"So we're doing this why?" Simon asked for the umpteenth time.
Izzy sighed. Simon could be unbearable at times. Especially since they were exploring a creepy building that looked like demons had been there recently.
"We're doing this because demons have been doing something here recently."
"And you took me along why?" Simon asked.
"Because of that mark Clary put on your head. I'm not going to die today, and I need you to help me."
Simon shrugged. "I've been used for worse."
Isabelle took out her seraph blade, and then activated it. There'd been rumors that people were disappearing around this building, and it was definitely demonic activity. Which the Shadowhunters needed to get rid of, because if they had to deal with tons of demons and Valentine . . . Isabelle preferred not to think of the consequences.
The hallway in front of the both of them was three things: long, dark, and creepy. And Isabelle heard footsteps approaching.
"You hear that?" Simon whispered. Isabelle nodded. "Should we get out of the way?"
It was too late to do anything. A woman, wearing a very stylish sleeveless dress was walking down the corridor, with a few demons trailing behind her.
Simon gulped. Isabelle stood her ground, putting her sword out in front of her.
"Tell me who you are!" she shouted. "And then maybe I'll spare you!"
"I don't think you can kill me," the woman said. "For I am the mother of all demons. Also, I'm practically immortal at this point."
"Who?" Simon asked.
The woman and Isabelle sighed in unison.
"It's Lilith," Izzy explained. "She's the mother of all demons, the first wife of Adam."
"Oh, I remember her," Simon said. "I learned about her in Hebrew school. But ti was so long ago, I mean, we learned about Genesis-"
"Oh, shut up," Lilith said. "Plus, whatever you know about me is wrong. They cast me out because I refused to be led by men. I also wanted to be on top during sex, which might have been the entire reason."
Simon nodded. "That makes sense."
Isabelle wasn't paying any attention to Lilith. She just walked forward, swinging her sword, ready to kill. This was what she had been born to do. Not just stand around and study, but to kill demons and fight against evil.
"Uh-uh," Lilith said, "You naughty girl." She pushed her hand forward, flinging Izzy against the wall. Isabelle felt like all her breath had been knocked out of her body, and she coughed.
Simon just stood there, blinking unaffectedly.
"And what about you-" Lilith tapped a long black fingernail against her cheek. "-you little vampire. Why don't you leave, too?"
One of the demons flanking her ran forward, towards Simon. Isabelle tried not to jump forward to protect him, knowing he'd be fine. Also, she was kind of trying to get her breath back.
The demon ran forward, then seemed to slam into an invisible wall. It then blasted into a pile of sea salt. Lilith gasped.
"I've seen this before," she observed. "Just-just, go. You need to go. Don't make me send another demon after you!"
Simon turned and ran, and so did Isabelle. What really freaking Isabelle out was the fact that it seemed like Lilith knew that mark. She'd never heard of it before, and she'd read everything on runes. It worried her, and she thought about as ran all the way back to in the Institute.
Magnus tapped his foot impatiently. Asmodeus was treating him like a toddler, which was very infuriating, considering the fact that he had lived for more centuries than he cared to admit. Also, he really wanted to go back to Alec, especially after that dream.
Oh, God, that dream. It was all he could think about. He wished it had been real, or at least that he didn't wake up at the time he did. Stupid, shoddy cot. Couldn't a demon at least get a good, comfortable cot? If he was going to torture him with dream of Alec, he could have at least tried to make them longer.
"Look, this is stupid," Magnus pointed out, after walking around almost the entire warehouse. "What can you do to make a tour of a gigantic computer warehouse interesting? I've just looked at nothing but computer boxes all this time? They're also outdated, did I mention that? You should have just let me sleep. I was going to look at something better than old computers, anyway."
"I do have something I could show you," Asmodeus said, walking to a door on the wall. "Just see this." He opened the door, and Magnus gasped.
Sorry that this chapter's a little shorter than normal, I've been a little busy lately. Hmm . . . what could be behind the door? You're just going to have to wait to find out!