Chapter 14

Clary, Izzy, Alec, Jace, and I are back in the Main Computer room of the Institute. The actions of an hour ago still replaying in my mind. His lips on mine, it was defiantly the best feeling I've ever felt.

Alec, though, returned to his duties and scoped out the land around us on the computer.

Jace walked over to his friend, "You can stare at this monitor all you want, they need angel blood to get past the wards. You know that. No Downworlder can come into the Institute."

"Not without an invite by a Shadowhunter," Izzy said, descending the couple of stairs towards the little group.

Alec side glanced us, "Last I checked, Valentine is a Shadowhunter. The Cup is not safe here. We have to give it back to the Clave."

Clary's eyes went wide at the comment, "Give it back to the Clave? No. Not after everything we went through to get it."

Izzy sighed, seeming to say something that she usually wouldn't, "My brother is right. The Cup is extremely important."

Even Alec caught onto Izzy's words, seeming just as surprised as me. "Are you agreeing with me?"

"I'm full of surprises," His sister smirked.

Shaking my head and pulling us back into the matter at hand I spoke up. "This Cup is the one chance we have of getting our mom back."

Jace nodded next to me, "I agree with Faith."

Alec looked off, his next words a mumble but Jace and I both caught them. "Of course you do."

Although Jace gave Alec a slight glare, he made no comment, continuing on with the conversation. "We can't give the Cup to the Clave, not now. We need it. It's our only bargaining chip."

Turning towards Jace and I, Alec's voice rose slightly, clearly annoyed, "You act like you guys don't know how powerful this Cup is."

I took a step forward, planting myself in between Alec and Jace and hopefully making a point with my words. "Look, we do, okay? It has the power to create new Shadowhunters, control demons and even kill a mundane if they drank from it. But I promise you, we will not let that monster get his hands on it."

Jace gestured towards me, taking a small step back so he could be seen, "There you go. You have her word."

Alec looked between Jace and me, his eyes eventually falling on Clary as well. My sister gave him a look that said she agreed with my statement. With a heavy sigh and a small glare in my direction, Alec motioned for Clary to follow him, "Follow me."

Before they disappeared, I caught sight of them going into the ruin room, probable placing the Cup card in one of the secured shelves.

My body turned, meeting Jace's. "Thanks for having my back on this. I don't think he would have listened to me if you didn't agree."

Jace gave me a half smirk, taking a step so he was right in front of me again. "You were right. Besides, I'll have your back." His hand reached up, cupping one of my cheeks as his eyes moved between my lips and my eyes. I could feel the pull of our lips towards each other.

We both gave in, our lips just brushing against each other before the computers next to us lit up and started beeping. Jace and I pulled our lips away, our hand still on each other's bodies as we looked at the computers.

"What the Hell?" Alec asked, racing over to the computers.

Jace and I pulled away, Jace taking a step closer to the computer. "There's something outside the perimeter."

Alec side glared at Jace, "I told you-"

"Don't say it," Jace stopped his friend, a sigh ending their comments for a moment.

Clary raced over, not taking the spot next to me that Jace had. Her worried eyes joined me in looking at the lit up screen, noticing a red circle moving closer and closer to the Institute. "What's happening?"

As the red circle got closer, I seemed to speak my thoughts. "Looks like someone's trying to break in."

"Could be the Circle," Jace commented, looking over at Alec and Izzy.

The three turned, grabbing their jackets and hurrying towards the entrance with Clary and I hot on their heels. We all pulled out our blades, not missing a beat. Neither did Alec in quickly saying, "Told you so."

Sighing, Jace moved ahead, "To soon!"

We head outside, the darkness of the world clouding some of our vision until our eyes got used to it. We stayed close as a group, my body seeming to stay close to the back of Jace as he and Alec led the way.

It wasn't until we reached the woods near the Institute that we came across what was lighting up our computers. A man with his back towards us was holding someone in his arms.

"Don't move," Jace ordered.

"Drop what you're holding. Put your hands up," Alec ordered, his bow and arrow at the ready.

