When the Sun Sets in the East
Chapter 1: Autumn
"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale."
- Lauren DeStefano
SEQUEL to : When the Sun Rises in the West
So, here we are again. I actually had the idea for a sequel in my head when I was writing 'When the Sun Rises in the West' but I never thought I'd actually write it. It was a little bit of comfort I gave myself when I killed Alec, (and I kept it in my head and left everyone feeling like crap after reading it. Ha. Ha.) So, this is your sequel, and if you really wanted this, be careful what you wish for.
WARNINGS: Lemons, vulgarities, slash pairing, slight horror
DISCLAIMER I: Cassandra Clare owns all
DISCLAIMER II: The facts regarding Apollyon in the following story are not in accordance to any myths, stories or any references. It is fiction made up for the sake of the storyline. Don't bother searching for it, it doesn't exist. (I hope)
Beep beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep beep.
Isabelle set her book down and reached for her phone which lay on her dresser.
Magnus Bane calling.
She blinked several times, wondering what in the Angels name did he want. A wave of anger and sadness hit her as she answered the call.
"Yes?" she intended to sound annoyed or even furious but the tone that escaped her lips was weak and defeated. It had been over a month now, and the passing month had been a tough month indeed.
..
A month and a half ago Isabelle Lightwood became an only child.
It had not been easy for her, not when her other sibling had left her only a few years back. Upon knowledge of Alecs' death, Isabelle had screamed and cried and wailed until her throat was hoarse and her eyes dry of tears. She had no reason to be strong anymore, she deserved to express her pain, or so she thought. She spent two weeks in denial, crying painfully and refusing to eat, till the point where Simon had to force his way into her room to get her to consume some bread at least. Isabelle had flung pillows at him and demanded him to get out, but Simon had put an arm around her waist and pulled her body against his, holding her tight in his arms until her fury finally broke, and she sobbed into Simons shirt, her sobs wracking her body causing her small body frame to shake. Simon held her, chest against chest as she grieved, and he himself had shed a few tears as well, as though her pain had been conducted to him through their bodies. He held onto her day and night until her grief fueled body ran flat, and she fell asleep on Simons' tear sodden Star Wars T-Shirt, neither of them moving from that position.
Simon was awaken from his sleep when he heard echoes coming from Isabelles' bathroom and that was where he found her, knees hugged to her chest as she rocked herself back and forth, her face buried in her knees. The basin mirror was cracked, resembling a spiders' web where Isabelle had punched it, a few shards dropped into the sink. Simon sat next to her and put an arm around her, and she melted into him, her arms wrapping around his body as she continued to cry. Simon swallowed hard, he himself felt like crying, but he had to stay strong for Isabelle. Isabelle needed him. She held him close to her heart because it felt so painful, like broken.
This went on for a few nights until Isabelle had finally ceased her tears, and had resorted to being silent. Simon never left her side unless he needed to, and when he finally coaxed her into speaking she told him that she couldn't stand looking in the mirror for she bore to much resemblance to him, nor could she ever forgive herself for what she had done. Isabelle Lightwood claimed she killed both her brothers. She spoke of how if she had protected Alec he would never have gotten hurt, of how she had always disregarded Alec when they were fighting together, that she thought Alec could handle it alone. She started sobbing again when she talked about the last time she saw Alec, how she walked out without saying goodbye, or how she spent too little time with him when she still had the chance to. When she spoke she poured out all her regrets, one by one, in detail and in pain, and Simon had sat there and listened to them all, stroking her back or her silky raven hair, silent and understanding. He had known better than to try to convince her that it wasn't her fault, for she would hear none of it. Simon had made certain that his silence meant that he was in acknowledgement of her regrets but not in agreement. Isabelle was too weak and heartbroken to bother about Simon, but when her sadness had finally subdued she had kissed him sweetly on his lips and thanked him for everything, and they held each other again that night, and slept peacefully with lips swollen from kissing.
