"You feel it, don't you?"
Shu shook her head.
"Are you feeling okay?" Charon asked.
"Fine. Just mentally exhausted. With Magnus's rage, his sorrow, the soul bond still readjusting, all the crap that's been going on, Eliot's death, and all those memories you brought back…it's all just really tiring."
"You hate little Valak, don't you? Everything he did, and you just think he's still not hiding more?"
"Are you sure? You look pale."
"Says the guy who's still recovering from that Soul Sword wound."
"I bet it'd be real fun to break his little heart. Plenty of bridges in New York, you know."
"Well I think you need a good night's sleep."
"I will not argue with you on that."
She plopped down next to him on the bed, instinctively shuffling closer to lay her head against him and feel his warmth.
"Night."
"Night."
With that, she snapped the lights off and let the quiet of the night pull her to sleep.
Shu was underwater again. At least it wasn't another of those nightmares of Edom from before.
But there was something different.
There was no reef, no fishes, no anything. She was merely floating in the middle of the ocean, deeper down so that the light was more distant and it was darker.
Still, in its own way, it was just as serene. She relaxed and let the ocean hold her, even the small currents that usually came completely gone.
"Hello, darling."
A hand suddenly wrapped around her throat, grasping it tightly and forcing the air out of her lungs. Suddenly, she could no longer breathe in the water, and she was losing energy fast as she struggled to break free of the iron grip.
"I'm back~" A voice sing-songed.
A woman's face appeared in front of hers, her hair swirling around elegantly in the water, but obscuring a good deal of her face.
But Shu could've sworn it looked like her in her angelic demon form. The same woman she'd seen in her dream of Edom.
"Time to wake up, little Shu."
Ironically, that was the last thing she heard before she passed out.
At the Seelie court, Magnus, Shu, and Lucian were taken to the queen, who took on the image of merely a child. Perhaps she did it for irony a girl so young being a woman so powerful within.
"Milady, I now present to you Asushunamir Kandai, Magnus Bane, and Lucian Greymark."
The three of them bowed.
"So the Clave lied and Valentine has the sword," The queen summarized. "Is anyone surprised?"
Luke and Shu looked to Magnus, who was the one that wanted to be here.
"Milady. We agree that it's time to take charge of our destiny. We've come to accept your offer to unite the Downworld, to hunt Valentine."
"Good. But we do it our way. No more playing by the Clave's rules."
Luke shifted. "With all do respect, your Highness, we didn't come here to start a war with the Shadowhunters."
"The Shadowhunters want us dead. You think it's an accident they lost Valentine?"
"I don't trust the Clave, but I trust Clary. She told me that she and Jace recovered the Mortal Mirror to protect the Downworld from Valentine."
"Your love for the Shadowhunters weakens you. That's why your pack has lost so many wolves."
"My pack's losses are because of Valentine."
The queen turned to Magnus. "After the lies your boyfriend told you, surely you're on my side."
Magnus hesitated, taking a deep breath to speak, but nothing coming out.
"Magnus, we came here to stop Valentine, not make new enemies by breaking the Accords," Luke reminded him.
"Don't let your crush get in the way of protecting your people," The queen warned.
"The Shadowhunters once hunted Downworlders for sport," Shu snapped. "They only made the Accords to make themselves feel like the good guys. And to escape the wrath of the Downworlders and the punishment they deserve. Maybe your little friends aren't as bad as the rest, but they are greatly outnumbered by the higher ups in the Clave who don't give a damn about us. Eliot recently died because of those Shadowhunters, Dorothy is gone once more. We lost Ragnor in the blink of an eye, after centuries, just because of one Shax demon following us and jumping through his wards. Who will be next, Magnus? I don't intend to stand by and watch Warlock after Warlock give their lives for those idiots."
Magnus looked to Shu, then Luke, and then the ground, pursing his lips in hesitation. "I beg your patience, your Grace, but breaking our allegiance to the Shadowhunters is a…step that requires consideration."
"Decide quickly," She warned.
