Chapter 8:

As the group stepped through the portal, Clary blinked, trying to let her eyes adjust to the dim interior of the park after the brightness of Magnus' apartment. As she turned to the group, she saw Magnus speaking quietly and urgently to Catarina. Dot and Clary made eye contact over Madzie's head, before the blue-skinned warlock took the child and opened up another portal. As she took Madzie through it, the pair vanishing into the golden swirl, but not before Clary caught a glimpse of an upscale living room styled with a ritzy taste that could belong to no one but Magnus Bane.

"I've sent Catarina to my townhouse in Chelsea, too prepare for our arrival," Magnus hastily explained. "She knows what Alec might need, medically speaking, and I don't trust my father enough to take my Angel back to Brooklyn. She'll be ready for us, and with Madzie around, only those of us who know about the apartment will be able to find it."

Clary and Dot nodded their understanding before the three set off at a jog across the park. The fay held dominion over the entirety of Central Park, and Magnus' portal had set them down just outside of the boundaries. As they traveled, Clary cast a quick glance at Magnus' face. Worry shown through his golden cat eyes, left unglamoured to save his magic, and determination was obvious in the lines of his face and the tension in his jaw. Magnus was still desperately in love with Alec, that much was obvious, and it was clear he was prepared to do anything to save the raven-haired Nephilim. Hope swelled in Clary's soul at the sight- between Jace's strength and Magnus magic, she knew that Alec would be okay.

But even as the thought crossed her mind, a scream pierced the night, agony rippling through it. Magnus drew up short, all color draining from his face, as the three recognized the voice inside of it- Alec. Magnus instantly started off again, his feet flying across the damp grass- but before he'd gotten far, another scream rent the night, two voices groaning instead of one.

"Jace," breathed Clary, fear striking in her heart.

A golden light exploded out from the trees ahead, where they' left the boys in the glade, and raced towards their little group. Dot stepped forward, determined, and threw up a barrier around the group. The golden glow struck the bubble, trying to force its way around and inside, but Dot maintained the shield until the light had disappeared from around them.

She slowly lowered her hands, breathing heavily from the exertion and her eyes met Clary's understanding flashing between the two. The spell had failed- somehow, their fail-safe had collapsed and the two Parabatai were on their own.

The two girls turned to look at Magnus, but the High Warlock had already vanished, his feet carrying him ever closer towards Alec. Dot and Clary sprinted after him, both dreading what they each might find in the clearing.

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As soon as the light had exploded out from the clearing, Magnus' heart had sunk, terror striking inside as he realized that Alec was now un-tethered to their world. The poison would quickly be unraveling the binding between body and soul, and if the glue completely came undone, he wasn't sure he'd be able to fix it.

Dot had lowered the shields and he was off, leaving the two girls behind, his worry for Alec overriding any restraint. Entering the glade did little for his confidence, as Izzy and the other Shadowhunters who'd remained were scattered around in varying states of consciousness. But his heart leaped at the sight of Alec and Jace in the center of the glade.

Alec lay face-up on the ground, his pupils blown wide and unseeing as their usual hazel was almost completely covered by the inky darkness. The archer's skin was deathly pale, making the runes that ran across his skin appear darker than normal, and dark spidery veins criss-crossed all across his body. The shadow of the rift had spread quickly, his body and soul separating uncontrollably now that the spell had ended. Alec's breathing was ragged as he fought to stay a part of this world, but Magnus could tell it was only a matter of seconds.

The warlock's eyes traveled down Alec's arm to where Jace had somehow managed to keep his grip on the archer's forearm. The darkness hadn't moved past the point where they were connected. Magnus knelt in front of the semiconscious blond, startled at the sight of a golden glow in his eyes.

His angel blood is stopping the poison's progress. But even as understanding dawned, Magnus knew it wouldn't last. Jace had already been using his reserves of strength for hours to maintain the spell and unconsciousness would soon set in for the warrior.

Magnus took a deep breath and readied his magic, clearing his mind to focus only on his power and the Nephilim who needed him. As he centered himself, he felt an unnatural calm and focus descend, his power swelling inside until he could practically feel it vibrating in each cell. Blue-ish gold energy radiated around him as he reached out his hand to gently detach the golden-haired warrior's hand from the arm of his love, his Nephilim.

As Jace's fingers left Alec's arm, he gasped and fell limply to the ground, his eyes fluttering as he tried to brace himself on the ground. Clary ran over to him, cradling his head in her hands, but Magnus barely registered either of them. His focus was solely Alexander.

