"Who's Camille?" Alec asked while he hopped on one foot, shaking out his pants leg in the most ungraceful manor possible.

Magnus tugged his shirt over his head and sat down on the bed, slipping his socks and shoes on and tying the laces. "She's…my ex-girlfriend."

"Oh," Alec said, his curiosity rising. "Is she one of the ones you loved?"

Magnus sighed. He had been avoiding this topic as much as possible, but it seemed that he would have to deal with it head on now. "Yes," he said, grabbing his coat and waiting for Alec by the door.

"And why are we going to bail her out of jail?" Alec said with mild amusement.

Magnus opened the door to the bedroom, ushering Alec into the hall. "Because I want to know how the hell she got my number."

The party was much quieter than it had been when Magnus and Alec had left it for the seclusion of his bedroom. There were still a few guests dancing to the music from the 1990's cd that was now emitting from the radio. Several others were passed out on the furniture lining the walls. Tessa appeared through the kitchen doorway, and Magnus shared a brief conversation with her. She looked alarmed at the idea of Magnus leaving the party to bail out Camille, and expressed her hope that he was sober enough to drive.

"I'm fine. Really. I haven't drank anything alcoholic for a couple of hours now," he assured her, and kissed her cheek goodbye. He was thankful that Will and Jem were in their bedroom. He didn't think Will would let him go quite as easily as Tessa.

Magnus took Alec's hand and led him out the front door to his car. He turned over the engine and cranked up the heat to take away the chill. Once they turned onto the main road back to Alicante, Alec broke the silence. "I confused," he said. "You said you wanted to know how Camille got your number, but you knew who was calling before you answered the phone..."

Magnus smiled grimly. "I have a lot of numbers in my phone of people I don't want to talk to. I don't like surprises, at least, not that kind."

Alec nodded, wondering why Magnus would answer the call if that was the only reason he kept Camille's number. "Are you going to tell me about Camille?"

Magnus glanced at him. He didn't look upset or angry, just curious. "I suppose I better. Camille Belcourt-"

"Belcourt?" Alec interrupted. "Like the hotels?"

"Yeah. Her father owns a few hundred five-star hotels around the world," Magnus confirmed.

Alec let out a low whistle. "You sure seem to pick people whose families have a lot of money," he teased.

Magnus frowned. He didn't want Alec to get the wrong idea about him. "In all fairness, I didn't know that about either of you before I met you. It's not like I sought you out because your family is loaded or anything. Besides, you two are the only people I've dated that actually had any money."

Alec placed his hand on Magnus's arm. "Relax, Magnus. I was only joking. Besides, I don't have shit. I'm just as broke as you are." He chuckled, and Magnus joined him.

"Well, Camille does," he said. "Her daddy gave her a huge trust fund. And I'm pretty sure she's never heard the word 'no' in her life. She's gorgeous, too. Long blonde hair, emerald green eyes. She's used to getting her way. If she wants something, it's hers, and it doesn't matter who she has to step on to get it."

"She sounds pleasant," Alec said with a hint of sarcasm.

Magnus shook his head. "She's a bitch."

Alec turned to look at Magnus. "Why didn't she just get her daddy to bail her out?"

Magnus gave him a small smile. "Who would be more likely to attract the paparazzi? Me or her dad?"

Alec smiled slightly. Magnus had a point. If he were to get arrested and had the funds at his disposal to get bailed out, he would certainly not call his father, but he wasn't sure he would call his ex-boyfriend, if he had one, either. He wondered if he should be worried about this Camille person. "Do you still love her?"

Magnus snorted. "God no!" he said. "Look, Alec, my relationship with Camille was...complicated. Your basic nightmare." He sighed heavily again. "Camille can be one of the most charming people you can imagine. She can be sweet and funny. She does the 'damsel in distress' thing quite well. But it's all a lie, an illusion. She's the devil. She'll suck the life right out of you."

