I meant to have this out a lot sooner, but real life got in the way! Also Chairman is becoming more prominent/important than I originally anticipated...but I'm liking it


"Yes, I know that didn't go well Chairman," Magnus told the cat matter-of-factly. Magnus tapped his fingers on the table as he thought back to the conversation. He simply didn't know what to do with Alec...the Shadowhunter was an enigma...a sensitive enigma.

The High Warlock of Brooklyn sighed as he glanced out the window. Apparently the anxious need to be out of his loft was contagious.

"I can't just leave…" Magnus muttered to himself. "What if Alec comes back before I do?"

Chairman meowed as he gave him a certain "are you kidding me?" look.

"Maybe you're right...maybe it would be better if I wasn't here when he got back...I'm going out."

Went out to Slaughters Nightclub with some friends. Text me if you need me. Magnus wrote on a notepad in the main room. Then on second-thought he texted Alec the same thing...just to be sure.


Alec's heart stopped. He whipped his head back to where the girl was...or should've been. Wide-eyed and panicked, Alec hurried over to the corner where she had previously been standing. She was nowhere to be found.

"My dear girl, what are you doing here?" Aldous' silky voice continued.

Alec let out a breath as he moved back to the peephole just in time to see the Shadowhunter girl being pulled into the room. All eyes were on her, the warlocks were like a pack of feral werewolves ready to pounce.

"I-" her voice wavered, "I was just wondering what the important meeting was about."

"I told you specifically to stay at home." Aldous' claws squeezed firmly around the girl's arm. "How does it look to have you disobey me?"

"I'm sorry, sir. I thought you might need me-" Before she could finish the word she was roughly thrown to the floor. The Shadowhunter skid across the ground until she hit against one of the warlocks' legs.

Alec clenched his fist. He had nothing. His little temper tantrum had sent him out into the world without any gear at all. He knew better than that. If he had his bow and quiver he could have taken down a few warlocks, given the girl a fighting chance. As it was, he was utterly helpless.

"What is wrong with Shadowhunters nowadays? Why are you all being so defiant?" Aldous demanded.

"It's that Lightwood brat," another Govern official glared down at the girl. "Magnus lets him do whatever he wants so now others think they can too."

"I'm sorry, I should've just ran back home." The girl was cowering before Aldous, but she was obviously speaking to Alec instead of her master.

Alec didn't move. He accepted the fact he couldn't help the girl...but he needed to find out what they had planned for Magnus. So he stayed still and watched.

Aldous was musing over a fitting punishment for his Shadowhunter slave. After a few terrifying suggestions from his comrades, he decided what to do. Without even an explanation, his hands started the enchantment.

"This curse will automatically be lifted once you return home...of course we won't be portalling you. Since you've been so disobedient, you must find your own way."

Suddenly the girl violently clung to her neck, gasping sounds coming from her mouth. Her lungs desperately tried to find air that in her mind wasn't there. It took Alec a moment of horror to realize the curse was all in her head...she was actually breathing normally. However, she believed she was choking. With all the trauma and pain that comes with it. The Shadowhunter rushed out of the room, beginning her long journey home.

"Now that that's taken care of," a rather large fish-scaled warlock sounded bored. "Will you enlighten us on your plan for The High Warlock of Brooklyn?"

"We kill Magnus by having Alec poison him," Aldous announced.

"He'd never do that," the scaled man scoffed.

"He doesn't have to," Aldous countered easily. "The evidence will condemn him and history will say he did it."

"Then he'll be killed obviously…"

"Yes as it always should've been. Rebellious Shadowhunters need to be put in their place...let his story be a warning to them."

"You still haven't told us how this plan will work. What evidence are you creating?" a female warlock with pitch-black eyes asked. If eyes truly were windows into the soul, it was showing her lack of one.

"It's very simple," Aldous replied. "Magnus trusts Alec...a Shadowhunter he barely knows. I've acquired a shapeshifter to look like Alec. They make a drink for Magnus, the pretentious warlock is poisoned and dies. The real Alec is arrested, convicted, and killed. Understand?"

"Once Magnus realizes he's been poisoned he'll find an antidote."

"Not when it's one of the rarest poisons." Aldous ruffled through his jacket pocket before taking out a clear bottle. "Quite expensive and difficult to come by. The Mozarc clan created it. I've given just enough to the Shapeshifter."

"You really hate him, don't you?" the woman's tone sounded almost pitiful.

"Enough to go to these lengths…"

"We all need order restored. I told you all, I had it under control. I've even set up a demon hunt for Alec today that the Clave will notify him about, leaving Magnus all alone."

