Author: Frosy
Beta: Miles333

A Hidden World

Chapter 14

Simon

After enough arguments that could last a week, she finally gave in and allowed me to wear my jeans, but only with high heels. I didn't mind high heels, but I wasn't one of those girls who kept wearing high heels pretty much everywhere. I only wore them in special occasions and this is one, wasn't the case.

We manage to get to her place without any unpleasant surprises. We found Alec on the couch reading a book with the title 'Young shadowhunter in action, Volume II'.

"You are reading it again?" Isabelle said to him as we entered the living room.

"It's one of my favourite books. I never get bored with it," He said raising his eyebrows at Isabelle.

"I haven't heard of that book before." I said and tried to remember if I had read it. I loved books and I was a regular visitor at the library, they even knew me by my first name.

"That's because it doesn't exist in the human world." Alec said, annoyed.

"You have your own books?" I asked him.

"Of course we have. What did you think? That we didn't do anything else, except from the occasional killing?"

"And what is it about?"

"About a boy discovering that he is a shadowhunter. It's really stupid if you ask me." Isabelle answered my question.

"We don't care about your opinion." Alec said to her. "It about a boy, who discovered that he was a shadowhunter. And then he finds out that his parents didn't actually die by pneumonia but from Veleric, that's the bad guy in this story Clary by the way. So..." Alec kept going, explaining to me the story of this book, which sounded a little familiar to me.

"Yeah yeah... and then he goes having fun around the world." Isabelle interrupted him.

"What's the title again?"

"Don't tell me you want to read it Clary. It's a children's book. No romance in it not at all."

"You just like your books to have romance and clearly you can't appreciate good literature." Alec said to her and then turned to me to tell me the title.

"And it's a series?" I asked him.

"So far there are 5 books. But the author is planning to publish two more of them. I can't wait!"

"That's so familiar with the Harry Potter series."

"The what?" He asked, clearly never heard about the books.

"Let's go Clary." Isabelle said and took my arm to push me through the kitchen. "We need to cook."

"Cook? I have no idea how to cook!"

"Don't worry. You will pass me things and besides, it's a nice opportunity for you to learn."

I hadn't asked if Jace was here and I was grateful that Isabelle hadn't mentioned him yet. I had no idea how I would act around him. I kept thinking of our kiss. How his tongue danced in my mouth making me want him more. How he tasted of moca flavour ice-cream. I couldn't help but smile at that memory.

My smile though didn't last long since my memory switched from a happy memory to a sad memory. Not sad necessary, but certainly baffled. Isabelle noticed my sad expression.

"Don't worry Clary. I am sure Jace will find out what happened with him. He is actually out looking for him as we speak." She tried to soothe me.

"What? Ah Simon. Yea, I am really worried about him." How did I manage to forget about Simon even for a second? I shouldn't worry about Jace. Right now my friend needed me and I was here thinking about Jace, trying to make a sense from his behaviour. What a friend. I should be out there looking for him, not Jace.

"Everything will be ok." Said Isabelle to me and hugged me. We heard the door close and instantly my heart accelerated. My first thought was Jace.

"Who is it?" I asked immediately.

"I don't know. Let's go and find out." She said with a smile. "I hope it's Max."

"We entered the living room to find Alec hugging someone.

"Max!" Isabelle said and run towards him with open arms. He hugged her and lifted her a couple inches off the ground.

"You missed me sister?" He said laughing and put her down.

"Wow! You two really grow up since the last time I saw you guys."He said looking them carefully.

"You saw us like two months ago. How much can we have possibly changed?" Alec asked him.

"I will ask Magnus about that." He said to his brother. Then he turned to me.

He was taller than me and very handsome. He had short brown messy hair and captivating blue eyes.

"And who is this beauty?" He said and I felt my cheeks hot. He came closer extending his hand towards me.

"I am Max. Isabelle and Alec's brother." He said with a sweet smile.

"I know." I said to him and he raised his eyebrow. "Isabelle told me about you. I am Clary." His handshake was strong and firm.

"So you are the Clary Isabelle was talking about?"

"I guess so." I said and he kept looking at me, making me blush even more.

"So Isabelle, what's for dinner?" Max said.

"Your favourite of course." She said with a huge smile. "Lasagne."

"You didn't need to get into so much trouble. A pizza would be nice." Isabelle made a face when he mentioned the word pizza.

"It was nothing. Clary helped too."

"Really? Then I will definitely eat it." He said giving me huge smile.

"Isabelle did the actual cooking. I just stood there, observing." I said blushing again. I wanted to hide my face.

"And I am sure you did a great job." He said again. He wanted to add something but Alec interrupted him.

"Are we going to eat already?"

