The Fiery Trial Read Online Free PDF Page B

and they shuddered together before stepping carefully out of the fountain and lying down on the bricks of the terrace, heaving for breath. The moon was wide—too wide and too close.
    Mentally, Simon told the moon to stop being so close and bright and that it should just generally shut up with the mooniness. He reached out and took Clary’s hand, which was already extended, waiting for his.
    When he opened his eyes, he was not outside. He was on something fairly comfortable and plush. Simon reached around and felt a velvety surface under him. He sat up and realized he was on a sofa in the reception room. The tea set was there, in front of him. Magnus and Catarina were standing against the wall, conferring, and Jem sat in the chair between them and watched them both.
    “Sit up slowly,” he said. “Take a few deep breaths.”
    “What the hell?” Simon said.
    “You drank water from Lake Lyn,” Jem said quietly. “The waters produce hallucinations.”
    “You had us drink water from Lake Lyn ? Where’s Clary?”
    “She is fine,” Jem said quietly. “Drink some water. You must be thirsty.”
    A glass was already against Simon’s lips. Catarina was holding it.
    “Are you joking?” Simon said. “You want me to drink that? After what just happened?”
    “It’s fine,” Catarina said. She took a long sip from the glass and held it back in front of Simon’s mouth. He did have a crazy case of cottonmouth, actually. His tongue felt thick. He took the glass and drank it back in one go, then filled it again, and again from a pitcher on the table. Only after the third glass did he feel like he could speak again.
    “Doesn’t that drive people insane?” he said, not bothering to disguise his anger in any way.
    Jem sat calmly, his hands resting on his knees. Simon could see his age now, not in his face but behind his eyes. They were dark mirrors that reflected the passage of uncounted years.
    “Had something gone wrong, you would have been with the Silent Brothers within the hour. I may not be a Silent Brother anymore, but I have previously treated those who have consumed the waters. Magnus prepared the tea because he has worked with both of your minds. Catarina, of course, is a nurse. You were always safe. I am sorry. None of us wanted to deceive you. This was done for your benefit.”
    “Not an explanation,” Simon said. “I want to see Clary. I want to know what’s going on.”
    “She’s fine,” Catarina said. “I’ll go check on how she’s doing. Don’t worry.”
    She left, and Jem leaned forward in his chair.
    “Before Clary comes in, I need to know: What did you see ?”
    “When you drugged me?”
    “Simon, this is important. What did you see?”
    “I was in New York. I . . . thought I was in New York. Did we go to New York? Did you open a Portal?”
    Jem shook his head.
    “You were in this room the entire time. Please. Tell me.”
    “Clary and I were in Central Park, by the Bethesda Fountain. The angel in the fountain flew away and the fountain flooded, and Clary disappeared. Then some boat came and I was on a ‘tunnel of love’ ride with Jace, and he kept telling me to remember where we met, even though I didn’t see him.”
    “Stop a moment,” Jem said. “What does that mean to you?”
    “I have no idea. I just know he was saying that I had to remember.”
    “ Do you remember?”
    “No,” Simon snapped. “I barely remember anything. I know I was probably with Clary. Clary could see him.”
    “Go on,” Jem said. “What happened then?”
    “I saw Maia, he said. “And I saw Jordan. He was covered in blood. Then this ride dumped me out on the East River, and some kid named Maureen said she died because of me and jumped in. Clary was floating on the water and I . . .”
    He shuddered again, and Jem immediately stood and produced a blanket, wrapping it around his shoulders.
    “Move closer to the fire,” Jem said, guiding him up and to a chair. When Simon had settled a bit and