hello readers new and old! lol sorry took so long to post this, writers block, my sister and i were sick, and school make up work make it hard to write, i'm not sure if like this chapter, some of it i don't think makes sense, but i hope everyone enjoys it anyways...i was going to wait until i had more written to post, but i know everyone has been waiting so here it is! :) Also, has anyone seen the new CoB trailer? i loved it! it looks awesome, feel free to tell me your reactions, i'd love to hear what other fans thought about it.
Today I found a friend
who knew everything I felt
she knew my weakness
and the problems I've been dealt.
She understood my wonders
and listened to my dreams,
she listened to how I felt about life
and love
and knew what it all means.
Not once did she interrupt me or
tell me I was wrong
she understood what I was going through
and promised
she'd stay long.
I reached out to this friend,
to show her that I care
to pull her close and let her know
how much I need her there.
I went to hold her hand
to pull her a bit nearer
and I realized this perfect
friend I found
was nothing but a mirror.
'The Perfect Friend'
by
Shannen Wrass
The rain had begun to pick up once more, the small droplets tapped against the windows of the taxi making long streaks like skeleton fingers threatening to grab hold of the passengers within, Simon shuddered to himself as he thought of the encounter they had just had, could it be true that Alec and Jace had seen him and Isabelle?
He knew to expect the worst, and he knew that Isabelle was right when she said they'd be traveling to the apartment, and that Jace was probably already talking to Clary, or had talked to her, but he was sure it was likely the former rather than later, since Simon's phone hadn't gone off with any messages yet, and he was certain if Jace had contacted her after she would at least text him if not call.
Simon turned his head away from the rain streaked window to face Isabelle, who still gazed out the window she sat next too, never taking her eyes off the scenery that passed them in pale gray and overcastted blurs.
Simon gazed at her, unsure what to say to get her to look at him, he knew how worried she was of her family finding out of her returning, even more now no doubt after learning what they had about the rune, the Divine Rune of Immortality, the rune of amaranth.
Simon sighed to himself and watched her, as he reached out to touch her, when she turned her head suddenly, causing Simon to freeze the gesture of his hand in midair, as he reached out toward her.
Isabelle gazed at him, her eyes darkening to a deep brown nearly black as coal as she watched him, her expression unreadable aside of the worry he saw deep in her eyes.
"Isabelle…" he whispered, low enough where he knew only she heard, Isabelle tore her gaze away from him to look straight ahead out the rain streaked windshield, Simon swallowed not taking his eyes away from her expression, her skin pale and flushed, and almost feverish looking, and Simon couldn't help but to wonder if it was because of the rune or because of all they learned and the possibility of Alec and Jace having seen them.
"Izzy…" Simon began again, worry edging into his voice, as she turned her head back to him and opened her mouth to speak, but then stopped, and Simon waited when she shook her head and turned away again.
"Isabelle," Simon whispered again and touched her arm as she shook his hand off, and Simon gazed at her, wide eyed and surprise as an expression of anger and pure distain crossed her expression, and in that moment Simon knew her mood had changed again, something he knew he had to keep telling himself wasn't his fault, it was the rune, the curse, he hadn't done anything.
"Isabelle, are you alright?"
Simon watched her as she laughed once, a cold edge of the sound bit into him, as she shook her head and spoke.
"Am I okay? Why do you keep asking when you know the answer will always be the same?"
Simon watched her as he noticed her hands, now balled into fists on her lap were shaking slightly, as if she were fighting to keep herself still, and slowly moving his eyes from her hands to her face, Simon answered.
"Maybe, because I'm not losing hope,"
Isabelle looked at him, an expression of confusion on her face, "Loosing hope in what?"
Simon closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath to calm himself, he knew if he wanted to be there for Isabelle, he had to remain as calm as possible, each time her temper flared each time anything happened, he knew he had to remain calm, it wouldn't be easy but he had no choice.
Turning to her, he answered, his voice firm and steady but calm,
"I keep asking if you're alright because I'm not losing hope in you changing your answer."
Simon watched her expression go from anger, as it softened slightly, and for a moment Simon hoped and thought he had gotten through the shell that was nearly impenetrate able around Isabelle, but even as he held his breath, he watched Isabelle smirk her expression turning back to a unreadable mask of pale stone as she turned to gaze back out the window.
"Isabelle…talk to me, what is going through your head?" Simon asked quietly, as he waited for her to turn, but she didn't, she just held still, unmoving.
Simon sighed and tried again, leaning closer to her, as he was growing aware of the cab drivers' glances in the rear view mirror.
"Isabelle,"
And in a flash, as quickly as Simon had said her name, Isabelle whipped around, her expression fury; Simon drew back away from her, not in fear but in surprise.
"Simon, just stop! I'm fine, okay? Just stop!" she told him, her tone not quiet, but Simon detected an emotion in her voice he had never heard before, and was unsure which emotion it fit with, worry, despair, fear? He wasn't sure.
Simon watched as Isabelle glared at him, and he opened his mouth to reply when the cab driver spoke up, after clearing his throat.
"Is everything okay back there?" he asked, his tone holding suspicion.
Simon looked at the cab driver, and back to Isabelle as he swallowed a hard lump in his throat, as Isabelle's black fire eyes glared into him, and she replied with words as smooth and cool as stones,
"Yeah we're fine, think you could let us out here please?"
"Sure thing, ms." The cabby said, as he began to pull over the cab,
Simon looked from Isabelle to the cab driver as he began to speak, and she stopped him, and he gazed at her, reading her expression that told him to wait until they were alone, and he nodded in understanding, as she turned away from him, when the cab came to a jerky halt, making Simon nearly hit his head on the seat in front of him.
Simon watched as Isabelle opened the door and was out in seconds, and he followed suit.
The rain was coming down in sheets again; feeling like prickles of tiny ice needles on Simon's already clammy skin.
He waited stepping up on the sidewalk, burying his hands deep in his pockets, after putting the hood of his shredded hoodie back up to cover his head, he knew it was no use but he couldn't help but to try and keep some of the rain off of him.
After a few minutes, Isabelle came around the front of the cab and stepped up on the sidewalk; as the cab driver pulled the taxi out into traffic and sped away, Simon watched as Isabelle gazed at the yellow form disappear into the rain, before she turned to him.
Simon remained silent, as he took in her form in the rain, the droplets of water collected on her long eyelashes, as her dark hair looked darker when wet, her pale skin set out against the black she wore and Simon couldn't help but to compare her to one of those gothic vampire princesses from the video games he played or comic books he'd read, as a flash of vampire Isabelle from his dreams flashed by his mind's eye and he quickly pushed the thought away when he spoke, changing the subject best he could.
"Was it the thought of Alec and Jace possibly knowing your alive that caused your mood to change?" he asked quietly, as people walked passed them in the pouring rain holding umbrellas and wearing long over coats to protect themselves from the rain.
Isabelle and Simon stood facing one another, as a quiet silence came between them, and Simon waited for Isabelle to speak, as he noticed she searched his face, his eyes for something, but he was unsure if she found what she looked for, because she turned away with a deep exhale of air before she said slowly,
"I don't know."
Simon listened as her softly spoken words were carried away with the sound of the rain, the soft pattering sound of water on pavement, Simon watched Isabelle as she looked around herself, as if she was mapping where they were, but Simon already knew, it was only a block away from the apartment, maybe not even that.
Simon looked away from the gray scenery around them back to Isabelle whose eyes were once again on him, an expression of confusion and sadness in her eyes, as the flames of her former anger still burned but not as bright as the confusion Simon knew she felt.
Simon opened his mouth to tell her it would be alright, when she turned to walk away, toward the direction of the apartment.
Simon quickly jogged to catch up to her, as he caught her arm to stop her, the rain pouring still all around them,
"Isabelle." He said quietly again, as she paused and turned to face him, and he spoke again,
"Isabelle, if you're confused or scared or unsure of anything, please, tell me, talk to me about it."
