Chapter Eleven
Passionate.
If there were ever a word needed to describe all that Valentine was, passionate was probably the one that Alec had first attributed to him. The man felt things more deeply than anyone he'd ever met, even before their shared past had been forcefully revealed to him. However, after?
After learning their past, he had found that Samael, or rather, Michael was the same way. The older angel had been just as fierce as the element he wielded and never was it more clear to him then in this moment.
As the alarms of the ship blared around them, the ship itself creaking ominously, all the fire in his former lover seemed focused on him. There was something on this ship, or someone that his beloved didn't want to lose. However, the man also didn't want to leave him alone, not when he'd just admitted to being behind the ship's impending demise.
As the man snarled soundlessly, and paced indecisively, Alec watched him. He watched him, his heart aching because he knew without a doubt that he wouldn't be able to kill this man. No, matter the war the mortals were waging against him, no matter the betrayal that still lanced through him both from his mortal life and his original one, he knew he would never be able to land the blow that killed the fierce warrior in front of him. He also knew that his former lover was much the same way.
After all, he'd had several opportunities.
The first, that horrible moment so long ago when he'd cast him from the Silver City they had helped build. Had broken his wings, their bond, and his heart all at once then forced him to fall. Left him to burn as he fell into Edom then lose himself to the Darkness without their bond to ground him.
The next shortly before his own demise, when in the deepest throws of his madness he had created demon after demon and waged war against the home he had once protected. When Raziel had first created the shadowhunters as counter measures against the demons. He and Michael had battled then, for the first time on opposing sides and yet though the other had defeated him, he hadn't landed the fatal blow. Instead he had turned to walk away only to be struck down by the Greater demon Beelzebub. It had been one of the deciding factors that had led him to that Cage deep inside himself.
Then, there was the most recent, and arguably most painful time.
When his relationship with Valentine had ended as Alec.
He could still remember the way the anger in the man's blows was offset by the impassiveness in his voice. The way he'd beaten him with the intent to kill him, possession and anger and jealously stifling in the air around them because the man wanted to ensure he didn't leave like Jocelyn had. He remembered being sure that the older man was going to kill him and falling unconscious just as he stopped. He remembered the brief moment of consciousness he'd had on the institute steps, the fear in his mother's eyes and even the slight feeling of shock he'd felt when he realized that he was only alive because his lover left him that way.
Each time, his love had stopped short of landing the blow that would end him, and while the man continuously refuted the thought that what they'd had was real, everything he did contradicted him.
And yet, rather than the knowledge softening his heart…all it did was leave his heart aching.
Pained.
"I won't run." Dark eyes shot up and locked on his, their owner stopping mid-stride.
"What?"
"There's someone, or something, on this ship that you want to save. If you leave…I won't run."
Valentine sneered at him, eyes flashing at his words, and he bit back a gasp as the other grabbed him harshly yanking him to his feet. He stumbled by allowed himself to be led, curious.
"Where are we going?"
"My son is on this ship." He admitted and Alec remained silent. Instead he allowed his ice to climb higher up the ship's hull and tried to pretend the danger roiling beneath the surface of his skin was nothing but dread.
Beneath the ship the water roiled.
*/*
"Did you know this is how things would go?"
The Creator turned as a voice reached their ears, lips turning down at the question. Though emotions were very much a mystery to them, the ache they felt when looking upon the ill-fated mates that had once been their closest companions was very much felt.
Especially when they felt the turmoil roiling inside them both, the madness the Heylel hadn't seemed to notice still lingered beneath the surface.
"I did not." They replied softly. "Though I knew Heylel would struggle to contain you, that it may lead him to be ostracized from the other, never did I realize that he would suffer as he did."
"Why did you cast him out?"
"I did not." The creator repeated, their voice pained. "Megatron was the one to give the order, while I was recovering. When I returned, my Light-Bringer had fallen, and My Right Hand was losing himself to grief. The only mercy I could grant my Right Hand was to cast him from the Silver City and implant him in the human cycle, especially after Heylel tried to kill himself by freeing you."
"You interfered." Amara murmured softly and her counterpart nodded.
"I did. I cast Heylel into the reincarnation cycle after he freed you. I also ensured that half of your power would remain bound to his essence, as it would have fallen apart without it after being bound to you for so long. Even now, he is bound to you, which is the only reason the Madness of Edom has yet to remerge."
"Yet, if he has to fight his Beloved, it will. And your creation will be destroyed in the aftermath."
Her counterpart smiled, "Have faith, Sister. They may surprise you."
*/*
"Who is Heylel?"
Magnus could tell the moment the question left his lips that he'd caught his father's attention. The Greater demon had stilled, eyes widening before he sighed heavily, suddenly far wearier than Magnus had ever seen him.
"That name is not in the Angel Codex. Nor is it in the Demon Codex. How have you come to know it?"