"We have to wait for Magnus and Jace." Isabelle said and I started panicking hearing Jace's name.

"Are you ok?" said Max to me, clearly seeing that something was going on.

"I am fine." I mumbled back to him. He just kept looking with cautious eyes.

Suddenly next to Alec, a purple fog started forming and sparkles were coming from it. I instantly recognized Magnus Portal. The fog kept getting thicker until Magnus came out of it and snapped his fingers. The Portal was gone. And Jace wasn't with him as I expected.

"I got in time for the dinner, right?" was the first thing that Magnus said. We all laughed at that.

"Where is Jace?" Alec asked him.

"He wanted to walk. I thing he was going to check on Clary." Then he saw me and added, "But I don't think he will find her."

Jace was coming to see me? Did that mean he decided not to avoid me anymore? I regretted asking Isabelle to take me here. I should have stayed home in the first place.

"Shouldn't we call him?" I said.

"No. It would be more fun when he finds out that you aren't there. He will go nuts." Magnus said with a half smile. "After what he made me go through today, he deserves it."

"What did he do?" Alec said worried.

"Big story and I am hungry."

We eat and joked for what it seemed like minutes before someone burst through the front door. Everyone went still in the kitchen. Alec and Max got out their blades. Isabelle had in one hand her blade and in the other her whip. Magnus was the only one still eating like nothing was going on.

We heard footsteps getting closer and stop. Then the door opened to reveal a really angry Jace. He looked each one of them intensely, finally stopping to me. I tried to hold his gaze but he looked away.

"Why didn't anyone of you inform me that Clary was here?"

Everyone relaxed and sat down, not actually giving him an answer.

"It's good to see you too Jace." Max said to him. "Join us. We have lasagne, and Clary did an excellent job by observing Isabelle in the kitchen." He said half mocking me, and I returned his smile. Jace looked the two of us arching his eyebrows before sitting down.

"Sorry Max. How was your trip?" He said to him, clearly avoiding speaking to me or even looking at me.

Everyone continued eating and at some point Max turned to Magnus and asked him about Simon. Which I had again totally forgot that Jace and Magnus were out looking for him.

"So did you found what happened about that human... what was his name?" Max said to him.

"His name is Simon." I stated.

"Yes, Simon. So what happened with him? Did you found him?"

"No. I am sorry." Magnus said looking me.

I felt Jace's eyes on me and I turned to look at him. His expression was sad.

"Actually, after you left Magnus I found something." He got up and took something out of his pocket. It was a torn piece of something. It was covered with blood. Looking closer I saw that it was a piece of Simon's shirt. The one he wore when we left for the carnival. It was deep blue color with a logo across his chest. It said 'I am not going down yet baby'. I always found that stupid but now...

"I am sorry Clary, but I don't think that Simon..." Jace looked at me struggling to keep a straight face. I could see he was in hurt lust telling this.

"No. Don't. Don't say that." I said my voice a whisper. "This is not his. You are wrong." I said mostly trying to convince myself.

"Actually Magnus can tell us if he is actually dead." Alec said with ease. Everybody glared at him.

"Yes, you can tell us that he is alive, right?" I asked Magnus. He didn't seem willing to do that. I stood up and took that piece of cloth and gave it to Magnus. I was trying hard to keep my tears but only the thought of Simon dead, could rip my heart. I stared at him waiting.

He placed the cloth between his hands and closed his eyes. I could sense everyone staring me. After what it seemed like hours he opened his eyes.

"Magnus? Is he alive?" I said my voice trembling a little but I managed to stable it.

"I can't sense him." Magnus said avoiding my gaze.

"What does that mean?" I demanded. I could feel the tears running down my cheek.

"Clary," Magnus sighed and turned to me. "I am so sorry, but he is probably dead. That's why I can't sense him."

"No." I let the tears run free. "It can't..." I felt like someone had sucked the life out of me.

"Clary." Jace was next to me placing his hands over my shoulders. I shook them off.

"I..." I felt the room spin and my legs couldn't anymore hold me. I desperately needed some air.

Simon was dead. I couldn't take it. He was my one and only friend I ever had. Why had I insisted on him coming along at the carnival? It was my fault. I shouldn't be that selfish. I shouldn't just drag him along wherever I went. I was responsible for his death.

I needed to get out of here. If I hadn't those stupid dreams I wouldn't have meet them. I wouldn't be dragging Simon at the carnival.

"I need to get out of here." I barely said and went to the door, footsteps following me. It was Jace.

"Clary, I... I am sorry. You can't be alone right now. You can stay here." He said. I tried to look at him but my vision was blurry. He opened his arms and I threw myself in his arms finally letting my tears overwhelm me. He didn't say anything else. He understood.