Chapter Text
Astara’s point of view-
Magnus and Olympia were being good friends and helping me unpack more of my stuff in my new room. Magnus had asked me what kind of room I would like and although I wasn’t too picky I admitted that I liked Victorian and classic styles. Magnus was able to conjure up a room that looked like Mary queen of scots Apartment, you know, if she lived in this day and age. The four poster bed had old fashioned blue sheets that was in the middle of the room. There was a white vanity next to my bed for my makeup and there was even a Victorian coach and chair by the coffee table in front of the room where I could read or “entertain” as Magnus put enthusiastically.
“Thanks again for the room and helping me unpack guys.” I said, feeling the need to express my gratitude again.
“And your welcome for the millionth time dear but I just realized we have a problem.” Magnus stated, opening another box, this one having my clothes inside.
“We do?” I asked, looking at Olympia with a confused expression.
She just shrugged, matching my confused expression. “We do! What is this, blue grunge sheik?” He asked, lifting up my blue, well used, plaid top with his fingers.
“Not everyone can afford to dress like you Magnus.” Olympia defended, folding her arms across her chest.
“I know, not everyone has an amazing sense of fashion like I do” he said about his clothes with a flourish. “However, now that you live with me you are a reflection of me. We need to get you a new wardrobe while you’re here.”
I couldn’t help but get a little irked at this. I appreciated their generosity but this may be a little too much. “Of course because we live in New York and since this place is so cheap, all I have is money to burn.” I stated sarcastically, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.
“Darling” He said calmly, getting that I was irritated. “I was offering to buy you some new clothes as I could clearly see that you needed some.”
“Plus you’d be giving Magnus an excuse to show his artistic side” Olympia said, arms still folded over her chest. “Makeovers are his cocaine.”
“Cocaine might be too strong a descriptive word.” He defended
“Is it?” She smirked and I had to fight the urge to laugh.
“But art is a good descriptive word, you my dear have left me with the perfect blank canvas.” He said, eying me like the cat that found a canary.
“You’ve already done so much for me Magnus; I don’t know” I didn’t want to take advantage of Magnus’s generosity further.
“Just consider it” if I didn’t know any better I’d say he sounded almost pleading.
I was about to answer when the ring of a cell phone stopped me from speaking.
It was Magnus’s. “Pardon me.” He went to a corner of the room and started talking in a quiet tone. His voice got steadily louder though as the conversation went on. “How could you let this happen?!” Olympia’s body froze and I grew weary at the one-sided conversation. “Well, there’s only so much we can do now, it’s not our decision anymore.”
Magnus soon hung up abruptly, running his fingers through his hair. “Magnus?” Olympia said, cautious and concerned.
“Astara, it’s your friend Simon.” He said and I tensed up. “He’s been attacked by a vampire.”
This wasn’t real.
Olympia’s point of view-
“What do you mean? Who was that Magnus?” Astara asked in a panic walking back and forth.
“That was Raphael he is a member of the New York vampire clan. He just delivered Simon’s body to Clary.” He replied calmly, trying to soothe her.
“Your protégée Raphael?” I asked, I remember Magnus talking about him as if he was a son to him, he is supposed to be very rational and on top of that, how could he let a mundane be turned? It goes against the accords as I would bet my runes Simon did not want it.
“His body?” she shrieked.
“When a mundane is attacked by a vampire he has two options. Either he remains dead or the ritual of transformation is initiated.” I explained gathering her in my arms, I’m not used to give physical comfort but it seems she is the kind of person who needs it.
“I can’t believe Simon is dead.” She whimpered shaking.
“Knowing Clary she will probably try to change him.” I sighed, looking at Magnus who just nodded.
“What?” she mumbled
“I hate it when Mundanes are dragged into Shadow world business, they always get hurt and never get a choice.” I stated.
“Olympia…” Magnus reprimanded. When I looked at him he motioned with his eyes to Astara, it seems I made it worst… I’m not good with people okay?