She walked over and picked a rose from one of the trees.
"Once all the petals on this rose turn black…"
She slipped it into Magnus's breast pocket.
"…your time is up. And remember. Those who don't come to my side…will be on the losing side."
Magnus bowed his head in farewell. "Milady."
And the three of them walked off.
"What are you doing, Shu?" Luke asked. "'Buying time' again?"
"Sorry, I just…I don't know what came over me."
"Is that really how you feel, though?"
"What I said was the hard truth. We keep losing people, Luke. Unable to do anything about it but watch as people give their lives trying to fix mistakes that the Shadowhunters cause with barely a 'Thank you' of respect. They don't like to admit their flaws, and even after Valentine, it didn't encourage them to be better people. They still treat us like they're above us, even after Valentine's massacre. They didn't even care how many died. They just moved on with their lives and said 'Get the bodies out of here, they make us look bad.' I'm sick of them, Lucian."
Magnus sat on the couch in the apartment, staring at the rose he'd been given, spinning it between his fingers.
His phone began to buzz, and he looked to see it was Alec. Then, he set the phone down to look at the flower once more.
Magnus sat down a tray with two coffees on it.
"Cream or sugar?"
Alec's eyes snapped open in surprise to find he was lying on the couch in Magnus's apartment. He sat up quickly and looked around to find it was morning and the sun was coming through the window. And he was hungover.
"Did I fall asleep?" He asked.
"We both did," Magnus said, sitting on the couch beside him.
Alec suddenly stood in alarm.
"On separate couches. Never fear."
Alec moved to grab his jacket. "I should have never taken you up on your offer for drinks."
"In hindsight, liquor might've been a bad idea after being drained of all my magic to heal your friend Luke."
"Not my friend," Alec clarified, slipping on his jacket. "He's Clary Fairchild's. I've only known her five days and she's already more trouble than she's worth."
"You're more than just a pretty face, aren't you?"
"What is that supposed to mean? You shared your strength with me to help your friend. It's rare to find a Shadowhunter with such a…open heart."
Alec hesitated, finding his words, before he pointed at Magnus. "I trust you. I don't know why. But I do…"
There was a moment of silence between the two of them, Magnus unable to make a comeback.
Alec sighed and readjusted his jacket. "What time is it? I have to get back to the Institute."
"Stay for breakfast," Magnus blurted quickly. "I conjure up a…mean Belgian waffle."
"No," Alec said. "If you let anyone know that I slept here last night…"
"Relax. My reputation's on the line just much as yours. I'd lose all my credibility if my people found out I let a Shadowhunter spend the night."
"Then why'd you let me sleep here?"
Magnus hesitated. "Trust makes you do strange things." He took a deep breath. "Must be something in the air."
Alec stared at him for an extra moment before turning and walking out the door.
Shu slipped into the room once he was gone. "So. How'd it go?"
When Magnus realized he'd zoned out, he snapped to attention to realize that the rose had darkened slightly, the very tips of the petals turning black.
"Black. Black. I remember black. Black was always good. Black goes with red. Red blood. All that blood. Ichor. There was also ichor. It wasn't just grey, it was golden. Golden. Like the sun. Sun. Light. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Let me out. I'm free."
Shu screamed and slashed the curtains of her room. It was returning. Her angelic demon form was returning to her. Her nails had grown out, her teeth had sharpened. Her eye began to flicker. Only her right eye. Only her black one.
"Shu-"
"Leave me alone! Get out of my room, get out of my house, get out of my head!"
She launched herself at Charon, who barely managed to gather enough energy to teleport out of there before he was hit.
"GET OUT!"
Magnus stood at the window, the charm Alec had given him in his hand, as he watched the rain fall outside.
Magnus had been above Alec in Magnus's bed, feeling Alec try to slip Magnus's shirt off while kissing him, Alec having already lost his.
Then, Magnus's eyes flickered to life and he quickly pulled back, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What?" Alec asked nervously. "Am I doing something wrong?"
