Hello again! So, I have some good news! I have actually finished with this story, but I think I will continue posting at this rate. I will be going on vacation soon, so maybe I will try to have some more up. Anyway, I have a correction to make that I REALLY should have noticed sooner. In Chapter One ( I know, I know...) I said that Arella was 200 years old. She is 400. I hit the '2' instead of the '4' and I did not catch the mistake. So I apologize for any confusion.

I do NOT own the Mortal Instruments. I only own Arella. She's my girl. :3

Chapter 10

Maryse and Robert had refused to leave after the whole ordeal, insisting that they remain. Naturally, they both seemed against the idea of letting Isabelle, Jace and Clary join them, but the resulting argument culminated in a victory for the younger Shadowhunters. Since then, Jace and Clary had busied themselves down in the Training Room, and Arella could hear the clash of their swords from the floor above. Isabelle was seated in the living room, talking with her mother and father animatedly, though her expression was fierce. As for Magnus, he was leafing through a book of spells, occasional flames or sparks bursting from the tips of his fingers as he amused himself. But Arella was pacing, wings twitching agitatedly as she pondered the upcoming battle. Her dreams about the Queen of Hell scrolled through her mind like movie film, and she relived every detail of Magnus' death and the drawing of the seraph blade over and over again. Was it all to come to pass, or not? The Queen of Hell would surely be there, bloodlust motivating her to action, and Arella wasn't looking forward to seeing her mother for the first time in two centuries.

"Can you stop doing that?" Isabelle said after Arella had rounded the room at least five times. "You're making me anxious."

"I'm sorry." Arella said, forcing herself onto the couch and fighting the urge to move, thought it seemed impossible for her to keep her wings still. "There's just a lot to think about." Magnus closed the book, stowing it away in his room before returning to sit next to Arella, throwing one arm about her shoulders.

"Why so serious?" he said, suppressing a giggle as she glared at him.

"Is now really the time for morose movie references?" she said wearily. Magnus shrugged, groaning as Chairman Meow started pawing at his leg.

"I already fed you!" he said, irritated, but Arella picked the kitten up and allowed him to bat at her hair. "Arella, what's worrying you?" The warlock pressed his lips to her cheek, staring at her with concern. Arella didn't answer, watching as Chairman Meow chewed on the tip of her index finger. He prodded her and she jumped, looking sheepish. Maryse was watching them, eyes cold.

"Moved on already, have you?" she said, and Arella knew that she was angry for her son's sake, not her own. Magnus clenched his fists and Arella glared.

"Don't make it sound like that." She said. "At least he isn't the one who just left without-"

"Don't start with her." Isabelle said. "We'll all never hear the end of it." Arella bit her lip but kept silent, holding in everything she wanted to say. It was hard, but she managed. Magnus, on the other hand, was turned towards the window, and she could see the tears welling up in his eyes, the guilt pouring from him. Of course he had been feeling guilty about all of this; hadn't she at first?

"Stop it." She said, pulling him into an embrace. "Don't torment yourself." Magnus sighed before giving in, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Sorry." He mumbled, and she growled at him playfully.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. But you can't mope, not now. You can have moping time after we've gone out and killed a few thousand demons." Though she was smiling, Magnus could tell that she meant it. Isabelle rolled her eyes, striking up a conversation again with her mother before Maryse said something else to the warlock. There was a moment of strange silence, and then Arella stood, taking Magnus' hand and dragging him from the room. She was frustrated, and frustration warranted something special.

"Where are we going?" he said as she pulled him down the steps and out into the Training Room. Clary and Jace were still going strong, grappling now with their fists and feet instead of swords. Both looked up when Arella entered, the warlock in tow, and grabbed a wooden sword from the rack near the door.

"Fight me." She said, tossing the faux weapon to Magnus, who caught it and stared at her, perplexed.

"Arella, I fight with magic." He said, watching as she selected her own wooden weapon and faced him.

"I don't care. What if someone comes right at you? There will be thousands of demons, maybe even some Princes or Queens. And I might not be able to cover you all the time." She shuddered. "If my mother is there, it'll take everything I have to kill her." Clary suddenly pulled away from the fight with Jace, eyes wide and astonished as she turned to Arella.

"You would kill your mother?" she said. Arella stared back, face hard.

