"Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect. We take what we get and are thankful it's no worse than it is." - Margaret Mitchell
Chapter 8
Amatis returned to the circular room of library to find her young, temporary albeit, charges sitting in the chairs of the room.
"So, did you all enjoy meeting Magnus?" she asked in amusement.
"It was something," Clary said eventually. "So, he's going to look into the Hellhounds?"
"Magnus is going to see what he can find out," Amatis supplied. "There's nothing further you need to know. You've had enough involvement in the situation. Now, I understand that you have an interest in visiting Pandemonium this evening?"
"I know we only discussed it briefly last night," Alec answered. "And we probably weren't too clear on our reasons. Jace's contact at Taki's Diner told him that it was a popular spot for mundanes and Downworlders, so we thought it might be worth investigating, to see what we can find."
"I'm familiar with the Pandemonium Club, and I agree that it is worth you all visiting it this evening," Amatis agreed. "In addition to Downworlders and mundanes, demons are known to frequent the club, so you should be prepared for any that you might encounter tonight. So, you'll spend a few hours there, dealing with all demons that enter, and hopefully getting some useful Downworlder gossip, and then return here to sleep, and you'll be returning to Alicante by Portal tomorrow morning."
They all nodded and Amatis dismissed them, to do what they would until it was time to prepare for their evening plans.
Clary and Isabelle had brought some food back with them from their shopping and the five of them set out to find the kitchen to make some lunch.
"If Isabelle cooks, we're going to starve," Jace warned.
"Everything comes from a packet, we just have to heat it one way or another," Clary said soothingly.
They prepared enough food so that there would be something to eat before they left in the evening and then headed off to do what they wanted until the evening drew closer.
Alec and Jace sought out the weapons room, to look over its contents and make sure they had what they needed ahead of their evening outing. Clary went to her room to sketch, Jonathan followed Isabelle to her room, in the hopes of getting her to spend time alone with him.
They all met up again in the kitchen to eat their leftovers prior to leaving. Jace, Jonathan and Alec were all already dressed, all wearing black Gear as it was suitable enough club wear. Isabelle and Clary were yet to dress.
"Come on Clary, we should get ready," Isabelle said, once she'd finished off her food.
"We've got time," Clary said in weak protest.
"No, we need plenty of time to get ready. You're coming with me so I can make sure you look right," Isabelle said firmly. "See you in a while boys, and if Clary is wailing or screaming in protest, please ignore her, she'll be just fine."
Clary looked rather worried and the boys looked somewhere between amused and disturbed.
Isabelle and Clary headed up to their rooms together, with Isabelle instructing Clary to, "Put your dress on, I'll come in once I've put my dress on and I'll do our make up and make sure your hair is right."
Clary steeled herself and went into her room to don the dress she had allowed Isabelle to choose for her. It was nothing like she'd worn before, and she didn't feel it was very her, but Isabelle had insisted that she get it and that she'd turn heads.
Clary dressed, resigned to her fate and waited for Isabelle to appear and do her worst.
Isabelle came, and quickly set to work putting makeup on Clary and doing her hair. Isabelle's makeup only needed a touch up as she'd already done it at the beginning of the day.
"There, you look fantastic," Isabelle declared, looking with satisfaction at Clary. "We forgot shoes for you though. You'll just have to wear my spare pair of boots. They're heeled and thigh high, so they'll look alright. Come on."
"Um, Izzy, how am I going to conceal any weapons?" Clary asked suddenly. "It's not like I can wear mine as accessories the way you do with your whip."
"We could strap a dagger to your inner thigh," Isabelle suggested. "That would be really hot."
So a dagger was strapped to Clary's inner thigh and they headed downstairs, Isabelle beautiful and confident, Clary feeling not at all like herself, and definitely nervous.
The boys were waiting impatiently in the foyer with Amatis. They looked up as soon as they heard the footsteps.
