Hey anyone who is reading this, this is KiaraBaneTMI. I don't know if anyone is actually reading this, but if you are, thanks! That hopefully means that you like my story and want to see what happens next. This is my first story I'm publishing, and I already have a few chapters finished, but not the entire story. That means that me updating will be sporadic and inconsistent, but I plan to finish this story. I have the whole thing planned out, even the chapter numbers and summaries for what happens in those each is mapped out. Hopefully I'll finish this up soon. And I hope you guys will stick around to find out what happens!
Well, I hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 2: Threat of War
The next morning, Alec awoke to an empty bed. It was rare for him to be the last one up. Well, aside from Chairman Meow, he was the last one up. He sat up and stretched his arms leisurely, waking Chairman in the process. The cat didn't seem pleased about being awoken from his pleasant slumber, and looked like he was glaring at Alec for waking him. Stepping gingerly out of bed, he picked up Chairman, who promptly curled up when Alec scratched his ears, and headed out the door, towards the kitchen.
As Alec walked through the hall, he heard a number of noises from up ahead. Hushed voices, the collision of pans, and the sound of clattering china. Over the months, Alec had come to recognize what these noises emitting from the kitchen meant. Magnus and the boys were attempting to make breakfast.
Since adopting, Alec had spoken out more frequently against Magnus just popping food in from restaurants and stores. Even though Magnus paid for it, usually, it still didn't feel right to Alec. To him, it sort of felt like stealing, even though Magnus promised he left cash most of the time, which did little to dispel Alec's opposition. So, he proposed that they all learn to make food, so popping food in wouldn't happen as frequently and they could try new things together, as a family. The boys were too young to have an opinion at the time, so Alec just had to talk Magnus into it. It took some convincing (and a lot of favors in bed), but Magnus eventually agreed. And surprisingly, when they got older, the boys loved helping in the kitchen. Plus, their cooking wasn't nearly as deadly like Isabelle's was.
"Good morning," Alec said, smiling through a yawn as he exited the hallway. Two little heads popped up from behind the counter where Magnus was standing, mixing something in a big glittery bowl and wearing a bedazzled "Kiss the Cook" apron.
"Good morning," the children responded. Quick as his little feet could take him, Rafael scurried over to Alec, a steaming mug in his hands. Alec graciously accepted the coffee, placing Chairman Meow down, ruffling Rafael's hair in thanks. Max also ran out, but when straight after the Chairman, picking him up and nearly squeezing him to death. Chairman didn't seem to mind the attention as he was also being scratched behind the ears. Alec glanced up at Magnus, who was still in the kitchen and at work making breakfast, which appeared to be pancakes. Making his way into the kitchen, Alec placed his half empty mug down and wrapped his arms around Magnus' waist, giving him a kiss on the back of his shoulder. Magnus looked around for a moment and met Alec's eye. He gave a heart melting smile that made Alec's stomach flip every time, no matter how often he saw it.
"Good morning," Magnus said. Alec smiled and leaned up to his boyfriend's turned head and gave him a quick peck on the lips. He was about to comment on how delicious the food looked, when his cellphone rang suddenly, ruining the atmosphere between them. Magnus rolled his eyes dramatically at the unwelcome interruption, but Alec playfully swatted him and went to retrieve his phone, which had been placed on the table. Picking up the phone, the Shadowhunter looked at the caller ID. It was Jace. Odd for him to call this early.
"Hey, what's up?" Alec asked casually placing the phone to his ear and turning back to watch his family. Raf and Max seemed to be fighting about what to put in the pancake batter, blueberries Max's idea or bananas, while Magnus took out a bag of chocolate chips.
"Alec, get over here," Jace said urgently, panting heavily, capturing Alec's attention immediately. "Bring Magnus. We need you both. Now!"
"Whoa, what's going on?" Alec asked, his voice growing serious. Magnus stopped working on breakfast and turned his head at Alec's change in demeanor. Rafael and Max also seemed to notice, stopping their argument and turning to their dad with worried confused and worried expressions.
"There was an attack," Jace said quickly. "Izzy and Clary are hurt. Iratze aren't working. We need Magnus' help."
"We'll be there soon," Alec replied, before hitting the end call button. Alec turned to Magnus, who was already turning off the stove.
"There was an attack," Alec said urgently. "Izzy and Clary are hurt, and the iratze runes aren't doing anything. They need help." Magnus just nodded his head, quickly shedding his apron and out the kitchen.
