I am forever grateful of all those who leaves me reviews, it's the best gift one can do to me. That is why I want to thank again lilypotter72, Night Changer and Tattle Tales for the reviews you left me last chapter!

Oh and thank you so much Black21Jack for the shout-out in that beautiful and heart-wrenching romance called 'Reminiscence'.

Part 2: Nightmare, Chapter 7: The fire inside.

Through the veil of water formed by the fall, Magnus could see the blinding orange light of the sky.

He was in a small cavern and its only apparent exit was blocked by the waterfall. He knew it was useless to check for something else, the dream always wanted him to fight off his fear...

Still, what would tell him that once he jumped through the curtain of water, he wouldn't be dragged down by the current and drown? Or that he wouldn't fall in a river and drown? Or even-

'' Magnus? Are you here?''

A voice cut through Magnus' inner dilemma and, even if the rushing waters distorted it a bit, he recognized it immediately. The voice, a bit wary and worried, yet hopeful, would always bring serenity to him.

He closed his golden eyes and took a deep breath.

Then he jumped through the cascade.

The water was freezing, but soon, two warm arms were embracing his shivering self. Magnus opened his eyes and saw blue; a blue deeper than any ocean.

It might have been the same colour than what he feared the most, but never did Alec's eyes bring him anything else than reassurance. Then again, wasn't Magnus' own eyes the colour of the leaves in the trees that where in his lover's eternal nightmare? Still, looking at him right now, Alec was nothing but smile and affection.

'' So you are here.'' he softly said in surprise.

'' I am indeed. And I am freezing and drenched, so take me in your arms.'' requested Magnus nuzzling his face in the others' neck. Alec didn't say anything, but simply tightened his embrace.

They stayed like this in each others' arms for a moment, Magnus shivering in Alec's arm.

'' Why is it so cold here?'' he asked after a while. There never had been any wind in that place, but Magnus swore he could feel a small almost indistinguishable breeze. He only had noticed because he was wet and his skin was prickling under the wind's cold drying.

Alec released him from their embrace and took Magnus' hand to pulling further in the forest, where the dark trees would cover them. '' Don't tell Jace, but I think Clary's passage here left traces. She is the one who brought the wind last time, and it is still there..''

'' And why shouldn't we tell Jace? Not that I mind having little secrets just between the two of us.'' Magnus said with a wink that managed to paint Alec's cheeks a light pink colour.

'' Because he'll probably just dismiss it as me being difficult. He likes her way too much. And it's not like it was dangerous; there is wind now and it is dissipating, it's not even a permanent change.'' he sighed, eyebrows creased. Magnus had to admit that he was right, even if it was odd, it was not dangerous.

Yet, it didn't mean that Alec wasn't worried, as he was biting his bottom lip and looking afar, lost in his thoughts. He knew his Alexander was always worried for them, specially during the day. 'The fact that something is happening in the nightmare realm and he can't do anything about must kill him a bit inside' thought Magnus with a mixture of exasperation and affection.

Wanting to change the mood of his lover, Magnus playfully tackled Alec against a nearby tree. '' You know, I didn't even have my hello kiss. '' he pouted.

The others' surprised expression quickly morphed into one of mischievousness. '' Oh, I am so sorry.'' he said with a smile that Magnus couldn't not find adorable. '' How awful of me, let me correct that.''

And the blue-eyed boy brushed his lips against Magnus'. But wanting more than a peck, Magnus quickly deepened the kiss, much to both their pleasure. When the need to breathe presented itself, he simply pressed his forehead against his boyfriend's. Their breath were mingling together between them and Magnus was just contently enjoying Alec's presence when the latter broke the silence.

'' I am so sorry.'' he repeated, so low Magnus might not have heard it if he wasn't so close to him.

Magnus looked up at that, a bit confused. Alec looked a bit sad with his natural shimmering lower than usual, and the marks were swirling fast on his skin like he was in the middle of a torturing conflict. He moved his hands to Alec's dark hair to try to appease him a bit.

'' What are you sorry about? Kissing me? You know I actually enjoy this, right?'' he teased with a smile to hide the worry those words brought in him.

The other shook his head and looked a bit surprised he had heard him. ''No, but yes... I mean, no, never mind. Don't mind me, just forget it, okay?''

If he thought Magnus, would just 'forget it'... Magnus would've funded his naivety adorable if he wasn't apprehending what caused the abrupt apology.

'' You know you can tell me anything, right?'' asked Magnus hoping Alec would explain himself. But the blue-eyed simply nodded and leaned forward to kiss him again. Normally, it would have effectively distracted the Asian man, but not now.

He knew that when Alec had his mind stubbornly set, he would have to be creative to make him change it.

So he decided to go with the flow and kiss back his lover. He roamed his hands over Alec's chest, kissing him deeply and fervently. Alec moaned n the kiss and, just for good measure, Magnus placed a knee between the others' legs, joining their hips together and earning a gasp. He broke the kiss to huskily whisper in Alec's ear.

'' Please, tell me what is troubling you.''

Blue and gold met, the pale boy's cheeks flushed under the slow undulation of his marks. He looked flustered and a bit daze, but his gaze was intense and he finally answered Magnus,

'' I am sorry you have to go through those nightmares every time you want to see me. Me, I am just a dream. A dream in someone else mind-''

'' Alexander! Stop this, we discussed this already. You are real, okay? You are my boyfriend, it is you, Alexander Lightwood that I love.'' fiercely interrupted Magnus. Why couldn't that boy understand that simple yet so important fact?

