Howdy!
So, I will save all the boring intros, because this one is kind of long...
Enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own TMI or its characters.
If I did, trust me, you'd know.
A loud, echoing ringing noise woke me from my peaceful slumber, and I jumped up, glancing around in a groggy confusion. Liam had a similar expression on his face, and I slipped my robe and slippers on as I explained, muttering "Doorbell," as Liam followed me into the hallway.
Isabelle, Jace, and Clary were already outside, Isabelle looking quite livid, and footsteps from behind me caused me to turn around, where Ethan was trudging towards us wearily.
"What happened? Who's here?" He grumbled, and I shook my head, not knowing the answer. Clary said something about Simon, but that didn't seem likely, at three in the morning.
As we started walking down the hallway, I noticed Clary shiver, and I wordlessly grabbed a coat of mine from a hook nearby, tossing it to her. She smiled gratefully.
We went downstairs in the elevator, and I felt an uneasy feeling, similar to when we had been with the Seelie Queen, that caused me to put my hand on Ethan's shoulder, holding him a little closer towards me. Liam must have noticed, because he placed a soothing arm around my waist, resting his hand on the small of my back.
We hurried towards the front doors, and when they opened I couldn't keep myself from gasping.
"Simon." Liam murmured grimly, and Isabelle and I were the first to act. I shoved Ethan behind me, who Liam caught in understanding, Isabelle tossing me one of two surprisingly pointy candelabras, which we pointed towards the vampire before us.
The vampire had Simon with him, bloody and beaten, who Clary was cradling in panic. I felt a sharp pang in my chest. The mundane and I weren't close, but he was a nice guy. I couldn't say it was easy seeing him lying there.
"What did you do to him?" I hissed, and the vampire, Raphael, I think they had said, looked up.
"El no es muerto," He murmured, but I didn't feel relieved in the slightest.
I heard Jace whisper something, and I realized he was confirming to Clary what she thought Raphael had said.
Clary said something to Simon, but Raphael shook his head. "He can't hear you, he's dying."
I glanced at Liam, who had a grim expression on his face. He was standing right behind me, not daring to let me be anywhere near the vampire without him, but he was holding onto Ethan tightly, trying to shield his view of Simon's bloody form.
Jace was speaking when I looked back. "No, we don't. And perhaps you should explain yourself. Because otherwise I'm going to assume you're a rogue bloodsucker, and cut your heart out. Like I should have done last time we met."
Raphael smiled, though the smile was chilling. "You swore not to harm me, Shadowhunter. Have you forgotten?"
"I never finished that oath." Jace muttered coldly.
"And I never started," I warned, brandishing the candelabra.
"Rose," Liam whispered, and it didn't sound warning, as it often does if he's trying to restrain me, but as if he needed my attention.
"Can't you see what's going on?" Ethan whispered in my ear frantically, and I shook my head, confused.
"There's only one thing that can be happening to him, Rose," Liam murmured frantically, and I was glad no one could hear us. The blood drained from my face.
Simon was becoming a vampire.
I immediately knew that we were in for an argument.
Clary would want him back, no matter what, but Jace and Isabelle would be more hesitant at the idea of Simon becoming a Downworlder.
I never had the Lightwood's views on Downworlders. My parents had treated them with respect, and therefore that was how I had grown to treat them.
Well, except for in werewolf bars at two in the morning.
Then I am less willing to grin and bear it.
My relationships with Downworlders had ended up helping us a lot, from my friendships with Pete and Magnus, to other… relationships with some Downworlders I had grown close to.
When this finally sunk in, Raphael announcing that Simon would rise as a vampire, Isabelle's candelabra slipped from her hand, and I ducked to catch it before it hit the ground.
Clary seemed to notice Jace and Isabelle's feelings as Iz frantically asked if there were any other options, for she was suddenly even more protective of Simon's pale figure.
And she wasn't protecting him from Raphael.
"Get away from us!" She yelled, and I handed Liam the candelabra, kneeling beside her.
"Clary-"
"I said get away!"
Clary cringed out from under my hand as I moved to calm her, and Jace gave me an anxious, warning look.