Magnus headed down the hall to change quickly. Alec, meanwhile, helped get the boys start to dress as they waited for Magnus. Magnus emerged a few minutes later wearing his usual, official warlock business cloak with the hood, which fluttered behind him as he walked swiftly. He also wore a pair of tight fitting green pants and black boots. Alec quickly changed into his gear and returned to see Magnus finish getting the boys dressed to leave. Grabbing his gear from the coatrack by the door, Alec turned and saw they were all ready.
Magnus made a Portal, and all of them jumped through to the Institute.
When they entered the infirmary, it was worse than Alec had thought. The same injuries that Alec had were covering his sister and Clary in spades. Jace looked banged up too, covered in scratches and open, bleeding cuts, but they weren't nearly as bad as the girls' were. Maryse didn't say a word as the family entered, her eyes trained on her daughter and Clary, full of worry and repressed anger. Simon was also there, gripping Izzy's hand as she writhed in pain, panic all over his face. As soon as they saw their grandma, Rafael and Max both ran her, who was shocked out of her meditative state when they latched onto her. She wrapped her arms around them, holding them close while they continued hugging her, asking in worried voices what was going on and what happened to their aunts. Maryse just rubbed their heads softly and held them close, her face solemn as she looked between her daughter and her grandsons.
"What happened?" Alec asked while Magnus looked over their injuries. Jace shook his head, urging him to be quiet, indicating they would talk later.
Magnus wasted no time. Immediately, he made his way between the two beds the girls were set on and began to work his magic on both of them. Soon, their injuries were fading under the blue flames of his magic. Meanwhile, Jace and Alec took the boys out of the room with Maryse, who gently held the boys' hands. Once they were out of the room, Alec made his way back to Magnus, staying by his side in case he was needed. Simon stayed by Izzy's side, out of Magnus way as he sat on the side where he wasn't standing. Jace did the same with Clary. About an hour later, after tireless working and magic, the girls were sleeping peacefully, fully healed. Magnus looked ready to fall asleep himself when he finally extinguished his flames.
"They'll be fine," Magnus said tiredly. Immediately, the worry from for Simon's and Jace's faces dropped, replaced with relieved looks of thankfulness and gratitude. Meanwhile, Magnus struggled to stand, nearly collapsing on the floor, and Alec wrapped an arm around him to support his stance. From his spot by Clary, Jace looked up to the tired warlock, his face full of genuine gratitude.
"Thank you Magnus," Jace said quietly. Simon also looked up to Magnus, still sitting in the same spot beside Izzy.
"Yeah, thanks Magnus," Simon echoed. Magnus gave a tired nod, before nearly dropping like a stone from exhaustion. Alec caught him just in time, and led him over to another cot, helping him sit down. Alec placed Magnus' head in his lap, and stroked his hair lovingly as Magnus rested, just how Magnus had done so many times for him when he had a hard day. So Alec watched over Magnus as he rested with the girls.
"What happened?" Alec asked in a quiet voice. All eyes that were open were on Jace, who glanced down at his lady love. He shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing, so Alec decided not to push the issue.
A few hours later, Clary and Izzy woke up, much to the relief of their boyfriends and friends. Both of them were slightly disoriented and sore, but happy to see they were safe. Simon nearly hugged Izzy to death, and Jace did the same to Clary. Then, the two boys swapped places, hugging their sisters just as tightly. Shortly after, Maryse and the boys also came back in, and the two boys immediately launched themselves at their aunts, asking if they were alright. Maryse was also glad to see they were ok, and gave a small, relieved smile as her grandsons hugged them.
"What happened?" Izzy asked as she set Max down on the bed with her. "The last thing I remember was those weird masked figures coming at us. They said something to me…"
"Me too," Clary said as she stopped ruffling Rafael's hair. "But I can't remember."
"It's fine," Jace assured his love. "You both just went through a lot. It may take a little time before you remember what they told you." Alec and Magnus, who was a little more awake now, agreed. And, surprisingly, so did Maryse.
For a while, everyone just stayed in the room. Rafael and Max stayed close to their dads after they stopped hugging their aunts. All of them fretted over Izzy and Clary, even though both they and Magnus insisted they were fine. Soon, it was getting late in the afternoon, and the boys stomachs' rumbled loudly.
"Alright," Maryse said to her grandsons. "It's been a long day. Let's let your aunts and papa rest." She took their hands, and led them out of the room, offering them cookies or taking them out to get ice cream. Honestly, Alec was a little freaked out by the way his mom's demeanor changed when it came to his and Magnus' sons. Freaky.
As soon as the door was closed, everyone was silent as a graveyard. No one said a thing, as they were all too relieved or tired. Izzy and Clary eventually fell back asleep, the stress of the wounds still wearing on them a bit. Magnus also fell asleep briefly, but awoke whenever he heard any noise, insisting he wasn't sleeping. Alec found it adorable.