Isabelle was wearing a long, white dress, with lace sleeves that concealed her Marks, her usual ruby pendant at her throat, and her whip curled up her arm. She looked almost immeasurably beautiful.
Clary was wearing a short black dress, with long lace sleeves that covered her Marks. Isabelle had pinned up her hair, and she was wearing Isabelle's thigh high boots. Her whole look was very femme fatale, and very un-Clary.
Jonathan would have been completely mesmerised by Isabelle had he not been too startled by his sister's appearance.
"Clarissa!" Jonathan exclaimed. "You cannot leave this Institute looking like that!"
"Leave her alone, Jon," Isabelle chastised. "She looks great, come on."
Jonathan was successfully distracted by Isabelle, and allowed her to lead him out the front, with Amatis watching on in amusement.
Jace approached Clary, looking at her with interest.
"I think you look great," he said quietly. "But take your hair down, it's too much."
Clary nodded and Jace took it upon himself to pull the clip out that was holding her hair up and cast it aside. Alec watched on, looking disgruntled.
"Call if you need anything," Amatis told them as they left. "And don't take any uncessary risks."
They took the Subway to the stop nearest The Pandemonium Club and joined the queue to enter the club.
Isabelle was allowing Jonathan to occupy her attention and Clary was standing between Jace and Alec. Alec was saying nothing, to neither Jace or Clary, and they left him to his irritable mood.
"Are you armed?" Jace suddenly asked Clary. "I can't see anywhere you could possibly have a weapon stored."
"I have a dagger strapped to my thigh," Clary admitted with a smile.
Jace groaned, almost without thinking.
This was enough to make Alec give a irratated huff and leave Clary's other side and move infront to where Jonathan and Isabelle were.
"What's the matter?" Clary asked, thinking he'd been groaning in annoyance. "Are you worried that I need more weapons on me?"
"No, it's not that, I wasn't groaning about that," Jace said quickly. "It's just, the way you look tonight, and then telling me you've got a dagger strapped to your thigh…It's really hot, and very distracting."
"You think I'm hot?" Clary asked shyly and a little disbelievingly.
Jace reached out a hand and caressed her cheek gently and opened his mouth to reply.
"Entry fee," the bouncer said, interrupting them.
Jace groaned again, took care of the bouncer, and they walked into The Pandemonium Club.
The music was loud, it was mainly dark except for the pulsating coloured lights. The place was packed, and Clary immediately spotted several vampires and others she suspected to be werewolves. She felt her Sensor activate and knew there was demonic activity.
Jace's Sensor had of course reacted as well and he pulled Clary close to him and spoke quietly into her ear, "Stay with Isabelle and Jon. I'm going to find Alec and we'll take care of whatever is around. I think I can already spot it – an Eidolon demon over by the bar."
Clary nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed by his nearness, his breath hot on her ear.
Clary joined Isabelle and Jon as Jace grabbed Alec and disappeared into the crowds of people.
"We're at a club so we should dance," Isabelle decided.
"Oh no, not me," Clary said firmly. She looked hopefully at Jon, willing that he would step in and save her.
"I think we should just wait for Alec and Jace," Jon said, for the sake of his sister. He couldn't leave her alone and go off and dance with Isabelle.
"Well, I'm going to find some poor defenseless boy to amuse me," Isabelle said, a glint in her eyes. "Be good kids."
Isabelle weaved her way through the dance floor, and Clary quickly identified her mark – a gangly boy, with brown hair and glasses. He was decidedly dorky looking, but rather endearingly so, or at least so Clary thought. He had the potential to be good looking, if he wasn't so preoccupied on sending off an uncomfortable vibe.
"That poor boy," Clary murmured to Jonathan. "He's not going to know what happened to him. He already looks out of place here and now Isabelle is going to rip his heart out."
"I can sympathise," Jonathan said grimly, watching on in displeasure.
"Jon, please try not to get too caught up in her," Clary said earnestly. "She's beautiful, and full of fun and life, but I don't get the sense that she's looking for a stable relationship. She's not going to give you what you want. I love you, but I just don't want your crush on her to leave you crushed."
