Xelqua goes through Catarina's portal with Maryse by his side. As soon as his feet latch onto his apartment floor and the portal closes behind him he stares at a longsword glowing a dark purple on a mantle over his fireplace.
Maryse stares at the warlock in silence for a moment before saying his name "Bane?" But for the warlock every nerve ending he had was on fire, Maryse's voice reverberated in Xelqua's head making him grasp his head in pain.
"Xelqua, I'm going to grab your hand alright?" The blonde didn't respond to Maryse not even moving from his position.
Maryse gripped the warlock's hands, interlocking their fingers together. As soon as Maryse touched his hand, Xelqua jerked forward trying to get away from the shadowhunter but only let out a small whine, the first noise he made since entering the apartment.
"Xelqua what is it?"
"Pure shadowhunter energy, please I need it, I need your strength.."
Every shadowhunter was told for generations that their angelic core is sacred, and that demons will go after specific shadowhunters' with pure angel energy. Maryse was one of those shadowhunters with pure angel energy given to them by the high angel siblings Raziel and Kazil.
"How do you know about tha-"
"I can sense Kazil's signature in you."
"You know what his signature is?"
"Yes I do. I'll explain why after but Maryse I need you.." Xelqua's body clenched tightly as he let out a loud scream and slid to the ground. A dark purple magic started to flow from the warlock's palms uncontrollably.
"Take what you need, but how do I give it to you?"
"Focus on the energy deep inside you."
Maryse closed her eyes and breathed deeply, releasing an exhale when she felt a pulse of energy light up making her insides crawl.
"I've got it."
"Good, now that you've found it, push it outwards."
As Xelqua said this he felt a rush of energy flowing up his spine and spreading through his limbs.
He was tired, and light-headed from using too much magic to understand how good it felt, feeling Kazil's magic go through him again after years of only his own angelic energy, but soon the pieces clicked inside his head. We are linked, A child of a nephilm and an edomi who join as one.
"Maryse?"
"It's okay Xel.. I'm here."
"Maryse we need to-
"Xelqua.. It's okay. Just rest you need it, I'll be here when you wake up, I promise."
Maryse trailed her hand over the blonde's hair as his breathing began to go steady and he fell limp in the shadowhunter's arms. Maryse forces herself to her feet, holding onto Xelqua as best as she can, bringing the warlock to his bedroom. The warlock went still on the bed, Maryse propped him up against the bed frame as his head leaned itself to the side towards his left shoulder. Maryse runs a hand over the Xelqua's sides, checking him over for any possible wounds apart from his already injured hand and his rather obvious magic exhaustion. The warlock didn't seem to have any other life threatening injuries so Maryse allows herself to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Hey?" Xelqua rasped tiredly
"Hey yourself." Maryse murmured back
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you. Maryse, I used too much magic, I'm sorry.."
"It's alright Xel, don't apologise. You just overexerted yourself. That's all." Maryse worries,
"Family does that to you. Doesn't it?"
"Maryse, have you gotten any sleep?"
"No.. I have been worrying about you. Bane"
"Maryse? Why? You need to rest as well."
"Why? Was I worried about you Xelqua, are you serious! Xelqua!? Your magic was hurting you. You were in pain, I wasn't going to leave you by yourself to wither and die alone, not if I can help it."
"Maryse, I.." Xelqua opened and closed his before mumbling "Sleep. With me." as he starts moving to the side of the bed making room, watching the shadowhunter as she blushes a dark red.
"Wha- Xel.. I"
"Not like that Maryse, but unless you want to." He said flirtingly with a wink.
"Bane." Maryse warned with a stern tone but she had an upcurved smirk
"Regardless," the warlock said seriously, his tone becoming stern, less playful than a second ago. "I am not joking about resting, I know how you tracked me. Using that rune is dangerous, it drains your angelic signature and essence from you. Like Raziel did to Kazil"
"You know about the Pure Energy that Kazil gives, how?" As Maryse asked this she sat on the bed next to the warlock.
"Hmm.." he softly hums, "Do you know the tale of the Two Kings?" Maryse wordlessly shook her head.
"For centuries most nephilm believed that it was real but these day most think of it as a myth."
"There are small truths to myths and legends, correct?"
"So do you think that angels betrayed their own?"
"In a way. May I tell you a story."
"Of course"
"Many millennia ago, one of the high angels, Kazil, met a high demon called Ulza. The angels and demons were at war, they joined forces and fell in love.
Enraged by their love Raziel, placed a curse on Kazil, his own brother. Raziel imbued Kazil's soul with heavenly fire, an essence so strong it burns any and all demons. Ulza and Kazil stayed side by side, but it didn't stop their love for one another to Raziel's dismay and jealousy. One night Ulza started twitching in Kazil's arms. Kazil noticed that a rune appeared on his love's neck, a familiar rune to us in the present day. One of pure angelic energy."
"an Angelic rune."
"Yes"
"The rune's power forced Kazil and Ulza's magic to converge and burn one another, Kazil and Ulza lost the higher ranks with the angels and demons. The angelic rune forced them to create a spell in their bloodline, that ones with only both nephilm and edomi energies could unite and have a shared connection due to fate itself."
"Fate itself? As in a-"
"There was a prophecy. A prophecy, where an edomi and a nephilm would cause either the rise of the darkness or the fall of heavens."
