Previously

"If you ever need me for anything. I'll be there. Oh and Maryse, I dress to impress."

Those were the last words Maryse heard from the warlock before he walked through the portal which disappeared behind him.

The portal opened inside the High Warlock's apartment, as he walked through. Xelqua instantly leaned against his doorway as he looked up Magnus and Catarina were standing in front of him with their arms crossed and frowns on their faces.

"Xelqua. You have some explaining to do?" Magnus growled looking him up and down

"No hello Xelqua. How are you? then, just straight to business isn't it little brother." Xelqua let his glamor covering his runes drop instantly knowing it was safe to do so around Catarina and Magnus as he walked over to his drinks cabinet and grabbed a glass pouring himself a scotch and drinking it in one go.

"The usual Catarina?"

"Xel? Why is your angelic rune glowing?"

"So yes to the usual then."

"Xelqua. Your rune." Magnus snapped aggressively with a sneer, making Xelqua flinch for a moment, his angelic rune was glowing a harsh and abrupt golden colour.

"I activated it. Magnus I had make sure my magic was still there after the demon attack"

"From inside the New York Institute Brother, I doubt that very much." Moving closer to Xelqua until they were almost touching. "We both had a hand in making those wards or did you forget that Xelqua, I can sense when one of us enters the wards.." Xelqua let out a pained whine before mumbling. "Does the name Andrew Lightwood ring any bells?"

"That motherfucking shadowhunter who I healed even after he.." Catarina muttered with a nod

"Yes… him." Xelqua interrupted Catarina before continuing, "He has a daughter named Maryse and I owe her my life"

"You didn't. Xelqua.. please tell me didn't" Catarina snapped. Xelqua's eyes instinctively unglamoured themselves and he looked away from both his best friend and brother, moving himself to sit down on a leather chair opposite Magnus.

"I would have died, If she didn't Catarina."

"You let a shadowhunter re-rune your iratze.. Are you insane? She'll report you to the Clave."

"She won't Catarina."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because, she would rather die, than be loyal anymore to the promises of the Clave"

"You trust a word of a shadowhunter."

"You trusted Jem's words."

"You know damn well Bane that he is married to Tessa."

"Do you not trust me then Catarina."

"Xel.. of course I do. There is no one more I trust than you. I stood by your side for years, why would that ever change now."

"Catarina enoug-.."

"This shadowhunter you mentioned. Do you trust her?" Magnus snapped tilting his head as he interrupting his brothers retort.

"I do Magnus."

"Your eyes haven't had that same glint since you and Meliorn ended things. You care about her." Magnus answered before Xelqua mumbled, "She intrigues me, Magnus.. Besides, she's old fashioned and.."

"Old fashioned?"

"She reminds me of Will, besides I asked her to go on a date with me."

"You're going on a date with a shadowhunter.. That's fine.. But a Lightwood out of all of them?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Xelqua" Catarina asked concerningly

"I had this sensation so to speak when she did the iratze, my magic both of them felt more alive. We had a connection. Lilith I sound insane. But yes Catarina.. I'm sure"

"Xel, we are here for you, always. No matter what."

"I know Ca-"

"Xelqua?" Catarina called out to the high warlock pinched the bridge of his nose and suddenly started swaying on his feet

"Something's wro-" Xelqua rasped as he turned towards Magnus but as he went to move he fell forward, Magnus rushed to his brother's side instantly grabbing hold of him tightly before his head hit the floor.

"Xelqua!" Magnus yelled as all the world that Xelqua could see flickered, becoming a black castle filled with red and grey fire. Xelqua let out a pained whine as seeing the entire world around him lit up into flames for a moment as a red glow filled his vision.

No

No..

Not this place. Not Edom.

The high warlock was sitting on the ground focusing on the magic flowing through his veins as demons of all shapes and sizes, from Shax, Ravager, even some Greater Demons watched on from afar. The cracking of the fire became almost all the warlock could hear, almost taking him away from noticing that the veins on his wrist were popping out and turning a dark red. When the red flame turned black, he was attacked.

As Xelqua turns around he sees Magnus behind him, with black wings on his back and eyes a dark red but still cat-like shining brightly.

"Magnus? No.."

No

"He promised that he wouldn't.. What did Asmodeus do to you?"

"You abandoned me kakak (older brother) for that shadowhunter piece of shit"

"No.. I would never abandon you Mags, never"

Magnus drew an dark adamas sword and pushed Xelqua backwards holding the weapon under his neck.

"Magnus.. You can fight him. Asmodeus is using you. You are are the most important person to me"

"I trusted you, Xelqua. You betrayed me"

"I won't fight you, I never will. Magnus." Magnus' hand started to shake as Xelqua reached his own hand onto the side of Magnus' cheek hovering white energy over him as Magnus slowly moved his blade away from his brother's neck.

"Xel? Is that you?" Magnus whispered, his voice hoarse as the wings on his back faded, vanishing into a red mist.

"I'm right here. Mags"

"Do it please.. Don't let me become what you tried to stop.."

"But Magnus?"

"Xel.. Do it. Don't let me stay as Asmodeus' puppet. He will never stop.. You know he won't stop."

"I'm sorry.."

"Don't be.. I will always be with you."

Xelqua summoned his own adamas seraph blade, the weapon of the shadowhunters, making it appear in his hand and glow a harsh white, as he drove the blade into his brother's chest watching crimson blood spilling out all around him. Xelqua brought Magnus down to the ground slowly so he was laying on his back. Xelqua knelt down closer to Magnus and grasped Magnus' hand into his own.

"I love you kakak. (older brother)" Magnus rasped quietly, falling limp into Xelqua's arms. Xelqua closed his brother's open eyes.

