Chapter 9. Sleight of Hand and Twist of Fate
See the stone set in your eyes,
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And i wait...without you
With or without you
With or without you
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but i want more
And i'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live with or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
My hands are tied
My body bruised she got me with
Nothing left to win
And nothing left to lose
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live with or without you
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
With or without you, with or without, oh oh
I can't live with or without you
With or without you.
~With or Without You, U2 (but I'm listening to the cellar 55 version)
"I'm afraid.." Alec protested six years old in the grand bed that was so high off the ground there was a series of steps to help him gain access to his nightclothes. Outside the storm carried on with flashes of light and heavy rushes of thunder.
"Would you like me to leave the light on, Alec?" Hodge smiled younger then hardly 30. His back was still strong, but his face wasn't as aged. His hair was a healthy rich brown that tumbled about his kind eyes, and when he took a seat on the side of Alec's bed he handed the boy the ragged bear he had clung to all his life. The stuffed animals life was near complete, but Hodge couldn't take it from just yet.
"Can't I go sleep with Grandmother? She does not mind." The poor bear was being squeezed as another crack of thunder made Alec shake, and Hodge would laugh warmly.
"She is not feeling well, Alex. You shouldn't bother her. Besides..it is nothing but a little light, and sound. Nothing ever hurt from such a sound.."
No matter how quiet he opened the door, he felt the cold air waiting for him, and the sound carried through the vacant halls of the Estate. His heart stopped, seeing Hodge standing there atop the large marble staircase in the grand foyer. Everything without the lights from the crystal chandeliers seemed so much more eerie in the pale light of morning, and Hodge reminded him of the gargoyles perched atop the Church. Hardly any sound came from the kitchen that was busy preparing for the day, but the steps of Hodge's fine Italian leather shoes sounded out like tick of the grandfather clock at the end of the hall. Alec's pulse throbbed behind his ears.
"Hodge..I..I'm sorry, I just-" Alec's words were silenced by the heavy crack of the older man's fist as it connected with the side of his face, and the force of the blow caused him to hit the marble floors—hard.
Nothing ever hurt from such a sound….Yet there he was on the ground hardly able to move, the hit had such a force he felt himself sick from the inside out with the pain.
Alec was dizzy, and the lights that started to flicker on were painful. He could taste blood in the back of his mouth, the stale iron liquid crept up around his tongue and he doubted greatly he could ever escape such a memory. No one had ever hit him like this, Magnus had always been there to stop them; either in person or in his dreams.
He would kill you, if he knew you hit me..Alec's electric blue eyes sparked to life with anger as he finally lifted his face to look back at the large man that stood over him.
"WHAT is going on here!" A voice shrill and high; pitched forward from the hall, like a demon from Hell—Isabelle Lightwood's heels clicked like the hands of a much faster angrier clock. "How dare you!" Alec wasn't sure what was more deadly about Izzy in this moment—the way her hair whipped, or how her nails seemed like daggers clinching into her palm. He could only imagine she was thinking of clawing at Hodge's face.
"He needs to be taught a lesson, just like you. I've watched too many of you God Damn Lightwoods waste their lives with wild nights, and their 'freedom'." Hodge spoke over Alec, sneering at Isabelle, and kept her separated from her brother. This made spider's crawl over her skin, and bothered her more then she was willing to admit.
Hodge's broad shoulders were tense, his knuckles throbbed red from the hit, and he glared at Isabelle with eyes that seemed dead. However, it did not take him long to find his calm as the entire estate filtered into the mighty foyer, and already their questioning eyes cast judgment on him.
"How dare you worry me like that?" He spoke over his shoulder to Alec who dizzily sat up, "I thought you were dead. You did not answer your phone, Alec you were gone all day...All night." Hodge put a hand over his chest to insinuate his heartbroken state, and his eyes would water lightly.
"With the news of yesterday I thought you were killed too." Hodge continued and his voice seemed to soften with sincerity, but even now the two Lightwood children doubted him greatly. Yet, Isabelle's hardened gaze did lighten as she looked back to Alec. Did he know? He had been gone all this time..and she got in yesterday evening.
Alec ran a hand through his hair, his anger calmed and he knew he should have answered his phone, but he had been so busy..Slowly, he touched the side of his face intoxicated by the pain, but the skin of his wrist still smelled like Magnus's rich musty scent where he had his arms around the other man's neck, and this made him smile.
Slowly, the world started to come together again as the pain eased to a dull throb, and now the questions started. What had happened yesterday to put Hodge on edge like this, and what was Isabelle doing home?
"Alec.." His sister started as she moved around Hodge harshly hitting him with her shoulder. When she reached her older brother she pulled his hand away slowly, and soon ordered the maid to bring some ice, "Alec. The King was assassinated yesterday afternoon." Her words fell as harshly as cold winter rain, and he had to break from the thoughts of his dark knight.
