Alec had taken a small nap before he had decided to go out into the fold of New Orleans to find Sebastian. It seemed pretty simple enough. Though, the one thing that seemed to haunt Alec the most was the fact that Josh seemed to have the notion that he could get Alec alone. He didn't know if he could handle being hit on, or even if Josh was interested in him. Though Clary seemed to think so, Alec was not going to keep that in his mind. He was still mourning over Magnus, how could he think that there could possibly be another in his life? Magnus had been it for him. He had been the man he wanted to spend his life with, but he was not sure if he wanted to think about that at all.
So, as Alec filled the rest of his boots with weapons, and attached the swords he found useful in his belt. Alec then took his stele from his belt and Marked his body with runes. He needed to get himself ready for tonight, who knew what he had to deal with in this night. Walking down the steps after a good half an hour of working to prepare himself for the night, he made his way to the foyer of the Institute where he saw Josh leaning up against the frame of the door. For a moment, Josh reminded him of what looked like Jace when he was bored. Josh had a dagger in his hand, which was gloved black and he twisted the point of the dagger on his fingertip.
As Alec got to the foot of the foyer, Josh looked up and smiled. "Ready to go partner?" Josh asked, putting his dagger in his pocket.
"Yeah, but where do we go first? I have no idea where we could possibly find Sebastian in this city." Alec replied, letting out a depressed sigh.
"Silly silly Lightwood. We go to the center of the Downworlders, we go to the Viper's Tongue. It's a Downworlder Club here in the French Quarter. If they heard anything, they will tell us in a heartbeat…well, that is if they have a heartbeat to start off with." Josh laughed, opening the door to the Institute.
Walking out, the two made their way along the streets of New Orleans. The lights were bright, keeping all the streets illuminated. It was quite a spectacle to also see the lamp posts to still be slightly candle operated, but others to be used as electrical. It made Alec wonder how this whole city had worked its magic for so many centuries. It was all so beautiful. Though Alec and every Shadowhunter would attest that the only city worth living in and seeing was Alicante, the City of Glass. Alec had to agree only slightly, though he was a much bigger fan of the world, over the City of Glass.
The two boys came upon the Viper's Tongue, a large neon sign out in front, which had a large snake in front whose tongue snaked around it. It was quite a display, and to the mortal eye, it looked like a vacant lot, but it was much more than that. The glamour behind was showing that there was indeed a large part that had succeeded. Alec could see the spell, that one foot close enough, and you were concealed behind the glamour as well. A powerful warlock or witch had to have put this onto display, and seeing as the city was full of them, there was no need to think of there being only one person who could put the illusion up.
"You ready?" Josh asked, taking Alec's arm, gripping it in his hand.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Alec exasperated, and with that, the two entered the club.
The music was loud, Alec's chest felt heavy with each bass thumping through his body. He couldn't hear a word that was being said while he looked to Josh who could only lead him with his hand. Alec watched as they passed through a large group of Downworlders. Each one of them their own separate kind. Alec could see those who looked exactly like mundanes, but crowded together, making it obvious that they were a pack against one another. Not far along, in the corner in a booth, was a group of pale faced people who were dressed rather exquisitely in the fashion choices of today, and as one of the female vampires, with dark brown hair that was slightly wavy, her slender body turned to smile at Alec, showing her exposed fangs behind her teeth.
Alec wondered how they were going to get any information out of these people until they came up to the back door of the club. Josh stopped Alec, and let go of his arm while Josh knocked on the door in a rhythm that Alec didn't recognize. The door opened and Josh grabbed Alec's hand once more and made their way through the back, the door shutting promptly behind them. As if it was completely a different place. Alec's ears were still ringing before he could see that Josh was pulling him along again, seeing the hanging beads in the back of the room, where many fortune tellers would use fake talismans to use their magic.
Coming inside, Alec watched as Josh let go of his hand, and they stared at the person before them. In a chair that almost resembled a throne, with a potent smell behind the cauldron that seemed to bubble not far from them. There were tarot cards displayed on a table, with tribal masks and a bunch of hanging dolls on the walls, the woman turned to smile at the two Shadowhunters.
