FROM THE SHADOWS

[11] DAD

Trigger warning: blood and panicked thoughts

. . . . . 

At the Jade Wolf, the four Shadowhunters decided to split up to look for Clary and Simon. Izzy quickly claimed Mabel and dragged her along before either of her brothers could object. Mabel didn't mind and joined Izzy's side as they kept a look out for the pack.

"This way. We can sneak around the back to the cool cellars." Mabel led the way and Izzy followed her lead.

"Did you come here often? Growing up?"

Mabel hummed, "Yeah, at least once or twice a week. I know everyone in the pack. They're like my extended family, you know?"

"Isn't this weird then? Sneaking around to undermine them?" Izzy glanced over her shoulder to make sure the coast was clear. Mabel shook her head.

"No. They're my extended family. Clary is my sister."

Izzy dropped it but smiled to herself at the answer. She didn't ask anything else as they continued. They heard a wheezing noise and rushed forward. Sharing a look, they didn't need words to agree that the wheezing sound from behind the bars was probably Simon. Izzy used her whip to tear off the bars. Mabel leant her back against the wall and cupped her hands together to give Izzy a leg-up. That way, Izzy reached the bars and spotted Simon.

She smirked, "I'm getting seriously tired of saving your life."

"I am not." Simon sounded far too excited. Mabel rolled her eyes.

"Tone it down, Casanova," she called out. She heard Simon clear his throat and could almost see his blush. Izzy leant down and helped pull Simon out of the cell. Once he was back on his own feet, he immediately threw his arms around Mabel.

"God, am I glad to see you."

Mabel chuckled and hugged him back. "You too, Garfunkel." She patted his back and they pulled away. "Now, let's see if my boys found Clary yet."

"Yeah. Yes. Let's go." Simon grabbed onto her hand and Mabel didn't pull away, realizing that he needed the comfort. Her comfort. Simon may have been Clary's best friend, but the two of them had known each other for as long as either could remember. They bickered and taunted each other, but if Simon called her, Mabel would be there and vice versa.

The three of them moved around the building through the front. A fog had started to cover the docks, making it harder for them to keep an eye on their surroundings. Still, when they reached the front of the Chinese restaurant, they easily spotted Alec, Jace and Clary coming their way. Mabel was faster than Simon and rushed forward. "Clare."

Before Clary could blink, Mabel had thrown her arms around her. "I'm okay. I'm okay, promise."

"Thank God." Mabel pulled back, scanning her over. She didn't find anything to raise her concern, so she stepped aside just as Simon threw himself at Clary. She blocked out their conversation and scanned over Jace and Alec. "You two alright?"

"Yeah, we're good," Jace assured her. Mabel glanced at Alec, who nodded in agreement. "You?"

"Fine, yeah."

"Good." Jace glanced at Clary and Simon, who were still fussing over each other, and interrupted. "Hate to break up this little reunion, but we got a bunch of werewolves trying to kill us so maybe we should get going—"

"Wait, wait, the box," Clary realized. "My backpack. We left it at the loft."

"No, we've got it. I didn't screw up everything," Alec countered. Mabel narrowed her eyes.