"I know, I'm an idiot," Jonathan said ruefully. "Seeing as you brought Isabelle up, I'm going to bring Jace up and offer the same advice. Please be careful, I really don't want to see your heart broken."
"Well, it's a different situation Jon," Clary said tersely. "You've been chasing Isabelle, I am not chasing Jace. I do not have a crush on him, so I don't think there's much danger of my heart being broken."
Even as Clary said the words she knew they weren't entirely true. She wasn't chasing Jace, but it wasn't true that she wasn't at least a little interested in him, and on some level, she knew there was the potential for her to become very invested in what was happening between them, and her heart could end up crushed.
"If you say so," Jonathan said, his tone implying that he didn't really believe her. "Look at that guy, he looks like he's won a million dollars."
'That guy' did look rather awed, as Isabelle, in her long, form fitting white dress, danced up against him, smiling coyly at him and batting her lashes.
"He looks so out of place," Clary said, smothering a giggle. "I kind of want to rescue him from her. She's about to get bored and drop him like a hot potato and it's going to be painful to watch."
Surely enough, Isabelle finished with the boy, just as Alec and Jace rejoined Clary and Jonathan. Isabelle planted a kiss on the brown haired boy's lips, then strutted off the floor, looking pleased with herself. He was still on the dance floor, looking completely dazed, almost as if he thought he was in a dream.
"You're cruel, Izzy," Jace said with a shake of his heart. "You should come with a warning sign. 'Beware, I will walk all over your heart in my high heeled boots.'"
Isabelle looked completely unfazed, and rather pleased with herself really.
"I guess you took care of the demon?" Isabelle asked. "My necklace isn't pulsating anymore."
"All dealt with, it was almost too easy," Jace said confidently. "Now, what next?"
Jace had moved a little so that he was standing very close to Clary, their arms were lightly touching, sending a little electric thrill through her.
Alec had started to say, "I think we should," when a petite, brown haired girl tapped on Jonathan's shoulder and said, "Excuse me, but I think you have a problem."
"Who are you?" Jace asked tersely.
"I'm Maia, Maia Roberts. I'm a werewolf," she said quickly. "I know who you are, there are rumours about a group of young Shadowhunters being in town. No one had mentioned your pet human though."
"We don't have a pet human," Alec said quickly. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, that boy the girl with the black hair was dancing with, he's not with you?" Maia asked.
"No, he's not," Clary answered, quickly growing alarmed. "What's going on? You said you thought we had a problem?"
"Well, I just saw that boy taken by a blue haired vampire, and as I thought he was with you, that you'd want to know," Maia explained.
"Thank you," Clary said earnestly. "Maia wasn't it? We'll take care of it. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to contact us. I'm Clarissa Morgenstern. Ask around, someone will know how to reach me. Now, we really have to go after that boy. Did you notice which direction he was taken in?"
"No, I noticed him leaving, and then noticed the blue haired vampire grab him and drag him away," Maia said. "Good luck!"
Clary headed for the exit at a run, feeling a little unnatural about running in heels, but shrugged it off. Isabelle did it all the time, she would deal with it.
The other four followed after her, all of them bursting out into the cool air of the summer night.
"Which way should we look?" Clary asked urgently. "Should we split up? Isabelle, do you know anything about him?"
"I don't even know his name, just that he was here with a couple of friends, and they're still inside. He didn't want to even come here, his friend Evan, or Eric or something made him come," Isabelle answered quickly. "This is my fault. He probably left because of me, and that vampire probably targetted him because she thought he was our pet mundane, like that werewolf girl thought. Damn it!"
Alec and Jace looked momentarily startled by the uncharacterstic outburst from their usually unruffled sister, but shook it off quickly, turning to the task at hand.
"Okay, the Hotel Dumort isn't too far from here," Alec said sensibly. "It's likely he's been taken back to their nest."