"No such thing," Magnus assured him.
"Well then…what? Do you not want to?"
"No. I mean, yes. Of course I do."
Alec moved over to him carefully, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Magnus. What is it?"
"It's just…sometimes…I lose control."
He turned back around to show that his cat eyes had been revealed, and Magnus wasn't able to suppress them at will anymore.
Alec let out a smile of relief at that being Magnus's concern. "Magnus…they're beautiful. You're beautiful."
"Magnus!" Alec called, knocking at the door.
Magnus hesitated, before slipping the charm into his pocket and walking to the door. He opened it before he could stop himself, and Alec took a step into the room so that he couldn't be shut out.
"I know I have no right to ask you for favors," Alec said quickly. "But I need you."
Magnus sighed and moved to close the door again, but Alec held it open.
"It's Max."
"Let him explain, Magnus," Shu said, walking in.
She looked no different than normal, as she had gotten control once more and fixed herself up.
"What happened?"
Shu let her magic sweep into the boy beneath her, but she felt something within him affecting her.
He was attacked by Jonathan, Clary's brother.
"Lilith's little boy. Oh, how beautiful I made him. Sloppy work, leaving the boy alive. Perhaps we should just finish him off right here and now…"
"No!"
Shu pulled her magic back inside her and stepped away from Max.
"What is it?" Magnus asked.
"I-I can't. Jonathan's demonic power…it's a match even for mine."
"Liar. You'd do anything to keep your reputation with all these people. You're angry, but you refuse to let anything out. You keep all that power within you inside, weaken yourself just to make you look more friendly and non-threatening. And for what? All your friends are expendable to the Shadowhunters. Eliot, Dorothea, Ragnor. You'll let them suffer and die, all because you're too afraid to reveal the kind of power you have inside you. Even young Max here will suffer because you refuse to use me."
"I…I'm sorry. Tell the others I'm sorry."
She rushed out of the room, leaving Magnus to come out slowly and close the door behind him and face Alec's family.
"His injuries are too severe. Max's only hope for recovery now lies with Brother Enoch."
He referenced to the Silent Brother who was ready to perform a dangerous ritual that could either save Max or kill him for good. Not a lot of people had made it out of the ordeal alive, but it was the only option left for Max.
"But there's gotta be something…" Alec pleaded. "Anything."
"Brother Enoch," Maryse ordered.
The Silent Brother nodded and moved to go into the room, but Alec stopped him. "No!"
"Alec," Maryse said, taking him by the arms. "I know you're scared. We all are. But if Max is going to have any chance, we need to let Brother Enoch do this. Now."
Maryse let the Silent Brother pass and the door to Max's room closed behind him. She walked to the end of the hall and put her forehead against the wall in fear, Robert sat in a chair, and Izzy moved to sit across from him.
Magnus took Alec's hand between his own. He wasn't happy with Alec, but he wouldn't remain completely heartless while Alec was terrified for his brother. Maybe he could try and put what happened behind them, since he knew Alec did care.
And he held his hand, trying to say he'd be there for him.
Alec and Magnus woke up in Magnus's bed.
"Good morning," Alec muttered, still half asleep.
Magnus chuckled lightly. "Morning."
Alec head shot to face Magnus. "Oh no, what time is it? I have to get to the Institute," He said, mimicking what he'd said an eternity ago when he'd first stayed woke up at Magnus's place.
He shifted so that he was lying on his side to face Magnus, who was pulling back in disappointment. "Oh."
"No, I'm just kidding," Alec said quickly. "I'm just kidding."
Magnus sighed in relief and relaxed once more, Alec laughing at the fact that Magnus had actually believed him.
"Were you really afraid I was gonna go?"
"No," Magnus lied, though he smiled through it at the lackluster attempt.
"What are you afraid of?"
Magnus made a face. "Acid washed jeans."
"Oh, come on, Magnus."
He broke out into laughter and Alec shifted to lie on his back again.
"I'm serious. You're an all-powerful Warlock, who can summon demons. You've lived through centuries of war. And you're immortal."
