Chapter 14: Masks and Missteps

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The Institute buzzed with quiet energy as the group prepared to leave for Magnus Bane's party. Clary adjusted the fitted black dress Isabelle had lent her, feeling out of place in the sleek outfit. Simon fidgeted with his shirt cuffs, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of being around Shadowhunters and warlocks. Jace leaned casually against the wall, his usual smirk in place, while Orion stood off to the side, his calm gray eyes observing everything.

"Magnus doesn't host parties," Jace said, breaking the silence, "he hosts spectacles. Try not to embarrass yourselves."

"I'll do my best not to embarrass you," Simon quipped, earning an eye roll from Jace.

Isabelle sauntered into the room, draped in a shimmering silver dress that turned heads immediately. "Try not to get killed," she said with a smirk. "Magnus's parties tend to attract… interesting company."

---

The warlock's loft was a kaleidoscope of light, music, and magic. Chandeliers hovered midair, glowing with unearthly colors, and shimmering figures flitted between the guests. Shadowhunters, warlocks, vampires, and faeries mingled, their differences momentarily forgotten amidst the festivities. Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn, stood at the center of it all, radiating charisma in a glittering gold coat and a riot of makeup.

"Welcome to the chaos!" Magnus declared, raising a glass as Clary, Jace, Simon, Orion, and Isabelle entered. His cat-like eyes flicked to Clary, his smile widening. "Ah, the Fairchild girl. I've been expecting you."

Clary stiffened under his gaze. "You knew I'd come?"

"Of course, darling. I know everything," Magnus said with a dramatic flourish. "And I assume you're here about the spell."

Clary nodded, stepping closer. "The Silent Brothers said you're the one who blocked my memories."

Magnus studied her for a moment, his expression softening. "Yes, that was me. At Jocelyn's request, to keep you safe. The block was designed to protect you from the Shadow World and, more importantly, from Valentine."

"Can you remove it?" Clary asked, her voice hopeful.

Magnus sighed, swirling the drink in his glass. "Unfortunately, no. The spell was woven too tightly, and unraveling it would cause more harm than good. But don't worry—it's not permanent. It will fade naturally over time."

Clary's shoulders sagged in disappointment. "How long will that take?"

Magnus shrugged. "It depends on you. Memories and magic are funny like that."

Before Clary could press further, Magnus turned to Orion, his sharp eyes narrowing in curiosity. "And who might you be?"

"Orion," he replied simply.

Magnus tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You're interesting. I can feel it—power, but not like the others. Something… older."

Orion said nothing, his calm demeanor unshaken by the warlock's scrutiny.

Magnus grinned. "I'll be keeping an eye on you."

---

As the party continued, Clary and Jace wandered the room, observing the mix of guests. Simon, meanwhile, found himself near the drinks table, where a shimmering blue liquid caught his attention.

"I wouldn't," Isabelle warned, appearing beside him.

Simon raised an eyebrow. "Why not? It's just a drink."

"It's not just a drink," Isabelle said sharply. "That's a warlock's brew. You don't know how it'll affect you."

Simon hesitated but shrugged. "How bad could it be?" He downed the drink in one gulp before Isabelle could stop him.

At first, nothing happened. Then Simon's eyes widened, and he stumbled back, clutching his stomach. His body shimmered faintly, shrinking as his clothes fell to the floor. A moment later, where Simon had stood, a brown rat scurried out from the pile.

"Oh, for the love of Raziel," Isabelle groaned.

Clary and Jace rushed over, their eyes widening at the sight of the rat. "Simon?" Clary asked, kneeling down.

The rat squeaked in response, darting toward her.

Magnus appeared behind them, his expression more amused than concerned. "Well, that's new."

"Can you fix him?" Clary demanded.

Magnus waved a hand dismissively. "Of course. But it'll have to wait. He's attracted some attention."

As if on cue, a group of vampires appeared at the edge of the room, their eyes gleaming as they spotted the rat.

"One of ours," one of them murmured, stepping forward.

Before anyone could react, the vampires snatched Simon and disappeared into the crowd.

Clary turned to Jace and Orion, panic in her voice. "We have to get him back!"

