Disclaimer: I am not Cassandra Clare, the author, and I most certainly do not own the Mortal Instruments or the universe it is based on. This is my personal take on CoHF, and this has not been approved in any way by Clare.

AS OF WHEN THIS CHAPTER WAS UPLOADED, THIS STORY IS RATED M. (I don't know if this chapter is still acceptable as T, but I'd rather play safe and rate it higher than have delete my work)

V ~•o•o•~ Restraint ~•o•o•~ V

Alec's fingers slid into the belt loops of Simon's jeans, propelling him closer. Alec pushed Simon towards the floor effortlessly, though he was careful to make it seem like he was actually enjoying what he was doing. Detaching his lips from Simon's, he nibbled at his ear, whispering, "I convinced Magnus to save your life, Lewis. You owe me."

As Alec shifted his focus back on the lips, Simon sighed in response and too wrapped his arms around Alec's back, reinforcing the pressure between their lips. One of Simon's hands moved upwards and cupped Alec's neck, the movements of his fingers gently massaging it. Simon's lips left Alec's and it began to suck on his neck, eliciting a moan from him. Though the thought of kissing Simon had sickened him, Alec couldn't deny the sexual pleasure he was experiencing, as proven by the bump in his jeans.

Alec grabbed Simon by the hair and kissed him on the lips again, using his teeth to force Simon's mouth open. Sensing Simon's hesitance, Alec shrugged inwardly and shot his tongue down Simon's throat. The hands on Alec's back moved hastily all over his body: down his ass, across his back, into his hair. Not to be outdone, Alec thrust Simon even closer to him, if it were even possible, so that their... things ground against each other. Alec and Simon seemed to kiss forever, until a strident yell broke Alec out of his reprehensible reverie.

"Enough!" Magnus yelled and a jolt of static electricity separated Alec from Simon.

Dazed, Alec blinked stupidly, then summoned all of his temper and put it into his voice. "You disturbed us."

For the first time in his life, Alec actually saw Magnus lose his temper. The look on his face was not depression, nor was it anger. In a way it was a mix of both, and in a way it wasn't. Then a realization dawned on Alec: it was beyond all of that. The usual composed Magnus no longer looked calm; he looked ferocious, his cat-eyes as feral as a lion's, any trace of his humanity effaced.

It was a look of contempt.

"Well, I didn't want come all over my carpet," Magnus snarled sarcastically. "Get out, both of you. I don't want to see your faces in here ever again."

The shrillness in his voice sent shivers down Alec's spine. He glared at him in disbelief. "You're seriously gonna kick us out? You know the Clave doesn't look highly on that. You could be apprehended for the abuse of Nephilim."

"Well, there's nothing stopping me from banishing the Downworlder," Magnus growled.

"I'm staying wherever Simon's staying," Alec hazarded, though instantly he regretted it upon seeing Magnus' expression of intensified rage.

Simon threw his hands up in the air. "Oh alright, Alec, just stop it. You're right, I do owe you. But I also owe Magnus and you don't get the right to use me against him! Besides, I'm dating your sister."

Alec arched his eyebrows. "You are what?"

"I'm dating Isabelle."

Alec didn't know what he had ought to be feeling more: revulsion, confusion, horror, or relief. He knew that Isabelle and Simon once were a thing, but he also knew Simon cheated on her and they were broken up.

Simon seemed to acknowledge Alec's bewilderment as he clarified, "We just started dating a few days ago. Officially."

And Isabelle just couldn't find the time to tell me because she was too busy canoodling with you, Alec added mentally. Aloud, he only replied, "Oh. Well, just don't cheat on her again, will you? Because if you do, you have me to answer to."

If vampires could blush, Simon certainly did. "I won't..." his voice trailed off.

Magnus harrumphed ostentatiously. "Now, if you two are done discussing Lightwood number 2, I'm going to request you two to get in the car."

Alec frowned. "Since when did you own a car?"

Magnus' smile was as malicious as his retort afterwards. "Since you were no longer my top priority."

