Chapter twenty three

I forgot to take the sticky note down

and she realized it at the most useless moment in the existence

"What am I doing there, Isabell?" Him asking again never helped Isabell to come up with an excuse, no matter how hard she tried her mind was unable to process when he was standing right in front of her

"I- you-" she tried "You– you" she tried again and failed again

"Why am I here?" She went silent, and he was still shocked "Umm… Sebastian, it's just- like in the you know- the—"

"I can't understand codes," He said boasting in her anxiety

"Okay" Her hand moved in the air to relax Sebastian; to relax herself because he was never angry and was unable to stop himself from laughing in shock

"In the start- like in the very very beginning, there were some…" she paused, her mouth stopped uttering words as the words felt not okay to say

"There were some," Sebastian told her where she just left. She cleared her throat

"Umm… There were some rumors about you being- being in Throne Of Demon and the" Sebastian's mouth fell open to her words, he placed his hand over the opened mouth

"What?"

"N-no, I-I mean no, I mean yeah- it's just" She looked at him from the top corner of her eyes, words were still not getting straight

"Woah!" His hand moved to the template, his fingers throwing hairs back grasping over the forehead

He stayed silent

She stayed silent

"And?" Then he spoke again "You were going to say something else too" Isabell's teeth just bit one of her fingers, her eyes randomly darting at the floor. Isabell lowered her head and made her voice inaudible "And The Knight to be exact" Sebastian was dumbfounded, his eyes widened,

"I can't believe" he couldn't help but laugh roughly "I'm speechless" Her canine had another attack over the tip of her finger, and then her hand slipped down

"I- I don't know, I don't know- you- you looked intimidating and threatening and so rude and—"

"And evil and like a drug dealer and some sort of murderer too, right?" Sebastian finished her words "I don't know!" She needlessly yelled at him "Why are you making me confused?" she whined with a fit of fake anger in her eyes, "You are confused yourself, Isabell" His teeth peaked from his mouth when his lips parted

"I- I am- no- I'm not confused," she said while sounding confused "Of course you are"

"No, I'm not! My friend- Ash, Ashley- she told me that- that there was an eyewitness, yeah an eyewitness who- who saw you with Risperidone" She stopped speaking then "Risperidone? Oh God I can't believe you, Isabell" He laughed, his hand running through his face stopping at his jaws

"Was it not true?" She sounded like a child accused of stealing candies. "Of course not." he moved his head to the sides still chuckling and then it stopped at her

"It all makes sense now," he said "It all makes sense now" he repeated, her small eyes asked what "I know now, I know why you always have that annoyed expression whenever you see me as if I have attempted a crime. The fire in your eyes, and the impoliteness in your tune while speaking to me. This explains all of it" Isabell stayed silent and Sebastian stayed amazed

"No- I was- I mean of course I would, like what if you were in my place? Wouldn't you have done the same" That question made a lot of sense to Isabell and that's why she asked it out loud

"Well, I would investigate before believing" she agreed in her mind "But it was all in front of my eyes already so–"

"So you never think about asking me?" she looked at him, she looked at him with wide eyes as if he had said something unbelievable "Oh you were rude as hell, you couldn't say a sentence without teasing me. How was I supposed to talk to you?" And he returned the stare "Look who is saying" he rolled his eyes

"What?"

"Playing like you don't remember doing every possible thing to get on my nerves," Sebastian said and he wasn't really lying

"You started everything" and they started to fight like kids

"HOW?" He demanded an explanation

"You threw me out of the class on the first day"

"You were late" She paused for a moment but she did not stop

"I— okay I was– by you rejected my report"

"You know the reason"

Dran your life, Isabell.

Her thoughts broke in for the first time in an entire day. "Whatever" was all she could tell herself to say and then the voice was gone. Hush stayed between them for a while and Isabell looked at her hands

"Okay so," she said, holding the recorder again and the tension regained its position as she shifted the mood "There are a lot of things in this that you need to hear," she said and then played the entire recording of the interview with Emily. Isabell gave Sebastian a briefing on all data she had related to Throne Of Demon

"This evidence board is going to help," Sebastian said as he moved toward it

"Yeah, I've been working hard on it," she said joining Sebastian in front of the board "So you got all the details and we have one identity too that is going to be enough for filing a report," Sebastian said and Isabell moved one more step forward

"Yes, but there is a problem. This one right here" she pointed at a blue square saying Spy "You heard about the power he has, all the connections with police and Law enforcement agencies. He is basically the main reason why no one can hunt them down. So maybe filing a report right now won't help us much" she finished turning toward Sebastian

