Izzy walked through the halls of the Institute coming back from a meeting with yet another warlock that refused to help her brother. It had been a month since Magnus had left, and Alec wasn't any better than he was before.

After Clary had been found, and Jonathan was defeated, Alec put all his attention into saving Magnus from Edom. Their first step was finding a way for him to get to Edom. Everyone wanted to go, but Alec made the case that it would be easier if only one went.

Not that it mattered anyway, since no warlock would agree. All of them too scared about pissing off a very powerful Greater Demon. Izzy walked into her room, throwing her jacket off onto the bed and flopping down on top of it.

"Rough day?" Izzy jumped off from the bed, hand immediately reaching for the seraph blade on her belt. She lost her breath completely when she saw who it was. "Don't worry, it's just me."

Izzy's eyes widened. It couldn't be real, he couldn't be real. She pulled the seraph blade from her belt and pointed it at him "You're a demon! A shapeshifter." The man shook his head, no. "You have to be! There is no way he could actually be here!" The man rose his hands in surrender.

"I promise you," the demon said. "I am him. The bracelet that you're wearing. I gave you that gem. I gave it to you after you helped the warlocks fight against circle members." Izzy's eyes widened. How could this actually be him? Why was he here? "After giving it to you I told you it would look silly on your brother. Then I asked you if Alec was a flower or cologne man." The man chuckled at the memory.

"Magnus?" Izzy asked in disbelief. She lowered the seraph blade, her grip on it going lose.

"In the flesh," he said. Izzy ran to him and wrapped him in a hug. She held him tight and he held her back, though she had a feeling he was reluctant. It was so hard on Alec to lose him, but it was bad for everyone else too. Izzy saw Magnus as a good friend and she wanted him safe as well.

"How are you here?" she asked as she pulled away. Then she gasped excitedly. "Alec! We have to go get Alec!"

"No!" Magnus yelled quickly, grabbing Izzy's arm and keeping her from getting to the door. "You can't."

"Why not?" Izzy said yanking her arm out of his grip. "He's been worrying himself sick about if you've been okay."

"I know that. Its why I'm here. I know what he's trying to do," Magnus said quietly.

"How could you have known-" Izzy stopped as a thought occurred to her. "How long have you been on Earth Magnus?!"

"Shh," Magnus tried quieting her, but Izzy wouldn't have it.

"No! How long have you been back?!"

"Izzy, it's not important-"

"How long?!" she said even louder

"The whole time!" Magnus finally blurted. He took a deep breath. "My father sent me back here almost as soon as I went to Edom. I've been on Earth the whole time." Izzy exploded.

"How dare you! Do you have any idea what my brother has been going through because of you?! Do you have any idea what he has done to try and get you back?! And you want to tell me you have been on Earth this whole time! You better have a damn good reason Magnus Bane, or I swear I will send you back to Edom myself!"

"Shh!" Magnus insisted, but Izzy just glared at him harder. "I'm not back permanently okay. My father sent me here to do his bidding and as soon as I'm done I have to go back. I thought a second goodbye would only make things harder on Alec."

"On Alec? Or on you Magnus? I really don't think Alec could be any worse by knowing that you were okay." Magnus refused to let his emotions show and kept his expression neutral. Izzy glared at him even farther before sighing. "If you didn't want to see him then why are you here?"

"I'm here because I needed to talk some sense into the Nephilim of this Institute." Izzy looked at him like he was out of his mind. He had to be, to be insulting her and her family after what he just said. "I told you, I know what Alec and the rest of you are doing to try and get me back. Don't. It won't work."

"You have no idea what we're doing."

"I know enough," Magnus said sternly. "I know Alec is trying to get the help of a warlock to get him into Edom. It doesn't matter what the rest of the plan is because he will be dead. No one can just enter the realm of Edom. Asmodeus will kill him."

"You did it," Isabelle reminded him.

"I'm a warlock," Magnus said. "And I'm his son. His most powerful son."

"So, what?" Izzy asked. "You're here to try and make me convince Alec to give up on you? Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do that. Alec is determined to bring you back."