The beginning of the end was marked with Magnus Bane calling her on the phone, his voice raw and shaky as he told her three simple words. "Alec is gone." Isabelle had been caught off guard, almost considering Magnus to have played a trick on her, but the pain in his voice was evident and genuine. Also, he had started to sob through the phone right after, unable to contain his sadness. Isabelle was still in shock of things as her grief had not struck her yet, and had asked if she could go over to see her brother for the last time, but Magnus tried his best to explain that there was no body left, and then Magnus had arrived at the institute with a box of Alecs' things. By then Isabelle had finally broke and crumbled to the ground, crying. Magnus himself was cold and silent, and hadn't bothered to put on any make up or style his hair, his eyes puffy from tears. In the box contained Alecs' Zip Shirt, a few pairs of his trousers, the handle of a seraph blade Magnus had found on him the day Alec had rang his doorbell, and two crumpled pictures. The first was of Isabelle, Max and Alec on Maxes' seventh birthday, smiling happily at the camera before Max blew the candles of his birthday cake out. The other of Magnus and Alec, Magnus pressing a kiss to Alecs' temple in front of the Eiffel Tower. Magnus should have been awarded for keeping himself together the whole time he was at the Institute. He did not cry or express his sadness the whole time as he watched Isabelles' heart break and shatter like fallen glass on the pavement. He didn't shout back at Jace when the golden haired boy cursed and yelled at him for Lilith knows what reason. After awhile his words became incoherent and jumbled, and he stormed off, Clary following him. He took the Zip Shirt out and held it to his face for the millionth time, the smell of Alec still clinging to the seams of the fabric.
"Alec told me not to wash his jacket the day before because he said it wasn't dirty. Good thing I listened to him. It would've smelled like detergent instead." Magnus said sadly when Isabelle had grown quieter.
"H-He finally ac-acknowledged i-it as a j-jacket, did h-he?" Isabelle said in between sniffles, trying to bring herself to smile.
"Yeah," Magnus gave a sad, airy chuckle. "Or maybe he found pockets." Magnus mused aloud, proceeding to unzip the zipper completely, and true enough there was a slit in the former Zip Shirt turned jacket on the inside of the jacket. He reached his hand in and to his surprise pulled out a stack of white envelopes. Each envelope had been addressed to different people. Maryse & Robert Lightwood, Simon Lewis, Clary Fray, Jace Lightwood, Isabelle Lightwood and finally Magnus Bane. Magnus held his letter in crumbling hands, fighting the urge to cry again. Those who do not fear death welcome it, and Alec had prepared for it. At that moment he had felt so angry, so cheated. Alec knew he was going to die and yet he never talked to Magnus about it. Was that how Alec was going to say goodbye? With words written on paper? At the end, what do words mean anyway. Words compensate nothing. Words tore him and Alec apart the first time, words can't redeem him now. He handed the rest of the letters to Isabelle, took the crumpled picture of Alec and him in Paris and left without another word. That was the last time Isabelle had seen him.
Isabelle had kept her letter in a locked drawer, still unable to bring herself to open it. No doubt she would not be able to handle its contents. Simon had let her open his, partly touched that he was worth Alecs' time to write a letter to, and Isabelle had sobbed silently when Simon had took the letter and read it to her, Isabelles' eyes too watery to see clearly. She closed them and imagined that it was Alec speaking, that it was Alec telling Simon about her likes and dislikes, of how he would haunt his existence if he ever mistreated her. He had also thanked Simon for taking care of Isabelle, for respecting her, and told him that as an older brother he couldn't be more grateful that Isabelle had found someone like him, instead of a snarky sarcastic macho boy with a big ego. As a joke, Alec had put '(a.k.a Jace)' next to the description. Isabelle tried to laugh but it hurt because it reminded her of how quirky Alec could was. When she finally opened her letter Simon had offered to let her have a moment of her own, but Isabelle would not allow it. She read it out, every word of it and had forced herself not to cry until she reached the end. The ending broke her heart again.
I would apologize to you for leaving you alone, but I know you may never forgive me, nor will I ever forgive myself, but I'm going to be with Max now, I'll keep him safe for you, forever, and although you cannot be here with us, we will always be with you, watching over you, and most importantly, we will be in your heart as you will always be in mine. I love you Isabelle.