"Well I don't remember having any link with Throne Of Demon," he said and his words didn't make sense "Huh?" Isabell looked puzzled just as her words "I passed the bar exam long ago and I got a license too so maybe" Her eyes jolted, she understood what Sebastian was trying to say and suddenly the muscles of his face started to get tense

"You are going to fight the case?" The confusion was replaced with fear

"That's what I just said" no no no no "No, Sebastian. You are not" Her head moved to the side in disapproval

"It's alright, I can do it"

"No, it is not alright and you are not going to do it, it's dangerous. You know well that if you take the case you are going to be on top of their target list" She looked terrified for him

"Saying a girl who almost got us killed a few nights ago," Sebastian said leaning back on the table "It's not the same," she said shifting towards him, again "You know it could kill you" Sebastian crossed his hands over his chest, his shirt tighten on the body

"I don't anticipate dying that easy, Isabell," he told her "But, Sebastia–" he cut in

"But we don't have another choice he stood upright "And we can't trust this system,"

"Yeah, you are right but—"

"We're done talking about it"

"But—" Isabell tried to convince him again but Sebastian sealed her lips with his index finger and then the words were all gone

"We are finished with this conversation" She stopped struggling. Her beats suddenly got faster. Isabell replied to Sebastian with a light and nervous moment in her head.

He removed his finger sliding it over the length of her lips softly and at it her heart suddenly jumped, catching into her throat.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for moments

"I–" she moved her gaze to the table, "I have something for you," Isabell said, taking a step to the side she opened the cabin and took a small pink box out.

Sebastian's eyes broadened at the sight of it and he seemed to recognize it

"This is Emily's," She said handing the box to Sebastian, his lips stretched taking the box. He lifted the cover and his lips curved into a soft smile

"So she left it in the end," he said, sounding sad, Isabell chewed the inside of her mouth, not sure about what to say

"Sh- Emily cherished it so much and you need to take good care of this pendant now" Her eyes stared at him, Sebastian nodded and then she was unable to speak when she saw Sebastian sad

It's okay to listen to his nonstop mocking but it is not okay to see Sebastian sad. It is not okay

Her thoughts casually started to gather in her mind

Say something

"Do you-" she paused "Would you like to have some juice?" she asked out of nowhere and he just looked at her for moments knowing she was struggling to help and not sure how to console at the exact moment

"You mean acid?" He teased with a serious face, leaving Isabell confused "Huh?"

"Well I mean you know that cranberry juice actually tastes like acid" and her confusion turned into a pure stare of anger "What do you mean by that, Sebastian?" Her voice was loud enough to sound out the silent room

"Did I say something wrong?" her mouth opened in surprise accompanying her eyes finding words to describe the level of rage in herself "Yes, you are!" she imitated a laugh out of absolute shock "The hell you are wrong," she said, she stared offended and he stared back as if he had no idea how he just poked fun at the entire being of Isabell

"It does NOT taste like acid," she said in her defense, barely defending herself

"Okay, tell me one good thing about it"

"Of course," she said "Course" she repeated and then her brain supported her "It- it is refreshing, good for your health, antioxidant, reduces stress, rich in vitamins, reduces the risk of heart disease, digestive tract disease—-"

"Hold on" she paused after hearing his voice and then he chucked "You have remembered the entire autobiography of cranberry juice?" he laughed in amazement

"Of course," she said "Of course" she repeated again

"Impressive" he laughed louder

"I know" She still looked confused

"Wait" Isabell said, he lifted his chin in response

"How do you know I was talking about cranberry juice? How do you know I like it?"

"Well, it would have been surprising if the entire university didn't know about how you appear everywhere holding boxes of the juice in your hands" Isabell moved her head up and down and nodded for another time "But you don't go to random people asking random stuff," she said and Sebastian was saying nothing for moments and then his lips separated

"Unless someone is being hard to ignore," he said, she looked at him, blinked at him, and stared at him again

"You mean you noticed me?" She asked still staring

"Wasn't it obvious?" He asked and her eyes broke from him making their way to a different direction, still wide open, her cheeks flushed pink, and ultimately her lips smiled "I see" she said silently, smiled softly, and then all she was to hold that shy and silly smile but then he spoke again "Well, I should probably get going" Sebastian said and her grin was nowhere to be found "See you on the campus tomorrow," Isabell gazed at him and then bounced her had

"Okay," she replied and followed him to the door. Sebastian unlocked the door and stepped out and he turned around

"Isabell" he called, she looked at him "About the investigations, there is something I need you to do something"

She raised her brows

Taking his hand out of his pocket, Sebastian passed a small black chip to Isabell "Is there any chance you can put this on Steve"

"What is it?" she asked taking it from his fingers

"A recording chip"

"A recording chip?"