The man turns, revealing himself to be the vampire, Raphael. As he looks at us, we catch sight of who he's holding. An unconscious Simon.

We all lower our weapons a bit, all of us looking shocked while a gasp leaves Clary's lips. "Oh, my God, Simon!"

Jace leads everyone, including Raphael, through a cellar like door. He motions towards the table, causing Raphael to lay Simon down on it.

Although the building, in our eyes, is an up-kept and electronic building, it seems to not have reached to the basement. It holding the dark, dungy type feeling. If it wasn't for the scattered pews and crosses, I would have thought that a dungeon was exactly this place.

"People will be wondering what we found outside the perimeter," Jace said, looking back at Izzy and Alec who stood near the cellar doors.

Alec speaks up, "I'll go. I'll tell 'em we didn't find anything. Nobody will come down here." With that, he turns, disappearing back up the steps and out of the basement.

Raphael looks around, his eyes catching each cross. "I might be a vampire but I was raised a good Catholic." He makes the sign of the cross over his upper body, surprising me.

Izzy, slightly nervous and fearful of what this might bring on, speaks up. "The vampires breached the Accords. Killing Simon is grounds for war."

Standing defensive, Raphael glared at Izzy. "The vampires were not behind this. Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own."

"And how do we know you're telling the truth?" I asked, standing on one side of Simon's body while Clary is kneeling on the other side. Her hand is holding onto Simon, trying not to shed her tears yet.

Raphael, answering my question, gestures towards Simon. "I could have gotten rid of him, but instead I brought him here. I don't want trouble with the Shadowhunters."

I mumble under my breath, "Smart decision."

"I warned the mundane to stay away, but Camille gave him a taste of her own blood, and like an addict he came back wanting more."

Clary quickly stood up, her body turning towards Raphael with anger. "The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you. You kidnapped him! You drug him to Hotel DuMort. You delivered him to Camille!"

Once again, Raphael gestures towards Simon, seeming to correct us on our words. "I never meant for this to happen."

Shaking her head, Clary begins the water works, her head turning to Simon. She grabs his arm, sobbing as she shakes him lightly, "Simon. Simon, please come back, please!"

Raphael watches Clary, his eyes doing a quick glance over of the room before he sighs. "There is a way." His words grab all of our attentions.

"What?" Jace asked, confused by the vampires words as he crosses his arms.

"A way to bring Simon back," Raphael clarifies.

Clary eyes, still watering, look at Raphael with hope, "You can do that?"

"How?" I asked, my eyes pulling together in confusion. I thought he was dead. I mean, dead, dead. Like, no more Simon, dead.

Raphael nods towards Simon as he sits in one of the pews, folding his hands in front of him. "He's a fledgling. It's a state of transition. Your friend can be resurrected."

Jace quickly shakes his head, seeming to understand Raphael's words more than Clary and I. "No, Clary no."

My sister ignores Jace's words, her voice stammering. "So I could have Simon back? Alive and breathing?"

Izzy sighs near us, her eyes looking at the ground before looking at Clary with a sympathetic look. "That's just it. He won't return alive or breathing. He'll be a vampire."

Jace looks between Clary and I, seeming to clarify it to both of us. "And not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, bloodsucking, coffin-dwelling kind."

Raphael looks at the two small windows that you would usually find in a basement. He stands, "It's almost sunrise. Simon must be turned into a vampire tonight or staked through the heart."

Clary's tears begin to fall again, asking, "And if I do neither?"

"His soul will be trapped for eternity. You have till sunset to decide. The clock is ticking." With that, Raphael left, leaving Izzy, Clary, Jace, and I with an unconscious and half dead Simon.

My feet carry me over to Clary as she looks at Simon. I lay my hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. "Clary-"

"No! This isn't far! He doesn't deserve this! And don't try to comfort me because it's not going to work, not this time. Just leave me be for a bit. You can't help me this time," Clary said through tears, her eyes still fixed on Simon.

A small sigh left my lips as I pulled my hand back. My eyes looked up at Izzy and Jace, finding both of them looking at the scene before them sympathetically.

