The Siren and the Vampire [Raphael Santiago]

FOURTEEN

Raphael set Simon on the ground. Izzy looked at him. "The vampires breached the Accords. Killing Simon is grounds for war." Raphael sighed. "The vampires were not behind this. Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own." Serena looked at everyone. "What he's saying is not wrong. I was there when Camille attacked Simon." Clary's eyes went wide. "You didn't do anything to stop her?" Serena shook her head. "I had no clue what was going on until it was too late."

Raphael sighed. "I warned the mundane to stay away... but Camille gave him a taste of her own blood, and like an addict... he came back wanting more." Clary looked at Raphael with accusing eyes. "The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you. You kidnapped him! You drugged him to Hotel DuMort. You... You delivered him to Camille!" She then turned to Serena. "And you helped him?!?" Serena simply shook her head. Clary started to cry. "Simon. Simon. Please come back." Serena wanted to comfort her good friend, but after what Clary said, Serena felt she was better off standing with her mother.

After a while, Raphael's voice was heard. "There is a way." Serena tilted her head to the side. "A way, what?" Raphael simply said, "A way to bring him back." Clary's eyes lit up, and Serena's eyes went wide. She knew exactly what Raphael was talking about. "You can do that? How? How?" Raphael sighed. "He's a fledgling. It's a state of transition. Your friend can be resurrected." Serena looked from Raphael to Clary. "No, Clary No." Clary stammered. "So I could have Simon back? Alive and breathing?" Raphael shook his head. "That's just it. He won't return alive or breathing. He'll be a vampire."

Jace piped in. "And not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, bloodsucking, coffin-dwelling kind." Serena choked a laugh, and Raphael looked at Jace. "That's offensive." Jace looked at him. "Really." Raphael nodded. "Coffin implies wooden box. We have caskets now. They're made of 14 karat gold." Serena silently laughed. Jace clicked his tongue. "My bad."

Raphael looked at the sun. "It's almost sunrise. Simon must be turned into a vampire tonight or staked through the heart." Clary looked at Simon. "And if I do neither?" She looked up at Raphael, and Raphael and Serena said at the same time, "His soul will be trapped for eternity." Serena stopped speaking. "You have till sunset to decide. The clock is ticking."