Hi there! So, after watching the new trailer, I came up with a couple of ideas for different possible scenes. Here #2.
We see Magnus is thrown against the wall. Well, here is what my imagination produced when I sat and thought about it. Here is a story about Magnus and his inner turmoil, about Alec's never ending faith in his lover, about the moment where one one has to make a choice...
If you enjoy the first chapter and you want more, then I'll write a more fluffy and cuddly second chapter!
I hope you'll enjoy!
Pick a side...
Magnus had seen the realm of Edom up close. He had felt the burning, hellish blazers licking his bare hands, he had inhaled the thick, dry molecules of air, which were filled with dust, ash and what Magnus was sure that were specks of human skin. He had heard the desperate screams, the high pitched shrieks, as well as the deep, almost animalistic growls... Yes, Magnus Bane, the son of Asmodeus, the son of a prince of Hell, had extended knowledge of Edom.
So, when Lilith, the mother of all demons, appeared atop of the New York Institute in a flash of lightning, which tore the night sky in half and caused the lights of the entire city to flicker, Magnus knew that she would ravage this land, this crowded, yet beautiful city, that she would oblige the fire of Edom to rise up and lick every nook and cranny, every alley, every corner. He knew Lilith would undoubtedly, unleash Hell on Earth. He knew she would kill anyone who would dare oppose her will. And yet, as soon as his keen eyes, which were scanning the streets for any sign of his beloved Alexander, caught the flash of lightning at the top of the New York Institute, Magnus abandoned the thick, protective walls of his loft and rushed outside. His heart was hammering in his ears, the loud thuds forming one word as the Warlock waved his hands, creating a portal. 'Alexander... Alexander...'
Magnus moved hectically, stepping into the portal and then out of it, with movements rushed and graceless, so unlike the flourish gestures he was associated with. What his eyes saw, was a sight his brain could not analyze at once. He was certain he had portaled himself in the corridor which led to the main war room of the Institute, yet what he witnessed the second he stepped out of the portal, was not a war room, but a bombarded war zone, instead. Shards of glass, along with long thick pieces of various angelic blades among other broken weapons, were what his feet stepped on. The sickeningly sweet, metallic scent of blood, smothered Magnus' senses and his nostrils twitched as the thick, dry air he inhaled, was carrying with it the caustic traces of blood.
Outstretching his hands defensively, Magnus allowed his magic to come to the surface and started walking, only to gasp as his eyes were soon met with yet another repulsing sight. Too many Shadowhunters, young and old, men and women, were lying dead, one next to the other, covering the entire length of the corridor which lead to the war room. Their flesh was paler than the walls and their eyes, albeit wide open, were blinded forever. "No..." Magnus muttered in fear, as he literally stepped over dead bodies so as to reach the war room. When he finally managed to get there, the Warlock was obliged to come to an abrupt halt and for one more time, his eyes widened in disbelief and horror.
"I have been waiting for you, High Warlock..." Lilith, who was standing in the middle of the room, with her back on the door and therefore Magnus, announced in a voice sharper than a Seraph blade. "Magnus... That's the name you go by, is it not?" The woman noted, turning around slowly, the movement causing her black hair to fall gracefully over her shoulders, which were not concealed by the dress she was wearing. Magnus stood frozen on the spot, as he felt his demonic blood pumping in his veins. His eyes were fixed on the demonic figure and the Warlock was sure that there was something, a voice, a low, hushed voice, which was calling him, urging him to go to her.
The voice started whispering in his ear and Magnus felt a shiver traveling down his spine as Lilith let her eyes take in his body. The voice, so alluring, so soft, yet sickeningly filled with malice, it echoed in Magnus' ears and every word was like a drop of poison... It was uttering his name, it was calling him... 'Magnus...' 'Magnus...' The Warlock took in a sharp inhale, eyes flying open, body stiffening. The alluring voice was muted all of a sudden, replaced by another, sharp, agonizing, and above all, familiar one. And Magnus knew who that voice belonged to without needing to see its bearer. "Magnus!" "Alexander..." The Warlock gasped, and only when the word had left his lips did he allow his eyes to scan his surroundings.
