Chapter 20: Monster
The dark room consumed him — a monster devouring it's prey. Alec could make out the outlines of shapes around him, but nothing was clear. While his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, his mind spun with dizziness and confusion. He had no idea where he was. Ropes tied his hands and torso to a chair fixed to the floor, not allowing him to move. He struggled against them.
Time passed by but he wasn't quite sure how much. It could have been minutes, hours or days. But Alec was use to this. He'd grown accustomed to not knowing the time that had passed within the Silent City. This experience allowed him to remain calm. It wasn't the first time he'd been locked in a dark room, unable to escape.
A bulb flickered above. Light flooded the room momentarily before darkness fell again. Alec had just enough time to study his surroundings. Panic erupted in his mind and he struggled against the rope. A wooden desk sat in the centre, surrounded by emptied metal draws. The room appeared to somewhat resemble an old office. Except it had one stark difference; massacred bodies littered the ground around him, each of them swamped in a pool of their own blood. Their expressions all echoed fear and their eyes remained open, staring ahead into the abyss. Each of the bodies were covered in slashes and cuts and Alec realised with a jolt that they were seraph blade wounds.
The lights flickered again. Alec looked down at himself, only to see his hands and clothes covered in dried blood and a fallen seraph blade in front of him. His panic grew, engulfing him. Had he done this? Had he maliciously slaughtered so many innocent people and left them to die in a pool of their own blood? He shivered at the thought, suddenly feeling very sick.
Hazy memories passed through his mind and he realised with a frown, that his hand had completely healed. He looked upon his shoulder, but saw no sign of a dagger wound.
"Alexander Lightwood."
Alec's head snapped upwards. The bulb flickered on once again, illuminating the room and a slim figure appeared at the doorway, her head tilted to the side as she studied him with piercing green eyes.
"I've been wanting to meet you for a long time — ever since I first heard that Magnus was dating the monster Shadowhunter." Alec flinched at the name. "And now here you are."
"You're Camille," Alec concluded, his voice breaking through his heavy breaths. Her golden hair flowed in layers of curls around her shoulders and her green eyes dazzled, highlighting her sharp, accentuated features. In a way, her beauty reminded him of Jace. She held herself with the same confidence. She knew her self worth and flaunted it. Alec wasn't surprised Magnus had fallen for her.
"I see Magnus has told you about me. All awful things, I presume? He was always one for the theatrics," Camille said with a smile, as her eyes pierced Alec harder.
He didn't like the way she talked about Magnus — as if he was some toy she'd played with until she'd grown bored and thrown him away. It ignited his anger. "He told me everything."
Camille's eyebrows rose while she took a few steps closer, her heels clicking against the metal floor. Her eyes brightened. "So he told you of the time we spent in Paris? Venice? Prague?" She asked. "All very beautiful cities, but we barely left the bedroom. We planned to spend eternity together."
"And then you betrayed him," Alec stated, the anger erupting in his voice. Jealousy prickled under his skin but he forced it back, as he knew that Camille was playing with him. She knew exactly how to taunt him.
"Is that what he told you?" Camille chuckled. "Magnus was having as much fun as I during our time apart in the 18th century. With a boy very similar to you, actually." Her eyes trailed him up and down as she began to circle around his chair. "Black hair. Blue eyes. A Shadowhunter. I believe Magnus has a type."
Her words hit him like needles repeatedly stabbing at his skin. He could feel the unwelcome emotions brewing in the pit of his stomach. Remaining quiet, he pressed his lips together in an effort to stay calm.
"Although you are rather different. I mean, look at what you've done to all these innocent people," Camille provoked, her hand sliding along the back of his chair and skimming his shoulders. He flinched at her touch, his lips pressing harder against each other. "They were all my human subjugates tending to you and you murdered them."
Alec's eyes fell on one body lying near him. The woman laid with her blood stained hair tangled around her. He flinched again and averted his eyes, but his gaze continued to land on body after body. Men and women. Even a young teenager. They each seemed to look upon him as if he was hell on was his fault. They were dead because of him.