"I'll stay here with her for a bit," Izzy commenting, seeming to sense my nerves. I nodded in response, turning away from my sister and up the stairs of the cellar. Jace followed, both of us in silence as we walked back into the Institute.

Before we could speak a word or do much of anything, we were met with a new face holding blonde hair up in a pony-tale.

"Hi, I'm Lydia. I'll be temporally running the Institute," She introduced herself.

Jace looked confused, shaking his head, "Wait, what?"

"The Lightwoods are taking a momentarily step down. I'm here to look over the Institute and report back to the Circle on what needs to be checked." Jace and I looked at each other, both of us taken back from the women's words. She continued none the less. "You must be Jac Wayland and Faith Fairchild. I've heard a lot about you both."

"Funny, because we haven't heard anything about you," Jace said, looking slightly uneasy as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Lydia smiles, "Do you know all the Circle members?" Jace doesn't answer, instead uncrosses his arms with a sigh. "I was filled in on your conditions. I must say, its quiet unique what has happened with the both of you. We have very few books or records on this type of thing. I'd love to hear, in your words, what all this means."

I looked at Jace, slightly unsure what to do or say. Jace seemed to copy my look, not understanding what could be said in words about this whole thing.

"Uh, we're still trying to understand it all," I said, looking from Jace to Lydia.

Nodding, Lydia understood, "Of course. It's an unknown thing to most Shadowhunters. So I'd love to run some tests," She said, her head turning. She motioned with a finger in a "Come here" motion.

Two men, looking like they were pretty fit, walked over, taking the place behind Lydia with straight faces.

"This is Randy and Craig," She motioned from her left to her right. Randy had short black hair. His skin looked like he had sat in the sun too much and got a heavy tan. Craig was more of a brown head, a single strain of caramel dye in the very front.

They both dressed like they were prepared to start training. But their straight faces revealed they were just waiting for orders.

Lydia continued on, "They both will be studying you. Get as much information as they can."

My mouth dropped slightly in shock. She acted like we were guinea pigs readying to be studied. Thankful, Jace spoke up about this whole thing.

"Okay, holdup. You can't just come in here and say you want to study us like some guinea pigs. We're not going to do this little study you have."

With a sigh, Lydia looked down at the ground before looking back up at Jace and me. "I understand how overwhelming all of this is. But I'm just here to do my job, which is check on the Institute and learn what I can about you two. Please, make my job easier and my time here shorter by just agreeing. We wouldn't put either of you in harm's way, I promise."

Jace and I both looked at each other, our debates seeming to go back and forth between our brains. It wasn't until I looked back at Lydia and sucked in a deep breath. "Alright, fine," I said with a shrug, releasing my breath.

Lydia smiled in triumph, giving us a nod before walking away. Craig and Randy staid in their spots, both looking at us. "Get dressed and meet us in the Training Room in ten minutes." With that, they both turned and left us.

A sigh left Jace's lips as he watched them leave, crossing his arms. "God I hate those guys."

"The let's get them out of here as soon as possible," I comment, causing Jace to look over at me. We both mentally agreed before heading to our rooms to change.

I changed into some black workout pants and a black loose tank top that only revealed a little of my sports bra. When I joined the small group, I found Jace wearing a black tank top and pants as well.

Craig stood off to the side, crossing his arms as he watched while Randy took center stage. "The game is simple..." He started, lifting up a pen in the air. "First one of you to get the pen wins. But, you must fight each other for it. And whatever you do, don't hold back," Randy's eyes moved to Jace. "No weapons allowed," He added before walking to the other end of the room. He sat the pen down on the table before walking over by Craig.

Jace scuffed, a fake smile on his face, "Are you serious? I'm not going to fight Faith over a stupid pen."

"Would you prefer a marker instead?" Randy asks, his straight face boiling my blood.

Jace's hands turned into fists, his eyes settling on the pen on the other side of the room. My own hands joined him into fists, my eyes landing on the pen. My head counted down from three before my feet kicked into gear.