"Clary, look at me Clary," I ordered, and she stared up at me reluctantly, her green eyes wide with fright, tears streaming down her face.
"No harm will come to Simon, especially not from us. You have my word," I whispered soothingly, and I searched her eyes for understanding.
"But-"
"Clary, I told you we were going to be friends, and I would like to think that we are now. Trust me," I pleaded, and she nodded, sniffling slightly.
I glanced behind me, where Jace nodded, silently thanking me.
Simon suddenly gasped, and I jumped back, surprised. I turned to see Liam had jumped forward as well, but stopped when he saw I was okay. I smiled slightly, reassuring him.
"Simon, I love you," I heard Clary whispered, and I looked away, not standing to see their sad exchange.
Simon went limp, and I tried whispering to Clary, trying to get her to stand, but she obviously didn't hear me. I couldn't pry her hand from his, so I decided to stand and join Isabelle, who was yelling at Raphael furiously.
"-and now what are we supposed to do?" She screamed, and I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding onto her tightly.
"Bury him," Raphael answered smoothly, and I stiffened.
"Care to repeat that?" I hissed, and Liam pointed the candelabra's sharp tip towards him threateningly.
"It is how we are made. We are drained, blooded, and buried. When he digs his own way out of a grave, that is when a vampire is born."
"Could he do that?" Ethan asked quietly, and I cringed inwardly at the concerned tone in my little brother's voice. If something happened to Simon, Ethan would be upset.
"Some can't," said Raphael. "If no one is there to help them dig out, they stay like that, trapped like rats under the earth."
Clary screamed hoarsely, almost as hoarse as my voice, and I flinched away. "I won't bury him in the ground," She muttered firmly.
"Then he'll stay like this," said Raphael mercilessly. "Dead but not quite dead. Never waking."
"We need to make a decision," I interrupted quietly, and everyone looked at Clary.
"I should tell you," said the vampire, who sent a shiver down my spine, "that there is not much time. The longer we wait before putting him into the ground, the less likely he'll be able to dig his own way back out of it."
"We can bury him," she said. "But I want it to be in a Jewish cemetery. And I want to be there when he wakes up." Clary said decidedly, and I glanced at her, wide-eyed.
"Clary-"
"It won't be pleasant," Raphael warned, and Clary glared at him.
"Nothing ever is."
I decided to stay home with Liam, Ethan, and Max, who was still dead asleep, while the others went out with Simon.
Though I didn't want to admit it, I didn't think I could stomach being there while Simon turned, and though I worried Clary wouldn't have been able to as well, I knew that she was going to be there, hell or high water.
"You okay?" Liam asked, sitting down at the edge of my bed.
I had sent Ethan away to go back to sleep, leaving Liam and I alone, warming up after spending so much time on the front step of the Institute, freezing the whole time.
"Not a bit. You?" I asked wearily, and he shook his head.
"You did well, you know. Sticking up for Simon and Clary." He whispered, and I laughed bitterly.
"I have some decent respect for Downworlders upon occasion. I'm no Lightwood," I muttered, and Liam shrugged.
"Either way, what's done is done, now. Simon is going to be a vampire," Liam said finally, and I nodded weakly.
"Poor mundane. He didn't deserve to get dragged into the Shadowhunter world."
"He did it for a girl he loved," Liam said quietly, and I looked up at him.
"But was it worth it? Losing his life, his humanity just for a girl that he loved?"
Liam looked me straight in the eye, and the emotion there surprised me. "To him it probably was."
The next few days were quiet. No one had heard much from Clary or Simon, which worried Jace, though he tried not to show it.
The rest of us tried to distract ourselves, going demon hunting, training, trying to bring some normalcy back.
Which is precisely why when Jace got a phone call two days later, I was not pleased to hear we were going to meet with Clary, where normalcy goes to die.
I was with Jace, Magnus, and Alec when his phone rang, and Jace was busy doing the Angel only knows what, so I answered it for him. I was curled up on the couch in the awesome apartment that Magnus called home, and though I would never admit it, the design of the whole interior made me envious.
"Comedy Central?" I said, and someone sighed in relief.
"Rose, is that you?"