"Are you sure there is no way you can heal her?" Maryse inquired anxiously. Despite her husband watching, she gripped the arm of Brother Zechariah as if he was the only thing that mattered to her, which wasn't true. "Please, you must help save my daughter from that devil!"

Maryse remembered last night in excruciating detail: Amatis, the Dark Nephilim she managed to kill, and the collapse of the cavern walls. Maryse remembered finally fighting her way through the crowd and reaching two diverging corridors and choosing the one that took her what seemed like hours to get down to the throne room. By the time she had arrived, the walls had already started caving in. She remembered seeing Jace and Clary run out, and Maryse herself running in to save Isabelle. She remembered how proud she was in seeing Isabelle stealthily dodge the falling debris, and how she risked her life to save her daughter.

I know of nothing that can help save your daughter, Maryse Lightwood. I'm sorry.

"What about runes? You're a Silent Brother! You should know -"

Being a Silent Brother doesn't make me God. I may have taken upon myself the most powerful runes in the world, but that does not indicate my knowledge of runes. The Gray Book is too extensive to read wholly, and if there is such a rune in existence that can free your daughter of her compulsion, it will be one commonly unbeknownst to man.

Robert cleared his throat, "Thank you very much, Brother Zechariah." Maryse glared at him, but he seemed to be preoccupied by the fact that Maryse's hand was still vehemently clutching Zechariah's arm. Slightly embarrassed, Maryse let go.

Fear not, Maryse Lightwood, for it is in fear the devil consumes us. Even in the darkest of times, the simple notion of hope can bring forth hope itself, and from that spark you may be reunited with the Light.

Maryse shook her head in despondence. "My daughter is beyond saving."

Nobody is beyond saving.

"Nobody but one," Maryse retorted. "And we all know who that one is."

Zechariah paused. Perhaps. Even I, as optimistic as I try to be, cannot deny that Jonathan Morgenstern has progressed too deep into darkness to be taken back to the Light. His demonic aspect has completely washed out that which is human in him.

"He isn't human," Maryse seethed, though her anger was targeted at no one in particular. "A mere human does not kill an innocent."

Heed my words of advice, Maryse Lightwood, if you truly wish to free your daughter. I know it will be considered dark of me to speak this to you, but if you want to break one out of their trance, you must break another to maintain a balance.

Maryse stared at him in puzzlement. "I don't understand."

The balance whereby order is maintained. For every strength there is to be a weakness, and for every hour there is light there is to be an hour where there is darkness. If you want to bring your daughter back to the Light, you must first sacrifice your son to the Dark.

"Sacrifice... Alec?" Maryse whispered, her voice shaking as she spoke. This was not at all what she was expecting from the most humane member of the Brotherhood.

His happiness, not his life. I see he has taken an interest in the High Warlock Magnus Bane. Perchance you will have to sabotage their relationship for good, if that is the will of the balance.

"But... Alec will hate me forever," Maryse stammered.

You might not succeed in the end, Maryse. After all, there is the balance, but there are other forces too: arcane energy, hate, nature, and the most powerful of them all, love. If the love between Alec and Magnus is strong enough, it can withstand the will of God himself. See it as a test of love for both of them.

Before anyone could speak again, a crash came from downstairs, and without a second's hesitation, Maryse ran out of the presence of Brother Zechariah, wiping away perspiration and tears as she went.

"Alexander!" Maryse screamed as Alec entered the Institute, tackling him with a hug.

As if her call was an alarm, doors started flying open and Isabelle and Jace filed out hurriedly.

Their eyes widened. "Alec!" they chorused and flew towards him too.

Lightwoods, all together, Isabelle had once said. Alec couldn't help but let out a smile. It felt good to be around his family again, back home with Jace and Isabelle, away from all the drama with Magnus.

At the thought of Magnus, Alec's felicity faded. Instinctively, Alec turned and caught Magnus' still murderous eyes, which effectively broke him again, as if he wasn't already broken into microscopic shards.

"Alec?" Jace asked. Alec turned back towards him and Jace continued, "Where's Simon?"

"Back at his apartment," Magnus interceded gruffly. "I suppose you've forgotten that he can't enter blessed ground?"

