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"Simon, are you sure we should do this?" Isabelle asked, nervously touching her hair.
They were sitting on the stairs in a very mundane condominium, a few metres from Clary's apartment door. Isabelle never really liked that she moved away from the Institute, but she figured that with all that happened with Jace, staying away was the best solution for both of them. Clary wasn't home yet, so Simon and Isabelle were waiting for her; they couldn't see her door, but if she came with the elevator they would hear her.
"We will have to, sooner or later. It's not like we can hide this forever." Simon took his girlfriend's hand in his own and gently squeezed it. "We must tell her, and we must tell Jace as well."
"It's just that—" Isabelle bit her lower lip, an uncharacteristic sign of uncertainty from her. "You know, with her and Jace like this—and Will—"
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears, but she swallowed them quickly.
"Hey," Simon slowly stroke her cheek, "It's alright to cry, you know."
"You are not crying," she half accused him.
"Clary cries enough for the both of us." He whispered feeling a familiar lump in his throat. "I had to learn to be strong for her. She needs me to."
Isabelle sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry. With Jace is different, he doesn't like crying. Maybe with Alec, but not with me—he vents by doing something physical. I can't count the times we trained until he passed out, since it—happened."
They stayed silent for a while, just drawing comfort from one another, Isabelle slowly tracing circles on Simon's hand.
"Do you think they'll ever heal?" She asked. "Be together again? Since they still have to remove the marriage runes—maybe there's hope."
Simon sighed, kissing her forehead. "I don't know Izzy. Will's sickness was devastating for them. Seeing their child suffer like that—When he died it broke them in ways I can't even begin to understand. Clary used to tell me she couldn't stand to look at Jace because he reminded her of William. Besides, you know they are both seeing other people now."
"That's rubbish," she snorted, "we both know those two fairies are just rebounds. It happened too fast. I mean, it's just been six months since—" She stopped. She just couldn't say the words, as if not saying them could somehow deny her nephew's death.
"Maybe. Clary and Jiliel are taking it slow, but Alec told me Jace and Kaelie look pretty serious about each other. He's considering leaving the Institute to go live with her."
"He's—WHAT?" Isabelle looked at Simon in disbelief, her eyes widening in anger. "And why didn't I know about this? Jace didn't tell me anything! That's stupid! That's madness! That's—"
The elevator chose that moment to open its door with a loud, creaking sound, cutting off Isabelle's rant.
"—mostly about vampires. Anyway, my report for the Seelie Queen about today's Council meeting will be ready tonight." It was Clary's voice.
Isabelle and Simon froze in shock. What the hell was happening?
Fairies were beautiful, there was no denying it and Jiliel Whitewillow was no exception. Tall, blond and blue eyed like his sister Kaelie, he had an elegant frame and delicate features. Despite his almost feminine face, he was toned and muscular and Clary knew he was a fine warrior, as able with a sword as herself.
If only a beautiful face was always equivalent to a beautiful soul—because Jiliel for sure hadn't got one. Intelligent and cunning, like every fairy, he also had the advantage of having human blood in his veins, which allowed him to lie at his heart content, something he did with great pleasure. Clary knew about it of course, Jiliel never tried to hide it, always hinting to her that everything he was saying could be the truth—but could also be a lie, if it benefited him.
"It better be," Jiliel was saying right now, talking about her report, "you know she doesn't like waiting."
"Have I ever disappointed?" Clary replied with a bitter smile walking to her apartment. It had been a long day; first the training and Jace. She still ached from seeing him, the familiar pain in her heart never dulling. Then the Council meeting in the afternoon and now she had to put up with her fairy "boyfriend".
The fey suddenly yanked her arm pulling her back to him. In a moment she was enclosed in his arms, one of his long, delicate fingers grabbing her chin to lift her gaze to him.
"You better not, sweetheart. You've been a great source of informations in the last months and you'll keep up the good work if you know what's good for you."
"Let me go," she hissed, pushing him away. "We may be glamoured but we're still in a mundie place."
She opened the door to her apartment, threw the key on the table just near the entrance and left the door open, knowing there was no use in shutting Jiliel out. The fairy walked in as if he owned the place, a grin on his lips.
"Of course, I get it—better keep our loving side for your home, where nobody can hear you scream." He winked at her, shutting the door and sitting down on the couch. "But first tell me about the Council meeting. You know I like to keep up to date."
"There is nothing much to say." She replied, shrugging. "The meeting was mostly about the London vampires, like I was saying in the elevator. They started stirring up some problems with the werewolves. There has been some killing and maiming and the London Enclave is trying to enforce the Law on the vampires. They are still trying to understand if it's just some rogue vampire or if a clan is rebelling against the Clave. The werewolves for now are keeping quiet and letting the Shadowhunters do their job but there's no telling how much longer they will stand the slaughter without going full force against the vampires. Looks like we could have a full scale Downworlders war pretty soon. The Council is worried mundanes will be involved, the Shadow World could be exposed."
"Interesting." Jiliel commented, crossing his legs in a relaxed position. "And how about the task the Queen set on you? Is there any progress?"
Clary looked at him, her eyes narrowing in disgust. "You're asking me something that could take years to achieve. The fairies chose the wrong side in the Dark War and now they're paying the price for it. I cannot push too much to have your kind back in the Council, it would be suspicious. For now be glad that I managed to send Helen Blackthorn back to Los Angeles, breaking her exile. It took me three months of constant convincing and it wasn't easy at all."
"But, you see—" Jiliel stood up, walking to her. His movements were fluid and graceful, like a dark panther slowly approaching its prey. "The Queen doesn't care if it's hard or not. We want to be back in the Covenant and we want the Clave to trust us again. Lower the guard. Allow us to carry weapons again in plain sight. And you Clary," he suddenly grabbed her, turning her around and throwing her bent down on the kitchen table, one of her arms twisted behind her back, her wrist in his grip, "you're the one that's going to accomplish that. Even if it takes your whole life to do it. We are patient people. We can wait. But it will be done darling. You will do it."
"Get off me." Clary hissed trying to get up, but he just strengthened his hold on her, bending down to slowly kiss her exposed neck. "Get off me, now!"
"Oh baby—don't be difficult. Like it is the first time I fuck you. Learn to enjoy that, sweetheart, you're stuck with me until the day you die. You know you can't do otherwise, don't you? If it makes you feel less guilty, you can always picture Jace fucking my sister. Maybe he's even doing it right now."
"Let me go, you bastard!" She struggled again, her heart skipping a beat at his cruel words. She hated him. She hated him so much—
Jiliel grinned and his free hand grabbed her thigh slowly trailing upwards but he cursed when the apartment bell suddenly rang.
Clary held her breath in surprise and immediately asked who it was before the fey could stop her, trying to keep her voice under control. Please, please, a neighbour, a deliver, anyone!
"Clary, it's us!" Isabelle's cheerful voice came through the door. "Can we come in?"
Jiliel let Clary go and pulled her up, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Go open the door dear," he whispered in her ear, "and don't worry about this little interruption—I'll punish you later."
She didn't answer, she didn't say anything. She knew she couldn't. Six months ago she would have killed him for daring to lay his filthy hands on her but now she was tied, trapped, with no way out. Jiliel was right, she was stuck with him until the day she died. She could just hope that day would come soon, for this wasn't life: this was Hell.
Step after step she went to the door, straightening her back, putting a fake smile on her lips. Smile, Clary. Smile for them. Smile and keep them safe. Smile.