Isabelle watched Simon, his pleading eyes for her to let him in, let him understand as she shook her head,
"We have no time, we have to get to the apartment quickly get what we can and leave, it's not safe if Alec and Jace saw us."
Isabelle turned from him to begin to walk away, when Simon caught her arm again, and Isabelle turned and looked at it with a look of annoyance.
"I don't mean just about Alec and Jace, I mean about everything, you haven't told me yet fully what you've been thinking since we left Tessa's apartment."
Isabelle paused to look at Simon, as she pulled her arm out of his grip and glared at him,
"There's nothing to say about it," she replied, her tone held an acid that Simon had wished he wouldn't hear, as she glared at him and turned to continue walking the way toward their destination.
Simon sighed deeply, and looked around before replacing his hands back to his pockets of the mangled hoodie he wore and couldn't wait to get out of into something dry.
Simon slowly followed after Isabelle, as she walked stiffly down the sidewalk of the street.
He knew there was much more to say about what they had learned, he knew that deep down Isabelle felt worried, but why she was so worried about it he was unsure, Simon may know how close to the Law her family seemed to be now, especially after what her parents were into during their younger years, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to believe that Alec or Jace would turn her over so easily to the Clave, or would they? Simon knew he couldn't know for sure, the Shadowhunters always seemed to find new ways to shock and surprise him; he had to admit it did keep him guessing but sometimes Simon knew it would be nice to know some things that were happening in life for certain.
Simon sighed mainly to himself, as the rain continued to pour around him, and he walked behind Isabelle, watching her stiff motions almost as if she were unsure where her feet were taking her.
Simon looking around himself, and shrugging deeper into his hoodie he wore he moved toward Isabelle who had slowed her pace to a gentle walk, it didn't take long for Simon to catch up to her after she slowed her pace, in a couple of quick strides Simon walked passed a froze Isabelle who stood on the sidewalk, and upon sensing her still form, Simon paused and sucked in a breath before he turned to face her.
Isabelle stood motionless, her hands slightly shaking clenched into fists at her side, her mouth set into a hard line, making her eyes narrow and her skin to appear pale and flushed.
Simon took in the sight and unsure why she had stopped he stood too and stood in front of her for several seconds, when she finally shook her head once and spoke quietly, so quiet Simon could hear the racing of her heart become one in the drowning sound of the rain around them.
"I'm worried." She finally said, clenching and unclenching her hands into fists, as Simon blinked and stared at her,
"Well, I kind of guessed that, but in any situation that could have any remote similarity to yours would be worried, it's normal."
"Not about me." She hissed, "Well not all about me."
Simon frowned at her, confused, what in this world was she talking about?
Simon watched as Isabelle looked around at the curious glances and stepped closer to him, close enough that Simon could see the beaded up rain droplets collecting again on her eyelashes, making them appear almost dreamlike, like Simon was stuck in one of his deepest darkest fantasies of being a knight, and she were his princess to be protected, only Izzy wasn't a princess, well not just a princess a warrior princess maybe, and she was surely capable of protecting herself.
Simon blinked back the thoughts and tried to focus on Isabelle then and in the now, he knew if she even have the slightest thought he wasn't listening, she's recoil and be even madder than before.
Isabelle sighed but continued though slightly chattered teeth, "I'm not worried so much as my going to the Clave if my brothers saw us, I'm more worried on what the Clave will do to you." She told him casually, and quietly, as to be sure nobody could overhear.
"Me?" Simon replied in the same whisper but with shock behind his tone, why would Isabelle be worried on what they would do to him?
Isabelle nodded once and continued, "Yes, you, you knew I was alive- well, back from death when Alec and Jace came looking for me, you lied to them about knowing nothing, and those sorts of lies aren't good to get caught in, they could hurt you…I don't know what they could do, but I know it wouldn't be… it wouldn't be good."
"But they can't do anything to me, I haven't broken any laws." Simon protested as Isabelle shook her head,
"But you have, I'm almost certain sure lying to other Shadowhunters about the return of a fellow Shadowhunter from death is breaking the law, especially since I'm not a vampire or anything like that but something else entirely, something they wanted to be gone for good, since we've learned nothing about Nephalem and Zaiphien before." Isabelle told him with an intake of breath as she looked down away from him,
Simon shook his head as Isabelle's eyes gazed back up to his face and smirked slightly,
"What?"
"I don't think it matters, Izzy." Simon began, he stuffed his hands deep in his pockets as he spoke, Isabelle looked confused but he continued anyways without pausing to explain. "I'd take that fall for you, whatever they want to do they can do to me, I don't care so as long as nobody touches you."
Isabelle stood frozen, a confused expression crossing her features as she said one single word, her voice holding the same amount that was shown across her expression.
"What?"
Simon sighed and said the first thing that came to mind, "I'd take the fall for you Isabelle,"
Isabelle paused and watched him, and Simon watched her, locking eyes they stared into each other's gazes what seemed like forever, when actual reality it was only several seconds.
Simon stepped closer to Isabelle, removing his hands from the pockets they rested in before, and cupped his hand around her chin, as stubbornly angular it was Simon gazed deeper into her eyes, and spoke again, quieter this time.
"I'd let them take me, I'd go to protect you, anything to protect you." His whispered, Isabelle's eyes gazed back at him, in pure horror and disbelief as Simon saw a quick flash of emotion of understanding and caring as well, and with all those mixed feelings crossing her expression in a matter of seconds, Isabelle tore her face away from Simon's hand and let out a sound that was almost half growl half cry, Simon stood stunned, and slightly confused of this sudden action when Isabelle turned to him, her featured masked my white hot rage.
"Don't you ever say that!" she shrieked, "Don't you ever say you take any type of fall for me, because things like that usually happen…"
Simon gazed at her blinking, and opened his mouth to defend himself when Izzy stopped him,
"No!" she said, covering her ears slightly, before she closed and reopened them to look at Simon, "Don't say another word!"
Simon closed his mouth slightly into a pursed line, as Isabelle continued speaking,
"Don't ever, ever say anything like that again…" she whispered, "Promise you won't," her voice slightly quieter, even almost.
Simon watched her, her eyes shone with bright worry and anger, and Simon couldn't bring himself to promise he wouldn't say or take action as he saw fit to protect Isabelle, because he knew deep in his heart what choice he would always make.
"I…" he began, swallowed as Isabelle's pale skin grew paler in the rain, and Simon sighed and finally spoke what he had in his thoughts, "I can't."
Taken aback, Isabelle stepped away from him, "What?"
Simon watched her and steadied himself, before he answered again, "I can't, I can't promise that Isabelle, and you know that."
Anger flashed in her eyes again, her hands balled to fists as she fought it, "You are the most stubborn, person I have ever met,"
"More stubborn than you?" Simon offered with a lazy grin, Isabelle snorted but didn't answer, as she turned from him and began walking again, Simon shook his head once with a slight grin to himself as this time he kept pace fairly well with Isabelle, he knew that what he said didn't put her in a good mood, and he wasn't sure if she would be for the rest of the evening, but he hoped that maybe she'd calm down when they returned to the apartment.
Simon walked along Isabelle in a tense uncomfortable silence, the kind that Simon compared to psychological thrillers, where you never knew at what point in the movie the ghost or killer would appear, and the tension you feel within yourself to find out what is happening and why, before it is revealed to you.
"It's stupid to even consider protecting me from the Clave."
Simon paused and looked at Isabelle, as he was drawn from his thoughts, when she spoke again, as they walked on,
"If anything, they'd take us both." She said, looking over at him, as Simon shrugged,
"I'd still tell them it was all me,"
Isabelle snorted, and stopped to face him, "Why? Why give up everything for me?"
"Because," Simon replied, as if it were obvious, "You are my everything?"
"What?"
Simon sighed and shifted his weight as they both stopped, he glanced down the sidewalk now, and saw the entrance to the apartment building they needed to get to, he wasn't sure how long they had been walking now but he was glad to almost be back to the place he called home, Simon looked at Isabelle as if the answer to what she asked was obvious and answered it, trying hard for his voice not to crack by the look of anger still plastered across her milk white features.
