It had been playing on Simon's mind ever since it passed his year turning anniversary; he had spent the last year as a vampire and as a downworlder hiding his new life from his best friends, well, for now, that was. Clary and Alec were just as involved in the shadowworld as Simon was, with them being a Shadowhunter and a Warlock. This meant that really Simon could tell them about who he really is and for once he mostly wasn't afraid of telling them, he knew they wouldn't react badly as Clary had made it abundantly clear to Jace and Issy that she accepted her brother being a warlock and wouldn't let them being different races come between them no matter how most Shadowhunters seem to despise Downworlders. This led him to stand or rather sit on Raphael's bed as the vampire prepared to go to sleep that day.
"Raphael…" Simon started before trailing off, he knew he didn't need permission from Raphael to tell Clary and Alec about being a vampire, after all, they were a part of his world now and they would find out eventually but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't discuss it with the leader of his clan before he did anything because this didn't just affect Simon, it affected the New York clan whether or not they wanted it to, "I'm thinking about telling Alec and Clary that I'm a vampire, I mean they've become part of the shadowworld and they've been really accepting of each other being a shadowhunter or a warlock so they should understand that I'm a vampire… I mean, these last few months before Miss Fray was kidnapped by that sociopath shadowhunter I hinted vampires are my new favourite supernatural creature so they should accept me, I mean I'm still the Simon they knew just with fangs and a different diet. Everything should be fine, right? I mean, it would be hypocritical if they are accepting of each other and not me right. I'm not overthinking this am I, oh… I'm so overthinking this… what if they hate me, what if they don't want to be my friend anymore? Like I know I won't be on my own I have you and the clan but they're my best friends, we've been close since kindergarten and I don't think I could cope losing the…".
Raphael cut Simon off by pressing his cold lips against Simon's before pulling away, leaving Simon both stunned and seemingly breathless even though they didn't need to breathe.
"Amor, these are your friends if you want them to know about your vampiric status then you can tell them, like you've said they are now a part of the shadowworld they will find out one way or another and it will be better coming from you then someone else," Raphael said to his boyfriend.
"I'm just worried that if they'll accept the vampire part but not the daylighter" Simon muttered; he couldn't lie that that hadn't been playing on his mind as well. If he told Clary and Alec, he's a vampire then he's going to have to tell them about being a daylighter too and that by drinking Clary's blood after losing control she had turned him into one. He didn't want to lose his friends over something he hadn't been able to control.
"If they are as accepting as you say they are, then I'm sure they will be fine with you being a daylighter and what happened for you to become one," Raphael said.
'And if not then they will have me to deal with' Raphael thought but didn't dare say that aloud. He had a reputation to uphold, after all.
"You're right, I'll message them right now and get them to meet me at Java Jones," Simon said mostly to himself as he grabbed his phone from his pocket and shot a text message into their group chat.
Alec groaned as he opened his eyes, he had no idea where he was, the last thing he really remembered was running out of the Shadowhunter's institute after having that conversation with his apparent biological mother and portaling to the nearest nightclub he could think of to get well and truly smashed. And now he was paying for that with the world's worse hangover in the history of hangovers. Alec pushed himself off the bed, noticing he was in his room at Magnus' place but he didn't remember getting here, his best bet was that someone found him and brought him back, he could only hope it hadn't been those shadowhunters because the last thing he needed was to look like a moron in front of his sister… oh. He hadn't really thought about that, if what Maryse was saying was in fact true that meant that Isabelle was his younger sister. Alec shook his head, which he instantly regretted. He really needed to learn how to magic a hangover away that would save him a lot of pain whenever he was stupid enough to get wasted.
Alec opened the bedroom door and stumbled out into the lounge after grabbing his band hoodie and threw it on. He pondered whether he should check his phone, but he expected that he would have a gazillion missed calls and texts from Clary demanding to know where he disappeared to. Alec shuffled into the kitchen and slumped onto a barstool before pressing his head onto the cool countertop and sighed. He didn't have the energy to get back up and make himself a cup of tea or even focus on trying to use his magic to magic himself one instead.
