City of Fallen Angels

Simon’s mouth opened. “Why? I mean, what’s going on?”


Jace offered the ghost of a smile. “‘I could be bounded in a nut shell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.’”

“I actually know that one. Hamlet. So you’re saying you can’t sleep because you’re having nightmares?”

“Vampire,” said Jace, with a tired certainty, “you have no idea.”

“Hey.” Kyle came back around the counter and flung himself down in the nubby armchair. He took a bite out of his bagel. “What’s going on?”

“I went to meet Luke,” Simon said, and explained what had happened, seeing no reason to hide it. He left out any mention of Camille wanting him not just because he was a Daylighter, but also because of the Mark of Cain. Kyle nodded when he was done. “Luke Garroway. He’s the head of the downtown pack. I’ve heard of him. He’s kind of a big shot.”

“His real name isn’t Garroway,” said Jace. “He used to be a Shadowhunter.”

“Right. I heard that, too. And now he’s been instrumental with all the new Accords stuff.” Kyle glanced at Simon. “You know some important people.”

“Important people are a lot of trouble,” Simon said. “Camille, for instance.”

“Once Luke tells Maryse what’s going on, the Clave will take care of her,” said Jace. “There are protocols for dealing with rogue Downworlders.” At that, Kyle looked at him sideways, but Jace didn’t seem to notice. “I already told you I don’t think she’s the one trying to kill you. She knows—” Jace broke off. “She knows better than that.”

“And besides, she wants to use you,” Kyle said.

“Good point,” said Jace. “No one’s going to off a valuable resource.”

Simon looked from one of them to the other, and shook his head. “When did you two get so buddy-buddy? Last night it was all, ‘I’m the most elite warrior!’ ‘No, I’m the most elite warrior!’ And today you’re playing Halo and giving each other props for good ideas.”

“We realized we have something in common,” said Jace. “You annoy us both.”

“In that vein, I had a thought,” Simon said. “I don’t think either of you are going to like it, though.”

Kyle raised his eyebrows. “Let’s hear it.”

“The problem with you guys watching me all the time,” Simon said, “is that if you do, the guys trying to kill me won’t try it again, and if they don’t try it again, then we won’t know who they are, and plus, you’ll have to watch me all the time. And I assume you have other things you’d rather be doing. Well,” he added in Jace’s direction, “possibly you don’t.”

“So?” said Kyle. “What’s your suggestion?”

“We lure them out. Get them to attack again. Try to capture one of them and find out who sent them.”

“If I recall,” said Jace, “I had this idea the other day, and you didn’t like it much.”

“I was tired,” Simon said. “But now I’ve been thinking. And so far, in my experience with evildoers, they don’t go away just because you ignore them. They keep on coming in different ways. So either I make these guys come to me, or I spend forever waiting for them to attack again.”

“I’m in,” Jace said, though Kyle still looked dubious. “So do you just want to go out and wander around until they show up again?”

“I thought I’d make it easy for them. Show up somewhere everyone knows I’m supposed to be.”

“You mean …?” said Kyle.

Simon pointed to the flyer taped to the fridge. MILLENNIUM LINT, OCTOBER 16, THE ALTO BAR, BROOKLYN. 9 P.M. “I mean the gig. Why not?” His headache was still there, full force; he pushed it back, trying not to think about how exhausted he was, or how he’d push himself through the gig. He had to get more blood somehow. Had to.

Jace’s eyes were shining. “You know, that’s actually a pretty good idea there, vampire.”

“You want them to attack you onstage?” Kyle asked.

“It’ll make for an exciting show,” said Simon, with more bravado than he really felt. The idea of being attacked one more time was almost more than he could stand, even if he didn’t fear for his personal safety. He wasn’t sure he could bear to watch the Mark of Cain do its work again.

Jace shook his head. “They don’t attack in public. They’ll wait till after the show. And we’ll be there to deal with them.”

Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know…”

They went a few more rounds, Jace and Simon on one side of the argument and Kyle on the other. Simon felt a little guilty. If Kyle knew about the Mark, he’d be a lot easier to persuade. Eventually he cracked under the pressure and reluctantly agreed to what he continued to insist was “a stupid plan.”