A/N: So… The previous chapter ended on a pretty heartbreaking note. (sniffles) We'll see just what this one brings along…
THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for the listings, love, affection and ESPECIALLY the reviews! They mean more to me than any words can say. (HUGS)
Okay… Are you SURE you're ready to read more, after how the previous entry ended…? In any case… Let's go!
X
Simon and Raphael had decided to take a walk around the Institute. Well, as much as two vampires could roam around a place like that, with countless of Shadowhunters watching them with suspicion. Neither of them could stand just sitting down and waiting. Simon was about to suggest going to the library, because he was almost sure that Alec was there doing research and could probably use some help.
Then he saw Izzy, who was returning from one of the training rooms where she'd been blowing off steam, and all words froze to his throat.
Izzy was inspecting her phone. She stared at the screen for a few seconds, as though not quite comprehending what she was seeing. Then brought a hand to her lips while tears that wouldn't fall filled her eyes.
Raphael tensed up beside him. Simon licked his lips, a nervous habit he'd imagined was in the past. "Izzy? What's wrong?" Aside the obvious…
Izzy didn't say a word, couldn't trust her voice. Instead she turned her phone so that they could see the words on the screen. Finally the first tear fell. The message was from Jace.
'We lost Magnus.'
Raphael stormed off. Simon barely noticed, couldn't really focus on anything. Slowly, feeling like they both needed it but unsure how the gesture would be received, he wrapped his arms around Izzy. She clung to him surprisingly tightly and buried her face in his shoulder.
Out of nowhere a memory floated to Simon's mind, which was still struggling to take in the horrible news.
/ "… that if I ever found someone in a… similar situation, I'd try to make sure that they didn't have to go at it alone."
"So you're gonna be, like, my Downworld sponsor? Cool!" /
Magnus was there for him, for all of them, whenever they needed him. How many others did he help over the centuries? How many more would the warlock have helped, if…? A wave of grief washed through Simon like a stab.
Suddenly the world felt like a far colder, darker and scarier place.
Nothing in the world made sense to Alec.
The dust on the bed he still sat on… The familiar clothes and jewelry that had no flesh to fill them anymore… The drops of moisture splashing on it all, making the mess even worse…
Alec reached out an unsteady hand and took a necklace. He squeezed his fingers around it hard enough to make it hurt. And remembered, to every single detail, how that very item brushed his bare chest at the beginning of their first time together.
/ "You're beautiful." /
The memory stung so badly that Alec's hold on the necklace broke. His hand was slow and tender, almost cautious, when he ran his fingers down the coat. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't look away from the blood staining it.
/ "… make it back …"
" … look what I have waiting for me … " /
If he'd known that it was their last kiss… Their last embrace… If he knew that the next time they saw each other would be the last time he'd get to hear Magnus's voice…
/ "… love you …" /
Alec continued to caress his boyfriend's clothes. As though it would've been enough to bring the warlock back. He froze when his fingers felt something in one of the pockets. His hand was trembling even worse than before when he pulled out a silly but precious gift he knew better than well.
/ "I got you something."
"Me?"
"Yes, you." /
It was supposed to be the first of a million gifts. And Magnus always carried it with him, carried a piece of Alec along, more for comfort than luck and protection. (A hundreds of years old warlock was beyond believing in superstitions concerning items. But he believed in the affection the gift represented.) Until…
Alec stared at the item helplessly. Not quite able to comprehend why his eyes were blurry. Something… Something was missing…
Alec had always imagined that the parabatai bond was the only kind through which two people can feel each other physically. But in that very moment… He felt Magnus's absence. There was something missing from the world, from inside him.
When Magnus faded away a piece of his heart did as well – it was the very same piece the warlock awakened despite all Alec's initial resistance.
Alec didn't really feel it when Jace and Clary, and soon Izzy as well, lay a comforting hand on him. He was oblivious to the friends and family gathering around him. His barely seeing eyes remained on the gift still held tenderly on his hand while silent tears rolled down his cheeks. When the reality turned out to be far too painful denial won. "Where did he go?" he asked in a feeble, quiet voice, his throat still hoarse from the screaming he did earlier. He wasn't sure who he was asking. The people around him, the Angel? Did it matter?
Magnus was immortal – he wasn't supposed to be the one leaving Alec behind, he couldn't be d…! NO…! Alec turned his head, momentarily surprised by how many people surrounded him. No one answered him, and anger wrestled with sheer terror, agony and confusion. "Where's Magnus?"
Aside his continued questions and occasional sobs silence filled the room.
It took a considerable amount of effort to tear Alec away from what little was left of Magnus. The remaining gang escorted the grieving archer to Izzy's room, because his bed was… Well, it couldn't be used for resting. By the time they completed the journey Alec was practically unresponsive. He didn't react to the questions and condolences whispered to him, or to anyone's touch. When he reached the bed he lay down and curled up with his back to the rest of them. It was a crystal clear 'GET OUT', so they elected to give him a moment of peace.
Outside the closed door Clary sniffled. "Is it… okay to leave him alone? I mean…" She trailed off.
Catarina sighed exhaustedly and wiped her eyes. "He isn't alone", the warlock pointed out gently. "And we'll make sure that he knows as much." It was then the rest of them saw and understood her grief. Magnus had been her friend for longer than they could imagine. To have him… gone…
Before they could offer a word of comfort a very young Shadowhunter, the name of whom Izzy couldn't remember especially on such a rotten day, rushed to them. Face pale and eyes wide. "The… The High Warlock of Brooklyn is here. Says… Says that he's come for Magnus Bane…"
Catarina's eyes narrowed. Sorrow transforming to such wrath she rarely experienced. "Tell Lorenzo two things. He isn't the High Warlock anymore. And it's too late to come for Magnus, because he died two hours ago."