"Good Morning," Magnus said walking out of his bedroom, Alec lifted his head to look at Magnus before putting it back down on the countertop.
"Morning" Alec groaned rubbing his temple at the pain emanating from them, Magnus seemed to take pity on him as he pressed a finger to Alec's temple and magicked his hangover away, "thanks".
"You're welcome Alexander," Magnus said snapping his fingers again and two cups of tea appeared in front of them, Alec shot Magnus a grateful smile before grabbing his tea and nearly downed it in one, "Alexander may I ask you something?".
"Sure," Alec said trying to ignore the spike of anxiety he felt in his stomach, he knew what Magnus was going to ask but that didn't mean he was any more prepared for it, he was sure that his brain wouldn't fully function without another cup of tea and food before he could really answer questions with legitimate answers but from the look of Magnus' serious expression, Alec didn't think he could easily get out of it easily by retreating to his room.
"It's about last night, I found you, you were drunk at Pandemonium and you mentioned that Maryse Lightwood told you something which was the reason behind your intoxicated state. If you don't mind me asking, but what was it?" Magnus asked.
Alec froze, he nearly told Magnus about what Maryse had said, the one thing he wasn't ready to do. Yes, Magnus had the right to know, Alec really liked him and he didn't want to start a potential long-term relationship off with lies, they might not be dating yet but they still flirted and they weren't hiding that they were obviously attracted to one another, "Nothing important".
"I know you're lying Alexander," Magnus said before adding, "I won't push you, if you don't want to tell me then that's fine but if you ever want to talk then I'm here, I know that you've been through a lot lately with discovering that you're a warlock and your mother's kidnapping so if you want to talk then I will always be here for you,".
It took everything of Alec's being to stop himself from flinching at the mention of being a warlock because he wasn't, not really, he was an artificial one at best. Valentine had experimented on him before he was born, he wasn't truly a warlock, nor was he a shadowhunter; he was an abomination, but how could he even try to explain that to Magnus; he doubted there had even been a shadowhunter/ warlock mix born before. He didn't know what to do. Clary would always help him whenever he felt lost or trapped, maybe because she is new to all this, she could help him figure out what he should do and help him form what he could say to Magnus. He couldn't lose Magnus, he couldn't.
"I can't… not right now, at least. I need time to properly think and air out my thoughts and feelings. I'm sorry Magnus you're not the right person for that, I need someone who has known me before the shadowworld. I need… I need Clary" Alec said trying his best to ignore the hurt look which briefly appeared on Magnus' face, "but once I understand at least a little what's going on, then I will tell you. It's just… I can't right now".
Magnus nodded, "Well, you know where to find me when you're ready to talk,".
Alec didn't respond instead he returned to his room grabbing his phone from the bedside table ready to send a message to Clary asking her if she could meet him away from the shadowhunters and the madness in their lives had descended into but instead, he found an unread message from Simon in their group chat.
My Life Is A Mess but… no Everything is a Mess. I Shall Never Be Redeemed.
Walking Disaster: EMERGENCY MEETING! JAVA JONES! 10 AM! NO SHADOWHUNTERS OR HANDSOME WARLOCKS WELCOMED!
I Need Sleep But Art!: That means neither Alec nor I can come then!
Walking Disaster: EDIT: NO NEWLY AQUIENTED SHADOWHUNTERS OR HANDSOME WARLOCKS ARE WELCOMED!
Why am I here: Are you saying I'm not handsome!
Walking Disaster: ALEXANDER FRAY YOU ARE THE MOST HANDSOMIST WARLOCKS AROUND BUT THIS ISSUE DOESN'T RESOLVE AROUND YOU SOOOOO PLEASE!