Monster.
"Even Jonathan was impressed when your demon side was unleashed. It took us a long time to restrain you," Camille told him, her eyes watching his every reaction. "You two have a lot in common."
He couldn't speak. The guilt overpowered him, twisting and turning around him, dragging him towards hell. Even when he closed his eyes he saw the bodies of those he had killed. He couldn't escape.
Camille's grin widened, flaunting her sharp teeth. "It shouldn't be long before everyone arrives. Don't worry, my darling, you'll see Magnus soon, along with your little Shadowhunter siblings."
"If you hurt them—" Alec began, a sudden burst of anger breaking free. Every emotion he'd been holding back exploded inside him. The word darling struck something within and the thought of Camille anywhere near Magnus, Jace or Isabelle ignited a raging fire in his body.
Camille laughed, her expression almost jubilant at Alec's reaction. This is what she'd been aiming for and Alec had given her exactly what she wanted. "That's precious. You sound a lot like Clarissa."
"Where are Clary and Simon?" Alec demanded. He didn't care about holding back emotions anymore. He didn't care about playing her games. All he wanted was to keep his loved ones safe from Camille — the snake who Magnus had warned him about.
"You can see them if you'd like?" Camille offered, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Though it would probably be rather dangerous. After all, you have a track record of hurting those you love. Don't you, Alexander?"
~ Lost Hope ~
"Is this really going to work?" Jace questioned, a frown upon his face as he watched Magnus with sceptical eyes.
Rolling his eyes in irritation, Magnus studied the fake Book of the White, scanning for any aspect that could be improved. "If I presented you with this would you believe it was the Book of the White?" Magnus asked, leaving Jace no time to reply. "Yes. Because you have never seen the Book of the White before. Neither has Camille. Does that answer your question?"
That was a lie. Magnus was not foolish enough to truly believe Camille would fall for this plan. His only hope was that she'd be deceived by the other tricks up his sleeve. But Jace didn't need to know this.
"But what—"
"If I hear anymore questions from either of you then I'll magic your lips shut," Magnus threatened, his annoyance unleashed. Wasn't it enough for these Shadowhunters that he was helping them? Did they really have to question his every action too? Magnus shuddered as he remembered all the questions he'd been asked after he'd recruited Raphael and the vampires to help them.
Magnus jumped as he felt something hot in his fingertips and dropped the book to the floor. A piece of paper appeared in his hands, the tips of it singed black. The note was small but elegantly written in old calligraphy — stating an address followed by Camille's name. Magnus frowned upon realising she'd somehow sent a fire message, despite being unable to draw runes. But he answered himself. this was the proof they needed that Camille had Clary.
"What is that?" Isabelle asked.
Magnus disregarded his previous threat. "An address," he replied, his tone quieter than before. The moment he'd been dreading had arrived. It was time for him to face Camille once more. "It's time to leave. I presume you're both ready?"
Jace and Isabelle nodded in unison and turned to face each other, a silent conversation passing between them.
"Splendid," Magnus replied, his voice more sarcastic than he'd expected. Feeling his heart pound against his chest as if attempting to break free, Magnus tried to calm himself but his mind screamed again and again. He didn't want to go ahead with it. He didn't want to face Camille. But he'd do it for Alec — he had to.
Jace and Isabelle rushed out of the door, their patience dissipating. It was only now Magnus acknowledged how hard it must have been for them to wait and plan an attack. If Alec was the one being held by Camille, Magnus knew he'd do everything in his power to get Alec back. He wouldn't plan or wait; he'd attack with everything he had, uncaring to whether his plan was smart or foolish. He'd lose all sense of judgement. A shiver ran through him at the thought. For the first time, he rejoiced at the fact that Alec was locked within the Silent City out of harm's way.
Just as Magnus reached his door, he winced as a flame warmed his fingers once again. He looked down at the note, frowning at the illegible writing and scrappiness of the paper. Not wanting to waste time attempting to read it, Magnus' eyes trailed to the bottom of the note to see Brother Zachariah's signature. He placed the note on his ottoman to read later, as anything regarding Alec's condition could wait until he returned home. Alec couldn't be his priority right now.