..
"Magnus, what?" she tried again when she received no response from the other end of the line. Magnus seemed to have left the phone to tend to something, and Isabelles' patience was wavering.
"Oh, sorry. Right, Isabelle, call the Silent Brothers and come here, now. You won't believe me if I tell you this but, Alec is back." he hung up immediately after that without waiting for a response. There was a certain urgency in his voice that made Isabelle feel compelled to rush to Magnus' place at once but her head was spinning. The irony of the only two phone calls Magnus Bane had called her was regarding her brother, one saying 'Alec is gone', the other 'Alec is back.' How could Alec be back? What the hell is Magnus Bane talking about? Her brother was dead. Her brother was gone. She will not be toyed like this. The dead can't rise again, or so she thought, but there was no way of suppressing the burst of hope rising in her chest. It was too good to be true, but Isabelle went anyway. Anything concerning Alec concerns her.
..
"Holy mother fucking Lilith." he cursed under his breath as his eyes widened. He blinked and stared as his jaw dropped and his heart pounded. "No fucking way." he told himself as he made his way down the staircase. "No fucking way." he repeated. "No mother fucking way." he sang as he ripped the door open.
"Mother fucking way." he breathed as he came face to face with the image his eyes had deceived him with.
"My name is Alexander Lightwood but I think 'mother fucking way' has a nice ring to it." the other person replied, smiling brightly.
"No way." Magnus was shocked, suspicious, happy, overwhelmed, scared, confused? There were so may emotions fighting to be expressed that he felt like he was... Lagging.
"You're right, 'mother fucking way' kinda sucks compared to my name." he smiled before he bowed his head down shyly.
"Alexander? But how?" Magnus did not know how to phrase it properly. There was a million questions in his mind.
"If I tell you how my mother gave birth to me and gave me my name could I come in? It's rather cold." Alec blinked away some rainwater from his long dark eyelashes. He was soaked with it from head to toe, his black clothes even darker now that it was wet. His hair was plastered to his face but other than that he looked the same. From the slant of his eyebrows to the curve of his lips he looked exactly like Alexander Lightwood, not to mention that his blue eyes were even brighter now, but his Shadowhunter runes had faded on his pale skin.
"Right, come in, come in." Magnus was so confused he felt giddy, and his brain wasn't working.
"Thank you kind sir." Alec smiled as he walked in, running a hand through his hair to rid it of some water. The tone of Alecs' voice caught Alec off guard. Did Alec not know him? Or was this not Alec at all? The thought that someone posing as Alexander Lightwood was alarming He had known the world long enough to be aware of the existence of Metamorphagi in the dark ends of the world, but this boy had seemed to real to be an imposter, nor a demon for that matter. One demon could smell out another. Either that or Magnus was too willing to believe that Alec was alive to turn a blind eye to any fakes. He wanted nothing more than to wrap Alec in his arms once more, to feel the warmth of his body and melt into the dips and delves of his toned body, but he could not. He wasn't going to scare Alec away if he were real.
He brought Alec back to the apartment, trudging up the stairs after Alec as he left a wet trail of footprints as he ascended, and as soon as Alec stepped into the apartment Chairman Meow had jumped from the kitchen table and into Alecs' arms, almost catching him off guard. Way to go Magnus, attack him with your cat, Magnus had thought but the other boy simply bundled the cat into his wet chest with one arm and scratched the back of his ear with another.
"Well hello there Chairman, Meow are you today?" Alec cooed as Magnus stood aside and watched, puzzled. 'Meow are you today' was this awful pun which Alec made when he spoke to Chairman Meow, but that was before. He picked his phone up and called Isabelle Lightwood. Alec then lifted the cats small front paws and made as though he was talking. "Why Alec, I'm just paw-some. It's a purr-fect day!" he said in a higher pitched voice and Magnus raised an eyebrow, even more confused. Alec used to do that back then, but that made even less sense. How could Alec not know who he was but remembered his cat clearly? He felt jealous for a split second, but Isabelles' voice on the phone had stopped him from thinking about it.
