Sorry it took this long to continue this story. I've decided that this story will continue to however many chapters it takes to get through season 3. Anyone who's gone to 'Angels and Demons' will recognize some passages that I've put in here. 'Angels and Demons' was just an experimental thing where I threw some ideas onto the page while I waited for season 3, but now that that's out, I'll be deleting the story soon once I've transferred all the stuff I plan to keep.
For now, enjoy!
:)
"Lily, honey, you're gonna need a new look in this realm," Namir informed her.
The Mother of Demons looked like a sparky disco ball of blackness that just came out of the sea. In Edom she looked a bit more elegant, but as she had just been formed from escaped demons, she still had yet to take on a proper appearance.
The two of them had relocated to an abandoned cathedral in New York where the energy from the ley lines was strong. Lilith had double checked after they arrived, crooning over her son's corpse, sustained by a little magic. Namir was honestly getting really bored of this whole 'You'll be back soon' crap. Yeah, yeah, one of Lily's many children that she loved so much, yada, yada, yada. This was apparently one of her favorite children, but Namir wasn't jealous or anything. Jonathan got the special Edom treatment long ago, and by that point there was no reason for her to hold a grudge.
Lilith had set up an altar - specifically a sacred tomb with a pattern carved into the stone - with Jonathan Morgenstern directly underneath. He would be revived soon enough to cause all kinds of havoc, Namir couldn't wait, but it was getting boring staying cooped up and hidden from the world. She wanted pandemonium, she wanted to see the fear in her enemies' eyes, and she wanted to roam the world a little, see what had changed in the years she'd been gone.
Namir sighed and twirled a strand of her white hair, darkening with strands of black that made her look like a bit of a Cruella De Vil knockoff. She wonder how Shu was doing on the other end, her midnight black hair lightening to an angelic white. Must be painful. Angels have always been a pain, both to deal with and to be one of.
"So, can we get started already?" Namir asked.
Lilith stood from her son and nodded. "Let us begin."
Shu dreamt she was flying. When she opened her eyes, she realized that floating feeling wasn't just her dream anymore. She was literally hovering eight feet off her bed and nearly hitting the ceiling of her room.
She let out a squeak as she suddenly plummeted back down to the mattress. She landed on her stomach, raising her head from the mound of sheets and blowing a strand of hair from her face, though it all fell back into her eyes a moment later. Maybe it was just the sun, but it looked brighter than usual.
"Hey."
She swept her hair out of her face with her hand and threw it out of the way to see Charon sitting at the other and of the bed. He'd been allowed to stay over at their place while he recovered from his wound from the Soul Sword. Though she'd kicked him out while she was going psycho from her demon side going crazy, now she was doing better after Raziel's appearance and possession of her and he was invited back in while he recovered his powers.
And it wouldn't really make sense for him to have his own room, since not only was he a demon who Magnus didn't trust on his own around their apartment at night, no matter how much of a friend he was to Shu, but he needed to be looked after because of the Soul Sword wound being serious against a Greater Demon. Shu was the only one who had the power to heal a wound made by an angelic weapon against a demon.
"Have a nice night?" He asked.
"Sure, minus the whole waking up on the ceiling thing."
"Never seen that happen to you."
"I don't think it's ever happened before either."
She stood and moved to the closet to change. While she looked to the mirror to brush her hair, she realized it was brighter than usual, and there were no windows in the closet to be affecting it. Laced throughout her black locks were silver strands, only able to be seen from certain angles.
She peaked her head out. "Charon, are you seeing this too?"
"What?"
She walked over to him and held out a few strands. "My hair. I swear, it's…I don't know. It's turning grey."
He stood and walked over to run his hand through her hair and hold it up. "Huh, you're right. It feels really angelic. Maybe your bonding with Raziel left some side effects."
"Do you think it'll go back to normal?"
"You can always glamour it, but evidence says it should. Razz is one of the most powerful angels out there, but that means his effects are special, and they probably won't last forever. You should probably keep an eye on your…uh, eyes too."
"What's wrong with my eyes?"
She hurried into the bathroom where the lighting was better, flicking on the mirror light of the magnifying mirror meant to be used for make up (she'd bought one only to use for special occasions, obviously) and saw that her normally dark brown eyes were now chocolate brown. It could've just been her paranoia, but they were definitely different. She'd had thousands of years to look at her own reflection, through water and ice, to mirrors and pictures, and they were changing.
"You sure this is reversible?"
"Glamourable for now, but it should go back to normal eventually."
She sighed. "Why glamour it? I might as well accept the change while I have it, see how far it goes. If it doesn't ever get better, then I'll resort to a glamour."
"Well, it's not like it changes you too much. You're still beautiful."