"You're my everything Isabelle; if you were gone…what more reason would I have to be?"
Isabelle took this in and then shook her head looking back at him, "But Clary—"
"Is just my friend, my best friend yes, but you…" he said gazing fully at her now, showing his heart in his eyes. "Are everything to me, that Clary can never be and more."
Isabelle swallowed hard, and Simon got the feeling she understood, but, Isabelle being Isabelle shook her head and turned away from him and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"To sacrifice yourself like that makes you sound foolish, I don't want to talk about any of this again." She said, her voice cracking at the end, and Simon couldn't help but get to feeling she was trying to keep from crying, but he couldn't bring himself to ask, as they both walked toward the entrance him sighing and Isabelle still fuming.
One thing Simon couldn't get was how finicky Isabelle could be, even before the rune and Simon was beginning to realize that since the rune it had gotten worse, and each time it lasted longer and longer than the previous.
Simon opened the door to the stairway of the apartment building he called home, as he let Isabelle slip inside first before he moved in to join her in the foyer.
Finally glad to be out of the rain but still dripping wet, Simon couldn't wait to change clothes and find out what Clary knew before he himself, and Isabelle explained to her what they knew, and then they'd have to find where to go to from there.
Simon gazed over at Isabelle who was equally as soaked as he was, and couldn't help but to smile to himself at her slight worried and half expectant Jace and Alec to be in the apartment, Simon began to get the feeling she was truly more worried about him then herself, which he found not totally hard to believe, but find ridiculous more than disbelief.
Simon wasn't worried about himself, but more about Isabelle and what they, the Clave would do to her if they found out she were alive, the thoughts still send shivers down his spine as he pushed the thoughts away and moved up the stairs to the door of the apartment.
Simon dug out his key to put in the lock, as he saw Isabelle out of the corner of his eye gazing around for anything suspicious, and Simon worked to get the lock undone quicker before something could happen while they stood outside in the hall of the apartment building.
Simon let out a huff as he found the right key finally, as Isabelle hissed,
"Hurry up," in his ear.
"I'm going as fast as I can." He barked back,
"Well it isn't fast enough; you're a vampire you're supposed to have intense fast speed,"
Simon rolled his eyes and fought back to make a smart comment of his own, he was still learning Isabelle's boundaries and didn't want to make the situation between them any worse than it already was, finally undoing the lock the door swung opened and Simon smirked satisfied and looked to Isabelle.
"After you oh great highness." He ushered her in,
Isabelle looked at him with a confused but satisfied smirk, before she watched him as she took a few steps inside and stopped, Simon gazed around outside the apartment into the hall before he turned shutting the door behind him.
When he turned back around a familiar voice greeted them, "Finally!"
Simon turned his head to see Isabelle frozen still, her eyes unreadable as Clary came to view, coming toward them with a worried expression, but paused her expression turning to confusion as she took in Isabelle's unreadable eyes.
"Isabelle?"
Simon watched as Clary formed the other girl's name, and he turned toward her but all Isabelle did was release a low hiss, and formed the word.
"You."
Clary froze where she stood and stared at Isabelle, not taking her eyes off of her as she herself grew wide eyed, Simon looked from Clary to Isabelle, but as he opened his mouth to speak, he soon found he would never get the chance, for what happened next happened so fast, it even left Simon, with his heightened senses, head spinning.
There was a loud sound, almost like wood splintering under a heavy weight, and Simon wide eyed himself and mouth gaping opened soon realized why.
Turning his head from where Isabelle once stood to the far wall, he had seen just how fast Isabelle had moved when the power of her mood change affected by the rune was activated. On the far wall, as Simon made his mind try to catch up with the actions that had happened, Isabelle held Clary to the wall, her feet kicking against air as the taller girl held her arm across the other girl's neck.
"You!" Isabelle spat again, her teeth clenched her eyes fuming with red hot anger, as Clary fought against Isabelle's iron grip, as she gasped for breath, Simon reacting as quickly as he could rushed forward to aid his friend against the monstrous anger that fought to break free of Isabelle.
"You're the reason I'm like this! A cursed wretched…monster!" Isabelle's words were like acid mixed with pure bleach as she growled, her voice cracking as the words left her lips.
"Iz…Is…Isabelle, let…let me GO!" Clary gasped out, as Isabelle held her hand to Clary's throat, completely unmoving, her eyes dark with anger, and it was in that instant and Isabelle was torn away from Clary with a slight jerk and a sound like two solid forms slamming together.
Clary fell to the ground against the wall, the rain splattered window above her as she gasped for breath, her hands automatically going to her neck as she choked and coughed to regain the air she had lost.
Simon using all the strength he had in him, he slammed Isabelle against the wall away from Clary as she fought against him, to leap back toward his best friend.
"ISABELLE!" he shouted, and grabbed her wrists and she fought and struggled against him,
"Let me go Simon!" she snarled, as she jumped around, her movements jerking almost robotic as she fought against Simon, fought to get her hands back around Clary's throat.
"No!" Simon told her his voice demanding but also holding worry, as he dared not take his eyes off Isabelle to check and see if Clary were alright.
Clary leaned up against the wall rubbing her neck slowly, taking slow deep breaths as she looked back over at where Simon held onto Isabelle who was still struggling against his hold, her eyes wide with confusion.
"Isabelle." Simon said, his tone calmer but firm, "Isabelle,"
Isabelle stiffened, at the sound of her name, as Simon felt her body relax, he gazed into her dark eyes, noticing the black of her pupils were dilated almost cutting out the golden brown, the color her eyes normally were.
Simon held onto Isabelle as she breathed deeply, as she stared over Simon's shoulder, at Clary who still sat very still against the wall underneath the wide window of the apartment.
All had grown silent, aside from the erratic breathing coming from Isabelle in front of him; Simon listened intently at the sounds of their hearts, the sounds of the water dripping from his and Isabelle's clothes.
Simon kept Isabelle encircled in his arms, as she stood flat against the far wall away from Clary, who watched them, unsure on what had happened, or what to do.
Simon watched Isabelle, as she lowered her arms to her sides, and stopped struggling, as she looked away from Clary, up into Simon's face, and as soon as their eyes met, Simon knew, by the shock and horror in her expression, Isabelle had had no idea what had happened, or why.
Lowering his arms, Simon stepped back, as he listened to Isabelle's heartbeat, slow and steady, as it had picked up a few beats with confusion and dismay, and behind him not far off was the sound of Clary's heart, fast and hammering inside her at the sudden shock that had just befell all of them.
Still not taking his eyes off Isabelle, Simon backed up until he felt his foot bump against Clary's, Isabelle watched them as she moved her arms covering her mouth with her hands as her eyes lit up the familiar brown gold Simon had grown accustom to seeing.
"Oh my God…" she whispered, as she stayed where she stood her body stiff, her back against the wall, as Simon sighed, as an expression of dazed torment flashed on Isabelle's expression as she removed her hands from her mouth, and gazed down at them, as if they were tools of destruction, Simon watched her with worry as he noticed her hands shaking, but before he could speak, Simon felt Clary's form behind him stand up and come to stand next to him, her green eyes dark with confusion, worry, and an emotion he couldn't place.
Moving his eyes from Isabelle he looked to Clary and spoke as calmly as he could, "Are you okay?"
Simon watched as Clary looked up at him, her mouth in a small frown, her eyes bright and an intense green the color if bright emeralds, as she looked back to Isabelle and spoke,
"Yes." she said quietly, as Isabelle closed her hands into fists in front of them, "I'm fine, but she isn't."
Simon looked back to Isabelle, who hadn't moved, as he saw Clary step toward her slowly, as Isabelle's eyes shot up, freezing Clary in her steps.
Simon watched, holding his breath as Isabelle's expression held shock and confusion, but Simon could also see the edges of anger still welled up in her eyes.