As if Jace's mind did the same thing, his feet kicked into gear at the same time. Jace threw out his arm, trying to block me but I grabbed his arm and twisted it to his back, making him trip. The action wasn't enough to hurt him, but it gave me the advantage I needed to get to the other end of the room and grab the pen.

I turned around, facing Jace with a large smile as I twirled the pen in my fingers. Jace, with his hair slightly in his face, looked up at me with his own smile, pushing himself to his feet.

"What was that?" Randy yelled, causing both of us to drop our smiles and look at him. He quickly walked over to us, looking between the two of us.

"We raced for the pen, like you asked," Jace said, stretching his arm out to gesture towards the pen in my hand.

Randy turned to Jace, taking a few steps until he was right up in his face. "I asked you to fight each other. Not pull a little act and let her win."

Jace shrugged, placing his hands on his hips, "She seemed to know what to do."

Lifting his head a little, Randy nodded slightly. "Well then, if she knows what to do..."

As if his words were the cue, Craig rushed towards me, surprising me and grabbing onto my waste as he took me off my feet. He pinned me to the wall, knocking a gasp from my lips.

"What the Hell!" Jace yelled, but he couldn't even take a beat or step afterwards before Randy started to fight him. They both moved quickly, seeming to match each other in strength and skills.

My elbow slammed hard on Craig's neck, causing him to release me somewhat. I took that opportunity to bring my knees up and push him away from me. Sure, I landed on my butt on the floor, but I recovered quick and threw a kick at his stomach.

Once again, my eyes moved over to Jace, watching him as he was pinned to the ground with a hard thud. Randy got close to his face, showing his teeth. "What are you? A first-year grunt?"

Jace kicked Randy, pushing him off of him before jumping to his feet. My focused returned to Craig who charged at me with a raised fist. I was able to duck and block that one, but missed his other hand doing the same. My left side took the blow, knocking the breath out of me.

Craig grabbed my shirt, tossing me like a rag doll to the side and almost into the table.

For only a second, I caught sight of Jace's worried eyes glance over at me. He broke any control, slamming his foot against Randy before turning. He grabbed one of the stick like object's we trained with, swinging and hitting Randy in the face with it.

When my eyes returned to Craig, he was almost right on top of me, my eyes going wide as he reached down with his large hand.

Before his hand could touch my shirt, Jace was behind him, landing a hard blow with the stick to Craig side. He pushed the stick up against his chest, pushing him towards the wall.

Jace stood in front of my still sitting body. His breath was heavy as he looked between Craig and Randy, death in his eyes.

They all just starred at each other, no one seeming to make a move or a breath. It wasn't until Jace dropped the fighting stick that it all ended. My feet managed to bring me up to a standing position, my mouth still gapped in surprised at what just happened.

Randy took a few steps towards us, Jace immediately growing tense again. "You're weak. Your mind isn't on the fight. Your mind isn't even on your own survival. It on her. And that, will get you killed."

Jace took a step towards Randy, his stance strong and powerful as he looked at the tanned man before him. "Do I look like a first-year grunt to you?" Jace asked through clenched teeth. But Randy didn't respond. "Don't you ever, ever, touch my girl, again. Or I'll break every one of your teeth," Jace threatened.

I was slightly taken back with Jace's words, but Randy didn't even blink.

Turning around only to take my hand, Jace lead us out of the Training Room and into the hallway. The second we were safe away, Jace stopped us, turning around to face me. His hands moved over my arms, his eyes looking at me worriedly.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine," I reassured Jace, my eyes still watching him.

Jace seemed to let out a sigh of relief, dropping his head and hands. He turned, slamming his fist against the wall so hard I was surprised he didn't break his hand or crack the wall.

I didn't jump, because I wasn't afraid. Instead, I chased aft Jace to follow him as he fast walked down the hallway. He turned down another hallway, his body and mind set on one thing. It wasn't until he turned and grabbed one of the many door's handles that I started to understand.

He swung the door open, his eyes set on the blond behind the desk. Lydia immediately stood at the harsh entrance. By Jace's burning eyes on Lydia, he had missed Maryse Lightwood.

