Will went completely numb, unable to register what had just happened. He looked at Magnus, dumbfounded. Magnus stared levelly back at Will, the queer cat eyes scanning him with amusement.

"I – I don't know what you're saying," Will choked out, but knew he sounded unconvincing and mentally slapped himself. "I'm William Carstairs," Will added lamely.

Magnus grinned. "Oh, sure you are." Magnus didn't sound persuaded at all.

Will wasn't going to give up though. He narrowed his dark eyes at the sorcerer, not wanting to give up until Magnus believed him that he was not Will Herondale. "Why in the name of the Angel would you believe that I am Will Herondale?" Will said as coldly as he could.

"Hmmm, let's see," Magnus winked, stroking his chin in thought, "for one, William Herondale is engaged to Jessamine Lovelace. And mind you, she is one of the most detestable princesses out there."

Will raised his eyebrow, "I'm not convinced."

"Then, you arrived at this shanty old town just out of the blue," Magnus continued, ignoring Will, "not to mention that you are pretending to be your servant boy. And the whole deal at The Sensor? Of course a prince couldn't know how to do mundane work. It's not natural."

Will crumpled into an armchair beside him and buried his head in his hand. He knew there was no use concealing his identity any longer. The warlock already knew too much, and there Will didn't want to risk it.

"And so he accepts the truth," Magnus's voice floated above Will, but Will bothered not to look up.

"Just go away," Will said, his voice muffled by his hands.

"Go away? Mind you, but this is my store." Magnus did have a point.

Will lowered his hands and glanced up at Magnus. There was no danger in Magnus's expression – only kindness and curiosity. "What else do you know?" Will asked carefully.

Magnus looked around quickly, as if checking to make sure that no one else was in the room. "I think it's better if we discuss this matter in some place more private." Will gave Magnus a puzzled look. Magnus gestured for Will to get up and with a swoosh of his robe, Magnus left the room. Will let out a sigh before reluctantly following him out.


Will found himself sitting with Magnus upstairs in Magnus's shop. Unlike other homes in Blackfriars, Magnus's had two floors, the second in which he lived in. They were seated around a small wooden table, indulging in fresh scones and tea. Will swore that he didn't see a kitchen in Magnus's house, and when he asked Magnus where he had suddenly gotten the food, Magnus winked and simply said "magic."

Will hungrily devoured the scones, in part because he was avoiding Magnus's intense stare. He could feel Magnus's eyes raking him down and bent his head down further. After a while, Will couldn't take it anymore. "What do you want?" he asked in annoyance, harshness layering his voice.

Magnus seemed unfazed by this. "You don't look anything like him," he said, a small smile playing at his lips.

"Pardon?" Will said, scrunching his eyebrows in confusion.

"You don't look like Edmund at all. He's all white and gold. You're all black and blue, the complete opposite. Might I add that that's my favourite combination." Magnus wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Will just rolled his eyes.

"I'm leaving," Will said abruptly and stood up, knocking his teacup over, spilling tea all over the tea length.

"If you want answers, I can give it to you," Magnus said persuasively, almost as if he was charming Will.

Will stopped at the door, his back towards Magnus. Will knew why he was being so rude, even it was to a man who had earlier saved his own life. Ever since Ella's death, Will had closed himself off from the world, even if that meant being absolutely brutal to everyone. Jem had been his main ground who anchored him to Will. The real Will. Jem knew how to treat Will and Will could only be himself around Jem, and also Cecily on occasion. Jem was like the brother Will had never had. Even if Jem was not physically there for Will, Will could feel a connection between them that ran at a deeper, emotional level. Ever since arriving at Blackfriars, he felt something slowly changing within him. His walls that he built so hard around himself were beginning to fall down.

Will took three deep breaths before turning to face Magnus. He could feel cracks in his cool armour, begging him to just talk to the sorcerer. Will numbly made his way to his seat and stared straight at Magnus.

"You're wondering how I know of your father?" Magnus said. Will nodded. "Believe me kid, it's not that interesting." Will didn't care though. He just wanted to know how this stranger knew who he was. "I'm a sorcerer," Magnus continued, "I know everything. And I mean it when I say I know everything. There are not many of us left. In the last hundred years, magic has been wiped out throughout the kingdom and sorcerers have been brutally murdered and driven out of Idris to stop the practice of magic all together."