Soon, it was late in the evening, and everyone was feeling much better, physically and mentally. Clary and Izzy were already trying to get out of bed, even though their boyfriends wanted them to stay in for at least night. In response, both girls threatened to kick both of their boyfriends' asses. Jace found Clary's threat amusing, but it appeased his worry and let him know she was fine. Simon backed down because he knew his girlfriend could kick his ass to the end of time. No shame in admitting defeat.
After everyone was fed (they ordered take out from Taki's that Alec picked up), Maryse took the kids to their room at the Institute, as it was late and they had had a long day. They slept in Alec's old room, as it was the largest and had the bigger bed for them to sleep in. Meanwhile, everyone else moved to the library, deciding to discuss that had happened to Clary and Izzy. In private.
"It's sort of fuzzy," Clary said as she held Jace's hand. "We were heading back here last night, or this morning, because we were finished for the night. Suddenly, out of nowhere, this group of black figured popped up. They were everywhere. They said some things…I can't remember what, but they made me mad. So when they attacked us, I fought mad, which was probably what got me like this."
"It was weird," Izzy said, her face scrunched up in concentration. "I've never seen anyone fight like them. They didn't have the same speed vampires have, and they didn't have claws and teeth like a werewolf does. None of them seemed to use magic, and none of them had any fey features. Well, not any I could tell."
"What about you Jace?" Alec asked, turning to his parabati. "You were there, weren't you?"
"Just at the end," his parabati replied. "They asked me to go on ahead to the Institute, saying they had something private to talk about, so I did. When they took too long to get back, I went back to check on them. And I found them surrounded by those figures, all cut up and bleeding, unconscious. I started to fight the masked figures off, but they said something like 'now is not the time' or some shit like that. Then they ran off, disappeared. I called Simon and got the girls back here, started giving them Iratze, but it didn't work. That's when I called you guys and you know the rest."
"Can you describe what they looked like?" Alec asked. "In more detail."
"Um, sure," Clary said, a bit of confusion on her face. "They were all dressed up in black. Like, black bandages or something, from old ninja movies."
"You were attacked by ninjas?" Simon asked, somewhat excitedly, his eyes twinkling in wonder. "Ninja's are real? Wait, of course they are, but I mean…you fought some! Like, real ninjas, from manga! Dude, that's awesome…" Simon trailed off as everyone turned to face him. Alec, Jace, and Izzy looked at him, frowning and unamused. Well, Izzy looked a bit amused. Clary giggled a bit at Simon's geek-out. Magnus was changing the color of his nail polish.
"…If they hadn't been attacking you," Simon finished meekly.
"Anyway," Clary continued, still stifling her smile at Simon's outburst. "They were head to toe in black. And the only skin I saw was a small patch through their eye openings on their masks. They all looked like girls, but maybe they were shape-shifters. I don't know. But there was one thing that really got my attention."
"Their eyes," Izzy finished. "They had feline eyes. Some the color of Magnus', others with blue, green, and even orange. But they were all cat eyes."
Magnus glanced at Alec, who was deep in thought. His fists were balled, his chin resting on them as he leaned forward. It was like he was trying to hide the creeping worry in his eyes. Izzy caught sight of the gesture and knew something was up.
"What?" Izzy asked. "Do you two know something? Spill." Alec sighed, hating how his sister knew him so well sometimes.
"Last night, on my way home, I was attacked too," Alec said, shocking the group. "The figures you described match the description of my attacker. You have to remember what they said to you. If they told you the same thing I was, then we may be dealing with something bad."
"We're Shadowhunters," Jace said. "Our life is the very definition of bad."
"I mean like Edom bad," Alec said seriously. Eyes widened, some faces tightened in worry. Simon let out a low whistle.
"That's pretty frickin' bad," he muttered darkly. Some of them nodded their heads in agreement. Others (cough Jace cough) rolled their as if to say "no shit, Sherlock".
"Did they say anything to you?" Alec asked his sister and Clary.
"One of them did. She said something that had to do with a war," Izzy replied, trying hard to remember the exact phrasing.
"That a new war is coming?" Alec asked, using the exact words his attacker used. Clary looked up, her eyes blazing.
"Yeah!" Clary said. "Exactly! And that it was going to it would leave the world devastated."
"Who do you think it was?" Simon asked his girlfriend, gripping her hand.
"I'm not sure," Izzy muttered darkly.
"Well, one thing is for sure," Jace said, looking around the group. "We've got to find out who attacked us, and beat them before they can honor their threat."
So there it is! What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Please let me know! Thanks for reading! 3
-KiaraBaneTMI