"What the Hell was that! What kind of game are you playing?" Jace yelled at Lydia.

Lydia looked confused, shaking her head, "I'm afraid I don't under-"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! Your guys, who you order, just attacked Faith and I. I swear to God, if they had hurt her-"

"Jace!" Maryse yelled, causing both of us to turn to her. Maryse stood with a straight face as she looked at the man who was like her son. "Lydia didn't place the order, I did."

Both Jace and I dropped our mouths in shock.

"Why would you do that?" I asked, beyond confused. I mean, I know she isn't the biggest fan of me, but I didn't ever think she'd go this far.

Maryse looked at me, her words directed at me. "Because I needed you to see how you'd hurt him."

I shook my head, take a couple of steps towards her. "I'd never hurt Jace."

"Not meaning too. But you'd do it. You're in trouble, his guard is down and he only see's you. He'll get hurt trying to save you. Trying to protect you. Even when you're capable of doing it yourself, he'll still want to keep you safe. And you'll do the same for him. At the end of the day, you both will get yourselves killed."

Although I was taking Maryse's words as complete BS and didn't agree with any of it, Jace seemed to think otherwise. His eyes were set off somewhere as Maryse spoke, seeming to soak her words in instead of shoving them out.

"Jace?" I asked, but he didn't respond, instead he turned and walked past me, leaving the office room.

My eyes looked between the two ladies in it, finding Lydia's mouth parted in shock. But I didn't care about that, instead I cared about Jace. I quickly rushed out of the room, racing down the hallway to just catch Jace walking into his room.

"Jace, wait," I said, storming into his room.

With a rub of his face in almost a stress motion, Jace started to pace his room. I closed the door behind me, looking at the man before slightly confused. "What's wrong?"

He didn't say anything, he didn't even move from his pace motions. It made me think he didn't hear me.

"Talk to me, Jace. What's going through your head," I said, taking a couple of steps towards him.

Finally, Jace stopped, turning to look at me as he seemed to debate something in his head. He shrugged, "A story."

I paused, waiting for him to tell me it. When he didn't, I gestured with my hand for him to continue on. He sighed, but finally spoke.

"There was a boy, and his father bought him a falcon for his sixth birthday. His father told him to tame the bird. Make it obedient. And the boy would spend every day with that falcon. It would scratch at him. Make him bleed. But eventually he earned its trust. He brought the bird to his father, to show him that the bird would come back to him. He thought his father would be proud."

"And he was, right?" I asked, not understanding how his story effected this situation.

"No. His father took the falcon and snapped its neck."

My eyes went wide, my voice mumbling out as I looked away slightly. "Well don't lighten the mood or anything."

Jace shook his head, almost frustrated. "You're missing the point. Yes the boy was devastated. But he realized his father was right. He was told to tame the bird not to love it. That's why you have to listen to your head. If I listen to my heart I'll never be able to do my job. Third rule of Shadowhunting, emotions cloud judgment."

I looked at Jace taken back, shocked, and confused, finding my feet taking a step forward. "Yeah, Shadowhunters, not Connections." I took another step towards him, close enough to slip my hand around Jace's neck. "Those guys don't know us."

"They know Shadowhunters," Jace responded.

His words made me drop my hand and look at him slightly sad. "Jace, if being a Shadowhunter means that I have to be dead inside I'm not sure I want to be one."

With those words in the air, I turned and left, even more confused and slightly hurt by Jace's past words. I needed to clear my head, get away from here for a bit. So I returned to my room, showering and changing to find a bruise on my side.

Great.

I ignored the bruise and continued to change, throwing on my leather jacket at the end. Somehow, someway, I managed to sneak out of the Institute, doing something stupid.

Flagging down a cab was easy. Trying to remember where the Chines place was, was a bit harder. Somehow, I managed to find it, leaving the cab and walking into the abandoned restaurant.

To my surprise but gratitude, Luke was in the restaurant, pushing a chair in. He turned, catching me walking in.

"Faith? What are you doing here?" Luke asked, moving over to me. When he didn't see someone behind me, he grew concerned. "Did you come here alone?"