Will knew of the dark and bloody history behind magic. It had always been frowned upon the kingdom for as long as Will could remember. He never understood why people hated it so much. It was just another skill that certain people possessed, similar to how others had special skill with swords, weapons, and so on. Will saw sorcerers as equals to everyone else. If Will had it his way, he would reverse the ancient laws and allow the practice of magic to happen freely within the kingdom.

"Your father saw magic differently, though. He believed in it," Magnus said.

"I don't believe you," Will said. Edmund Herondale had always displayed his distaste for magic, and Will highly doubted what Magnus was saying.

"That was before you were born. That was even before your father met your mother, Linette. I saved his life once, and Edmund felt that he owed me. I told him he didn't, but Edmund insisted. In return, he spared my life and said I could still practice magic, as long as it was in secret. I found myself to this quaint village, where the people were untainted by the laws ruling this kingdom."

"So how did you know that it was me?" this had been bugging Will since he had set foot in Magnus's shop.

Magnus chuckled. "I gave you quite a scare, didn't I? But don't worry, I don't have any spies or sorts like that if that's what you were wondering. I had a feeling, from the day that Tessa brought me over to heal you from your attack. We sorcerers have a way of sensing people by the aura that they emit around them. Yours burned brighter than any others and I had only seen this exact same one once before. With your father."

Will exhaled a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "You promise you won't tell anyone what you know of me? It's absolutely imperative that no one knows who I truly am. Especially Tessa. She made it very clear that she hates the Herondales and I don't want to hurt her."

Magnus gazed at Will, assessing him. "You have my word," he said seriously, "I have no reason to tell anyone. I owe your father that much."

Will smiled at Magnus. Although he only knew the warlock for a short amount of time, he felt an overwhelming urge to trust him.

Magnus reached across the table and pushed the empty teacups to the side, crossing his feet on the table. "So tell me, young prince, but how do you plan to spend the rest of your time here at Blackfriars?"

Will shrugged. "I dunno. Just hanging around I guess."

Magnus gave a skeptical look. "Really Herondale? After your stint with the Branwells, the whole town hates you. None of them want you stepping into, or even going near their premises. Not to mention that your father is probably on your tail trying to search for you."

"Oh, I doubt that." Will didn't want this to be the least bit true.

"Come again?"

"I've got myself covered. I may be a sheltered prince, but it doesn't mean I'm that naïve. I should be fine for the time being."

"And what if your father finds out?" Magnus did have a point.

"I'll improvise," Will said hurriedly. He had never given this that much thought, and the very idea of his father discovering the truth frightened Will. But he would find a way out of it. If it ever did happen.

"Hmm," Magnus said, "there's still the issue of the townsfolk."

"What are you suggesting, Bane?"

"Bane? Never heard that one. I like it." Magnus grinned and threw him yet another wink.

"Just answer the question," Will groaned, although he was enjoying his company with Magnus.

"You could work for me."

"Work for you?" Will sat up in his chair, almost sliding off. "No, I possibly cannot do that! Especially not after what happened with Charlotte and Henry."

"Will, we all know what sort of work you were doing. But between you and I, that's no work fit for a prince, and you could have easily blown your cover." Will couldn't help but agree on this. "Anyway," Magnus went on, "you can help me around the shop. Nothing major. Just some bookkeeping, putting away ingredients, just simple things. And you get paid." There was a sparkle in Magnus's eyes.

"I-," Will stopped himself, still unable to say anything.

"Think of it this way," Magnus pressed on, "you're living with Theresa Gray, one of the most hardworking girls in this village. Not to mention, she is pretty." He smiled suggestively at Will, who blushed. Will had to admit, but Tessa was pretty. "She's working her ass off to pay for her brother and herself, and now since you've tagged along, she has to cover for you. And the poor girl never gets a break. She's exhausted, even if she won't show it. She won't back down. She's as stubborn as a mule. So, if you work for me, you'll not only be helping me, but also her."

Will thought, long and hard. Once again, Magnus was right. "Okay," Will said, not without smiling, "I'll do it."