"Oh, sorry. Right, Isabelle, call the Silent Brothers and come here, now." He said bluntly, his eyes never leaving Alec, almost afraid he would disappear in a puff of smoke. He still could not believe his eyes but there he stood, living, breathing, smiling and drenched in rainwater. "You won't believe me if I tell you this but, Alec is back." He hung up.
"How do you know my cats' name?" he asked, genuinely curious. Alec stopped playing with Chairman Meow and looked up to him innocently before blushing as he looked away.
"I- I don't know. It just came to me." he said, hoping his answer was enough to the man who had provided shelter from the horrible storm that brewed outside. "I think it's a joke I heard some time ago." he tried to figure it out himself. He didn't know how he knew the cats' name either before this, but something told him the cat knew he was.
"Do you know who I am?" Magnus asked again. Alec bit on his bottom lip and dipped his head politely.
"A warlock? No, sorry." he replied weakly. He knew he had seen the man before, but he did not know where or when or how, and as hard as he tried to back track his thoughts he still could not figure out who he was. Even so, this man made Alec feel comfortable. It brightened his mood somehow, like the first time you sit on a bean bag and somehow the bean bag just fits you perfectly. This man was one hell of a bean bag. At the same time Magnus was still wondering whether Alec, was Alec, regardless of the fact that this Alec was exactly like his Alec. He blushed a lot, was shy and innocent and nice. He wanted to believe that this Alexander was his so badly, but he would not let his heart be broken again because of false hope.
"Do you remember anything at all?" he asked, and Alec shook his head. "How did you come here then? And why did you decide to ring my doorbell and not go to the hotel down the street?" Alec put Chairman Meow down and took a few steps back.
"If I'm overstaying my welcome I-I'm very sorry. I just thought..." Alec turned away. "Sorry for disturbing you sir, thank you for your time." he tried to respond positively as he made his way through the door. He thought that this man could help him. Alec had been jolted awake by what felt like a surge of electricity and when he looked around he was at Magnus' front door. He could not explain what brought him to ring Magnus' doorbell but he felt that it was the right thing to do, and that whoever who was on the other side would help him explain everything, or maybe get back home. He only remembered home as glimpses of wide hallways and various rooms, but he did not know where. He would've went house by house until he saw something that triggered recognition in his mind but it was raining heavily and if he had stumbled to this place it must've been the right place to be, or at least it was a start. When he first saw the man on the other side of the door he was transfixed with the mans appearance. He was very tall, with beautifully bronzed skin and dark spiky hair, but it was his eyes that intrigued Alexander the most. It was hauntingly beautiful, gleaming golden green eyes with slits for pupils, just like a cats eyes. He felt strangely happy to see this man although he had no clue why. Now he felt rather hopeless and disappointed when he thought that his warlock companion did not enjoy his company.
"Alec wait." Magnus called out quickly. He must have brought the impression that he did not want Alec here. Alec stopped and turned back.
"Why do you call me Alec when my name is Alexander? Shouldn't my name be Alex? Do you... Know me?" he asked desperately. He truly hoped that this man knew him. Even if they were mere acquaintances who met once in a coffee shop or at a club he could help him find his home. But then again why would the warlock help him. He probably meant nothing to the man. Magnus chuckled. 'know me' was an understatement to how much Alec meant to him.
Magnus nodded once. "Alexander Gideon Lightwood, two siblings, well, one now, and a bitchy parabatai." Magnus didn't want to mention boyfriend in there. If Alec remembered nothing he would have to go through the whole 'come out of the closet' phase again. God he hated that, but if that is what it took, Magnus would happily do it again.
"What do you mean one now?" Alec squinted. Magnus sighed and went to the kitchen.
"There'll be time for questions later, but I prefer to have my house guests not to catch a cold." He said, brewing a cup of coffee for Alec.
"Here, drink, and you're going to have to lose those clothes now, I'll get you something to wear." Alec took the cup from Magnus, sipped from it and looked down at himself and blushed, not intending to undress in the presence of a stranger. But was he a stranger? He said there was time for questions later. It wouldn't harm anyone to ask what his name was, was it? Maybe then he'll remember why he felt so happy when he saw him. Maybe he'll understand more about himself. Maybe he'll...