Why am I here: Okay, okay, if you insist Simon, I'll reluctantly get out of my warm and comfortable bed to meet and listen to your problems
I Need Sleep But Art!: Sure thing Si
I Need Sleep But Art!: Also Alec, where did you disappear to last night! Don't think I forgot about your vanishing act! I want answers!
Why am I here: Well look at that I need to water my snacks Bye bye Frazzle
I Need Sleep But Art!: Alec!
Alec wouldn't lie and say he wasn't nervous about meeting Clary and Simon, yes, if anyone accepted him for the mess he apparently was then it would be his adoptive sister and long term friend Simon (he wasn't allowed to call Simon his best friend because Clary refused to share Best Friend Status with him) but that didn't mean he was any less nervous. Simon and Clary were already there, waiting for him at their usual table. It was stupid really; he was the one with the ability to create portals, yet he only used one to portal himself to Manhattan from Brooklyn and walked the rest of the way. Alec needed time to think, to assess his situation, and figure out what the hell he was going to say, Clary had a right to know why he ran out the other day because she is his sister, it didn't matter if they weren't biologically related, he grew up with her so if he told anyone it had to be her. And Simon, they had been friends for so long now that it didn't feel right telling one and not the other, Simon, Clary and Alec were a package deal, you couldn't have one without the other.
"Alec" Clary smiled, jumping up from her seat and throwing her arms around Alec in a tight hug. Alec smiled, relaxing a little before returning the hug.
"Aw hug time" Simon cheered before he too threw both his arms around Alec and Clary in an awkward three-way hug. Alec pretended to look annoyed, but he wasn't. Ever since his mother's kidnapping, they hadn't really had a moment to themselves to just be their weird trio. Now they were always surrounded by others, and it honestly felt nice to just get away from that all and have a break.
"Okay Si, you called us here. What's your problem?" Clary asked when they pulled away from one another and sat back down at the table, ignoring the looks they were getting from others.
"Let's not talk about me first, lets talk about you. What's it like living with the shadowhunters?" Simon said. Alec and Clary shared a look with each other from the corners of their eyes. Something was definitely wrong; Simon would only distract you from one topic to another when he was truly worried to talk about whatever problem he had.
"Simon, you arranged this meeting. Whatever you need the tell us, you can. We won't think any differently of you" Alec said, trying to reassure his friend. Whatever Simon wanted to tell them was eating him away, just like Alec's whole situation was doing the same to him.
Simon sighed as he looked down at the table, his mind racing a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out what he wanted to say, how he was going to say it before he opened his mouth and finally said those three words which frightened him, "I'm a vampire… a daylighter to be more accurate. I have been for a year now".
"… How?" Clary said, shocked. Her best friend was a vampire, a downworlder. Simon Lewis had been sort of dead for over a year now, and they hadn't known.
"Walking home from band practice one night, it was the same night my van was being serviced. I don't really remember what happened, according to Raphael we never do, but the little I remember is someone grabbing me from behind and fangs piercing my neck. The next thing I remember is waking up at the Hotel Dumort and Raphael told me I was a vampire," Simon explained before stopping momentarily to think about how he was going to tell them the next part, this was the part that scared him the most. What would Clary and Alec think of him when he told them about the attack, about how he became a daylighter? "I became a daylighter about a week later,".
"Whatever it is, Simon, you can tell us," Clary said, reaching over the table and taking Simon's hand in hers, "a vampire or not, you are still Simon Lewis, our best friend. Nothing is going to change that. I'm sorry that we weren't there for you when you went through all this and I'm glad you had a supportive clan beside you during your transformation, but Simon, we're never leaving your side again. I may be a shadowhunter, but I love the Downworld. It had two of the most important people to me in it. So, whatever you're scared of telling us, then you should know that we will always be there for you,".
"Of course, Simon. We downworlders have to stick together" Alec smiled grabbing Simon's free hand and squeezed it.
