Chapter 1: Festive Beginnings

"Here you go, Sir." Alec laid in his bed propped up on his pillows, reading the latest book from his personal library. His master room was lit by a single candlelight, which made the room go a slight shade of yellow. He looked up from his book to see Ms. Herondale place a tray of tea and biscuits on his lap. Alec put down his book on the table beside him and gave her a small smile.

"Much thanks. But you know you can call me Alec." She gave him a nod of the head, said her adieus, and wandered out toward his parent's quarters closing the door behind her. He took a sip of his tea and placed the tray down beside him onto his silk white sheets. Alec sighed and hopped out of bed letting his scarlet robes untie falling away to the side of his body leaving his bare chest exposed. Alec strode over to his balcony's glass door and opened them wide, taking in the cold night air. The moon was full and the light shone down on the town below him. He could smell the ocean breeze and see merchant ships coming into the port.

The town was fully lit and he could hear the festival going on below him. Alec wished to go to the festivals since he was a young boy so he could experience a normal life in Idris, but his parents had always sent him to his room for his 'silly fantasies'. He knew what the festivals were for though, and it made him sick. They were always held when a hanging was about to commence.

"Alec what are you thinking? You know you won't be able to live like that. You never will." He told himself while closing his eyes and groaning. Alec placed a hand over his face and rubbed his eyes. He knew his younger sister Izzy was probably already down there partying, so there was no reason he couldn't go; apart from his parents catching him and punishing him for his actions. It was always him that got in trouble not his sister and it confused him.

"Sir? What are you doing outside?" Alec turned around to see Ms. Herondale back in his room with a frown on her face and dressed in her nightgown gathering up his tray of discarded food.

"Get me my walking clothes please. I'm going out." Alec walked over to her with a smile on his face but with a hard look in his eyes. She tried to convince him not to but he stood his ground until she agreed. Alec knew she wouldn't dare tell his parents. He dressed in a button up white shirt and formal black dress pants not were way to expense for this kind of thing. He grabbed his sword belt and put it on remembering to add his sword in as well. Alec knew he was overdressed but his parents had always bought him formal attire and nothing else. He stood in front of his gold-plated mirror that they had crafted for his birthday and looked at himself. His ebony hair had grown down to his ears and curled up at the ends making him look scruffy. Alec tried to flatten it down but it did nothing. He unbuttoned the top buttons to make his outfit more casual and placed a pair of dress shoes on his feet. Alec snuck back onto his balcony and climbed down the vined bricks to the stables so he wouldn't look suspicious walking around the castle at night. There was nobody guarding the stables, so he was easily able to saddle up his horse and ride into town.

Music and yelling was getting louder the closer Alec got to town, and he could hear people laughing and singing along to it. As he rode in he saw people dancing around in a circle, sticks of fire in their hands and cheap liqueur in the other. He knew he was out of place when people started to stare in his direction, mouths wide open. Alec hopped off his horse and tied her to a pole, after giving her a carrot and rubbing her mane.

"Now what would you be doing here, Lightworm?" Alec, startled, turned to see who said this, to realise it was none other than his best mate, Jace. He was wearing only black pants, no shirt, and a funny little top hat making his blond locks go flat on his head. Jace bowed making Alec laugh and he brought Jace into a quick hug.

"I am here, Wayland, so I can have a little fun. Is that too much to ask?" Alec slurred and exaggerating his hand gestures to make it a bigger deal.

"Alexander Lightwood? Having fun? I've never heard of such a thing!" Jace teased and handed Alec a beer. He took a sip and scrunched up his face, spitting it out. Jace laughed at this and took back the beer to chug it back.

"Ugh. I forgot how much I hate alcohol." Alec sputtered and whacked Jace on the arm. They talked for a while before Jace got harshly pulled away from him by a short red-headed girl with a frisky attitude.

"Make sure he doesn't get too drunk, Clary!" Alec shouted towards them before they disappeared into the crowd of drunk commoners. He walked into the crowd and people parted as he did. The men bowed, the women curtsied but Alec hated the attention he was getting. He looked around to see if he could find his sister but couldn't so she was probably with some guy in the corner hooking up. The clock tower chimed 12am and Alec knew what was about to happen. A hanging. He walked into the centre of town and saw a hanging stand and people lined up at the side. He always hated watching this happen, watching innocent people die. Even though they weren't innocent, they were pirates. Killing, pillaging, stealing, swashbuckling pirates, as his parents had described. Of course, that's what they were, but Alec had always seen them as equal. His parents hated that.

"So, it wasn't merchant ships coming in? It was pirates?" Alec asked a woman he didn't recognise.

"Yes Sir! The soldiers saw them coming in and arrested them! There were 30 of them! Why would 30 of them come in without expecting to get arrested? They were unarmed and everything!" She shrieked and walked back over to her husband most likely. Alec sniggered and wandered over toward the pirates to see them just standing there and saying nothing, which was strange for pirates.

Alec looked down the line of them to see that they were all cuffed and unarmed. Some looked up towards him but only one looked intrigued. Alec had a closer look at him to see that he was staring at him as well, with a smirk on his face. He was quite tall, towering over even the tallest of them by six inches or more. His clothes were brightly coloured and made of the finest fabrics money could buy. At his side, there was a place for a sword but was bare. His neck and fingers carried the finest jewels Alec had ever seen. Alec looked up to see that he was obviously descended from Asian culture and his hair was covered by a big bejewelled hat. What caught Alec's eye though was his eyes. They were almost catlike, in a way, with golden flecks mixed in a sea of green. He was very attractive, to say the least, but had one big flaw. A giant scar down the side of his face travelling all the way down to his collarbone. Alec wondered how it got there, but the pirate turned away before he got time to think about it. Alec, being Alec, got curious and sneaked closer to take a better look. The pirates all sniggered and reached out at him making Alec jump back. He heard one pirate say 'Chicken' and another say 'Weak' at this action. Alec snarled at them and the pirates all broke into laughter. Alec, remembering he brought his sword, pulled it out and placed it on one of their necks. They all made an 'ohh' sound and looked at Alec with mischief in their eyes.

"Look. Who. It. Is. The famous Alexander Lightwood. How's mommy doing? I heard that your daddy had a little affair with the housemaid…" Alec hissed at him and tightened his grip on the sword. He was the only one that knew that this had happened so he didn't know how this pirate had found out.

"You know nothing, pirate," Alec said," Maybe next time don't make accusations about MY family."

"Ohh. You threatening me, boy? I'm so scared." Alec heard a few snigger, but didn't care. This pirate had to learn its lesson.

"Morgenstern! Stop! This is not how you treat royalty!" Alec turned to see the pirate with the cat-like eyes defending him and Alec blushed a little but covered it as anger. He still held his sword to the pirate's throat, but loosened his grip. Alec felt hot breath against his neck and heard a scratchy voice in his ear. He shivered.

"How's the little brother? Max, was it?" Alec heard the clang of his sword hit the ground and turned to face him. Alec had tears in his eyes and he slapped the pirate over the face.

"Never. Never mention my brother again," He spat through gritted teeth, "Or I will end you myself." The pirate grimaced at him and bowed making a joke out of it.

"Jonathan! You know better than this. Don't think you won't be punished for this. I am your Captain and you will listen to me." The supposed Captain said. It was cat eyes again and now Alec knew why he was dressed in such expensive attire. Alec glared at Jonathan and stalked over to the Captain. He held out his hand and took his hand in his.

"Alexander Lightwood." The captain shook his hand through his cuffs and smirked at him.

"Magnus. Magnus Bane."