"If I were you I'd stay away from me!" Isabelle shouted to Clary, as she tried to flatten herself against the wall more than she already was,
"What the hell is going on Isabelle?" Clary asked, not unkind, but more with a tone of worry and slight annoyance that Simon could detect, as he watched her cross her arms, her eyes tight, mouth set in a annoyed line.
He watched as the two girls locked eyes as they had before, at the Institute, Isabelle was the first to turn her gaze away, and whispered,
"I'm cursed, cursed because of you."
Clary sighed and uncrossed her arms as she looked at Isabelle, "So that is what all this is about? You're blaming me for what happened."
Isabelle looked up at Clary, her eyes narrowing, as she remained silent,
"That's what I thought." Clary sighed as she turned to Simon, who also stayed silent,
"What is going on, Simon?"
Simon took a deep breath as he looked to Isabelle who was looking out the rain stained window, her long wet dark hair hung damp against her shoulders and back, her eyes staring ahead but not seeing much as they did, and Simon tore his gaze away and looked at Clary who also was watching Isabelle.
"Um…Let me change, as you can see…" he motioned down to himself, and the slashed mangled clothes he wore, as he saw Clary's expression go from annoyed to pure worry and confusion.
"What-" she began, when Simon held up a hand to stop her,
"Let me change, then I'll explain."
Clary closed her mouth with a quick huff of air and nodded reluctantly, as Simon nodded back and looked at Isabelle, who stood and remained still, he knew he couldn't hide the worry he felt for her, and he didn't want to, he didn't care who knew or saw that he was worried about Isabelle, because he knew until they found out a solution to the rune, he would remain worried about her.
Gazing back at them, making sure that a fight wouldn't break out again if he left them, Simon quickly made his way to his room, hoping that the event that happened when they arrived didn't repeat especially when he wasn't in the room to stop it.
Isabelle turned her head slightly to watch Simon disappear into his room, as she saw Clary too watch him move into the dark of the room down the hall, Isabelle was unsure why it annoyed her that Clary was watching Simon, it never had before, but for some reason in that moment, it had, and Isabelle turned away from her to fight the anger growing back in her, she wasn't sure why she was so angry at Clary, other than the fact that deep down she did blame the small redhead for all the problems caused by the demon rune etched into her shoulder, after all, Clary was the one who put it there, even if she had thought it was a healing rune, Isabelle thought of that as no excuse after finding out what the rune made her become.
Isabelle watched the gray overcast outside begin to dim to twilight shadows as the late afternoon day was beginning to draw to a close, as she recapped the events in her head, until it lead up to the biggest worry in her mind, if Alec and Jace weren't there then, could they be on their way? Could they be outside waiting, watching, until they came out before they took notice of what was happening? Isabelle couldn't see them making a scene in front of the mundanes, even if their human minds would process it differently, Isabelle knew it wasn't worth the aggravation to make a scene in public, so what was going on? Simon had said he had nearly been certain they'd seen them, so where were they? And what were they waiting for?
Isabelle wasn't sure, and there was only one possible way she could find out,
She turned her head and gaze toward Clary who paced about the apartment, but stopped as she sensed Isabelle watching her, Clary's expression held suspicion and confusion as well as a small dose of anger deep in the green of her eyes, as Isabelle opened her mouth and let the question pour out.
"You haven't, by chance, talked to Jace lately have you?" she asked, trying to keep the void bored tone from her voice, with not much success.
Clary watched Isabelle with a suspicious look, as Isabelle made her expression seem innocent enough that the other girl sighed slowly and replied with a careful,
"No, not since earlier,"
Isabelle nodded turning away from Clary, to look back the window when the other girl spoke again, quieter this time then before, her voice holding no hint of anger, at all.
"Isabelle…" she began, as Isabelle turned her head back toward Clary, making the water droplets that still clung to her hair at the back of her neck drip down the back of her gear, making her shiver with a cold chill that ran deep in her blood to her bones. Isabelle watched Clary, as Clary took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of one of the chairs, gazing down at her hands before she spoke again to Isabelle, who listened carefully, unsure what to expect.
"I know you blame me for what has happened, for the rune I placed on you and although I may not know about it all yet, I do know that there was one reason I did what I did and one reason only."
Isabelle watched as Clary laced her fingers together and looked up at her, her green eyes holding a pleading of forgiveness inside them.
Not wanting to answer, but knowing she had to, Isabelle watched Clary and turned to see Simon still hadn't come from his room, before she turned back to her and asked in a quiet tone,
"What was the reason?"
Clary looked up at Isabelle, and looked toward the room Simon had disappeared into before she looked back at Isabelle and spoke again,
"I told you once before, we wouldn't be complete without you, and I'm sure you already know, we'd all miss you, I've told you it all before." Clary said, with a sigh, "I only drew it to try and keep you here, with us, where I believe you belong."
Isabelle took in the words spoken by Clary before she turned to see the dark clouds outside beginning to clear away, revealing stray lines of late afternoon sunlight through the dark clouds.
"I can't say that I agree." Isabelle replied softly,
Clary looked at her raising her eyebrows, "And why do you say that?"
Isabelle turned to Clary but remained silent, as Clary came to understanding,
"I can't believe you're still beating yourself up about that-" she began, before she was cut off,
"Who's beating who up over something?" Simon asked, as both girls turned to see him coming out of his room, as he smoothed a long sleeve red and gray t-shirt across his flat stomach where is clung to his skin there. Isabelle stared for several moments, unsure as to even why before she looked up at his eyes, causing Simon to look confused at the conversation at hand.
"Nobody at the moment," Clary replied to the question Simon had asked, as Isabelle swallowed and turned away, meeting Clary's eyes for a split second, and realized that their conversation wasn't over, just postponed.
"That's good…" Simon replied, his words trailing off as he stuck his hands in the pockets of his fresh pair of clean dry jeans, his hair still damp as it hung down by his ears in dark brown strands.
"Yes." Clary replied slowly, as Simon watched her and looked back between her and Isabelle several times, getting the feeling that his presence was unwanted in the conversation they were having.
"Um…" Simon began, as they both turned to look at him, "If you two were in the middle of talking I can go back in my room—"
"No." Clary and Isabelle looked at each other as they said the same word at the same time, causing it to echo, mixing their voice together, causing Isabelle to shiver again, although she couldn't tell if it was from the idea of being one with another to where the same voice was heard, or the water on her gear.
Simon looked at them confused, as Clary shook her head and looked up at him, Isabelle remained silent.
"I mean, no don't do that, I would like to know what happened and what was found out."
Simon looked to Isabelle as she looked over at him slowly, her dark eyes locking with his as she nodded once, and Simon with understanding turned back to Clary, as he took a seat motioning Isabelle to do the same.
"I'm fine standing," she announced as Simon shrugged, and turned to Clary who looked content, but Simon knew deep down she was still confused, she was just trying to hide it well.
"Might want to get comfortable, this may take awhile." Simon grinned slowly, as Clary nodded, when Simon started off by explaining when Alec and Jace had shown up earlier that day, to Magnus arriving, the demon attack at the restaurant where Isabelle even told them about the demons calling her a Zaiphien and there were only three others out there besides herself, to Magnus's informative, and all the info they had learned from Tessa about the curse, the Bone Star runes, the curse of the Sins and the possible counter curse of the Virtues, to seeing Alec and Jace who had seen them in the taxi, and unsure what it meant knowing they were almost certain they'd have checked the apartment they stood in first.
After a long sigh, from both Simon and Isabelle, and after several moments of talking and explaining, Simon took a deep breath as Clary remained silent, her green eyes intent on what she had been told, as she analyzed each piece of information in her mind, coding it to memory for future reference, and making sure nothing was missed in what they had told her, before she finally spoke, with a long whistle.
"That's a lot to take in," she told them softly, before looking down,
Isabelle stood shifting her weight but didn't say a word, as Simon laughed once, the sound held no humor as he replied,
"Yeah, ya think?"