"If she's a rogue vampire then she won't have headed for there," Jace pointed out. "Some of us should head to Dumort and the others should do a quick scout around here, say in mile radius. Clary and I will head straight for Dumort, you other three check the area, and if you find nothing in twenty minutes, meet us in Dumort."
Before Alec, or Isabelle or Jonathan, could argue, Jace had taken Clary by the hand and they were off at a run, headed for the fastest way to get to the Hotel Dumort.
"One day he'll think before he runs off without letting us speak," Isabelle said optimistically.
"Probably not," Alec retorted grimly. "But good positive thinking, Iz. Come on, let's do what he said. It's the only plan we've got, but if it gets any worse than this I'm calling Amatis."
Jace and Clary raced towards the Hotel Dumort, both Marked with speed, strength, endurance and agility runes, allowing them to run without tiring, or slowing down, as a human would have. Clary was glad that they'd used their time the day before to familiarise themselves with the key Downworlder spots in Manhattan.
"I really wish you had more than a dagger on you now," Jace said as they ran.
"I wish I was wearing Gear," Clary retorted. "It's good to want things, so long as you have no expectation of actually getting what you want."
About a block from the Hotel Dumort Clary suddenly grabbed Jace by the arm and stopped dead.
"Hear that?" she asked urgenetly.
"Yes, it's coming from that alley," Jace answered, taking her hand. "Come on, we should be able to sneak up. Do you have a stealth rune on?"
Clary nodded, and let him lead her by the hand in the direction of they alley.
As they got closer, the hearing runes, that had also allowed them to hear the boy's initial cries for help, abled them to hear him.
"No please, I don't know who that girl was, I'm just a boy. I play in a band, I'm Jewish! I've never hurt anyone, please don't hurt me," he pleaded.
"Glad to hear he's taking it like a man," Jace said sarcastically.
"He's just some dorky boy who didn't ask for this," Clary hissed furiously. "Don't be an ass, Jace Herondale."
Jace shrugged and they continued to move closer, until they had a good view of the alley.
"Five vampires, that's great," Jace said grimly. "Why did I suggest we split up, damn it. We can't waste time waiting for them either."
"And here I was thinking I'd live to see my sixteenth birthday," Clary muttered sardonically. "Two days and I would have made it. Oh well, it's been fun."
"I hate to be the realist here, but there are more important things at hand," Jace said shortly. "Now, text Alec to let him know where we are, what the situation is, and to hurry. I'm going to try and think of a plan."
Jace looked around, quickly surveying the area. There were two tall buildings on either side of the alley way, and he briefly entertained the idea of getting onto the roof of one of the buildings so they could get the drop of the vampires. He quickly dismissed the idea though, as he knew Clary wouldn't be able to go at them from the jump, not dressed as she was, nor was she as physically capable as he.
"Done," Clary said. "They'll be here as soon as they can, ten minutes probably."
"Good. I think the best option for us is to confront them, use the element of surprise to our advantage," Jace decided. "Plus, the exit to the alley will be behind us, if we need to get away."
"Alright," Clary agreed. "I don't suppose you have something on you I can use instead of this dagger?"
Jace opened his jacket to reveal several blades, and handed her a shortsword.
"I had to find somewhere to hide them to go into Pandemonium," Jace said. "I wish we had time to raid a nearby church for weapons, but these will have to do. You ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Clary said confidently. "What's the plan though, other than confronting them?"
"No idea, just follow my lead," Jace told her. "Come on."
The two of them ran into the sight of the vampires and the boy, the dim street lights illuminating their figures.
"Let the boy go," Jace called, his seraph blade glowing.
All five vampires were looking alertly at them, fangs out, eyes narrowing menacingly.
"Don't want to share your play thing?" the blue haired vampire sneered.
"He's not our play thing," Jace said firmly. "But he is a mundane, and you know the Accords, you are not allowed to hurt the mundanes. Hand him over, or we'll be forced to take action."
