You guys are the best!

ICraveYou - Thank you :) I'm really glad you like it so far!
Guest1 - I might have blushed readon "perfection". Thank you!
Mimi-Marie34 - Aaww you are so sweet! I hope Saturday is alright, too :D
Guest2 - Here's more!
AlejandraMartinez - It may take a while to find out what Jace said. Patience. But I'm so glad you like it :)
Cecily Lightwood - Oh, the Story barely got started... It will take a long time 'till I finish it - but I will eventually.

I also brought a new chapter with me (of course I did it would be mean to update without one xD). I do hope you like it!

CITY OF CRYING ANGELS
chapter three: Home alone

"Iz?"

"I'm not talking to you."

"I hate to break it to you but... telling me you're not talking to me... is talking to me."

Simon sighted as Isabelle continued to browse through one of Magnus' fashion magazines in silence. He gathered all his courage and sat down next to her on the couch, saying: "Look. I didn't mean to keep this from you. I was just trying to protect you."

Angrily Isabelle put the magazine aside. "I get that. But I don't need you to protect me. I'm a Shadowhunter, I can damn well protect myself. And I really don't need someone trying to talk to me about it without actually telling me what it's about!"

"I know. I'm sorry. I promise, the next time someone threatenes to hurt you I will tell you immediately." Although he hoped he wouldn't have to lift up to his promise.

They had been in the apartment all day. It was almost dawn now but they had been fully occupied – after Magnus told Azazel they didn't agree to his terms he had gotten furious. It had taken several hours to finally make the demon go away but he had basically turned this whole place up side down so they had ended up cleaning the apartment for the rest of the day. Everyone but Isabelle. She seemed to have found it more helpful to sulk and read magazines.

Izzy looked like she was about to forgive him but he never got to hear it. Magnus and Alec suddenly appeared in the living room, both looking very alarmed and serious. While Magnus already started on something (Simon thought it may have been a portal) Alec walked toward Simon and Isabelle.

"We have to go to the institute. Mother just send us a fire message – there's a fire."

A fire message about a fire – apparently Simon was the only one who saw the irony, or the only one willing to point it out. Of course only inside his mind. It would have been highly unsensitive to share this thought with the people who's home was on fire.

Isabelle got to her feet immediately. "What?"

"The institute is on fire! We're going there" Alec said more clearly but as Isabelle attempted to walk past him he grabbed her by her shoulders. "And by we, I mean everyone who hasn't gotten threatened by Sebastian."

"No! Has everyone forgotten I'm a Shadowhunter? I am going!"

Alec sighted. "No you are not! Isabelle, I'm sorry, but I'm your older brother and I say you stay put!"

Simon didn't think he ever saw Alec being that determined about anything before but he was greatful that he wasn't going to let Izzy go with them. That way he wouldn't have to try making Izzy do something she didn't want to. He had a feeling she wouldn't listen to him.

It seemed Alec thought the same way about himself, which was probably why he added: "As far as we know Sebastian may have set the fire to lure you out! You will stay here or by the Angel, Magnus will make you stay. Got it?" Simon glared over to the Warlock and by the look of his face, he thought, Alec hadn't really talked to him about the possibilty of using magic to make Isabelle stay.

Izzy seemed shocked that her brother would take such drastic measures but Simon was actually releaved. That meant she was safe. Mad like hell - of course - but save.

"Alec? It's ready." Magnus said and Alec nodded.

He looked at Simon and said: "You stay with her."

While Simon nodded Isabelle said: "No."

Simon turned to her and asked: "Do you just like to hear yourself say that word, or...?"

"It's bad enough that I have to stay behind, but I will not let you babysit me!"

Looking at her, standing there with her arms crossed, she looked like a stubborn child. Simon could have even sworn she actually wanted him to stay. He figured her telling him to leave was just about getting her way at least about one thing. There was no point of sending Simon there, it wasn't like he could go into the institute anyway. But her stubbornness seemed to be greater than her desire not to be alone, which didn't even surprise him.

"Alec", Magnus said again and Alec needed to make a quick decision.

"Fine. Simon, you come with us. Go", he shoved Simon toward Magnus and before he could even say goodbye to Izzy he was sucked into the portal, which once again made him realize how greatful he was for the invention of the subway.

: : : : :

Hurt and furious Izzy stayed behind and watched the portal close after everyone had went through it. Everyone but her. And Simon had just gone with them! Hadn't he been able to tell she had wanted him to stay? Shouldn't he have been able to?!

She exhaled in frustration and let herself fall back on the couch. What irritated her the most was not the fact that they had left her behind, but that she couldn't help them. Her mother was at the institute, what if something had happened to her? Or worse, what if Alec was right and Sebastian had set the fire to lure Izzy out, in that case it would be because of her when anyone got hurt in that fire! But she was not going all Clary on this - she would stay here and wait for them. As hard as it was.

Izzy, relax. She told herself. Magnus was there, he should be able to stop the fire soon. By the Angel, they were so lucky Alec had started dating him... they would have died multiple times already if it weren't for Magnus.

She kept looking at her phone and testing her connection but no one called and no one texted her. The waiting was the worst part... if only she could find something out if only she could somehow contact that rotten son of a... of course! There was a way to contact him!