~ Lost Hope ~
They took a portal to the abandoned warehouse, with the vampire clan following through behind them. It didn't surprise Magnus that Camille had chosen the same location as before. She loved playing manipulative games and this was the perfect place to do that; it was a building already haunted with past memories.
"You think that is enough to fool Camille?" Raphael asked with raised brows. Though he didn't appear as if he regretted his decision. In fact he almost seemed to find this funny. His confidence was astounding sometimes.
"You doubt me?" Magnus asked.
"No," Raphael replied quickly. "I know you better than you may think, Bane. You'll achieve your goal. But I also know Camille and she will not let you achieve your goal in the way you want. The more you try to deceive her, the more cunning she becomes."
"And why didn't you express this opinion before we all arrived with a plan?" Magnus inquired. He knew that Raphael was right, but he could only hope that his plan would fall into place perfectly. However, the words were an abrupt reminder that everything he'd planned could go wrong very easily.
"My only target is Camille and the enemies that stand between us. The lives of the Shadowhunter and Daylighter don't matter to me. I don't need a plan, I just need you to lead me to Camille," Raphael replied with an impassive shrug.
Magnus predicted the anger before he saw it burst from Jace. Throwing a spell forwards, he stopped Jace from advancing further on Raphael and stood in between them. "Let's focus our negative energy on our common enemy?" Magnus suggested, his tone harder than before. He wouldn't allow a rampant Shadowhunter and an arrogant vampire foil his brilliant plans.
Turning sharply away from the confrontation, Jace's hands clenched into fists as Isabelle murmured something to him. Magnus breathed a sigh of relief. They had to act soon, otherwise he feared the vampires and Shadowhunters would take their loathing out on one another.
"Camille is not expecting me to arrive with a clan of vampires ready to kill her," Magnus explained, his tone taking an authoritative turn. It was time for him to focus. He need to set his mind on one task — he couldn't allow Camille to affect him. "So don't attack until Clary and the Daylighter are safely with the Shadowhunters or unless everything goes drastically wrong. Do you understand?"
Raphael nodded, a hint of a smirk lingering on his lips.
"Hide and don't be seen," Magnus ordered. "And we only capture Camille. Not kill her. You'll have that chance later."
"Can we just get on with it?" Jace demanded, rolling his eyes with impatience. "We know the plan."
Distancing himself from his thoughts, Magnus didn't reply to Jace and lead the way to the entrance. The vampires disappeared in a flash, leaving no trace of their presence. Magnus shut himself down. He only had one task that he needed to complete. Nothing Camille said would affect him. At least that's what he was telling himself.
The journey into the abandoned warehouse felt familiar, but Magnus refused to allow past memories to resurface. He studied the darkened hallway, observing its run down appearance and careless decoration, with one hand held up in defence. Magic prickled at his fingertips, while he grasped the book in his other arm.
Jace and Isabelle followed closely behind Magnus and he could feel their tense presence. Their emotions radiated from them as if they were some sort of radioactive material. It was foolish of them to wear their emotions on their sleeves, especially when Camille was involved, but Magnus had no time to warn them. Their breaths echoed together with the high ceilings and moulding with the sound of their shoes against the floor.
Every sound and movement set Magnus on edge.
They soon reached the same room as before, where they'd been attacked by Eidolon demons. The roof towered over them in a triangular shape, giving the room an unprotected feel. Litter decorated the ground at their feet. In the centre two chairs stood back-to-back, holding down a man and woman. It didn't take long for Magnus to realise that the fiery haired female and the dark haired male were exactly who'd he'd been attempting to track down for months.
Magnus blocked Jace and Isabelle from moving forwards, keeping them a safe distance away. They had to stick to the plan. Camille was cunning; she always loved to play tricks. Leaving Clary and Simon unguarded was in no way an accident.
