City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments Fan-fic)

Chapter 7: A Spark of Hope

Maureen slipped into the hideout after her clan of vampires, locking the deadbolt on the small metal door behind her. She nodded at her second and third in command to take the two prisoners below in their new cell, right next to the bloodthirsty demons in the dungeons. As the two vampires closed the large door after them, disappearing into the prison cells, Maureen couldn't help feeling slightly guilty, an emotion she wasn't particularly used to. Simon's limp, unconcious body had reminded her of the old days, when she was human, unaware of the Shadow World. She had adored him before, had she not? And now, he was her prisoner, most likely just waiting for his imminent death by Sebastian's hands.

Maureen shook herself firmly, forcing her mind out of it's stupor. What was she thinking? Sebastian was who she loved. She had moved on from her stupid, little, foolish human life. She was different now.

And she would have to face Sebastian soon. Without her, his most wanted possession. No doubt, he would be angry with her. Maureen took a deep breath and knocked on the huge wooden doors at the end of the corridor, the "meeting room".

Almost immediately, as if he had been waiting for Maureen, the door creaked open, revealing Sebastian as usual, his face hard and unyeilding. "Did it go well?" He stood still in the doorway, not letting her through into the room. When she wasn't invited in, it usually meant she would be in trouble soon.

She bit her lip, afraid of his response. "Well, I captured your brother. And a vampire, one of their close friends." Maureen glanced up at Sebastian's face, but it showed no emotion.

"Are they alive?"

Maureen nodded. "One's hurt pretty bad, but he'll live. And the vampire heals on his own, so..." Her voice faltered slightly. He was the only one who could make her feel intimidated, nowadays. But that was simply another reason why Sebastian was just the kind of person for her.

"And I presume you didn't capture my sister?" When Maureen nodded, Sebastian narrowed his eyes dangerously for a moment, then smirked, to her surprise. "No matter. I will personally make a trip soon, then, to retrieve her."

Personally? This Clary girl really was important to Sebastian, if he was willing to go himself. And if he did, no matter how many Shadowhunters there were to protect the girl, she would be captured, there was no doubt about it.

"For now, keep the two of them in the special cell we prepared. Just far enough to not be able to reach each other." He smiled, showing white teeth almost as sharp as a vampire's. "They'll feel more helpless that way. Understood?"

Maureen nodded again, relief beginning to flood through her. So he wasn't mad that she didn't complete the mission. She turned to leave and check on the new prisoners. Perhaps she could sort out her feelings down there, convince herself she was over Simon. Which I am, she thought firmly.

Almost as if he could read her mind, Sebastian interrupted her thoughts. "Oh, by the way. I know about your little soft spot. For the vampire. Simon, was it?" Maureen froze, worrying her lip again. Her fangs bit in, releasing blood as she turned back.

"Yes. I used to um... like him. When I was human. Not anymore." She finished hastily. Sebastian remained impassive and simply nodded, dismissing her. Maureen quickly made her way down the hall towards the door that lead to the dungeons. All the way there, she could feel his piercing gaze following her like a laser.

When she stepped through the threshold, she closed the door after her and made her way down the steep metal staircase that lead even further underground, deep into the darkness of the earth. Vampires felt fine about being underground, some even preferred it to living on the surface. But to humans, at this depth in the earth, it would seem stuffy and claustrophobic. Not a very nice place to be for a long period of time.