A/N: Hello again my fairies! I'm so stoked you guys are enjoying IHTSYHB! You all bring a smile to my face with your positive feedback! :D It makes me wish I posted this stuff earlier! I'm sorry it took a bit longer to upload. I've had the first two chapters typed out when I uploaded the first one so it was quicker for the first two chapters. Anyways! Time for chapter THREE, & I hope you enjoy! Stay beautiful! Y3
After moving Alec to the infirmary, he fell asleep, exhausted from the toll taken on his body. Jace was able to get an effective iratze drawn on his chest, and Magnus sat in a chair at the foot of Alec's bed, watching the rune shine as it slowly healed Alec.
Jace and Clary were the only two working to restore the Institute to its former glory. Isabelle refused to leave Alec's side, Magnus observed, as she sat next to him gripping his limp hand. He could hardly blame her though. They were brother and sister. A bond like theirs was rare and it was heartwarming to see how much she cared for her brother.
It has been sixteen hours since Alec spoke Magnus's name. Not much happened, much to Magnus's disappointment. He wasn't sure what he expected his ex boyfriend to do, but he shouldn't have been surprised when he passed out immediately afterwards. He put Alec through a lot, and not just physically.
A pain creeped into Magnus's chest as he once again thought of leaving Alec. He knew he was still entangled with Alec due to the fact he was done his buisness and decided to stick around. He wanted to tell Alec he was sorry, but also wanted him to know he was the one who saved him. To prove that he still cared for him.
Isabelle stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor in the process. Magnus glanced at her, a worried look crossing his face. He never saw the beautiful woman so distraught. He hair was down and tangled, becoming oily with lack of care. She had dark circles under her brown eyes, which were glazed over with exhaustion. Her face, arms, and hands were covered with a mixture of blood, sweat, dirt, and tears.
"I'm going to take a shower," she stated, making her way to the door with shuffling feet. She closed the door behind her, causing Magnus's heart to do a backflip when he realized he was completely and utterly alone with Alec.
He laughed at himself quitely, realizing it was pointless to get his hopes up. Alec was unconcious, and even if he wasn't nothing would happen. They weren't together anymore. But as soon as Magnus was thinking of giving up on waiting and leave, Alec began to stir.
He gripped the sheets and moaned, slowly opening his eyes. He looked around the room, trying to put the pieces together. When he realized where he was, he turned to Magnus and his eyes widened.
"Magnus?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep. "What are you doing here? What happened?"
Magnus sat down in Isabelle's chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and chin in his hands. "What's the last thing you remember?" he asked.
Alec's eyebrows were drawn together in concentration. "Um, I was training with Jace," he muttered softly, counting things off on his hand. "Then Isabelle called for me. And there was a giant hole where the elevator used to be. And there was a Greater Demon..." he trailed off, his eyes widening with realization. "By the Angel" he exclaimed, sitting up quickly. "Isabelle! Is she okay?!"
Before Magnus could answer, Alec clutched at his leg and hissed in pain. Magnus reached his hand out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alexander, don't push yourself," he said forcing him to lie back down. "You've been through a lot. You need to rest."
"But Isabelle —" Alec was cut off by Magnus's finger against his lips. A faint blush crept over the Shadowhunter's face at the touch.
"Isabelle is fine. Everyone's fine, except for you. How do you feel?"
"I'm fine." Alec said, crossing his arms and looking away. It was irritating him that Magnus was acting so casual. Like he didn't leave him broken and alone. Like their breakup didn't bother him in the slightest.
"That's funny considering you're running a fever," Magnus said, placing the back of his hand against Alec's forehead. He didn't need to feel his skin to know it would be hot, but just wanted an excuse to touch him. "I need you to tell me everything you remember. There isn't a reason you should have a fever with an iratze. Unless we're missing some important information."
"Well, I don't know if it matters, but the Greater Demon's name was Yanlou."
Magnus froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. Yanlou was the name of the Greater Demon who attacked his old friend James Carstairs. He caused him to become addicted to a fatal substance known as yin fen. If he didn't take it, he would die. But at the same time the drug was slowly killing him. In the end, James was on the brink of death and made the decision to become a Silent Brother, living by the name Brother Zachariah. He survived, but had to leave everyone he loved for many years. Magnus didn't want Alec to have the same fate, and prayed he didn't injest the vile drug.
It also made sense now how Yanlou was able to enter the Institute. When he attacked Jame's Institute, it somehow managed to find a hole in the wards and sneak in. He must've done the same thing when he attacked their Institute.
"There was something else about Yanlou that I found strange," Alec said, sitting up slowly this time. "He made me swallow this... Silver stuff. I'm not sure what it was, but it burned my throat."
Magnus's head snapped up, his hands beginning to shake. "I'm going to let the others know you woke up," he lied, trying to keep his voice calm. Magnus had to stop himself from practically running out of the room. He took his cellphone out as soon as he close the door, looking in his contacts until he found who he was looking for. There wasn't a cure, last he checked, but that was back in the 1800's. Maybe times have changed.