The warlock frowned. "The rogue shadowhunter, Valentine Morgenstern. His wife mentioned that he would say the name as he slept and that when he kidnapped her, she heard him continuously say it."
His father frowned. "It shouldn't be possible. Even most angels and demons do not know that name. He changed it, just after the birth of the Arch Angels. Even I only learned it after he Fell."
Max stepped forward and Magnus found himself stunned by how fearless the child seemed. "Do you know the name Samael?"
He frowned, wondering where the name had come from. Like Heylel, that name wasn't in the Angel Codex either…and yet looking at his father, he could tell the Greater Demon had heard of that name as well.
"You are far too young to know that name, little Nephilim. How do you know it?"
The child hesitated, glancing at them. "My mother, he used to have these nightmares. In them he would beg for forgiveness from someone named Samael. He would ask why he chose someone over him. Why- "
"Why he wouldn't believe him." Asmodeus finished and Max nodded. The demon sighed, something in his eyes softening.
"I was the first angel to be created after the Arch angels. A cherub. When I was created the archangels were still fledglings, with Lucifer and Michael being the oldest. They raised us, taught us to fight and fly, and as the number of angels grew, they taught us more. How to groom each other, how to use our elements, everything. But they began to grow colder toward each other. Michael worked with the Creator molding their new project the humans, and Lucifer began to withdraw, growing angrier and when the War began, we weren't even surprised. Whispers began that Lucifer was starting a rebellion, they were false, but enough people believed them that Michael's supporters attacked Lucifer. He fought back, and in a bout of rage…he killed them. He was charged with high treason shortly after and cast out. Those of us that supported Lucifer fought to retrieve him, fought to prove his innocence and it was believed that we rebelled. We were cast out shortly after." He paused for a moment, gaze far away.
"When I arrived in Edom, Lucifer had isolated himself, especially when human souls began arriving. Yet something had changed in him. After all, time in Edom moves fast than in any other realm. In the decades that we had been fighting, he had spent centuries alone and it had driven him mad. At times he was lucid enough to speak, others he could barely remember where he was and who he was speaking to. He grew more violent and most of the demons weren't even aware that he was there. They thought he perished and all orders he had to give, were given through me. And so, when Lucifer faded nearly a millennia ago, no one knew but me."
Magnus pursed his lips. "What does this have to do with Heylel and Samael?"
His father met his gaze evenly. "Everything. Michael and Lucifer were the very first angels to ever come into being. Lucifer told me, in one of his more lucid moments, that he and Michael had only changed their names to blend in with the Archangels. They had decided to leave their old names behind. Samael became Michael and Heylel became Lucifer. If those two shadowhunters truly know those names, then your entire realm is in trouble."
Dread built in his gut, and beside him, Maryse spoke for the first time since the demon had began to speak. "Why?"
"Lucifer and Michael are the strongest angels in existence. If they were to fight each other, the sheer amount of power they'd use would destroy your world. While Lucifer is in love with Michael and always had been, I wouldn't trust the Creator's Right Hand to hold back, even against his mate. Though if this rogue shadowhunter is Michael, then his hatred for shadow worlders makes more sense."
"Why is that?"
"Michael blames the demons and those that share their blood for the loss of his mate."
"How can we stop them?"
Asmodeus glanced at Max. "Boy, your mother has magic does he not?"
The child nodded. "How-"
"Its concentrated in that bracelet you're wearing. Moreover, you said that your mother was crying for Samael and the only one who would do so is Heylel. You are the key to stopping them from destroying your world."
Max flinched. "Me?"
The Greater demon nodded. "Neither as Lucifer, nor as Heylel has he ever been able to stop himself from protecting those that are dear to him. He would stop himself if only because you asked it of him, but be warned, his love for Michael is strong. If there is a way to save the Right Hand he will try. You will have to kill him, because Lucifer will not."
Magnus nodded. "Thank you. In return for your information I offer that I will spend one week every year in Edom."
Asmodeus shook his head. "Consider this a repayment of a debt. Lucifer has done a lot for me, and in giving you this information, he may be able to save-"
A sudden burst of magic hit them, and Max gasped.
"Alec…" He whispered and his father waved a hand, vanishing.
"I'll see myself out." Echoed in his wake and the warlock shared a glance with the three shadowhunters.
"We need a plan."
A sudden thought crossed both Max and Jace's minds and they looked at each other, before turning to Magnus.
"No, we need Izzy."
Maryse seeing what they were thinking smiled.
Magnus frowned. "Explain."
"There are three people in the world that Alec would never be able to hurt." She led and he smiled.
"Isabelle, Jace, and Maxwell."
She nodded and he opened the portal just in time for a wave of cold shot through them all. Pulling the young woman through and explaining everything to her, he couldn't help but pray that they would make it in time.
Everything else could wait.