He went to move off the ground but his legs were paralysed to the ground, he tried to summon his magic but all he could feel was his centuries old power from Edom burning him.

"Magnus? I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry. I love you too."

Xelqua clenched his fists as tears ran down the side of his face when the area around him suddenly went dark

Xelqua was only distantly aware that his breathing was becoming shallow, that he was trembling.

Xelqua couldn't breathe or see. Everything around him was blurry and his ears were ringing. The High Warlock wasn't even sure if the cries he was hearing were real or only in his head.

"Xelqua," He heard someone call out his name. "Xel."

The fog in his mind is too thick, Xelqua couldn't see, he couldn't look at the people he could sense around him, he couldn't catch their eyes and ask why they sound so concerned.

"Come on, breathe with me. Follow me, yeah? Just like that."

And slowly, the fog eases and a familiar world comes into view. He was in his apartment, everything was as dark as the world he was just in with a red taint on his vision making everywhere he looked red. But Xelqua focuses on the person whose chest his head is resting on, He finds that Magnus is looking at him with concern and his next breath comes out as a sob.

"Xel? Are you back with me?"

Xelqua felt his ribcage expand and fill with the air as his golden eyes glamoured green before fluttered open and vision cleared the red tinge vanishing.

"Magnus? It's all my fault, I-I couldn't s-stop him from hurting you. I'm sorry-y" Xelqua quietly rasped as Magnus pulled his brother closer into his arms.

"Xelqua.. You don't need to be sorry for anything. I've got you. Nothing happened… You are safe.. I'm safe..I'm right here." Xelqua slowly nodded trembling in Magnus' arms

"Mags?" Xelqua whispered his little brother's name as his world faded to black.

"Xel? Stay awake.. No..no.. no don't fall asleep, Xelqua?"

"Fuck.. Magnus.. his rune?"

Xelqua's angelic rune began to glow a bright white making his golden warlock magic flow uncontrollably around the apartment

"Xel? Hey.. Hey.. Focus on me, Focus on my voice. Magnus is safe. Your Adik (little brother) is safe. You are safe." Catarina whispered instantly, hoping talking in Indonesian would snap Xelqua out of whatever was happening. Catarina starts placing a hand on Xelqua's now pale skin where his showing angelic rune laid as the magic in the room flickered for a moment before fading away.

"Adik? (little brother)" Xelqua whispered as Magnus instantly grabbed his hand.

"I'm here kakak (older brother)." Magnus whispered back as Xelqua let out a pained whine, his eyes were barely open, and pupils were glazed over. He was scared. Catarina removed the blonde's jacket and shirt placing her hand on Xelqua's bare chest and started to use her own magic to sense what was wrong.. Unsure if it was due to his magic or something else.

Xelqua slowly opened his eyes wider trying to adjust to the amount of light in the room.

"Xelqua?" Catarina whispered his name hesitantly

"I'm alright Catarina.."

"What was that about?"

"I'm not sure. But for a split second I was in…" All three Warlock's in the room dreaded what Xelqua was going to say as he trailed off

"In where?"

"I was in Edom. Magnus"

"Edom? That's impossible."

"Xelqua, you will never be in Edom alone. I promise."

"I'm sorry. Catarina, it is obvious you trust me."

"It's alright Xel."

"Catarina it's not, I'm a freak.. an abomination, I don't deserve to be High Warlock. I betrayed our people."

"Xelqua that's enough. YOU ARE NOT A FREAK OR AN ABOMINATION. No one deserves to be High Warlock more than you. The downworld itself would be no more if it wasn't for you.. Our people.. Warlock's would have been killed if you did not lead us."

"Cat? I..."

"No.. Xelqua.. you're wrong, You're my brother.. we are blood. Kakak (older brother), I care about you always have and always will.." Magnus pulled his brother into a hug squeezing him tightly. A loud phone rang in Xelqua's pocket which made him flinch for a moment at the loud noise.

Xelqua took one glance at the number recognising it to be Dot, an old friend and fellow warlock so he answered it instantly,

"Xelqua, I need your help?"

"Dot? What's wrong?" Xelqua said instantly, "It's Elias, he was attacked by a rogue warlock, I can't heal him, I need you."

Dot's normally calm voice seemed distorted somehow. But it was probably due to panic. Xelqua thought to himself.

"Where are you?"

"An alley near the Pandemonium on the corner of Second and Third."

"I'm on way" Xelqua locked eyes with Magnus.

The blonde, green eyed warlock silently opened a portal.

"Hurry. Xel."

"I promise." Xelqua hung up the call instantly.

"Don't think that this discussion isn't over brother about Edom."

"I know Magnus, but Dot and Elias need my help. Besides, I should be back in an hour." Xelqua said walking through the portal he made,

When Xelqua walked through the portal and appeared in a quiet alley, the part of the city was normally abandoned late at night but this was too quiet. All Xelqua could think about was where Dot and Elias were.

"I knew you'd come, Bane. For those worthless warlock's who aren't even here." A familiar deep voice behind him said. There was an easiness in his tone, like he was amused by the boldness of the High Warlock. Xelqua turned slowly, thinking maybe he could talk his way out of this, but that's when he recognised who the demon was Lucifer. He wasn't just any demon he was greater demon and a prince of hell and also something much worse.

Family.

Because its him I guess that negotiations are off the table. He's hated me since I left him with Asmodeus and Lilith in Edom.

Lucifer was upon Xelqua before he could speak. The warlock began to feel a wetness dripping down his arm. There was a knife deep in his shoulder. He let out a small gasp, but Lucifer held a hand over Xelqua's mouth. "Shhh," he said. "Don't ruin it. My little Nephew.. I just want to talk"