Lilith was standing in the middle of the room and all around her, scattered across the cold floor, thrown in the four corners of the room, were Clary, Simon, Isabelle and of course, Alec. The Warlock felt his blood starting to boil in his veins and this time, he was certain Lilith had nothing to do with it. His hands moved in less than a blink of an eye, and red sparks of magic flew off his fingertips anew. "Release them." Magnus commanded, as he saw Alec fighting against invisible bonds. His voice was cold, unforgiving, his tone perfectly masked. "Release them?" The woman retorted, face frowning, eyes narrowing. "They are the ones who killed my son!" Lilith snapped, voice hard as steel. Her eyes, now two slits on her pale face, were piercing Magnus, as if they were two sharpen daggers. The Warlock shivered as the woman dragged her gaze on his body, and Magnus could feel the two black orbs could see through his fancy clothes, they could pierce the layers of his skin and of his muscles, they could see his very soul.
Magnus was startled, and his body stiffened even more at the sound of the following words Lilith uttered. "Sebastian... Was my son." The woman explained, causing Magnus to take in a sharp breath. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lilith cut him off, her tone demanding. "And I will do anything to bring my son back." She concluded, causing Magnus to swallow soundly, as his mind could now realize what the demon wanted of him. "You... You can help me bring him back..." Lilith's tone was now a softer, yet still threatening. She moved gracefully around the room, with steps so light that one would think she was walking on the air, without touching the cold floor. "Can you not?" She continued, and before Magnus could blink, he felt the demon's lips brushing his ear.
Lilith was now standing mere inches behind Magnus and the Warlock felt two long, cold hands moving upwards; from his waist, all the way up, to his shoulders. Swiftly and cunningly they moved, hands white and thin, their touch gentle yet firm. Like vines they moved, and Magnus found himself trapped, unable to escape their vice-like grip. "You, the son of the mighty Asmodeus... The power you hold is immense..." Lilith's breath was cold against Magnus' ear and the Warlock shivered, eyes falling closed as the blood in his veins started pounding anew. "Magnus! Magnus!" Clary and then Simon cried out, voices frantic, filled with fear. Their calls fell on deaf ears, however, as the Warlock seemed lost. The sparks of magic which were flying off his fingertips were now golden, the same color as his cat-eyes, which came forth as soon as Lilith spoke again.
"You have power that only a few other Warlocks have... Death has no claim over you... You can tame even the fires of Edom..." The woman muttered in a honeyed voice and Izzy saw her friend's hands were shaking. "Magnus!" Izzy exclaimed, but to no avail. The Warlock was burning, the blood in his veins was running hot like fire, his cat eyes were glowing ever so brightly and he could almost taste that power, that dark, forbidden energy which he had tried so hard to contain, to lock away in the depths of his being. "Come with me..." Lilith offered in a husky, alluring voice, as she moved once again. She withdrew her hands from Magnus' shoulders, only to move and stand in front of him. She hid Alec from Magnus' line of sight and placed her hands on the Warlock's chest, speaking again.
"Come with me... Help me bring my son back, and your reward will be unimaginable. Power and knowledge beyond comprehension. Wealth, pleasures of the flesh... Claim over the elements of nature, over death itself..." The demon promised, taking a few steps backwards, so as to extend her hand to Magnus, who was breathing heavily, inwardly torn to pieces. "Come with me... Let the pulse of your blood which runs through your veins, lead you down the right path..." She continued, voice a mere whisper. "Come with me and become who you were born to be..." Magnus' cat eyes flew open and his entire frame went numb. His body was not his own to command and every fiber of his being was pulsing in time with the woman's words. Everything faded away, all figures blurred and all sounds dimmed into nothing more, but a faint ringing in his ears.
All sounds, except the erratic beating of his heart, except the pumping of his tainted blood as it was running hot like hellish fire in his veins... Magnus swallowed hard and soundly, pushing back down the urge to speak. "Why are you fighting your nature, Warlock? Aren't you tired of fighting? Of being split into two? Not a pure, powerful demon, nor yet a human... Isn't it high time you pick a side?" The woman muttered in a steady, yet smoky voice as she breathed out slowly, extending her outstretched hand a few more centimeters. "Pick a side..." Magnus echoed, his tone distant. "Yes... Pick a side... Become who you-" "Become who you choose to be." A low, yet firm voice stated, leaving no room for an argument. Magnus' eyes widened even more, as the voice pushed and purged, tearing the veil which had been hovering over Magnus' mind, apart. His entire frame shivered as if he had just been hit by electricity and Magnus gasped, feeling his senses coming back to him.