The woman was not that different from what one would expect of a mundane. She looked oddly close to being human, much like how Magnus did, except there was only one mark that showed that this woman was not exactly human. She had small cat ears instead of human ears that propped out against her dark skin. She was very beautiful Alec had to admit. Her eyes were a striking honey brown color, eyeing Alec with specific certainty.
"Well, well, it isn't everyday that I get Shadowhunters in my club. Especially when no laws have been broken." She said, keeping her smile very evident.
"I know Tatiana, there isn't a need to worry about the Law." Josh explained, flashing his smile at her as well. It seemed that in order for anything to happen, you needed to have good looks on your side. Something that Alec didn't use like Jace and apparently Josh did as well.
"Well, then I wonder what could prompt you to come into my establishment. I don't do spells for free you know." She said, wiggling a finger as Josh. "Naughty boy." She added, glancing from Alec to Josh. Alec couldn't help but notice that Josh's cheeks flushed a little when she said that.
The man cleared his throat and he decided to finally start on what he needed to say. "Not a spell either Tatiana. I am here to ask if you have heard anything. We are looking for someone who goes by either the name Sebastian Verlac or Jonathan Morgenstern." Josh replied.
"I know of your Morgenstern cousin. He came to me a few months ago, asking to see where his sister Clarissa Fairchild was residing. Not easy magic to do you know. Tracking spells are hard business, especially when you don't have something that the person has personally touched. But that isn't the point. I have sensed a new power arise here in New Orleans. One that is very old, older than myself, and many warlocks. But I have also sensed Jonathan's return. I have heard from the spirits that there is commotion rising at the old Hale mansion." Tatiana explained.
"The mansion that has all the spirits in them you mean?" Josh asked, narrowing his eyes in speculation.
"The exact one Joshua." She replied, looking back to Alec.
"Very well, thank you Tatiana." Josh said, and turned to walk back behind the beads before Alec heard the woman say his name.
"Alec Lightwood. Stay, Joshua, you may leave us." Tatiana replied.
"Excuse me?" Josh asked, taking a step forward.
"Did I stutter Shadowhunter? Leave us. I have a message from the Other Side for him." Tatiana explained.
Josh looked to Alec, who nodded his head, and watched as Josh exited the room, hearing the beat of the music for a moment before Alec looked back to the witch.
"Sit down child." She said, grabbing his hand.
Alec did as he was told and took a seat across the table.
"Now, I have a message from Magnus for you." Tatiana replied, getting up from her seat and picked up a small piece of herbs from her storage and placed it into the pot she had next to her table, making the stench in the room that much more unbearable.
"How can Magnus send you a message?" Alec asked, his skepticism getting the better of him.
"With my Ouija board of course, and the fact that he was a former warlock and knows how to connect with us is another plus." She replied, smiling brightly.
"Now, he says that he loves you, and wishes that he had told you before he had died. It was the last thing he wished he could have said before he died. He wanted to bring you nothing but happiness, and despite the fact that it had taken you two so long to show that you loved one another was the hardest thing in his existence. He also wanted you to know that you shouldn't hold out on him forever. Know that you can have anyone in your life, that those blue eyes will get you into a lot of trouble if you aren't careful. But he also said you need to make sure you aren't going to be upset by everything that has happened. Live life to the fullest, for Shadowhunters don't have it for very long. Carpe Diem." Tatiana explained and let a smile curl onto her face.
Alec felt tears well into his eyes. As much as he had tried to keep onto Magnus as much as he could, the scarf still clinging to his chest, he wondered how he would ever be able to get over Magnus. There had to be one thing he had to do…and that was kill Sebastian for the pain he had caused him. That was the only solution to it all.
"Thank you." Alec said, wiping his eye, starting to stand from his seat turning to leave.
"Oh and one more thing young Shadowhunter." Tatiana replied, lifting a finger to advise him.
"And what is that?" Alec replied, looking over his shoulder.
"Joshua has a thing for you my boy, and just because he has been with women, doesn't mean that he doesn't also like men." She said with a wink and turned back to her potion laughing under her breath.