He turned his head to Magnus. "What scares you?"
Magnus let his eyebrows raise in hesitation, before swallowing. "The key to having no fear is…having nothing to lose."
They smiled at each other, before Magnus sighed and turned to his back as well. "I don't know. I guess that's why I haven't…opened my heart up for almost 100 years."
Alec looked at him.
"Then I met you," He finished.
Alec smiled and reached his hand out, allowing Magnus to take it, lacing their fingers together.
But Alec let go, walking away to sit with his family, leaving Magnus's hands empty, and letting him move to stand against the doorframe.
Finally realizing what he was afraid of.
Alec had let him go.
"Clary managed to stop Jonathan from getting the mirror, but when she tried using her sealing rune, like with what she did on the Soul Sword, it completely dissolved."
"You knew Sebastian was Jonathan. You knew that wasn't the Mortal Mirror. You keep all these lies. What happens when they find out what you're hiding. Eliot? He died for a fake mirror. Dot sacrificed herself too. So many hurt, all because you can't tell the truth, have them know the sins you have committed."
"Are you okay?" Magnus asked.
"Yeah. Fine. How's Max?"
Brother Enoch came out, allowing everyone into the room to see that Max was alive.
"He survived this time, but he nearly didn't because of you."
"How'd it go?" Alec asked. "Is he okay?"
"He's okay, Alec," Izzy informed him.
Magnus awkwardly moved away, allowing Alec to take his place next to Max.
The young Shadowhunter groaned before opening his eyes. "Did you catch Sebastian?"
Maryse and Izzy laughed, Alec breaking into a smile. "You almost died, and that's what you're concerned about?" Maryse asked.
"We should go," Magnus said. "Max, you take care of yourself."
He and Shu walked out of the room. Magnus took out the rose, finding that it was almost completely blackened.
"Magnus, what I said before, in the Seelie court," Shu began. "That wasn't me, I'm sorry. It was just…"
"I understand."
Alec came walking out of Max's room and Magnus quickly slipped the rose into his jacket pocket and turned away.
"Magnus…" Alec said, walking in front of him.
"I'll…I'll leave you two alone," Shu said, walking past.
"Thank you…" Alec began. "…so much, for being here."
Magnus nodded. "I'm glad Max is okay."
Alec smiled, and Magnus tapped his finger against his interlocked hands, before moving to turn around.
"I'm sorry," Alec blurted, making Magnus stop. "I should've told you about the Soul Sword. I made a mistake. But you and me…we always seem to find our way back to each other."
He took Magnus's hands. "Magnus, I love you."
Magnus sighed and put his hand to the side of Alec's neck, sweeping his skin as Alec leaned into the touch. "I love you too."
Alec smiled, but Magnus took a deep breath and continued. "But as a leader, there are difficult decisions I have to make to ensure the survival of my people. And the only thing holding me back from doing that…is you."
Alec was frozen, dread taking over. "No. No…"
"I can't have both."
"Yes, you can. We can."
But Magnus shook his head and pulled back.
"Wait, Magnus…wait! We can figure this out."
Magnus continued to shake his head, looking down. "You once asked me what I was afraid of. It's this."
He took a deep breath, before turning away, walking down the hall. He waved the elevator doors open and stepped inside.
"Magnus?" Shu called, looking back down the hallway.
But the elevator doors closed.
"Magnus!"
"It's better this way. Now, your bonded brother isn't distracted by the trivialities of what you call love."
"This is your fault. This is not better. He was happy!"
"He was weak. And now he's growing stronger. I won't have a little Downworlder crush to a Shadowhunter of all things get in the way. He will become a leader to the Warlocks, to the Downworld, and you won't be at risk ever again."
"You're saying you broke my brother's heart and Alexander's all for my sake?!"
"Everything I do is for you. You and I are not yet complete. But we will be soon."
"Saving me from Azazel…" Izzy muttered. "It must've all been part of Jonathan's plan. I was the one to bring him to the Institute."