"Yeah, I was thinking maybe we could get some evidence if we trail on them like this" he explained and she got it

"Oh, okay okay" Isabell nodded with her eyes closed as if she had already started to plan her first task

"Will it be okay?" Sebastian confirmed for another time

"Yeah" She smiled, anxiously

"Okay then" he took a step back still looking in her direction "Take care," he said

"Take care" she replied and he was gone

Isabell never even waited to go into her room, as soon as she locked the door behind her she sat on the floor, resting her head on it, and then opened Emily's letter





For the first time in the entire year, Isabell didn't cry over something related to Emily. She smiled, she breathed in relief and all she said to her was

"Thank you, Emily"

The morning sun cast a warm glow, Isabell wore an Azure dress matching the color of the sky, notebooks tucked under her hands, bag hanging on her shoulder as she walked into the building of Law. Before entering the building she spared a glance at her phone checking time and suddenly it vibrated from messages, she lifted it and unlocked

Ethan: The suspension is over

Ethan: I'm back Isabell

Her eyes twitched abruptly as if they couldn't believe in themselves. Isabell was left stunned by those messages

No. She said

NO! She yelled

Her hands shivered, head rolling,

He is back. Ethan is– Ethan is back

Her brain was barely processing and fighting with herself to ignore it when she heard a scream "Izzy!" Her eyes squeezed tight at the loud shout and then opened

Standing at the entrance Isabell located her friends; one of her friends and the other one was an enemy of her now. And suddenly she forgot about the messages

The crimson hue spread all over the left side of Steve's face, almost turning purple near his bandaged eye, it looked as if it was decaying, leaving him blind in one eye.

The pain etched on his face was vivid even from a distance and Isabell could see it but for some reason, it gave her a feeling of peace. Despite taking satisfaction from the delightful view she had to stay in character. Isabell walked towards her friends, masking her face with anxiety and as much tension as it could hold

She threw her arms around the neck of Steve pretending to give him a hug

"How are you, Steve?" She asked and a heavy amount of grief appeared in her voice. Steve froze at his position, a strange expression roamed around his face

"I-I'm better now," Steve said after a pause but he never hugged Isabell back

"I was so worried about you" Actually, I was never and the hell will I ever be. This eye of yours is making me feel butterflies in the heart, and beats in the stomach, I won't lie like it does want me to puke because it looks extremely painful and you know what? This look suits you. I wish you to have these types of experiences again and again until you feel disgusted by your existence and I swear I won't even mourn if you take your life out of that disgust because this is how your end is supposed to be, you monster

"I hope you'll be back to normal in no time" She released him from the hug and beamed at him, a fake smile

"Thank you. Izzy" Steve replied with a stretch of his lips

"So you are done with the caring and things?" The calm Ashley standing by their side said "I never saw you were here too" Isabell forced a laugh mocking her

"Izzy, you—" A shout intended towards one of them, interrupted Ashley

"Pretty girl!" The shout said, Recognizing the voice Isabell spinner towards it

Her eyes saw two tall men, standing at a distance, one of them dressed in blue while the other in shadow, giving the exact opposite expression on their faces. "Mr. Franklin" he was standing with a man dressed in a black suit with a scowling face

"Can you come here?" Wilson shouted

"Give me a second please" she kept her voice normal turning towards her friends "I will see you in class," she said "So you are ditching us right the moment we met?" Ashley rolled her eyes at her

"No, It's—"

"Like you are keeping all the tea to yourself?"

