Clary had willed herself to cry until she could cry no more, and lay tangled in her golden sheets while she stared at the plain ceiling with a certain bitterness; it was as if she had drunk a whole bottle of cold water, and her throat burned where it threatened to choke her. Guilt churned painfully in her chest, her heart fluttering against her aching ribs.

She had seen his face, so broken and vulnerable with guilt and weakness, and had known right away she had broken his heart. Fear had been the only thing holding her back from running after his crumpling form. He had looked like he was going to pass out right there and then, in front of Clary; as if she had slapped him, though she had done no such thing.

She hadn't eaten or drank anything in the past few hours, and her stomach turned not only from guilt, but from hunger as well. Truth was, she couldn't have eaten. Her body ached to feel the smooth surface of bread, to feel it under her teeth as she munched away, but she could not will herself to do it. It was her punishment for recoiling from Ash as if he were a poisonous snake threatening to harm her, though he had restrained himself because of his feelings for her.

Clary knew, and yet could not push his growling and hunched form from her mind. It was printed at the back of her eyelids every time she closed them, and in front of her eyes every time she opened them. She shook her head several times to clear it, and forced her exhausted body to move and sit up, only to glance blankly and stare at the wall.

And then everything else came in a blur; brushing her teeth, glancing out the window, the nausea, and clinging to the closest object as if her life depended on it. And she had opened the door, feeling another rush of nausea as her stomach turned. The bushes looked great to let it all out, but then Clary realized there was nothing in her stomach to throw up. With another bitter glance around the deserted streets, she quietly walked back inside.

________________

"I believe it could have been three or four, ma'am." Said the man that stood as their waiter.

"I was mowing the lawn when I heard it. Quite frightening, I say." He held himself as if to shudder, but was called away for an order of wine.

"If you will pardon me." He bowed and walked away quickly. Stella sighed and stared lazily at Ash, who sat across from her with rings under his now dull, blue eyes. She started to speak, but thought better of it. It was Ash who spoke first:

"What is this place anyway? It's a bit--" he struggled for the right word and then spoke again, "--old fashioned," he finished, glancing around the muddy brown walls of the restaurant. Stella had suggested they go here to investigate and discuss the situation. The waiters wore loose, long-sleeved, plain shirts, and loose, black pants. It looked to Ash like he was at an Inn from the 1850's, the ones he had so often read about in books, implanted as an image in his mind.

Stella grinned. It was one of her threatening grins that would have made a person standing close to her faint from horror; but Ash was quite oblivious to this effect and awaited an answer.

"Well, I suppose you wouldn't know. You are new to the Night World, aren't you?" she said, and when Ash gave her a blank look, she added:

"The Night World is the world of supernatural creatures, divided into 3 sections: The Moonlings, the Lunars, and the Nightlings. The Moonlings, also known as the night children, are werewolves, while the Lunars are Healers, and at the top, the Nightlings are vampires." She finished in one big breath and smiled unpleasantly, like one might before they stab you in the heart and leave you to bleed to death.

Ash looked glumly at Stella, and she sighed softly and patted him on the back.

"This place, for instance, is a Night World restaurant. Humans have a certain 'block' on their minds, so this is hidden from them," she explained. Ash nodded and glanced at her, having barely touched his fries that were now growing cold.

Stella gave him a twisted smile and grabbed for his hand, leading him out the door.

"Alright. It's time to face Clary and apologize. Actually, both of you need to apologize. But I will talk to her first to calm her down, and then you come in. Deal?"

Ash, not looking up, let out a sigh.

"Deal." He was looking up now, grinning broadly. Stella could not help but grin back, and led him towards the wooden apartment where they lived.