Tainted Soul • Lightwood. [ON HOLD]

T W E N T Y - T H R E E

The three Shadowhunters ran through an alley to catch up with Raphael. "I swear, if that kid ruins one more jacket..."

"Where is he?" Clary asked Raphael as the trio stopped running. "He'll be back."

"You just let him go?" Jace questioned the vampire. "You said you'd look after him." Raphael rolled his eyes at the blond, getting annoyed by him.

"I can't do that until he's ready," Raphael answered. "What does that even mean?" Clary questioned him, exasperated. "It mwans he's where everybody goes shen this happens. His own personal hell."

Justin closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. This was not what he planned for his night. "I... I did this. I put him there," Clary said. Justin placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze hoping that would make his sister feel better.

"If it helps, he doesn't even remember it was you," Raphael added. "Those first minutes... a complete blank."

"But she has to tell him the truth," Justin said, to which Clary nodded in agreement. "Once you rein him in, he'll be walking proof to the Clave that Camille broke the Accords," the vampire told them. "In fact, as a new leader-"

"Omay, just stop it!" Clary stammered, interrupting Raphael's speech. "I don't care about your vampire politics! We have to find Simon."

"We will," Jace stated. Justin raised an eyebrow, not convinced that was going to happen. "He's out there, he's alone... scared... he's hungry," Clary listed.

"Now that I think about it, I didn't have lunch... nor breakfast. In dact I don't remember the last time I ate," Justin muttered to himself.

"Give me a call when he turns up. He'll need my help," Raphael said, walking away. "I think we've had just about enough of your help," Jace grumbled quite salty.

The blond Shadowhunter took his phone out of his pocket before dialling somrone and putting it against his ear. "What are you doing?"

"Getting reinforcements."

After the phone call, and some terrible news about an attack at the Institute which resolved in Alec and Hodgr getting hurt, Jace ran away from the siblings, who had a pretty hard time catching up with him.

"Stop. Stop," Clary panted. Jace complied and slowed down his running deciding to walk instead. "Valentine attacked my home. Alec's injured. We've got to go."

"I can't. You know I can't l. Simon's in danger," Clary argued. "So what about Alec? It's not safe out here, Clary," Jace fired back.

"Okay, did you forget how I single-handedly battled a Shax drmon to protect the Cup?"

Justin rolled his eyes. How could he forget that when Clary never stops bragging when she accomplish something.

"No, I didn't, I was just... I was gonna say-" "That I has a lot to learn, yes, but I don't know what else-" The two continue to cut each other off.

"Clary, you're right. Okay. You're right."

Justin stopped when her sister and Jace faced each other, not wanting to be present if things escalated to something. He cast a glance at them only to find them kissing. Justin gagged a little at the sight.

"Okay, that's enough," Justin said, walking closer to them. "Just go, Clary and I will find Simon." And with that the two Fray siblings were left alone.

"You know I don't like him," Justin started. Clary rolled her eyes and sighed. "I know. But..." "But you do. Just be careful with him. I've seen a lot of boys just like Jace."

➰

The two arrived at the Jade Wolf, Luke already there waiting for them. "Simon is gonna hate me," Clary said, pacing around the establishment. "Luke, I did a terrible thing."

"It can't br undone," the policeman told her. "True that," Justin added, just to feel included in the conversation he had no interest in. "I found my way back, your mother helped me. When he understands that you're there for him-"

"But how could he know that if ee can't find him?" Justin asked the parental figure from his spot on the chair. Luke sent him a look, following after the petit girl. Justin groaned, standing up and exiting the restaurant.

Somehow they were now outside the Lewis household waiting for Clary to exit with Simon. And when they did leave the house, the four of them started walking the busy streets of New York City, Simon with a lost stare on his eyes.

"I feel sick."

"Don't worry, we'll get you what you need," Luke told the new vampire. "I need this to atoo," Simon stated. "Yeah... I don't think we have the power to do that." Clary smacked Justin's arm after his comment, sending him a pointed look, silently telling him he was not helping.

"I've veeb there befire. It'll get better," Luke reassured. "We'll helo you through this," Clary added. "No, you can't. Clary I was a regular guy. I had a life. A regular life. And today... I almost tore my mother apart."

They stopped walking when Simon came to a halt, contemolating everything that was going on. "What if I do that to you?" Clary sent him a pity look, "Simon, you won't."

"Get away." The brunette stepped ahead of the three, standing alone at a corner. "Can you get the car?" Luke nodded, then gesturing Justin to come with him so the two best friends could have some privacy.

"How did you do it? Handling being a werewolf, I mean," Justin asked. Luke sighed, not finding the right words. "Your mom helped me, it was hard but I overcame it."

Justin glanced at Simon and Clary, his gaze staying on the new Downworlder a lot longer than intended. "I feel so bad for him. It was never our intention to bring Simon into the Shadow World, or even Clary, but what's done it's done and I just feel partly responsible for this."

Luke knew exactly why he felt like that. He hid everything from his sister, lived with the torment of training just to protect Clary if something happened. He was the son of one of the most dangerous rogue Shadowhunters there ever was.

Justin was just a boy, he was having a pretty mundane life before reality came crashing and reminding him that he was not normal and he will never be.

***

Author's Note:
Can we laugh at the fact that my original plan was to have this book caught up before S3 started? Lmao. A girl can dream.
I will try to update as much as possible the next couple of days just because my classes are being less demanding and I finished exams.
I hope you liked this chapter, and if you did please vote and comment. (Don't be a ghost reader, I really appreciate feedback and it motivates me to write. Just don't comment the word "Update.")