Raphael helped me get Simon's body to the Institute, the Shadowhunters headquarters. The glamour around it was some sort of abandoned church that repeled mundanes when they got to close to it and due to my distress of Simon's death, I barely could see through the glamour, but Raphael had his free arm wrapped around my bicep, also guiding me forward.

I blinked forcefully to look past the glamour, my fingers were still sharp and not human so they were shoved inside my pockets.

Tears were still flowing down my cheeks as the memory of Camille telling me she killed Simon replayed over and over. The guilt was still heavily placed on my chest, momentarily making me feel as if I couldn't breathe.

"Just breathe, pequeña" Raphael murmured as we stepped close the institute, still outside but enough close so we would be picked up by the sensors.

I took a deep breath as instructed, nodding a bit as the doors of the institute were abruptly opened. Raphael nudged at me. They'd be less hostile if I greeted them.

"It's me" I told them, seeing Isabelle and Jace holding seraph blades and Alec a bow. Clary was behind them with a seraph blade of her own. For a moment there, she did look like one of them.

They lowered their weapons, staring at me in surprise but their attention went directly to my eyes.

"Are you crying?" Alec demanded, but his voice was a bit soft which suddenly turned hard as he flickered his eyes at something behind my back. "Hey!"

"Don't move!" Jace demanded coldly, raising back his blade.

"Don't" I said pleadingly.

Alec got closer to me, his eyes still on Raphael who was hiding in the shadows. "Drop what you're holding" he said and I frowned in brief confusion as I turned my body to follow where he was going before I remembered. Night vision rune. But what was a bit surprising was that Alec put himself in the middle of me and Raphael as if protecting me from him. "Put your hands up"

"He comes in peace" I told them, feeling another wave of tears as Raphael stepped closer, showing them he had Simon on his arms.

They dropped their weapons in shock.

Clary gasped in shock. "Oh, my God, Simon!"

"I'm sorry, Clary" I whispered brokenly but Alec seemed to be the only who heard as he tilted his head down to my direction.

~8~

The Shadowhunters led us to the basement, a part of the institute that wasn't sacred where downworlders, specially vampires could be without the need of an invite.

Raphael and Clary laid Simon down in a table while I remained to the side, still trying to get my nails back.

"People will be wondering what we found outside the perimeter" Jace told us.

Alec was standing next to me, staring at them. "I'll go. I'll tell them we didn't find anything. Nobody will come down here"

Alec walked away.

I flexed my fingers, watching him go for a moment, turning to face a silently crying Clary.

Raphael was staring away from them and toward a Jesus in a cross, turning to them "I might be a vampire... but I was raised a good Catholic"

Raphael made the sign of a cross.

Isabelle and Jace stared at Raphael hard.

"The Vampires breached the Accords" Isabelle said seriously. "Killing Simon is grounds for war"

"The Vampires were not behind this" Raphael defended. "Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own"

"And how do we know you're telling the truth?" Jace asked.

"I was there" I spoke up. Jace, Clary and Isabelle turned to face me in disbelief. Clary began to shake her head, eyes widening. "He could have gotten rid of him but instead he brought brought him here with me. Neither of us want trouble with the Shadowhunters"

Isabelle looked between us, "Smart decision"

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

"I've had all day trying to stop him from going there so this wouldn't happen" I added. Clary narrowed her eyes at me. "But Magnus said if someone was in his way, he'd try to get rid of them. Like a junkie, his strength was a bit more than normal and just like that, he managed to avoid me"

Clary looked away from me and to Raphael "The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille's blood is because of you!" she snapped. "You kidnapped him! You dragged him to the Hotel DuMort. You... You delivered him to Camille! Both of you!"

