𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 ━━ ISABELLE LIGHTWOOD

32

"PEOPLE WILL BE WONDERING what we found outside the perimeter." Jace said making Alec look at him, "I'll go. I'll tell them we didn't find anything. Nobody will come down here." The older Lightwood then left the place.

"I might be a vampire. . . but I was raised a good Catholic," Raphael made the sign of a cross, looking at the Shadowhunters apologetically.

"The Vampires breached the Accords. Killing Simon is grounds for war." Isabelle spoke up making the vampire look at him, "the Vampires were not behind this. Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own."

"And how do we know you're telling the truth?"

"He could have gotten rid of him, but instead he brought him here." Kade spoke with his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, "and I know him, he wouldn't do that."

Raphael shot him a thankful look, nodding as he said, "I don't want trouble with the Shadowhunters—especially not Kade."

"Smart decision." Isabelle muttered, standing beside her boyfriend.

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

"The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you!" Clary snapped, clenching her jaw in anger, "you kidnapped him! You drug him to the Hotel DuMort. You—" the redhead gritted her teeth at the vampire, "— you delivered him to Camille!"

"Enough." Kade cut in, his voice sending chills down Clary's spine which shut her up instantly. "If your mundane friend didn't interfere in this world, none of this would've happened. He would still be alive right now. You should've made him leave the second he came here but no—" he began mimicking, "— we're a package deal," he nodded towards the mundane's dead body, "there goes that."

Clary was quiet. She knew he was right. She should've made him leave but she didn't. She didn't want to be alone dealing with all of that. If there was anyone to blame then it was herself.

"I never meant for this to happen." Raphael spoke quietly.

"There's no need for blame," Kade sighed. "What's done is done."

"Simon. Simon, please come back, please!" Clary sobbed as she clutched to Simon's body.

"There is a way." Raphael spoke making Jace frown, "a way what?"

"A way to bring Simon back." At Raphael's words, Kade let out a sigh, already knowing what he was going to propose.

"You can do that?" Clary raised her brows, "how? How?"

"He's a fledgling. It's a state of transition." Raphael explained receiving a warning glare from Kade which he chose to ignore, "your friend can be resurrected."

"No." Kade and Jace said at the same time while Isabelle shook her head at the redhead, "Clary, no."

"So I could have Simon back? Alive and breathing?" Clary asked to which Isabelle replied, "That's just it. He won't return alive or breathing. He'll be a vampire."

"And not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, bloodsucking, coffin-dwelling kind." Jace said making Raphael frown, "That's offensive. Coffin implies wooden box. We have caskets now. They're made of 14-karat gold."

"My bad." Jace muttered as Raphael spoke again, "It's almost sunrise. Simon must be turned into a vampire tonight or staked through the heart."

"And if I do neither?" Clary asked to which Kade replied, "His soul will be trapped for eternity."

"You have till sunset to decide." Raphael added, "The clock is ticking."

"This is a very bad idea," Kade muttered, looking at Raphael who shrugged at him, "I'll look after him. . . if she chooses that path."

"Would Simon want that, though?" Kade's question was directed to no one in particular yet the redhead felt like he was asking it to her as she replied, "no, I don't know— but I'm not letting him die. I don't want to lose my best friend."

"Thing is, he's already dead." Kade retorted with not much regret in his voice. "Death is part of life, Clary. People come and go. His time's up, you can't bring him back just because you don't wanna lose your best friend. I'm pretty sure he won't want that." He sighed when he felt Isabelle's hand lacing through his in an attempt to calm him down, "but you do you, I guess."

"You're heartless," Clary glared at him, "how can you say that so casually? I lost someone! Do you even know how that feels like?"

"Clary—" Jace placed a hand on the redhead's shoulders to prevent her from speaking further, "— that's enough."

"Actually, I do know."

"I'm sorry," Clary shot him an apologetic look, "I didn't—"

"— Save it," Kade glared at Clary who was taken aback by his words. "I don't care what you do. This is your mess," he pointed to Simon's body. "Deal with it before it gets messier." he then grabbed Isabelle's hand and walked out of the basement.