Clary looked up at him with a small grin, "Yeah, I think…and know that it's a lot to take in, but the last part is what confuses me, your sure Alec and Jace both saw you?" Clary asked looking from Isabelle to Simon, as he nodded before speaking.
"I'm positive they did, which makes no sense, they had seen us and I and Isabelle were almost certain they'd have checked here, or at least have called you."
Clary shook her head as she pulled out her phone, to reveal there had been no new calls or messages left, at all.
"I've got nothing," she told them, as Simon looked to Isabelle who looked deep in thought as she looked at Clary, with her arms crossed causally as if whatever she may have been thinking on was something that required a lot of strong thought to be put into it.
"Maybe, you can call and ask if they've found any clues to her body's whereabouts?" Simon suggested looking away from Isabelle to Clary who still held her phone in her hands as she looked down at it.
Isabelle looked over at Simon as he watched her when Clary lifted her gaze to look at them, opening her mouth to answer, but closing it after seeing the expression on Isabelle's face as she spoke to Simon from where she still stood near the far wall, away from them.
"And what do we do if they tell her they saw us?"
"We find out more about it," Simon told Isabelle, as Clary nodded speaking to both of them.
"Yes, if Jace says he thinks he saw you and Simon, I'll see if I can find out all the details and after we know that we can go from there."
After several seconds of thinking, Isabelle sighed and nodded, finally confirming, "I guess it's worth a shot."
Simon looked to Clary as they all nodded in agreement, and Clary took a deep breath, as Isabelle crossed her arms again, watching the dark of twilight and the pink sunset begin over the horizon of buildings before them out the still rain streaked window.
Simon watched Clary as she began to dial the number before looking up at him, her eyes wide as she said quietly,
"Here it goes."
Simon and Isabelle watched, holding their breath as Clary put the cell phone up to her ear, as they waited for Jace to pick up on the other line, and just when they thought he wasn't going to, and began to relax, Clary said just two words, Isabelle never thought she's be nervous to hear.
"Hey Jace," Clary began, and Simon almost thought she had got his voice mail, until he heard Jace's voice faintly speaking on the other line.
Simon watched as Isabelle watched Clary, trying to hear every word spoken, as she moved away from the wall, and came to set down across from him and Clary, in a slow and casual swiftness that Simon was accustomed to seeing among Shadowhunters.
"Well that's interesting," Clary began, as Isabelle's head snapped up her eyes wide as she listened to what Clary said, as Simon too watched her, wishing he could ask what Jace had said that was interesting.
They watched as Clary nodded a few times and said yes or yeah before getting to the main question, which was the point of the call.
"So, I was wondering," she began casually, as she watched them, and Simon turned to watch Isabelle, as he patiently waited to find out what Clary found out, as well as an reaction from Isabelle, "If you had any more information of clues on who stole Isabelle's body?"
Simon concentrated and heard Jace pause on the phone as he began to talk again, but sadly, Clary kept her volume down on her phone so others could've eavesdrop on her conversations, and this time was no different than any other when he had tried to use his vampire hearing to listen in on what she was talking about to the others around them.
Isabelle watched Clary as she nodded a few times again and said, "Yeah,"
Simon and Isabelle looked to each other and back to Clary just as she said, "Well, if you find out anything else, tell me and tell Alec I said hi."
Isabelle raised an eyebrow as she watched Clary who smiled as she listened to what Jace had to say, before she said a quick, "Bye, see you later."
Simon and Isabelle watched as Clary turned off her phone and turned to them, Isabelle waited for the worst, as Simon held his breath, and Clary's expression became unreadable as she finally told them what Jace had said, Clary turned to Isabelle as she spoke,
"They found demon blood at the scene, so they're still thinking on the Sebastian angle, but as of right now Jace said, your still missing and their still searching for clues, so I'm not sure who you saw…"
Isabelle and Simon looked at each other, Isabelle visibly slightly more relaxed than a few moments ago, and Simon more confused than he was moments ago.
"Well, if it wasn't them, then who was it?" Simon asked, confusion clouding his tone as Clary shrugged calmly,
"I'm not really sure, or what it means either." Clary admitted, as Isabelle stood up and began pacing,
Simon rubbed his hands over his face, "And things get weirder, this makes no sense."
"I know." Clary replied, as she watched Isabelle, wide eyed,
"What?" Simon asked, noticing Clary's expression as he turned to gaze at Isabelle, who stopped pacing to look at them.
"What?"
"Your shoulder,"
And with those words, that Clary spoke, Isabelle gazed down over at her shoulder, which emitted an eerie glow through her gear, brighter than it ever had been since it was etched into the skin there.
Sighing, Isabelle zipped her gear up fully, trying to block out the blinding glow with no success.
Clary and Simon remained quiet, as Isabelle gazed over at them, when Clary broke the silence,
"The demon blood they found, it was yours now wasn't it?"
"Most likely, yes." Isabelle replied, her tone neutral, and holding no hint of emotion, which worried Simon as he watched her, all three trying to figure out this new mystery at hand.
Simon was officially stumped on who he and Isabelle had seen if it wasn't Alec and Jace, then who was it? Simon hadn't known of many monsters and creatures of darkness out there that could or would take the forms of two Shadowhunters, he always had figured they'd been to afraid or they couldn't, although Simon knew neither of those theories he had about being afraid or unable were never confirmed.
Now the question remained, if it were a demon or a creature of some sort what kind and why take the form of Jace or Alec? What was the point, the purpose? To scare them?
If so they did a good job of that, Simon thought as he sighed deeply, unsure where to go from there, just as a knock came to the door, causing Simon, Clary, and Isabelle all three to turn their heads and look toward the door, before looking back at each other with expressions of suspicion and caution crossing their expressions as Simon stood up, motioning the other two to follow slowly behind as he walked up to the door, and looked back at them, as he said casually,
"Who is it?"
There was a pause, as Simon looked back at Isabelle and Clary who looked at each other when a sound came from the other side of the door and a familiar voice said,
"It's me; now let me in before I drop everything!"
The voice belonged to Magnus Bane, sighing with relief Simon touched the door knob to let Magnus in as Isabelle and Clary moved to go set back down in the living room of the apartment.
Simon opened the door, and gasping at the sight before him, there in the doorway stood Magnus, holding what seemed like loads and loads of bags, as he waddled in, his long fingers looped in the handles of each bag, as he sat them all down on the bar.
"What is all this?" Simon asked motioning to all of it with his hand as Magnus looked from the bags he had just sat down back to Simon, as he sat down the clothes bags they had left at Tessa's earlier in the hall, causing Isabelle to notice as she quickly jumped up to fetch it and go through all the outfits she had gotten earlier.
"All this?" Magnus asked motioning to the bags on the bar as Simon nodded, Magnus grinned,
"I call these the essentials." He announced, as Clary rolled her eyes,
"We're doomed now," she said, as Isabelle smirked back a laugh as Magnus ignored them and continued, and began pulling things out of the bags and tossing them at Simon,
"Smoothie kits, microwave meals, tortillas, chicken nuggets, cheese sticks, and blood," Magnus began, and upon seeing Simon go strangely white, and Clary and Isabelle's disgusted looks he added,
"Not all in that order of course."
Simon sighed, as he shook his head at the takeover of the bag factory on the bar in the middle of the kitchen, he hadn't expected Magnus to go overboard with the shopping, but after all, Magnus usually went overboard with everything.
"We just needed a few things, not all this." Simon exclaimed, motioning to it all, as Magnus had begun to stick things in the fridge and the empty freezer and stopped, his cat eyes narrowing at Simon.
"It's always good to have extra, vampire." He replied, as he went back to his task. Simon sighed.
"Why didn't you just do that magic snapping of fingers to make it all appear as you have before?" Clary asked as she looked down at a Healthy Choice Steamer meal in the box, that soon disappeared from her grasp as she looked up to see Magnus holding it, his expression that of slight annoyance.