"I had to talk to you... alone."

Luke opened his mouth, probable ready to tell me hoe dangerous this was. But then he saw my face and took back his words. Instead, he gestured over to the table next to us, taking one seat while I took the one across from him.

There was a pause, my eyes on my hands as I tried to find the right words. "What was it like? Changing?"

Slightly taken back, but took the question, Luke let out a sigh. "It wasn't easy going from a revered Shadowhunter to a werewolf. Suddenly, I was foraging for food, unable to control my own body. I lost my family, my friends."

"But not my mom," I commented.

Luke agreed, "No. Jocelyn never abandoned me. Having you, Clary, and Jocelyn in my life kept me from doing something stupid. Knowing that you needed me."

I smiled, "I will never stop needing you."

The room grew silent as Luke looked me over. "Faith, what happened? Where's Jace?"

A sigh left my lips as I looked off for a moment, "We got into a... I don't know. I think he's starting to doubt this whole connection thing. We were training and it got bad with two other guys. He didn't even blink at his own life. He just wanted me to be safe."

"Is that a bad thing?" Luke asked?

My eyes looked at Luke, slightly taken back by his question. "It puts us both in danger. I could get him hurt."

Luke smiled, shaking his head, "Faith, that's not how it works." I looked at him even more confused. "When you're connected to someone like that, it doesn't put you in danger, it makes you safer. Maybe you worry about the other person but that person worries about you. Instead of you worrying about your life, someone else is doing that for you. As long as you and Jace have each other's backs, you'll be the safest you've ever been."

I let Luke's words soak in, seeming for it to make sense.

"Talk to Jace. Tell him what you want," Luke said.

"I'm not sure he even knows what he wants," I said honestly.

"Then ask."

Luke was right. Me sitting here isn't going to get me my answers. Talking to Jace, telling him what I feel and think instead of letting a Connection do that for me, that's the only way we'll get through this.

It's all so new to us, and us sitting here, wondering what the other person is thinking or feeling, it won't get us anywhere. We'll just be walking in place.

"Thank you, Luke," I said, standing. Luke joined me, seeming to welcome the hug I gave him before he watched me leave.

Getting back to the Institute was easier than leaving, relieving me that I wouldn't get myself or someone else in trouble.

Immediately, I headed for Jace's room, going to it like I'd done it a hundred times. I did what a lot of people didn't do for me and knock lightly on the door before opening it.

Jace had changed and was putting something in one of his drawers. When he turned and saw it was me, he quickly started to speak. "Faith. Look, I'm sorry-"

"Wait. Let me talk," I said, putting my hand up and stopping him. Here goes nothing. "Look, I know you think emotions cloud judgment and that whole falcon story, I don't think I'll ever be able to wrap my head around that. But all of that contradicts the first rule of being mundane."

"What's the first rule of being mundane?" Jace asked, listening to my words.

I looked deep into Jace's eyes, hoping he understands my words. "It's that love makes you stronger. It was my mother's love for me that made her betray Valentine and steal the Cup. It's love that makes you fight harder for what you want."

Jace was silent, letting my words soak in.

"I guess the first step is to figure out what you want," I said. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding before I turned and left. Part of me wanted to run back in there and just beg him not to leave me in the dark. The other part need to walk away for a moment, let Jace think things over.

So I found myself with Clary in the basement, soon being joined by Jace then Raphael.

Raphael stood over Simon's body, looking at Clary who's eyes were set on Simon. Jace and I stood on the opposite end of Simon, both of us waiting for Clary's answer to the past question.

"The sun is setting. Have you decided?" Raphael asked?

Clary sucked in a deep breath before nodding. "Turn him," She said, her voice cracking as she spoke. I quickly went to my sister, wrapping my arms around her as she leaned her head against me.

My eyes looked up at Jace, meeting his for only a moment before he looked at Simon. With his arms, he picked Simon up, carrying him the same way Raphael did before.

Raphael, who came prepared with a shovel and a wooden stake, grabbed the shovel. We all followed Raphael and Jace as they led the way out of the basement and into the night.