"Then just make sure he doesn't," he said. "Instead of telling him not to just make sure he doesn't succeed. Make sure a warlock never agrees to sending him there. It shouldn't be that hard. No warlock that powerful should be stupid enough to go against Asmodeus."

"But he'll never give up Magnus. If I do that he will spend the rest of his life trying to get you back."

"Alec will give up eventually. He couldn't hold on forever," Magnus insisted.

"You underestimate the love of a Nephilim," Izzy said. "There's a reason so many marriages within our culture are arranged. When a Shadowhunter falls in love we fall in love hard. We would risk anything to protect them. It's why the Clave says emotions cloud judgement. Because so many Shadowhunters have devoted their lives or sacrificed so much for the person they love."

Magnus seemed to take that in. "I don't care. It's better that than not being alive at all. Because once he steps foot in Edom-"

The door flung open. "Hey Izzy, I found another warlock that might-" Alec froze mid-sentence as he looked into the room. He said nothing else, did nothing else. Just stood, absolutely froze. Eyes wide, mouth parted in complete disbelief.

Izzy stood shocked as well as she stared at her brother. She had no idea what could be going on through his head right now. She had no idea what to say to him. She looked to Magnus for help, but he appeared frozen too. They were just staring at each other and Izzy didn't know how to fix it. They loved each other so much, and to be separate for a month, thinking it would be far longer, and then reuniting like this. She had no idea what to say.

"Alec?" she started. He remained unresponsive, but Magnus seemed to have come back to reality. "Alec it's okay. It's really him." She didn't know if that would help the situation or make it worse, but she had to try something. Alec blinked, shaking his head and taking his eyes off Magnus, focusing on Izzy. He looked at her like he just noticed she was in the room.

"I-I umm.. what?" he stuttered. He kept quickly glancing at Magnus, almost like he was trying to make sure that he was really there. Afraid that if he looked away too long that he would disappear again.

"I'm gonna go," Izzy decided.

"No," Magnus said quickly, but Izzy cut him off before he could say anything else.

"Yes," she insisted. "You two should talk."

"We have nothing to talk about," Magnus said shortly. Izzy noticed that Alec looked hurt by the words. She knew Magnus noticed too, but he did nothing about it.

"Then you shouldn't have come here," she was angrily. How dare he treat her brother like that.

"You're right," the warlock said, snapping his fingers. She saw a portal appear in the corner of the room. "I shouldn't have." Magnus took a step toward it.

"Magnus?" Alec said. Izzy's heart constricted at how broken her brother sounded. The man he loved had returned but he was about to walk away again without saying a single word to him. Magnus stopped too, she noticed. "W-whats going on?" Alec's eyes looked so vulnerable as he stared at Magnus. His walls were completely down as he watched the man he loved.

"Talk," Izzy said. She didn't give either time to reply as she quickly walked out of the room. She stopped right outside the door and sighed as she heard the portal close, hoping that Magnus hadn't stepped through it. She walked away from the door, hoping that somehow, someway, they would work everything out.

XXX

Alec started at the love of his life as his sister walked out of the room and the portal closed. He was still frozen in place, desperately wanting to wrap the man in his arms, but not knowing if it would be welcome. How was Magnus here? Why did he want to leave? Where had he been?!

"Y-you're back," he finally said in disbelief.

"No," Magnus said. He kept himself at a distance. His arms were crossed, in a defensive nature that hurt Alec. "I'll have to go back to Edom soon."

"When?" Alec asked. His throat felt dry. He'd been trying for a month to get the man he loved back, and he was standing right in front of him! But Magnus wasn't here, not for long it seemed and not in any way that counted. It didn't look like he wanted to be anywhere near Alec.

"I have a few more things to handle before I go back," he said vaguely. "Now if you'll excuse me I have business to handle." Magnus looked like he was about to open another portal and Alec was finally able to move from his spot.

Faster than he'd ever moved in his life, he ran across the room and wrapped his arms around the warlock. Magnus tensed in the embrace, refusing to hug him back.