I froze. "Simon. What's wrong, why are you using Clary's phone?"
"Clary is fine, but Maia was attacked by a Drevak demon, she's been poisoned."
"Wait, Maia? What's a Maia?"
"Maia is a werewolf in Luke's pack, he said to call the Institute."
I processed this, and I went into official Shadowhunter mode. "Okay, just stay there, I'll grab Jace, Alec, and Magnus, and we will be there soon." I instructed.
"Will do."
"Oh, and Simon?" I added before he could hang up, and he paused.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted you to know we've been thinking about you. I won't ask if you're okay, because I personally hate that question, but…"
"I'm okay. Thank you, Rose. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Bye."
When I hung up, I immediately went to our stash of weapons, which Magnus had insisted we keep with the umbrellas and coats by the door, and I slid my seraph blade and my various other weapons into my belt. Alec and Jace walked in the room, looking at me in anticipation.
"What happened?"
"Simon called. We need to get to Luke's house, something about Drevak demons."
Jace paled, his face etched with an anxious expression. "Is Clary okay?"
"Yeah she's fine, but one of Luke's werewolves was poisoned. Get Magnus."
A few minutes later, the four of us marched up Luke's front steps, barging through Luke's front door, and when we got inside we were greeted with the scene of a pale Simon, Clary perched on top of a coffee table, and a dark-skinned werewolf who was looking pretty ghastly, and quite honestly a little mad.
"What do you think you're doing?" Jace growled at Clary, who had a dagger in her hand.
As the two began bickering, I shared a look with Alec, who just sighed, shaking his head. I entered the room, making my way to the werewolf, who I recognized from The Hunter's Moon. She was the girl who I had run into and made snide comments to.
She remembered.
"You," She groaned, "You're the rude Shadowhunter that called me a dog."
I cringed, and Magnus gave me a strange look as he placed his hands over her wound to heal her.
"Was that me?"
"Yeah, it was. I specifically remember you telling me to 'keep my muzzle shut' and to 'hope my bite was better than my bark'." Alec choked back a laugh, and I gave Maia an apologetic look.
"I specifically remember it being two in the morning, and me having to pick up my wasted brother. I was in a bad mood," I admitted, and she shrugged, though the simple move looked painful.
"I'm feeling you," She grumbled, and I sighed.
"Don't worry, Magnus is the best warlock you will find," I assured her, "And the most fabulous."
Maia laughed weakly, and Magnus winked at me.
"Where is Luke?" Jace was asking Clary, and I turned to them. Jace wasn't looking very happy.
"He's outside, he was moving the truck off the lawn." Simon replied.
Jace glanced at me and Alec. We hadn't seen Luke.
"Funny," Which, coincidentally, was precisely what this situation wasn't, "I didn't see him when we were coming up the stairs."
"Did you see his pickup?" Clary asked, anxious.
"It was in the driveway, the lights were off." I spoke up, and Alec nodded in agreement.
"I don't like it," Magnus murmured, "Not after a Drevak attack. They roam in packs."
I pulled out a seraph blade in anticipation, and Jace immediately went into action. "Rose and I will go check on him. Alec, you stay here, keep the house secure."
Clary immediately jumped up. "I'm coming with you."
Jace didn't listen to her, just firmly objected as he walked towards the door. I followed him hurriedly, and Clary raced before me, cutting me off, running in front of Jace.
"I will knock you down if I have to, Clarissa." Jace growled, and Clary looked me straight in the eye.
"Rose?"
I blanched, Jace turning over his shoulder to glare at me with a passion. I could feel more than one pair of eyes on me, and I fidgeted slightly. "Yes, Clary?"
"Convince him," She whispered, "Please."
I cringed, facing Jace's bitter look. "Jace, she will never learn to be a Shadowhunter if we don't let her fight. Besides, this is personal."
"Precisely why she isn't going."
"Jace, if you don't take her, then I will."
"Rose Marie Nightlock, I swear by the Angel-"
"I'll go!" Simon spoke up, and I blinked. Was he coming to my rescue? Oh please, please, please…
"Excellent! Now quit wasting oxygen, go," I ordered, and when Clary stepped away from the door I handed her a seraph blade. "Nakir," I informed her, and she smiled, a silent thanks.