"And down we go." Magnus let Alec lean against him as he passed out, a hand stretched out to catch the cup of coffee from Alecs' limp hand. He struggled to turn to set the cup down at the kitchen counter, and then dragged Alec to a bed he conjured moments ago, casually handcuffing one of his wrists to the railing of the bed.
..
"A sexy, sexy warlock."
"-And you want to know why I never called you back?"
"Max. Max is-"
"Hush now, rest."
"It's too early to joke about the happy memory thing now is it?"
"-It's a million tiny paper cuts every day."
"I love you too."
"Kiss me."
"Fine. Go ahead. Kiss me right now."
"I love Magnus."
"Love is a strong word."
"Aku cinta kamu. Not that it changes anything."
"But-"
"Sentiasa dan selalunya. Jangan lupa."
"Call me?"
"Always and forever."
"Magnus?"
"The eldest Lightwood child. Queer as a pretty Ravener."
"Bold, but stupid. And he dares show his face here."
"Bugger them all. Or would you like me to give them tails?"
"I love Magnus."
"I love Magnus."
Flashes of memories ran through Alecs' mind flipping like pages of a book in the wind. The images were blurry, faceless people sometimes saying strange things, but he heard every word clearly. Every single word, echoing in his mind, haunting him. The worst part was that he did not understand what they meant, and who Magnus was and why some love confessions were laced with such sadness. He did not understand. No, he did not remember.
"No way." he heard a female voice gasp, a familiar one. He had heard it before in his dreams. His eyes fluttered open and he blinked, regaining his vision.
"Funny, my warlock companion had said that when he first saw me too." he grumbled softly, and attempted to sit up before he realized that his hand had been bound to the bed he slept in. He was also in the living room, which was strange. He rattled the handcuff in a feeble attempt to break it off the bed railing, and furrowed his brows at it in annoyance before turning back to the girl. She looked all too familiar to be a stranger, almost like a reflection of himself, with softer eyes and fuller lips. She looked like a feminine version of himself.
"Alec!" the girl literally flung herself on him in a rib crushing hug. "But how?"
"Is it custom to say the same things? The warlock said the same as well, and why am I chained to the bed? Do you intend to kill me?" he asked breathlessly for the air was crushed out of his lungs, but she did not scare him, not did the warlock. They had the same aura to them. They made him feel at home. Bean bags. Yes. Alec decided that was a good term to explain them.
"Nohofcoznod" she said, her voice muffled as she spoke into her shoulder. "It really is you, isn't it?"
Yes it is.
Nobody spoke but Alec could hear the voice inside his head. He shuddered, and whipped his head from side to side to search for the voice.
"Brother Zachariah." Alec called out, his voice low and suspicious. A hooded man in parchment colored robes emerged silently from the kitchen.
Curious.
"You know him?" the girl asked, letting go of Alec. Alec sucked in a deep breath.
"I remember him." Alec replied, his eyes still on the Silent Brother.
"What about me?"
"What about you?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"No." came a sharp and honest answer, though it meant no disrespect. He pursed his lips together and looked down, afraid to have disappointed the girl.
Alexander seems to have no memory of those who had brought happiness to his life.
"Alec, I'm your sister. Isabelle." she smiled, reaching a hand out to stroke his face.
"Hi Isabelle." he said almost too formally. Isabelle expected as much from her brother. It could have been worse. He could have been hurt again, or even lost a body part. Memory loss couldn't be that bad. Isabelle felt tears flowing down her cheeks. I have my big brother.
"Don't cry Izzy, Shadowhunters are strong, like angels in steel armor." he pushed a lock of her hair from her face and curled it around his finger before wiping off a tear with the back of his index finger. Isabelle looked at him, her eyes widening. He hasn't said that to her since she was young, and she remembered it ever since. Alec withdrew his finger quickly like he had been burned by fire.
"I'm sorry did I do something wrong?" he asked, but Isabelle only smiled back at him.
"No, it's just that you haven't said that to me in a long time." she replied, turning to Brother Zachariah. "So this is really Alec?"
