A/N: So today were going to meet some new characters some of which will be important later, and some that will be very important later

OR NOT! ;)

Please put down your proverbial pitchforks, and stop planning your proverbial witch-hunts.

I do not own, enjoy

Random: Does anyone Else think pants are overrated?

The small figure on the couch stirred and climbed off of its perch, and swayed over to the bookshelf where Karluck was sitting. Magnus could only see her back, which was covered by thick shining waves of brown, varying from light to dark brown in shades. However, it wasn't quite long enough to disguise her sleek black panther tail, and not quite thick enough to cover black cat ears. She launched herself onto the top of the shelf, easily resembling a tiger. her tail lashing to help her keep balance.

He caught sight of her face, it was Middle Eastern, warmly colored, and thick lashes framed deep amber mandala eyes. He almost awed at her cuteness. But the situation was a bit grim for that.

Karluck placed a gentle hand on her cheek, which she nuzzled into, purring softly when he scratched her ears. The small girl dropped peacefully into his lap. Eyes closed, tail swaying gently. A soft smile spread over her lips as she fell back asleep. Magnus was forced to think of sweet, soft, shy, Alec, whom it seemed he would have to leave if by any chance they weren't fated to be.

"Now as you read before, when a warlock comes of age he must participate in the competition, but before he or she can do so, they must become one with their soul mates. The symptoms I experienced are the same as the ones you are now. But as you will I found my mate and I joined the competition.

Her name is now Amira. His name was Achmed then, and he was human. He looked a lot like she does in facial features, perhaps a bit more boyish. We met, in my mind back then at least, purely by chance as Ragnor and I were traveling through a village in a small caravan. Though now I realize there is no such thing as mere chance.

Ragnor was a mere child then, barely 200 years old. He appeared older than me or course; otherwise no caravan would allow us to participate in their travels. After we had been traveling for a while, I started to become more and more sick over time. Eventually as we traveled my state had declined into a sickness like the fever that killed thousands in the tropics. I cannot remember the name of the disease I am referring to. I was declared walking dead by the caravan leader, and nothing was done to try and heal me.

As Magnus sat by the fire he could easily imagine the desert heat, and the fever adding fuel to the fire. He remembered his sickness from earlier, compared to what Karluck had begun to describe, he was in trouble if he didn't find that person soon. He sincerely hoped it was Alec, but at the same time, the competition sounded deadly to everyone except the winner. Truly he hoped he never put Alec into a situation where death was that likely.

We arrived at the oasis while I was in such a state. There, the plan was to rest for a while before continuing on. The plan was to stay there for two weeks, then continue on to the other side of the desert. Where exactly Ragnor and I were headed was unimportant since we had forever to live.

And through my haze, only few people seemed quite clear. None of the people clear in my vision were strangers, except Achmed, who wasn't quite a stranger, as I later discovered.

We became acquaintances easily, as he took it upon himself to try to heal me for the duration of his stay. Eventually we became one, and entered the realm, or so to say the starting block. At this point Magnus interrupted, "what do you mean become one, you can't possibly have..."

Karluck shook his head. " No, we did no such thing. But, we kissed once, with tongues bitten so blood was shared, and for the sizes of our bodies, it was enough." Magnus sighed in relief, "however," continued the smaller, running his hands through thick waved locks "your body is at least thrice the size, so you must be prepare to, how is it said, go all the way."

"We made it quite close, but I was young, and unwise, and did not take stock of my power, which was limited. When we did get eliminated, because I had run out of power, only he had the stored power to go back as humans cannot make use of it as we do." he sighed tiredly, "it takes up all of a humans energy, but if the human goes back to their earth, the body will allow him to draw more Manna from the earth. Without a body, the soul would soon perish, and be thrown into the void, which is the true hell, such that even the demons want to escape" The breathing of the girl on his lap was steady and even. She had fallen asleep a while ago, leaving no chance of her awakening soon.

"I had told him this, at the beginning while I was still somewhat sane" Magnus wondered how exactly simple fighting could cause you go completely insane. "But knowing this, he still sent me back. I was in no state to stop him, nearly comatose myself, and I woke up near the well at the oasis, from which we had departed.

There I realized Achmed had died, and I was at fault." the boys voice remained steady, but his hands clenched to fists, there would be marks in his palms later where his nails had bit into his skin. " It took a few thousand years to pull the soul Leila back out, and find a body to anchor her back into this life."

Magnus knew of soul names, they were as their names told them to be, and the names demons and angels referred to you by. The name you kept no matter how many times you reincarnated. you kept that name.