"It's not the blood that runs through your veins that defines you, Magnus, but the path you chose to follow. Up until now, you were always willing to spill every last drop of your blood, if it meant that your people would be safe. You've put yourself in harms way to protect others countless times, you've used your powers and your wisdom for good. You have already picked a side." The voice highlighted. The message- a soft plea- which was hiding between the lines, pushed aside the last traces of Lilith's alluring, hypnotic voice, giving the Warlock back his clarity. 'You have already picked a side... Don't walk away now, don't forsake all that's good, all that's to love... Don't forsake me...' Was what these words truly meant. Magnus' eyes blurred and he finally managed to look past Lilith, allowing his golden orbs to find the bearer of that voice, the one, whose words had echoed louder than Lilith's muttered whispers.
"Alexander..." The Warlock mouthed, staring at his young lover, who was on his knees on the cold floor. His clothes and face were drenched in sweat, but his eyes, those marvelous hazel orbs, were filled with love and compassion, but above all, they were filled with faith; Faith that Magnus would do the right thing, that he would make the right choice. Magnus swallowed, allowing his lips to turn upwards, ever so slightly. His eyes remained fixed on Alec as he moved passed Lilith and headed towards his lover. He paused a few feet away from the archer, turning his back on him, so as to face the greater demon, whose body had gone rigid."I must thank you, for your offer." The Warlock spoke, voice sure, yet tight. "But this man –albeit very young- has spoken the truth. I have indeed picked a side. And I do not tend to betray, neither my own people, nor yet my allies." Magnus stated, eyeing his opponent closely.
"I gave you a choice which too few are, or will ever be, presented with." The woman pressed, raising her hand in a gesture which indicated she was ready to attack. "I am aware I have a choice to make." Magnus retorted, steeling his body, straightening his back, standing at his full height, posture stoic and stiff. "And a choice I have made." The Warlock announced, taking a few steps backwards, so as to be just a few inches away from Alec. At the sight, Lilith's eyes narrowed and her face darkened. Her hand moved in less than a blink of an eye, unleashing a tremendous amount of energy.
The entire institute trembled, up to its very foundations and Izzy, Clary, Simon and Alec found themselves freed of the invisible bonds. They got up on their feet and gathered close to one another, standing behind Magnus, who had extended both his hands in front of him, obliging all of his magic to come forth. Alec gasped as the building started vibrating anew and placed his body in front of the one of his sister's, when he saw that all the windows began to rattle and eventually cracked as the wave of energy Lilith had unleashed, traveled with the air. The deafening roar of the thick glass, as it was shattered into millions of pieces filled the room and Alec couldn't help but exclaim in awe, as he saw that Magnus' magic was all around them. A blue sheet of energy was surrounding them, keeping all the shards of the broken glass away.
"Get out!" Magnus cried out hoarsely, not bothering to turn around to face Alec, who let go of Izzy and took a couple of steps towards Magnus. Simon grabbed both Izzy as well as Clary, dragging them out of the room, despite the former's cries that her brother was still in there. "Alec, go, get out!" The Warlock ordered as Lilith opened her mouth to speak. "It's true you have chosen a side, that you have chosen a path. And your path has only one destination!" The demon stated, waving her hand anew, releasing yet another, stronger blast of energy, which Magnus' magic could not hold back. Alec fell on his knees, but his eyes flew open as he saw Magnus' magic fading away. The very next second, the Warlock was being thrown across the room and was getting slammed with his back against the wall.
So strong was the impact, that the wall cracked and started crumbling down on Magnus, who had unleashed such a gut wrenching scream as his back collided with the wall, that Alec was sure all his lover's bones had been broken. Alec blinked, feeling adrenaline pumping through his veins. He got up on his feet, ignoring Lilith, who was standing a few feet away from him, and ran towards Magnus, who had fallen on the ground and seemed unable to move, despite the fact the debris were coming down on him.