Jace raised an eyebrow then turned back to Alec. "What happened to him?" he asked curiously, gesturing towards Magnus.

"We got into a fight," Alec avowed. "Not that I care anymore."

"Then that's quite a fight."

Maryse interrupted their banter. "Thank you, Magnus. I don't know how I can possibly repay you for your service -"

"5,000,000 dollars will suffice," Magnus smiled back sweetly.

Maryse staggered backwards in surprise. "What? But Magnus, you've never charged us for anything -"

"Well, times have changed, and now I demand recompense."

Alec couldn't stand it. If Magnus was discontent with him, he was going to keep it silent. The only person Alec would even tolerate Magnus lashing out at would be Alec himself, not his family."Magnus, just shut up and get the hell out of my home."

Magnus snarled. "Fine." After that, he stalked out ungracefully.

"That is quite a fight," Jace reiterated under his breath.

"Magnus Bane!" Alec shouted through the relentless rain in outrage. "Show yourself! Magnus!"

Then he saw it. A tall, lone figure walking down the street without any protection against the pouring rain. Abandoning his own umbrella, Alec raced towards him, almost getting hit by a truck in the process.

"Magnus Bane! Bastard! Coward! Stop walking!" Alec panted, the rain pasting his black hair to his forehead uncomfortably. He wouldn't let anything dissuade him from pursuing Magnus now that he had come this far. Alec knew he had gone too far with kissing Simon and not at all feeling compunction, so he had decided to apologize - or at least talk it out with Magnus. He made a mental note to himself never to act on anger again - look where that got him this time around.

"Magnus... Magnus... stop walking!" Despite Magnus' slow pace, Alec could never seem to catch up to him. Perhaps there was a deterrent spell placed on him; nonetheless, Alec had already given up on Magnus once - he would not do it again.

Running out of energy, Alec discovered that he had to use the one thing he had to stop Magnus: his sincerity. "Magnus Bane! I'm sorry for everything I've said and everything I've done. I -" Alec caught himself. Love you, Alec continued inwardly. Ignoring whatever reception he might get, he yelled out at the top of his lungs, "I love you, Magnus Bane! Just... just stop and listen to me! Please!" His 'please' sounded more like a wail than a plead. Oh how pathetic he sounded.

Nevertheless, it paid off. Magnus turned around and finally Alec was able to reach him.

"Magnus," Alec panted. "I'm so sorry for kissing Simon and everything I did the last few hours. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry..." Alec tasted tears in his mouth and stopped talking, lest he come up with something stupid in his fogged time of distress.

Magnus stared at him studiously. "Oh? Now you're sorry? A bit too late, don't you think?"

"Yes, I know. It's okay if you don't take me back - oh who am I kidding, it's hell not okay - but I just wanted you to know that I'm genuinely sorry for what I did. I love you, Magnus," Alec bawled, his weeping and the sounds of the rain mingled into one unified downpour. Looking Magnus in the eye, he continued, "Please say something. Something positive would be preferable."

Finally Magnus spoke, "I can't be with you, Alec. Not after all of this."

Alec grasped Magnus' arm fervently. "Magnus, please. I swear by the Angel I'll never do anything like it again! Please..."

Magnus shrugged Alec's hand off. "You appall me."

Alec's body shivered uncontrollably - partly because of the cold of the rain, but mostly because of the animosity behind Magnus' words. Alec had absolutely no idea what he was saying nor what he was doing anymore. He didn't even know where he was. "Then kill me," Alec blurted out, though he had no clue how that was relevant to their current topic. "If you hate me so much, kill me. I give you my permission." Alec brought out a seraph blade and handed it to Magnus. "Take it and drive it through my heart."

"What if I do?"

Alec's face contorted in frustration. "What do you mean 'what if I do?' That's exactly what I'm asking you to do. Kill me!" Alec screamed the last part maniacally. Damn, he was becoming like Jace. "Kiss me, or kill me, Magnus. What's it gonna be?"

For a moment Alec really thought Magnus was considering it, but when Magnus' anger started to fade away from his eyes, Alec's trepidation quickly receded and was replaced with newfound hope.