"Yes. I would." She said flatly, whirling about and swinging the blade towards Magnus. He squeaked in surprise, quickly blocking her and jumping back. Arella smiled, winking at him as he sunk into a crouch, green eyes twinkling.

"Don't do that when I'm not ready!" he said, glaring at her.

"The demons won't care if you're ready or not. They'll attack the moment they see you." Arella said, dodging around him and throwing the wooden sword aside. "They'll come at you with their teeth and claws-" and she pounced, knocking him back and pressing her lips to his throat.

"Arella!" he said, but she cut him off, sitting on his chest and sighing in defeat. " Fine. I can't fight you for real anyway… I might hurt you." She smiled, leaning down and kissing him gently.

"I am capable to handling myself, Arella." He said indignantly.

"I know. I am fully confident in your abilities." She said, and Magnus pouted at her.

"Then why did we…" he snarled playfully. "Were you just messing with me?" he asked, and she nodded, earning herself a dirty look from the warlock, who sat up and pinned her to the floor, tickling at her sides. Arella squealed, rolling away and coming up in a crouch.

"You know I hate that!" she said, but Magnus only shrugged and came after her again, an evil grin on his face.

"And I hate it when my girlfriends come at me with swords, even if they're non-lethal." He joked. Arella froze and he bowled her over, grinning as he took in her bright red face. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm your… Your…" she stuttered for a minute or two as Magnus laughed above her.

"Is that a problem?" he managed, still snickering. Jace had to suppress a chuckle as Arella threw her arms around Magnus' neck, capturing his lips and pulling him to the ground.

"No! Not at all!" she said with an excited laugh. There were tears in her eyes.

"Arella…" he said, pressing a hand to her cheek and brushing away her tears. "What is it?" She pushed herself up, smiling fit to burst.

"Nothing… I'm just happy." Clary grabbed Jace's arm and pulled him from the training room, leaving Arella and Magnus alone, for which the warlock was grateful. He hated other people watching him, especially when he was technically asking someone out. Arella rested her head on his shoulder, purring happily as he kissed her forehead. Magnus turned her around so she was facing him, brushing her hair from her eyes.

"Arella… I love you." He said, feeling his own heart give a leap; it had been two hundred and fifty years since he had spoken those words to the girl sitting in front of him now. She flushed and reached for him, pressing her hand to his chest, just above his heart.

"I love you too, Magnus Bane." She said. "I always have." And with that he swept her into his arms, kissing her hard, his hands at her back while hers wound into his hair. Magnus felt the kind of heat in his heart that he hadn't felt for God knows how long as all of the memories flooded back to him; she was warm, and he could feel his heart pounding violently, slamming into his rib cage. His hands trailed down her sides to her hips, pulling her closer and allowing her to press him back onto the matted training floor.

"If we survive this," he panted as they broke apart. "I will follow you to Hell and back." Arella smiled lazily at him, one hand drifting over his chest to his jaw and tracing his cheek.

"Are you sure you would want to go there? It's really hot, you know." She said with a laugh. Magnus kissed her again, catching her surprise and making her gasp.

"For you, anything. I will never lose you again." He whispered, smiling as she flared her wings. She knew how much he loved them; he had often commented on how she looked like an Avenging Angel. A 'sexy' Avenging Angel, as he would say. As expected, he instantly ran a hand along the thick, silky feathers, making her shudder.

"I've missed you." She said, kissing his cheeks and down his neck. Magnus whimpered, resting a hand on the back of her head as she bit down gently, fangs pressed to his skin for an instant before withdrawing. The warlock smiled; she didn't want to hurt him.

"If you want to, you can. It won't bother me." He said. Arella flushed, her wings shivering slightly at the thought.

"Magnus… It isn't just a bite anymore." She said. "It's more of a… Well, a sensual thing, when I'm not hunting." Magnus grinned.

"Yes, I know. And this would Mark me, wouldn't it?" Arella jolted back, shaking her head.

"I couldn't!" she said, aghast. "It's so binding. I would never curse you like that." Magnus blinked at her, shocked and a bit hurt.

"To be with you, forever, you would call that a curse?" he said.

