug him.
"I'm not a baby!" Stephen protested.
Clary didn't comment just held on tighter to her son.
Stephen began to try to wiggle out of Clary's grasp. "Stop hugging me so tight. What happened? Last I remember I was outside the library."
"You don't remember?" Jace asked.
"If I remembered, I wouldn't be asking what happened," Stephen pointed out, dryly.
Clary snorted in amusement at Jace's sour expression.
"I'm being sassed by my own offspring," Jace complained, quietly enough that Stephen wouldn't hear.
"You taught him well, Jace," Clary smiled, patting Jace on the cheek.
"So? What happened?" Stephen asked, insistently.
"Do you remember anybody who may have called himself Sebastian?" Clary asked.
"Yeah, why? Did he do something?" Stephen inquired.
"Honey, he possessed you," Clary said, gently, crouching down to his eye level.
"You mean like a demon?" Stephen asked, trying to process the information.
"Yes," Clary smiled and put her arm around Stephen.
"But everything's good now right? You stopped him and saved me?" Stephen queried in a small voice. "And Liz," he added, seeming to remember something.
"Yup," Jace said.
"Does this mean me and Liz can have ice cream?" Stephen prodded.
Clary smiled and heard Liz yell 'yeah' eagerly.
"Yes, you and Liz may have some ice cream," Clary agreed.
"Hey, save some for me!" Magnus yelled after them as they ran for the kitchen.
Magnus winced again at the pain in his hand.
"We should treat your hand," Clary said.
#
Mango, Mango fruit divine,
Mangoes in this box of mine,
Where did you come from?
Why are you here?
Why do you make me feel so queer?
