Middle School of Bones - A Mortal Instruments Story

Chapter 17

Magnus led Jace, Alec, and me away from the filled rooms to an empty one. At some point, Isabelle and Simon had disappeared from our group. I hoped Isabelle would keep him from being trampled. Or kidnapped. Or killed. But I had bigger things to worry about than the two of them as Magnus shut the door behind us. The doorknob sparked with blue energy as he touched it, and the sounds of the party dissolved into silence.

Magnus's room was like being transported in time. The furniture was crazy fancy, from his bed to the carpet to the chandelier. One wall held a giant tv with a record player on the side table beneath it. In the corner was a cat bed about the size of my bed at home. The closet across the room was open and filled with clothes of every color, spilling out scarves and sparkles and shoes. Next to it was some sort of tapestry thing striped pink, purple, and blue. It didn't really match the rest of Magnus's aesthetic, but Alec seemed to like it since he kept glancing at it. Everything was dazzling and so unlike place I'd ever seen. Magnus took a seat on a plush golden green armchair, and I sat on the matching sofa beside it.

"Care to explain this visit, Clary?" Magnus asked. 

I scooted to the edge of my seat and said, "You signed my brain."

Magnus winced. "It was some of my best work."

I hadn't thought he'd admit to it right away. I shook it off and kept going. "I want my memories back."

Magnus paused, and his voice was gentle when he spoke. "Has Jocelyn explained everything to you?" It was hard to remember he was older than he looked, and it felt weird he was using my mom's first name.

I bit my lips. "She was kidnapped yesterday. I'm trying to find her."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Jocelyn didn't tell me much, but I can tell you what I know." Magnus glanced towards Jace and Alec. "I assume you both are just going to keep standing there this whole time?" When Jace and Alec continued to look threatening, Magnus muttered, "As bad as werewolves."

"The story?" I reminded.

"Yes. Back, what, four, five years ago? When you were a baby. Joceyln brought you here. I don't know how she found me, but she told me she wanted to raise you mortal, and she asked me to take away your Sight."

"She knew I was a Shadowhunter," I realized. Magnus nodded.

"I told her that it was a difficult spell, but she insisted. It worked, but you had to come back every three years for me to recast it. She has so far, until this year. I assumed that meant she'd decided the spell wasn't necessary anymore."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't. "Well, can you undo it?" I asked. 

Magnus waved his hand. "It'll reverse on its own." He stood. "Go, enjoy the party. And make sure your Shadowhunters behave."

"Wait-" I started, but he was already ushering us through the door. It shut behind us with a shimmer of blue. Magnus had barely given us any information, and I didn't know the next step to finding my mom. I turned to Jace and Alec. "What do we do now?"

Jace shrugged. "Find Izzy and head back to the Institute."

"What? But Magnus could still help us!"

"He's a Warlock," Jace said. "Warlocks don't help Shadowhunters unless they get something out of it."

I scowled. Alec was being quiet, so I turned to him. "What do you think?"

Alec blinked. "Jace is probably right."

Jace smirked. "See. And Alec never agrees with me. Come on."

Jace and Alec sank into the crowd, and I tried my best to keep up. We circled around through the maze of rooms until I saw Isabelle by a food table. I scanned the area for Simon but didn't see him.

"Where's Simon?" I shouted once I got close enough for her to hear. Isabelle was leaning against the table, looking somehow weightless. She tossed her head, and loose strands of hair twirled.

"Simon," she declared, "is a rat."

I wasn't sure if I heard her right. "He's a what?" 

"No, Simon is a rat." Isabelle held up the tablecloth before I could ask. Underneath was a small rat, unlike the kinds I'd seen on the streets before. I knelt down, and he crept over to me.

"Simon? Is that you?" The rat stood on his little feet. I held out my hands, and he climbed up. He squeaked at me. The rat looked very much like Simon.

"I'm so sorry. I'll never leave you alone with Isabelle again, I promise," I said as I gave Simon a hug. "How did this happen?"

Isabelle answered. "He took a drink from a faerie. I told him not to, but he didn't listen. The drink looked like mud anyway. It's his own fault, really."

Simon squeaked something I couldn't understand. I stood up. "How do I change him back?"

Isabelle shrugged. "It'll wear off after an hour or so. Probably."

I groaned. "Fine. But we're going back to the Institute now. I'm done with this place."