Strange Games

2: Questions

The building towering over them was just a collection an old manufacturing building converted into lofts some time in the early eighties probably. The entrance was a narrow walkway between to other buildings into a small patio. The front door was smashed to pieces. What was left was hanging on its hinges, creaking as it swung in the wind. A dark stain on the patio was slowly washing away in the rain. Blood.

Jace drew his seraph blade and moved cautiously towards to broken door. He couldn't see any runes or anything that screamed supernatural. In fact the place was suspiciously mundane. Inside was a wreck. Broken glass was scattered across the floor. Shattered pottery and dented knick knacks were strewn all over the place.

"Hey," Alec whispered from behind Jace. "You smell that?"

Jace paused to sniff the air. "Smoke," he confirmed, looking around for the source.

"What happened here?" Isabelle breathed, taking in the destruction. "And where are the bodies?"

"Good question," Jace said, turning the corner and holding his glowing blade to the throat of the first person they'd seen since arriving here. "Mind answering that?"

The person was a woman with long dark hair matted with blood and dirt. Her face was covered in soot and her dress was tattered as if something had ripped claws through the fabric. Small cuts and bruises dotted her arms and her left eyes was nearly swollen shut. She was curled in a dark corner staring up at Jace's amber eyes in wide-eyed fear.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Please don't kill me."

"What happened here?" Jace demanded.

The woman flinched. "You killed them," she whimpered. "You killed them. Why're you asking? You killed them. Killed everyone."

"What do you mean?" Isabelle demanded, stepping up next to Jace. "We just got here."

The woman snorted. "Then you missed the party," she sneered. "Your people did this. They took her."

"Took who?" Jace demanded.

"Killed or took?" Jace said. "Which is it?"

"Killed them. Took her."

"Shadowhunters attacking Mundanes?" Isabelle said doubtfully.

"We would never break the Accords like that," Alec said, fingering his half drawn bow thoughtfully.

Isabelle and Jace turned to look around the room once more. None of this was adding up. However, because their backs were turned, only Alec noticed the woman's jaw enlarge, deforming into vicious fangs just as she nimbly sprang towards Isabelle. He didn't think, just lifted his bow and released the knocked arrow. The demon screeched and burst into ash, startling his siblings.

Jace stood stunned for a moment before swallowing his pride and nodding to his parabatai. "Thanks," he muttered reluctantly.

"Don't worry," Alec said. "I won't hold it against you." Jace's lips twitched upwards. "This time," Alec added, smirking as he watched the amusement slip from his brother's eyes.

Isabelle rolled her eyes tolerantly before her smile weakened. "On a serious note," she began looking around the room again, "this isn't the place I'd expect to find a demon. And what it said about Shadowhunters killing Mundanes-"

"Lies," Alec said shaking his head. "It's a demon. It'd say anything to get what it wants."

"But why did it stay here after the others left?" Isabelle pressed.

"You think it knew we were coming," Jace considered darkly.

"I think it thought someone was coming," Isabelle said. "Has anyone noticed there aren't any bodies?"