"Because, even I like to get out of the house sometimes, and I do enjoy shopping." Magnus replied, his tone matter of fact, as he continued putting things in the freezer, as Simon sighed again rubbing his hand across his forehead and Isabelle shuffled things around in the clothing bags, looking for something dry to put on.
"So, what did you and Isabelle talk about earlier, dear Clarissa?" Magnus asked, as Simon looked over at Clary who went strangely pale, and Isabelle dropped the outfit she had picked out from the bags, Magnus turned around with a grin on his face, as Simon watched them confused.
"It was nothing." Isabelle said, regaining her composure as she stood up holding the clothes over her arm, careful not to get them wet as well from the damp gear she wore.
"Oh yes, yes I know you told me 'girl stuff'"
"You told him?" Clary turned to Isabelle, who looked from Magnus to Clary and shook her head,
"No, not everything…he just knows, it seems."
Magnus smiled wider, "Oh yes, I do know things...and I do agree being careful is the best way to go."
Simon looked around at the faces standing in the kitchen with a confused expression on his own,
"What's going on?"
Clary had turned bright red, as Isabelle turned to Simon, her face paler, then usual as she shook her head and mumbled, "I'm going to take a hot shower."
"Might want to make that a cold one, honey," Magnus grinned, as Isabelle snorted and stalked off,
Simon looked from Magnus to Clary, who was hiding behind her hair,
"Okay." Simon began, crossing his arms, "What is going on? What were you two talking about?"
Simon watched as Magnus laughed, and Clary who was blushing looked over to Isabelle who shut he bathroom door shut tight.
"Oh it was just about being careful going after someone in a…" Magnus paused with another laugh as Clary fought to hide her embarrassed grin, "Personal matter."
Simon looked at them both confused, "You know what, I don't want to know."
Magnus laughed again, as Clary shook her head taking a breath to calm herself,
"It's nothing, Simon, just don't worry about it."
"Whatever, doesn't matter, all I want to know is what or who can take the form of Shadowhunters."
Clary opened her mouth to speak, when Magnus froze, and she and Simon turned to face him as they all heard the shower cut on from the bathroom.
"Take the form of you said?" Magnus asked, his eyes bright as he finished filling up the fridge and freezer with the food products and blood bottles he had gotten on his shopping spree.
"Yes." Simon began, as he still puzzled out what they were talking about a few moments ago, he had an idea, but he wasn't sure he wanted to think on all that in that moment, he'd ask Isabelle or Clary later privately what the conversation they had was about, right now he was concerned on who or what demon could shape shift into the form of Jace and Alec. "On the way here after we left Tessa's apartment after we had gotten into the taxi, Isabelle and I saw Alec and Jace on the sidewalk, and it appeared they had seen us."
Magnus looked from Simon to Clary, his eyes asking the simple question on if Clary had already known what was going on, in which she nodded.
"Simon and Isabelle told me everything," she told Magnus,
Simon nodded and spoke again, "And she even called Jace to find out if they had seen us, but it wasn't them, their still looking for clues, they did find demon blood at the scene where Isabelle's body was located, so they think Sebastian is responsible."
Magnus nodded as he leaned up against the cabinet crossing his arms, "Sebastian may very well be around trying to cause problems as usual, but the demon blood they found was likely Isabelle, knows the curse and all of the Bone Star rune."
"That's what Clary asked," Simon replied, as Clary nodded, and then asked a question Simon wasn't sure anyone knew the answer too.
"How did I see a cursed rune, which belongs demonic influence?"
Magnus and Simon looked casually at one another, as Magnus sighed and turned back to her,
"I'm not sure of that yet, but Tessa is helping as we speak and I plan to continue the research when I return home…"
Simon and Clary nodded, when Clary then spoke again,
"Do you think that what they saw could've been the Eidolon demons?"
Magnus took this in for a second, as Simon looked at Clary confused, when finally Magnus nodded,
"It may have been, and if it was they could still be looking for you and Isabelle now, as we speak." Magnus said turning to Simon,
"What's an Eidolon demon?" Simon asked, not sure he had ever heard of one before,
Magnus's cat eyes flickered to Clary as she turned to Simon and began to explain,
"Their shape shifters, they can usually change into anyone they wish, I first learned about them the night my mother disappeared, when Jace first took me to the Institute, they were disguised as police officers."
Simon listened and then nodded, turning back to Magnus, "So, if they were…Eidolon demons, what's that mean?"
"Well." Magnus began, rocking on his heels, as Clary smirked at him, and he grinned, "It does mean, that you and Isabelle should probably not stay here tonight, in any case they find a way to find you, it wouldn't be good if they did find you, they could still be looking as we speak, so I suggest you stay at my place tonight, I have plenty of room, as you know."
Magnus's grin grew wider, as Simon looked confused raising an eyebrow, and Clary shook her head, putting her hand to her face, hiding her expression.
"Okay…I guess," Simon replied, suspicious and reluctant to ask why they seemed to be acting so mysterious, and if there was something they knew that he didn't but instead he asked a different question that seemed more important in his mind at the time, "Why would these demons take the form of Jace and Alec? Of all people?"
"That could be one simple explanation; they must know that Isabelle is frightened of them finding out, and then the Clave, so they take the forms of those they know she is trying to avoid, as a scare tactic I guess can say…"
"But why? Why scare her?" Simon asked, as Clary looked to Magnus, who continued with a sigh,
"Well, could be any reason, they could be working for anyone that wants Isabelle out of the way, or about any reason, demons don't always need a reason to do what they do, other than to cause grief and pain to anyone they can."
"I guess that makes sense." Simon replied slowly, looking down, as Magnus replied simply,
"Good, glad that is done." As he smiled calmly; Clary shook her head, just as they heard the bathroom door open and all three turned to see Isabelle, standing in the doorway, steam trailing out behind her as she pushed her damp hair behind her shoulders, and they stared.
Simon noticed she was wearing a dark blue blouse that had a design of silver embroidery work along the v-neck line that looked like silver vines, she wore a pair of black jeans that hugged her body in a way that Simon knew any girl that saw her would be jealous of.
Taking in all their expressions, Isabelle paused the expression of wonder crossed her features,
"What?" she asked,
"Nothing," Simon mumbled, as Magnus laughed and replied,
"That's a good look for you; you should wear it more often."
Isabelle smirked, as she walked over closer to them, and Clary spoke casually,
"I think this is the first time I've seen you wearing jeans."
Isabelle shrugged, as she picked up an apple from the fruit bowl Magnus had just arranged on the counter,
"That was a quick…shower." Simon commented, finally finding his voice, as Magnus looked at him, Isabelle following suit.
"Yes, well I just wanted to get rid of the chill of the rain," she replied carefully,
Simon nodded, as Isabelle turned looked from Clary to Magnus, and spoke,
"So what's the plan?"
Simon looked to Clary, as she looked at Magnus who was watching Isabelle, as she picked at the apple she held before taking a bite of it, before she looked up at them.
"We've come to the conclusion of a possibility of what you and Salazar saw." Magnus began,
"Simon." Simon told him as Magnus looked at him a playful grin dancing along his lips,
"Whatever," he waved Simon's words away, as Clary made an impatient sound,
"Just get to it."
"Fine." Magnus replied, turning back to a confused Isabelle, and said finally, "We think that it was possibly two Eidolon demons that took the form of Alec and Jace, but the reason if there is one we are unsure of at the moment."
Isabelle swallowed another bite of apple before she spoke, "Eidolon demons?"
They nodded,
"Great." She whispered as she turned from them with an agitated movement,
"Yes, they could be looking for you both as we speak." Clary replied, as Isabelle turned back around,
"So what do we do now?"
"We go to Magnus's for the night." Simon replied, as he saw Clary look from him to Isabelle, whose eyes grew slightly wider, and Magnus inspected his nails as if he wasn't paying much attention, but Simon knew he was.
