Middle School of Bones - A Mortal Instruments Story

Chapter 21

My heart swelled at Luke's voice before I remembered the last time I'd heard it. I clung to Simon to keep myself from running forward. 

"Clary, I need to take you home," Luke said. "Your mom- something happened. She wanted you to stay with me until she comes back."

"You're lying," I argued. "Simon and I heard you at your house. You're some kind of monster. How do I know you didn't take my mom?"

I wanted Luke to hurt the way I felt, or at the very least try to defend himself. He instead looked sad. "I didn't mean for you to find out like that. Please, come with me and I'll explain everything. I've been looking for you since I found out about Jocelyn."

I crossed my arms tightly. "Why should I believe you? You're not the Luke I know. The Luke I know doesn't lie to me." I didn't care if I was being mean. We'd just escaped murderous werewolves, possibly the same ones I'd heard in Luke's house. If he'd kept this much from me, how could he be anything other than them.

Luke stepped forward, and Simon squeezed my arm. Luke stilled but met my eyes. "I'd never, ever hurt you, Clary," Luke said. "Jocelyn made me promise not to tell you anything. I tried to tell her it was a bad idea to keep it secret, but she wouldn't listen." He chanced another step forward. "I just want to bring you and your mom home."

I'd known Luke my whole life. He was basically my dad, the person I went to when I needed someone to fix my fights with mom. I couldn't not trust him.

I shifted out of Simon's protection to step into Luke's open arms and tried not to cry.

"I can take you home with me," Luke whispered to me while I sniffled. As exhausted as I was from what my life had become, I couldn't go with Luke. I needed to stay with the Shadowhunters. It was my best chance of saving my mom.

"I want to stay here."

Luke looked over my shoulder at Jace, standing coolly to the side against the brick pillar. He looked scarier than ever after the long night. He winked at me when he saw me looking.

Luke cleared his throat. "Simon?"

"I'm staying, too," Simon said. 

Luke nodded. "Great. I can tell your mom you're at my house with Clary." He gave me another hug. "I'll come back here after you get some sleep. Call me once you wake up."

I nodded. Jace, thankfully silent of any sarcastic comments for the moment, slid by us and opened the door. Luke said something to Simon that I couldn't hear, but he waved me goodbye as the three of us went into the school.

---

I followed Jace blindly down to the Institute and through the halls. 

"Guest rooms," he announced. "Little girl," he jutted his chin towards an empty room to the left, "and rat boy." He nodded to a second room. 

"Thanks, Jace," I yawned, but Jace had turned back down the empty hall and stalked off, like he had someplace else he needed to be. I pushed open the door.

I collapsed onto the bed, and my eyes shut on their own. The last thing I remembered was Simon in the doorway, turning out the light.

---

I couldn't tell what time it was when I woke up. There was a blanket over my shoulders, and I found Simon asleep at the foot of my bed, still wearing his glasses. I took them off and set them on the nightstand, moving carefully so I didn't wake him. I remembered my promise to Luke, so I slipped into the hall to look for a phone.

Even though I knew the layout of the Institute from upstairs, it didn't help me figure out which rooms were which. I circled the hallways, peeking inside doors, until I ran into someone.