"You wouldn't have a choice." Arella said. "And I won't take that free will from you." Magnus pouted; he understood the gravity and meaning of a Succubus' Mark. But he also knew not to press Arella. What did it matter if they were bound by BloodOath anyway, he still intended to be hers, as he had all those centuries ago.

"Will you at least…?" he asked, gesturing to his neck. Arella flushed again, but Magnus rolled his eyes. "Arella, I want you to." He said. Arella's eyes were trained on his throat; even when she wasn't hungry, the warlock looked so enticing, and the demon hidden within her stirred. Her eyes turned reddish gold, her fangs piercing her lip as they slipped into being. Slowly she drew the tip of her tongue over the hot skin of his neck, a contented purr breaking from within her as she bit down, Magnus' hot blood washing down her throat. He groaned, but the pain he had expected never came. Instead, a wave of ecstasy crashed over him, leaving him light-headed and reeling. Arella was arched against him, wings flexing, her nails digging into his arms as she pulled away, red blood painting her lips and dripping down her chin.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked, lifting her hand and wiping her lips. The warlock shook his head, easing into a seated position. He was a bit dizzy, and the wound on his neck was still bleeding a bit, but he could take care of that. Much to his surprise, when he concentrated and blue sparks danced over and sealed the tiny punctures, there were four distinct white scars left behind. For a moment, he wondered if Arella had changed her mind, but this was no Succubus Mark. The few he had seen resembles the Runes that colored the skin of Shadowhunters, and this just liked an old wound.

"Not at all, my love." he said. "I actually found it rather enjoyable; I can see why you do it." Arella leaned against his chest with a sigh as he fiddled with a lock of her hair, feeling utterly happy and content. The door to the Training Room opened and Isabelle walked in, flanked by Jace and Clary.

"Canoodling time is over, you two!" she said. "Did you even train? Or have you been doing the Angel knows what to one another the whole time?" Arella blushed, but Magnus stood, pulling her with him and wrapping his arms around her.

"Don't be silly, my darling Izzy." He said. "Arella and I were involved in something very important before you three busted in." Jace rolled his eyes, but suddenly his nose crinkled.

"I smell blood." He said, gaze flicking to Arella. "You do know if Maryse finds out you drink blood, she won't be happy." Arella frowned, looking slightly upset, but Magnus smiled.

"It was a very willing donation, believe me." He drawled, pressing his lips to Arella's shoulder and smirking when she purred rather loudly and then glared at him, embarrassed.

"Magnus!" she whined, but Isabelle only winked at her.

"Alright, well, get some sleep. We travel to Idris tomorrow. And Arella… You're coming with us. I know you'll love it there." Arella perked up right away, smiling.

"You mean it? Wow… I always wanted to see Idris. It's the one place I haven't been." She said, looking up at Magnus. "Can he come?" she asked.

"Well, watch them try to stop me." He said, and she laughed.

"Yes, the warlock is coming." Maryse had stepped into the room, eyes narrow. "But I don't-"

"Mom, please." Isabelle said. "They'll both behave themselves. What do you think she's going to do, run rampant through the streets, eating children?" Jace suppressed a snicker as Maryse glowered at her and then stalked from the room. The instant she was gone, Arella and Magnus started laughing.

"I just can't see you eating children." The warlock said.

"Oh, you would be surprised. I love eating babies." Arella joked, kissing him on the cheek. Clary laughed and Jace joined in as they all exited into the hall.

"We leave tomorrow. Bright an early." Isabelle said. "If you aren't awake, you will unceremoniously roused by your truly, dumping cold water in your face." Satisfied with the horrified looks of everyone else, she dismissed herself, slipping into her bedroom and closing the door behind her. Jace and Clary followed suit, and once again Arella and Magnus were left alone in the hall.

"So, I guess we should-" Arella began, but Magnus placed a hand under her chin and kissed her softly, lovingly.

"Stay with me. I want to fall asleep holding you and wake up the same way." Magnus said. Arella blushed but nodded, allowing him to scoop her into his arms. With a devilish grin he opened the door with a wave of his hand and deposited her on the bed. Arella peeled off her shirt, leaving her in a bandeau and shorts.

"I love you." Magnus said again as he clambered into bed next to her, naked to the waist now and kissing her on the shoulder. Arella smiled, allowing him to put his arms around her waist and pull her under the covers.

"I love you too. More than my own life."