Raising Hell

2. Oh My God, They Were Roommates

"So, why can't Simon see you?" Clary asks Jace. We are making our way down the front steps of the church, towards Simon. As we approach, his eyes scan over Clary's new outfit with wide eyes.

Jace pulls up his shirt to show Clary the invisibility rune, causing me to roll my eyes. "This is a glamour, a rune that makes me invisible to mundanes. It's a shame, really, 'cause—well, denying them of all this."

"All of what?" I ask innocently, earning a glare from Jace.

We finally reach Simon and he immediately takes off his jacket and places it around Clary's shoulders. "What do you have on, Clary? Let me take you guys home."

"That would be great!" I exclaim sarcastically.

"I don't think I have one anymore." Clary's face becomes sad. My brows furrow as I look at her. I realize that I never got the full story— or any story. All I know is that she was attacked by a demon. Maybe one of the demons from the club had followed her home.

"Why?" Simon questions her. "What do you mean?"

"Well—" Clary doesn't get to finish her sentence.

"Clary Fairchild!" A man appears in front of the Institute, holding a seraph blade. I stumble backward, putting Clary and Simon between me and the Circle member. My hand reaches into my pocket and closes around the handle of my dagger. There is no way that this man won't recognize me. Valentine most likely has every member on the lookout for me.

Jace immediately acts, attacking the man from behind, though I didn't even realize that he had moved. He hits the man's arm first, causing the seraph blade to clatter against the pavement. Jace then wraps his arm around the man's neck. Clary gasps as she watches the men struggle, while I continue to stumble away.

"Clary, what's going on?" Simon looks between Clary and the area where she is staring. "What are you looking at?"

The man continues to struggle with Jace. "If you give us the girl, I'll let you live."

"You are in no position to be making rules," Jace states before the man swings his head back and hits Jace in the nose. Jace groans in pain but recovers quickly as the man pulls out another seraph blade. As the man swings, Jace seizes the man's wrist and somehow twists it so that the man falls onto his back.

"We'll never stop hunting her." The Circle member states. Despite his obvious loss, he doesn't seem afraid to die.

"This is for my father," Jace sneers before slaying the man.

As the man lies on the ground, dying, he tilts his head and catches sight of me. A smile spreads across his face at the sight of me. I clench my jaw and try to ease my shaking. "Valentine is coming for you." He says as he takes his last breath.

So, the demon attack wasn't random. It was Valentine trying to scare me.

"Jace!" Clary yells, running over to stand next to the dead Circle member. "Is he dead?"

I remain frozen in place, staring at the man with wide eyes. The Circle rune on his neck stands out against his pale skin. I shiver, despite the fact that I am wearing a thick jacket.

"Is who dead?" Simon asks, taking a few steps towards Clary. The body must have become visible to him because he suddenly stops walking and stares down at where the man lays. "What the...?"

"Could you deglamorize, or whatever, so my best friend doesn't think I'm losing my mind?" Clary asks Jace, walking over to Simon.

I take slow steps towards the man while Jace lifts his shirt and slides his stele over the invisibility rune, deactivating it. As he walks towards Clary and Simon, I squat down, inspecting the man. Slowly, I reach into his pocket to look for any clue as to where Valentine may be. My fingers skim a folded piece of paper. With shaking hands, I unfold it.