The Aftermath Chronicles: A TMI FanFic

Part 22

Jace woke up dizzy.

Clary was sitting against the headboard beside him, sketching. She didn't notice his eyes were opened. She didn't seem to notice much when she was drawing. It was like she disappeared into her own little world.

Seeing her kept his vision clear and steady. So he lay there for awhile, just watching her.

She was beautiful. 

Even like this, when she didn't realize anyone was watching her. She was in her most natural state and Jace couldn't take his eyes off her.

Minutes later, she tore the piece she was working on out of her sketch pad and crumpled it into a ball, throwing it across the room in frustration. Then she glanced down at Jace and jumped slightly when she saw his open eyes.

"You're awake," she said, trying to sound casual. He nodded.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Well-rested," Jace said, stretching out.

"We need to do something," Clary said.

"What?" Jace asked.

"Find Ragnor Fell," Clary said.

"I agree," Jace said.

"He has Isabelle."

Jace froze.

"Isabelle? How did he get Isabelle?" He tried to keep his voice calm.

Clary explained the Clave meeting to him.

"Do you have any idea where he could be?" Jace asked.

"Why not San Francisco?" Clary asked.

Jace dreaded the idea of going back.

"San Francisco is a big city," Jace said.

"It'd need to be some place deserted," Clary said. "Doesn't that narrow it down?"

"We can't go blind into this," Jace said. He hated turning her down but if they were alone in this they had to be sensible.

"I'll figure it out," Clary said.

"So what'll happen after 48 hours? Ragnor gets all of the Labyrinth's power?"

"Yes."

"There's no way we can find him in the next 40 hours," Jace said. "Not without the Clave's help."

..........

"Now we don't have to tie you up if you behave," Ragnor said. 

Charlie had glanced up from the papers on the desk.

"I'll behave then," Isabelle said.

"We'll have you out of here quickly," Ragnor said. "Both of you."

"Will we be alive?" Isabelle asked. Ragnor flashed her a grin. "I'll take that as a no then."

"We'll begin in an hour," Ragnor said. Charlie turned back to his desk. Ragnor disappeared among the aisles of books.

"How does he know we won't run? Isabelle asked, sauntering over to Charlie. She sat on the edge of the table. He glanced up her with cold eyes. Had he been like this the night they spent together?

"You won't run," Charlie said, looking back down.

"How do you know?" she questioned.

"You think you can save me from some demonic part of me," Charlie said.

"And what if I can?"

"There's nothing to save, Isabelle. This is me."

"My dreams tell me otherwise," Isabelle said.