"You're back," Alec whispered again, despite everything Magnus had said. Because he was there. He was real, and he was in his arms, if only for a short while.

"No," Magnus said, pushing him back, "I'm not." Magnus created space between them again, and Alec felt his heart constrict. Why was he doing this? Why would Magnus not want to cherish the few moments that they were together again? Why was he being so cold? "I told you I have to go back."

"Then why are you here? How are you here?" Alec asked. Magnus said he would never return to Earth for at least centuries. How was he back a month later?

"My father wanted me to handle something on Earth," Magnus waved off. "I'm at the Institute cause I needed to speak to your sister."

"But you didn't want to talk to me?" Alec asked. Why did he have to talk to Izzy? Why wouldn't he want to speak to Alec?

"No," the warlock said shortly.

"Why?" Alec hated how broken he sounded. He was the Head of the Institute!

"What would be the point? I'm going back, so we have nothing to discuss. We are in the same place we were the last time I left."

"Except the last time you left it seemed like you didn't want to go!" Alec yelled. He didn't mean to raise his voice, but he was so frustrated. He'd gotten his boyfriend back, but it wasn't going at all how he expected. Magnus didn't look like he wanted to see him at all. He didn't look like he had missed Alec, or he had been counting the days that they were separated. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else!

Magnus finally let a little emotion show after Alec's outburst. His eyes widened, and he took a sharp intake of breath, but didn't let anything show beyond that. His eyes turned cold again, and he got back to his straight posture.

"I suppose being in Edom changes a person," he snapped.

"If that's what this is about, Magnus I have been trying so hard to get you out. I have done everything in my power to get there and bring you back." Alec reached for Magnus' hand, wanting to have some contact with the man he loved. Magnus however, pulled his hand back.

"Trust me Alec, I know what you've been trying to do," Magnus snapped. "I also remember specifically telling you don't! I don't want you to try and save me!" That when it clicked, and Alec knew what was happening.

"That's what this is about," he said in realization. "You're mad at me for trying to save you. You're trying to push me away. How could you expect me to actually listen to that? I love you Magnus and I wasn't gonna leave you to suffer in Edom!"

"Well, did you ever think for one second that maybe I'm not suffering?" he said coldly. It was Alec's turn to flinch back.

"W-what?" Magnus couldn't mean that. "That is absolutely ridiculous!" Magnus hated his father, he would never want to stay there.

"I am part demon after all Alec. Did you ever think that I might like ruling a dimension of Hell?" Magnus' mouth formed into a cold smirk.

"No," Alec denied. "That's not you. You hate your father. You hate what he made you do when you were younger." Alec refused to believe that. Magnus was just trying to keep him away. He had to be.

"Exactly. I was younger. I was foolish. I didn't understand the ways a warlock should be. Now I do."

"I know that you're lying Magnus! You could never be like that. It's not who you are." Magnus glared at him for a few seconds, but Alec was unwavering. Magnus wasn't evil, and he refused believe otherwise. Alec saw something going on behind Magnus' eyes, like a battle within himself. It was gone as soon as Alec saw it and Magnus' eyes returned as cold as they were before.

"Shadowhunters," Magnus scoffed. Never able to admit when they're wrong about something. "Such arrogance to your species. I don't want you to come for me Alec and I no longer want you."

"You're still lying." Alec was surprised to hear a bit of a catch to his own voice. Like he was unsure. He saw that Magnus noticed as well because the smirk he wore only grew.

"Am I?" he questioned. "Are you sure about that little Nephilim? Are you sure that the man you love isn't just desperate to get away from you?"

"No. No, you're lying," Alec fought. "That can't be true. You love me Magnus. You wanted to stay with me. You wanted to come back to me!" Alec wished that Magnus would drop the glamour around his eyes. They always held a warmth for Alec that he would be able to spot if only he could see them. If he could see them then he would be sure that Magnus was lying.