Yes. Not a demon or what the warlock claimed as a Methamorphagus. His blood is yours.
"But how?" Isabelle asked, but before the Silent Brother could answer the door creaked open and in came Magnus, Jace and Clary. When Isabelle arrived she had sent Magnus to get the rest, complaining that she will not be going in that rain again. Magnus left reluctantly, giving Isabelle the death stare, but he left anyway.
"In the name of all that is holy, no way." Jace said the moment he laid eyes on Alec, and Clary looked equally shocked as well. As Alecs' parabatai, Jace knew of Alecs' passing the moment he had gone, but he had been sleeping at the time. He felt as if a part of him chipped off and left him. He felt lighter, but it did not feel good. He felt empty. Next thing he knew he was awaken by Isabelle screaming from the front door, and then he knew. He knew Alec was gone. He did not handle his grief well. He blamed the High Warlock of Brookyln for not being able to treat Alec. He blamed Isabelle for letting Magnus keep Alec in his apartment, but most of all he blamed himself. Alexander was his parabatai. He had sworn to protect him, to be there for him, to make sure he received no harm, but the Mighty Jace Lightwood and his big head doesn't care about safety. He was reckless and carefree, and Alec had paid the price for that. Alec was the only brother he ever had. Max was, too, but he had never knew how to indulge in the company of young children. He grew up with Alec, played with him, got in trouble with him, fought side by side with him. They were the Dynamic Duo. What was he without Alexander Lightwood? He had broken things, punched at concrete and tried to jump onto the roof of the institute to burn out his grief, but he felt hollow. All the time. With the parabatai bond severed he had a constant reminder that there was no Alec. Clary had been with him when he wanted her, and stayed away when he wanted to be alone, but he didn't cry. He just screamed and yelled and destroyed and bled for his actions out in the open, but when Clary woke up next to him in the middle of the night she could see that his pillow was wet with fresh tears. Jace never truly recovered ever since.
"You see I'm actually considering to change my name to that. 'No Way.'" Alec chuckled uncomfortably. He was not used to everyone looking at him like he had just sprouted antlers on the top of his head.
"Alec.. " Jace walked to the bed and sat on it, looking at Alec carefully, examining his features.
"How're you feeling?" the warlock asked.
"Remind me never to drink your coffee."
"Sorry, I had to make sure. No hard feelings." Magnus smirked and walk towards him, his bright eyes watching him.
"How is Alec alive again?" Isabelle asked Brother Zachariah again, a little impatiently this time.
Warlock. The book. But not here, not with Alexander in the room.
Everyone turned to look at Alec once again.
"I would walk out but-" he rattled his handcuff once more.
"I would offer you a cup of coffee but you won't drink it." Magnus retorted cheekily. He snapped his fingers and the handcuff disappeared. Alec rubbed his wrist.
"Go wait in the bedroom." Magnus said, patting him on the shoulder.
"If you say so." Alec replied almost flirtatiously, winking before he hopped off the bed and skipped off to Magnus' bedroom. Now everyone the room has dropped their jaws.
"Mental images." Jace cringed and scrunched his face up, placing a hand to his forehead.
"What. Was. That." Isabelle stated more than asked, before shaking her head.
"Why can't Alec be in the room when you explain it to us, Brother Zachariah?" Clary asked in effort to change the subject.
There will come a time when he will be ready to know that he had died and risen again, but the time is not now. Not when his memory is so severely depleted.
Magnus conjured the book. The damn book which he read before Alec had died in his arms, before he went up in flames. The last time he went up in flames was when his mother had drowned himself. Magnus had went, a fireball into the river to retrieve her body, and he had set fire to the river as he went. The long stretch of water a blue snake of flame. He had to leave the village the next day when he realised that the river was burned, charred black, the riverbed had nothing left but bones of the helpless seafood and dust of the kelp.
Brother Zachariah opened the book to the page where APOLLYON was written in ancient font. Magnus twitched his nose uncomfortably. He had no intention in telling these people that they were staring at his father. He hoped that they skipped the part where it stated the characteristics of their half-mundane spawn.
