Please note: Though this might contain little blurbs of other couples, this is meant to be totally Alec/Magnus centric. It is Rated T because I'm paranoid. (Off topic: I hate the format these are put in. It stretches out the text and makes my paragraphs look like sole sentences. It just bothers me and makes me want to edit it again.)
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"And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World."
-Mad world, Tears for Fears
As the Words Speak
Prologue: Trapped
Alec ran through the dark streets of what he had thought to be Idris. The moon glowed and the stars twinkled, lighting the streets up; just enough for him to navigate. This did help, since the houses held no light, looking very empty – as if the Shadowhunders, his own kind, had abandoned him. The stones, which had made up the road, jutted out, making him trip and stumble numerous times. Cold sweat trickled down his back, and his throat was going dry. His stomach cramped, wishing for him to stop. And he was panting, gasping for air, almost consumed by fear.
Even if he felt like doubling over in agony, even if his body had suddenly ceased in function, Alec wouldn't dare give up. The shadows, screeching behind him, would make sure of that. He had taken a quick look behind himself, only to see one large shadow approaching him. It held itself as a spot gracing the ground, where no real shadow could have possibly been. And though it wasn't supposed to be, it seemed to be a bit three-dimensional – creeping over brick like a dark, cursed poison.
There was no weapons, no steele at his disposal. No one was there to help him. Not even Magnus or Jace, who always seemed to be at his side at times like these. Thus, as he reached the end of the road, he started to count his prayers. He was alone, left to die under the dark born sky.
His Shadowhunter side had later taken over, though: Alec had turned, his feet planted into the cold stone. He gathered into a fighting position.
It was silent; all that could be heard was Alec's harsh breathing. He stared down the shadow in despair, feeling there was no positive action that could in any way help him. He had slowly backed away, hitting the icy wall behind him. He wanted to slip through it, just like the mundane super heroes Clary and Simon spoke about occasionally. He wanted to be small, like the rat Simon had once turned into, so he could creep through a hole in the wall or hide in a small, hidden cranny. But he, in no way, could. He wasn't any of those things, and he never would be. He was helpless.
The shadow, creeping towards him, could be heard. It made a wet, sickening sound - making Alec's stomach turn. He heard voices ring in his head, asking for him to make a break for it and run. Others seemed to pray, while some just screamed – managing to distort his vision and cloud his judgment. His brain tied itself in knots, and his legs shook in fatigue. Alec doubled over in bewilderment. What was wrong with him? What was making him tremble, what was making his bones crumble into a pile on the dirty floor?
The shadow was creeping up his legs, making him burn and blister. He wanted to try and shake it off, but he couldn't. He was frozen under its touch. So when it reached his upper body, and covered his eyes, everything went black.
Alexander Lightwood was a murdered man.
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Next: Chapter one - Miste