Her laugh bounced from one wall to the other, moving through the room like a tidal wave destroying an innocent city. It shuddered through Magnus, chilling him to his core. He hadn't heard that laugh in so long. He had hoped he'd never have to hear it again.
"It's so lovely to see you all," Camille greeted them brightly, a crisp smile growing on her lips. She sauntered into the room, her head held high and her posture taut. Magnus' body tensed and a forgotten fire erupted within him, reminding him of everything he'd hoped to forget. Her mere presence was enough to dissuade Magnus from his goal. "I've been expecting you."
"Let them go now or so help me—" Jace thundered in fury.
Magnus could feel the anger seeping from Jace. He held a hand up, stopping Jace's threat, before shaking his head, scolding him.
Camille laughed again, her eyes filled with amusement. "Such empty threats. I've found they're common amongst Shadowhunters." She took a few steps closer towards Clary and Simon, knowing exactly how to taunt Jace and Isabelle.
"Enough with the games, Camille," Magnus said before the Shadowhunters could reply, his voice colder than he'd expected. "I have what you want and I'm willing to hand it over in exchange for your prisoners."
"Not even a greeting for your past lover, my dear Magnus?" She asked, her head tilting to the side as her green eyes pierced him.
Magnus stood taller, widening his stance in defence. "This is the deal you wanted. That is all I am here for."
"Is that so?" her eyes narrowed, her lips pursing. Magnus could see the thoughts swirling in her mind, calculating and scheming. "Very well. A deal is a deal. The Book of the White, please?"
With a deep breath, Magnus walked forward, forcing one foot in front of the other. His mind screamed at him to run the other way, to flee before Camille could intertwine him in another one of her games. She smiled as he approached and Magnus quickly avoided her eyes, staring at the wall behind her. When he finally reach her, he held the book forwards, forcing himself to look at her. Her eyes resembled the deep sea; they were filled with mystery and hidden secrets. Those who were brave enough sought the answers to her enigmas, only to find themselves attacked or lost in a place they couldn't escape. Magnus remembered a time when he'd foolishly plunged into discovering her, trapping himself within Camille's bounds.
She'd drowned him without a second thought.
He flinched as her cool fingertips skimmed his, pulling his hand away.
"It's so lovely to see you again, my darling," Camille commented, her voice a sultry whisper as she inched herself ever so slightly closer to Magnus.
Magnus's hands clenched into fists by his side. If anyone was going to call him 'darling', it would be Alexander and only Alexander. Camille had no right to refer to him like that anymore. However, he held back his frustration, keeping a calm facade. "I promise you, it will be the last time."
Camille chuckled. "We'll never be done with each other."
The words sunk into Magnus as if he was a sponge absorbing water. Except they stung him, echoing in his mind. Magnus forced a small, impassive smile onto his lips. "You'd love that to be true, wouldn't you?"
Eyes twinkling in response, Camille lifted her hand to touch him, but he slid out of her reach, a warning frown growing on his face. "Do you really believe I'd be so foolish, Magnus?" Her eyes wandered over him, observing him as if searching for some sort of answer. "Did you really think I'd fall for your mindless tricks?"
Magnus froze. He'd known this part of the plan wouldn't work, but he'd had a small hope in the back of his mind. Hoping that the vampires were somewhere close by, he narrowed his eyes at Camille, faking confusion. "Tricks?"
"You can't fool me, Magnus," she stated. She didn't appear angered or annoyed, but instead gleeful. As if he'd fallen directly into her trap. Panic inched it's way forwards in Magnus' mind. "Bring him out."
Magnus froze. Every inch of him stilled, as if time had ended. Her words filled his ears, swirling through his mind, a tornado destroying everything in its path, as he forced his eyes to follow hers. Even the air around him tensed.
"Alexander." The name slipped from his lips; a fallen murmur plummeting towards hell. A cold dread swept through him, numbing his body until he could no longer feel as his raven haired, blue eyed Shadowhunter moved forward, a knife pinned to his neck.