Jace nodded, already drawing a seraph blade. "Let's go."

—

The streets of New York whispered their usual hum of life as Jace, Clary, Isabelle, Alec, Orion, and Simon neared the Hotel Dumort. However, for those attuned to the Shadow World, the energy here was suffocating, thick with the presence of vampires.

The group stopped a block from the dilapidated hotel, its once-luxurious facade now crumbling and overshadowed by decades of decay. Orion stood slightly apart, his gray eyes fixed on the dark structure.

"Charming," Orion said quietly, his voice even.

"This is a vampire den," Jace replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You were expecting a welcome mat?"

Orion didn't answer. Instead, he scanned the surrounding area, his senses sharper than usual. There was something about this place—something wrong.

"Are you sure Simon's in there?" Clary's voice trembled as she broke the silence.

"Absolutely," Jace said, his hand resting on the hilt of his seraph blade.

"Vampires don't exactly let people leave once they've been invited in," Alec added darkly.

"Great," Orion muttered under his breath. "Sounds like we're walking straight into a trap."

Jace glanced at him, a smirk playing on his lips. "You don't back down from traps, do you?"

Orion met his gaze steadily. "Not when there's someone who needs help."

Jace's smirk deepened, but he didn't reply.

---

Inside the Hotel Dumort

The stench hit them first—a pungent mix of decay, mold, and something metallic. The inside of the Hotel Dumort was dark, with faint moonlight streaming through shattered windows. Dust coated the floor, and broken furniture was scattered across the lobby.

Isabelle took the lead, her golden whip uncoiled and ready. Orion followed close behind her, his movements unnaturally quiet. Clary lingered in the middle, with Alec guarding the rear.

"This place gives me the creeps," Clary whispered, glancing around nervously.

"That's the idea," Jace said, his voice low.

Orion's eyes swept the room, catching the faintest flicker of movement in the shadows. "We're not alone," he said softly.

"No kidding," Alec muttered, his bow at the ready.

The faint sound of laughter echoed from deeper within the building, followed by the clinking of glasses. It was enough to make Clary shudder.

"That'll be them," Isabelle murmured. "Stick together. No one wanders off."

They moved as a unit, slipping silently down a corridor that led to what had once been the hotel's grand ballroom. The closer they got, the louder the voices became. Orion's senses buzzed with an almost electric intensity. He could feel the vampires before he saw them, their unnatural presence like a dull thrum in his skull.

They reached the doorway to the ballroom and froze. The vampires were there—dozens of them. They lounged on torn furniture, their pale faces illuminated by the flickering glow of candles. At the center of the room, Simon sat slumped in a chair, looking dazed but unharmed.

"There," Clary whispered, her voice taut with worry.

"I'll get Simon," Jace said. "The rest of you, keep them busy."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "That's your plan? You just walk in there alone?"

Jace shot him a sideways glance. "Do you have a better idea?"

Orion didn't respond immediately. He clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Simon. "Let's just make sure no one gets killed."

"Good plan," Isabelle said with a smirk, though her grip on her whip tightened.

---

The Fight

Jace was the first to move, stepping into the ballroom with the confidence of someone who belonged there. The vampires turned to him almost immediately, their predatory eyes narrowing.

"Evening," Jace said, his tone casual. "I believe you have something of ours."

The vampires didn't reply. Instead, a low hiss rippled through the room as they began to rise from their seats.

That was the signal.

Isabelle's whip lashed out, slicing through the air with a golden glow. The first vampire it struck crumbled into ash, its scream cut short. Alec loosed an arrow, his aim precise, and another vampire fell.

Orion moved with startling speed, his makeshift blade—a broken piece of metal he'd picked up earlier—arcing through the air. He struck with calculated precision, his every movement deliberate and controlled.

The vampires faltered when they reached him, their predatory instincts replaced with something like fear. Orion's strikes were brutal, and the sheer force behind them was enough to send even the strongest of them reeling.

"Why do they hesitate with him?" Alec muttered under his breath, loosing another arrow.

"Ask them when we're not fighting for our lives," Isabelle shot back.

Meanwhile, Jace was cutting a path toward Simon, his seraph blade flashing with each strike. He reached the center of the room just as a vampire lunged for Simon's neck.