It didn't take her long until she was back in the room she and Simon had slept in. He hadn't worn the ring which meant... Bingo. It lay on the windowsill. Izzy walked right up to it and put it on her finger. There was just one tiny problem... she had no idea how these rings worked. Simon never spoke anything out loud when he talked to Clary. But did that mean Sebastian was in her head right now? Was she inside of his? (Could it even be healthy being inside his head? It obviously didn't do him any good.)

Sebastian? She asked inside her head but there was no respond.

You little bastard, if you can hear me, pick up!

Nothing.

"Damn it." Isabelle hit the wall, which didn't make her feel better at all. This was just all messed up. She wasn't supposed to stay home save while others were doing the fighting... and why the hell did Simon go with them? She knew what she'd said but that was besides the point. He should have stayed anyway!

She couldn't even tell how long they were gone. Maybe around half an hour, she didn't know. She may have done nothing but checked her phone since the moment they left but she had failed to check the time. Now she regreted it. Not that it would help her in any way, but counting the minutes would have at least given her something to do. All she knew for sure was that it was now dark outside and when they'd left it hadn't been.

Was it suppose to take that long? And why didn't anyone call? Her phone in one hand and the ring on the other she kept looking from one to another. Not that she needed to look at the ring for it to work... it didn't seem Sebastian was online right now. Of course it didn't exactly help staring at her phone either.

Izzy sighted and looked out of the window, asking herself how a warlock who lived forever would chose Brookyln to live in. It seemed like a waste of immortality. For the first time since the others had left Isabelle was lost in her thoughts about something else until-

"Isabelle!"

She startled but turned around quickly.

"Simon! You're back!" It was weird that she didn't recognize him the moment he said her name but it must have been because she hadn't really payed attention.

Isabelle ran to him and flung her arms around his neck.

"Wow, how long have I been gone?" he said, surprised at her reaction.

"I don't know. Too long, I've been going insane sitting here with nothing to do, but to think of something to make you pay for leaving as well!" she said as she drew away from him but still standing in front of him, looking into his eyes.

He sighted. "I'm sorry, okay? I should have stayed." But he didn't seem sorry.

"How did it go?"

"Everything's fine. No one's got hurt, when we arrived the fire department was already there so Magnus couldn't use any magic. He and Alec stayed with your mother. They send me back early to share the news. The institute is completely destroyed though... I think your parents are out of their job."

Isabelle frowned. She said "Well, only if my dad ever comes back from Idris. I think he may have forgotten he doesn't live there by now." since it was the only thing she could say. The thought of the institute being destroyed was horrible after all she did spend most of her life there. But at least no one got hurt. Still: "I'm going to kill Sebastian. Even more painful and slower than I actually planned to."

"Yeah, I get that, there's just still the problem of him being linked to Jace and all. Remember?"

She sighted. "Of course I remember. How could I forget?" Frustrated she sat down on the foot of the bed and after Simon closed the door he sat next to her, grabbing her hand.

"Everything is going to be okay, Isabelle. I don't know how but... it will be."

A sad smile came across her lips. "It kind of has to, doesn't it?"

He nodded and was silent for a while. Isabelle didn't say anything either, they just sat there.

It was Isabelle who broke the silence: "I'm glad your back. I wasn't just going insane because I couldn't do anything... I was worried. I know, I know, I was the one who told you to stop worrying all the time..."

"You don't have to be worried about me. Not with the mark of cain and everything." he sounded bitter. Izzy didn't know if he would ever get used to the mark.

"Sure but if you were to catch on fire, without someone shooting it at you, that can still kill you. You can't rely on that mark, Simon. You're not indestructible."

For a moment Simon looked surprised, probably because he wasn't used to her caring so much. At least not out loud. She couldn't blame him, she was surprised herself... she hated the way Simon made her feel and loved it at the same time. It was so weird.

"I've missed you. I actually still miss you, if that makes any kind of sense..." Izzy was new to that whole feeling-stuff so she didn't know what made sense and what didn't. It was all very confusing.

Simon smiled and placed a hand on her cheek. "It makes every kind of sense." he said, leaning forward to kiss her. It was a different kiss than usually, it was demanding and confident. Isabelle kissed him back and soon after that Simon leaned over her and pressed her on the bed. Last night had obviously changed their relationship and how Simon felt about making a first move, like he was right now. He wouldn't have done that yesterday.

Lying on her back Izzy gently pushed him away from her for a moment. "Aren't you worried my brother is going to be here soon?" she was challenging him, to be honest, the thought of being caught turned her on but she knew Simon ought to be nervous. At least the yesterday-Simon would have been.

"Well, maybe he'll learn something."

Isabelle frowned for a second but then laughted. "What's gotten into you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Must be your influence."

Before Isabel could think about that anymore he closed the distance between them and kissed her again. He took off his shirt, soon to be followed by hers. She pressed her body against his and moaned as he placed kisses on her neck, wandering down to her chest. When she felt his hand undoing her pants she bit her lip.

Her phone started to rang, but she barely even heard it. When before she would have killed for that phone to ring, right now she didn't care for it. All she cared about was Simon and this very moment.

If she'd looked at her phone for just a second she'd seen who was calling. Maybe she should have. It displayed the name: Simon Lewis.

Maybe I should have mentioned it before but: This chapter has a mean cliffhanger... ;)
I am like SO looking forward to read what you think about this chapter! Pleeaaase leave a Review, that's really just fuel to drive things forward!