"You can't attack us until we actually harm him," she said, eyes glinting. "Should I bite the boy?"
The boy's eyes were wide and terrified, but he kept still and silent.
"I will do whatever I choose to prevent you from harming the mundane, and I'm sure the Clave will approve," Jace said threateningly. "Now, let him go, or we'll tear you to shreds."
The blue haired vampire turned to bite the boy, but was stopped by an arrow penetrating her neck.
"Alec," Jace said. "They're here. Clary, try to get the mundane, we'll keep the others off you."
Clary ran towards the boy, shortsword at the ready should anyone attack her, but none of them approached, they were kept busy by Jonathan, Isabelle and Jace.
The blue haired vampire was still with the boy, but was busy trying to remove the arrows that Alec had burried in her. She paused long enough to try to attack Clary, but she plunged her sword into the vampire's chest without thinking twice.
The boy looked rather green beneath his white skin.
"Are you okay?" Clary asked. "Can you tell me your name?"
"What are you?" he asked anxiously. "I feel like I'm in a bad game of Dungeons and Dragons. Is this real? Maybe my drink was spiked at the club."
"This is real," Clary said gently. "We need to get out of here. Take my hand and we'll make a run for it out of the alley. What's your name?"
He looked at her as he placed his hand in hers and said, "Simon."
They ran out of the alley, Jace, Jonathan and Isabelle still fighting the four remaining vampires.
Out on the street they found Alec waiting for them, with Magnus Bane.
"I called Amatis, and she sent him," Alec said shortly.
"Which your friend seems thrilled about," Magnus said dryly, unpeturbed. "I'm under instruction to get your friends out of here, and make a Portal to send you back to Alicante."
"Well, get going!" Clary exclaimed. "I'll get the others to retreat and we'll go straight through the Portal."
"What about me?" Simon asked, bewildered.
"I'll take care of the boy," Magnus said. "Get your friends."
Clary ran back into the alley, Alec covering her with his bow and arrow, as Magnus set to creating the temporary Portal. There were only two vampires left, Jace and Isabelle both having finished one off.
"Magnus Bane is here, he's getting us out of here," Clary called to the three of them. "Get back now."
"What about these two?" Isabelle called.
"I'll take care of it," Jace said forcefully, and quickly stabbed one after the other, and watched them fall to the ground. "Quick, those two aren't dead, just incapacitated."
The four of them ran for the Portal, Isabelle and Jonathan going through, and then Alec.
"Go through Clary!" Jace called.
"What about Simon?" Clary said, looking at the boy in concern.
"Who's Simon?" Jace asked.
"He is!" Clary exclaimed, pointing to the kidnapped boy.
"Go through the Portal," Magnus and Jace both yelled together.
"Two of those vampires are stirring and I need to close this as soon as possible," Magnus added. "I told you, I'll take care of the boy."
"Come on," Jace said, taking Clary's hand and pulling her through the Portal.
As he dragged her through, Clary suddenly grabbed Simon, and dragged him with her.
They disappeared and Magnus gave a huge sigh of resignation, then followed them through the Portal, closing it behind him.
They all spilled out into the Portal at the Gard, looking rather dishevelled, and there was quickly confusion and commotion ensued. A warlock and mundane had not been expected in Alicante. Alec, Isabelle and Jonathan all looked confused by the addition of Simon and Magnus to their party. Jace looked frustrated and Clary looked partially guilty and partially defiant. Simon looked completely confused and not a little scared, and Magnus looked somewhere between bored and irritated.
"What is going on?" Robert Lightwood boomed, standing over them, looking very unimpressed.
AN: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the arrival of Simon and that it was worth the wait :)
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited, I really appreciate it!
Please review, it's great hearing what you all think, or have to suggest!
If you review, you get a 500 word preview of Chapter 9 :)
Also, just a quick shout out to my little sister, who reads through each chapter as I finish, and listens to my ideas and gives me lots of encouragement! It's her birthday today, so Happy 17th Birthday, pretty.