Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Cassie Clare :)
The man has strange eyes. They look like those of a cat, glimmering green and gold. My head spins as I fumble to think. My mind is heavy with cold fog and my voice is barely a quiet stammer.
"I… I don't know."
Why did I say that? He'll walk away now, surely, disgusted with my pathetic response. And yet he doesn't. Instead those strange eyes fill with an emotion I know is sympathy, but it doesn't register. I rock back and forth.
He's going to hurt me. Oh god, he's going to hurt me. Please, please, please.
My legs fold up even tighter and I hug my arms around them, preparing for the pain that I'm still sure is to come.
The man touches my chin and gently lifts my face up. I flinch away and he quickly removes his hand. This man's actions are strange too, like his eyes. Does this mean he really doesn't mean me harm? He speaks again, quieter this time. Damn it, he thinks he did something wrong and now he'll think I'm a child.
"What's your name, blue eyes?"
I gape at him with wide eyes- nobody's ever called me that before.
"W-w-w-what?"
"Your name, blue eyes. Don't tell me the cold has left this beautiful boy without an equally beautiful voice, has it?"
His words are kind and completely alien to me. I can feel the heat of a bush racing through my cheeks. I manage to stutter out another response.
"A-a-Alec-c-c. Short f-f-for Alexand-d-der."
He smiles at me with the warmth I've only ever felt from my siblings.
"Alec- cute. I like blue eyes better, though. What would you say to coming home with me?"
My eyes narrow. I thought this guy was going to be different, but apparently not. My voice is scratchy, but still filled with anger.
"I am not a prostitute!"
His eyes widen in response and he steps back, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender. He shakes his head frantically.
"No, no, that's not what I meant! Just… to come in and get warm, take a bath, eat some proper food. No offense, but you look like you need it."
He's… offering me a room? And food? Strange, indeed. I quietly nod and try to smile, although my cracked lips don't want to move. I slowly push myself to my feet and stand wobbily. The man offers me a hand and I take it. He's warm and his hand is soft. This time, a genuine smile pushes itself onto my face.
'I never g-got your name. Do I-I just h-h-have to call you c-cat eyes?"
The man laughs softly. He's even better-looking when he smiles- it reminds me of my little brother Max, the way his smile fills me with warmth even in this freezing weather.
"Magnus- Magnus Bane."
He starts leading me out of the alley. A few people turn and stare at us as we exit the alley. My cheeks are already flushed from the cold, but I blush even more as they look at us. Do I really look that bad? The man, Magnus, is still walking. I didn't realize how tall he was. He's at least a couple inches taller, and I still tower over most people. We stop in front of a grey car. I don't recognize the logo on the hood, but it looks expensive. Magnus pulls open the passenger seat door and gestures for me to go in.
It looks so nice- I don't want to ruin it with my dirty, wet clothes. I know the leather seats he has are really hard to get stains out of. He looks at me.
"You okay?"
I nod. I can't ruin his nice car.
"I just… I don't want to mess up your seats. They're so pretty and clean and I'm… not."
He shakes his head and gestures again for me to get in.
"That's fine. I can always clean seats, or send them to the dealership. Just get into the car."
He pauses and laughs quietly.
"I just realized how creepy I sounded- but seriously, just get in the car. Seats can be cleaned."
Hesitantly, I sit down. It's just a car seat, but it's the first time I've sat on something soft the entire time I've been out here. He climbs into the driver's seat and pulls out, then starts driving. The seat is so soft that I can't resist closing my eyes.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and I blearily wake. Then I realize that something's not right. The seat I'm on is too soft, and I'm too warm. I open my eyes and see a man looking at me.
"Alec? We're here."
I shake my head.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
He frowns and looks at me.
"Do you not remember? I'm Magnus Bane- you tried to pickpocket me, I caught you, I asked you to come home with me, you said yes, and fell asleep in my car. We're right outside my house."
The memories come rushing back in a flood. I nod, grimacing as I stretch my stiff muscles. I get out of the car and stand up. The house in front of me is huge, with arcing Victorian windows and at least 4, if not more, floors. It's painted a beautiful shade of dark blue with cream accents- I've never been in a house this gorgeous. Magnus starts moving up the stone path and I follow him. It then strikes me how cold I still am. My teeth are still chattering and my ragged coat apparently hadn't dried while I was sleeping.
I continue following Magnus's quick stride up. He presses a small button next to the door and speaks into it.
"Magnus Bane."
Then a pause.
"Catarina, you know it's me. You've worked for me for three years, you should know my voice by now. Fine, the password is kutukan."
There's a loud click and the door swings open. I gasp. Magnus's house is the most perfect thing I've seen for a while. Actually, make that ever. Wide, maple staircases swoop gracefully. The whole room is tiled with exotic looking artwork filled with bright, swirling lines. Magnus steps in through the doorway and I trail him, still gaping at the beauty of this house. He steps up a staircase and begins to climb. We turn into a carpeted hallway. He stops and turns around, spreading his arms wide.
"Welcome to my humble abode!"
I smile. I feel so out of place, though, because my ragged clothing doesn't share the faint scent of sandalwood that is here, because my hair is overgrown, not carefully sculpted like everything else here, because I don't belong in such a nice place anymore.
Magnus points to a room down the hall.
"That's the bathroom, if you want to take a shower. There should be soap and whatever else you need in there, but if there's anything that you want and can't find, just press the blue button by the door and say what you desire. One of my maids will bring it to you. Just leave your clothes outside the door-a maid will also bring you some new things. You're probably about my size, right?"
I silently nod and walk quietly to the bathroom. I'm being rude, but I can't bring myself to care now that the prospect of a shower is here. I step into the bathroom and gasp. It's as big as my room at his house- all white and shiny and tiled. I leave my clothes in a heap outside the door and grab some shampoo and soap. I turn on the shower. It's so warm- I never really got used to the cold. When I finally turn off the stream of water, I finally feel human again.
AN: Thanks for reading! I'll try to update every week or so, but school's pretty hectic (so I might be kinda irregular). Please R&R :)