We made our way to the cemetery, finding an empty slot for Simon. Jace laid him on the ground and took a step back as Clary finally released herself from me. She took a step towards Simon, her eyes set on him.

The sudden sound of faint footsteps made me look away from my sister, Jace doing the same. Camille stood, dressed in her expensive red dress as she looked at us with a straight face.

Quickly, I pulled out my blade, Jace doing the same as we both faced Camille. "What do you want?" I asked, venom in my voice as I held my blade at the ready.

"I want my property back," Camille said, her eyes only glancing at Simon.

Clary quickly stepped forward, my arm catching her and stopping her before she got to close. "Simon is not your property!"

Camille completely ignored Clary, looking over at Jace and I like we were the ones in charge. We were the ones with the weapons. "If you'll just hand him over, I'll be on my way."

"You heard Clary. You're not laying a hand on him," Jace said, venom seeming to replicate into his words.

The smirk that stayed on Camille's face vanished, turning into a look of anger, "Fine. I tried to do this the nice way." Suddenly, at least 12 different vampires showed up, all separated and leaving nothing open for an escape.

My eyes went wide at the surrounding vampires, my feet taking a step back automatically. "Jace," I said, seeming to find no other word to say.

Raphael, though, found his words and stepped up front, blocking us from Camille as he stood his ground. "I'm glad you brought everyone here to witness your demise. Camille killed this mundane. Now, I have all the proof. She's been breaking the Accords for too long now. He's the evidence we need to show the Clave what Camille has been doing."

The queen vampire chuckled at Raphael's statement, "Are you trying to overthrow me?"

"No. I already have," Raphael smirked. As if his words were the cue, more vampire showed up, seeming to double the size.

Camille looked around, noticing the vampires seeming to look at Raphael more than here. Almost panicked, Camille tried to cover his words up. "Don't listen to him. Raphael doesn't know the first thing about leading. You need me. I've given you everything you could want. All the riches. All the pleasures you could desire."

"By breaking the law. Which will only destroy us."

Camille gestured towards Simon, "We can fix this. If we just get rid of the body, this mundane means nothing."

""Means nothing"?" Clary rose an eyebrow. She tore her arm from my hand, making her way over to Camille who watched her closely. "Over my dead body," Clary hissed before throwing a hard punch.

As Clary returned to us, the vampires attacked Camille, carrying away. As quickly as all of this started, it ended, leaving us right back at square one once again.

My sister grabbed the shovel, starting the hole that would sit 6ft deep. She started it, but let me finish it. She whispered different things to Simon's body near-by but my mind was just focusing on making the hole.

Once done, I tossed the shovel up, looking over at Jace with a single nod. Between Raphael and Jace, they were able to ease him into the hole, letting me lay him straight inside.

I reached my hand up to grab the edge of the hole, but instead reached up to feel an electric touch. My head looked up, finding Jace's hand in mine as he starred down at me. His eyes, his eyes told it all despite no words or comments being said.

He gripped my hand, pulling me up with ease as he moved his free hand to my waste to secure my stance. We met eyes for only a second before my ears picked up on the crying of my sister as she looked at Simon's body.

Without a word, I moved over to my sister, wrapping her in my arms and letting her cry into my chest. Jace grabbed the shovel, taking the job of reburying Simon while Raphael stood by and watched.

Once reburied, Clary took my hand, moving us over to Simon's grab and sitting on top of it. She brought me down to her, causing Jace to kneel beside me as we waited like ducks.

"He's strong, he'll be okay," I reassured my sister. But even then, I worried the outcome of it all.

The ground beneath us started to rustle and shake like an earthquake.

"It's happening," Raphael said, causing my sister to quickly stand and move back. Jace lightly grabbed my arm, pulling me back away from the freshly placed dirt. The four of us stood, watching as the ground shook for only a second more before stopping.

Like a scene from a horror movie, a hand burst through the dirt, reaching and pulling the rest of its body out. Simon gasped as he reached the surface, his skin and clothes covered in layers of dirt. As he gasped, my eyes caught sight of his sharp teeth, confirming what he had become.