In whispers has mentions of Apollyon the Merciful.
"It's said that the Deceiver was merciful sometimes. In gossip, songs, poetry." Magnus translated for the group of young Nephilim.
Of the Deceiver toying with life on strings of death
"In this context the Deceiver and Apollyon is the same demon. He plays with his prey. Poisons them and then has some fun with them."
He shall pull his destroyed on the strings for six sevens, six eights of three, and six of ten sixes.
"He will torment is prey for six weeks, six days and six hours exactly. No more no less, or so I found out the hard way."
His destroyed will be gambled, between life and death, and whichever death string snaps first, his destroyed will still be taken.
"Basically his prey will be sick and then healthy just to trick him and when the time is up, sick or healthy he will take his victim. In this case, Alexander."
But if the Deceiver were the Merciful as the mentions, the destroyed would be mended.
"But if the songs were true and the Deceiver were as bloody merciful as he was. His victim could be brought back to life."
The string snapped could be tied with the flame of death itself and Apollyons absenter.
"The broken string, the string of death, could be 'tied back' with Deaths' Fire and something that Apollyon-slash-the Deceiver doesn't have."
And the destroyed shall rise again after the three sixes to the fire, struck down by Zeus himself.
"And then Alec will rise again after the three sixes which are the six weeks, days and hours, sent down by lightning and thunder."
If you know what it means, warlock, why have you called?The Silent Brother asked.
"It said that the string would be 'mended' back together. It doesn't mean that Alec is free from Apollyon. It just means that he's alive. What if Apollyon 'snaps his string' after the three sixes again? I want Alec to be free of Apollyon. I want the strings cut without risking Alecs' life. Forever." Magnus demanded more than asked. "And why has my- I mean the Deceiver given him back?"
For the level of your intelligence, I would have presumed you would have dressed accordingly.
"Did Zachariah just insult Magnus' wardrobe and praised his intelligence in one sentence? Or did he just praise his wardrobe and insult his intelligence? I need to take lessons from this guy. But the insults only." Jace whispered to Clary. She chuckled. Magnus glared at him.
This matter would be looked through. There are ways to severing ties with Greater Demons.
"When worse comes to worst we could stab him with an Angel sword. Wasn't that bad." Clary elbowed Jace to keep him silent.
The Deceiver has given him back, but not willingly. Apollyon is not 'merciful' as the old songs claimed he was. It was a paternal gift, to his children. Magnus cringed. They were going to find out. He shouldnt've have asked. Apollyon granted his demon children with Deaths' Fire, allowing them to claim back the dead destroyed under one condition, that they had love in their hearts and souls. Apollyon was not a great father, for demons were incapable of love, and laughed as his children set their pet humans on fire, the ones that the Deceiver himself poisoned, burning them till nothing was left.
"Free cremation services from the devils' spawn. How handy." Jace chuckled, but no one was paying attention.
You brought back Alexander from your fathers grasp, Magnus Bane, because you loved him.
..
Alec was pacing back and forth in Magnus' bedroom. He had buried himself in the blankets, breathing in the intoxicating smell which was Magnus, but Alec was unaware of it. It smelled of comfort and warmth, acceptance and love. He bounced about on the bed and rolled around in it until he was bored. He wished Chairman Meow were in here with him. He really liked the cat. He stopped at a bedside drawer and opened it, and a crumpled picture caught his eye. It was him, and the warlock. The warlock was kissing him on the temple and they were in front of the Eiffel Tower.
"THAT ABOMINATION IS YOUR FATHER?!" he could hear screaming from the other side of the door, Isabelle yelling, and the response was soft. Even as Alec pressed his ear against the door he could only hear murmurs. He was still holding onto the picture, finding it very familiar like he held it before. He could not hear anything more than the murmurs after that, so he returned to the bedside table to place back the photograph, when a horn like object caught his eye. It was black and bone, and looked powerful enough to stab someone. He held it in his hand before dropping it back in the drawer, backing away from it. It felt terrible holding on to it, it felt like... Death. Strangely Alec wondered why he had placed that term to that feeling but he saw that it fit.