"Not today," Jace growled, driving his blade into the creature's heart.

Simon flinched as the vampire disintegrated beside him. "What took you so long?"

Jace smirked. "Had to make an entrance."

---

A Turning Tide

The vampires began to rally, their hesitation giving way to anger. Their leader, a tall, pale man with sharp features, stepped forward, his black eyes gleaming.

"Well, well," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "Shadowhunters. And... something else." His gaze lingered on Orion, his expression unreadable.

"Leave now," the leader continued, "and I'll let you live. Stay, and you'll join your mundane friend in his misery."

Jace's smirk didn't waver. "Tempting, but I think we'll pass."

The leader snarled, and the vampires surged forward.

Orion found himself surrounded, but he didn't falter. His strikes were precise, each one delivered with a strength that seemed almost inhuman. The vampires recoiled as he fought, their snarls turning to cries of pain.

"Orion!" Isabelle called out, her whip cracking through the air.

"I'm fine!" he shouted back, his blade cutting through another vampire.

Jace, Alec, and Isabelle fought with equal ferocity, their training evident in every movement. But the sheer number of vampires threatened to overwhelm them.

"We can't keep this up!" Alec shouted, loosing another arrow.

"We don't have to!" Jace yelled. "We're done here!"

He grabbed Simon and began dragging him toward the exit.

---

The Escape

The group broke free of the ballroom, their breaths ragged as they raced through the corridors. Behind them, the vampires gave chase, their snarls echoing through the halls.

Orion stayed at the rear, his blade flashing as he cut down any vampire that got too close. His movements were relentless, his expression grim.

Finally, they burst through the front doors and into the cool night air. The vampires didn't follow, their snarls fading as the group stumbled into the street.

Clary was waiting for them, her face pale with worry.

"Simon!" she cried, rushing to him.

Simon staggered forward, his face pale but alive. "I'm okay," he said weakly.

Jace, Alec, Isabelle, and Orion exchanged weary glances, their weapons still in hand.

"That was... something," Isabelle said, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

Orion didn't respond. He stared back at the hotel, his gray eyes unreadable.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Jace broke the silence.

"Next time," he said, smirking at Orion, "try to leave some of them for us."

---

Later That Night

Back at the Institute, Clary and Jace slipped away to the greenhouse, where Jace had prepared a midnight picnic for her sixteenth birthday. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated the plants around them, creating a serene and magical atmosphere.

"Happy birthday," Jace said, handing her a small cupcake with a single candle.

Clary smiled, touched by the gesture. "Thank you."

They sat together, eating in comfortable silence. After a moment, Jace turned to her, his expression softer than usual.

"You've been through a lot," he said quietly. "But you're handling it better than most."

Clary shrugged. "I don't feel like I'm handling it."

"You are," Jace insisted, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "You're stronger than you think."

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a tentative kiss. Clary froze, her mind racing, but she didn't pull away—until the sound of footsteps shattered the moment.

She turned to see Simon standing in the doorway, his expression a mix of hurt and confusion.

"Clary?" he said softly.

Clary pulled away from Jace, guilt flooding her. "Simon, I—"

"Forget it," Simon muttered, turning and walking away.

Jace's expression hardened, his usual smirk replaced by a cold indifference. "You should go after him."

Clary hesitated but nodded, leaving Jace alone in the greenhouse.

---

Orion's POV

Outside the Institute, Orion wandered the dark streets, his thoughts heavy. The events of the night replayed in his mind—the chaos of Magnus's party, the fight with the vampires, and the unspoken tension between Clary and Jace.

But his thoughts kept circling back to his parents. His mother's absence weighed on him, her message still echoing in his mind. She and his father had secrets—secrets tied to his powers, his identity, and his role in this strange new world.

As he walked, he felt the faint stirrings of his abilities. The air around him seemed to hum, responding to his emotions. He paused, closing his eyes and focusing on the sensation.

The power was there, just beneath the surface, waiting to be unlocked. But it came with questions—about who he was, what he could become, and whether he could live up to the expectations placed on him.

For now, all he could do was take one step at a time.

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