"Raphael and I still don't know how it happened but one night I came round to see you, to say goodbye and when you opened the door… I honestly thought I had control over my urgers but Clary when you opened the door, I lost control and I drank from you. And for some reason that turned me into a daylighter," Simon said staring at the table and refusing to meet his friend's eyes, "I'm so sorry please don't hate me,".
Clary and Alec felt their hearts break in two at how vulnerable and scared Simon looked. They both let go of his hands, trying to ignore the flinch which emanated from the young vampire as they stood up and walked around to Simon's side of the booth and slide in either side of him, wrapping their arms around him in a tight squeeze.
"Don't you dare blame yourself for that, Simon Lewis," Alec said.
"You were a recently turned vampire!" Clary added, she refused to let Simon blame himself for something he couldn't control, it was probably similar to when Alec was little and couldn't fully control his magic yet, their mother never blamed him for the things he broke because it wasn't his fault he hadn't yet learned how he could control it. It wasn't until Dot came into their lives Alec learned to control his magic before started using it to fix everything in the apartment he had broken, "you can't blame yourself for not being fully in control of your urges. I don't blame you. I never will".
"But I attacked you. I'm a daylighter because I drank your blood," Simon said, looking at Clary with tearful eyes.
"I don't care" was all clary said tightening her grip on Simon, "what's a daylighter, anyway?".
"It's a rare kind of vampire capable of walking in the sunlight," Simon explained.
"Then I'm glad you drank my blood because that meant we could keep you in our lives. Simon, you are our best friend, we couldn't live our lives without you. You are just as important to us as Alec and I are to each other. You're practically family at this point, Simon, you really are," Clary said before adding, "Is it because I'm a shadowhunter you were able to turn into a daylighter?".
"No, lots of past vampires have fed on shadowhunters and they haven't turned into a daylighter," Simon replied, "we have no idea why this has happened. No one knows how a normal vampire can become a daylighter in the first place,".
"Then let it be a mystery, we still have you at that's the main thing," Alec said, "at least you're a normal downworlder,".
"Why do you say that, Alec? Is it to do with something that woman said yesterday, you never said why you ran out nearly in tears?" Clary asked, she was worried for her brother, and the text message she received from Magnus yesterday telling her he had found Alec hadn't calmed her nerves.
"I guess… yesterday I discovered that I'm not a normal warlock but an artificial one," Alec said.
"An artificial one, what does that mean?" Simon asked. He had never heard of an artificial warlock before.
"Because… I'm originally a shadowhunter" Alec whispered, but it was still loud enough for Clary and Simon to hear.
"What!" they both shouted, drawing more glares to their table from other customers.
"Maryse Lightwood is my mother, according to her… she was a part of the circle and she let Valentine of all people experiment on her whilst she was pregnant with me. It's why I have my magic because Valentine injected me with demonic blood whilst I was still in the womb. When I was one, she gave me to Mom to 'protect me' apparently,' Alec confessed.
"Oh, Alec!" Clary said, reaching over Simon to grab her brother's hand, "does Magnus know?".
"No, I'm scared to tell him, I'm scared that he will hate me if he knows," Alec said. He always seems to lose people, he can't risk losing Magnus too.
"Don't be silly, Alec, Magnus cares for you. He can't blame you for being something you never chose to be, and it doesn't matter if you're part shadowhunter or part warlock. It only matters who you chose to be. Throughout your life you've identified yourself with your magic then who you truly are is a warlock" Clary said, she didn't identify herself as a shadowhunter yet because she didn't feel like that is who she is, she's grown up as a mundane and she's discovered so much of the shadowworld she doesn't like, she doesn't like the treatment of the downworlders at the hands of the shadowhunters not after her brother and best friend are downworlders too. If the shadowhunters ever changed to accept the downworlders, then maybe she can come to accept who she truly is.
