Risen

Raphael, Riley, Jace, Ailiz, and Diana gathered around an empty plot in an old cemetary as the moon slowly rising in the night sky. A rustling sounded behind them and Camille appeared, flanked by a dozen vampires.

"What do you want?" Riley asked, standing her ground.

"I want my property back." Camille hissed.

Diana narrowed her eyes. "Simon is not your property." she snapped.

Camille bared her fangs. "If you'll just hand him over, I'll be on my way."

"You're not laying a hand on him." Ailiz growled, her eyes glowing green.

"Fine." Camille huffed. "I tried to do this the nice way." The dozen vampires that flanked her zoomed closer.

"Jace." Riley muttered, gripping his arm tightly.

Raphael stepped forward. "I'm glad you brought everyone here to witness your demise. Camille killed this mundane." he pointed to Simon's body. "Now, I have all the proof. She's been breaking the Accords for too long now. He's the evidence we need to show the Clave what Camille has been doing."

Camille rolled her eyes. "Are you trying to overthrow me?" she chuckled dryly.

"No." Raphael rebuked. "I already have." he bared his fangs.

The rest of the vampires surrounded Camille, their eyes narrowed into a glare. "Don't listen to him." Camille advised. "Raphael doesn't know the first thing about leading. You need me." she informed. "I've given you everything you could want. All the riches. All the pleasures you could desire."

"By breaking the law." Raphael pointed out. "Which will only destroy us."

"We can fix this." Camille noted. "If we just get rid of the body, this mundane means nothing."

Riley scoffed. "Means nothing?" she repeated, strutting up to Camille. "Over my dead body." she threw out her right fist and decked the older vampire right in the face. She spun on her heels and walked away, letting the vampires settle their dispute.

Ailiz blinked and her jaw dropped. "I love this girl." she chuckled.

After dealing with Camille, Raphael approached Riley; a stake in one hand and a shovel in the other. "It's time Riley." he noted. "Which will it be?

Riley looked over her shoulder at Diana, who just shook her head. "I'll be biased." she admitted. "Do whatever you believe is right."

Riley nodded and sighed, taking the shovel from Raphael. She turned around and started digging what would be Simon's grave. After the grave was dug, Diana knelt by Simon's body, draping a light blue shawl over his shoulders.

"When your grandfather gave you this at your bar mitzvah, you-" Diana chuckled, sniffling. "you told me how much it meant to you. It was a symbol of the day you became a man." she shuddered. "Simon, no matter what happens, no matter what you become, you will always be that man to me." Diana caressed his forehead and placed a kiss on it, standing up and letting the tears fall.

Raphael took Simon's body and placed him in the grave. Riley picked up the shovel, sniffling as she began to pile the dirt back into the grave, but could only manage one swing before breaking down. Ailiz took the shovel and finished the job, while Diana leaned into Raphael for support and Jace held onto a shaking Riley.

"That mundane's a fighter." Jace spoke, with one arm wrapped around Riley. "He survived the vampires at the Hotel DuMort. He survived the werewolves at Jade Wolf. He survived accounting, for whatever that's worth."

Riley nodded. "He is a fighter, isn't he?" she muttered.

Diana knelt by the freshly filled grave, with Ailiz rubbing her shoulder soothingly.

"Look, I know you think emotions cloud judgment; and that whole falcon story, I don't think I'll ever be able to wrap my head around that." Riley chuckled. "But all of that contradicts the first rule of being mundane."

"What's the first rule of being mundane?" Jace asked.

Riley sighed. "It's that love makes you stronger." she answered, looking up and meeting his eyes. "It was my mother's love for me and Clary that made her betray Valentine and steal the Cup. It's love that makes you fight harder for what you want."

A sudden rustling caught their attention, and the ground started to rumble. "It's happening." Jace informed, tightening his grip around Riley's shoulders.

Suddenly, a hand reached out of the dirt and Simon pulled himself up, gasping.

"Simon." Diana muttered. "Simon, it's me. It's Diana."

Simon looked up at her and hissed, baring his fangs, making Diana scream and jump back.

"Once reborn, you emerge hungry." Raphael informed, tossing Simon a blood bag, which he tore open and gulped down. "Very hungry."

Riley's eyes widened as she started breathing heavily. "Oh, my God." she muttered.

After tearing open all the blood bags, Simon's breathing became eratic. He looked around and saw Diana and Riley wide eyed. "Riley. Diana. What's happening?" he asked, his voice filled with panic.

"You, um-" Riley started, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You died." she answered.

"I what?" Simon questioned, looking around. He noticed a faint stain on his shirt. "What's this?" he gasped, once realizing what it was. "That's blood! Oh, my-" he gagged. "Why can't I say-"

"God." Raphael finished. "It'll take time to regain the ability. There's a lot you will need to learn."

Simon shuddered, slamming his fists down onto the ground. "Damn it!" he looked up at Diana and Riley. "Am I a vampire?" he asked.

Diana bit her lip and glanced at Riley, who's green eyes were filled with tears. "Yes." she answered.

"Riley, please tell me this isn't real." Simon begged. "Tell me this is not really happening!"

"I'm sorry." she apologized, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Simon."

"I'm-" Simon shuddered. "I'm repulsive!"

Diana shook her head. "No, please, don't say that, okay?" she pleaded. "You're still the same, Simon. You're the same Simon I've known my whole life. The same guy who loves sci-fi, and who can recite every line from every Nicolas Cage movie." tears streamed down her cheeks. "The same Simon who carried Clary over the Brooklyn Bridge when she lost her shoe."

"No, Diana, I'm not!" Simon rebuked.

"Yes, you are, Simon!" Diana yelled. "You are the same Simon! You are my best friend!"

Simon shook his head, sobbing dryly. "I'm nothing more than a monster."

Riley bit her lip, stepping forward. "No, Simon-"

"Stay away!" Simon ordered, backing away. "Please just, stay away." he zoomed away.

"Simon!" Riley called, but a second to late.

"I'll look after Simon." Raphael assured. "You have my word."

Diana wiped her eyes, nodding. "Thank you." she shook his hand. Raphael kissed the top before rushing off after Simon.

Riley took a shuddering breath. "What have I done?" she muttered. "Clary's never gonna forgive me."

Jace pulled her into an embrace, soothing her as she sobbed into his chest, gripping the sleeves of his jacket. He rubbed her back gently and kissed the top of her head.