"The shapeshifting demon is to be trusted?"

"I'm paying them far above their normal rate. They'll be loyal. We have nothing to worry about."

Alec stood rooted to the ground as the information sunk in. Different scenarios flashed through his mind of what he should do. He was numb to the rest of the warlocks' meeting. It was quickly adjourned with each warlock going their separate ways.

Aldous strolled down the street, humming a tune. The meeting had gone just as well as he'd planned. Now he believed he deserved a treat and one of the best hole-in-the-wall bakeries was nearby.

He didn't notice a shadow behind him.


One stab to the throat with a broken piece of glass was all it took to take Aldous' life. His reflexes were barely fast enough to start conjuring a defense spell before the shock of dying set in.

Alec didn't even let the body drop before he was salvaging the pockets. Aldous' glossed eyes enlarged when he saw who his killer was.

"You're too late," The warlock's voice was almost incomprehensible as he choked on his own blood. "Magnus will be dead."

"Thanks for keeping the poison on you," was all Alec said as he took out the vial.

Aldous' mouth curved into a confused frown...then, nothing.

Alec barely remembered to hide the body before he was sprinting back to the Brooklyn loft. He'd never killed an actual person before...only demons. But he simply didn't have time to think about that.

Magnus wasn't in his loft.

The door had been broken down and Chairman was nowhere to be found. There was some papers scattered around and furniture moved, but not enough for it to be a ransacking of the loft. Alec's phone was noticeably missing.

"Magnus?" Alec called again, even though he'd already searched through the whole apartment. He was looking for any clues to where Magnus could've gone when he heard some rustling at the window. Seraph blade drawn and ready, Alec went to investigate.

In hopped Chairman Meow from the balcony with something in his mouth. The cat rubbed at Alec's arm and presented a wad of paper to him. The cat meowed in concern as Alec read the contents.

"Someone was here, weren't they? Looking for Magnus? Do they know where he is?"

Chairman gave a sad cry in affirmative.


It was a weekday afternoon so Magnus shouldn't have been surprised to see a mostly empty club. Still, he had been hoping for more excitement. He really just needed some good old fashioned distraction.

Magnus was sitting on a barstool, chatting with his old friend and main bartender at the club, Diego. The man was used to hearing all kinds of relationship issues - romantic or otherwise. But not even his sage advice or great selection of alcohol could improve Magnus' mood. His whole situation with Alec was overwhelming.

An attractive werewolf bought Magnus another drink and asked what he was doing sitting alone at a nightclub. Magnus was about to reply he owned the nightclub so all the drinks were free for him, but his phone's vibration distracted him.

Hey can we talk? Alec's text message said. Can I come to the club?

Of course...to both questions :) Magnus replied.

He hadn't thought leaving a note for Alec telling him his whereabouts would provoke the younger man to meet him, but he was glad Alec seemed to have calmed down. Talking was better than avoiding him. Not that Magnus was going to bring up the almost-kiss again.

Not ever again.

It didn't take long for the Shadowhunter to arrive. He was the only non-Downworlder in the place, but looked at ease. A lot more at ease than Magnus was expecting after their last encounter.

"Hello Alec, nice of you to join me," Magnus welcomed.

Alec merely nodded at him, seeming like he was looking through Magnus rather than at him. Diego raised an eyebrow as he cleaned a used wine glass.

"This is one of my favorite bartenders...one of the only people in the world who can make a better Bloody Mary than me."

"Nice to meet you. May I try?"

The abrupt change in conversation caught Magnus and Diego off guard for a moment. They both realized what he meant at the same time.

"Making a drink?" Magnus sputtered at the request. Alec had his first sip of alcohol the previous night and now he wanted to take up bartending?

"Looks like fun." Alec shrugged his shoulders.

"I suppose…"

"I'll help him," Diego grinned at Magnus.

Alec was a natural, Diego and Magnus were both impressed. Until he dropped the mixer. Alec fumbled an apology and bent down to retrieve the container. Even with that mistake, Diego still gave him a rave review as Alec poured two glasses full.

"To us," Alec cheersed with the still baffled Magnus. The warlock had barely taken a second sip before Alec was addressing him again.

"Do you want to go somewhere...more private?"

Oh by the heaven and hells this can't be happening again. I know I'm irresistible but dammit!

"Alec…"

"So we can talk," the younger man said simply. "Come on." Alec stalked away from him with drink half-empty in hand.

Magnus had little choice but to follow.


