Not Just a Mundane//An Alec Lightwood Story

- 8 -

Selena's POV

" Wait a minute. You're telling me this girl shows up out of nowhere and she's Valentine's daughter. Did it ever occur to you that she might be a spy? This might be part of her plan?" Alec questions sharply, his eyes narrowing. I shake my head in disbelief.

That's enough, Alec," Jace snaps, his tone hard.

Clary steps forward, her voice shaking as tears run down her face. " Do you think I planned for my mom to get kidnapped? Or.. or dor Dot to be taken? Or to have a giant sword dangle over my head and find out that my father is one of the most dangerous people in the world? Or to even drag Selena, my best friend other than Simon, into this world? Really?" 

"Clary..." I start, but she cuts me off, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Where's Simon?"

I glance toward the van and see Izzy approaching, but there's no sign of Simon. Anxiety rises in my chest.

"Where is he?" I ask Izzy, my voice laced with worry.

" I told him to stay in the van. I've searched everywhere," she says, frustration evident in her tone.

Dread washes over me. "He's gone?" I echo, panic settling in.

"I can't find him," Izzy sighs.

"You were supposed to protect him! Simon!" Clary screams, her voice cracking with anger, before pushing past Izzy and running toward the van.

" Ugh, these mundanes are killing me," Jace mutters, exasperated.

I shoot him a sharp glare. "That mundane is also my best friend. So, cool it," I snap before running after Clary.

When I reach the van, the passenger door is wide open, and Clary is frantically calling Simon's name.

Suddenly, a voice calls from above, "Is that the mundane's name?" I look up to see two figures standing on the ironwork of a nearby bridge. A man and a woman, and the woman is holding Simon upside down.

"If you hurt one hair on his head, I swear I'll unleash hell on you!" I shout, my fists clenched. The man chuckles darkly.

"I'm afraid Simon's coming with us," he says with a cruel smile.

" No! No, he's not a part of this!" Clary shouts, running into Jace's side for support.

" And it will be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him," Jace growls, his voice filled with threat.

"Careful," Alec warns, his voice steady. "We'd be violating the Accords."

The man above smirks. " I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right."

"What are the Accords?" I ask, feeling lost in the middle of all this chaos.

"I'll explain later," Izzy says quickly, her eyes still fixed on the disappearing figures above.

"The Night Children have broken no laws. We're negotiating—the mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup. And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people," the man's voice echoes ominously before they both vanish into the night.

Clary shouts after Simon, her voice laced with desperation. I quickly wrap my arms around her, pulling her close as she breaks down, tears streaming from her eyes.

"We need to get back to the Institute," Alec says, his voice calm but urgent as he looks between Clary and me.

I give him a quick nod, gently releasing Clary from the embrace. Guiding her toward the van, I help her into the passenger seat before climbing into the driver's seat myself.