Alec knocked lightly on Raphael's door, feeling slightly nervous, although he wasn't sure why. Raphael soon opened the door, and invited him in with a small gesture as the older vampire returned to his main desk, which had various documents spread across it. Raphael sat back down, and looked as if he was reading the reports, however in reality he couldn't care less about the words on the pages at that moment.
"Is something wrong Alexander?"
"No, I just wanted to tell you what I found out about Maureen, before we head out to look for her. I found out what she wants."
Raphael now focused his full attention on Alec and motioned for him to continue.
"We're pretty sure she's after a spell in the Book of White, for Sebastian. The spell can turn all downworlders into mundanes."
Raphael took a moment to process the information.
"I see why the Nephilim desires the book so much, I doubt I need to tell you how disastrous that would be."
"Yeah, I know."
"Who did you discern this information with?" Raphael asked. "You said 'we'."
"Oh right, Magnus and my siblings, and Simon. They all turned up at Magnus' apartment, they were planning on getting him to help them track down Maureen."
"So you do not detest Magnus' company as much as you did when you first stayed there," Raphael said in a tone Alec couldn't quite decipher.
"It's not going to happen again. Magnus and I are completely over, it's just that I lost track of time and the sun came up as soon as I got back to his place, so I had to stay."
"I see."
"Lucy said something to me earlier, I wasn't sure if she was just being…but anyway, she said that you were, I don't know, angry, or jealous, of Magnus…"
Raphael groaned disapprovingly at those words, he should have known that Lucy would reveal all to Alec.
"At the time I may have hinted at such a thing I believed you were with Bane."
"But, I don't understand, why it matters to you. I get that you're meant to look out for me, as my maker, but what does Magnus have to do with that?"
"I find myself over stretching my obligations with you, Alexander, that is all. Now, we must leave if we wish to join the clan on the hunt for Maureen."
With that Raphael turned and left the room, and after a moment Alec trailed behind him, looking even more confused than he had been, Raphael's cryptic words only furthering his earlier uncertainty over what Raphael was thinking.
Alec followed behind the group he had been branched off with, watching as Raphael, aided by Lucy, orchestrated the search. It had been two hours and Alec was starting to bore of searching the seedy backstreets of the city for Maureen. He hadn't spoken to Raphael since their strange conversation, which he was still trying to make sense of. What exactly did 'stretching obligations' even mean? Alec sighed and kicked at a loose chunk of pavement, which had broken off of the rest of the sidewalk. One of the vampires ahead heard this, and shot Alec a disapproving look. Alec bowed his head, recognizing that when stealth was key such actions were not helpful. Again he realised he didn't quite have control of himself just yet. Alec glanced up again when he noticed Raphael separating from the group, disappearing as he had already done a couple of times that night. At first Alec had thought nothing of the behaviour, but his curiosity was growing.
Raphael stepped into the street he had agreed to meet Magnus in, glancing over his shoulder to check none of his clan had followed.
"I am surprised you decided to show," Raphael said as he picked up on Magnus' presence without having to look for him.
"We both want Maureen gone, and it turns out neither of us seem to be able to do that alone. A shame really, I was looking forward to not having to see you again for at least another decade."
"For someone who wishes to spend so much time around my progeny I had expected you to extend some of the same courtesy to myself."
"I didn't want to see Alec because you turned him, but don't worry, that's all over with now."
"So Alexander tells me," Raphael said with a small smirk, invisible in the darkness of the street.
"It would be lovely if just once we could meet somewhere that doesn't look like it's seen a dozen murders," Magnus said, quickly redirecting the conversation.
"I am a creature of darkness, you should understand that more than most," Raphael said, becoming more relaxed as he sensed Magnus' slight unease.
"Yes, I do remember you being particularly gloomy. Now, how about we start the spell? I do have other clients, who, believe it or not, actually pay for my services."
"With all the time you spend sucking up to the Clave it's amazing you still do," Raphael said as he moved closer and watched the warlock start to prepare for the spell.
Magnus lay out a few key ingredients, snapped up some candles, and finally revealed a small white book from until his long, and rather ornate, coat.
"I am done assisting the Nephilim in their stupid quests. I no longer have any reason to stay and deal with the aftermath of their most recent disaster. As soon as Maureen is killed, and I have repaid one last favour, I will be leaving the city."
Raphael was genuinely shocked by this information, and it took him a while to form a response.
"What of your High Warlock duties?" He eventually asked.
"This city will be left with plenty of chaos once Jonathan Morgenstern eventually returns, and I know a certain warlock much more equipped than myself for dealing with the Nephilim. I am sure she will make a more responsible High Warlock," Magnus said as he finalized his preparations. "I have been in this city too long, and I do have a rule about making one place too much of a home, that's how I ruined London for myself. I'm thinking that Beijing will be lovely this time of year."
Although Magnus easily adjusted his tone to sound light hearted, Raphael could see how heavily this decision weighed upon the warlock.
"I wish you luck in your future endeavors. For all of our differences, you have been kind to me, and I owe you much for that," Raphael said sincerely.
"Just promise me one thing, if something does happen between you and Alec, don't break his heart," Magnus said.
"Like you did? You needn't fear, I am much less frivolous with my desires and commitments than you are," Raphael said, but he continued speaking before Magnus could call him up on his offensive words, "Also, there is still the small complication of him showing absolutely no romantic interest in me."
"As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think that's the case," Magnus mumbled to himself, although Raphael could still easily hear his words. "Now, for the spell."
Raphael nodded and stepped back, watching with masked fascination as Magnus starting uttering words in a foreign language Raphael had no hope at understanding. Even so, he could still feel the power behind the words, that Magnus manipulated to his will, using his own ability to harness the spell and direct it towards returning Maureen's mundane life-force.
A/N I know that some of you are disappointed about this not being a Malec story, but I've had an idea for one, and I was wondering whether I should start writing it once I have finished City of Mortis, seeing as it doesn't have too many chapters left. Please let me know what you think.