He glanced at Alec, who was watching him as he spoke. "I met Camille when I lived in London. I was nineteen, she was eighteen. She seemed so…normal. She was clearly upset that her parents didn't spend much time with her, but I didn't realize until later that was just an act. She loved living by her own rules. Who wouldn't at that age? I guess you could make a case that I was doing the same thing, living in London with my best friends, doing whatever I felt liked…

"The biggest difference between what I did and what she did was that I was looking out for my friends at the same time. She was looking out for herself. She doesn't care about anyone but herself. I fell in love with her, or at least the idea of her, but she never loved me." He shook his head sadly.

"Camille was sleeping with a guy named Peter Burg the entire time we were dating. He was in Paris, and she kept taking long visits there, claiming that her father wanted her to check on the Paris Belcourt Hotel. Bullshit. It took me nearly a year to find out the truth. She wasn't very happy when I broke up with her."

Alec looked at Magnus seriously. "Remind me again why we are bailing her out?"

Magnus sighed. "Because it's the right thing to do."

Magnus could be such a softie sometimes. It was a personality trait that Alec adored, but not necessarily in this situation.

Magnus parked the car outside the police station, rushed around the car to open the door for Alec, and held his hand as they entered through the double glass doors. The inside of the station was glaringly white, almost painful on the eyes. There was a row of uncomfortable-looking hard plastic chairs along one wall, a few of which were occupied by people wearing identical irritable expressions. That was to be expected considering it was one o'clock in the morning and they were in a police station, Alec supposed.

Magnus walked up to a window with a silver speaker set into it. He pressed a button, finally getting the attention of a sandy-haired young man, then stated his business. The clerk told him to have a seat, that they would be with him shortly.

A few minutes later, Magnus's name was called by a tall officer who had an inch or two on Magnus, and at least seventy pounds. The guy was massive, and looked grumpy. He indicated Alec should stay in the lobby, and led Magnus down a stark white hallway, into a small room where Magnus signed some papers and paid the cash for Camille's bail.

A short time later, he was face to face with the lovely Camille Belcourt. He had not seen her in well over a year. She had not changed much. She was still beautiful, her hair was still blonde, her green eyes still sparkled as they trailed up and down his body like she was deciding which part to devour first.

He gulped and said, "Hello, Camille."

"Magnus, darling," she said, taking a wobbly step toward him, tripping and landing in him arms.

"Public Intoxication, Camille? Really?" he said, as he steadied her on her feet.

She ran a long, thin finger tipped in red lacquer nail polish down his cheek. "I was just having a little fun," she said, jutting her bottom lip out in a pout.

He knew she was trying to be sexy, seductive. He would not fall for it, but he could not to push her away either. He did not love her, and had not for a few years now. But there was something about Camille that made his resolve weaken. Like looking at a terrible accident, he didn't want to look, but he was compelled to anyway.

He released her arms, now that he was sure she wouldn't fall against him again. "How did you get my number, Camille?" he said steadily.

She smiled her perfect smile, white teeth shrouded by red lips. "I have my ways. You know that."

He sighed. He had hoped she would give him a straight answer, but that was foolish. Camille only knew how to play games. He suddenly wished he hadn't brought Alec along. He did not want Alec to be a new target for her. He probably shouldn't have come at all. He shouldered past her, making his way to the door.

"Magnus, wait," she said softly. He wasn't sure why he hesitated, but he did. He slowly turned around, and found she had moved close to him again. "Don't I still mean anything to you?"

He turned back around and marched out the door. He found Alec waiting in the lobby, looking very uncomfortable. Relief washed over his boyfriend's face as soon as he saw Magnus. He stood, crossed the room in a few long strides, his eyes scanning Magnus's face, reading him.

Magnus stiffly put his arm around Alec's waist, a protective gesture he wasn't even conscious of doing, and guided him through the door and toward his car. He let Alec in first, giving him a small smile as he closed the door. He was regretting this now. He should have just sent her to voicemail, and stayed at Will's in bed with Alec. That was where he wanted to be, more than anything. That was where he belonged.