Simon kneels on the ground, looking around franticly as his breath picks up. Some might even call it a panic attack.

"Simon. Simon, it's me. It's Clary," My sister tried to grab her friend's attention but fails in the matter.

Without a thought, I take a couple of steps towards Simon, hoping that the movement would catch his attention and bring him to realization. It grabbed his attention, but not in the way I hopped. He lunges on his hands and knees, letting out a hiss.

I yelp, taking only a step back before I feel Jace's hand on my arm. He pulls me behind him, taking front in center for any attack. But one doesn't come.

"Once reborn, you emerge hungry," Raphael says, throwing down two blood bags by Simon. Simon glances at them, noticing what they are, before digging into them hungrily. "Very hungry," Raphael added, watching the freshly made vampire devour its food.

As the bags reach the bottom and Simon's stomach reaches full, it seems to reconnect his mind with his surroundings. He's still breathing heavily, but his eyes rest on Clary.

"Clary, what's happening?" Simon stutters, terrified.

"You, um, you died," Clary says, unsure how to say the words. There was no beating around the bush this time. There was no more lies to be told. The truth, straight forward, was the best and only option.

Simon's eyes go wide, "I what?" He catches the empty blood bags, grabbing them as he asks, "What's this?" Once he realizes what it is, he gasps, quickly reaching up to his teeth to find the, pointed. "Oh, my... Oh, my... Why can't I say-"

"God?" Raphael finished, causing Simon to look up at Raphael. "It'll take time to regain the ability. There's a lot you will need to learn."

Shaking his head and banging his fists against the dirt, Simon yells, "Damn it! Am I... Am I a vampire?"

This time, he doesn't look at Clary for answers, but me. My mouth drops slightly in surprise and search for the right words. The only words that manage to leave are one. "Yeah."

Simon starts freaking out again, stuttering as he looks at his friend. "Clary, tell me this isn't real. Tell me this is not really happening!"

Clary's eyes fill with tears but she doesn't let them fall as she apologizes. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"I'm repulsive!"

My sister shakes her head, taking a small step towards Simon as she tries to talk him out of his monstrous thoughts. "No, please, please don't say that, okay? You're still the same, Simon. You're the same Simon I've known my whole life. The same guy who loves sci-fi. And who can recite every line from every Nicolas Cage movie." Her tears begin to fall. "The same Simon who carried me over the Brooklyn Bridge when I lost my shoe, okay?"

"No, Clary, I'm not!" Simon yells.

"Yes, you are, Simon! You are the same Simon! You are my best friend!" Clary yells, trying to reach her friend that seems to be yanked deeper inside.

Simon shook his head, standing up as he looks at his friend with so many emotions that I can't even pick one to follow. "I'm not. I'm nothing more than a monster."

"No, Simon, your not," I try to reach him, but Jace won't let me pass and Simon won't listen to my words.

"Stay away! Please just stay away," Simon says, looking at us saddened. In seconds, he turns, racing off just as quickly as the other vampires did.

We watch as he becomes a blur, then nothing but a memory to us. I hear my sister mumble out his name, but she can't seem to voice it any louder.

Raphael walked over to the three of us, looking at clary the most, "I'll look after Simon. You have my word." With that, he leaves, becoming a blue then a memory as well.

I look at the back of my sister, hearing her repeat her words over and over. "What did I do? What did I do?"

My hand slides down Jace's arm, grabbing onto his for comfort. He gives it to me, squeezing it just enough to reassure me that he's be there, even when I didn't want him too. Even if I asked him not too.

He didn't need to say it. Our Connections made it known to my mind what he wanted.

He wanted me.

Well, that was a roller coaster of a chapter. Like my life right now lol. Either way, I hope you enjoyed the little growth between Jace and Faith. I wouldn't call what they had a fight, just a moment of growth.

Anyways, as you can see I've added Gifs. Please note that same may have Clary in them with Jace, if you could just pretend that it's Faith, that'd be great. Special thanks to @Call_me_shanna for giving me the idea of gifs and continuously commenting <3

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