First of all I just have to say THANK YOU! Last chapter was the most reviews I have ever gotten. You guys rock! Hopefully this wraps up some of the more important questions you guys have. I was being purposefully vague. :P Another long one for ya! I was writer happy, what can I say. Thanks to StarryOwlEyes for getting this back to me super speedy quick!
I own nada!
Magnus leaned over Alec protectively, rubbing gentle circles in his back. He must have still been nauseous from his bout of exhaustion earlier, the sight of the mutilated fish no doubt adding to his sickness.
The men were whispering amongst themselves. "Mermaids?" They asked each another. A hungry look came into their eyes. It was every sailors dream to find a mermaid. Legends of their unparalleled beauty filled the head of every lonely man at sea. Magnus had always thought it was a load of bollocks.
This is what they had come for? Two men had died so they could be spoon fed some fanciful tales of mermaids? Anger began to burn in the pit of Magnus's stomach. Morgenstern, the crazy bastard, was leading them all on a wild goose chase. That tail didn't prove anything. It looked like it came from a fish. What was so convincing about a chunk of tail?
Alec wiped his mouth roughly with the back of his hand. Magnus helped ease him upright, moving slowly. He gently brushed Alec's damp black strands form his forehead.
"Are you okay?" Magnus asked gently, concern lacing his voice. Alec nodded slightly, casting another glance towards the tail. "Dear if it's making you queasy don't look at it," Magnus urged. He wished he could just take Alec in his arms, shield him from this madness. He led him over to the waterfall. The water would cool him off.
Alec practically collapsed next to the water. Magnus tore the bottom of his shirt and dipped it into the water. The cream colored fabric looked like a specter billowing beneath the waves. Magnus shivered, he'd had enough of the supernatural for a while. He grabbed Alec by the chin and tilted his face up, dabbing at his forehead.
The men were still in excited fits, gathering together like a bunch of gossip-riddled adolescents. Alec was eyeing them warily, as a mouse would eye a cat.
" Alec, just ignore them," Magnus said. "They're a bunch of fools." Alec grinned wryly, but it was all wrong. It was hollow, a poor substitute for the usual radiance of Alec's smile. "Fools indeed," he muttered. Alec's jaw clenched suddenly, his eyes burning with a sudden hatred. Magnus looked up and saw the hermit staring at Alec, an unreadable expression on his face.
Magnus's body stiffened, like hackles on a dog. He unconsciously shifted his body to shield Alec from that unnerving gaze. If he so much as stared at Alec with malicious intent, Magnus would run him through. Despite Magnus's very blatant glare, the man's gaze remained on Alec. Magnus growled. This guy was severely pissing him off. He moved to go make the creep stop staring, but Alec grabbed his arm.
"It's not worth it," Alec said, though his eyes spoke differently. Magnus got the feeling that Alec wanted to do worse things than what Magnus was entertaining at the moment. Morgenstern suddenly stepped in front of the hermit, breaking off his contact to Alec.
"Where can I find them?" Morgenstern asked, an undercurrent of excitement in his usually steady voice. From what Magnus could see, the hermit barely acknowledged him.
"I've been chasing rumors for months," Morgenstern added, a bit more forcefully. "I need to know where they are." Still the hermit did not answer. Morgenstern lost his composure and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt.
"Tell me, old man," he practically growled. Magnus was taken aback. He'd never seen Morgenstern like this. Even when he was murdering men and torching a ship he always remained cool and aloof. He really was obsessed with this mermaid nonsense. His control had finally slipped.
The hermit didn't even try to push Morgenstern away. His yellow eyes stared back blankly at Morgenstern's black ones.
"Patience Valentine," the hermit said, his voice crackling. "Mermaids are cautious creatures. They've had centuries of practice at keeping hidden." Morgenstern did not like his answer.
"Then how the hell do I draw them out?" he asked viciously.
"Find something they want," the hermit replied. "Something that they'd give their lives for."
At that moment Alec squeezed his hand so tightly he thought he'd cracked his fingers. Magnus gasped in pain and faced his beloved. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong but stopped when he saw the expression on Alec's face. It was a jumble of emotions. Anger, panic, and sorrow all flitted across his face, but it was the pure unadulterated terror that caught Magnus off guard.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Magnus asked in panic. He had never seen Alec like this before. Alec didn't answer him at first; his gaze was locked on Morgenstern. He was breathing quickly, almost to the point of hyperventilating. "Baby, breathe. Just breathe," Magnus said, repeating it like a mantra. Alec's hand tightened its grip like a vice, as if he was afraid that Magnus would abandon him. However, Magnus wasn't going anywhere. He repeated his words over and over until they started having an effect. Slowly, Alec's breathing returned to normal, though his eyes were still wide. Magnus stroked his cheek gently. "Alec, please tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.
