Chapter 35
A wave of fury washed over Alec and he threw himself at Asmodeus screaming "By the Angel! I'll see you dead first!" Before he could reach his antagonist, however, the Prince of Hell sent a out a blast of magic that would have killed the shadowhunter if Magnus had not intervened. The warlock hurried to Alec side and helped him carefully to his feet as the sound of Lucia's cacophonous laughter echoed through the dark hallway.
Suddenly from the other side of the room a quiet, but commanding voice drew the attention of all; "I think you will find, Asmodeus Prince of Hell, that your daughter did not have the authority to promise you that particular soul as she is not truly the mother of the child." Brother Armand spoke from his place on the floor, Catarina having helped him into a sitting position.
"W-what! Asmodeus asked glaring at his daughter.
"Don't listen to him!" Lucia shrieked. "Of course the child is mine, I carried the parasite for nine tedious months!"
"Explain yourself priest;" Asmodeus ordered saying the final word as though it were a curse.
Richelieu smiled as he gathered his remaining strength to answer. It had been a long time since anyone had called him a priest, but it seemed appropriate right now and it pleased him."The blood that was used to complete the fertility spell was Magnus', not Lucia's;" The ancient warlock said calmly adding when he saw the look of shocked disbelief on Lucifer's face; "But please don't take my word for it, you have the means to test the veracity of my claim;"
Asmodeus slowly drew a small vial of blood that hung from a cord around his neck. "You are very familiar with the Devil's bargains, priest;" He sneered; "But, you do have a point. Lucia, your arm;" He demanded.
Against her will, Lucia saw her left arm raise, palm upward, waiting for her father to draw the blood that would seal her fate. "D-don't, don't do this, they are trying to trick you father. You know I made our bargain in good faith." A slight wave of his hand was enough to silence her, and she waited, terrified of what was to come.
A thin red line appeared on the pale skin of Lucia's wrist, and soon blood began to well up blurring the perfect symmetry of the incision. Asmodeus opened the tiny vial and allowed two drops of the baby's blood to mingle with Lucia's. The warlock cried out as if acid had touched her, rather than the blood of an innocent child. An angry frown marred Asmodeus's handsome face. Not only had his daughter broken the conditions of their agreement, she had bargained with a payment that was not hers to give. Asmodeus sighed, this was not the end to his evening's entertainment that he expected. Still Azazel would have to concede Magnus had won the contest, and that was some consolation. The Prince of Hell did enjoy collecting on his bets, and his children's little conflicted had provided a great deal of enjoyment.
All that was left now was to decide how best to punish Lucia for her... sins? Usually he enjoyed nothing so much as a good sin, but he did have a reputation to uphold, and Asmodeus would not allow anyone to welsh on an agreement with him. "Lucia, my love, I'm afraid you've been a very naughty girl." He said a huge grin on spreading across his face.
"W-what are you going to do?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What is it the mundanes say these days?" Asmodeus asked in mocked seriousness; "You, my dear, are grounded ... forever!" At a snap of his fingers, everyone present was frozen to the spot, and with the slightest nod of his head the Reaper began to move toward Lucia ignoring both his victim's shriek of fear and the collective gasps of those forced to watch.
The Reaper's large black knife sliced through Lucia's neck nearly severing her head from her body. Catarina's scream of horror echoed through the silent hallway and the tension among those who were forced to watched ratcheted up to an almost intolerable level. Magnus struggled against the magical restraints. He had no love for his half sister, and she deserved no mercy from him, but watching while the Reaper's knife slashed through her body over and over again was more than he could bear. At last Asmodeus raised his hand and in the blink of an eye consigned his assassin and the remains of his mutilated daughter to his own version of home, sweet home, Hell.
"Well, it has been such a pleasure to see all of you again, and soooo entertaining. We really must do this more often;" Asmodeus said as his glance took in the looks of shock and horror on every face. "Delicious, but I really must be going, I have a bet to collect from Azazel!" One more snap of his fingers and he was gone in a swirl of gray smoke, releasing his audience from their enforced paralysis.
As soon as Magnus felt control returning to his muscles, he moved to Alec's side and wrapped the shadowhunter into a hug murmuring softly; "It's over, darling, it's over, our baby is safe." Jace and Clary also moved next to them forming a tight protective family group. It was Jace that finally called Magnus attention to Richelieu still laying on the floor, his head supported in Catarina's lap.
"Armand!" Magnus cried hurrying over to his friend, and looking at Catarina for assurance that the ancient warlock would be alright. The sad shake of her head told him all he needed to know. Magnus fell to his knees beside Richelieu, a stricken look on his handsome face. "This is all my fault!"
"Magnus no!" Armand said quietly. "You gave me an opportunity to make amends for what happened to Adrien Fiore all those years ago, and I am truly grateful. I was arrogant, underestimating the threat Lucia posed, and poor Fiore paid for my mistake with his life. I wanted to enlist you in my fight against Lucia, and was so driven by my political ambitions that I forgot I had no right to play with lives that weren't my own. Forgive me Magnus, if you can."
"Be at peace my friend;" Magnus said quietly taking Armand's hand in both of his and watching as the light slowly faded out of the old Warlock's eyes. Catarina reached out and closed the now lifeless eyes of the former High Warlock of Paris. Her tears fell on his face as she did so and, it seemed to Magnus that those tears washed away the sins of a man who, whatever his faults may have been, had proven himself true in the end.
They all stood in silent remembrance, honouring the warlock who stood beside them during their difficult battle with Lucia. At last, however it was time to move forward, Trecesson's dungeons needed to be emptied of any remaining mundane prisoners, Richelieu's body needed to be returned to Mont Saint-Michel for burial. Catarina would accompany the warlock on his final journey, and provide the Silent brothers with an explanation that did not include Lucia, Asmodeus and a half warlock, half shadowhunter new born. The rest of the group made their way out of Trecesson, stopping at a small Inn to eat and get some much needed rest before opening a portal to the New York Institute. Alec sent a fire message to Izzy letting her know how the battle had gone and about Brother Armand. He knew she would be waiting anxiously for news. They would be home soon and there would be time to catch their breath and prepare for the future, a future that included the miracle of a child. At that moment, despite his exhaustion, Alec felt truly blessed.