Magnus and Alec were quiet on the drive to the Belcourt Hotel. Magnus kept checking the review mirror. He did not like the look Camille was giving Alec, like he was a pawn in her game…whatever game that was.

"So, you must be Alec," Camille said, her voice silky. "Magnus's new boy-toy." Her eyes flashed and locked with Magnus's in the mirror, and Magnus wondered how she knew Alec's name.

Alec turned slightly in his seat. "I'm his boyfriend, yes," he replied politely. Magnus could see how uncomfortable Alec was, and he hated himself for putting him in this situation. What had he been thinking?

Camille ran her fingers over Alec's shoulder and as far down his arm as she could reach from the back seat. Alec pulled away, scrunching closer to the door. "Magnus always did have a soft spot for black-haired, blue-eyed pretty boys."

Magnus whipped the car into a parking spot, opened the door and leapt out, dragging Camille with him. He ducked down and said to Alec, "I'm going to take her upstairs and get my money. I'll be right back." He stared at Alec for a moment, beseeching him to be understanding. Alec nodded.

Magnus roughly guided Camille into the hotel lobby and jammed his finger against the elevator button. "What floor?" he snapped.

Camille pressed the button to the top floor, the penthouse suite. Of course, thought Magnus wryly. They rode up in silence. Magnus barely noticed the burgundy carpet, the mirrored walls of the elevator, the golden hand railing. This was such a mistake, he knew that now. He just wanted to get his money and get back to Alec as soon as possible.

The bell dinged, and the doors parted, exposing a small room with an ornate door. Camille opened the door, and led Magnus into the penthouse suite. The room was massive, a luxurious living room adorned with plush furniture and ornate decorations. The interior designer in Magnus was impressed. The ex-boyfriend in Magnus just wanted the hell out of there.

Camille flicked on a light in an adjacent bedroom, rummaged around for a few moments, and returned with the money Magnus had paid for her bail. A large stack of cash. Magnus reached for it, but Camille whipped it out of reach before he touched it. He had known it wouldn't be that easy.

"Magnus? Don't you miss me? Just a little?" Camille said, her voice breaking in mock sadness, her finger and thumb about an inch apart, her bottom lip sticking out again. He would not be fooled by her again. At least, not tonight.

"No," he said flatly.

"Do you still care about me? We were so good together?" She batted her mascaraed eyes at him, her green orbs wide and expectant.

Magnus narrowed his eyes. "How would you know? You spent more time with your other boyfriend than you did with me."

"But I loved you more," she said, touching her finger gently to his cheek. "Don't you want to give us another chance? That boy-toy of yours won't last, you know that. We belong together, Magnus." She arched her body against him.

He gripped her elbows, holding her away from his body. "You could give me the past, Camille, but Alec is my future. And for the record, the past sucked." He released her arms, snatched the cash from her hand, and darted out the door, leaving her gaping at him as he went.

He sped back to his car as quickly as possible. His whole body shook as he closed the car door and turned to Alec. He was angry. Angry with Camille, and angry with himself. But he was also scared. He knew Camille. She was capable of anything and had the resources to fund whatever crazy plan she came up with. He prayed she would leave them alone, would leave Alec alone. How could he have been so stupid?

He threw his arms around Alec, holding him close and whispering, "I'm so sorry," over and over. Alec, his sweet boyfriend, the man he loved more than anything. "I'm sorry," he said again, as he withdrew from Alec's embrace and kissed him lightly on the lips.

He sat back in his seat, running his hands through his hair and thinking. Eventually, he turned back to Alec and said, "Promise me you will stay away from Camille. No matter what she says or does, no matter what happens, just promise me you will stay away from her." His voice held a plea, but Magnus didn't have the ability to care about that right now.

He could see the concern in Alec's eyes as he looked back at him and promised that he would stay away from her. Magnus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, squeezed Alec's hand, and pointed his car toward home.