"I promise I'll tell you later, Ash" she lied

"No, Izzy. Like literally Sebastian Lightwood?" she shouted in a low voice

"Ash, it's not like that, it's not what you are thinking," she said looking doomed

"Then how is it? Why are they calling you?" I don't know

"I don't know"

"Well, then I can see you have made new friends" Ashley's face looked stiff, she said those words and left, taking Steve without waiting for her reply

"It's no….." Isabell stared at both of them going. She didn't want to make her only best friend angry

"Isabell, fast!" The shout pulled her back, she turned around and took some fast steps toward them

"Good Morning, Mr. Franklin" she greeted "Morning" Wilson replied and she shifted towards Sebastian "Good Morning, Mr. Lightwood" She could already see the annoyance all over Sebastian's face but she didn't have a choice but to call him like that

"Good Morning, Isabell," Sebastian said in his deep voice, his jaws were already tensed "What did you want to say, Mr. Franklin?" She ignored Sebastian's flaming face

"Ah! Pretty hazel hair girl, you need to stop calling me that first" he pointed a finger at her "Wilson without formalities, just like we decided, remember?" Sebastian's gaze suddenly went glued to Wilson and he never cared for it

"I'm sorry, Mr. Frankl- I mean, Wilson" she finished "Now we are talking" he giggled

"So, Pretty girl, I'm opening a cafe" he announced with pride "That's great. Congratulations, Wilson" Isabell said with a smile

"Thank you, Sweetie" he said looking at Sebastian now "It's gonna be a rooftop cafe—"

"For the eighth time in a row and like every other time it is not going to work" Sebastian explained with his usual intense tune and Wilson moved his face away from him

"It's supposed to be two words, Seb. Just two words. Good Luck" Wilson set a punch on his arm and Sebastian never seemed to even flinch an inch

"Yeah two words, Not working," he said, throwing half-stretched lips at him, receiving and dogging one more hit while

Isabell smiled silently at them

"Are you a barista?" She asked "Yeah" Wilson adjusted his necktie "An amazing one" He smiled wider while Isabell nodded "And yeah I stopped you because I want to invite you to my cafe, Sweetie" He was talking to Isabell but his stare kept at Sebastian's face

"Inviting me?" Isabell appeared puzzled

"Yeah it feels good when you friends" he pointed a finger at Sebastian "Excluding this one, support you" Sebastian smirked at his words "I'll be pleased to visit your cafe, Wilson"

"I'll be pleased if you visit me, Love" The expressions from two minutes ago were back on Sebastian's face, stronger

"Will" his fingers tightened into a fist of anger

"Yes, Seb" he replied scarcely holding his laughter "You have a class in five minutes," he said, breathing "Nope, don't have any class till afternoon," Wilson said, checking his watch

"Didn't they have some changes in the schedule yesterday?" he played

"Nope, I never heard of that"

"Yes, I received a notification last night. You might have missed it. You should go and check or it could create issues" Relief passed over his face as he looked at Wilson "Oh really?" he stared at his watch again, worried this time "I guess I should take off" Wilson took his steps away and Sebastian sneered

"Thank you, Seb. I would have been doomed" Sebastian nodded "I'll wait for you, Isabell" and saying these words Wilson disappeared into thin air

"What are you so happy about?" Sebastian asked, looking at Isabell smiling "My eyes must be seeing things," she said while Sebastian stared at her for an explanation

"Am I witnessing Sebastian Lightwood frowning?" Sebastian's eyes blinked at the ways she attacked

"No I'm not frowning" he frowned again

"Can't agree with that" she laughed, Sebastian rolled his eyes in annoyance "Why were you hugging that piece of shit?" He said in a harsh tone, the muscles of his face tightening, eyes shrunken "So you were frowning" Sebastian rolled his eyes again, his mouth gasp for air

"Did you forget?" She questioned

"Forget what?"

"About the recording chip I had to put on his shirt" Sebastian stared at her and then blinked as the memory entered his brain

"Oh," he said "Oh, yeah" he remembered "Exactly, yeah" She chuckled at his getting back to his usual face

"But will it be okay? Sebastian stared at the direction Steve was standing

"What?"

"What if he changed it to a different shirt" Sebastian asked

"I may not know Lethal but I know Steve and I know he wears the same shirt the entire week," Isabell said "Really?" he made a useless attempt to hide the surprise in his voice "Exactly"

And then Isabell's mind suddenly reminded her of something and she stared at her phone

"Time for your lecture, Mr. Lightwood" she reminded him "Yeah" he never moved his feet "Mr. Lightwood" she purposely chose to say it loud

"So it's okay only with Wilson?" he frowned again and Isabell smiled wide as if she would begin to cry looking at him like this

"Oh, Sebastian" The frowning disappeared in a blink and suddenly he was saying nothing "Time," she said and his lips moved, he walked in front of her

"Let's go to the class" Isabell froze, and she stared at him, he turned around "I mean- I mean you go first and I will be there in five minutes" She nodded and Sebastian nodded and both of them walked in opposite directions while grinning