"To Magnus's?" Isabelle asked slowly, as Simon nodded, as he knew Isabelle was remembering the last time they had stayed at Magnus's, and he wondered if it was the cause of her current state of behavior, was her remembering causing her to feel as awkward as it was for himself?
Simon didn't want to ask, not with Clary and Magnus standing there, he would save the more private conversations for later.
"Sure, you could stay here if you like, but if they happen to somehow find you…it wouldn't be pretty." Magnus told them, as Isabelle looked at him, away from Clary who was staring at her, and nodded.
"I know."
Magnus nodded back once, and turned to Simon, "If we are finished here, grab what you need for the evening and let's get a move one before something happens, we'll work on tracking down these demons later tomorrow."
"Isn't sunlight fatal to demons?" Simon asked as he watched Magnus walk to the door, followed by Clary and Isabelle, who turned to look at him.
"Usually," Isabelle said, not meeting Simon's eyes, as she spoke, as Simon noticed Clary smirking at her, when she continued, "But if they're in different forms, they can withstand the sunlight for short periods of time."
"Oh," Simon replied, as he walked over to the door near them, when Magnus raised an eyebrow,
"Not bringing anything with you?"
Simon shrugged, "No need, I left some extra clothes there last time I was there, so I should be fine and it's only for tonight anyways."
"True," Magnus nodded, as he opened the door, and Simon held it, letting Magnus go out followed by Clary and then Isabelle.
Simon grabbed his keys and extra jacket from the coat rack, as he turned off the main lights of the apartment as he shut the door behind him, and locked it before following the others down the stairs, in silence next to Magnus who broke the silence as he spoke once again about decorators as he had before.
Isabelle watched and listened to them, as Clary asked Magnus where he had been the last few weeks, she couldn't help to laugh at the Dr. Seuss reference,
"From here to there, from there to here funny things are everywhere."
She also couldn't shake the fact that Simon was looking at her either, and she quickly turned away from him, but not before she noticed Clary had noticed, and held back letting Simon and Magnus move out the door to the outside sidewalk first.
As soon as Isabelle and Clary stepped out next to them, Magnus and Simon looked at them, when Clary spoke.
"I think I'm going to get back to the Institute, find out as much as I can on the clue search and what happened, and contact everyone in the morning on what's next."
Magnus nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me."
"Yes." Simon told her, as Clary moved forward and hugged Simon, Isabelle watched as the two best friends embraced in a hug, trying to keep the smirk off her face as she felt a pang of something she knew she always felt when it came to Simon and Clary, but she would never admit it, but the word still whispered in the back of her mind.
Jealousy.
Isabelle pushed it away as she turned away from them, and held onto her arm with the opposite hand; as she listened to the others speak.
"Make sure you text me, so I know you got to the Institute safely." Simon told Clary, as she nodded,
"I will," she said, as Simon smiled softly, and Magnus turned to Isabelle,
"You ready?" he asked, his tone teasing as Isabelle looked at him, his eyes incredibly green in the fading light as darkness began to close in on them,
Isabelle opened her mouth to reply, when Clary spoke up,
"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Isabelle for a minute,"
Isabelle looked Clary and then back to Simon and Magnus, Simon looked confused, and Magnus strangely looked amused but nodded and said,
"Sure." In a tone that made Isabelle wish for once that he wasn't the High Warlock of Brooklyn that seemed to know everyone's dirty little secrets.
Simon looked from Clary, to Magnus, until finally his eyes rested on Isabelle who nodded to him,
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up…" she told them, trying to make her tone sound unconcerned and bored, as Simon nodded, and opened his mouth to speak, when Magnus looped his arm around his and turned him away from the girls, as he said,
"Now, come on dear, the girls want some private time,"
Simon's expression was crossed with a look of pure horror, as Magnus winked, causing Clary and Isabelle to hold back laughter, as they watched Magnus tow Simon off down the sidewalk.
Isabelle watched them, dreading turning back to look at Clary, but knew that she needed to get whatever it was she needed to tell her over with, before someone saw her, for real this time.
"What is it you want?" Isabelle asked Clary, as she turned to face the shorter girl, crossing her arms,
Clary's bright green eyes shone in the dim light, the damp cold wet still lingered around them from the previous rain not even hours ago, as a chill crept into the air, but Isabelle fought the shudders of cold that threatened to shake her form.
Clary laughed once without humor, and spoke, "What I want? You know very well as I do what is on your mind Isabelle, it's been there for awhile, but it seems the rune has intensified your feelings."
Isabelle looked away from Clary, she knew her words were true, even before the rune and her death her feelings for Simon only grew, the desire for him sometimes was unbearable, but Isabelle fought it, she fought against her feelings, not wanting to show weakness to sometimes as trivial and delicate as hearts and love.
She had vowed never to show desire to anyone, not the kind that could become long term, not the kind she knew she felt for Simon, not the desire and want that would turn to pure love, sure she had told Simon she loved him, but even Isabelle was unsure how much meaning was in those words, she did love him sure, but mainly she was just scared to death of him breaking her heart, or leaving her, but she couldn't seem to make herself believe that maybe Simon was genuine, because she had known for so long that people, nobody was purely genuine.
"What do you care how I feel, and what I've said?" Isabelle snapped, as Clary watched her, and replied without a thought,
"Because Isabelle, when you woke up the first thing you said, was where's Simon, the first thing you wanted was to find Simon, and now it makes so much sense, you have the curse of the Seven Sins, and what's one of the sins?"
"I don't think I'm following." Isabelle replied, as she stared at Clary,
Clary groaned, "The Seven Sins, Isabelle! Think about it."
"Yeah, what about them, there's Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Pride, and Envy—" Isabelle paused, as she looked to Clary who finished for her,
"Lust."
Isabelle smirked at this, lust? Seriously? It seemed unlikely, but even Isabelle couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Clary was onto something.
"So let me get this straight, you think I'm 'lusting' after Simon?"
"Not exactly, the Rune from what you and Simon told me earlier heightens already there emotions, and if you even think about it for one second it can easily get out of hand, so no I don't think you're lusting after Simon, but I do know you've thought about Simon in numerous ways…" Clary's voice trailed off,
Isabelle snapped her eyes back up to the redhead in front of her, anger growing from inside Isabelle again, an anger she wasn't quite sure why she felt, other than the jealousy and blame she felt toward Clary, Isabelle knew in that very moment that the curse of the rune was very much true, her emotions of anger and jealousy she felt toward Clary were intensified into two of the cursed sins she had now placed on her, wrath and envy, and in those few moments it all made sense.
Isabelle took a deep breath, and sighed to calm herself; she had to, before she said quietly,
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Isabelle looked up at Clary, as the other girl's green eyes were bright, her mouth set into a hard line,
"Because, I may not have known about why your mood change so drastically earlier, but I do know now that you can easily hurt Simon, Isabelle, you can hurt him, your strong now, very strong, and you have to be careful, you've almost killed me twice when you've lost control, do you really want to hurt Simon if you lost control around him?"
"It's different," Isabelle said through clenched teeth, as she held her hands to her sides, fighting to clench them into fists. "Simon's a vampire."
Clary sighed, and looked toward where Magnus and Simon were waiting and talking, as she looked back to Isabelle. "That might be so, but still we don't know the full extent of this rune yet, Izzy, we don't know what you can do with its power, you need to be careful."
"Oh yeah, because careful is your middle name right? Because you're always so careful, when did you become my mother Clary?"
Clary looked taken aback; as she raised her eyebrows, and Isabelle sighed, sucking in a deep breath her tone lower when she spoke again,
"Look, sorry just, I know, okay? I know I have to be more careful, but truth is I can't help it, I can't seem to be careful, I don't know how to explain it."
"Then you don't have to," Clary told her quietly, as Isabelle looked at her, crossing her arms causally again as she shifted her weight, Isabelle looked up into the blue-silver light of the street light above them, as it flickered on in the falling darkness, and Isabelle was surprised that very few people had walked by, but knew that it was probably better that way.
