City of Secrets

Chapter 17

"Hey! Let Simon go!" Jace yelled pointing his seraph blade at Simon's attacker.

"No I need answers now!"

Simon's heart was hammering in his chest. He couldn't believe this was happening, he thought he would be safe here with Jace. How had he been found? "Please don't do this", Simon said but it was the wrong thing to say. Simon cried out in pain as he was slammed onto the floor again.

"Where is Alec Lightwood? TELL ME NOW!"

Simon braced himself but was unable to stop his whimper when he was slammed again, though this time Simon's attacker was so angry the blade fell out of his hand as it was shaking so much. Jace took advantage and threw the man off Simon and punched him. Jace pulled Simon behind him and held his seraph blade ready to attack again. The man lunged at him allowing his fury to take over. Though this allowed Jace to easily dodge the move as the man wasn't thinking properly. Jace was about to attack but Simon used his magic to throw the man against the wall and he fell unconscious to the ground.

"Hey I had that under control", Jace said disappointed. He was hoping to impress Simon by saving him not the other way around.

"I was worried for you Jace, I didn't want you to get hurt".

Jace's eyes softened and he pulled Simon into a hug, "Are you okay?"

Simon nodded against Jace's chest, not trusting himself to speak. Had it been any other situation he was sure Jace would have teased him about being speechless for once, but he was grateful that in this instance Jace didn't tease him. Instead he tightened his hug making Simon's heart melt.

"Simon who was he?"

Simon sighed, he knew Jace would ask him again but it was difficult to talk about. It brought back terrible memories. "He's Jason Ross, the man that Maryse tricked me into believing he was abusing Alec. I erased Alec's memories of him and I erased Jason's memories of Alec".

Jace's eyes widened in shock. He didn't recognise Jason at all, he would have remembered him if he had been with Alec and Jace had another realization. "Wait Simon, did you erase my memories of him too? And how does Jason remember Alec?"

"Maryse didn't want to take any chances so she wanted me to erase Jason from everyone's memory who knew him including you. I'm sorry Jace but I thought I was protecting Alec. As for Jason I don't know how he remembers Alec he shouldn't. Maybe someone got his memories back for him... Maybe Robert or Valentine did".

"Honestly, I'm glad you erased my memories. They would have been really painful you know seeing Jason with Alec", Jace said.

Simon looked away sadly, the warm feeling in his heart fading away. He felt the familiar pang of heartache whenever Jace talked about his feelings for Alec. "So um... What are we going to do about Jason?" Simon said to change the subject.

Jace released Simon and glared at Jason's unconscious form. "I don't know. Normally I would say bring him to the institute, especially as he's after Alec. But it isn't safe for you there right now".

"You could bring him to the institute, I will be fine here".

"No way!"

"Jace-"

"You were just attacked, Jason could have killed you. You thought you were safe here but Jason found you, I can't leave you alone".

"I have magic remember? I can defend myself".

"Your magic couldn't protect you from Raj!" Jace yelled.

Simon gaped in shock and hurt at Jace, how could he say that? He had trusted Jace with his secret of what Raj had done to him and now he was using it against him! Just like Camille used to do with the secrets Simon had confided in her and now that Jace was doing it too it hurt so much. Simon tried to storm off but Jace grabbed his arm. "Wait Simon I'm so sorry I'm just scared for you".