Chapter 2 – Let me show you…
Magnus sat on a bar stool alone in the Hunter's Moon, staring into the liquid of his cocktail glass. He had sent his father away once again, asked him to give him some time to sort through his thoughts, figure things out. Although, even at his worst, he would never trust his demon father, who always put a price for anything he did.
He swirled around the cocktail and then took another long sip, trying desperately to understand what was going on with him, trying to figure out how he could have lost such huge chunks of time and information, and he just couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
With a sigh he finished the last sip of his drink, just as Maia came up to him behind the bar and smiled, "How about another cocktail?" she offered, Magnus smile back at her faintly, but kept his gaze on the empty glass, contemplating for a moment, but then told her he had enough for one night, and placed a 50 dollar bill on the bar counter.
"Thanks" she smiled at him again and took his empty glass, "So where is Alec tonight?" she asked. Magnus finally looked at her, confused, "Who?"
Maia gave him a strange look before laughing lightly, "I guess maybe you really shouldn't have another drink." Magnus, still confused, opened his mouth to ask her what she was talking about, that he had no idea who Alec was, but then someone called her from the other side of the bar.
Maia kept her gaze on Magnus, waiting to see what he wanted to say before she left, but he just shrugged it off and told her she should go before she loses her tip.
Perhaps he should have asked her, he didn't know her well, but he knew she was honest, and maybe she could have provided him with some of the answers he was seeking. But it was late, and he had a long day, all he wanted was to go find a bed to rest in. besides, in his state, he trusted no one.
Magnus sighed, thinking Maia was probably confused anyway, so there was no point in asking her, what could she possibly know? As he headed towards the door, he almost bumped into a tall blonde shadowhunter, who seemed to recognise him.
"Magnus, hi, how are you?" the shadowhunter asked, clearly feeling very awkward. Confused, Magnus looked him up and down, trying to figure out where he knew him from,
"Hello… I'm good thank you." He replied slowly, thinking that too much was getting too confusing, too fast.
"Good, I just thought, with losing your magic and all..." the blonde guy said, smiling faintly. "I also haven't seen you around the institute the past couple of days."
This was getting stranger and stranger, Magnus thought, why in the world would he see him around the institute? Sure, he used to go there for work as high warlock, but not that often. He thought maybe he could ask this guy, but how could he know who to trust with his burning questions, when he could barely remember anything?
"Yes, I've been busy." Magnus decided to play along, wanting this conversation to end as soon as possible, without having to get into his confusing state with a complete stranger.
"Good, I thought maybe it had something to do with Alec." the stranger, who seemed to know him, said. Again with this Alec? Magnus needed to get out of there, this was getting too much.
"Sorry, I have to go." He said and rushed off. As he stepped outside into the ally he had a brief flash of memory, he heard a stranger's voice tell him that he was sorry, that he couldn't live without him. Magnus looked around, but there was no one in sight.
Suddenly feeling light headed, he leaned against the alley wall and rubbed his eyes. A sudden pressure on his chest, he could no longer breathe properly. Magnus tried to take a few deep breaths, but ended up choking and coughing on the cold air.
Falling to his knees, he bent his back forwards, and let out a low gasp, a cry of pain. His chest heaving, tears pouring down his face and a tingling sensation, that began at the edges of his fingers and the tip of his nose, slowly spreading throughout his muscles.
As he leaned back on the wall behind him, a small red charm fell out of the pocket of his trousers. He picked it up and held it at eye level, something inside him began to relax, ever so slightly.
He clutched the red charm to his chest, right over his heart, and slowly felt his throat give way for the air to enter his lungs. The tension that had built up in his Muscles, began to relax, the sharp pain in his chest easing, and the tingling slowly disappearing.
"Is everything ok son?" he heard his father's voice come up beside him. Magnus looked up at him and immediately stood up, stumbling slightly.
"I'm fine." he mumbled and began walking away. Despite having his own magic back, and feeling it's intensity spread throughout his whole being, the warlock still felt… weak. He had decided not to make it worse by letting his father near him again, knowing very well what he was capable of.
"Where are you going?" Asmodeus called after him.
"I need to sleep, I'm going to check in to a hotel room." Magnus said, as his father began to walk after him. There was no point in telling him that he did not want him around, that never stopped him before, if anything, it just made more adamant on staying, which was extremely annoying.
"There is no need for that." Asmodeus stopped his son by holding on to his bicep, he spoke with a suspicious smile, and pulled out a key from his pocket. "I got you your apartment back." Magnus stopped in his tracks, pulling his arm out of his father's grasp as he glared up at him.
"What did you do?" he questioned suspiciously, not yet taking the key his father held out to him. This new… weakness that he felt was causing the temptation to rise up. No apartment was worth the price of having his father around, but he could not ignore the emptiness, the need for something that was his, something familiar, a place where he would not feel like a stranger. And boy did that apartment hold many, many memories.
"Lets just say that Lorenzo will no longer be a problem."
"What did you do to him?" Magnus asked forcefully.
"Nothing that you should worry about," Asmodeus said in a tone that made Magnus worry even more, "Just take the key."
Magnus looked from his father to his key, he definitely was exhausted and could use a good night sleep in his own bed, in his own apartment. He just wanted this confusing and strange day to end. Finally, he sighed and took the key out of his father's hand, ignoring the weight of all the strings attached to it.