"What?" Alec sounded heartbroken, and shocked; his voice quiet. All throughout his ride he had noticed the pale faces of the common, how they gathered around the televisions, and clung to their own phones desperately trying to read what was displayed across the small screens—he just figured it was from the fire. Isabelle rolled back to seat herself on the marble floor with her brother, and started to press the ice pack to his cheek.
"He was found in his bedchamber with a knife through his chest, with a note attached that said it was only the first. 'The rest will fall one by one.' We have been looking for you everywhere, so scared." She turned his hand over to kiss his knuckles, and then moved to tuck a few strands of his hair behind his ear. He could see how relieved she was, and suddenly felt so guilty. Alec loved the way their love was pure. They were as close as brother and sister could get, and with him on the floor they felt alone. Suddenly they were the only two in the room, and Alec forgot how good it was to have her home.
"Where have you been?" She whispered as she leaned into him bringing their heads closer, and the stale scent of smoke lit her eyes with a knowing grin, "Alexander Lightwood..you have been drinking." She laughed warmly, touching his face, and was amazed at how shocked he was of the accusation. This is how she knew it wasn't the truth, but she would press on anyway. Isabelle stood and held out her hand to help him up, but wouldn't let it go. Alec squeezed her hand when she directed her attention to Hodge.
"Mr. Starkweather, I will be spending the morning with my brother, we will have our breakfast served on the veranda, and after that you may have him back." Isabelle stuck her nose up along with her pointed chin, "But I expect you to apologize to him before the course of the day, or I will have you thrown to the streets." Rather proud of herself, Isabelle suffered back a laugh as they moved out.
The entire time she spoke Hodge did not take his storm cloud gray eyes from the Young Lord, and the idea of it all made Alec's heart race with panic. He had so much to tell his sister, but couldn't wait to be free from the estate again—even if it was just with their laughter. Alec knew he would have to address the public, have to make a statement, and his stomach turned with nerves as Isabelle briefed him on the way to the stone patio where their morning spread waited. Alec had taken the chance to change, joining his sister again in his nightclothes of white silk. They made him appear delicate and fare, but Isabelle knew better.
"So..spill it. Who is she?" Alec hadn't had a chance to even seat himself before her words rushed at him, and his face flushed hot.
"Izzy..please. I don't want to talk about it." He tried to make himself busy with the preoccupation of his muffin, but she was persistent. Panther this one. Rawr.
"Alec, I think I have the right to know who has been kissing on my brother, and with such fierceness ..look at that mark. Alec!" She squealed brushing the collar of his shirt back to show the darkened skin at the base of his neck, and he pulled away sharply. "My god..she must have been one tough woman to leave such a kiss on you, Alec look at you! You have not been drinking, you have been dancing." Lord how he wanted to shut her up, his head was pounding, and his heart racing.
"Isabelle, I'm about to make my first public speech since Gran's death, our King was just murdered. I was just told on the way down here we could possibly be next, I think it hardly matters who kissed me. Do you mind?" Damn her and her knowing eyes, and his inability to mask his feelings from her. Finally, taking his latte up with nervous hands he leaned in to whisper..
"It wasn't a woman.."
The Underground was much quieter during the daylight hours, their 'day' didn't start until the fall of the sun, and in the 'night' happened when the sun was highest in the sky. Magnus was thankful for the quiet walk, and the tunnels seemed a strange comfort after his night with Lightwood. In the dark of the dance floor Alec had not noticed the blood dried under his nails, or the stains on his shirt as they danced intimately together; his coat had covered most of it.
He had killed the King, Long Live The King
So it began.
Through the filtering light in the pavement cracks, Magnus felt the judgmental eye of a God he didn't believe in, yet prayed to on the ride to Neverfield. Protect him, Lord..protect him from me. How could he have been so stupid?
Hands that had killed the King, still felt so warm with the soft innocent skin of the Young Lord, and made it easy to forget how much of a murder he really was. Magnus could taste the sweet salty scent of Alec's lips still against his own, and when he closed his eyes he could easily imagine those soft ebon strands brushing against his cheek once more. It all hurt..almost as bad as his manhood with the ache of want—in need of release, and left with his stone like pride.
He should have taken Alec, he should have taken him right there on the floor, for all the Underground to see. Alec would have let him, he had the Young Lord under his palm that night in a way he had dreamed of for so many years. In a single night he had transformed him, he brought him to life, and in turn Alec had woken something long since dead inside him. (Riskmykiss's line)
He wouldn't love you like this..he wouldn't have anything to do with you, Magnus. Not in this world. You lied to him. You don't live in the mansion of your youth, you live under it.—where people forgot about you.
He will forget too..