Alec's breathing quickened, fingers contorting as the final separation spread around his hand, uniting the dark line around his form. Alec let out a low groan and began to convulse, a hazel fog beginning to seep out of his body. As it left his physical form, the convulsions slowed, and Alec's form began to take shape within the haze, until the two were completely separate.

Magnus waited, heart pounding and breath bated, as the separation took place, then stepped forward, determination and fiber vibrating in every cell of his being. As soon as he'd seen how far the separation had progressed, he'd known he couldn't stop it, but he'd do everything in his power to keep his Alexander here, and to return him to his physical form, whole again.

Magnus reached down and called his power to the fore as he reached out and laid hold of one of Alec's arms within the slowly drifting haze. He'd tried to avoid looking at his lover's face as it floated outside of his body, but as his fingers drew near he couldn't resist looking. Alec's eyes were closed, his dark lashes resting gently on his pale cheeks. The dark veins still stood out starkly against his pale skin, and Magnus' heart lurched at how drawn and weak his Shadowhunter appeared. But he had no more time for recollection as his fingers made contact and the entirety of Alexander Gideon Lightwood entered the mind of the High Warlock of Brooklyn.

Magnus stiffened, his power first trying to fight against the intrusion, before he settled his breathing down and surrounded his own personality with a soft shield. He could maintain his sanity and try to hold onto Alexander. But as he sifted through their combined entities, Alexander's emotions drew him up short. Fear and frustration were woven through the hunter's mind, but what had stopped Magnus short was the deep, throbbing pulse of Alexander's yearning for himself. Magnus pushed everything else to the side, Alexander's affection front and center in their combined consciousness- how could this be. After everything I've done, Alexander… He… I didn't think it was possible for anyone to love me, let alone long for me, yearn to be with me, to sacrifice himself for me.

Magnus lifted the latch of the gate around his personality and let his consciousness reach out towards Alec, towards the love he'd hoped for and let the two meld together. The warlock could feel the darkness that his father had tainted him with burn away in the presence of Alexander's irrefutable affection, and Magnus released a deep breath. He loves me. Magnus took hold of Alexander's face in his mind, thumbs gently caressing his lover's lax face before he tilted it towards his own, their foreheads pressed together as Magnus tried to share his own love and relief with the one whose soul he treasured. They stayed that way for several minutes before Magnus tilted his head up, pressing a soft kiss to the Nephilim's forehead.

I will bring you back, my love. I swear, you'll come back to us.. to all of us. Just hold on.

Taking on more glance before fixing Alexander's image in his mind, Magnus closed his eyes once more- and returned to himself, the darkness of the glade a shock after the brightness of the Lightwood's soul.

A single tear ran down Magnus' face, before striking the cool skin of his lover's pale form on the damp ground. You live up to your name, my dear Alexander. Hold on, my love, hold on.

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Jace had recovered enough to stand with Izzy and Clary, his sister and his heart's love, the three of them waiting anxiously for Magnus to speak. They'd watched as Magnus had reached out towards Alec's soul, his whole being lit with a blue fire. Dot had tried to run towards Magnus, her cry loud in the of the clearing, but she was stopped by Izzy.

"You don't understand," cried Dot, "touching a soul almost always means death or insanity. When two beings combine, both can't survive. For a DownWorlder to touch and Angelic soul- especially a Downworlder with Asmodeus for a Father? Magnus doesn't have a chance! Let me go!"

But Izzy's grip was unrelenting, as Jace shakily stood and made his way over to where they stood. "Dot, their souls have already touched. I've never seen Alec as happy as he is with Magnus. Their connection is beyond anything I've ever seen, their soul is already one- we have to trust that Magnus knows what he's doing. He's one of the most powerful beings this side of Edom. He'll come back to us. They both will."

His voice trailed off as he subconsciously reached up to where his Parabatai rune lay, faded, on his skin. Their eyes all turned back to Magnus, where he stood between Alec's limp physical form and his dimly glowing soul. The High Warlock's eyes were closed, tears streaming out from beneath his lids, but perfect calm written across his face.

The glade remained unmoving, no one daring hardly even o breathe, until Magnus drew in a shaky breath, his hand dropping limply back to his side as Alec's soul disappeared. Jace turned to look at Izzy, their worried faces a mirror for each other, as Magnus knelt beside Alec, pausing a moment to ghost a touch across his lover's cheek, before standing once more.

Jace watched as Magnus shook himself, a shaky hand wiping away a tear, before he stood and turned back to those who remained in the glade. Jace couldn't be sure, but as he and Magnus made eye contact, he could've sworn he saw Alec's eyes flash across Magnus' features, before the cat eyes were back. They waited, hearts beating in anticipation, until the warlock spoke, his voice shaking, saying,

"I got him. He's still here."