Chapter 2

One night as Magnus sat on his divan reading the F'airy simply popped into existence right before him. Magnus gave a startled yell and raised his hands ready to defend himself when he realized that it was Nefertiri. The F'airy was beside herself with laughter rolling around in the air, while Magnus looked on in bemusement.

'Oh Magnus Bane your funny face oh oh oh,' she giggled uncontrollably.

'Yes very funny my dear, and may I ask where you have been? When you promised that you would come back,' said Magnus.

'Come back I have, am here now, see,' she replied tilting her head quizzically at him.

And then with a graceful dive she landed in her favourite spot on his shoulder and proceeded to wrap one of her soft golden wings around the back of his head whilst snuggling against his face.

'Well yes I suppose you are but why has it taken you ten years?' he asked.

"Time is trivial flows by too fast, humans made these year things what do they matter? We live, we do, goodbye, hello, love, hate, birth, death all keep happening. I have been in the world now I come back to Warlock Magnus Bane,' she replied.

Magnus was staggered he had a feeling he may have just heard on of the most profound thoughts of his long life, although he had to admit that next to the F'airy he was little more than a child. He had a shift in his ideas, previously he had found the Nefertiri to be perhaps a bit simple but she was obviously a very wise being.

'I am very glad then that you have come back, it is wonderful to see you again,' Magnus had felt a sudden lift in his spirits at the return of this tiny woman.

'Yes good to be back, stay with you for this time I will Magnus Bane,' she said.

'Truly! That is good news will you need a room? How can I make you comfortable?' He asked excitedly.

'No room I will sleep next to you Magnus Bane and I am most tired so let us sleep now,' she said this more like a command than a request.

So, flitting over Magnus's head the F'airy followed him into his room and settled on his bed, but as she lay on the pillow next to his head eye lashes fluttering shut she suddenly disappeared.

'Nefertiri!' Magnus cried.

'Eee yes what Magnus Bane?' she answered frowning and yawning at the same time.

She had reappeared in the same spot laying curled with her wings wrapped around her body like the most precious blanket ever made.

'You vanished,' Magnus said in bewilderment he had still felt no magic.

'Yes F'airy camouflage, always invisible unless we wish, cannot control it when sleeping,' she yawned again for effect.

'But I felt no magic nothing how can you do it?'

'It is natural for F'airy, would Magnus Bane ask a chameleon how he changes colour? Why ask Nefertiri how she becomes invisible same same. Now we sleep Magnus Bane no more questions,' she said this very firmly.

Magnus decided that any more questions would have to wait for the morning, so he laid his head on the pillow beside the one the F'airy slept on and fell asleep with the scent of spring hovering in the air.

The next day was spent with Magnus peppering Nefertiri with questions about the F'airy folk some she answered, some she laughed at and others she simply ignored. Magnus found every moment with her a delight he felt his spirits continue to rise as they had previously. At dinner time, she took out one of the small golden globes from behind her wing and sipped the sparkling liquid.

'So dear one where have you collected that essence?' He asked.

'From a human hospital,' she replied.

'That seems an odd place to find love essence,' Magnus said.

'No much love there; families, babies much joy much truth, much sacrifice and sorrow too, but plentiful love pure and good,' she said with a smile.

Magnus thought about her words and again was profoundly moved; joy, loss, pain, sacrifice and sorrow of course a hospital would have all of these examples of love.

The days went by Magnus and Nefertiri told each other stories about their travels in the world she told him of all the love and beauty she had seen. He knew that she had also seen the horrors of the world but she did not seem to dwell on those, instead giving examples of the pure love she had seen in those dark moments. Being with the Angelic little being was doing wonders for Magnus his heart grew lighter every day, she had helped him to heal from the pain of his split with Camille and to see the goodness in the world again.

They also discussed the attributes of the Essence of love she collected, Magnus had wondered if it had any properties he could use in his medicines but she told him decisively it could not be kept for long. She also revealed that it could be used by the F'airy on other creatures to bring about a remembrance of love. She explained to him they sometimes used it on those who needed courage in the face of challenges to love.

One day she came down and he sensed something was different she was still joyous but more pensive.

'Magnus Imi ib,' she began.

The day she had called him Imi ib for the first-time Magnus had been astonished with the change but knowing the meaning of it brought him to tears. That this being so ancient and with blood of the Angels in her veins had deigned to call him, a half demonic downworlder, beloved left him astounded.

'Yes my love, 'he replied.

'It is time for me to leave, my wings grow still and weak from lack of use, fly I must for some time around this world,' she smiled at him.

Magnus felt is heart drop how he wanted to beg he to stay, but one thing his time with her had taught him was that to sacrifice for love was one of the purest expressions of that feeling.

'I will miss you Nefertiri but I understand, now promise that you will come back to see me sooner this time,' Magnus entreated his amber eyes glowing.

'Time is endless for us Magnus Bane my dear Imi ib but I will return, farewell,' and with that she was gone.

Magnus sighed and a tear rolled down his face, he pushed it away impatiently, he had a new interest in life the F'airy had stayed with him long enough to give him hope once more. Time to travel he decided, he would call on Catarina and Ragnar perhaps a trip to South America, he had been meaning to return there for some time. He had fond memories of Peru having had some entertaining adventures there, he would however remember to avoid guano stealing pirates and dominant male monkeys. It took him a few weeks to convince Ragnar but soon the three of them were on their way to Peru.

(to find out what happened in Peru read The Bane Chronicles By Cassandra Clare)