Chapter 9

A/N: Hey, sorry this one took so long. While figuring things out for this chapter, I wrote a oneshot, just a little idea that popped into my head one night. It's called Ave Atque Vale, go check it out.

Alec pov

I was released later that day. In a wheelchair. My cheeks felt warm as Magnus wheeled me out; I hated being pushed around like that. I wanted to walk.

As soon as we turned a corner, Clary drew a portal rune on the nearest wall. Magnus pushed me through first, and everyone followed, ending up right in front of our hotel door. The portal behind us faded.

Magnus shuffled around for the key card, and swiped it into the door handle. The green light flashed, and he opened it, wheeling me in. Jace, Clary, and Isabelle were right on his heels, anxious.

Jace wasted no time. As soon and Izzy closed the door behind us, he pulled out his stele and approached me. He loomed above me, grinning, making me feel small. I scowled at him.

"Where am I marking you?" he asked, kneeling down and grinning devilishly. I blushed hard, and added a glare to my scowl.

"Just above my knee," I grumbled, pulling my shorts up a little bit. There was no way I was going to pull them up any more.

Jace drew the iratze, stark black against pale white.

I wasn't sure what happened. The rune faded and disappeared too fast, leaving a nearly invisible silvery scar. Jace just shrugged.

"Stand up," he suggested, moving out of my way. Magnus immediately shifted closer to me.

"Ok," I said, the nervousness plain in my voice, apprehension gnawing at my stomach. I hesitated, and slowly stood up.

I barely had time to fall before Magnus caught me. My whole right thigh felt numb, as if it wasn't there.

I caught Magnus's eye. The same fear I felt reflected back at me.

My thoughts flitted back to what the doctor said before assigning me the wheelchair.

"Paralysis is the most likely explanation, although I'm not exactly sure why it would occur. If it is paralysis, then there's a possibility it could be temporary. There's also a much bigger possibility that you will never walk again. I'm sorry."

My heartbeat started to speed up with my breathing. Then, I had just brushed it off, thinking that an iratze could fix whatever it was. But now...

I looked up at Magnus again. I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

"We always have my magic," he said, mostly to himself. "As soon as I rest."

I nodded, but his words didn't do anything to ease me. I now understood Max's fear on me even touching the light side of the dream place. Whatever goes in there dies.

"Let's go home," I whispered. Magnus nodded in agreement. He gently placed me back down on the wheelchair and then disappeared to go collect our belongings.

My siblings and Clary came up to me. I lifted my head out of my hands and gave them a weak smile. They all looked grave.

Izzy sniffed. I looked at her. A tear had managed to escape from her eye, and it rolled down her already-tear-stained face. I put my hand on her arm.

"Don't," I said quietly. "It'll be ok. Magnus will heal me, I'll walk again." I felt like I was trying to convince myself more than her.

"But what if you don't?" she replied, upset.

I was saved from having to reply by Magnus's appearance.

"Clary?" he asked tiredly. She nodded and got up to make yet another portal, but not before placing her hand on my good knee and giving me a small smile. I smiled back, grateful for her presence.

Magnus and I ended up at out flat, and the rest of them at the Institute. We were all exhausted, so they decided to just crash in their own rooms. He promised to keep them updated.

I yawned as he walked over to face me.

"Me too," he sighed before gently lifting me up, bridal style. I yelped in surprise.

"Magnus!" My voice squeaked. He chuckled softly, and carried me to our bedroom. He laid me down on my side of the bed and tucked me in, before going to the other side and getting in himself. I scooted closer to him, and he wrapped his arms around me. We both fell asleep almost instantly.

I stood in a bright green field surrounded by beautiful mountains. A river snaked it's way across the land, a few yards left of me. The place looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it. I turned a full circle, trying to get my bearings.

Behind me, there was a wall of black. Curious, I walked towards it.

The green grass dropped away into what looked like pitch blackness. I reached out to touch it, but my hand was stopped by some invisible force. That's when it all came crashing down on me.

I was in the light.

I placed both palms on the invisible wall.

Suddenly, someone materialized in front of me. He was just standing there, as if he were waiting for something. Someone. His silky, dark hair was spiked up, the tips dyed purple and blue. His skin and clothes sparkled. A splash of color in the midst of blackness.

"Magnus!" I gasped. "Magnus!"

He didn't notice me.

"Magnus!" I started banging my fists against the invisible wall. He still didn't turn. "Magnus, please! I'm right here!"

The warlock sighed and turned away. He started walking in the opposite direction, into the dark. I started to cry, the frustration and hopelessness pouring out of me.

