The Siren and the Vampire [Raphael Santiago]

EIGHTEEN

By the time Serena got where Simon was, Raphael was not there. "I'm here before Raphael. This never happens." Just as she finishes the line, Raphael shows up. "Hey, where do you think you're going" He grabs Simon, and Serena flinches. Simon stammers. "I don't know." He walks over to the window of a bus and looks at himself. "I can see my reflection. Does that mean I'm not one of you." Serena hides a laugh as Raphael sighs. "You have a lot to learn." 

Simon walks past Raphael. "This can't be happening." Raphael grabs him. "Don't touch me." Simon yells. Serena takes a step, but then decides against it. "I don't have a heartbeat!" She heard Simon yell. "I'm dead." Raphael nodded. "Undead." 

Simon tensed up. "You did this to me." Raphael shook his head. "No I didn't." Serena sighed. She stepped back. 

"You're a monster." Simon yelled, then his expression softened. "I'm a monster." Raphael looked at him. "Look, you gotta get this under control. You are what you are now. We'll get you back to the Hotel DuMort. Get you fed. Show you around your new home." Simon's expression hardened. He grabbed Raphael. "That place will never be my home." He then threw Raphael. 

Serena ran to Simon. "Simon, calm down." Simon, still in his fit of rage, threw her as well. She collided with the truck. "Ow." She groaned, as she clutched her ribs. She definitely had a broken rib. Raphael rushed to her side. "I'm okay, really." She slowly stood up, and leaned against the truck. Raphael looked at her, concerned. "I'm fine." She sighed. "Just go get Simon." Raphael nodded, and sped off towards Simon. 

Serena limped back to the Institute, clutching her side. As soon as she was seen, Clary ran to one of her best friends. "Oh my god, Serena. Are you okay?" Serena nodded. "I just got into the middle of that incident." Clary sighed. 

Later that night, in her room, Serena checked her injuries. She ended up being fine. She was just frustrated. "I should have been able to defend myself." She straightened up. "I need to learn to defend myself."