"Don't," Shu said. "All of us have some responsibility in this. I suspected I sensed something from Sebastian the moment I met him, but…none of you would believe me if I'd told you. And so I didn't."
"At least now we know Valentine can never get the mirror and raise the angel," Clary pointed out.
Shu opened her mouth and hesitated, giving a nervous smile. "That's…not entirely accurate. Even with Clary's pure angel blood, she would've never been able to destroy a Mortal Instrument with her rune. It didn't destroy the sword, did it? The mirror Clary destroyed was a decoy, set up by Raziel and I to lead anyone seeking it down the wrong path. Even Joselyn thought it was the real deal."
"While killing Eliot and anyone else who gained the mark along the way."
"The mirror is meant to not be easy to find. Only those with more than three quarters of a brain can ever find it, or those put under the right circumstances, given the answers by the angels."
"If you set up the decoy, does that mean you know where the real mirror is?" Jace asked.
"Oh yes. But Clary's been given more than enough clues about this to figure it out. So, do you think you have it yet, or do I have to spell it out for you bone-heads?"
Clary shook her head. "The water. It's a reflection."
"The water?" Jace asked.
"These visions I've been having…they're a message from the angle."
"See? You've got something of a brain in there," Shu agreed. "The Mortal Mirror is Lake Lyn."
"Charon!"
He appeared in his could of smoke at the opposite end of the room. "Okay, I understand that you're probably angry and unstable, but please refrain from killing me and take your concerns to your father."
"What is happening? What is she?!"
"Back while you were the Demon Queen like a millennia ago, you began to embrace the demon side of you."
"I know that," She said impatiently.
"But the angelic side of you wasn't quiet. It…you wouldn't be able to sustain yourself in either direction, Angelic Queen or Demon Queen, and you went through both of the phases, as after you escaped from Edom, you were determined to get revenge on the demons that hurt you, so you went through your angelic phase. Once you had made it to your demon phase, the demons wanted to keep that part of you stable, not risk you going all cosine on us, up and down. So they split your personalities, threw your angelic side here to this world and pulled your demonic side to Edom to continue her reign as the Demon Queen. And I took your memories of what happened so that you only remembered giving up the life of a demon and abstaining."
"So why has father ordered her to haunt me once more?!"
"Because both your demonic half, your father, Lilith, all of them realized that while you were separate, you weren't at your strongest. You became a Shadowhunter, part angel, part mundane, and so to begin the process of integrating you back into demon society, they first bonded you with Magnus Bane, a son of Asmodeus and your brother, because his backstory was so similar to yours. We dragged you back into the Downworld, and now we're pulling you further into demon territory so that you and your other half will be compatible again."
"And if I go all cosine on them again?"
"Her Highness was convinced that she'd be able to pull you to her side again, but I'm not sure even she understands what will happen once you're together again after so much time. I wasn't lying when I said you scared me more than Jonathan. You might be just as unstable, if not more, but with power behind that insanity that could be catastrophic."
"And you?"
"Me?"
"What do you have to say in all this?"
"I…I don't know. I think either way, you're going to be you."
"Is this everything?"
"All of your lost memories? As far as I'm aware. You'll probably get the rest of your demonic form's when and if you fully merge, but I don't think there's anything left to give."
"Then get out."
"What?"
"I don't know what I'll do when she comes out. I nearly killed you earlier. I can feel insanity just…creeping into me, and just my urge to keep sane is what's going to make me snap. Get out, Valak. If father ever asks you why you can't come near me, tell him to talk to me."
He pursed his lips and looked down before nodding. "I'll still be watching. Once you're stable, I'll come back."
"I won't ever be stable."
"Then I'll come when you need me most. And you won't be able to keep me away."
"I'm pretty sure the whole point is I can keep anyone away."
"You can't keep me from trying."
"You'd break your hierarchy status? I am above you."
"I told you, didn't I?"
He stepped forward, walking right into her before dissolving into smoke the moment he would've run into her.
"Any time, angel."