Hey guys. Me again. Hope you guys are enjoying this so far.

Could you do something for me? I want to make sure people are actually reading this story and I'm not just writing it for nothing. Would you mind just leaving a review after you read this chapter so I know people are seeing it? I feel like nobody is... So, yeah, if you could do that, that would be great. I don't typically ask stuff like this but, just this once, I am. So thanks a lot. :)

Anyway, here is chapter 6. It's a tad bit shorter than usual, but hopefully you like it anyway.

Enjoy!

Isabelle watched the scene before her, feeling useless, as Magnus paced back and forth in the library while the rest of them sat or stood around, trying to figure out what to do. She was trying to pay attention to what everyone, mainly Maryse, Jace, Magnus, and occasionally Luke, was saying, but the discussion didn't really seem to be getting anywhere. After Simon and Clary had finished explaining what they'd found upon arriving at his house, the conversation had been along the lines of this is bad; we have to do something, and had pretty much stayed there, mainly because no one, not even Magnus, had the slightest idea of what they should, or even could, do. After a while of not getting anywhere, and of having no ideas herself, Isabelle's thoughts had drifted slightly.

She couldn't help but keep glancing over at Simon, who stood almost diagonal from her in the dilapidated circle the group: Alec, Jace, Clary, herself, Simon, Magnus, Maryse, Luke, and Jocelyn, had formed. Everyone else, save Magnus, sat or leaned on something, but Simon just stood, looking distraught, like he had neither the patience to sit, nor the energy to pace or fidget. And he looked so distant; Isabelle doubted he was listening either. Looking at him, it was hard to believe that just over an hour earlier he'd been so happy.

"I think," Jace cut in, breaking through Isabelle's reverie, "He should just go back and talk to his mom."

"He tried," Clary protested on Simon's behalf, "If she won't let him in-"

"Use an opening rune. What's the worst thing she can do? All she has to do is see him. And the fact that he's not actually a vampire anymore can only help his cause."

"That's not the-" Simon began, speaking up for the first time in a while.

Magnus interrupted him, "That still doesn't solve the actual problem. The situation with Simon's mother is just a side-effect. You have a prince of Hell against you. You've got bigger problems. We all do."

"What if I went?" Clary offered, "If Elaine remembers everything with Simon, she remembers me now too. She might listen to me." Magnus looked about to speak up, but Clary continued, speaking louder and quicker to keep from being interrupted, "It's not a solution to the whole Asmodeus thing, I know, but it's a start. It's one less thing we'll have to worry about."

"And what excuse will you give for your absence over the past months?" Alec asked. "Simon's not the only one who's stayed away from that house recently. And you're 'tattoos'? And what about-"

"I don't know," Clary cut him off, "But technically, my well-being isn't her responsibility. I could make something up or avoid it. This is about Simon, not me."

"We'll have to tell her the truth," Simon said, looking and speaking up, "Someone will have to. It's the only way."

Maryse began to protest, "No, it's-"

"He has a point," Isabelle said, "Obviously Simon isn't a vampire anymore, but he is something. His mom's bound to know that. I doubt she's that stupid."

"The Clave-" Maryse began again. Isabelle continued.

"Simon is a Shadowhunter now. The Clave can't honestly expect him to keep that from his own mother. Especially if he's still living with her. The oath says we can't tell mundanes the truth unless there's no other way. And I don't know about any of you, but I'm not seeing any other possibilities."

The room had gone satisfyingly quiet. It was clear that Isabelle's point had been made and it seemed that the others, at least partially, agreed with her. Everyone was looking at Maryse now. As the head of the Institute, it was ultimately her decision. The Clave would hold her responsible for any Covenant law broken. Maryse looked around at everyone before sighing, "Okay. I'll speak to Jia. But Elaine Lewis must be the only one who knows-"

"What about Rebecca?" Simon asked, looking a bit hopeful now, "She knew more than my mom…"

"Fine," Maryse said sharply, "His mother and his sister. That's all. And you must make sure they tell no one. The Clave will be unhappy as it is. We don't need any more scrutiny then we already have."

With that, the meeting was apparently over, because Maryse left the library and everyone else seemed satisfied with the progress made for now. Even Magnus looked uninterested in continuing the Asmodeus discussion for the moment.

Clary stared absently out the window as Luke drove back through the familiar Brooklyn neighborhood, going over the plan again and again in her head; what she would say to Simon's mom, how she would word her explanation, how she would tell Elaine the truth, the backup plan, the backup plan for the backup plan…

In the end, it was decided that Luke and Jocelyn would bring Simon and Clary to Simon's house. Clary would go in first because she would most likely be allowed inside (and she had excuses waiting to use if she wasn't). She would bring up Simon in the conversation and eventually explain the truth. Then, Simon would hopefully be allowed to come in. Luke and Jocelyn would be there to verify the story if needed. And Isabelle, who had insisted on coming, would also be further proof.

The plan itself was a straightforward one, but it still seemed complicated in the sense that things never seemed to go as intended, which required lots of plan Bs. And Cs…

They were almost at Simon's house now. Clary looked away from the window and at Simon, who sat on the other side of Isabelle-the three of them were crammed together in the back seat of Luke's truck. He looked less shell-shocked than he had, even a little hopeful, though the emotion was clearly guarded. His attention was forward, out the front window, watching the road. Clary met Isabelle's eyes for a moment before turning back to the window. The ride had been, and continued to be, a quiet one.

Luke pulled onto Simon's street and parallel-parked a few houses away from his. No need to draw unnecessary suspicion from Elaine as to the extra people waiting in the back seat. Clary took a deep breath and unbuckled her seat belt. "Here goes nothing," she said quietly and opened her door. As she stepped out, she felt Simon's eyes on her and looked up to meet them. He offered her the tiniest of smiles, one that didn't reach his eyes. She gave him a small smile of her own in reply.

"Good luck," Izzy offered.

"Thanks," Clary answered and shut the door. Squaring her shoulders, she began walking, feeling the four sets of eyes on her as she did so.

They were playing with fire here, crossing a prince of Hell. They all knew that. And it probably wouldn't be without at least some consequences. They all knew that too.

But they had to try. Clary, if no one else, had to help Simon. He was her best friend and she would do anything for him. Especially after having lost him completely for 6 months.

She didn't know much specifically about Asmodeus, or of princes of Hell in general, but what she did know was that they were powerful and ruthless, and almost impossible to defeat. Lovely. But the same had once been said about Sebastian-and worse, and they'd won out against him. And Magnus was Asmodeus' son. That had to count for something. So there was still hope, right? There had to be.

Clary ran these things through her mind as she neared the front door of the house she'd spent so much time in over the years. She couldn't decide if that was true or if she was simply deluding herself. Returning everyone's memories was surely not all they'd see of Asmodeus. Surely that was just a sign that he knew what they'd done; a reminder of who it was they were dealing with.

But Simon was her best friend. Everything she'd done, she'd done for him. And she would do it again. That was just how it was.

She climbed the front steps that led to the familiar front door, covered in the red holy symbols that Elaine Lewis had painted on to keep her son out of her house. The small jolt of anger the reminder sent surging quickly through her was enough to keep her courage from failing her-stupid, really, after everything else she'd done.

Clary took a deep breath, knocked loudly on the front door, and waited.

So this is the point where things get a little more exciting. Stay tuned!

And also, before you go, please review so I can know that people are actually seeing these chapters. Thanks!

And thanks for reading, of course! See you next time. :)