I could barely force a nod. I knew what it was like to be protective of someone you loved, and if I knew Jace, I knew that was going to bite me in the ass later.
No pun towards Simon intended.
When we got outside, after I scolded Jace for calling Simon "bloodsucker" (he sent me a grateful look) we observed the idling truck, and not only was a Sensor from my back pocket informing us of demonic presence, but my necklace was burning painfully at my throat, as it had when we fought the Greater Demon.
A sudden flash of movement caught my eye, and I raised the weapon in my hand in a defensive motion. "By the water," I warned, and everyone looked in that direction.
Jace and I shared one quick glance before sprinting towards it, me whispering a simple "Adriel," before the witchlight from the blades was lighting up our path, and not only did we find a sickly looking, unconscious Luke, but three more figures.
"Raum demons," I warned, and Jace's eyes widened slightly.
"Are those the same-"
"No Simon, these are much worse," I interrupted him, and I motioned with my hand for him to step behind me, Clary stepping behind Jace instinctively.
I lunged towards one of the demons, swinging the blade (gracefully, I might add) through the air before it sliced through one of the demon's arms.
The demon swung out its uninjured arm with a screech of rage, and it struck me aside the face, knocking me off my feet and sending me tumbling down towards the river's edge.
My seraph blade fell from my grasp, and I kicked out at the demon, jumping to my feet. I reached over for my weapon, and the demon kicked me in the side painfully, making me slip and crack my head with a sickening thud against the rocks.
I suddenly heard a loud, screeching noise, and the two remaining demons were disappearing in the river beside me, not even bothering to notice that I was lying here, just as useful as a dead Shadowhunter. I felt very dizzy, my head throbbing, and when I put a hand to my head, I felt a warm, wet liquid that made me feel nauseous.
I heard people talking, but I couldn't make out any words, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.
"Rose!" Someone called, the sound slightly muffled to my ears, and Jace was suddenly kneeling next to me, looking down at me with a purely concerned look.
"Are Clary and Simon okay?" I murmured, wincing.
"They're fine, give me your arm," Jace commanded softly, and he drew an iratze on my arm, leaving the pain to fade away.
"We should get you back, Magnus can check that head injury," He continued, and I stumbled to my feet, realizing that was a bad idea.
My head spun, the world along with it, and Jace grabbed me before I could fall, letting me lean against him.
"Did you ever notice I was the worst Shadowhunter ever?" I grumbled, and he laughed.
"I didn't want to say anything, but it ran through my head a couple of times," He joked, and I smiled.
We walked back to Simon and Clary, crouched next to Luke, who looked up anxiously.
"What happened?" Clary asked, and I felt oddly touched at her concern.
"I bumped my noggin." I groaned, and she rolled her eyes, though she was still worried.
"Here, I'll help Rose, you get Luke." She turned to Jace, who accompanied Simon in carrying Luke. I put my arm around Clary's petite shoulders, trying to rest as much of my weight as possible on my own feet.
Magnus was waiting for us at the door, leading them inside to where they could rest Luke on the couch. Clary was watching him carefully, and I motioned for her to go be with him, as I made my way to an armchair nearby, clutching onto it as if my life depended on it.
Alec walked into the room, and his eyes immediately went to Jace, who was watching Magnus work on Luke, and then to me. "Rose?" He asked, his brow furrowing in concern, and he practically ran towards me, studying over me in a search for injuries.
"I'm okay, don't get your knickers in a twist," I grumbled, and he sighed, putting his hands on my shoulders and easing me into the armchair.
"What happened?"
"I cracked my head."
"Wouldn't be the first time."
"Look at you, so hospitable."
"Did you use a rune on it?"
"Yes, big brother."
He looked relieved that I wasn't slowly bleeding out in the middle of the living room, so Jace made his way over to us, explaining the situation to Alec.
Magnus walked over to me, after healing Luke, regarding me with a slightly worried expression that I found touching. Was everyone worried about me?
Oh, wait a minute.
No, maybe that wasn't so touching after all.