“I can’t let her do this, I’m going to Simon!” She screamed getting out of my arms and going to her closet.
“You can’t! He is at the institute and there’s a clave representative there, what if you get found out?” I said trying to dissuade her, I can’t do a good job at protecting her if The Clave finds out a Third Eye emerged again.
“I don’t care” She put on her jacked and headed for the door.
We followed.
“Astara…” Magnus sighted and then turned to me “How do you know about the representative Oly?”
“The clave sent me a message this morning saying I had to appear before their representative or she would come to me.” I explained still focused on Astara, she is very well capable of making a run for it, her friends are very important to her.
“How did they find out where you are?” He asked leaning on the threshold of the living room.
“I reckon dear old Maryse is behind it.” I growled, of course she had to go to Idris and tell them about me, couldn’t keep her bloody mouth shut!
“Fabulous.” He sneered.
“Then come with me, you can keep me safe.” Astara said bringing us both back to the problem at hand.
“It’s risky Astara, besides how are you going to convince that brat to change her mind?” I asked. Once that brat got an idea in her head I doubt it would be easy to get her to change her mind, it must run in the family.
“I…I I’ll think of something, there’s got to be a way, I don’t want her decision to scare Simon, I know him well enough to know he wouldn’t choose to become a vampire.” She argued grabbing my hand. why is she trying so hard to convince me? It’s not like I can strap her to her bed, Magnus wouldn’t allow it, something about interfering with other people’s free will. No one ever gave a shit about what I want so I try to make sure others get that choice.
“It appears we’ll all have to go to the institute?” Magnus stated staring at his phone.
“Pardon?”
“My services have been requested.” He explained approaching us.
“Great” I sighted.
“Don’t be so sarcastic.” Astara said with a smile, bet she’s happy she got her way.
“You say that because you have never met a Clave’s representative before. They live by the motto: the law is hard but it’s the law, and personally I couldn’t care less for their laws, they were what got us into this Valentine mess in the first place, if they had actually thought through those damned laws the war could have been avoided and my father…” I rambled, I will never forgive them for what happened to my family. Or to me.
“Your father what?” Astara asked softly.
“Nothing, just stick by my side, I will protect you.” I stated walking into my room to gear up.
“What about Simon?” she asked from the hallway
“I will go with you to speak to Clary, she won’t be able to turn him until tonight, so if she chooses the stupid route we have time to entertain the stupid representative and still stop her.” I explained grabbing my stele and walking back into the hallway.
“Promise?”
“I give you my word I will do my best so that Simon is not robbed of his choice and if I fail; I will do my best to keep him safe from valentine and himself.” I vowed.
“Thank you.”
Magnus created a portal and gestured for Astra to go in first.
“Did something happen?” he asked before I entered it.
“Nothing happened” I lied.
Let’s get this circus on the road!
Astara’s point of view-
Now, I had never seen this so called “Institute” before but I had to admit that this looked impressive, like a church and FBI headquarters rolled in one. It sounded weird but it totally worked in my head. “Now Astara, when people ask about you, we’re just going to say that you are Magnus’s ward, ok?” Olympia said, not really asking. I swear, the closer she got to the institute the more anxious she got. Wasn’t this supposed to be her safe haven or domain or…whatever?
“Ok but why?” I asked curiously as we walked through to wherever Magnus was supposed to be.
“Because dear, you’re a mundane and mundanes aren’t supposed to know about the Shadoworld, the rest of us will get in trouble if they think you’re just a regular human that we just decided to take in.” Magnus explained, linking my arm around mine protectively.
“But if Magnus was just so kind as to take you in after you already found out then,” Olympia said with an almost playful shrug. “Well, that just makes us good Samaritans, doesn’t it?”
“O, ok” I nodded, showing that I got it.