Eyes locked on the scene in front of him, Magnus felt his hands lift, the icy magic prickling at his fingertips. His eyes moved from his Alexander to the man who held him; a platinum-blonde haired male that Magnus somehow recognised.
Camille's laugh sliced through the air, cutting into Magnus. "Were you not expecting to see him? Did you really believe I'd allow him to hide away in the Silent City?"
"Let him go!" A fiery voice erupted behind him. Magnus could feel the rage burning from Isabelle and Jace. He heard the whispers of angels names and the soft glow of seraph blades, as the shadowhunters readied themselves for a fight.
"Let him go?" Camille said, a smile slithering over her lips. "You don't want me to do that."
His heart pounding against his ribcage, Magnus' gaze moved from Camille to Alec. He couldn't breathe. In that moment he noticed the devilish blackness of Alec's eyes. His worst nightmare was being unveiled before him.
Camille continued. "He's already slaughtered a number of my human subjugates. I'm sure he will easily kill the three of you for me. That is, unless, you wish to take me to the location of the real Book of the White, Magnus?"
All eyes turned to him. He could feel Isabelle and Jace's gaze drilling holes into his back. He could see Camille's twinkling eyes watching him in amusement. Magnus' heart constricted. While his eyes slipped over to Alexander once more, his body iced over into glacier — numbed to the pain threatening to cripple him.
Silence echoed.
"I don't quite understand what you see in that Shadowhunter boy, Magnus." Camille's voice broke through the still air. "You named me a monster, yet you're falling for one yourself."
"He's not a monster," Magnus stated. His low, threatening voice just audible through his clamped jaw in a low.. Magic sizzled within him.
"Really?" Camille chuckled. "He's slaughtered innocent humans, vampires… He hurt his own sister. And yet that is not the worst of his many murders."
A frown pulled at Magnus' expression. He could feel the anger brewing within him. Camille had no right to Alexander's past; she had no right to share it. He didn't want to hear anymore.
"Tell me, Magnus, how you can fall in love with a boy who murdered his own mother?"
~ Lost Hope ~
December 2nd 2002
'There is nothing more I can do to help your son, Maryse Lightwood. Even the power of the Silent Brothers is not enough to reverse this. But, Alexander will live.' Maryse Lightwood heard Brother Enoch speak these words in her mind, yet she couldn't quite comprehend them. These past few days had been a whirlwind of fear, doubt and helplessness. All she had dreamt of was that her eldest son would be alive, brave and as strong as he always had been. But she had not wanted this... She could have never even imagined this.
"There must be something you can do!" Maryse exclaimed in a slightly strangled voice, her usually calm and stoic composure dissipated at the thought of Alexander, her Alexander, being forced to live in that way. This couldn't be happening. Not to her son. "He can't live like this!"
Brother Enoch appeared to be somewhat unmoved. 'I have told you and I will tell you again, I cannot help him anymore. I can only heal so much. Alexander must live like this if he so wishes to live at all. It is a decision that only he must make. Now I must go, Maryse Lightwood. I apologise for what has happened to your son.'
As Brother Enoch glided swiftly out of the room, with his head hung towards the floor, Maryse felt the familiar dampness of a first tear slip down her cheek. She rarely ever cried, only when a painful occasion called for it. This situation itself called for much more than tears - it sought for the tight constriction of her already stone-cold heart. Nothing had ever felt so excruciating. She could only let the helplessness and the fears consume her, let them burn her until they finally died away.
"I'm so sorry, Alexander..." Maryse whispered, hovering over him, her shoulders trembling. "So, so sorry..."
Maryse sat by his side for endless hours. Her eyes stung with tears, but she refused to let go of his hand or leave him alone. The last time she'd allowed him out of her sight, he'd disappeared without a single trace, stolen by the callous demon Abbadon. She couldn't bare to think of the torture he'd endured. And all because of her link to Valentine.
Her head sunk into her hands, as an icy, guilt-filled wave rushed over her, drowning her in a numbed pain. The blackness behind her eyelids was welcomed. For a brief moment the whole world closed and she escaped the terrorising guilt.