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When Magnus left the room, Alec couldn't help but feel disappointed. He was hoping he was changing his mind about leaving him. Just seeing Magnus again after so long was enough to make his heart skip a beat.
Alec, lost in thought, didn't realize Jace walked in until he was standing next to him.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Jace asked, looking worried. Jace was a sarcastic jerk sometimes, but it was moments like this that Alec was grateful he chose Jace as his parabatai. He cared when it mattered most.
"Fine, besides this fever I've got," Alec replied. He started to sit up but was overcome by a stabbing pain in his stomach. The pain caused him to start coughing violently. Jace began to pat his back, not sure how to stop the coughing.
Alec finally managed to stop, breathing heavily. When he pulled his hand away from his mouth, he gave a cry of shock. His hand was covered in spots of blood.
"By the Angel, you are not okay!" Jace exclaimed, making his way to the door. "I'm going to find Magnus.
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Jace raced down the steps and toward the entrance, panic filling his chest. He saw Magnus standing outside, his boot covered foot tapping the ground impatiently. Jace stormed over and grabbed the Warlock and spun him around, slamming him against the remains of the front door. Magnus, to stunned to speak, blinked his cat eyes and stared.
"You said you'd fix him!" Jace yelled, gripping Magnus's sparkly black shirt even tighter. "Would you care to explain why he's coughing up blood?" Jace's voice rose higher with every word and he could feel tears rising to his eyes. He refused to let them fall, blinking them back and regainig control.
Magnus's eyes widened. Jace released his grip slowly, realizing this was the first Magnus was hearing about this.
"It's what a feared, then," Magnus mumbled, not bothering to starighten out his rumpled shirt. "I have someone coming to see him. He'll help him." It sounded like Magnus was trying to convince himself more than Jace.
"No one is seeing him unless I know who they are," Jace said, moving the the front of the door like he was planning on stopping anyone from entering. "He's not in the best shape to see anyone."
Magnus stepped close to Jace. "You can't even begin to understand Alec's condition. He's far worse than you think so you just have to trust me!" Magnus clamped his mouth shut when he realized he was shouting. It wasn't Jace's fault for not knowing about yin fen.
Before Jace could reply, he saw someone walking up the steps towards them. His neck, arms, and hands where covered in faded marks, showing his Shadowhunter status. Jace squinted harder, feeling like the dark haired, dark eyed man looked familiar.
"Who the hell is this?" Jace asked anyway, looking towards Magnus.
The man laughed, staring at Jace. "My name is James Carstairs, but please call me Jem. It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Jace Herondale."
Jace took a step back, surprised when he was called by his real name. "I am not a Herondale," he spat.
"Your personality begs to differ. Being a Herondale is nothing to be ashamed of."
Jace opened his mouth to reply, but Magnus stepped in between. "Alexander is just upstairs, James. Follow me."
Jem and Magnus made their way upstairs, Jace following with a sigh of annoyance. When they entered Alec's room he was still sitting up, wiping blood off his hands. His face was even more flushed than before, his breathing more ragged. Magnus and the others rushed forward, unsure of how to help.
James caught a glimpse of Alec and gasped. It always took him off guard to see the resemblance he beared to William, his former parabatai. When Alec saw James, he squinted his eyes and spoke.
"Brother Zachariah?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
Jem smiled and said "You're very observant, Alec. You may refer to me as James. I am no longer a member of the Silent Brothers."
Jace turned to face Jem. "I knew I recognized you."
Jem ignored Jace and leaned down to Alec to examine him. When he saw the bloody rag, his mouth turned down at the sides. "It's what Magnus assumed. You're infected."
Alec stared at the three men, confusion written on his face. "Infected with what?"
"Yin fen," Magnus said. "I don't want Alexander to become a Silent Brother. And I certainly don't want him to die."
"Well the cure is quite painful, my dear friend. Even more painful then becoming a Silent Brother. However, if he should want to be free of the brotherhood, he would have to undergo the procedure anyway."
Alec snapped. "Can you please stop talking about me like I'm not sitting in front of you?!"
Jem turned back to Alec. "My apologies. When Yanlou made you ingest that silver substance, he was infecting you with a drug known as yin fen. The reason you're running a fever and coughing up blood is because you need more of the drug. However, being a drug, the yin fen will only prolong your death. It is keeping you alive while simultaneously killing you. So," James continued, starting to pace. "You have three options. The first is to continue consuming yin fen and die in about ten years or so. The second is to try your fate at sustaining the runes of a Silent Brother and joining the brotherhood. The third, the most painful, is the cure. Injecting holy water straight into your viens and allowing it to burn the drug out of your body."
Alec slumped back into the pillows. "But becoming a Silent Brother means I'll have to leave everyone, right?"
Jem nodded.
"Then I suppose you better find some holy water," Alec said, locking eyes with Jem.