Turns out the room Magnus was needed in was some kind of morgue. It took everything I had not to vomit at the poor dead body in the middle of the room. “Astara, why don’t you go get Isabelle? Let her know that Magnus is here and ask her where Clary is” Olympia suggested and I nodded appreciatively.
When I found Isabelle I had to admit I was surprised to see her looking the way she did. The times I saw her Isabelle was dressed so…freely. Looking at her now, she looked almost repressed. “Isabelle, have you seen Clary?” I asked, not wanting to ask about her look right now.
“She went to talk to your friend Luke about…” she drifted off, obviously not sure of how much I knew.
“About whether or not she should bring Simon back?” I asked, letting her know that I knew.
“Yeah but she should be back soon, I mean I think she was leaning towards letting him die but to be honest, I don’t think...”
“You don’t think she’ll be able to pull the trigger” I spoke metaphorically.
“No, she cares about him too much-”
“If she really cared about him she’d do what’s best for SIMON” I emphasized, getting angry at my friend’s attitude. Has Clary always been this selfish and self-centered? Or did I just never want to see it?
“I agree but it’s not up to me to decide what that means” she held up our hands defensively. “And Clary will be back any minute so if you want me to take you to Simon’s body to wait for her?”
I nodded and she lead me down to a dimly lit room where Simon would have looked asleep, if it wasn’t for the paling gray skin and lack of breathing. I don’t think I really believed Simon was dead until I saw him lying there. “Simon” I sobbed, throwing myself at his side and breaking down.
A part of me blamed myself for what had happened. The last time I saw Simon he didn’t quit look right. Maybe if I had pried, if I had just bugged him until he told me what was going on, this somehow could have been prevented. Simon was my first real friend. He had introduced himself and then Clary, sure I was kind of their third wheel but it was still more than I ever had. Not to mentioned if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t know what I was now, I wouldn’t have met Magnus and Olympia, and I would still be so lost.
Why did this have to happen to him?
Suddenly, I could feel that aching feeling start in the back of my head again. “Not now” but I knew fighting it just made it worse.
Clary, Jace, Olympia, and I were standing in the middle of a graveyard with another man I’d never seen before. We seem to be about ready to do something with Simon’s body when an Asian woman dressed in red suddenly showed up on the scene, as if out of nowhere.
“What do you want?” Clary demanded to know
The woman smiled sinisterly. “I want my property back” she stated, looking at Simon.
I snapped out of it, falling back from the force of it. Luckily, Olympia was there and she caught me. “You ok?”
“Yeah but why are you…” I trailed off when I looked around, finding Clary and Jace with that man I saw in my vision, looking at me like I just lost my mind.
Shit, how much did they see?
Olympia’s point of view-
“Astara are you wondering inside your head again? I’ve told you keeping your emotions to yourself is not a good coping mechanism dear.” I said approaching Astara and gathering her in my arms and then whispered. “Don’t worry I’ve got your back.”
“We were in a cemetery.” She whispered back, as her tears returned.
“Alright, anything else?”
“An Asian woman with a red dress appeared and said she wanted her property back.” she continued.
“Must be Camille, don’t worry I won’t let her harm you nor Simon.” I assured.
“That was not just someone lost in thought.” The vampire intervened with a mocking smirk.
“Every human reacts different to grief who are you to say she wasn’t?” I retorted, doing my best to glare at him while holding Astara.
I let go of Astra as Clary and Jace approached her and walked towards the vampire dragging him out of the room.
“My name is Raphael Santiago.” He stated forcing his arm out of my grip.
“You could be count Dracula for all I care.” I said
“Funny.”
“I try. Now what will I have to do to keep your mouth trap about what you saw in there?” People like him always have a price, that’s one of the good thing grandma taught me.
“She is one of them, isn’t she? Then she could be an advantage to us.” He mumbled, clearly already making plans.
“One more word and I will kill you.” I threated putting one of my blades in his throat.
“You would be breaking the accords.” He smirked
“You threaten a mundane’s life which gives me the right to kill you without repercussions from the clave.” I explained with a fake smile.
