'Don't move!' Jace commanded. Alec and Isabelle raised their weapons beside him.
'Drop what you're holding. Put your hands up.' Alec aimed his bow toward the vampire.
Miriam stepped from behind Raphael, her hands in surrender, her best friend in his arms.
She braced herself as Clary ran out of the institute, her blade in front of her. She began to lower her arm, lips parted in shock.
'Oh my god.' She panted. The rest of the group lowered their weapons. 'Simon?!' She screamed.
Clary looked evilly toward Raphael. 'What have you done to him?!'
'He hasn't done anything!' Miriam spat. 'Do you really think we'd be here if he did?'
Clary looked angry but had nothing to argue, her eyes darted between Miriam and Raphael.
'This was Camille's work.' Raphael said, hanging his head low. 'You need to make a decision on what to do with him.'
Jace nodded. 'Bring him inside.'
~~~~
Raphael laid Simon's lifeless body atop the table, and Jace propped his head up gently with a book. Miriam sniffled quietly in the corner as she sat on an empty wooden bench. She felt a hand touch her shoulder, looking beside her, she saw a mop of messy black hair.
'You okay?' Said Alec.
She didn't speak. Instead, she nodded her head and looked away from him, blinking away the tears that formed along her waterline.
'Okay.' He breathed. 'I need to go sort things out upstairs.'
Miriam nodded, but this time she didn't look at him. She hated the fact that she could be so strong, but break down the minute someone asked if she was okay. She gulped, keeping her eyes trained on the concrete floor.
Raphael began to speak. 'I may be a vampire, but I was raised a good Catholic.' Miriam watched him as he mimed a cross over his chest. Raphael looked up at her, bowing his head with a courteous nod. She smiled weakly and looked quickly back towards the floor.
'The vampires have broken the accords.' Said Isabelle. 'This is grounds for war.'
Miriam's face twisted. 'Didn't you hear him, Isabelle? It was Camille. She attacked him on her own.'
Jace scoffed from beside his sister.
'You got something to say, shadow boy?' Miriam spat.
'Yeah, I do actually.'
'Well go on, don't be shy.'
Jace chuckled. 'How do we know your little blood-sucking boyfriend is telling the truth?' He spoke mockingly.
Miriam rose to her feet but Raphael was faster than her, he'd appeared beside her, hand on her shoulder. 'Sit. He commanded her.
'I trust him. She said as she lowered herself back down onto the cold bench.
Raphael smiled at Miriam's words. 'I could've gotten rid of him, but instead, I brought him here. Comprende?'
Jace shook his head, he did not argue.
'And besides.' Raphael continued. 'Miriam thought she owed Clary the opportunity to make her own decision about the boy.'
'Miri, is that true?' Clary asked. Her face was stained with tears.
'You've known him longer than I have.'
'Thank you.' Clary croaked.
Miriam didn't look at her sister, if she could even call her that.
'I warned the mundane to stay away.' Raphael said and Miriam jerked away from him.
'You knew?' She seethed. 'You knew and you never told me?'
'I'm sorry.' Rapahel looked defeated.
'Trust him now?' Jace laughed.
'Oh shut your fucking mouth shadow boy.' Miriam screamed making everybody in the room jump.
'You attacked Camille when you found out about Simon.' argued Raphael.
'So what?' She retorted.
'I didn't want you doing anything stupid. Miriam, please. I never wanted him to get hurt.' He pleaded with her making Jace scoff at his words but Raphael ignored him. 'There's nothing you could've done, I can promise you that.'
'I could've protected him!' Miriam shouted. She felt the hot liquid escaping her eyes, she wiped the tears away harshly. 'He was my friend.' Miriam said as she began to back away toward the door. Her lips parted and the sound that came out was barely a whisper. 'My only friend.' She finally looked at Clary, now speaking louder. 'Make the damn decision.' She said and left the room.
~~~~
The sun was beginning to rise now and Miriam knew that no matter what, Simon would never feel the warmth of the morning again. She could hear footsteps behind her but she didn't move, the familiar clacking of heels hit the steps as Isabelle Lightwood sat next to her.
'I think you're really brave Miriam.' She said in her smooth voice.
'Thanks.' Miriam smiled at the dark-haired girl.
'I don't think Raphael knew that Camille was going to kill Simon. Honestly.' She said gently.
Miriam scoffed and looked away, her blonde hair floating with the gentle breeze.
'You want to blame the world because you don't like that you're hurting.'
Miriam stared at her. Isabelle thought she was about to snap, tell her to back off.
'You're right.' She sighed.
Isabelle took Miriam's hand in her own and smiled sweetly. 'No matter what happens, you have us now. Me and Alec will always be here for you. We're your friends. If you want us to be.'
'I'd like that.' Miriam replied.
'Good.' Said Isabelle. 'You ready to come back in?'
Miriam took a deep breath. 'I'm ready.'
