Middle School of Bones - A Mortal Instruments Story

Chapter 11

Jace took us back to school after I told him what we'd overheard. He said it was time for the Silent Brothers. And that meant telling the other Shadowhunters.

"Are you going to get in trouble when your parents find out what's going on?" I asked. I was sure that under ordinary circumstances, my mom would be mad at me for everything I'd done in the last twenty-four hours.

Jace shook his head. "You're one of us. Any Shadowhunter is welcome in the Institute for as long as they need. Plus, they aren't my parents."

"Oh. Okay."

"If Clary's going, I want to go too," Simon spoke up. We were just approaching the school. Jace scanned a keycard, and the leftmost door popped open.

"Don't be silly." Jace stuck a foot in the door to keep it from closing. "Clary, this way."

"I want Simon to come," I said. I didn't want to leave him behind. I'd already lost mom and Luke, and if Simon left, I was scared I'd lose him too. I'd already abandoned him once, I couldn't do that again.

"See," Simon said, arms crossed.

Jace muttered something about seventh graders. He sighed and motioned inwards with his chin. Simon and I darted inside before he could change his mind.

---

Simon was practically bouncing off the walls as the elevator doors opened to the school's basement.

"This is so cool! Has this been down here the whole time?" He flew down the hall, touching everything he passed. "It's like the Bat Cave. Do you guys have a signal to call you? Is there a mascot? Do you have costumes?"

Before Jace could decide to send Simon back upstairs, a large gray cat came from around the corner. He purred loudly and settled by Jace's feet.

Jace shook the cat off. "Not now, Church. I'm busy."

"Busy? Busy doing what?" I looked up from the cat to see a woman standing in front of us. She looked just like Isabelle, only she looked older and wore nicer clothes. She had on a black suit, and her deep black hair was pulled up. "And who are these?"

"I was looking for you," Jace said. He managed to kick the cat away, and it sulked over to me. "Alec, Izzy, and I found something last night. I think it'd be best to talk about this with everyone."

The woman looked over the three of us and nodded. Her eyes were hard. "Very well. I'll gather everyone in the library."

---

The woman, Maryse Lightwood, led us back to the room I'd seen before. There were two men there as well, Gideon Lightwood and Hodge, and the three siblings entered a second later.

"Isabelle, Max, if you could please wait outside," Maryse started. "You're not allowed until you're Alec's age."

"Isabelle should stay," Jace spoke up. "She already knows about this." Maryse nodded. Isabelle sneered at her brother as he stomped out of the room.

"Can you tell us the meaning of this?" Gideon demanded. Jace stepped forward coolly. He explained everything, beginning with his mission at the party and finding me to bringing me to my house and his Sensor going off. He explained healing me with an iratz and everything that followed. He ended with his suggestion of calling the Silent Brothers. Mr. Lightwood frowned.

"That's... a lot," Maryse said. "But I agree. The Silent Brothers might be the best option to find answers." Then she turned to me. It was the first time she'd looked at me this whole time. "I must warn you, though, it isn't pleasant. Some of our best Shadowhunters can't stand the pain. There's no telling what would happen to someone who isn't used to this before. Are you sure about this?"

Under the table, Simon squeezed my hand. I knew that there was nowhere else I could go for information. This was the only option.

"I'm sure," I said.

Maryse nodded. "We'll send a message to meet tonight. Until then, make yourself comfortable." Then she left, her husband trailing behind. Isabelle stood up from her chair.

"I'm hungry," she declared. "Anyone feel like going to Taki's?"