"What?" The unfamiliar voice had them all on guard. Including Catarina, for those few seconds it took her to recognize the woman who stood by her against Lorenzo during the recent warlock meeting. "He's… gone?"
Catarina's lifted hand was the only thing keeping an attack from being launched at the stranger. (At that point the Shadowhunter boy who delivered the unpleasant news hurried away, obviously not wanting to witness whatever might follow.) "Diah… I'm so sorry."
Diah shook her head fiercely. "I'm not interested in condolences." She gritted her teeth. "I… hoped that it wouldn't come to this. But now that it has…" A sharp pair of eyes glanced subtly towards the security camera the rest of them had forgotten. "Let's go and talk somewhere private."
Alec slept. And slept. He had no idea how long. Nor did he mind. Dreams were far better than the reality. In his dreams he still had Magnus in his arms. In his dreams his world hadn't turned to dust, literally.
He woke up to the unsettling feeling that he had company. Tense and on full alert, he opened his eyes. To find a woman he'd never seen before. Yet in some odd way she looked so familiar that it startled him.
"I mean no harm", she announced instantly. Which was when he became aware of the blade he'd instinctually brought against her throat. "If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it while you were asleep."
That… actually made sense. Still not quite able to relax, especially after such an emotional day, Alec frowned. He sat up to feel less vulnerable.
"Are you lucid enough to remember that Magnus is dead, now?" she demanded before he got the chance to ask anything. She continued at his terse nod. "Good. It means that my spell worked. I'm sorry about using one without your consent, but I needed you thinking straight."
"What do you want?" he hissed, in far too much pain to even try to be civil.
"The same thing I'm sure you do." Her eyes flashed. Cat eyes. "To save my brother." Seeing his stun, she explained further, her tone impatient. "Asmodeus is my father, too. As the demon of Lust he's sired many warlocks. I decided that it was time to come and see Magnus's home city when I heard that he lost his post as the High Warlock." She clenched her jaw. "I wish I got here faster."
Alec didn't care about her heritage. Or who she was. Usually such reckless lack of concern would've alarmed him. But if there was any hope, at all… He swallowed, defying how dry his throat was. "Are you saying… that there's a way?"
She nodded. "I told your siblings and friends this same plan. They… aren't happy, and honestly… Neither am I." She gave him a moment to digest her words before continuing. "We absolutely can't go to Asmodeus, because whatever deal we'd reach with him would only make things a million times worse. Going to him was Magnus's worst mistake." (Alec tried and failed to not feel a violent stab of guilt.) "And if we'd use magic to bring him back… He wouldn't come back as himself. But there's another way. A forbidden way. Going back in time to before Magnus gave up his magic." She frowned and studied him carefully. "Alec, you need to understand that this can go horribly wrong. Time traveling is always highly risky. And the more precise moment one tries to reach, the harder it gets to succeed. There's a chance that we'll cause more harm than good. You may end up lost into a limbo or worse for all eternity. And if the Clave finds out you'll be deruned, because this spell was strictly banned centuries ago."
Alec's eyebrow arched. Even when he already knew exactly how he'd answer. "Then how did you get your hands on it?"
Her eyes flashed in a way he recognized far too well. "You'd be surprised by what can be found when one's desperate and determined enough. And I'm far more like Asmodeus than I'd care to admit." She clenched her jaw. "I'd much rather not have you involved. If we succeed Magnus will never forgive me for risking you this way. But this spell is taxing, and I need…"
Alec interrupted her by offering his hands. His eyes were hard as steel, those of a soldier fully ready for a battle. "Take whatever you need." He lifted his chin. "I don't care what happens to me. I don't care how dangerous it is. If… If this is the only way to save Magnus… Then I'll do anything."
For a moment the warlock seemed surprised. Then grinned. "I can definitely understand what Magnus sees in you." She took his hands and inhaled deeply. "Now… Brace yourself. From what I've heard, this isn't going to be pleasant."
At the same time the rest of the gang began to wake up. Clary frowned, rubbing her eyes. "What…"?
"A spell", Catarina murmured. She seemed more alert, but only marginally. "Diah must've put us to sleep."
They were all confused. Until Jace's eyes flashed in alarm. "Alec…!" With that the blond dashed to motion, despite being slightly unsteady on his feet.
Jace ran as quickly as his speed rune allowed. But even then he was too late. When he threw the door of Izzy's room open Diah finished the spell. Alec was already flickering transparent when his brother turned his head towards him. "I'm so sorry. Tell Izzy and mom that I'm sorry. But… I have to. For Magnus."
"Alec, don't…!" Jace shouted and reached out a hand, but could do nothing else.
Because suddenly Alec screamed from pain, and then he was gone with the female warlock.
TBC
A/N: The things we do for love… (sniffles) Let's hope that Alec completes his journey safely – and succeeds! Because this is the last (strictly forbidden, but still) shimmer of hope we have of a happy ending…
SOOO… Any good? At all? PLEASE, do let me know! Hearing from you always makes my day.
Until next time, folks! I really hope that I'll see you all there.
Take care!
Guest: What indeed? Poor Magnus! And poor, poor Alec! (whimpers) I've gotta admit that I'm happy the chapter moved you, though. (BEAMS) We'll see just how this story continues… (gulps)
Colossal thank yous for the review! Until next time.