"MAGNUS Bane. He's over 300 years old. And, as you can see, he's not exactly shielded away from the pleasure of every century," Hodge informed the younger Shadowhunters in front of him.
Hodge showed them pictures of Magnus throughout each century and within each photo, Clary noticed a young woman beside Magnus in every photo. "His tastes are both peculiar and quite excessive," Hodge continued making Clary add; "He looks like the Downworld's David Guetta."
Clary's comment made Isabelle join the conversation; "Guetta's already a Downworlder. Vampire? Ever seen him in the daylight?"
"Can you two focus? This is not a joke," Alec barked at the girl but Isabelle being herself couldn't shut her mouth for even a second; "Someone needs to get slayed."
"Alec's right. Now, Magnus is one of the most powerful warlocks I've ever known. He has a deep mistrust of Shadowhunters," Hodge said to them.
"Well, then why did he helped my mum removed my memories? Isn't she a Shadowhunter?" Clary asked making Hodge look at her.
"Yes, one of the best. But 'help' might not be the most accurate word. Now, did Magnus provide a service for Jocelyn? Perhaps. But more than likely, your mother paid Magnus handsomely for his magic," Hodge answered, making Jace speak up; "Warlocks usually require payment before they help anyone with anything. Word from the Clave is that most of the warlocks have gone into hiding since Valentine began hunting them."
"Valentine must be searching for warlocks, where did Jocelyn..." The Circle rune burning his neck interrupted Hodge.
"Hodge, your rune? You okay?" Clary asked as Hodge put his hand on the table, trying not to fall.
He nodded at her as his rune began to stop burning.
"So, how do we find Magnus?" Clary asked, looking around at the others around her.
"We don't. Magnus finds us. We'll set up a meeting, somewhere protected," Jace suggested as Isabelle stood up and walked over to Hodge.
"And I know exactly where we do it," Isabelle said as she took control of the screen and showed a poster for 'The Rapturous Evening.'
"A Downworld rave. Nice Izzy," Jace complimented while Alec was curious on how his sister find out that piece of information; "And where did you get that?"
"During my surveillance of the Downworlders. From what I hear, Magnus likes to party," Isabelle informed her elder brother.
"He'll never go for it. Not with Valentine trying to kill him," Alec said, looking again at the screen.
"Of course he will. He'll blend in. Hide in plain sight," Jace informed Alec before Isabella added on; "Trust me. If Magnus is coming out from hiding, he's going to the biggest party of the year."
"Never underestimate Magnus' hedonism. Or his greed. Come with me," Hodge ordered them making the younger Shadowhunters follow him.
Bending down and taking out his stele, Hodge, using the stele on a rune on the floor, exposing a ruby necklace that was hidden there. It was beautiful and probably worth more than the Institute. "Is that real?" Isabelle asked, fascinated by the beauty of the necklace.
"A four-karat, unheated Burmese ruby. And this necklace has special meaning to Magnus Bane as it was a gift to his then lover, Camille Belcourt," Hodge informed them and Clary spoke when he mentioned Magnus' once lover; "What, Camille and Magnus were lovers?"
"Warlock gets around."
"Magnus bought it in 1857 for the price of his London townhouse. Now, the jewel is enchanted by a spell that alerts the wearer to the presence of demons," Hodge explained to them as Isabelle touched the necklace; "It's so beautiful."
"Magnus has longed to reunite with his necklace. Offer it to him, he might take the bait," Hodge suggested.
"But if that doesn't work then use something else against him," Hodge continued making the younger Shadowhunters stare at him in confusion.
Hodge took control of a screen, showing a photo of a young woman with a bright smile on her face. The young woman was beautiful: tall and slender, with a round-shaped face, long brown hair, green eyes, and a creamy fair complexion. Hodge flicked through different photos of the young woman.
He stopped of one with her, what seemed to be, dancing with another woman; both with bright smiles on their faces. "Who is she?" Clary asked, staring at the beauty that the young woman had.
"She is Imogene Bane, Magnus' wife. A Warlock like him but has a love for studying Shadowhunters. Perhaps you can offer her a deal, " Hodge suggested.
IMOGENE
"Now Immy, you stay by my side. Ok?" Magnus asked me and I nodded, smiling up at him.