"Wait, you what?!"

Will was back in Tessa's little home. They had just finished dinner and Will decided to break the news to her. He braced himself for her reaction, unsure of what she would say.

"Magnus Bane offered me a job, and I accepted it," Will said.

"Will, that's great!" Tessa said enthusiastically, a grin breaking out across her face.

"It is?" This was definitely not the way he had expected her to react. Knowing Tessa's stubborn nature, he thought she would protest and argue that she was fine by herself.

"Of course it is!" she said. She looked like she was on the verge of jumping up and down, and Will found this endearing. "Magnus never offers jobs to anyone. He's usually closed off, although many people have expressed interest in working for Magnus. He's turned down each and every one of them though. The fact that he literally handed you this job is simply miraculous. You must have made quite the impression on him, Will."

"I just hope I don't screw this one up," Will sighed.

"You won't," Tessa said adamantly, "I have faith in you."

"You do?"

"Yes. And if Magnus thought you couldn't do this, then he wouldn't have offered the job to you." Tessa reached across the table and put her hand atop Will's. Will felt a strange tingling sensation running through his veins. He looked at Tessa, and saw her gazing intensely back at him, her gray eyes becoming stormier. There was kindness, hope, and a sense of admiration in her eyes. Before Will could say anything, Tessa drew her hand hastily away. Just like that, the moment had snapped, vanishing into thin air. "So," Tessa said, averting his gaze, "when do you start?"

"First thing tomorrow morning."

"You won't have trouble getting up?" Will could swear see the ghost of a smile on her.

"If it involves throwing water on me, then go for it," Will gave her a crooked grin, and Tessa just laughed.


Will had been working at Bane's Apothecary for a week now. Everything had been going very smoothly at the shop. He and Magnus were getting along very well. Will seemed to have a knack for this magic, even if he couldn't practice it. Magnus had shown him a few spells and even showed him how to concoct various potions. Although Will couldn't use the spells, he could make the potions. On top of that, the few customers that trickled into the shop had learned to trust Will. He was no longer the clumsy boy who destroyed The Sensor, but now an apprentice under Magnus.

In addition to that, everything was going well at Tessa's home. Tessa no longer displayed that initial hatred towards Will as she once had. She seemed to gain trust in him and the stoic mask was beginning to slip off her, just as Will's walls were breaking down. She laughed easily around him and they could converse about anything and everything. She seemed less stressed now that Will was helping her pay for various things. Will could say that he was definitely enjoying this lifestyle. It was much better than what he had back at the Institute, although he did miss Jem and Cecily.

Will was at the shop, a ledger at hand as he checked the inventory in the back storeroom. He suddenly heard shouts and screams echoing in the distance. Alarmed, Will made his way out towards the front of the store, where Magnus was. Magnus seemed unfazed by what was going on outside.

"Are you hearing that Magnus?" Will asked in panic.

"Mmmm?" Magnus said distantly. "It's probably just children playing around." There was more screaming, although it was closer than before. "Okay, scratch that," Magnus said, widening his eyes, "something is definitely wrong."

Magnus maneuvered around the counter and moved towards the front door, Will right at his heels. Before Magnus could open the door, it swung open, Tessa right at the threshold. She was wearing her work dress, although her hair was flying out of its pins and her gray eyes were wide with fright.

"Magnus! Will!" she said, relief flooding her voice.

"Tessa, what's wrong?" Magnus asked.

"The village. There's a dragon out there attacking the village. He's going to burn it down."


YESSSSS! I finally posted the next chapter! So, I've been back from my trip for a few days now and I was on and off about writing this fic. But, I started reading the Hush, Hush series and I was completely hooked! I read the first three books in four days hehe. But I told myself not to start the last book until I put this chapter up. So yeah :D

Anyways, I had a great trip. I went to the UK and spent a few days in London. I got to see all the TID sites, like Blackfriars Bridge, Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, so on. But I was bummed because St. Bride's Church, which is the setting for the Institute, was completely blocked off for construction so I couldn't see it :( But I still had a great time! I think it's official: I'm moving to England :D

Thank you to everyone for reviewing, favourting, and following! You guys are da best! Until next time! I promise to be faster :)