"Magnus, I'm here! Don't leave me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to die, don't leave!" I pounded the wall causing my clenched fists to ache. The tears were dripping down my face and onto the green grass below me.

Magnus kept walking, growing smaller and smaller.

"MAGNUS!" I screamed. He disappeared, the darkness swallowing him up.

"No, Magnus, no. No..." I kept whispering his name over and over again, before sliding to the ground. I curled up in a ball, and rocked back and forth, crying, shaking, and calling out for my love.

Suddenly, someone shook my shoulder. I ignored it, but the shaking continued. Growing irritated, I looked up, only to find myself looking into the most beautiful eyes ever.

The green landscape dissipated before me, and I found myself in our room. My eyes darted around the room in confusion.

"Alec, shh, it's ok."

I turned back to the voice.

"Magnus," I whispered, relief plain in my voice. He embraced me, and I melted into him. It was just a dream, just a dream.

I fell back asleep eventually, safe in my love's arms.

Magnus pov

I woke up a good thirteen hours after Alec fell back asleep. That was the second nightmare in a row, and both times, he woke up crying. It worried me, but I didn't want to force anything out of him if he wasn't ready to share.

I yawned and stretched, sitting up.

"Magnus! You're up!" I jumped at the voice, before doing a double take. The bed was empty, except for me. I looked around but there was no one there. Where was Alec? Did he realize he could walk? Did he walk away? Hope filled my chest.

"Magnus, down here," Alec called. I crawled over to Alec's side of the bed, where the voice was coming from, and peered down. There he was, on the floor, leaning against the side table. He grinned sheepishly up at me.

"What are you doing down there?" I asked in astonishment, jumping of the bed and picking him up.

"Uhh, I was thirsty and you were asleep, and I kinda forgot I couldn't stand, so I climbed out of bed and fell. I'm surprised you didn't wake up with all the commotion I made." His smiled, cheeks pink.

I signed in exasperation and carried him out the door and onto the couch. "Wait here," I said before going into the kitchen to get him some water.

"Like I can move," he called back, voice only slightly bitter.

I came back with a glass of cold water. He accepted it gratefully and gulped it down. I sat on the couch and pulled his feet into my lap.

My magic wasn't at full strength yet, but it was enough to hopefully heal his leg. Alec saw what I was doing, and set the glass down, looking at me with an expression of hope and fear.

I gave him a reassuring smile before letting my fingers spark. I placed my hands on his thigh and willed the magic out of me and I to him. They were bathed in a soft blue light as I healed him.

After a minute or so, I stopped. There was nothing more that I could do. I was tired again, but not exhausted.

"Try again," I whispered. Alec nodded and I gently pushed his feet into the floor before standing up. Just in case.

My heart sank as Alec collapsed into my ready arms, again. He buried his face into my shoulder, arms sagging in defeat. I stroked his hair soothingly, but fear began to dance in my chest. Even my... even my magic hadn't worked.

It was then I realized Alec was shaking, fighting back tears. I carried him back to bed and lay down with him, even though I had just woken up half an hour ago. His face was still hidden in my chest.

"Hey," I murmured. "Look at me."

He did. I saw the fear plain on his face, and the hopelessness in his eyes.

"It'll be ok," I cooed, kissing his forehead. "You'll be fine." He nodded and yawned suddenly. "Sleep, if you're still tired." I said.

He shook his head vigorously. "No, no I don't want to sleep. If I sleep, I'll be back there." He shut his eyes tight, trying to ward off whatever images were in his head.

"Where?" I asked.

"The light. I'll be back in the light."

"What do you mean, baby?" I kept my voice soft, trying to get rid of his deer-caught-in-headlights expression.

"I'll be in the light, trapped. And you, you won't see me. You'll leave." He turned to me, worry in his eyes. "You won't leave me, will you? Don't leave me again."

"I would never leave you," I whispered into his hair, drawing him close.

Alec woke up screaming again; screaming my name. His cheeks were wet with tears, and he clutched the blanket around him like a lifeline.

I shook him, over and over, harder and harder. His eyes flew open finally, his expression wild. Finally, he focused on me and sobbed quietly into my bare chest.

"You left me. You said you wouldn't," he said, barely audible through his labored breaths.

"I'm right here. I won't leave you. I would never leave you."

His body shook in my arms.

For the third time in a row, I held and comforted my love until his breathing evened, and his eyes shut.

A/N: Ok, that one was alright. Thanks to TheGirlOfThorns for helping me with my ideas for this story :)).

Anyways, review, I'll try to have the next one up as soon as possible 😄.