"Thanks, but there will be endless aging jokes thrown my way. You can count on it."
Shu was making breakfast by hand for the boys. Magicking up food only got so interesting, and it gave her things to do when there were no clients to deal with. Besides, if she got tired of doing all the domestic stuff she could resort to magic whenever she wanted. And it was good preparation in case their magic was for some reason disabled - which had happened before.
"Hey, what's cooking?" Alec asked, him and Magnus walking out from the Warlock's room.
"Bacon and eggs," She explained.
"Whoa, did someone get highlights, or is your age finally beginning to catch up with you?" Magnus quipped.
"Well, that didn't take long," Charon muttered.
"Shut up, Magnus," Shu snapped, pointing her tongs at him. "This could happen to you at any moment if it's happening to me. Besides, you're still 20 times older than your boyfriend, so don't start judging."
"Says the one who's 20 times older than me."
"Well I'm just about 20 years older than you, so that still makes me the oldest person in this room," Charon interjected.
"Twenty, seriously?"
"Nah, I was just going on theme. But I'm still older than you."
"I think we've established that."
"What's up with the new look, though?" Alec jumped in.
"A side effect of Raziel's summoning," She explained, holding up some strands. "He's one of the more powerful angels, and so, after keeping my distance from angle blood for so long, my body isn't used to it, especially in such a potent form. Razz and I have had our disagreements in the past, however, as long as I stay out of trouble and don't go on a…well another vendetta against the angels, we can get along. The side effects of his angelic possession should wear off eventually. I have no doubt that it'd be pure white if not for being soul bonded to such a powerful Downworlder as well as babysat by a Greater Demon."
"Babysat?" Charon demanded.
"Yeah, babysat?" Magnus asked more skeptically.
"Watch it," She threatened. "I have kitchen utensils and I'm not afraid to use 'em."
"Trust me, I know you could make a weapon out of anything."
She flipped the bacon in the pan and cracked the eggs into the second, putting a lid over it.
"Besides, Charon's just staying until he's fully healed. I'm the only one with the skill necessary to help him heal from a Soul Sword wound."
Charon shifted in his seat. "Actually…I was gonna request to stay a little longer than that. You're father's palace isn't exactly as nice as this place. I mean, it is a palace, but the man's already angry enough at me for embarrassing him in front of Azazel."
"How did that happen?"
"I exploded after what he did to nearly break the soul bond between you and Magnus by switching him with Morgenstern."
"I take it that didn't go too well."
"He restrained me, but the thing about demons is we know our place. I won't be expected to step out of line again. I just told him that I'm looking after his children to make sure you two don't do anything too stupid, and so I'm allowed to stay as long as I want. Not that I really need a place to sleep, but immortal lives do get boring when you stay up for too long. And I am obligated to stay with you two."
"One of us more than the other, right?" Magnus asked.
"Yeah, you, since you're the weaker of the two of us," Shu said.
"But you've known him longer."
"And I have had more time to hate him."
"I'm right here, you know," Charon called.
"Sure, hate him," Magnus said, rolling his eyes.
"No bacon for you, mister."
She put the bacon on a big plate, and did the same with the eggs. She set them on the table and gave out plates.
"Eat up, boys. And believe me, Alexander, I know how to cook."
"I'll take your word for it."
"It's getting worse," Shu announced, looking into the mirror.
There were barely anymore black strands remaining in her hair, and her eyes were now pale and colorless.
"I look like I have some sort of disease."
"Nah. You look more like a female Sephiroth," Charon said.
"All I need are the Mako-enhanced blue eyes."
"Okay, now I look like a female Sephiroth."
Her eyes were a deep blue that popped like an anime character's, much more obvious than a normal blue color and almost seeming to glow. Not to mention her hair was completely silver now.
"You still look beautiful, angel."
"Thanks, but how long will this last?"
"Who knows? You smell more angelic than ever, though."
"No doubt that this would be so much worse if it wasn't for my constant exposure to darkness. I guess I'll fit right in with the Shadowhunters though."
"Right, Clary's thingy-ma-bobber is today. You know, I thought she already was a Shadowhunter and stuff."
"Ceremonies are a big thing in the Shadowhunter world. Besides, they need to congratulate her for killing Valentine - always a momentous occasion. And considering he was shanked pretty badly, there's no bringing him back without drastic measures, and no one - Downworlder, demon, Nephilim alike - would ever wanna bring back that man for any reason. At least I hope so."
"Well, have fun. And at least pretend like you're having a good time at the after-party."
"You only saying that because you want me to bring you back a souvenir?"
"Something valuable, but not electrum. That stuff is nasty."
Shu chuckled and gave him a quick kiss. "No promises."
