Page 44 of It Starts With A No

“It isn’t encouraged.”

“So the lights just go off at a certain time?”

“Eight p.m. Except for the people working on sleep research on the sixth floor, everyone’s usually gone by six,” he said. “Stay here. I’ll go find the lights.” He released her hand, but she tightened her grip.

“Please let me go with you,” she said, then pulled her hand from his. “I won’t even hold on to you.”

“I’ve never seen a ghost here.”

“I’m not afraid of ghosts. I just … I don’t like to be left behind. I won’t be any trouble.” She put her hand out to gauge the space in front of her. “I’m already seeing better.”

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand. “There’s nothing in front of you. Not right now anyway.” He moved forward.

“You really see very well in the dark.”

“So much so that Holly always wanted me on her team when she played her blackout hide-and-seek.”

Clary didn’t reply.

“Holly’s bipolar. She’s fantastic as long as she’s on her meds. But once she started feeling better, she’d stop taking them.” He rubbed his tongue against his chipped canine. “Then hell began.” Why was he even telling her all this?

He should keep whatever opinions or backstory he had with the Eolenfelds to himself, especially since he still wanted Clary’s help in getting the loan from the old man.

She gave his hand a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

He stopped walking as a sudden tightness seized him around the throat.

“Grandma Moretti said Holly Eolenfeld has a fragile mind,” Clary continued. “I never really got what she meant, but I suppose it’s bipolar disorder.”

“That wouldn’t mean she abused us.” No one ever believed Seth and his brothers.

“You said she did,” she said as though it was nothing, as though she didn’t realize how those four simple words had burst open a wound he’d worked so hard to bury.

She turned to him, her eyes seemingly searching for his face.

Seth wasn’t sure how much Clary’s eyes had adjusted to the dark, but he could see her unguarded expression. No hint of doubt.

Not a hint of contempt.

He put a hand to his heart. He wasn’t sure why. He wasn’t even sure what was going on. It didn’t hurt. He didn’t have to suppress any anger—there was no need to.

“Are you okay?” Clary gave his hand another squeeze. “Hey, it’s over. You’re safe. She can’t hurt you anymore.”

He chuckled.

“I thought you were caught up in some horrible memory,” she said, her voice flat.

“I wasn’t.”

“Then why are you just standing there?” She tipped her head back. “We’re idiots. Phones have flashlights.” She started to pull her hand from his, and for a split second, he held on.

Surprise at his own reaction triggered his reflex to pull away.

Clary didn’t seem to notice, though. Using her phone’s flashlight, she scanned the walls by the door. “There.” She strode over to the switch.

Though it was merely steps away, Seth felt compelled to follow.

“Let there be light.” She knocked the corner of her phone against the switch. “Ta da!”

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