"You think," Alec said frowning. He hadn't thought of it like that. When Magnus said he was a warlock it had been so easy to bring that title into his identity yet now he knows about the other shadowhunter title, he just couldn't accept it as easily. He couldn't imagine growing up surrounded by Shadowhunters, he didn't want to imagine the person he would be if he didn't have Clary, Simon, and his mother in his life.
"I know so," Clary said smiling, "you are a warlock through and through and I know for sure that Magnus won't care about it. You didn't have the choice of being experimented on. And I'm certain that if you grew up as a shadowhunter then Magnus would still love you the same,".
"She's right Alec," Simon said, "God look at us. A shadowhunter, a daylighter, and a warlock, we're a right mess. If my boyfriend were here, he would definitely make fun of us,".
"Wait, boyfriend!" Clary said her eyes widened, "you never mentioned having a boyfriend,".
"Simon!" Alec gasped, "how could you keep such important information from us. Forget being a vampire, I don't care about that! Tell me who this boyfriend is and why haven't we met and vetted him yet,".
"You know the bro code, Simon! Any potential partners must be previously vetted by fellow bros to ensure that they are right for that person!" Clary was horrified that Simon would forget their code.
"Because I never expected that you would meet him," Simon said, "Raphael's a vampire like me, you remember outside the City of Bones, the male vampire who took me. That's Raphael, my boyfriend,".
"Wait, you were kidnapped! When did this happen?" Alec asked.
"When we believed someone had kidnapped you but was actually with Magnus and I wasn't kidnapped pre-say. Camille, who was the old head of the clan, wanted the mortal cup and believed that Clary has it. She took me as insurance to get it, after all, I was a vampire and part of her clan so technically the vampires never broke the accords. During the time they trapped me with Camille, Raphael and the rest of the clan used that time to rise and well kill her before I was rescued and Raphael took over as the new head of the clan. Then we just played along with the Shadowhunters rescuing me with no casualties," Simon explained, it had been extremely odd being around Camille whilst he knew well that Lily and Raphael were convincing the other clan members to turn against Camille, he had been stuck there trying to distract her until Raphael arrived to tell her that the Shadowhunters had breached the building and told her she better get out of here whilst the other vampires lay in wait and attacked before Camille even realised what was happening.
"So that's why the hotel was so easy to break into," Clary said, she hadn't really thought much about it believing Isabelle was doing her job at distracting the other vampires but now she thought about it the only vampire she had seen was Raphael and well Simon.
"Yep, we were too busy revolting against Camille that it was easy for you shadowhunters to sneak in and back out unnoticed," Simon said.
"Anything else happens when I wasn't with you… you know what I don't want to know," Alec said, this was Simon and Clary he was talking to, they probably tried to do countless things which could send Alec into an early grave, "What I want to know is? When can we meet this Raphael person because you may be dating but he still needs to be vetted by us! Bro code and all,".
"Sure, just to warn you Raphael is quite grumpy around everyone," Simon smiled, it seems like everything has worked out for the better, "I know a shortcut, it goes through those abandoned warehouses we used to play in as kids,".
Simon was the first to go down, one moment he was happily walking and talking, and then the next he had collapsed in a heap on the floor with a small knockout dart sticking out his neck. Panic arose in Alec's chest as he looked for somewhere, anywhere to hide but he couldn't find anything, the only place to hide was inside the warehouses but by the time they've picked Simon up and started running then someone else could be down. Alec's eyes widened as Clary collapsed next. Just like Simon, she had a knockout dart in her neck and then…
Alec felt the dart hit him as he lost all function of his arms and legs, and he collapsed face first onto the floor. He tried to fight it, use his magic to throw it off, but he couldn't. He felt something blocking it like something was locked away inside him. He saw two men approach them with circle runs on their necks, one stepping over Simon as they picked up Clary whilst the other head for him. He felt hands on his chest and legs as someone picked him up before Alec succumbed to the darkness. The last thing he thought about was leaving Magnus waiting in that Brooklyn penthouse for Alec to never return.