"Magnus!" The young archer cried out falling on his knees next to the Warlock, who managed to utter his name through gritted teeth and blurred eyes. "Al- Alexander, go... You have to-" A sharp stab of pain made the Warlock hiss and swallow down his next words. His nostrils twitched as he inhaled dust and dirt and only then did Magnus look up, gasping in horror as he beheld the debris which were falling down on him. Before he could do anything, however, Alec moved without hesitation, throwing himself atop of his lover. Placing himself on his hands and knees, Alec placed each forearm on each side of Magnus' head and tangled his legs with the ones of his lover. That way, he was sure that his back would act as a shield for Magnus' chest and upper body.
As it turned out, Alec was right, as he had placed his body over Magnus' perfectly. His taller frame meant that the Warlock was covered, even if that resulted in Alec's back getting covered in dust, dirt and debris, as a large part of the wall came crashing down on him. "Alec!" Magnus cried out frantically and in a hoarse voice, fighting against the intense pain which was threatening to pull him into unconsciousness. From the corner of his eye, Magnus saw Lilith was staring at them, eyes filled with wonder. She moved her hand and for a second, Magnus was certain she would finish them off. And so was Lilith. But the demon ended up lowering her hand, eyeing the two lovers with just a hint of sympathy. "I shall give you some time to reconsider my offer, Magnus Bane." She stated, yet her voice was distant, her eyes fixed on Alec's trembling frame, which was hovering over Magnus.
"But remember, there won't be a third chance. Choose wisely." The demon advised and then she was gone, leaving the war room empty and eerie quiet. Magnus however, knew they hadn't seen the last of her. "Alec-" "It's okay, I'm okay-" The young man uttered, shaking off the debris. His voice and face were taut, a fact Magnus noted, even through blurred eyes. He was definitely hurt, but he was choosing to hide it. The Warlock wanted to open his mouth, ask Alec to stop lying, tell him that he was badly hurt, but he found himself unable to do so. "Mags... Magnus..." The archer called, cradling his lover's head in his hands. "I'm going to pick you up, alright?" Alec told him, but the words were echoing so far away. Magnus nodded absently, feeling Alec's trained, familiar hands on his body. "It's going to be alright, you're going to be alright baby..." The Nephilim offered, trying to mask the fear in his voice.
To say he failed completely, would be an understatement. Magnus, even as he was drifting off to unconsciousness, yearned to comfort his young lover, who so carefully had pulled him in his arms and was heading out of the war room with steps small, and relatively steady. Despite his tries, Magnus only managed to growl every time the archer would take a step. "It's going to be okay, just breathe through it, alright? Slow, shallow breaths Mags..." Alec instructed through gritted teeth. "That's it, that's it... I'm going to call Catarina as soon as I put you down, alright?" Alec promised, voice trembling, from both the effort of lifting Magnus as well as, from the fear for his lover's well being.
"It's going to be alright Magnus..." At the sound of those words, which were spoken in a wobbly, trembling voice, the Warlock opened his mouth, but to his dismay, once again, only a low, broken lament escaped his lips. "Shh, shh, I'm here, I'm here..." Alec chanted as he kept walking and Magnus let himself surrender in his lover's embrace, drifting off into unconsciousness, knowing in his heart, that this time, he had made the right choice. He had chosen what was right for his people, for the entire Downworld. He had chosen to fight for all that was good, fair and pure in this world.
And this time, he was not fighting alone. Alec was by his side, ready to serve as a soldier in many battles. Battles against demons, against hellish creatures... Battles against the shadows which were lingering in Magnus' mind. Yes, Magnus thought, as he let his eyes flutter closed. He had made the right choice. He had chosen the right side, the side which was bathed in the light of day. Yes. He had made the right choice. He had chosen Alexander...
THE END...
So, here it ends!
Liked it? Hated it? I would love to hear your thoughts! Comments and kudos keep me going! If you want me to write a second chapter, keep in mind it will be a rather cuddly one with worried Alec, hurt Magnus and a dose of Catarina for good measure!
Hope you enjoyed!
Until next time,
Loved you all,
Usagi!