"Your mate, would sacrifice their life for you" Magnus opened his mouth to argue, but was efficiently and completely Cut off. " The one who is your love now would give up anything for your undivided love, I can see it in your manna. Be careful, or you might lose him, permanently." Magnus nodded. There wasn't much else he could do. He pulled himself up to full height, and walked out, "thanks" Magnus called into the doorway, shutting the door behind him. He walked out into the slight sprinkling if rain, with His Coat protecting him from the droplets.

It took him a while to realize Karluck had just given him the answer to his way previous question. Magnus had a sinking feeling, and yet was happy in a strange way.

He stepped out from behind the bar again, swung back into the bar-stool and began to chat with the young fairy child who was serving questionably colored drinks to anyone brave enough to approach her

He would go to his own apartment, and pull his copy of the gray book into his lap. He had to learn this thing well if he planned to be able to explain it to Alec when he got around. Perhaps there was a way out that he had missed. Yes, a way out is just what Magnus needed.

-—-—-

Alec collapsed in his seat, as Jace tossed him a water bottle of something blessedly cold. "I won," he called out to Jace, who plunked into the seat next to him. "Whatever" said His parbatai, downing half a bottle of water I one go? "You cheated," Alec was oblivious to how, and it was probably Jace trying to save face.

Sweat ran in small rivulets down both of their necks, perhaps doing thirty stadiums up and down the entire institutes height as a race, wasn't the smartest idea. But Alec had won, and that comforted him as he dragged himself into bed, and promptly passed out, still fully dressed in his workout clothes. His dreams were strange to an incredible degree.

Alec's Dream:

Everything swam dangerously around Alec, and he shook his head to clear it. There were golden "thingies" in his hair as Alec described them with an inner giggle. Alec didn't find it wrong to still feel giddy from that morning, even if he didn't know why. Alec looked around and found he was in the setting of Magnus' kitchen; it looked just like it had that morning just before he had passed out. Some of the cabinets were open and things were pulled out. Alec's eyes roved over the counter though he didn't know exactly what he was looking for. Something caught his eye and Alec reached out for it, a small tin with bright powder in it. Alec thought the tin and it's contents looked very familiar. That by no means stopped him from dipping his finger into the dust and feeling it shift and swirl under his finger like a half liquid, half vapor. Alec had a feeling the powder would make him happier than he already was, and in his slightly delirious state found nothing suspicious about that.

Alec's expression became entranced as a few particles freed themselves and floated through the air, catching the weak, small rays of light as they filtered through Magnus' curtains. Slowly his eyes still affixed to the dancing surface of the substance, Alec brought the tin container to his lips, the tin container that was unassuming and boring, and would've never been thought to contain a substance as rare and dangerous as it did. Small streams of it escaped Alec's lips as he attempted to down the whole container in one go. Whatever it was had addictive properties, and Alec licked around the edges of the container in search of more. Alec's eyes were unfocused, pupils wide and very nearly unseeing.

The Ocean blue of Alec's eyes faded into pure white, and the edges of the pupil and iris were a pale gold. They shone in an otherworldly fashion, before the pupils refocused and snapped shut. Alec collapsed and held himself up by the counter top. His eyes fluttered and were about to open and-

KNOCK KNOCK.

Damn Jace

Alec shot up into a sitting position, his hair even more disshelved than normal (is that even possible ).

Confusion laced Alec's expression as he tried to bring back the memory of that dream, but it was all fuzzy in his mind. He opened the door to ask what Jace required of him, and as he did so, he easily banished the sinking feeling in his stomach. The one you get when you've forgotten something really, really, important.

A/N:

What was in the tin can? Hmmm, I wonder… X) I feel evil now.

Sorry it took me I while, I'm not that quick

PS: Jace likes to give Alec drinks, and Alec drinks anything Jace gives him.

Jace: *slams bottle onto the table, and runs into the kitchen*

Alec *sitting on the couch in front of the table*

(Screaming from the kitchen)

*Goes back to watching TV* (doesn't get the point of Jersey Shore)

*Thirsty*

Alec: *shrugs and grabs bottle, drinks some*

….

Alec: Holyshititbuuurns! *Runs into the kitchen and pushes Jace from in front of the fridge where he is drinking milk like no tomorrow*

Isabelle: *walks in on her brothers drinking water straight from the tap*

You know water doesn't help against something spicy. Guys. GUYS!

(Three minutes later)

*Alec and Jace sitting with lollipop stems sticking out of their mouths*

Isabelle: see told you sugar worked better… what did you guys eat any way?

Alec: *glares at Jace*

Jace: funny story actually…. I may or may not have traded our seraph blades to an Iblis demon for some demonic hot sauce.
Isabelle and Alec: *Sweat drop*