I scoffed sarcastically, "It was not our fault, Miss Perfect" I spat before Raphael could speak. I began to walk toward her, "At least we tried to do something. Neither of us wanted this to happen. Raphael warned him to stay away and then he brought him here once Simon didn't listen. I was there with him all day when you were out playing to be the Shadowhunter you never were. All this talk about Simon being first, that you'd be there for him before anything? It's all bullshit!" I snapped and only then I noticed a red reflecting of Clary's face. My eyes were glowing. Raphael blinked at my side, grabbing my shoulder, gently pushing me back. "But of course, Clary Fray can't do anything wrong. It's not like you were the one to introduce him to the Shadow World and the reason why he was at the City of Bones where he was kidnapped in the first place" Clary looked shocked I knew that, but glared at me with tears in her eyes. "Yes, he told me everything when I was there for him, not like you"

"That's enough, little one" Raphael murmured, watching the tears flow out of Clary's face. "We don't want you losing control on them and give them a reason to think you're breaking the Accords as well"

I nodded, taking a deep breath, shrugging off Raphael's hand "I'm fine. Just need some air"

With that, I gave another look at Clary, walking away, leaving her begging for Simon to come back, walking pass Jace and Isabelle whose hands were in their seraph blades, giving me cautious looks. Only Jace was glaring. I scoffed.

~8~

I sat down on the steps outside of the basement, a bit guilty for snapping that way.

At least it had been with words and not with my magic.

I felt someone walking from behind me. A chilly air.

"You told her" I stated, my gaze on my sharp nails.

Raphael breathed a sigh, "She had to know"

"She'll be selfish and bring him back" I retorted sharply.

"He's your friend" Raphael told me "Wouldn't you want the same?"

"Yes and no" I replied. Raphael hummed in curiosity. "I would have said yes and accepted the offer to bring him back, had Simon never told me he didn't want to turn to a vampire. He didn't. He was scared"

Raphael nodded slightly, "I understand"

"If you had been given the choice when you were human, would you have decided to come back?" I asked, looking up.

Raphael didn't answer. I nodded slightly, looking away.

"Did you call Magnus?" Raphael asked after a moment. I pursed my lips. "Pequeña, you need help. Magnus has experience helping downworlders losing control. Specially Warlocks"

"He'd be mad at me" I shook my head, "I don't want to see his disappointment"

"I see the way Magnus is with you, he'd never be disappointed" Raphael said softly.

I shook my head, "I'll fix this myself" I raised my hand, "And then I'll call him"

"Before or after you explode against someone?" Raphael asked.

And I didn't have an answer because I wasn't planning on exploding, I had my power under control.

~8~

"What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you don't end up hurting yourself, cupcake"

Magnus reached me, sitting at my side and grabbing my hand.

"How did you know I was here?" I demanded as I felt the warm flow of Magnus' magic seep through my skin and forcing the shift, reverting the eagle claws back to my normal nails. I relaxed seeing my human hands, flexing my fingers.

Magnus covered my hand with both of his, meeting my eyes" Alec called, Cassie" I looked up surprised. "Of course, he needs some of my expertise on a Forsaken attack but he also mentioned you were a bit frazzled and anxious. Pretty boy seems to have a bit of knowledge about downworlders and how bad it is when they can't control their Marks from showing, specially when it's someone who knows how to hide them very well"

I looked down, a bit ashamed. "I'm sorry"

"Tell me, what happened?" Magnus nudged my shoulder.

"Simon's dead" I murmured, feeling my eyes burning with more tears. Immediately, my body was pulled forward into an embrace, feeling Magnus placing his chin on my head. "I couldn't stop her"

Magnus tensed momentarily, but then relaxed "I see. It's not your fault, okay? You did everything you could to help your friend, sweetheart"

"He's a fledgling" I revealed, pulling away. "Raphael told me so. And he told Clary. And I think Clary is going to bring him back. But, Simon didn't want to be a vampire. And she's going to take the choice away from him and that's no fair!"

I felt my eyes glowing again and tendrils of magic leaving my hands. Magnus' cat eyes seemed to glimmer in reaction and his magic stopped mine from attacking.

"Easy, take a deep breath" Magnus instructed softly. I did as told, forcing my eyes to stop glowing. "It seems that you can't be alone right now. Not until you stop grieving, buttercup. So, I have no choice but to take you inside with me"

I flickered my eyes toward the institute "Are you sure?"

Magnus pursed his lips. He seemed as wary as I did. "No, but I prefer you to be with me than alone and risking you hurting someone in your grief. We wouldn't want a repeat, would we?"

I nodded slowly and stood with Magnus. "No, we don't"

Magnus held his forearm to me as a gentleman. "You're my apprentice, if one of them asks"

~8~

The institute was just as I imagined.

Filled with robotic soldiers and weapons and stoic people.