Something twitched, knocking her arm. She jumped. Her eyes plunged back into daylight, only to see Alec's body jerking on the bed. She climbed to her feet in a panic.
"Robert!" she shouted, needing help. Pulling the bed sheet from him, unveiling his arms, Maryse's eyes widened as she saw the pulsing, blackened veins beneath his skin. This wasn't supposed to be happening. The Silent Brother had assured her that the demon blood residing in his veins wouldn't harm him anymore.
Alec's eyes flew open. For a brief moment, a wave of relief washed over her. That was until his body flew through the air, launching towards her with arms outstretched. Alec's fingers grasped her throat, pressing hard against her airways as he tackled her to the ground, pinning her down. Panic seized her. Her eyes looked up into the blackened depths of Alexander's eyes; a startled cry of horror ripped through her.
She froze for a moment, unable to will herself to attack. "Alexander…" she forced his name through her lips, taking a sharp breath, as Alec squeezed the air from her throat.
Then a strange sort of will swept over her mind; her Shadowhunter instincts kicked in. Her muscles strained as she rolled herself, using her body to push her son to the ground as she attempted to dislodge his hands from her throat. Alec's face tightened, a snarl tearing through his lips. She launched herself to her feet, taking in deep breaths. Her hand flew to her seraph blade.
"Robert!" she called for her husband again, backing away from her son and brandishing her seraph blade in front of her as a warning.
Alexander climbed to his feet, a feral snarl erupting from him once again. He crouched on the balls of his feet, his hands held out like claws as her blood trickled from his fingertips. Terror pierced through her when she looked upon her demonic son, who was threatening to kill her.
Suddenly he whipped to the side, moving towards her and then backing away. Her eyes zigzagged as they followed his every movement, her seraph blade held protectively in front of her. She had no desire to use it against him; she didn't wish to hurt her first born child, no matter his state.
He attacked from the side in her brief moment of hesitancy, managing to tackle her to the floor once again. His nails dug into her arm and she avoided using the seraph blade, scared to cut him too deeply. He was on top of her, his black eyes lit with a malicious glee, while his hands clamped around the blade, pushing it away from him. Maryse feared his profound strength and almost cried out again as blood trickled from wounds the blade inflicted on his palms.
He continued to push and she feared pushing back. If she plunged the blade forward, she knew it'd slice through his hands and cut into his neck, silencing the monster forever. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't kill her own son.
Kicking her legs, she flipped them both once more and they rolled together on the floor, the seraph blade held between them. As her head smacked against the ground, Alec unclenched his hands and knocked both of her arms back, causing the seraph blade to slip through her fingertips. A cold dread swept through her as her eyes hazed, blurring her vision for a moment.
His knee collided with her stomach and she was winded, gasping while he scrambled for the fallen sword. Within seconds, she could feel the cold metal against her neck and she couldn't will herself to fight back any longer. Not if it meant killing her son.
Time slowed. Her heart thudded once more against her chest as she looked into Alec's eyes, searching for the son she'd lost. She heard his first infant's cry, his first word, his first laugh. She could picture his first smile. Her son had been warm and filled with innocent joy.
She loved him with every ounce of her being. She loathed the demon who'd ruined him. And she hated herself for everything she hadn't done — for every way she'd failed him.
The sword plunged through her neck and all was darkness.
So there it is... The major secret of Alec's past has been revealed. Did you like it? Well that's probably a stupid question because I didn't like Alec killing Maryse since it's horrible, but did I at least shock you? Or had you already caught on and realised before the reveal? Let me know!
I know I said this next chapter would be full of action, but if I included the whole showdown with Camille this chapter would have been way too long and I like to stick to a 4000-5500 word count. Part 2 of the showdown will be next and I promise that will be all action :D
3 more chapters to go until the end of part 1! Please let me know what you think by reviewing and thank you for all the lovely reviews/follows/favourites so far. I still can't believe I'm almost at 100 reviews, 200 follows and 100000 words! It's crazy!
Thanks for all the continued support and more chapters next week :D
-DareToDream