Alec shook his head ever so slightly. Magnus's heart dropped into his stomach. That small shake of the head was like a physical blow. He had thought they'd gotten over this; that Alec was opening up. When he told him about his brother and sister, Magnus had been sure that it was the next step in fully trusting each other. But that small shake crumbled any hope he had let himself build up. Alec didn't want to tell him. Didn't trust him.
Alec turned his head and caught the look of devastation on Magnus's face, his blue eyes going wide. "Oh Magnus, no," he said squeezing his hand tightly. "Not here. Not now. I just can't," he stuttered out. Despite Alec's words, Magnus still hurt. Magnus didn't want to have to constantly worry about whether or not Alec fully trusted him. Didn't want to worry about whether he was worthy of knowing Alec's true feelings. Or if Alec truly cared for him as much as Magnus did.
(line break)
As soon as his eyes had settled on the tail, everything had settled into place. Everything about the island was so sickeningly clear. The black water must have been some type of smoke screen. Meant to make a mermaid surface to be able to see. Thinking back to the cliffs, there wasn't just faces carved into their surface, but runes. Runes meant for confusion and capture. Whatever dark magic clouded the island made sure to make it unbearably hot, forcing a mermaid to seek refuge in the many pools. The entire island was a death trap for merepeople. The only reason Alec had survived was because of Magnus. Without him, he'd have wandered into a pool as soon as possible to relieve the unbearable heat.
Alec thought back to the waterfall. His runes had lit up like an electric eel. The only explanation was a sensor, designed to alert the hermit if a mermaid managed to get past the pools unharmed. And yet something was still bothering him. The hermits obvious staring indicated he knew what he was, and yet he hadn't ousted him to Morgenstern. Here Morgenstern was, asking how to find mermaids, and the hermit was just answering him vaguely. Why? Why was he protecting him?
When the hermit told Valentine to find something that a mermaid would give its life for, Alec's heart stuttered. The hermit had looked directly at Alec when he said it, his gaze flickering to Magnus. Alec couldn't breath he was so terrified. If the man revealed him, it would be Magnus who would suffer.
Alec barely registered that Magnus was talking to him. Horrible images were passing through Alec's mind. Images of all the terrors Morgenstern would do to Magnus to make Alec talk.
"Alec, please tell me what's wrong."
He couldn't. If he told him now, they'd both be in danger. Alec wanted nothing more than to tell Magnus, to finally be free of the crushing guilt, but he couldn't. Not here. He shook his head, barely able to move. He heard Magnus's sharp intake of breath and finally looked at him. Magnus's eyes spoke of devastation, tears already starting to pool in his eyes.
"Oh, Magnus, no," Alec rushed, trying to explain. "Not here. Not now. I just can't," he finished lamely. He couldn't explain this here. It was too dangerous, but the crushing look of betrayal in Magnus's eyes cut him to the core. He had never wanted to cause Magnus to look like that. He wanted to kiss away the doubt and hurt from Magnus's face.
Morgenstern's sharp voice cut through Alec's thoughts. "Find something they want? How the hell should I know?" Morgenstern growled. The hermit remained uncaring.
"Just as they are half fish, they are half human," he stated simply. "Figure it out. I've tolerated your trespassing long enough." The hermit easily stepped out of Morgenstern's hold, as slippery as an eel. "Now get off my land." It was said in the same monotonous tone as before, but there was something unmistakably threatening about it. Even Morgenstern looked a bit cowed. The hermit turned his back to Valentine, dismissing him and walked back towards the waterfall.
Alec stiffened as he approached, afraid to so much as look the man in the eye. As the hermit approached the wall of water, his gaze bored into Alec. Alec felt Magnus grip his arm tightly, yet his presence wasn't enough to stave off his growing panic. This was it. The hermit was going to reveal him. Alec clenched his jaw tightly, waiting for the inevitable.
The hermit stepped into the pool at the waterfalls base, stopping just before he reached the sheet of falling water. He looked at Alec, a small smile on his face. It was the first hint of an expression the man had shown thus far.
"Careful boy," he said. "Wouldn't want you to fall in the water." The hermit grinned wryly, revealing black rotten teeth and disappeared behind the waterfall.
A/N: I know you're all going "What? Magnus doesn't find out!" and are all probably getting your pitchforks in anticipation. Don't hate me. It will come soon, I promise. I do actually have this plotted out believe it or not. Reviews are love!