Magnus and I were led inside toward the Autopsy room. All the time my arm was tense, coiled around Magnus' forearm as I kept my gaze directly on the ground so I wouldn't see the looks the Shadowhunters were throwing at our way.

Magnus may be used to them but I wasn't. And I was already on edge, I didn't need a reason to snap. Magnus would squeeze my fingers reassuringly with his other hand as if sensing my discomfort.

I could feel like I could breathe once we were away from all those eyes.

Isabelle was also in the autopsy room and I suddenly was embarrassed by the way I behaved earlier. She witnessed how I snapped.

But Isabelle didn't look upset nor angry about it, she just gave me a warm smile that I felt like returning.

The Forsaken was laying on a metal table as Magnus began to use his magic to scan the creature.

"You almost done?" Isabelle asked after a while.

I bit on my fingernails as I watched Magnus work, almost too nervous to be here.

"Patience is a virtue, my dear" Magnus said without looking up.

Isabelle pouted, "Come on. I want to get my hands on that thing"

"Speaking of which, how is Alexander?" magnus asked coyly. I sputtered in disbelief. He was asking about Alec now? While he was scanning a dead body? "I was hoping I might hear from him"

"I thought he called you?" I asked in confusion.

Magnus gave me a sly smile over his shoulder, winking.

Oh. I get it.

Isabelle gestured at the body, ignoring what he asked "Putrefaction. It's decomposing"

"It's just so hard to tell if Alexander is even interested" Magnus continued, dreamily. "I mean, I can't fathom why he wouldn't be"

Isabelle sighed, "I'm not sure if you noticed, but my brother is not exactly warm and fuzzy"

I furrowed my eyebrows. He wasn't that bad...

Magnus hummed slightly "I suppose. With Clary's arrival..."

"And Valentine's retun-" Isabelle continued.

"Running the institute" I pointed at them. Isabelle tilted her head at me. "What? I hear things"

Isabelle shook her head, "Adding also the envoy from the Clave"

"Oh, who I hear is very impressive" Magnus smirked. I chuckled, finally feeling like I could briefly relax. "What else? Oh. Babysitting Jace"

"And dealing with our parents who are trying to find him a wife" Isabelle told us. At that, Magnus actually looked shocked, looking toward her. I widened my eyes. Soo... He was no longer available? Isabelle cringed a bit, seeing our reactions "Sorry"

Magnus cleared his throat, composing himself "It's quite all right. I suppose Alec is just following his duty"

I gave him a searching look. He was getting hard to read. Meaning he was hiding what he was actually feeling.

"Not everyone gets the luxury of following their heart" Isabelle told us.

Magnus stepped aside from the body, "I'm gonna go deliver the preliminary findings" Isabelle slid closer to the Forsaken, picking up a scalpel "It seems like you have everything under control here. Cupcake, mind if you stay here?"

He didn't wait for a response before he left, leaving me alone with Isabelle who just sliced open the Forsaken.

I was suddenly nervous again.

"I don't bite you know" Isabelle spoke without looking up, "Of course, unless you want me to"

I blushed, giving her an uncomfortable look "Um, I don't -"

Isabelle chuckled. "Easy. I'm not suggesting anything. Just making sure you get to relax. After all, this is nice and good equipment"

I pursed my lips, noticing her cautious glance "I'm not going to snap"

"I never said that" Isabelle put down the scalpel and looked up at me. "Look, I know you feel guilty about your friend. And I'm sorry. But you shouldn't be. You did everything you could to save him. If anything, it's mostly my fault he's in this situation"

I frowned "What are you talking about?"

"I was supposed to watch him when we were at the City of Bones" Isabelle explained. "Simon was kidnapped under my watch which led him right to Camille and this end"

"No" I argued. "You saved him. He told me so. You've been saving him since Clary dragged him to the Shadow World"

"So have you" Isabelle pointed out. "So, come on. Push all the guilt away and make sure you're there for him"

I nodded sarcastically, "Even you know Clary will bring him back"

Isabelle smiled a little "That girl is very stubborn. She wouldn't make it without Simon"

"She's selfish" I said through gritted teeth, my eyes warming up and I saw a red glow on Isabelle's skin as my eyes glowed. But points to Isabelle for not backing away, she stood her ground.

