ꜰʀᴀʏᴇᴅ |ᴀ.ʟ.| ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀꜱ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ {ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍɪʟʟᴇ ꜰᴀɪʀᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴛʀɪʟᴏɢʏ #1}

{𝕋𝕠 𝕍𝕒𝕞𝕡 𝕠𝕣 ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕋𝕠 𝕍𝕒𝕞𝕡}

After the commotion, Jace and Alec had ushered us into some kind of basement room, somewhere no one in the Institute would find us.

Jace and the vampire set Simon's lifeless body down carefully, Jace supporting his head underneath some old, dusty book.

Simon's eyes were closed, face peaceful. He just looked as if he were asleep...although, we all knew he wasn't.

"People will be wondering what we found outside the perimeter" Jace informs

"I'll go" Alec speaks up and my hear breaks just a little more, "I'll tell them we didn't find anything. Nobody will come down here."

"I might be a vampire...but I was raised a good catholic" the vampire says, making the sign of the cross

"The vampires breached the Accords" Izzy snipes, "Killing Simon is grounds for war."

"The vampires were not behind this" he corrects, "Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own."

"And how do we know you're telling the truth?" Jace spits back, glaring at him disdainfully

"He could have gotten rid of...the body" I exhale, my jaw clenching, "He didn't have to bring him here"

"I don't want trouble with the Shadowhunters" the vampire agrees, giving me a thankful yet disapproving look, "Or the mundani"

"You know about me?" I gape, shocked

"Word spreads" the vampire declares, "After you killed one of of our own, the stories spread about a dangerous Shadowhunter. However, I know Magnus on a personal level...so I knew the truth."

I hold my breath, worry crossing over my face. If he knew, he knew that I was vulnerable when alone, that I was dangerous only when Clary was threatened

"Do not fret, child" the vampire chuckles humourlessly, "If I had seen you as any real threat, you would be dead. The others don't know, I assure you. I promised Magnus."

I nod slowly, shooting him a thankful look.

This vampire was growing on me.

"I warned the mundane to stay away" the vampire continues, "But Camille gave him a taste of her own blood, and like an addict...he came back wanting more."

"The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you!" Clary accuses, glaring at the vampire tearfully, "You kidnapped him! You drug him to Hotel DuMort. You...You delivered him to Camille!"

"I never meant for this to happen" the vampire growls through gritted teeth and I stand up just a little straighter. The vampire notices and retracts the rest of his words, regarding me cautiously.

"Simon" Clary sobs, "Simon, please, come back! Please!"

I move towards Clary as if magnetised and pull her into my arms, adjusting the both of us away from Simon's body.

"Shh" I hush her, tears of my own slipping down his face, "It's okay. We'll get through this. At least...at least he isn't in pain."

My words do nothing to comfort Clary and instead she sobs harder. Our audience looks on in pity and sympathy but I close my eyes to them.

The last thing I need right now is pity.

"There is a way" the vampire hums and Clary snaps away from me, whirling towards him

"'A way' what?" Jace snarls, a permanent glare plastered to his face

"A way to bring Simon back" the vampire offers