'' Why do you say things like that? It makes me feel so...'' Alec muttered under his breath. He then took Magnus' face in his hands, cupping his cheeks. '' I would be a good person, I wouldn't keep hoping to see you all the time. I wouldn't let you come here, let Jace hanging around. If I was a good person, I would let you go and... a-and meet someone else... have a future.'' he said, his hands a bit tighter with the last words, but Magnus didn't say anything at that. '' But I am not a good person and I am not sure if I really want to be one.'' he laughed without humour in the end.

Maybe his stubbornness wasn't such a bad thing after all.

And just as Magnus opened his mouth to answer him, the wind died and a thunderous crackling – as if something was breaking under the weight of a loud object – interrupted him. They both looked up, but saw nothing out of ordinary, except maybe the sky was less bright and a way much more intense orange.

Another crackling could be heard, so loud Magnus couldn't pinpoint where it came from. Nonetheless, Alec quickly grabbed his shoulders and switched them position: Magnus had now his back against the tree and Alec was standing in front of him, as if to protect him from any danger.

He smiled at the others' actions. Alec, better than anyone, knew how he wasn't defenceless in the dreamworld, and yet...

A third breaking sound, this time closer, echoed in the forest and he heard Alec start panting. His shimmering was startlingly low, as if he never reflected light to begin with and his mark grew darker and bolder.

'' Alexander.'' Magnus called with worry. The other boy, still trying to catch his breath, simply turned a questioning look toward Magnus, without answering. '' Are you o-'' he began, approaching the boy, but got cut again.

A fourth time the crackling resonated and they actually had to cover their ears with their hands this time. It was getting closer – whatever 'it' was – and Magnus had an ominous feeling about it.

In his heart, he felt a warmth he hadn't felt since two years ago when he had met Alec.

The latter crumbled on his knees, still breathing hard and coughing. Magnus got down on the ground and caressed his back, trying to help. The boy didn't even seem to notice him anymore, his blue eyes unfocussed.

'' Alec, look at me. You have to tell me if-''

The fifth time the sound clashed, a figure appeared in front of them, Alec's breathing worsened and Magnus' instinct screamed at the wrongness of it.

It had a humanoid form and markings just like Alec's. It was all the details could see, as if the person behind the markings had been erased, though, from the curves the marks seemed to trace, one could tell it was a feminine form.

And it had eyes, piano black eyes.

Alec coughed harder and Magnus tensed. The heat inside him grew intensity and even if he had promised Alec to never use them, everything in him – every cells of his body – were aching to destroy the being who just appeared.

As if sensing his intentions, the being lifted what the arabesques formed as an arm toward him and he felt an unseen force push him against the tree, holding him there. He tried to struggle against the invisible chains that kept him captive, but he couldn't move.

Magnus saw the form approach his Alexander and panic filled his whole being. 'It's an abomination!' keep screeching a voice in his mind and Alec was still breathless on his knee. He looked captivated by the being and Magnus knew he had to do something.

'Sorry, Alexander.' he thought before letting go of the warmth inside him. His lover's life was on the line, he had to do it.

As soon as he loosened his hold on the heat, blue flames surrounded his fingertips Even if they were tiny, the blaze soon caught the unknown being's attention and it stilled.

The inhuman cry it did was as loud as the crackling that had announced its presence. ' Good, it's frightened.'' he thought letting the fire spread around him.

'' No!..'' he heard Alec gasp, so quietly he was surprised he even heard it.

'' I am sorry, love. I know you don't like them, but I have to defend you from... this.'' he said with a voice filled with concern. The creature was still unmoving, the flames and the fear they enticed paralysing it.

Alec tried to get up and awkwardly managed to keep his balance. '' P-Please, Magnus... Don't... Please trust me...'' he said in between short breaths; although, his eyes were confident and pleading him to believe him.

Magnus diminished the intensity of the blue fire and Alec seemed to understand it was the most he could ask for. Nodding, he turned his attention toward the being and, to Magnus' displease, approached it.

'' Alexander, please, don't get too close!'' he told him, but the boy ignored him.

Now that he wasn't facing him anymore, Magnus could barely hear Alec's ragged voice, but from his tone and demeanour, he was trying to... reassure it?

'Annihilate it! It is a danger for all!' screamed his instinct.

The being seemed calmer and stretched a hand toward Alec's face.

'' Alexander!'' screamed in distress Magnus. He felt a pull in his stomach and he was feeling nauseous. He knew – just like he intuitively knew about most spells, myths and legends – that the thing should touch him.

It was wrong.

'' Alexander!'' he repeated, struggling against the invisible force. The flames, under Magnus' emotions, were as high as the black trees. Wild, the fire spread, but couldn't reach the creature in time.

The form had a hand on Alec's cheek and the latter, to Magnus' horror, leaned into it. The blue-eyed half-turned toward him.

'' Please stop, Magnus.'' he said, looking warily at the flames surrounding them. His marks were darker than ever and his shimmering that were fading was now gaining back its brightness, as if trying to dissolve his lover in light.

The being passed its arms around Alec shoulder, its eyes looking straight at Magnus.

He had a dreading feeling about this and the pull in his stomach increased.

'' Alexander!''

Confused? I hope so! Next update might not take as long as this one did: 8th of august at most.