“That wouldn’t stick.” He rolled his eyes.
“Wanna bet whose side they would choose? Mine, a very high ranking Shadowhunter or yours, a lowly vampire from New York?” I mocked. “Name your price.”
“I want the New York clan.” He stated.
“Done.”
“Don’t underestimate Camille.” He mocked.
“Don’t underestimate me.” I smirked
“Who are you?” he asked in wonder.
“Olympia Crow”
“Nice doing business with you Miss. Crow.” He smirked extending a hand to me, as if I would take a vampire’s hand.
“If we get found out I know exactly whose heart I need to stake.” I warned and sheathed my blade before walking back inside the tomb leaving a smirking vampire behind, he sure is Magnus’s protégée.
. “I need to go see the representative, will you be okay?” I asked Astara caressing her arm reassuringly.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She mumbled, wiping her tears.
“I will look after her.” Clary said, putting a hand on Astra’s shoulder
“That’s not very reassuring Clarissa.” I scoffed.
“I’ll keep an eye on the Mundane.” Jace stated approaching me.
“Don’t treat her as if she is beneath you Jace, get off your high horse, will you?” I mocked, tripping him, he fell right on his ass.
I walked back into the institute and started to look for Mayes’s office or should I say old office, it seems that the Clave is demoting her.
When I found it, I walked into something I never thought I would witness in my life time.
“Did you just propose to her?”
“Olly…” Alec sighted getting up.
“Are you crazy? Alec, you can’t do this is, you are….” He suddenly put his hand around my mouth preventing me from talking anymore so I did the mature thing and licked it.
“Olympia Crow I presume.” The woman said approaching us.
“And you are?”
“Lydia Branwell, I’m a representative of the clave and I…” She started.
“I don’t care. There you’ve seen me you can report to her that I’m really here, farewell” I interrupted and then dragged Alec out of the room with me, I seem to be dragging loads of people today.
“Olympia that was really rude.” He reprehended.
“You are one to talk about rudeness. What the hell is going on in your head?” I asked punching his arm.
“My parents were circle member did you know that?” his voice was high pitched; it must have been a great shock for him…
“So?”
“You knew?”
“Sweetie everyone knows, still that doesn’t explain why you are doing something so stupid.” I continued bringing him back to the actual problem.
“I need to bring honor back into the lightwood name.” He explained as if it made sense.
“And this is your solution?” I asked sarcastically.
“It’s the best I could think of.”
“You truly have Herondale blood in you Alexander, you are an idiot.” I sighted, the Herondale blood strikes again.
“What?” he asked confused.
“Never mind. What about Magnus?” I asked, he can’t be seriously considering marrying the Branwell chick he is gay by the angel, and totally has a crush on Magnus.
“What about him?”
“We live in the same house Alec; I know you spent the night.”
“We didn’t do anything.” He defended.
“But you have feelings for him, I can tell. I wanted to be your Parabatai remember? No matter how many years have passed, I will still know you better than I know myself.” I said getting close to him, to try and show support, lately I have been comforting a lot of people I think I’m getting the hang of it.
“I…” he mumbled.
We heard loud noises coming from the training area and ran there, once we arrived we saw Hodge fighting the thing from the morgue.
What the hell? Alec quickly shoot arrows at it but it didn’t affect the thing in the slightest. I gathered my twin blades and went around it but just as I was about to strike it down it wounded Alec, in a rage I pierced him with both my blades and then broke its neck, when it seemed it wouldn’t move anymore I removed the blades and went to Alec. When Izzy joined us, my phone rang.
“Astara what’s wrong?”
“It’s Simon. He ran off”
This does not sound good.
Astara’s point of view-
As we made our way to the cemetery, I could tell Clary hadn’t actually made up her mind about what we should do about Simon. I just wanted to make sure that whatever choice she made, she makes it for Simon, not for whatever choice is easiest for her. Not to mention I may have another problem. I know Olympia talked to this guy but I didn’t know what about.
