A/N: Hey there! I wrote this author note a few days before the 'missing reviews' problem was resolved and I'm in no condition to retype everything one more time so allow me to guide you to the story.
Scroll down until the bold end if uninterested with my craps. *wink
Jupanuma: So Alec can turn his powers off, but it takes a lot of work?
My Reply: You can put it that way for a while. We still have a long way to go with the story and I hope I won't bore you with my writings. Keep reading, yeah?
xoxo
Maple
Manibarilo: Well, now you have the answer to your 'what attack?' question Alec haha!
But sorry Alec, i am siding with Jonathan this time. That feeling of wanting to befriend someone, but not being met with the same kind of want (or apparantly not)... And just because of a matter of perception too! He showed an incredible selfless part of himself stepping aside because he suspects Jace and Magnus wouldn't like it and Alec would be stuck in the middle. I really really hope Alec takes on Jonathan's open offer ('' let me know if you change your mind''), that he won't be oblivious to that silent invitation...
Oh and the scene with Maryse! The moment Alec remembered that once upon a time, his mother said ''I'll pretend I haven't heard that'' for their children play, not for disaproving! That was half cute, half sad! But I kind of like that deal in between them, The Lighwood mother and son Alliance.
Really looking forward the next chapter
xox
Mani
My Reply: Let's not get too over carried with our emotions so fast, shall we? Jonathan means well and yet I kind of have to disagree with the 'selfless' bit. Don't worry, if you ever lose hope you can always reread the summary. I've given away enough already in it. *wink
A little family moment won't hurt, right?
Enjoy this chapter, I hope!
xoxo
Maple
CHAPTER 9
Footsteps echoed across the halls and corridors, with each pace held different notions in it. Teachers and students were pulled out of their mundane mode and alerted, all heading to the direction where the shriek had resounded from. Alec watched as Maryse collected her domain and rushed off to the ground floor, her feet barely lifted from the surface when she vanished in haste of light and leaving behind her son with unseen gale. Alec sometimes mistook his mother's power with speed instead of flight.
He took an amount of time and invisible forces finally made him moved from where he was rooted. If anything, Alec hated commotion. Loud noises coming from people's mouth are much more bearable compared to their thoughts; impulsive and absurd most of the time. Something Alec couldn't be bothered to entertain.
His mind was still on the subject of Professor Blackthorn; born as a typical heavy thinker (no thanks to his power) and unknowingly keeping a soft spot for the old man had assured him of a possible headache by afternoon.
A loud voice, unmistakeably belonging to the discipline figure of the school boomed throughout the corridor when Alec turned right at the corner. A few steps ahead, groups of students seemed to have formed a circle around Professor Starkweather, being the centre of everyone's attention.
His light brown robe-always pressed and on point was drenched on the front and Alec suspected it was coffee until he heard his rampage.
"When I catch who did this, I'll make sure you regret ever coming to this school!" He exclaimed, looking wildly to the students and pointing out his index finger as if conjuring his power.
The Headmistress was standing next to him, mindful to the fact that no words would be able to calm the professor and sending meaningful glare to the rest of the staff members who'd gathered as well upon hearing the scream. Silence fell on the students and no one dared to look away, scared of being suspected as the culprit or maybe too stunned with the whole scene.
Just then, the school's patron, Madame Dorothea timidly voiced out her opinion.
"Now, now. Let's not scare the children." She persuaded in her little voice. "It'll wash off."
"Wash off?" Professor Starkweather slowly looked at her as if she'd said something ridiculous. Madame Dorothea's expression dawned into realization that she might've been silly to even speak at all.
"Wash off?!" He repeated in a louder and scarier voice. "I don't care if it'll wash off or not!" Professor Starkweather's eyes once again roamed the many faces of his students, looking no less angry and insulted.
"If I don't get any confession by the end of today's school hour, I'll hunt each and every one of you until I know who did this!"