Magnus placed a blue, sparking hand on my forehead, and I felt my head clear, the dizziness disappearing.
"Thank you, Dr. Bane." I joked, and something flickered in his cat-like eyes, an emotion I didn't recognize.
"That reminds me," He said smoothly, "that I'm not exactly sure what it is you think you're doing, calling on me every time one of you has so much as an ingrown toenail that needs clipping. As High Warlock, my time is valuable. There are plenty of lesser warlocks who'd be happy to do a job for you at a greatly reduced rate."
I blinked in shock, staring at him. His expression didn't change.
"You're charging us?" Clary asked incredulously.
"But Magnus, you and I are friends. I remember, you said that whatever I needed, you would give it your damnedest." I smiled faintly, remembering that time when I, fourteen years old, had gone to him for help, though he could do nothing for me.
He just kept grimacing. "Honey, we are merely acquaintances. The only reason I ever cared that you existed was when you came to me, asking me to restore your pretty little voice."
I cringed, stumbling backwards, and a surprised Simon caught me, steadying me. At least he was putting that supernatural speed to use.
Alec looked dazed, watching Magnus.
"Honestly, am I the only warlock you know?" Magnus continued, annoyed.
"No," Jace spoke up now, "but you are the only warlock we know who happens to be dating a friend of ours."
Every eye in the room turned to Alec, which made him blush furiously.
Alec objected to that, Jace argued with him, and Magnus watched quietly, while I just glared at Magnus, betrayed.
He seemed to be upset about something, which was perfectly understandable, but that didn't mean he had to use what he knew was my biggest fear, imperfection, and embarrassment all rolled up in one against me.
Simon put a hand on my shoulder awkwardly, and I smiled at him, but he just shrugged.
"Then I don't…" Jace was looking pretty bewildered right now, and I glanced at my other brother, who looked as if he was debating crawling under the coffee table and hiding.
"Jace, you are doing nothing but making things worse. Shut up," I ordered, and he turned to me, while Alec sighed in relief.
"Why?"
"Why what?" A new voice inquired, and I whirled around to where Luke was sitting up on the couch.
All attention was taken away from conversation at hand, and I decided I wanted to leave. I wanted to go home, shower, and enjoy the comforting feeling of Liam's presence, as crazy as the idea was.
"Well folks, not that this episode of Shadowhunters of Our Lives hasn't been fun, but considering no one has dropped dead after all, I am going to leave." I announced, and Alec's head popped up.
"I'm coming too," He piped in, and I nodded, motioning for him to follow me.
I mumbled my goodbyes, grabbing my jacket, and when I went to exit the living room I realized there was one person standing in front of me.
Magnus.
I took Alec's arm, glaring fiercely at the sparkly warlock, and as I passed him I rammed into his shoulder roughly with mine.
"Get out of my way," I muttered, and poor Alec was about to lose a limb as I hurried out of the house, slamming the door shut behind me.
"Are you alright?" He asked quietly once we were on the sidewalk.
"If I said yes, would you believe me?"
"Probably not."
"Then no."
He put an arm around me, if not for my comfort than for his own. "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's not like that, especially not with you. You're the one out of all of us he can actually stand," Alec mumbled, and I knew he was talking about Magnus.
"Alec, you know what's wrong with him." I groaned, and he raised an eyebrow. I threw my hands up in frustration. "Alexander Gideon Lightwood, you are the single most frustrating creature I have ever met! And I live with Jace!" I exclaimed, and he laughed.
"Rose, I don't know what you mean."
"Alec, Magnus is falling for you, and you are still acting like you are in love with someone who you really aren't in love with!" I explained, and he paled.
"Rose, I-"
"Alec, I know you think you are in love with Jace, but I don't think that's truly the case. I think you admire him as a person, and he is just the only person you've ever had a chance to say that you love," I continued, and he flinched.
"But Magnus and I… we weren't… it wasn't…" He seemed to be struggling for words, and I sighed.
"Please, don't explain your love life in detail, I just wanted to remind you that it wasn't such a nonevent to Magnus," I murmured, and he shook his head, muttering to himself.
It seemed as if we couldn't get home fast enough.
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Until next time!
- EasyIsTheDescent