City of Heavenly Fire Fanfiction

Ch. 8 we need your help

Clary pulled her leather jacket closer around her, and kept her head low, as the rain pelted down around them. Jace wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close against his side. She could feel the steel, in the waistband of his jeans, pressing against her side.

Jace heaved open the door to the run down hotel, where they expected to find Raphael. He grabbed Clary's hand and stepped inside. They took out their withlights, illuminating a small distance around them.

He decided to let go of her hand, so that she would be able to grab her weapons if needed, but that didn't mean that he put space between them. Their shoulders were still touching. He went up the stairs first; the floorboard creaked and groaned underneath the pressure of his foot. He put another foot on the same step, and the old wood didn't give away underneath him, so he continued up, and heard Clary behind him.

"What business do you have here?" came a voice. Jace waved the witchlight in front of him, attempting to find the source of the voice. Three silhouettes were visible, all standing at the end of the hall. He drew out his steel before examining the rest of the hall.

The red carpet in front of them had been ripped up from the floorboards, revealing dry blood stains on the battered floorboards underneath. The carpet could have been soft velvet once, when it was used as a hotel. But now, occupied by vampires, the material was unidentifiable.

Along the wall there hung dozens upon dozens of picture frames, all tilting at odd angles, while the pictures inside of them had been shredded by claws, causing them to droop down. The walls were discoloured and in some places there were holes filled with cobwebs and shuffling sounds. He brought the light closer to the hole to inspect its contents, only to find three rats running amongst decayed and discoloured bones.

The building itself was in complete darkness, other than the spot they were standing in.

"You know Nephlim aren't supposed to trespass!" The voice laughed.

"Come out from your hiding place Raphael! We need your help!" shouted Clary. They heard the creak of wood, and not seconds later, the thump of feet, as the three figures in the background came closer. Before them stood Raphael, wearing dark jeans, torn at the ends, and a leather jacket zipped down to reveal a black tight t-shirt. Behind him were three other vampires, dressed similarly, with their arms crossed in front of their chests.