His words, heard by all of them hung in the air of the West Hall bringing with it provocation and unimaginable consequences. Only then Alec noticed how his head felt light when he moved closer to the crowds; no one was thinking anything other than one thing.
Who did it?
"Hodge, my dear," heard the steely voice of Maryse Lightwood, all the while ago silent and suddenly speaking, "if you mind sharing with us all how this happened to you, we might be able to help."
At that, the other professors along with Madame Dorothea shook their heads as in agreement and the students visibly relaxed. The presence of the Headmistress had always been a symbolic guarantee that nothing will be judged offhandedly. Alec meanwhile was scanning the front row of the mass, searching for a particular face and he found it not too far away to the right.
Professor Kyle was wearing his bored face and sickly look the whole time. He then looked around and Alec quickly diverted his gaze to the others. He saw Isabelle giving him a brief quirk with her eyebrows, not missing Simon by her side and having horrify written all over his facial expression. He looked like a possible sacrifice for Professor Starkweather if he kept his face that way, Alec mentally thought.
Alec then caught Magnus' wink and Ragnor's hidden smile side by side. Jace was however at the back of the audiences, only noticeable by his golden shimmer of hair and he wasn't at all how Alec assumed he would be; amused. Next to Jace stood Clary, her head down and covered by strands of red hair. Alec could see how they were standing so close that he imagined their hands interlocked by their side.
He wasn't going to deny it; something was definitely going on between the two.
"How did this happen, Hodge?" Maryse addressed him once again and the professor took a staggering inhale before reciting his words.
"Someone broke into my office and thinks it's funny to replace my coffee with linseed oil." He gritted between his teeth, grumbling. "Now that's more than one offense, Headmistress. Clearly, someone here is unhappy with me that they try to poison me!"
No one moved. Even Alec noted how his mother seemed rigid for a moment and he caught Professor Wayland, a middle aged man who lived in a modest manor with his wife just beyond the outskirt of Idris giving a certain professor his glance. Professor Kyle either didn't notice or pretended not to.
Maryse cleared her throats and spoke to the students.
"Each and every one of you, listen carefully." Everyone was listening, even the professors. Alec could even hear his own heartbeat.
"I want everyone to get back to their classes and resume to your studying. Meanwhile, I need a few teachers to come with Professor Starkweather and assist him in finding the culprit." She announced, facing the crowds. "Dorothea, if you don't mind I'd like some herbs to calm Professor Starkweather."
The witch was surprised but she didn't say anything. Madame Dorothea nodded her head.
"This case will be brought up to the board for further investigation." The Headmistress claimed, taking in each astounded look from the students and at last, locking eyes with the dark haired standing far from the crowds, "That is, if by the end of this week the culprit does not turn him or herself in. Mark my words, pardon from Professor Starkweather himself would be a blessing compared to the boards from the Clave."
Alec felt himself gulp non-existent guilt for the doer.
"Now," she said all smiling and light breaking the tension at once, "run along." At the dismissed, everyone scrambled as fast as they could, gathering distance from the still-seething professor.
"I'll tend to you, Hodge." Alec heard his mother said in what was her colleague voice. He watched as the group of staff members receded back towards the other end of the building, still hearing Professor Starkweather's small complaint and lately realizing something.
He didn't see Jonathan in the crowds.
"Hey there." A hand grabbed him by the shoulder and Alec spun around to meet with a pair of amber looking at him.
"Why aren't you going?" asked Magnus. He was alone, no trace of having Ragnor standing next to him so Alec chose to tell Magnus right then,
"I can't see you tonight."
Magnus slowly let go off his hand on Alec's shoulder and asked, "Why not?"
"I need to stay at home for something." was Alec's chosen phrase.
He saw how Magnus' smile lost its endless seam so he took a deep breath and blocked his thoughts.
"Alright." Magnus breathed out. "But you're going to have to make up for this."