"So, Simon is going to pay for that?" Isabelle asked quietly. "If he passes the transformation and comes back as a vampire, even if it was for Clary, would you not be there for him?"

The glow of my eyes faded. I blinked. "But I'd know he didn't want that"

"But would you avoid him?" Isabelle repeated.

No. I wouldn't.

I'd help him every way I could because I promised him so.

Isabelle nodded as if knowing what my answer was going to be.

"Thank you" I said quietly after a moment of silence.

"No problem, sweetie" Isabelle beamed, "By the way, I totally loved your nails"

I looked down to see my normal, blue painted fingernails and frowned in confusion looking up at her.

Isabelle smiled slyly and winked.

My lips twitched. She meant my mark. My eagle claws.

~8~

Isabelle wasn't so bad to hang out with. She was one of the most laid back nephilims I've ever met.

She was good at talking and keeping the conversation going, she even talked about her latest relationship with a Seelie which surprised me. I always thought all nephilims found themselves disgusted about even holding hands with a downworlder but here she was, telling me she never dispised any of us, instead she found out we were better company than her own kind.

She even said she liked my company. Isabelle and I talked as if we were friends while she worked on a Forsaken sample.

I tapped my nails on the table as she put the sample on the microscope.

"You seem a bit tense" I pointed out.

Isabelle cracked her neck making me wince as I could hear her bones cracking. She was really tense. She removed the pin from her hair, letting it fall.

"Sometimes it's hard to be a Lightwood" Isabelle said softly. "And, I know that there's something between my brother and Magnus, isn't there?"

I found the table really interesting at that question, "I couldn't say" I glanced up at the silence, only to see a knowing look on Isabelle's eyes. I huffed. "Okay, yes. You'd be a fool to not notice the tension between the two. And, I'm not one to easily feel that kind of thing"

Isabelle softened. "I wish Alec was a bit more carefree with what he wants, but he's always putting family above everything. Including his own feelings. I thought I could help with that, so that my parents wouldn't force a marriage on him. Turns out, I can't help with that. Not like he wanted me to"

I tilted my head. "I remember you when we first met. You looked very different, Isabelle-"

"You can call me Izzy" Isabelle said with a slight smile.

"Izzy" I repeated, "You weren't that tense and you weren't afraid to show who you were. What I'm seeing right now is an uncomfortable girl trying to pretend to be someone she's not. I'm not your family, but I have the feeling Alec won't like your help if it means you have to change the way you are"

Isabelle didn't answer, looking through the microscope before she straightened up. "Wait" she said with a frown, looking away from the microscope and back to the Forsaken. Her tone made me straighten up in alarm. "Why would you have angel blood?"

My eyes widened.

Isabelle and I locked eyes, both suddenly realizing something.

"Oh, my God"

To enter the institute, you either must have angel blood or the permission to enter.

This was a test.

~8~

Considering I was feeling safe at Isabelle's side, I ran behind her through the hallways.

This Forsaken was a distraction.

Isabelle immediately bolted to report her findings to everyone.

It was too late however. A Forsaken had already gotten inside the institute. It was fighting with a blonde man, I vaguely heard Isabelle exclaim 'Hodge' before Alec appeared, shooting an arrow at the Forsaken.

"Alec!" I joined in the exclaiming, looking at the Shadowhunter in worry as the Forsaken turned to him, lifting his mace and knocking Alec down with it.

I couldn't use magic. Not here. Not without permission.

I forced down the sudden feeling of needing to protect Alec, clenching my hands as Hodge, the blonde Shadowhunter jumped behind the Forsaken, using some sort of weapon to bring it down, snapping it's neck.

I cringed at the loud snap coming from the creature.

Isabelle ran to her brother's side, "Oh, my God! Alec, are you okay?" I knelt at the other side of him, checking his wound, seeing if I could do anything to heal it. "Oh, my God"

I followed Isabelle and Alec's gazes to the Forsaken's body.

If this was Valentine's job, I feared as to what lengths he'd be willing to go for to get the Mortal Cup.

No one was safe.

No downworlders. No Nephilims. No Mundanes.

Simon was no longer safe because Valentine hated Downworlders even more than Mundanes. He'd hate Simon so much enough to kill him.

That, if he passed through the transformation.