Did he know?
“Whatever question you have for me mundane, you would be better of just asking it.” The vampire stated. I still couldn’t believe there were vampires outside Twilight novels.
Luckily Clary and Jace were too busy deciding over Simon to notice I was having a conversation with him, otherwise they would get in the way. “How much do you know?” I blurted, getting right to the point.
“The truth” he smirked. “Although, judging by the way we’re talking I’m one of the few who does.” He looked between me and Clary with a raised eyebrow.
“Clary is dealing with her own issues right now” I pointed out. “And I don’t like the idea of being used.” I stated, more as a warning. “What did Olympia tell you?”
“She told me to keep quiet and I will” he promised.
“And I’m supposed to believe you’ll just do that out of the kindness of your heart?” I didn’t mean to sound skeptical but from what Olympia told me Downworlders don’t really do that.
“No” well at least he’s honest. “But what she offered me in return was enough to keep me quiet.”
“And what is so important to you you’d be willing to leave a psychic alone?” I asked curiously.
Before he could answer though, Clary called me forward. “Astara” she called between sobs.
I rushed forward to where we would probably be burying Simon if Clary said yes and hugged her tightly. “Astara, what do I do? I don’t think I can stake him and it would kill his family if he was really gone-”
“But what about how Simon’s going to feel.” I interrupted. What would be best for Simon? Because you’re not the only one who’s going to have to live with the choice you make.” I reminded her “I don’t want to lose him either but if he becomes a vampire and he’s miserable because we couldn’t let him go, we’ll lose him anyway.”
She knew at least on some level I was right and started to cry harder. I pulled her into a fierce hug. Olympia could call Clary a lot of things, honestly I’ve thought some of the same recently, but she could never say she doesn’t love Simon and wants what’s best for him. As I started to pull her back to help dry her tears though, there was a sudden gust of wind and I could feel another presence. It was the woman in the red dress!
“Clary!” I warned, stepping back in fear. I may have an ability all my own but I wasn’t capable of competing with a vampire just because I saw her coming.
“What do you want?” Clary demanded, apparently she knew this vampire. Was she the one who killed Simon?
“I want my property back.” O no she didn’t!
“Simon is not your property.” Clary stated angrily.
“If you'll just hand him over, I'll be on my way.” She said coldly, as if Simon was just a piece of furniture we took.
“You heard Clary. You're not laying a hand on him.” Jace said and I suddenly respected him a little more.
“Fine. I tried to do this the nice way.” Queen of the damned snapped her fingers and there was another sudden gust of wind, only this time there was at least a dozen more vampires. We were surrounded.
“Jace.” Clary said frantically, as if he alone was somehow a match for a dozen vampires. I doubted it.
“Do something.” I pleaded to the only vampire in the cemetery who was on our side.
He just smirked almost reassuringly (if a smirk could in any way be reassuring) and stepped forward. “I'm glad you brought everyone here to witness your demise. Camille killed this mundane.” He stated, fangs dropping. “Now, I have all the proof. She's been breaking the Accords for too long now. He's the evidence we need to show the Clave what Camille has been doing.” Smart! Camille couldn’t fight all these vampires by herself!
She just chuckled, far to confidently. “Are you trying to overthrow me?”
“No. I already have.” He stated smugly.
Her overconfidence suddenly vanished. “Don't listen to him. Raphael doesn't know the first thing about leading.” So that was his name. “You need me. I've given you everything you could want. All the riches. All the pleasures you could desire.”
“By breaking the law. Which will only destroy us.” He pointed out to the other vampires.
“We can fix this. If we just get rid of the body, this mundane means nothing.” She pointed to Simon, almost pleading.
“Even if Camille does get rid of the body there are still witnesses.” I pointed out to the vampires, still looking unsure. “Once this gets reported Camille will be in trouble anyway. The only choice you have to make now is whether or not you’ll go down with her.”
