Shelby ran upstairs, grabbed a witchlight, a dagger and Alec's paper from last night, and ran out the door, stopping to tell Alec and Jace bye.
She quickly ran through the streets, following Magnus's directions, and came to a house just outside Alicante. She knocked on the door, and Ragnor opened it.
"Well," he said. "Didn't think I'd see you again. I figured you danced and ditched."
"Not my style. And I need to talk to Magnus."
"Give me second," Ragnor said, and turned around, shouting, "Magnus Bane! Get your damned lazy ass in here!"
"Dammit, Ragnor. Can't I just get some sleep?" When Magnus came to the door, Shelby was shocked. Instead of spiked hair and makeup, his hair was down, hanging in his face, and his face was makeup free.
"Magnus?" she said. "You look different. Did you lose weight?"
Magnus laughed. "Take in the sight. Very few people ever meet a neutral Magnus. What do you need? If it's about last night, go talk to your brother."
"First of all, if I asked he would just avoid it. Second of all, my parents are out, and Alec can sneak out, so we need to get him over here for a surprise date."
"Shelby," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder and leading her inside the house. "Have I ever told you you're a genius?"
"You don't have to. I already know."
"Alright," Magnus said, the two sitting on the couch in the living room. "You sneak him over here tonight; I'll set out a nice dinner."
"Can you even cook?"
Magnus gave an evil grin, and answered, "Who said anything about cooking?"
Shelby sighed, rolling her eyes. "Whatever. I'll find something to do with him until seven tonight. And I mean seven sharp."
"Alright. Now, you go distract your brother," he said, making a shooing motion with his hands.
Shelby ran back to the Penhallows' house, and was greeted by Max as soon as she stepped in the door.
"Hey, Max," she said. "Where's Alec?"
"Hi, Shelby," her little brother responded. "He's in your guys' room."
"Thanks, Max," she said, dashing up the stairs.
She knew her brother would love her after this.
Alec was sitting in his room, when he heard the door slam, and turned around to face his sister, her face red and her chest rapidly rising and falling.
"Shelby, are you okay?" he asked.
"Of course I'm not okay. By the way, remind Mom to have me tested," she joked, and Alec couldn't hold back a laugh. "But yeah, I'm fine. Let's go out and do something together." She held out both of her hands, which, after thinking for a moment, Alec took them. She quickly pulled him off the bed, told him to throw on some jeans, and left the room, leaving Alec alone in the room once again.
He quickly grabbed a pair of jeans, threw them on, and put on some shoes, going downstairs to the kitchen. "I'm ready," he said. "What are we doing today, Shelby? But if I'll end up regretting it, we're not doing it."
"Man, now I have to cross off, like, half the schedule," she said, and Jace snickered.
Shelby stood up and walked over, linking her arm through Alec's. "Let us go, brother," she announced, and they left, walking through the streets of Alicante. "I was thinking we could look at some weapons first," she said once they were a good distance from the house.
"Alright," he said, letting himself be dragged around by his sister. "I need some new daggers anyway."
Shelby quickly pulled him into a weapons shop, and started looking at some staffs and swords and other weapons, while Alec looked at some of the daggers. He found one that was a regular silver dagger-that was the only thing he could afford-and was about to buy it, when Shelby popped up next to him, causing Alec to almost drop the dagger.
"Get anything you want, Alec. I'll buy."
Alec looked over at his sister, his eyes wide. "H-h-how could you afford anything else?
"I don't spend all my money on clothes like Isabelle or taking people out on dates like Jace or buying books for my twin like you. I've got plenty of money."
Alec carefully looked at all the daggers, and decided on a dagger with onyx set into the hilt. He then grabbed a dagger with sapphires set into the hilt and another with rubies. He grabbed three plain silver daggers, and Shelby paid for them. When they stepped outside, he handed Shelby the dagger with the onyx, the dagger with the sapphires and the dagger with the rubies.
"Why're you handing them to me?" she asked, a look of confusion on her face.
"They're yours." As she gave him another confused expression, he further explained, "Your favorite colors are black, blue and red. So I got them for you. I mean, technically you got them for yourself, but I picked them out for you."
Shelby's eyes started to water, and she wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "Thank you, Al," she whispered. "Just for the record, you're the best twin brother ever."
"Well, you kind of helped me last night, so I figured I'd get you something."
"Please don't get me anything else for helping you with Magnus."
"Why?"
"Because. The best thing you can get for me helping you with Magnus is your happiness."
Alec smiled, and said, "What are we going to do now?"
She thought for a minute. "How about we read books together. Like we used to."
"Sure," he said, and they walked home, their arms linked together.
Shelby and Alec sat on one of the beds reading some of their books together like they would do when they were younger, Shelby closely keeping track of time.
They finished a book at about twenty till seven, so Shelby said, "Alec, did you happen to pack the jeans and sweater from the party?"
Alec started at her for a moment before answering, "Yeah. Why?"
"Put them on, and brush your hair. And if you don't, I have quite a few secrets I can spill about you."
They both knew she was joking, but she knew Alec knew she could snap someone's arm in less than a second, so she left, knowing he'd do what he was told.
After four minutes, Alec came down.
Shelby was holding a scarf in her hands, and when Alec walked up to her, she quickly secured it around his head.
"What the fuck, Shelby?" he shouted.
"Be quiet before I shove a scarf in your mouth," she said, and shoved him out the door, pushing him through the twisting and turning streets.
She stopped outside a door at exactly seven, and knocked. She was greeted by Ragnor, who was now wearing a tux. He looked at her, taking in her deep red sleeveless dress and black high-tops.
Shelby quickly untied the scarf from around her brother's head, and threw it on a coat rack by the door.
"Welcome to Chez Ragnor," he said. Shelby smacked him upside the head. "Chez Magnus," he corrected, and led Alec inside the room.
"I hope this works," Ragnor muttered under his breath as Magnus stepped in.
