CHAPTER 4

Clary

"Clary, go farther than the pine tree. You will see a small, whitewashed, two storey house. Go in there and get someone named Chiron. Now!"

"But Si-" Clary started. "Clary. Listen to me. This is your best chance of saving your parabatai. Get Chiron. Tell him Magnus Bane is at the border, that we are in a life or death situation." Saying this, Magnus turned around and his fingertips lit up with a soft blue glow.

Clary turned and ran as fast as she could towards the white building Magnus had mentioned. She was terrified. She could feel Simon's life force ebbing away, sustained only by Magnus' magic. She burst through the doors and saw a man sitting by the fireplace and a stuffed leopard's head on the mantle.

"Chiron?" she panted, pronouncing the name exactly as Magnus had. Said person half turned and said "what is it child? What are you doing up so late at night? You know the curfew timings right?" Still out of breath and crying, Clary gasped "Magnus Bane - at the border – Simon dying – please, you have to help." At the mention of Magnus' name, the man – Chiron , she supposed – turned around and began to elongate. Atleast, that's what it looked like until he turned into a white stallion with a man's torso.

Clary stared, open mouthed as Chiron picked her up, put her on his back and started galloping towards the pine tree where they had portaled. Recovering from the initial shock of seeing the man transform into half horse, she composed herself. "By the Angel! What are you?" "a Centaur, my dear. Centaurs, half human, half horse. From Greek mythology" he replied, in the tone of on who has said the same many times over.

Before she knew it, they had reached Simon and the others. Magnus looked up, clearly relieved. "Chiron, old friend. I know this is not the circumstance in which we had planned to meet again, but please, you have to save him. If not for me, then do it for the favour you owe me from all those centuries ago. Do it, for he is half yours."

At these words, even Chiron looked stunned. Clary was too, perplexed but told him "please, you have to save him. You will save him. Please."

"yes" he said. I will, but we must get him to the infirmary now. "Magnus , Bane, I Chiron, director of Camp Half Blood, give you permission to enter camp." Magnus scooped Simon up onto Chiron's back with Alec's help and they sprinted back to the house, went through a set of double doors, and ended up in a plain, whitewashed room with cots and dressers on either side. "Lay him down on a bed" Chiron instructed and going over to Simon, started taking out what looked like dried herbs out of his saddlebag. He started applying ointments to Simon's injured shoulder and trickling Angel knows what down his throat, all while Clary held tightly onto his hand, refusing to let go and muttering words of encouragement and occasionally, a few curses under her breath. From time to time, Magnus also helped, until his magic gave out and he slumped on the chair beside Alec.

After a few minutes, Chiron turned towards them "His injuries are to grave to be healed by my remedies alone. We need an Apollo Camper. The best healer possible." "No Magnus, you will not be able to do it this time old friend. You barely have any energy left." Chiron added as Magnus started to talk.

"Okay, atleast tell me where to find this 'Apollo Camper'" Clary interjected.

"Chiron, hold my hand and think about who you want, very clearly." "But Magnus -" Alec started to protest. Magnus held out a hand "No Alec," he said gently. "let me do this one last thing. Let me do something good. For once." He said. Alec sat back, displeasure written clearly across his face, but did not protest further.

Magnus and Chiron held hands, closed their eyes and in a flash of blue light, two people appeared – One blond and muscular, the other pale and skinny, dressed all in black, just as Magnus passed out. Alec gave a cry of alarm and immediately scooped Magnus up and put him in one of the beds as well, worry lining his face. Although she should have been more considerate, Clary knew that if something wasn't done soon, her Parabatai, her best friend, might die. This was the only reason she cleared her throat loudly despite the fact that both of them were clearly in the middle of making out.