"How long do you think I've been back?" Magnus asked him. Alec didn't reply, afraid of what the answer might be. "I've been back for weeks Alec. I've been on Earth for a while doing what father has asked of me. If I wanted to see you, don't you think I would have come here before today?"

Alec felt like he had been slapped. No, it was worse than that. Alec felt gutted. "T-that's not…"

But Magnus just continued. "I didn't even come here for you. I came to see your sister and you just interrupted."

"Why were you here then?"

"It doesn't concern you," Magnus hissed.

"Magnus please," Alec begged. "I know what you're trying to do but please, stop this. It won't work. I know a month can't change everything we had. No, everything we have. You love me." Alec hated how unsure he sounded, hated the waver in his voice. Magnus however, didn't reassure him.

"You Nephilim are always so sure of yourself," Magnus snorted. "Do you think you're special Alec? You're not. You're only one in a very long line of lovers. You were a new thing for me, but I could find another if I want." Alec stood with his mouth open. How could Magnus say that to him? Alec had always had that thought. It was deep in the back of his mind, but hearing it be said, by Magnus no less, it hurt Alec more than he thought it would.

"N-no," he tried to say something, but what could Alec say to that? "You'd never say something like that. You'd never try to hurt me like that."

"Like I said, Edom changes you," he said, before snapping a portal and stepping toward it. "Unless you want to die for nothing, don't try and save me." With that, Magnus stepped through the portal, smashing Alec's heart once again.

He fell to his knees, not believing everything he had heard. The man he loved, the man he'd die for, walked right out of the room the same day he'd gotten him back. And what's worse is he did it willingly.

Did he even love Alec anymore?

XXX

Magnus despised himself. He absolutely loathed himself with every ounce of his being. The things he'd said to his precious Alexander. The way he'd made Alec feel. Magnus saw the utter heartbreak on his love's face as stepped through the portal.

But they had to be said, Magnus reminded himself. Now, Alec would never go to Edom. He would never try to save Magnus and he could live out his life. That was why Magnus went to the Institute in the first place. It was a mission accomplished.

But the things he'd said! Magnus knew that his past lovers were an insecurity for Alec and he'd used that against him. He had to, Magnus tried to reason with himself. Alec wouldn't believe that Magnus enjoyed Edom, so he had to try a new approach. But he'd used Alec's insecurities about their relationship against him and Magnus hated himself for that.

A portal opened for Magnus, and unlike last time, Magnus was happy to step through it, ready to leave this world behind. His father stood on the other side of it, wearing a dangerous smirk.

"I'm really starting to like that lover of yours Magnus," he said delightfully. "He truly gives a wonderful show every time you leave him. I may be sending you to Earth more often than I thought."

Magnus wanted to growl and snap at his father, but he wouldn't. He could tell that Asmodeus already knew what he was feeling. Magnus just had to be strong enough to not let it out. "How about you just keep me in Edom for now?"

"Yes, I suppose I'll have to," Asmodeus said thoughtfully. Magnus didn't understand what he meant. "I will need you to remain in Edom for a while Magnus. Probably longer than your Nephilim will be alive I'm afraid." Magnus tried to ignore the way his heart tightened at the thought of Alec's death. He still didn't understand what his father was playing at.

"And why is that?" Magnus asked, letting his curiosity get the best of him.

Asmodeus smiled. A truly dangerous smile that made Magnus' insides turn. "I'm so glad you asked, my son. You see, I underestimated Lilith, and while you were on Earth she has been feeding off the lesser demons in Edom, gaining her strength back."

"That means…" Magnus tried not to let his surprise show. He wasn't ready for this.

"I'm afraid so," Asmodeus said, though he sounded anything but. "I'll need to summon my children of Earth immediately." He smiled. "We must prepare for war."

This chapter's a bit shorter than my last one but I felt it was necessary to end it here. Let me know what you think and what predictions you may have. Let me know if you're actually enjoying this story because I'm not too sure. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for names of Magnus' siblings because I am terrible at naming OC's.

#SaveShadowhunters. Keep fighting guys! We'll get there eventually.

Thank you for reading!