Chapter 11: Shifting Perspectives

---

Jace's POV

The sunlight filtering through the Institute's high windows illuminated the common room with a warm, golden glow. Jace leaned against the far wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he observed the group. His sharp golden eyes tracked Clary and Simon as they sat at the long table, both of them engrossed in their own thoughts. Orion stood by one of the tall windows, gazing out at the city beyond.

Something about Orion rubbed Jace the wrong way. It wasn't his strength or the calm demeanor he carried into every situation—Jace had dealt with plenty of powerful fighters before. No, it was the mystery surrounding him, the way he seemed to know things he shouldn't, or the way danger never fazed him.

And then there was his reaction to the demons last night. Orion had sensed them before any of them, even Jace himself. That wasn't something a mundane, or even an ordinary Shadowhunter, could do. It was instinct—an unnatural one.

"Orion's hiding something," Jace muttered under his breath, loud enough for only himself to hear.

Still, he couldn't ignore the fact that the guy had protected them. When the demons attacked, Orion had stood his ground, his makeshift weapon as deadly as any seraph blade. He had the strength and composure of someone who had seen battle before, but that didn't make sense. Orion wasn't a Shadowhunter—he didn't even carry a stele.

"Everything alright, Jace?" Clary's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He straightened, his gaze shifting to her. Clary looked tired, dark circles under her eyes betraying the stress of the last few days. She clutched the box they had retrieved from her apartment, her fingers drumming against its surface.

"Fine," Jace said, though his tone lacked conviction. "Just thinking about last night."

Clary arched an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "You mean thinking about Orion."

Jace smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "What gave it away?"

"You've been watching him like a hawk since we got back."

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Something about him doesn't add up, Clary. He's not normal, and I don't just mean the super strength. There's something… different."

Clary glanced toward Orion, her expression softening. "He's not hiding anything dangerous, Jace. He's been honest about what little he knows. He's just… figuring things out, like the rest of us."

Jace snorted. "Figuring things out? That guy fights like he's been training for years. He's not just some clueless kid who stumbled into all of this. He's something else entirely."

Clary frowned, but before she could respond, Simon spoke up.

---

Simon's POV

"Okay, am I the only one freaking out about the fact that demons attacked us last night, and now we're just... sitting here like nothing happened?" Simon's voice broke the growing tension between Jace and Clary.

He pushed his chair back from the table, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His flashlight sat discarded beside him, a useless relic of their harrowing escape.

"Seriously, are we just gonna pretend everything's fine? Because it's not. Demons are real. Magical boxes are real. Shadowhunter secret societies are real. This is insane!"

Clary sighed, her tone patient but tired. "Simon, we've been over this. You're part of this now. You saw what's out there. Ignoring it won't make it go away."

"Yeah, well, I'd like to ignore it anyway," Simon muttered. He folded his arms, his gaze flicking toward Orion. "And what about him? What's his deal? He fights demons with a pipe and doesn't even break a sweat? That's not normal, Clary."

Orion turned from the window, his gray eyes calm as they met Simon's. "I can hear you, you know."

Simon flushed, but he didn't back down. "Yeah, well, good. Maybe you can explain what's going on with you."

"Simon," Clary said sharply, but Orion raised a hand to stop her.

"It's fine," Orion said, stepping closer to the table. "Simon's right to question me. I'd probably do the same if I were in his position."

Simon blinked, caught off guard by the honesty in Orion's tone.

"I don't have all the answers," Orion continued. "But I'm not your enemy. I just want to figure out who I am and why I'm here. That's all."

Simon studied him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "Alright, fine. But if you turn into some kind of demon king or something, I'm not gonna say I didn't warn everyone."

Orion chuckled softly. "Deal."

Simon leaned back in his chair, still uneasy but willing to let it go—for now.

---

Clary's POV

Clary watched the exchange between Simon and Orion, her heart aching with a mixture of relief and frustration. She understood Simon's fear. The world they had stumbled into was terrifying, and Orion's presence only added another layer of mystery to an already overwhelming situation. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Orion was more than the enigma he seemed to be.

There was a kindness to him, a quiet strength that reminded her of her mother. He was protective, not just of himself but of all of them. And yet, there was something else, something unspoken, lurking beneath the surface.

"Jace," Clary said softly, her gaze still on Orion. "He's not dangerous. I can feel it."

Jace crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "Feelings don't count for much when demons are involved, Clary."

"Maybe not," she said, turning to face him. "But if he was going to hurt us, he's had plenty of chances already. Instead, he's been helping us."

Jace didn't respond immediately, his jaw tightening. "That doesn't mean I trust him."

"You don't trust anyone," Clary said with a small, wry smile.

Jace shrugged, his golden eyes flicking toward Orion. "I trust people who prove themselves. Maybe he will. Until then, I'm keeping an eye on him."

Clary sighed, knowing that was probably the best she was going to get. She turned back to Orion, who had returned to the window, his gaze distant once more.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, stepping closer to him.

Orion glanced at her, his expression softening. "A lot of things," he admitted. "But mostly… what comes next."

Clary nodded, her grip tightening on the box in her hands. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Orion's faint smile returned, and for a moment, the weight of the world felt a little lighter.

---

Final Thoughts

As the group settled into an uneasy silence, the tension in the room lingered like a storm on the horizon. Each of them carried their own fears, their own doubts, but beneath it all was the fragile thread of trust that bound them together.

And though none of them could see it yet, the events of the coming days would test that thread in ways they couldn't begin to imagine.

---