"How do you know all this? Xelqua?"
"Because they are my grandparents."
"You and I are the ones spoken of in the prophecy aren't we?"
"Yes, we are."
"How?"
"Kazil and Raziel created the first shadowhunters, the first nephilm, Jonathan and Alice Shadowhunter. The two share both Kazil and Raziel's shared bloodlines."
"So I closely share genes with Kazil."
"Yes. Can I have your hand? I need to see something"
Maryse nodded, holding her hand out to the warlock, whose own palm was shining purple and gold. Maryse could feel a new presence, being ignited and flowing through her veins. Maryse looked up at the warlock and saw his small smile.
"So?"
"You are his bloodline as I expected. Now I need to draw a connection rune, it is similar to the transmission rune that you nephilm use, it will help you manage the power now going to be flowing through you, since your bloodline spell has been activated when you transferred your energy into me. Where do you want it?"
"Right wrist, does that work"
"Yeah it works."
Xelqua visualised the rune in front of him and hovered his white stele over the brunette's wrist.
Xelqua finished drawing the rune, the marked edges flickered purple before turning white like Xelqua's own angelic magic. "Maryse?" The blonde called out with a small smile at Maryse's reaction.
Maryse was staring at her palm with intrigue and mouth wide as her hand as it was now swirling with her own silver, gold and white magic.
"Is this what it feels like all the time for you, that every nerve ending you have becomes lit up."
"It is."
"How do I hide my magic, the Clave they'll-"
"Magic and emotions have a connection." Xelqua interrupted "The stronger your emotions the stronger your magic is. When you are calm and focused imagine that it is as if you have a fearless rune on, the more controlled the magic will be.
"That makes sense."
"Now focus on your breathing and let it reign in naturally." Maryse senses an energy going through her as if she was walking on burning coals making her whimper harshly as her magic flowed through her.
"Did I do it?" Maryse asked with a pant
"Look for yourself Maryse."
The shadowhunter looked down at her hand and instantly noticed that the magic wasn't in her palm. But she could still feel the energy flowing through her veins.
"Come over if you are free tomorrow. We can continue then. I assume you have many more questions."
Maryse opened and closed her mouth that's when she noticed the tired state Xelqua was in, "You are going to feel very exhausted and need to rest."
"I need to get to the institute."
"Maryse?"
"I need to keep up appearances." she said as she let go of Xelqua's hand which she didn't even realise she was tightly holding.
"Is there anyone you trust enough in the institute to know.. or to cover for you if need be."
"Yes. Luscius.. I would also say Imari but she's in Alicante. You have mentioned them both before."
"I do, I know Imari and have for many years."
"Who do you trust more, be honest with me."
"Imari, all things considered after Valentine and everything in between."
"Alright.. I think I'll tell Imari. Do you mind if I tell her you are involved."
"That is a choice that is up to you."
"Xel?"
"I am fine with it. Maryse."
"Now are you positive you want to go."
"I'm sure Xel."
"I'll portal with you over then. While I'm they're I'll strengthen the wards around your room, your office. You know your magic won't hurt anyone or anything unknowingly unless you let it right. Like I said before, it's tied to emotions."
"Xelqua.. Thank you for well you know.."
"Your welcome Maryse"
Xelqua then opens a portal for him and Maryse to leave through and go to the institute. As the pair go through the portal they are in Maryse's office. "I'll strengthen the wards here first then your room after."
"Alright.. I'll be in my room, I have to make a call."
"Of course. After I'm done I'll turn in for the night, if I don't see you then, goodnight Maryse.
"Goodnight Xelqua." Maryse calls with a smile as she leaves the warlock alone in her office. She sits on her bed and dial a number, she hasn't called in a few weeks.
"Maryse? Hi, what a surprise."
"Imari, hey,"
"Mari, why are you still awake? It's past 5am in New York."
"I know Ari.. but we need to talk."
"Mari, of course. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine but can you come back to New York?"
"Maryse? You're worrying me, what's wrong?"
"Can you?"
"Yes. Maryse I will. Now talk to me."
"Do you know the High Warlock of New York?" Imari's breath catches at hearing the warlock title before replying, "That depends who has the role now? And why are you asking me about warlocks?"
"One of the Bane siblings has the role i-"
Imari cut off Maryse. "Did something happen to Xelqua Or Magnus?"
"Magnus is fine but Xelqua."
Imari knows he needs to be formal, non biased but he can't help himself and asks in a panic, "Is he alright? Is he hur- I'll be th.."
"I'm not sure, he seems different after…" Maryse interrupted before trailing off
"After what Lightwood? What happened to Xelqua" Imari snapped
"Lucifer, he attacked him. We've been talking for a few hours, he's strengthening the wards around my office now. But I need to talk to you and so does he in person."
"We need someone that we both trust by our sides."
"I'll be there as soon as I can tomorrow Maryse."
"See you then Imari, and thank you"
Maryse walks back into her office and sees a small dagger and a handwritten note on her desk. She grabs the dagger and places it on the side of her desk with a smile on her face before reading the note.
'It seems like I didn't need to be in the room to do both wards after all, Send Ari my love and mention that he owes me a scotch when you see him. Also Maryse please stay safe. XB'