Anguish prominent in his movements, Magnus shook his head. He snatched the blade out of Alec's hand and threw it towards the trees with incredible might, as if it was a cursed object that was too scalding to touch.

Alec smiled, though he knew he shouldn't. "I knew you couldn't go through with it."

"I almost did."

"But you didn't, and that's all that matters."

Alec leaned in to kiss Magnus, but Magnus pulled away. "Alexander, you could have died."

"It would have been worth it. I'm willing to bear Atlas' curse on my shoulders if it means I could be with you again. Magnus, please."

Alec bore his azure eyes into Magnus' cat-like ones. What is going on in his magical mind? A war? Or just apathy?

Unexpectedly, Magnus shoved himself into Alec, sending them tumbling down onto the wet pavement. The pain that stabbed Alec in the back was so excruciating he wanted to cry out, but Magnus' lips wouldn't give him the chance. In the blink of an eye, Alec could feel those familiar lips pressing down on his own, and he ran his arm around Magnus' neck, pulling him closer. The sudden energy that flowed through Alec's veins made him gasp and groan, though he didn't know whether it was out of elation or out of lust.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for that," Alec whispered into Magnus' ear.

Their lips opened and their tongues entwined. Alec could feel hands moving all over his body, and he retaliated by doing the same to Magnus. The pressure between them increased and whilst the pouring rain was bitterly cold, Alec was perspiring uncontrollably.

Not yet quite assured, Alec broke the kiss. Magnus raised an eyebrow, "Alec?"

Casually, Alec asked, "So, does this mean you're taking me back?"

Magnus' smile was brilliant enough to cease the rain and allow sunlight to usurp the black of the night. "What do you think?"

"Simon?" Isabelle's voice penetrated the wood of the door.

"Come in," Simon replied. The door swung open, revealing a very ordinary looking Isabelle, and 'ordinary' for Isabelle was 'extraordinary' for a typical mundane girl. Or Clary.

For a moment, Simon and Isabelle just looked at each other. Simon tried to read the look on her face, but despite the deluge of emotions that was so obviously whirling inside her, Simon couldn't decipher what was going on in her Nephilim head. Simon paused in his train of thoughts. What am I thinking? Simon thought to himself. I'm worried about what Isabelle's thinking, but what about me? What if I'm not at all relieved to see her? Simon shook his head in spite of himself and tried to unravel his veiled emotions. Even so, Simon couldn't notice any discrete emotions within him at all. Besides confusion.

Then he realized it wasn't that he couldn't feel, but it was that he couldn't notice. With Isabelle, he no longer felt his emotions; he was his emotions. His emotions were him, and he were his emotions. Perhaps that was a side-effect of love and vampirism amalgamating. With Isabelle, he felt more of a mere shell then he usually did, and that was all the time. He had always longed for his pulse and heartbeat, the feeling of blood pumping through his veins, and the reassurance that he was still breathing. Now he felt empty, with Isabelle even more so.

Only with Isabelle, being a void was not so much a bad thing than it was good.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Simon broke the silence. "Glad to see you're still alive."

Isabelle glared at him as if he were insane. "Three days of not seeing each other, and 'glad to see you're still alive' is all you say to me? I've had guys say better things to me through their veil of inebriated delirium!"

Simon shook his head, and though he knew he ought to be more diffident, he felt no shame whatsoever in speaking up to Isabelle. He jabbed a finger at Isabelle accusingly. "Isabelle Lightwood, there are 2 things you must know about me. First, I do not like being compared to other guys you've slept with. Second, I'm Simon Lewis, and I'm no ordinary guy. If you can't handle that, then I request your departure."

For a while Isabelle was absolutely silent, filling Simon with dread. Yes, Simon had spoken the truth, but what if the truth had come out too harshly?

Finally, Isabelle spoke, "You're a bastard, Simon Lewis."

"Isabelle -"

Isabelle placed her fingers to Simon's lips comfortingly as to silence him. "But that's not despicable."