Alec let his smile loose. "I always do." Magnus made a deep sound from his throat and frowned a little.
"How are you feeling?" He whispered quietly as he took a step closer to Alec. Hearing people's thoughts in your head wasn't something uncommon and Alec learned that nothing could touch him more intimate than a secret untold. But standing so close and barely touching Magnus was always a wonder for him.
He couldn't breathe, he knew that the first time they talked and his mind always went blank every time they shared a kiss. Alec considered himself tall but Magnus was an inch or so more than him and people always commented on how they fit each other perfectly.
He had to fight a stammer when he spoke, "I feel okay." Alec said, as casually as Alec could muster.
"You can always vent to me if you want to." Magnus told him, his lips hardly moving when he spoke. "If anything and of all people, I don't believe for a second you actually did it so it's fine if you're angry. I know I am. A week's detention is just overboard."
Alec had totally forgotten of his detention with the vampire professor after everything that had just occurred in the hall. He said to Magnus,
"I was angry." He looked over Magnus' shoulder, finding no one other than them standing in the corridor. "But no one could say I didn't do it."
"I would've." Magnus cut him off. "And I might throw some punch or two to the guys who said you did."
Alec laughed a small humour. "Then you'll be in the detention with me."
"Anything for you, sweet cheeks." Magnus smirked. "If you won't mind, I'll go and get myself a week's worth before the school ends but I don't have History today." He looked oddly disappointed. What a wrong place to pour your heart to, Alec internally thought.
"I'll be fine." Alec assured him. "I know where to go if I have to complain about it."
Magnus snorted. "Is that why we're still seeing each other?"
Alec quirked his eyebrows and his lips twitched at the other's words. Magnus head leaned forward ever so slowly and Alec surprised him by taking a step back. The widening of Magnus' eyes would've made Alec laughed if it weren't for the hurt that crossed Magnus' feature. So Alec pulled off his joke, closed their distance once again and leaned his head until his lips felt the other.
He could literally feel Magnus' smile on him.
"Do that again," Magnus breathed out after breaking their kiss and locking eyes with clear blues, "and I won't even stop to consider harassing you in public."
Alec had to suppress a gasp at the blunt response. He blinked too much that his eyes felt weird, like they were about to fall off or keep on rolling but the lingering taste of Magnus on his lips overcome every senses in him. He was starting to feel dizzy, honestly.
"Now you're mute." stated Magnus, scratching the side of his temple while looking at his boyfriend. "Ragnor's waiting for me. I'll see you after Theories."
Alec was initially confused before he remembered his schedule. "Shit." He exhaled.
"I know." Magnus laughed. "You better run."
Alec was already running by the time Magnus finished his sentence and knowing how the taller guy was appreciating his view of Alec's back, he struggled to push away the remaining daze. Alec didn't however expect the outcome and was surprised when he felt normal at the familiar sight that accompanied a distinct soul.
It was of a white space.
Hey, you've reached the end of yet another short chapter. I would really like to apologize for the slow inputs and inconsistent updates I've been giving you dear readers. With that, allow me to take advantage of the situation. (It is mine to mess with anyway but I do put you readers first)
So here's the deal; the next chapter will be up in the first week of June (I don't know when exactly but I'm making a commitment here) and that is just me plainly reminding you of the next update if you're still interested. I hope you are. What I really intended on letting you guys know is; I'll be writing twice the amount of the previous chapters for the future chapters. That means longer chapters, more packed story line and escalations.
Now that's just my part of the deal. Next is your role as the reader.
Leave me your thoughts after this chapter; what you think of this story so far and what you expect to happen with the characters. I'm not asking too much; a word to describe this journey you're barely halfway through would be sufficient.
It might seems like a petty trick for asking reviews, and maybe it is but then again that's just my greed for being a writer. I wouldn't want to write my imaginations out if it isn't going to please anyone and so far, I'm left in the dark by my own words. If you know what I mean.
Have a nice day. *kisses