The pain would go away, Magnus told himself as he imagined Alec would feel, with his plan to stand him up tonight. It would be torture to continue, because Camille was right. This had to be done. It had to; because somewhere down the road a man named Magnus would be killed for loving a boy named Alec, and this had to end. This was for the future generations able to be with who they wanted, and be what they wished to be without fear of their blood on the streets.
"Well it is about time" Her voice was dry and held no humor, "That was fast though, I take it the Young Lord ran back to his silver spoon when you told him the truth?" Camille purred leaning on the makeshift throne of the Oubliette, her legs thrown over the side watching something on the television rigged to get a few channels, and looking rather peculiar there upon the platform. It must have been time for her shows.
The Oubliette in the day didn't seem too different then the night, the beams of light seeping through the cracks made it a bit more beautiful, but more like a prison the sun taunted those held inside teasing them with freedom. The strongest light reflected off the water casting ripples on the walls, and Magnus imagined them to be dancing figures from the night before.
"Enough." Magnus threw his hands up defeated, and even a cold bitch like Camille could see the heartache—she was touched, really she was. It was hard to see him like this, as she felt partly guilty for ever dragging him down with her, but her story was much the same as his.
Camille was from money, old money that held weight in the nation. She was the daughter of a merchant, and her biggest crime was how she had fallen in love with her music teacher—Abigail. Her father had taken Abby one day to the street, pulled her by her hair to see the police kill her on the spot, and Camille never went back home.
"Magnus.." Her voice softened as she sat up, and he stopped in the shadow. "Don't do this to yourself. Stop it." Concern laced her words thickly, and left them warm across her cold lips. However, deep down she knew nothing would comfort her partner in crime. "In the next life, Bane. You both can be together, but look.." She brought a perfectly sculpted nail to point to the half broken screen, "Look at how they fear us already. We killed their King."
The newscaster flashed images of the Once and Future King, the rat bastard who had started all of this, and he spoke of his legacy as if it were something great to live up to. That man was an idle the people worshipped and she swore that was in the bible somewhere as a sin. Already concern filled the streets with the appointment of another, eager to fill the void in their heart with another public figure. It sickened Magnus, how the grave of one hadn't even got cold before they wanted another..Charles, didn't have any heirs. It would be chaos, but was there a better time to take them all out? Who would they elect then? The thought caused his thin lips to curl at the ends with a devious smirk, and Camille would return the favor—happy to see him come to his senses.
~In light of the recent tragedy faces are turned again to Neverfield, Where Lord Lightwood gave his first public speech since the passing of Lady Aileen.~
The newscaster would cause the retreating figure of the Underground King to still in his steps and a finely pointed ear would perk to listen to the clip from the earlier report.
~"This both sickens me and saddens me, and my heart goes out to our nation. I want the people to know that I will be devoting every resource I can to help aid in the capture of this despicable person."~
Alec looked so beautiful with his hair combed back, slicked to his scalp with a few strands falling around his eyes. He seemed tired, and Magnus smirked knowing the reason. He appeared so much older when dressed up like the public figure he was born to be, but when the camera steadied upon his face the dark bruises came to life that were once poorly hidden behind powder.
"Ooooh, look at that shiner, Magnus Bane you wicked wicked man. Is that where his face rubbed against the grass, while you.." His hand, held up in such a way she feared he would break her neck if she spoke again, silenced her and it was very clear her friend was not the reason for that mark.
Magnus's heart stopped in his chest as the sounds all around him silenced, all his rage would let him think about was how his next victim would be whoever did that to his beloved Prince.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my best friend Sara Blevins (RiskMyKiss) who listened to me struggle the other night not sure where to go next without it all happening so fast. She reminded me that Alec didn't have anyone in his corner, and how important that is to have that one person. (She's mine)
I have my daughter this week as I share custody with her father, so updates will be a bit slow, but I've also made up my mind to do a few filler one-shots for the 'growth' of the couple, as time will be moving forward in the next chapter to keep things interesting, and keep you reading! Also, I warn you the next few chapters are going to be FILLED with action/drama/hurt/comfort and will probably be very fast moving, and dirrrrty. (Why I'm going to do a few one-shots with fluff)
Also, go check out Sara's story http:/www. Fanfiction .net/s/6751261/1/Absit_Omen
Her story takes place after CoG, and is really really cool. The alliance marks backfire on everyone and make the shadowhunters that are connected with the downworlder sick..die..ect. So her chapter where Jace goes to see Magnus, and Alec is so sick. GAH heartbreaking!
Thank you all again, and the reviews have made this young momma very very very very happy. PLUS they get updates faster and keep me writing. I'll also offer a sneak of the next chapter once you review again. (Might be a bit, but I'll get it out)
P.s. if you don't have an account with fanfiction I can't reply to your reviews. I'm very sorry for this, but if you'd like to leave your email I will happily send you a thank you with the tid-bit of the next chapter. Thank you!