The real Alec Lightwood had spent too much time at the loft and too much time trying to find his phone. He burst into the nightclub out of breath with an arrow already notched in his bow.

"Magnus? Magnus where are you?" he shouted over the music.

"Alec?" a man behind the bar was giving him an odd look.

"Who are you?"

"Didn't you just go back there with Magnus?"

"What?" Alec's heart was in his throat and he dashed over to where Diego gestured.

Alec stepped through the glittery curtain of the backroom to find exactly what he'd been afraid of: Magnus was laying on the ground with a spilled glass by his outstretched hand. There was signs of a scuffle and even some demon blood on the floor. Wasting no time, Alec dragged Magnus' barely conscious form over to a chair to lean him up against. He shook him, trying to keep the warlock awake or somewhat coherent.

"I knew it wasn't you," Magnus' voice was heavy...every breath was belabored.

"Magnus please...you can't die. I need you." Alec was practically clinging onto Magnus' shirt as the man's eyes kept fluttering closed.

"Go," Magnus croaked. "Go to Catarina...she'll keep you safe."

"No Magnus, you can't die," Alec found himself begging.

Before he could become too hysterical, Alec's Shadowhunters instincts kicked in. He went through Magnus' pockets until he found his cell phone. Luckily the call answered after the first ring.

"Catarina," Alec's voice immediately alerted her of the seriousness of the situation. "You're a healer, right? Magnus needs you. I don't...I don't know what to do."

"Alec, what's wrong? How is Magnus hurt?"

"He's been poisoned. It's something rare, but I have it so we can figure out the cure."

"How does he look?"

"I don't know, like he's been poisoned!"

"Alec, listen to me. Does he have any markings appear or color changes?"

"No...he just looks drowsy, basically unconscious."

"Where are you?"

"Slaughters Nightclub...back room. We can go to the institute and you can work your magic there."

"Good idea. I'll grab a few possible antidotes and be there soon."

Alec hung up without saying goodbye and dialed the next number. This one took far longer to answer.

"What have you done with my brother, now?" Izzy asked.

"There's no time to explain, I need you to run analysis on a poison."

"Alec?" her voice turned into concerned sister in no time at all.

"Magnus is hurt. Tell the Clave a Govern representative needs our help. I'm about to portal to the institute's infirmary with Catarina. She's a great healer but she'll need help and our resources."

As if answering to her name, Catarina portalled into the backroom of the nightclub. She had a bag full of rare healing ingredients that could be useful. Rushing over to the unconscious Magnus, Catarina checked for a pulse to find it barely hanging on.

"We need to go."


They found the institute hustling and bustling. Afterall, it wasn't everyday a high warlock needed their lowly Shadowhunter help.

Magnus was immediately taken into the infirmary with Catarina leading the charge. Alec kept up behind them, until a Nephilim healer came up to him.

"The sample?" he asked. Alec was about to hand it over before a manicured hand snatched it out of his grasp.

"I'll take that," Izzy said. "Alec, do you have any details about the poison?"

"Just that it's rare and some people called the Mozarc clan make it. You'll be able to figure out the antidote, right?"

"Of course, look who you're talking to," Izzy smiled reassuringly, sounding much more sure of herself than she actually felt.

Isabelle marched into the hospital area with vial in hand, moving to the large scientific analytical monitors. Alec started to follow his sister into the infirmary, but his old mentor blocked the way.

"You aren't needed here," Hodge said. "This is the Govern business."

"Alec?" Catarina called. Alec looked over Hodge's shoulder at her. "Magnus is asking for you."

The young Lightwood gave Hodge a smug look before moving past him. The infirmary was buzzing with activity. Catarina was at the head of Magnus' bed, shouting orders at anyone available.

"Where is he?" Magnus' voice was drowsy and somewhat delirious. "Is he okay?"

"You really shouldn't be worried about me right now," Alec said as he came up to the bed.

"They'll think you did it…" The nonexistent power in Magnus' voice scared Alec. He'd never sounded like this. To Alec at least.

"That doesn't matter," Alec informed the warlock. "Nothing matters except you getting better."

Magnus' forehead crinkled. Catarina held a liquid to his lips and had him drink before he could reply. They were taking other vitals from the warlock as Magnus stared at Alec. Finally, he spoke again.

"You...you actually care about me?" Magnus asked softly.

"You stupid warlock. Why else would I be here?"


This note has been in my outline since the beginning: Alec straight up kills Aldous after he hurts Magnus and it's gonna be LIT

~Comments keep me motivated to write and update~