Simon glared at her scornfully, ignoring what she just said. "Isabelle, are you okay? Did you get hurt from the raid?"

"You're testing me aren't you? You know about the rune and you're making sure I'm not here at Sebastian's request," Isabelle said ruefully. That was true; Simon knew about the rune, but he hadn't wanted to test her, only to hear Isabelle confess it herself.

He didn't say all of that, however. "Yeah. Can I -" Simon paused. God, this is going to make things awkward, Simon said to himself.

"See it?" Isabelle finished. Before Simon could refute, Isabelle already started unbuttoning her shirt, revealing a lacy black bra underneath. Scars acquired over the ages criscrossed all over her body, like a map of her life and experiences. Angels were always depicted as the most divine beings in the world, with the most ravishing faces. Simon's met an angel - Raziel, in fact - and he was no where as beautiful as Isabelle. She shrugged off the shirt and turned her back to Simon.

His breath caught in terror. On her back was a crimson rune - a very ugly rune with scrawled lines protruding in every direction - that screamed of bloodshed and possession. There was an air of darkness surrounding it, like an invisible cloud. Simon felt so many emotions at once he didn't know which one he was feeling the most: rage at Sebastian for inflicting this on Isabelle, concern for her and the outcome of this Mark...

Simon wanted so desperately to help her. But what could he do? The Mark was the darkest Mark Simon had seen, other than the one Lilith drew on Jace, which was equally grotesque. There was a deterrent darkness in and around it: an unperceptible darkness, but very much tangible. To rid Isabelle of it would be like trying to grasp polluted air and yank it out of the atmosphere; it wasn't possible.

"Oh my God..." Simon gasped. "And the Silent Brothers can't take it away?"

Isabelle shook her head. How she managed to keep that smile on her face during a time like this, Simon had no idea. "As far as everyone knows, nothing can."

Simon's hand reached out and threw Isabelle's shirt over the rune. "Are you -" Simon paused. He didn't want to distress Isabelle any more than she already probably was, and he knew how much Isabelle would hate it if Simon accused her of being weak. "- afraid?"

Isabelle scoffed incredulously. "Afraid? Simon, you're forgetting that I'm Nephilim. We love, we hate, we feel. We are still human in our own ways. But we also witness death. We grieve, we kill, and we avenge. I knew what I was stepping into when I asked for my first Mark. I'm prepared for death."

"Like Jace," Simon muttered.

"Jace is in love with the idea of death. I'm not, but I'm braced to die any moment. You'd understand if you live the life we Nephilim do. You're a vampire. You're immortal. I'm not," Isabelle responded. "I only wish one thing before I leave this realm. And that is you. So please, don't make me lose you."

Simon cupped her face, "I'm not going to lose you, and you're not going to lose me. We're in this together, Isabelle. We're going to survive this. We've survived this far, and we will continue to persevere. Do you hear me?" Simon raised his voice in determination. "You're not dying. I won't allow it."

Tears filled Isabelle's eyes, emitting a visible sheen on her periphery. "Oh, Simon."

Simon pulled his pants up as quietly as possible, lest he rouse Isabelle out of her blissful sleep. He stared grudgingly at his belt. Damn belts for making so much noise whenever fastened. Nonetheless, he took the risk to dress and draped his quilt over Isabelle's bare body before he left the room. She deserved whatever hospitality she could get.

Once he stepped out of the apartment, Simon dialed Clary's number, but she did not pick up. He dialed again, and received the same reception.

On his third try, a very bleary voice answered, "By the Angel, Simon. What time is it?"

Simon shook his head, although he knew Clary couldn't see him. "It doesn't matter. I need to meet you."

"This better be worth my sleeping time. Where at?"

"Your house. I'm coming."

"So I don't need to dress up? You have no idea how grateful I am."

Simon laughed dryly and hung up. After sticking his phone down his pocket, he cursorily glanced around to make sure no one was staring. It's the middle of the night, Simon told himself. Only vampires wander around in the dead of night. Reassured, Simon started to run and the world around him became a comprehensible blur.

