Chapter 22
I: Isaac was so pissed. He was dragged like a criminal to Alexander and tossed to his knees in front of him as the hunters told him what had happened and what he had done. Isaac was told that if he wanted to lose his mind, then it needed to be at another time and place, not in the Infirmary where there were other patients. Alexander continued to tell him that he had no right to lose his cool in such a situation, and that he needed to respect authority and authoritative decisions. He was then punished for physically attacking another hunter without reason and for losing his cool.
After he was punished and given his consequences, a hunter came in to tell them about Jess awakening after her adrenaline shot. Isaac stood to go and see her, but Alexander reminded him of his punishment and how he could not overstep it until it was over. "Isaac, remember she is very ill. It is best you do not discuss with her the consequences you have brought upon yourself, it will only make her injuries worse by making her worried or sad. Go to see her, then report to your room. Tell Jess that she has proven enough with her sacrifice, and her future punishments have been lifted and removed. Tell her, we are all glad she is awake and to get better. Dismissed."
Isaac nodded slowly and left the room as the hunters stood on each side of him escorting him to the infirmary. He walked inside and smiled at Seth. He then smiled at Jess and softly took her hand. "I am glad you are better." He whispered and gently kissed her fingers. "Get better Jess. Alexander lifted your punishment. Isn't that great? You are one of us again. Get better. No hunting until you are able to fight without any help ha-ha." He chuckled lightly. He stood there for a moment before the hunter beside him whispered in his ear. He nodded slowly. "I gotta go kid." He said quietly. "I won't be back for a while, but...you know where to find me." He said referring to his loft in the mundane world. Isaac then looked to Seth and nodded to him. He waved goodbye to Jess as the shadowhunters escorted him out of the Infirmary.
Isaac tried to hold it together as he packed a bag. He gathered all his things and moved out of his room and the hunters watched as he did it. They then escorted him out of the Institute, and he was gone to his mundane home. The loft was lonely, and he moved his things inside and rested on his sofa. His hunting was over for now, until he could be trusted, and until Alexander felt Isaac's selfishness was no longer getting in the way of his decisions. He fell asleep on the sofa a while later.
B: Jess smiled. She wanted to talk to Isaac more, but he must have had a mission to go on. "Be safe, my love." She said as he left, with the other hunters. She looked up at Seth with sad eyes. "Is he in trouble?" She asked. "Also, Seth, I am sorry for fighting with you." She cried softly. Jess passed out after a moment of crying. She fell into sleep.
I: Isaac awoke the next day and made his first contact to Alexander to update him as was a part of his punishment. He began to work around his loft, sharpening new weapons and fashioning items for the Institute. He wanted to see Jess, but he knew that he could not. Even if he wanted to be near her.
"It seems you have been so consumed with love Zack, that you seem to forget that we are all a family. Lashing out this way, it is unacceptable, and you know that. Remember the last time...?" Alexander's words reverberated in Isaac's mind. "I allowed you leniency because it was such a tragedy, however, this lashing out only proves I had not done a proper job of reprimanding you. I have raised my expectations for you Zack, you need to take a break. I am doing this for your best interest, and for Jess. Until I am positive you will not repeat the past because of her current state, then I cannot trust you with our hunters or on the outside. Take some time away from Jess, allow whatever is festering inside of you to calm down. We need your head in the game Zack, we have lost enough hunters to this war. I will allow you to keep your Stele. When she is ready, she will see you on her own terms. Learn to control your anger Isaac." As the conditions of his punishment settled in, Isaac was unable to finish working.
He had lost so much to this war, and so much of his life depended upon the other hunters yet like in his past he would turn on them if he did not agree. If he did not like what was said, or understand their decisions, then he would fight until he had his way. The first time, he fought for the woman he loved, and it ended in tragedy. Now, he was doing the same with Jess, and even though he was right, his behavior was unacceptable.
Isaac sat in his home as he remembered the woman, he had fallen in love with many years ago. He tried to push her from his mind as the anger in him built. He pictured Jess, fine, alive, and getting better. Then, he began to calm down again. He missed her, and he wished he could hold her.
B: Jess has spent several days after her awakening in the infirmary. It bothered her that Isaac had not come to see her. Seth and Blane came every day. Seth read to her and Blane tried to help her stand and walk around. But the one person she wanted to see most was nowhere to be found. "You know where to find me." Those six words kept swirling through her head.
After she was released from the infirmary, Jess went straight to Isaac's room, only to find him gone. She then rushed to her room, showered and changed and left to go to Isaac's loft. She knocked on the door and waited. She needed to see him. To hug him, to hold him, to kiss him.
I: The first day was boredom. Isaac tried his best to busy himself around his loft, crafting and making things for the Institute. His brother arrived home with injuries, bruises and cuts and newly made runes for pain. Isaac asked if there was a way he could help, but his brother shook his head and told him he was not allowed.
The next few days were harder for Isaac. No one could contact him, tell him what was going on, tell him if Jess was alright. This was his fault and he knew it was, he had brought this on himself. Isaac was stressed, confused, unable to function as the depression of loneliness and loss of Jess became too much for him.
Years ago, he had this issue. He had fallen in love with someone and so blindly he followed her into the worst situation. Isaac fought everyone for her, believed her lies, and turned against his own hunting party to save her. Stupidly she died and tried to drag him along. He swore never to let love blind him, but Alexander did not know This wasn't the same. He thought Isaac was losing his mind, and now after so long of watching Jess lie there unresponsive and being unable to speak, it really wore him down.
Zack had lost his mind with grief. He was no longer taking care of himself, no longer caring what others believed. His brother had moved back to the institute and now Isaac was alone with his pain.
He never moved when he heard the door. He didn't care who it was he was not interested. Then he remembered that it might finally be a message from Alexander to come back. He stood and answered the door and when he saw Jess there, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Isaac had let his hair grow, his mustache had grown out, and his hair was dishelved and unshaven. He looked terribly depressed and worn. He somewhat stumbled out of his front door as tears filled his eyes. He couldn't believe she was here. He stepped toward her and softly his arms went around her in a hug, and he rested his head in her neck. He missed her. He loved her. He needed her so much. He thought he had lost her forever.
Isaac felt weak as he held her. He fell to his knees still holding her and he buried his head in her waist and wept. He held her tightly around her waist and smelled her scent. She was so beautiful. He couldn't say a word as he held her.