Raising Hell

3. Sarcasm is My Only Defense Mechanism

Despite some complaining from Simon, Clary and Jace entered the City of Bones alone. The rest of us wait around outside, some of us more patient than others. Izzy and Alec plant themselves beside the entrance and converse in low voices. Simon and I, on the other hand, stand beside the fire, warming our hands.

"How are you doing?" Simon asks me.

I look up at him with a smile. "I'm fine, Simon."

He nods. "Right. Well, I just wanted to let you know that it's okay to not be fine."

My smile falters slightly. "I can't afford to be anything but fine. Not when Clary's mom is still missing. I can grieve when this is all over." I turn my attention back to the fire.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." I look back up at Simon, who is watching me closely. "I can't promise that I'll give you an answer though."

He chuckles. "Well—I mean, you have known Clary for less than a week and you can't possibly be having fun through all of this. Why do you stay? Why are you're trying to protect someone you hardly know?"

"Why do you stay?" I turn the question back on him so that I can think about my answer. "You can't tell me this is fun for you either."

"Clary's my best friend," he states as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I would do anything for her and her mom."

"Well, right now, you and Clary are the only friends I have," I tell him. "And I don't want Clary to lose the only parent she has."

Simon nods before smiling at me. "I'm glad we're friends, Rae."

"Me, too, Simon." I laugh as he pulls me into another hug. Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Alec glaring at us. His back is against the wall next to the entrance and his arms are crossed over his chest.

As we pull away, Simon sighs and turns to face the Shadowhunters. "So, is cracking someone's mind open supposed to take this long? Maybe we— or you— should go check?"

Alec looks at him, acknowledging his existence for once. "Jace has it covered."

"For some reason, that doesn't make me feel better," I comment.

"Take my word for it," Isabelle says, twirling her hair around her fingers. "The Silent Brothers are quite unpleasant."

"That's not helping. Not at all." Simon shakes his head, looking back at the fire for a second. When he looks back up, I almost laugh at the annoyed expression on Alec's face. "What if Clary can't handle the brothers? What does that—"

"It literally never stops talking." Alec cuts him off, looking at Isabelle.

Simon's eyes go to Isabelle, too. "Is he always so charming?"

"Firstborn." Isabelle shrugs. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."

Simon gives a hum in agreement. "I feel his pain. Only son. Mother wants me to be a CPA."

"And you?" Isabelle approaches Simon. "What do you want?"

"Me?" Simon points to himself in disbelief. "Well, I'm in a band."

"He's pretty good, too," I add, but both of them are too distracted by each other to acknowledge me.

Isabelle's face lights up. "Yeah? What type of music? Let me guess: indie rock?"

"Yeah." Simon chuckles nervously.

"Got anything on your phone?"

"I do. We recorded our last set. We killed it. I-It's—" Simon pats down his pockets before giving a look of disappointment. "I left my phone in the van."