He placed a kiss on my cheek before we entered Hardtail, the place where the Rapturous Evening was taking place.
I wore a black lace dress that was tight around my chest before puffing out at my waist with a red leather jacket over it. On my feet were lace up, black leather flat ankle boots that were over my black tights. My hair was left down, my natural brown curls brushing the middle of my black.
I wore little makeup compared to the other girls and many rings adorned my fingers. As Magnus and I went further into the club, I noticed him seemed to be on edge; like he felt something bad was going to happen. "Magnus," someone's voice called out, making the both of us turn around to face them.
In front of us was a group of Shadowhunters; I could tell who they were due to their dark clothes and runes over their bodies. In the group of Shadowhunters, I noticed a familiar looking redhead girl following a blonde boy who looked like the leader of their little group. "Clary Fairchild, you've grown into a beautiful young woman," Magnus spoke, revealing the name of the redheaded girl.
"Magnus Bane. You are the one who stole my memories," Clary spoke in a confident tone before Magnus corrected his; "At your mother's request. She knew the risks."
Magnus then held out his hand towards the blonde boy as I stared at him in confusion. "Show me the jewellery, Shadowhunter," Magnus requested making the blonde boy reached into his pocket and pull out a ruby necklace.
I glared at the sight of the necklace in the blonde's hands; wishing that the necklace never existed. My husband's attention was quickly changed to the necklace and as he reached to grab it, the blonde boy moved it away from him. "Ooh, give Clary back her memories and you get the jewellery," The blonde boy order Magnus and I decided to speak on my husband's behalf.
"He has to confirm its authenticity," I informed them as I rolled my eyes, making them all turn their heads towards me.
The blonde boy finally gave Magnus the necklace who looked at the backside of the ruby, revealing the words 'AMOR' written on it. "Amor verus quantum moritus," Magnus spoke in Latin before translating it to the others; "True love cannot die. Oh, how I've missed this jewel."
"Now it's your turn to pay up," the blonde boy demanded which made me look away from them.
"I wish I could retrieve your memories but I no longer have them," Magnus explained to them making them glare at him.
"What? Where are they?" Clary asked, anger dripping from her words.
"I fed them to a memory demon for safekeeping," Magnus shot back, grabbing my hand tightly.
"And why the hell would you do that?" The blonde boy asked making Magnus push me behind him.
I rolled my eyes at Magnus pulling the protective husband part on me. "To protect Clary and the Cup. If Valentine catches me, he'd torture Clary's memories out of me. Just like he tortured Dot," his last word made Clary began to panic.
"Dot? What happened to her?" Clary asked making me stare at her with sadness.
"You haven't heard? She's dead," Magnus' attitude faded as he talked about our fallen friend.
"How do you know?" Clary asked with shock laced in her voice.
"We can't feel her magic anymore. Valentine killed her because she would not betray your mother. I'm sorry," I informed Clary in a soft voice, not wanting to upset the girl even further.
"Clary; come with us. My lair can give protection that a Shadowhunter can't provide," Magnus told Clary making the blonde boy scoff.
"No! No, I'm not going anywhere with you," Clary refused which made Magnus continue to persuade her; "Don't be a fool. Your mother would want you to live."
"Then help me get my memories back from whatever demon you gave them to," Clary begged.
"Valentine is hunting you too. And every moment we're outside my lair's protection is a moment Valentine gets closer to finding us," Magnus informed her before opening a portal to the lair and reaching out a hand towards Clary.
"Come with me. I won't offer again," Magnus, told her but she still refused; "No. No, I won't hide from my problems and neither should you."
"Look out!" Someone shouted as an arrow hit a man, killing him immediately.
I noticed a circle rune on the man's neck and I knew he was one of Valentine's men. A dark-haired boy walked through the blonde boy and Clary, retrieving his arrow. The dark haired boy was gorgeous, more gorgeous than anyone I've seen in my years of living... besides my darling husband of course. His dark hair fell neatly against his forehead and from what I could see, his eyes were a beautiful hazel.
"Who are you?" I heard Magnus asked dumbstruck, also staring at the dark haired boy.
As Magnus' words knocked me out of my trance, I quickly entered the portal; hoping that Magnus would follow in behind me. The only problem was I didn't expect what was on the other side of the portal.