..
His memories of happiness are his payment for giving him back. Alexander remembers everything unrelated to his happiness, Shadowhunter training, runes, even his skills are still in place, but he cannot remember any happiness in his life.
"Like father like son I see, Magnus doesn't come cheap either." Isabelle voice out sullenly.
"WOULD YOU PREFER IT BE LILITH SO HE WOULD BE DEAD FOR GOOD?" Magnus snapped, blue flames sparking from the palm of his hands. He refused to be chastised in the name of his father, he was ashamed of it enough on his own. The 'Deceiver' had done nothing but kill his mother and set everyone out to hate him. When you were a 10 year old child, it was hurtful, and young wounds make old scars, and old scars can never be forgotten. Isabelle quieted down instantaneously.
Apollyon had only stolen the memories from his mind, but there are other ways one remembers. His eyes remember what has been done before, just as his body remembers what it has felt before, just as his soul remembers and so does the heart. He feels the happiness when seeing you because he has seen you before but besides that there is no other form of happiness in his life. Movement Memories, they are called, for only with the movement being done will he remember it and he will act the same way as it happened before, and with that the memory will be registered in his mind.
"That explains why he knew Chairman Meow, because the cat always jumped at him from the kitchen table." Magnus mused aloud.
"That's why he wiped away my tears and called me Izzy and told me we were steel armored angels just like when we were young." Isabelle added softly.
"I can't believe that's why he winked at Magnus and literally skipped to the bedroom." Jace shuddered dramatically. The bedroom door opened and Alec came out.
"What do you mean 'dead for good'?" he asked, puzzled, but he didn't get his answer. Magnus strode across the room and held his face, tilting his head to kiss him full on the lips. I'd be damned if he can't remember this. Alec stood, shocked at first but as soon as he felt Magnus' lips against he began kissing back.
"Magnus, what was that for?" Alec looked shocked but he was smiling as well, blinking away the rain from his eyes. They were hurrying back to their hotel room. hands twined together when Magnus had tugged Alec back by his arm and stopped to kiss him on the sidewalk. It was wet and cold but as their lips touched a fire had ignited in between them. They were both soaking wet, Alecs' hair plastered to his forehead while somehow Magnus' hair still stood in its' fabulous spikes, and none of his mascara ran. Warlocks and their magic.
"Isn't it romantic, being kissed in the rain?" Magnus chuckled, leaning his forehead against Alecs'.
"I would've said candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach but since we've done that already there aren't that many romantic things to do anymore, is there?" Alec replied.
"Don't worry, we'll figure out something." Magnus bumped noses with Alec, eliciting a small laugh from him.
"While we're figuring it out, let's not waste the rain, shall we?" Alec pressed his lips against Magnus' once more.
It seemed almost too familiar, like he had done it a thousand loved the feeling of the warlocks lips against his own. No, Magnus. This is Magnus. Alec wrapped his arms around Magnus' neck and slid his tongue into the warlocks' mouth like it was the most natural thing to do in the world, and Magnus felt his heart burst. He had Alec back again. He have his Alexander Lightwood again. Magnus pulled away eventually because if he didn't he might not be able to stop. The pair were breathing heavily, smiling, and Magnus looked him in the eyes.
"Magnus." Alec stated. He knew that this was Magnus.
"Yes. You remember?" Magnus almost started laughing.
"I remember." Alec nodded.
Beware, warlock. The happier the memory the easier it is forgotten again. Apollyon does not like to lose, he brings pain. The Silent Brother said before leaving, but Magnus could not be bother about it right now. Alec remembered who he was and that was all that mattered in the world.
"Well if I have to kiss him again, I'd rather we be strangers." said Jace.
A/N: I hope that clears up the doubts in the previous story! Once again I apologize for any and all mistakes, and I hope you enjoyed it.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
I'm not going to let you off the hook with such an easy happy ending. This is a multi-chaptered fic. A short one with 3-4 [pretty damn long] chapters
A wise man Eddard Stark once said something along the lines of long summers having even longer winters after that, and this is Autumn.
Winter is coming.
Thanks for reading x
C-ish