"If you hadn't put it on me," Isabelle began, looking down away from Clary's face, "Even if you knew you couldn't let me go, I wouldn't be feeling like I am now."
After several seconds, Isabelle looked up at Clary whose expression had gone eerily calm, as her eyes spoke volumes, Isabelle saw deep in Clary's eyes that she was saying sorry without saying the words she was apologizing to her, but also her eyes held confusion on how something like this had happened, how anyone broke the wards in her mind to show her a cursed rune, when her mind was guarded and protected, and this question even left Isabelle puzzled, and she knew that even if Clary said she was sorry, it wasn't enough, not to Isabelle, not until the rune's power was gone, not until the curse was countered.
But to Isabelle's surprise, Clary didn't say she was sorry, and the next thing she said did leave Isabelle stunned, as the conversation of before, the 'girl stuff' came back into topic.
"All I ask, Isabelle if you and Simon ever find yourself in…well, you know certain position that leads to…" Clary began,
"Sex?" Isabelle offered, trying to sound bored, without success, she knew her voice just sounded mechanical like some sort of psycho maniac, her voice was strangely low, calm, and cold.
Isabelle saw a look on Clary's face that made the anger she suppressed inside want to smack her, but she refrained as Clary continued.
"Yes, if you ever find yourself in that position, which I know you want it, just as you told me in the alley, about him on your mind all the time, even in death." Clary paused again, as Isabelle shuttered, the words echoing in her head.
"You told me he was on your mind…even in death."
Isabelle hadn't meant to tell Clary that, but she wasn't sure who else to tell at the time, and she knew she had to get it out somehow, but still, Isabelle was in no way ready to accept Simon had haunted her, even after she had died before she came back.
"Just promise me," Clary said, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, as Isabelle looked at her, and spoke,
"Promise you what?"
Clary opened her eyes and looked at her, her eyes pleading as she said the next words, "Please, don't hurt him."
Isabelle raised her eyebrows, as she placed her hands on her hips, and let the words pour out before she even thought about them,
"I have no intention of hurting Simon," Isabelle told Clary, but as Clary looked up at Isabelle, her eyes still holding that twinge of pleading, but also in the depths they held worry, and fear. Fear for Simon? Isabelle shook off the thought, she didn't want to hurt Simon, if she did somehow be it by heartbreak or just by pushing him away, she didn't mean to, Isabelle just wasn't sure how to expression what she truly felt without looking completely weak, something she refused to accept.
"That's the problem." Clary answered, in a whisper, bringing Isabelle out of her thoughts, as she looked at the shorter girl, who gazed down the sidewalk at Magnus and Simon, before she set her mouth in a hard line, her eyes growing colder, as she gazed back at Isabelle who also looked away from Simon and Magnus back to Clary, back into the now ice cold green eyes, as Clary finished what she had began to say before,
"We never do."
Isabelle watched and with the last words, Clary turned away from Isabelle and began to walk away from her, into the darkness, into the black twilight toward the Institute as she left Isabelle staring, blinking behind her, as she took in her words, let them fully sink in,
"Promise me you won't hurt him,"
"I have no intention of hurting Simon,"
"That's the problem….we never do."
Isabelle closed her eyes for a moment as she reached her hand up to hold onto the light pole for balance for a minute as she caught her breath, and opened her eyes.
Isabelle blinked several more times before looking up to see Clary gone, and nowhere in sight, as she finally realized why they had this wedge between each other, that was not there before.
Since the rune Isabelle's feelings and emotions were intensified from the small twinge of jealousy she felt toward Clary and Simon, it was intensified to envy, an emotion Isabelle didn't enjoy the feeling of whatsoever, and because of that, and because of seeing Simon happy around Clary, happier than he ever was, it caused anger, which intensified to wrath, to rage, and when Clary had told her after she had woken up she wasn't allowed to see Simon, just fed that rage, until it was now hard to control around Clary, but it wasn't only Simon that caused the feelings, Isabelle couldn't shake the feeling of blame from Clary either, blame for the whole situation, blame that she knew if Clary hadn't put the damned rune on her to begin with, she wouldn't be some emotional nutcase.
Isabelle held onto the light pole as she then thought of why Clary seemed to be upset with her, and she knew it was because of her emotional state, Clary and Simon had known each other longer, they cared about each other on a level nobody else could understand, but possibly Alec and Jace, being parabatai. Isabelle knew that Clary likely didn't feel jealousy of Isabelle being with Simon, but felt more worried of what Isabelle might do to Simon.
Isabelle sighed, as she figured Clary was worried, worried that she'd break Simon's heart or worse, with this curse that they weren't even quite full sure what it did, but mess with her emotional state, hurt him somehow physically.
Isabelle believed herself, when she told Clary she didn't intent to hurt Simon, but she also knew Clary's words were right as well.
"We never do."
"No." Isabelle said to herself, quietly to nobody, as she turned to see Magnus and Simon watching her, and she began forward, "No, we never do intend to hurt the ones we love, but sometimes…we can't help it, sometimes it happens."
Isabelle looked to the sky, as the clouds now pink against the dark blue of the sky swirled around and a cool wind blew by them, she was glad the rain was gone, as she walked forward, still thinking to herself, about what she wanted, about what Clary said, about everything that had happened to her since Simon and Clary had come into her life, all the mayhem and all the problems, Isabelle couldn't help but feel she was trapped in a mundane soap opera.
It didn't take long at all for Isabelle to reach Magnus and Simon, as she stopped shuddering inwardly at the cold around them all, as they both watched her.
Magnus took in the look on her face and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Ready now?"
Isabelle nodded, as Magnus returned the nod curtly before turning to begin walking away, Isabelle turned to follow, as Simon fell instep next to her and reached out to touch her arm, in which she pulled away, as she walked straight ahead, facing forward.
She heard Simon sigh next to her, and watched him out of the corner of her eye, her own words and Clary's words still hauntingly in sync in her mind, like an eerie melody of a song that gets stuck in your head for days, never going away but replaying over and over.
Isabelle didn't want to act cold toward Simon, but what was she do to with so many conflicts happening inside? She knew she wanted Simon, but she also knew that for some reasons her wanting him was wrong and for other reasons it felt too right to be wrong, but she knew it was still wrong.
Isabelle looked at Simon, and prayed she could find a way to end her inner conflict before he decided to walk away, before he decided maybe she wasn't worth it in the end. Isabelle hoped she could find peace in herself, to love him right before it was too late, but even she knew if that was to happen she had to begin now.
And that was when, walking side by side, only few steps behind Magnus, Isabelle decided as soon as they got to Magnus's flat, Isabelle would try to explain all she felt, all she talked to Clary about, all the girl stuff they covered, the desire she felt, the inner conflicts, she would tell him as much as she could, even if it wasn't everything, even if she didn't know everything, she knew telling him some of what she felt might help, and maybe, just maybe, she thought, maybe it will help ease my mind, to know maybe deep down, our love is bound not only by our feelings but by blood and family as well as ourselves.
WOW! soo i'm kinda happy with the little Izzy & Clary talk at the end, in Izzy's POV it gives insight into what she's thinking, which was fun! Isabelle is such a strong but conflicted character, maybe that's why i like her so much. lol. if anyone got confused feel free to send me a PM or a review and tell me what you like and wish to see more of in the story, which sadly, i think will be coming to a very tragic end soon, i have a interesting plot twist in mind that i think will be good!
Since I hadn't updated in awhile, i made this one kind of long, lol hope nobody minds! and also, i added part of the girl talk conversation i hope nobody freaks out about the discovery of Isabelle's wants...but i mean, who wouldn't? Simon is HOT. But not worry, no content will go past the T Rating, unless otherwise stated at the top, but i don't think anything will.
Sooo...the questions leading after this chapter is, why would the demons take the images of Alec and Jace? Is someone controlling them? What will Simon say after Isabelle reveals what her and Clary were talking about and what Magnus discovered with his awesome warlock powers? lol. Some answers will be revealed in chapter 19! :)