In less than a minute, Simon arrived at Luke's house and he quickly jumped through Clary's window. Clary sat on her bed, awaiting his arrival. Despite the current predicament, Simon couldn't help but smile. It felt good to be back in this room, where he had spent so much time in. It reminded him of normalcy - before everything got so messed up, that is, with Isabelle. Clary seemed to return his grin, but her expression quickly turned serious and impatient.

"I hope you didn't rouse me up because you wanted to smile at me," she said accusingly. "I thought you knew better than to do it in the middle of the night."

Simon sighed defeatedly. "It's Isabelle."

Clary raised her eyebrows. "Isabelle? Since when - oh, right. I forgot."

"Yeah, you can save your questions for later. You know about the rune Sebastian drew on her, right?"

"Yeah. Jace and I were the first to know, aside from Sebastian himself of course. We witnessed its effects in person."

Simon started trembling, although he didn't really know why. He wasn't intimidated or angry, just... agitated. "Clary, I know you're tired and all, but I really need your help. Sebastian drew a rune to control Isabelle. I want you to create a rune to undo its effects."

Clary eyed him for a moment before speaking. "You really love her that much, don't you?"

Simon rolled his eyes. Was it really hard to believe that Simon would care about someone in that manner other than Clary? "Yes. I love her more than anyone in the world."

Clary sighed. "Alright, get me a piece of paper and a pencil. And stop brooding, or else I can't concentrate."

Simon didn't know what he ought to feel more: relief or indignation. Either way, he did as he was told and brought Clary the items in question. Clary held the pencil over the paper and closed her eyes, in ostensible concentration. This is going to be interesting, Simon thought. After around 5 minutes, Clary still hadn't put pen to paper, and Simon was becoming concerned.

"Clary?" Simon asked. "Is everything alright?"

Clary opened her eyes and threw the pencil away in frustration. "I can't do it. Nothing comes to me."

Simon stared at her in disbelief. "You're kidding me. What use is your power over runes when you can't conjure one up when I need you to?"

"Don't patronize me, Lewis. I'm trying the best I can, and if nothing comes, then nothing comes."

"This is Isabelle we're talking about. Try again!"

"I've been trying repeatedly for the last 5 minutes! I'm receiving nothing! I can't make it!"

Simon grabbed Clary's arm tenaciously. "Try again."

Clary's eyes started watering and they bore straight into Simon's. "Simon, I can't. And you're hurting me."

Simon ignored the latter part of her response and gripped her even tighter. "I said, make the rune."

"Simon -"

Simon's voice raised to a furious shout. "Make the rune!"

Clary tried to wrestle her arm out of Simon's hands to no avail. He was boiling with rage. He had come, expecting a solution, and Clary dared to refuse to help him, on the grounds that she couldn't do it? No, she clearly wasn't giving enough effort. She didn't like Isabelle as much as Simon did. She didn't love her like he did. She had no reason to save her, so she wasn't putting her heart into it. Simon stared Clary in the eye and saw many people. Clary Fray, his best friend since young. Clary Fray who would stand up for him and his unwise decisions. Clary Fray who put up with his abysmal band.

But all that was swiftly replaced by the image of Clarissa Morgenstern, the girl letting Isabelle rot without a tear.

Simon felt his fangs unsheathe involuntarily. They struck against his lips and blood flowed from the wounds, but Simon did not care. Clary seemed to notice too as her eyes widened in fear.

He shouldn't have, but Simon reveled in her apprehension.

The world fell apart as Simon lost sense of what was right and wrong. He could see his would-be prey, he could hear her pulse, he could see Isabelle's face smiling somewhere back inside his mind, and he could smell Clary's blood. Blood.

Simon wasn't himself anymore. He was a vampire. Inhuman. He craved blood, and blood above all else. He was famished.

So he slaked his thirst by biting Clary and savored every drop of spilt blood.

Please review! Sorry for such a slow update, I started on two other fanfics ('A Game of Love and Pride' [TMI] and 'Have I Lost You So?' [TID]) and I'm still trying to get down the main plot for those two. PS (random fact). I really like the new cover I made for this :)

~SoMuchForSobriety