If I have prophecy and know all mysteries and knowledge
And if I have all faith so as to remove mountains
But have not love, I am nothing.
New York, USA - 2015
There was a knock at the door.
Alec rolled over and blearily cracked open his eyes to check the floating numbers of the clock. Pale moonlight flooded the room from the open window - Magnus was asleep at the desk in the corner of the room, the light sending oily sheens across the twisted dark silk of his hair, causing shadows to dance in the hollow of his throat and along the thin skin of his beglittered eyelids.
The knock came again, a light rap on the apartment door, and Alec pulled himself up. Who would be knocking at three o'clock in the morning?
He pulled on a sweater from the floor and padded barefoot down the stairs. None of the wards or runes had been activated, so he doubted that there would be any danger, but nevertheless his fingers found a seraph blade and tucked it discretely into his belt.
What had become known as the Mortal War had ended years ago with Sebastian's death and Lewis' sacrifice, and Alec was glad to be able to think that the Shadow World had settled somewhat. Certainly there were fewer life-or-death situations in the morning before he had coffee, and it was rare that he found himself saving the world on a weekend. The Downworlders and the Shadowhunters were approaching something like friendship for the first ever time, and demon attacks seemed to be becoming more and more infrequent with each passing day.
Jace and Isabelle, Alec knew, were bored out of their minds but he was content. The world almost seemed to have returned to a kind of equilibrium, and he smiled at the thought.
Then he opened the door.
A girl, apparently mundane, dressed in jeans and a hoody, stood on the doorstep with the golden streetlight playing a game of light and shadows across her face. Her long, loosely braided hair was the colour of starlight and nearly touched her waist; her skin was a nut-brown that spoke of a mixed racial heritage and much time spent in more exotic places; her flinty eyes were the pale grey of storm clouds and they were inscrutable as she glanced up at Alec.
"Ah. Magnus 'terbaru ... laki. Adalah bajingan di rumah?"
Alec was saved from answering by the sound of footsteps as Magnus approached. Placing one hand on the small of Alec's back and leaning forward slightly to see the girl, the warlock's expression changed minutely, surprise and suspicion chasing away the tiredness that had etched his brow.
"Vee," he said in surprise, "Apa sih yang kamu lakukan di sini?" He wasn't surprised for long. The girl's stormy eyes narrowed as she caught sight of Magnus.
"Magnus," she growled, and attacked.