Chapter 6: Shadows of Thought

The quiet of the Institute hung heavy in the air. Jace leaned against the far wall of the war room, arms crossed, his sharp golden eyes fixed on the group gathered near the map table. He tried to feign disinterest, but his mind was anything but still.

Clary stood at the table, her knuckles white as she gripped its edge. Her green eyes darted from Maryse to Hodge, desperate and determined all at once. She reminded Jace of someone—but that was a thought he quickly buried. Memories were dangerous, distractions even more so. Simon hovered close to her, fidgeting and glancing around like a cornered animal, while Orion stood at a calculated distance, his posture rigid and unreadable.

They don't belong here, Jace thought, his jaw tightening.

Still, he couldn't deny the pull of curiosity. Clary was clearly more than just a mundane; her mother's disappearance and the strange secrets surrounding her only solidified that fact. Jace had seen plenty of scared mundanes before, but Clary was different. There was something sharp in her eyes, an edge to her resolve that made it hard to look away.

But it was Orion who truly puzzled him.

Jace's gaze shifted to the dark-haired boy. Orion stood quietly, his gray eyes scanning the room, every flicker of light and shadow catching his attention. He didn't speak much, but when he did, there was a weight to his words that Jace couldn't ignore. It was the way he carried himself—calm, deliberate, and so unlike a mundane.

He's hiding something, Jace thought. No normal person reacts to demons the way he did. And that strength…

Jace's grip tightened around the hilt of the seraph blade at his side. Orion's strike against the demon had been precise, almost instinctual. That wasn't something a mundane just picked up. There was something strange about him, and Jace intended to find out what it was.

But Simon? Jace nearly rolled his eyes.

The mundane boy was clearly out of his depth. Every nervous glance, every muttered word, screamed that he didn't belong here. Jace had half a mind to shove him back out into the mundane world where he could forget about all of this. He didn't need another distraction—especially not one as loud and awkward as Simon.

"Jace," Maryse's sharp voice snapped him from his thoughts.

He straightened, meeting her gaze. "What?"

"You'll take them to retrieve the box," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Jace's lips curled into a smirk. "Babysitting duty? How exciting."

Maryse's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a joke. Clary needs that box, and you're the best chance she has of getting it safely. Keep your focus."

"Always do," Jace replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

He glanced back at Clary, who was now arguing softly with Simon. She gestured animatedly, her voice rising and falling in frustration. Simon responded with a defensive shrug, his words too quiet for Jace to catch.

"Perfect," Jace muttered under his breath. "The bickering duo."

Still, as much as he hated to admit it, there was something endearing about Clary's determination—even if it was misplaced. She didn't know what she was walking into, and yet she was ready to face it anyway. Foolish, but brave.

With a sigh, Jace pushed off the wall and headed toward the group. He might not like this situation, but he wasn't about to let them stumble through it blind.

---

Simon felt like he was drowning.

The walls of the Institute seemed to press in on him, the shadows whispering secrets he couldn't quite hear. He stuck close to Clary, his flashlight still clutched in his hand like a lifeline, though he doubted it would do him any good here.

He'd never been the bravest guy—he could admit that. But this? This was on another level entirely. Monsters, magic maps, Shadowhunters—it was like stepping into one of those fantasy books Clary loved so much. Only this wasn't a story he could close when it got too intense.

Simon's gaze shifted to Jace, who was now striding toward them with his usual air of confidence. The guy was insufferable. Handsome, sure—annoyingly so—but also smug, arrogant, and so sure of himself it made Simon's teeth ache.

And Clary… Clary seemed to trust him.

That was what really bothered Simon. Clary had always been his rock, his anchor in the chaos of life, and now she was slipping away, drawn into this strange, dangerous world with Jace as her guide. Simon couldn't compete with that.

But at least Orion seemed to get it.

Simon glanced at the quiet boy standing nearby. Orion was an enigma—calm, strong, and far too composed for someone who'd just been thrown into this mess. Simon wasn't sure how he felt about him yet, but at least he wasn't throwing around smug remarks like Jace.

Still, there was something about Orion that set Simon on edge. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the guy seemed… different. Not like Jace or Maryse or the others, but not entirely normal, either.

"Simon," Clary's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Huh?"

Clary sighed, her frustration evident. "I said we need to focus. My mom's in danger, and I need you to be on board with this."

"I am on board," Simon protested. "I just—this is a lot, okay? I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that demons are real and we're standing in some kind of magical secret headquarters."

Clary's expression softened. "I know. It's a lot for me too. But we have to do this."

Simon nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He wasn't sure how much help he'd be, but he wasn't about to let Clary face this alone.

---

Jace watched the exchange between Clary and Simon with mild amusement. The mundane boy was clearly out of his element, but at least he cared about Clary enough to stick around. That was something, Jace supposed.

But caring wouldn't keep them alive.

"Alright," Jace said, stepping into the group's circle. "If we're going to do this, we need to do it right. Clary, you stay close to me. Simon…" He hesitated, then sighed. "Just try not to get killed."

Simon scowled. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."

Jace smirked. "Anytime."

His gaze shifted to Orion, who remained silent but watchful. "And you—what's your deal? You handled that demon back there like it was nothing. Care to explain?"

Orion met his gaze evenly. "Not much to explain. I did what I had to."

Jace narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh. And where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"Does it matter?" Orion replied, his tone calm but firm.

Jace opened his mouth to respond, but Clary cut him off. "Can we not do this right now? We have more important things to worry about."

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But we're not done talking about this."

Orion didn't reply, his expression unreadable.

"Let's move," Jace said, heading for the door. "The sooner we get that box, the better."

As the group followed him out, Jace couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far bigger than any of them realized. And for once, he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

---

This chapter explores Jace's wariness, Simon's insecurities, and their perspectives on the unfolding situation. Both characters' thoughts offer insight into how they perceive Clary, Orion, and the daunting challenges ahead.