I knew I was right. No matter how little I knew about “the accords” or the justice system in this world there was no way disposing the body would be enough to get the Shadowhunters off Camille’s back. The others must have finally realized this too because they started hissing at her, closing in.
Unfortunately, Camille must have realized she was losing too and she ran, the others chasing after her! Hopefully they caught her before she destroyed anyone else’s life. “Nice work mundane.” Raphael said, sounding impressed.
“Her name is Astara” Clary stated pulling me into a hug. “And it was great work.”
I had to admit I felt proud. I managed to be helpful without being female psychic friend. “Be that as it may” Raphael interrupted, grabbing a stake and a shovel. “It’s time.” He showed them to Clary, silently telling her to make her choice.
Clary looked back at me, still unsure. “What’s best for Simon?” I reminded her.
She hesitated. But with shaking hands she grabbed the shovel and walked over to the grave and started digging.
God help us.
Clary and I tried digging his grave but we became to overwhelmed, unable to see through all the tears. I still wasn’t sure if this is what Simon would want but it wasn’t my decision. He was Clary’s best friend and for better or worse she decided.
Jace and Raphael finished digging and filling the whole while we tried pulling ourselves together. When they were done Jace pulled Clary back while Raphael tugged me back by my t shirt. I was wondering what I had to step back for but it didn’t seem like a good idea to ask, I didn’t know if I wanted to know what would happen next.
There was a sudden explosion of dirt and I gasped, almost falling back as I saw an arm crawl out of the dirt as if I had somehow ended up in one of the cheesy horror films Simon and I had loved so much. He crawled out of the dirt and we tried approaching him but he hissed at us and we were pulled back.
Raphael pulled out a couple of bags from a cooler and threw them at Simon. “When you wake up for the first time you wake up thirsty” he stated as Simon drained a bag in less than a minute “really thirsty.” He was draining blood!
“Clary... Astara” he stuttered when he finally came around. “what's happening?” How do you explain to someone they just became a vampire?
“You, um... you died.” Clary explained shakily.
“I what?” I wouldn’t have believed it either. “What's this?” He gasped. “That's blood! Oh, my... Oh, my...” He spat, choking on his words. “Why can't I say...” He tried to say God again but he spat on the word.
“God. It'll take time to regain the ability. There's a lot you will need to learn.” Raphael told him, stepping forward.
He shuddered. “Oh, my... Damn it! Am I... Am I a vampire?”
“Simon, I’m so sorry” I said by way of answer.
“Clary, tell me... tell me this isn't real. Tell me this is not really happening!” He pleaded.
“I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!” She cried.
“I'm... I'm... I'm repulsive!” He said about himself in disgust.
“No you’re not Simon!” I tried to assure him. “You could never be repulsive!”
“Yeah, please... please don't say that, okay? Clary trembled. “You're still the same, Simon. You're the same Simon I've known my whole life. The same guy who... loves sci-fi. And who can recite every line from... from every Nicolas Cage movie.” She sobbed again. “The same Simon who carried me over the Brooklyn Bridge when I lost my shoe, okay?”
“Everything good in my life started with you Simon” I added “You’re still that same guy-”
“No, guys, I'm not!” He put his head down, unable to look at us anymore.
“Yes, you are, Simon!” She yelled. “You are the same Simon! You’re my best friend!”
“I'm not. I'm nothing more than a monster!”
“Don’t say that” I pleaded, he could never be a monster to us.
“No, Simon, you...” Clary tried to reason.
“Stay away! Please just... stay away.” He begged us before running off at vampire speed.
“Simon...” Clary called after him but it was too late. He was gone.
Raphael stepped forward. “I'll look after Simon.” He told us. “You have my word.” He said before running after him
“What did I do?” Clary cried and I went over to try and comfort her. “What did I do?”
“What did we do?” I asked, holding her tightly.
What did we do?