Before he could stop himself, he looked back up at his father and asked, "Who's Alec?"
"Alec?" the name seemed to trigger something in his father's eyes, he smiled (if you could even call it that), clearly amused, as if they were about to play a game that he just knew he was going to win, and enjoy the process of doing so.
"Yes, people keep asking me about him, but I don't know who he is." Magnus knew he was probably making a huge mistake, he was definitely asking the wrong person. But he needed to know, and there was no one else.
Asmodeus sighed before replying, "I think it might be for the best you don't remember." He said, trying to reach out to his son, who once again stepped away from his touch. The need to touch him, was disturbing to say the least, and his determination to keep trying, was even more annoying.
"I want to know." Magnus was determined, driven by the hate for the way he felt, so small and helpless, desperate for the feeling of being in control again, being powerful.
"I came here to save you from the pain you were caused, I was actually quite relieved that you did not remember anything." his words were definitely amusing, but in no way were they even remotely believable.
"Tell me."
Asmodeus sighed and took a step forward, "If you insist, I can show you." he said and tried to place his hands on his son's head, but Magnus was quick to step away.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I can restore the memories you lost."
"Oh, I think I'll pass."
"I thought you wanted to know who Alec was." his tone was of a mocking one, as if Magnus were weak for wanting to know.
"I wanted you to tell me, that way I could decide for myself whether to believe you or not." Mganus told him, ignoring the tone in which he was spoken to, "But there is no way I am letting you anywhere near my mind, I know what you are capable of, even with your own son, I would never be stupid enough to trust you to restore my memories."
Asmodeus faked a pained, insulted look. Then it changed back into amusement, "Oh, how cute." he said, edging closer, "You really believe you stand a chance against me?" his voice was fierce and his moves were fast and unexpected.
Before Magnus could react or stop him, thumbs were pressed to his temples and the rest of his fathers fingers were on the back of his head "let me show you." Asmodeus said forcefully, his grip was strong as sparks of magic came out of his fingertips and surged through Magnus, who's hands immediately shot up, clutching, pulling, trying desperately to get free of his fathers hold, but was rendered helpless against the prince of hell.
The sparks of magic penetrated Magnus' mind, despite his efforts to fight them off, they spread out every which way, taking over every curve and corner, consuming every part of him. Slowly Magnus felt himself losing control over his mind and thoughts.
Magnus was pacing inside a cell, he was locked up in the New York Institute. He had been there for a few days, being forced to help them with his magic. All because of a drunken night, in which he became friendly with a certain shadowhunter.
After that, they began hanging out, as friends. Little did he know, Alec had an agenda, and was planning to lock him up. He stopped pacing and tried to conjure up his magic, tried to blast himself out of there, but in vain.
"That won't work in there." an amused voice told him. Magnus looked up to see Alec watching him, leaning on one of the pillars, his arms folded.
Magnus glared at him and began to bang on the glass wall, "Let me out of here!" he shouted.
"That won't work either." Alec said, letting out a small laugh and pushed himself off the pillar.
"What do you want from me?"
"Oh, it's quite simple really…" Alec began, moving closer to the cell. "You will go to your father in Edom and have him give you enough power to save Jace."
"And why in the world would I do that?" Magnus spat at him. A twisted smile crept it's way to Alec's lips, as he gestured to a shadowhunter standing off to the side of the cell, which suddenly filled with a terrible buzzing sound, Magnus felt as if his blood was boiling and his head was about to explode.
He let out a loud scream and fell to the ground, clutching his head. Alec, who had made his way closer and was now right outside the cell, bent down near where Magnus lay and laughed, "Because I asked very nicely." he said and walked off.
Magnus was once again in the cell, he was laying on the ground, his whole body weak. He tried to sit up, but could only manage to bring himself up on his elbows. From down the hall, he could hear faint sounds. People walking and talking. He tried to hear what they were saying.
"I will take my magic back." He made out, the voices coming closer, "But I hope you know this changes nothing. I am keeping the apartment." three figures walked into view, Magnus looked up at them, his brain trying hard to focus, understand what was going on.
"You can keep the apartment," Jace said, "We really don't care."
"If you don't care, why have me take the magic and save his life?" Lorenzo asked.
"Because we would get in a lot of trouble." Alec said, walking forward and looking down at Magnus, "If we let him die, it will start a war with all the downworlders."
"Plus, it's against the accords." Jace added, "Not too sure the clave would like that either."
"Whatever." Lorenzo sighed as they opened the cell for him, and he walked in.
"Lorenzo please…" Magnus begged.
But Lorenzo ignored his pleading, and took back his magic. Magnus fell back down to the ground with a thud.
"Thank you Lorenzo." Jace said, as he and Alec also walked into the cell.
"No one can find out about any of this, and he…" Alec began and then continued as he stood over Magnus and pointed at him, "Can't remember a thing."
Magnus's legs gave out from under him and fell to his knees, he placed his palms on the ground in front of him and leaned forward, no longer able to bare his own weight.
"I'm so sorry, my boy," he heard his father say, "They just left you there on the roof, with no magic or memories, but I felt your pain and had to come find you."
Magnus finally managed to lift his head and look at his father, "how could he do that to me?" he managed to say, his voice weak. "He was my friend."
"Don't worry, we will avenge your pain." his father kneeled down next to him, "We will make him pay for what he did to you."