Clary:
Sophie didn't talk as she helped Clary out of her shredded dress. Though she did give her a few startled looks. Clary liked Sophie, she was all things sweet. How is she related to Isabelle? Clary wondered.
"Do you need help getting-" She started, poking at the modern day clothes on the mattress.
"No," Clary said, "I can do it myself." She turned to the girl, "Thank you Sophie."
The girl smiled. "It was nice meeting you Miss Fairchild." She began to walk away, "Oh, Jem fell ill, but he and Miss Gray asked me too wish you a safe journey."
"Sophie, is Jem sick often?"
Sophie froze… then nodded and left the room.
Her worn out jeans felt so good on her raw legs and the shirt slipped easily over her head. The second she got home she was taking a nice warm shower. Clary finished buckling her belt when someone said her name.
"Clary?"
She turned to see Will standing at the door barefoot and in fresh, clean clothes. He still unnerved her, this boy who looked like Alec and acted like Jace. "Oh." She threw the duffle bag Sophie hand given her for her Victorian clothes over her shoulder. She was bringing two dresses back with her, she wasn't sure what she would do with them but they were beautiful. She had faith that she would think of something. "Oh! Just…" She held up her hand and pulled the canvas out from behind the bed it was covered in a white sheet. "I'm sorry I couldn't finish it."
Will took her painting and looked at it. The look on his face was better then any money. "It's-"
"Clary?" They both looked towards the door to see Jace staring at her and Will with suspicion. Aw, she thought, he's jealous how cute. "You ready to go?"
She nodded. "It was nice to meet you William." She said as she passed.
"What was that?" Jace asked, leading her down the hall.
Clary looked at him with a smile. "Just giving your great, great, great, great grandpa a good-bye kiss."
"Haha," He joked, "very cute."
"Clary!" They both turned to see Will jogging down the hall. "You forgot something."
Jace gave her a look. "Oh did you?"
"Shut up." She hissed.
Will reached them and held out a hand. "Your payment for the paining." He handed her an envelope, "ten pounds as we agreed."
She looked down at the envelope, it was heaver then she thought it would have been. Before she could remind him that she had not finished it he held out his hand to Jace. "I hope we cross paths again, Jace Lightwood."
Jace took it. "Same." Then to Clary's surprise Will offered her his hand. She took it and shook it as firmly as she could. Then he flipped her hand over and kissed it, winked at Jace and walked away.
"He's definitely your relative." She mussed.
Jace winked at her in imitation of his ancestor William Herondale and pulled her down the hall. Izzy, and Simon were waiting by the door in their modern day clothes. Seeing Simon in his 'Made in Brooklyn' tee-shirt made her smile. Magnus stood a little ways away from them looking a little less sparkly then usual.
"Let's hit it!" Simon said and jumped down from his perched on the wall. He was become more like a vampire everyday. In the back of her mind Clary wondered if he was hunger… or thirsty.
"Where's Alec?" Jace asked.
Before anyone could answer Alec came running out of the doors smelling of potatos and sour milk. "I'm here, sorry."
"Where were you?" Isabelle asked her brother, "The kitchen?"
Alec just shrugged and led the way down the cobblestones.
Alec:
The roads that led from the institute to Magnus's house were long ones and Magnus didn't as much as look at Alec the entire way, Simon walked with Isabelle, Jace walked with Clary and Alec walked alone. His palms were sweating, he was so afraid of what happened next. The potion had worked at the Institute with Jem and Tessa, why wouldn't it work on Magnus. The rest of the institute would have the potion tomorrow with their morning tea –he had taught the spell to Bridget, telling her it was song about a couple that died at each others hands- he told her to sing it tomorrow morning during breakfast, but they weren't what worried Alec. What if he got home and he –just like know- would have to walk alone because something happened to Magnus? Alec shivered as if cold and caught Magnus watching him. He turned away quickly when he caught the shadowhunters eye. Magnus didn't bother with the doorknob when they reached his home. The door swung open at the flick of a finger.
"Now," Magnus said, "Before we get started does anyone have to use the bathroom?" They all just stared at him.
"Actually," Alec said, "I left something in your room. May I?"
Magnus gave him an indifferent look. "Go, we will get started."
Alec heard chanting as he walked back into Magnus's room and looked into his full length mirror. He was back in his comfortable over sized sweatshirt and jeans that had been Jace's. His hair was a mess as always and he looked scared. He closed his eyes and took two long deep breathes before taking out the little vile of Esquerser which Alec –thanks to Magnus- knew was Postuguese for forget and –very careful not to get any into his mouth- put a few drops on his bottom lip like his sister put on lip balm. "I'm sorry Magnus." He whispered and went back into the room.
"About time." Jace snapped. "He's almost-" a bright light exploded into the room. It was like dropping milk into water, think and smoky. It filled the room with a bitter and toxic smell that they all recognized… New York. The milky liquid cleared and they could see it, the New York institute being past by a New York cab.
"How…" Clary muttered.
"I used some special ingredients to make sure you would go where you needed too." Magnus told her. "Who wants to go first?"
Jace gave Alec a hard look then took Clary's hand. "Thank you Magnus. See you in a few hundred years." He and Clary stepped through and disappeared.
"My turn." Izzy said and jumped through after Jace and Clary.
Simon looked unsure.
"You're next vampire." Magnus said.
Simon looked at Alec, "You'll be right behind me right?"
"Yes."
Simon nodded and timidly stepped through the Portals.
Magnus finally looked at him, "Last chance to stay with me, Alexander."
The portal swam behind him, showing 20th century New York City. He knew what he was going to do, he had not lied to Simon but it still hurt to look at Magnus, at the hope and hurt that swam like ying and yang around his face. He didn't bother trying to explain anything to Magnus, he wouldn't be in pain any longer. Doubt drowned Alec's mind the longer he looked at him. What if something changed and Magnus doesn't end up going to New York? What if something happens with Clary and her mother never comes to New York or her mother decides not to hide her Sight? 100 others flew through his head at rapid speed, then thoughts of him staying here with Magnus flowed through his head… He could be a Shadowhunter at the London institute, leave here with Magnus and not have to worry about time... He reached for Magnus and crushed their lips together. He kissed him in a way that he knew would cause Magnus to grab Alec's bottom lip in between him own. Magnus licked the potion off of Alec's lips. Magnus felt it or tasted it Alec didn't know, but he backed away from Alec, eyes wide and Alec whispered the incantation.
"Alec what is this?!" He snarled but Alec didn't stop.
Magnus's eyes rolled back into his head and he would have fallen if Alec hadn'ta caught him and laid him on the couch as he finished the spell. He turned around quickly to make sure the portal was still there, it was. He turned back to look at this Magnus one last time.
"I love you." He whispered to his beautiful boyfriend and kissed him on the forehead.
Without thinking, without looking back at Magnus unconscious on the couch, he jumped through the portal and back to his home. His last thought in Victorian London was, god I hope this works!