Shu clapped as Clary got her Angelic Power rune placed on her right forearm, finally accepted as a true and fully-fledged Shadowhunter.
The party afterwards consisted of Shu pretending like she was drinking her drink and avoiding talking to most people. Other than the Scooby Doo club of Shadowhunters - as Charon had rightfully dubbed them - who she actually liked, she made sure no one talked to her and she talked to no one.
"Shu."
She looked up and smiled. "Alexander. I was hoping to see you here. You're family's basically the only one I can tolerate."
He chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment. Listen, I need to talk to you about Clary."
"What about her? Other than her amazing success at slitting her father's throat and stabbing him an excessive amount of times."
"You were with her when the angel rose, right?"
"Yeah. Razz summoned me, we had a mingling moment where he sorta possessed me, and overloaded me with angelic energy, which is why I now look like Sephiroth's secret sister."
Alec's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who?"
"Nothing, just an obscure video game reference. You were saying?"
"I just wanted to know…did something happen that Clary and Jace haven't shared with us? I…I know it's crazy, but you saw my parabatai rune disappear. Jace died, I know he did, I felt it. But he's alive and back and Jace and Clary are acting like he never died in the first place. He's here, he's alive now, but I swear that he wasn't. Clary still won't tell me anything, says that all I was feeling was Jace's stab wound and not his death, but…I know what I felt."
Shu took a deep breath and sighed. "Look, I don't know what's up with those two. A lot of my memories from what happened are a bit blurry. Imagine having an angel as powerful as Raziel hijack your brain. Those two have more than enough reason to trust you after everything that you've all been through, so if they have something to hide, it has to be really bad. Hell, they might be keeping things from you because they're worried about you. You've got a weight on your shoulders as the Head of the New York Institute, and maybe what they're hiding could get you in big trouble. Not to sound conceited, but you being a Head can get us out of trouble. Plus, you're trying to make connections to the Downworld and now you have the power to do so. We don't wanna go breaking things, not now. For a few days, can we just celebrate? We can get back to the 24/7 worrying later."
Alec sighed. "Yeah, yeah, you're right. I'm sorry for bothering you, always being on edge."
Shu smiled. "I like you just the way you are, Alexander. Keep being yourself. I…I hate to bring this up, but we've limited time together. What I mean to say is that I'll take both your good and your bad, because I wanna savor every moment I have. Not only could you die of old age, but you could die at any moment from Shadowhunter business. We've been through too much to lose you now, Alec. I want you to annoy me for as long as possible, you got that?"
He chuckled. "I'll do my best."
"I expect no less."
Shu left Alec to his business and went to Clary. She first gave Clary a mandatory hug.
"Congratulations. Took them long enough to give you your full Shadowhunter status."
"Thanks, Shu," Clary chuckled.
Shu sighed. "Listen, Clary. Alec knows something's up. I hate lying to him, he's already like a brother to me."
Clary nodded. "I'll talk to Jace about it, but he's adamant that even Alec finding out will just get him in trouble at the least, and I don't even wanna think about the worst case scenario."
Shu nodded. "But you know Alec. When he's determined, there's little that can stop him."
"For better or worse."
Namir waited for Lilith outside of a hospital. Namir had helped Lilith figure out a proper human form that wouldn't draw too much suspicion - giving her a proper skin tone and clothes - and informed Lilith that she should be subtle about revealing who she was.
Of course, the first place they found in the mundane world was a hospital, St. Ambrose Hospital. Shu knew someone who worked here, a nurse. Namir's memories and connection to Shu were shaky, but once she saw the location, like Deja Vu, she instinctively knew that a warlock named Caterina Loss worked here. She was a good friend of Shu's.
Lilith was in the maternity ward, obviously, looking at the newborn babies. Lilith had a thing with children after everything that happened with Adam and getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden and replaced by Eve. Namir got bored and stepped out for some fresh air, waiting until Lilith finally came out, escorted by one of the male nurses.
"I want him," Lilith declared. "He shall be the first."
"Wonderful," Namir smiled. "Let's repay him for his kindness. Tim, was it? We can get him when he leaves his workplace. There will be too many witnesses in the hospital, including a warlock. Regretfully, we'd best keep our business quiet until the time is right."
"How long must we wait?"
"Not too long. I'd wager he's been here the entire day - works the day shift. Sun's gone down, you got kicked out because visiting hours were over. It won't be long."
"Let us proceed then."
"You've never let me down, Magnus."
"Break a leg," Magnus called.
Shu sidestepped as a woman walked past her out the door. Shu smiled and nodded to her, closing the door as Alec walked into the loft beside her.
Shu pulled off her shoes. "Ugh, these stupid things. Thank the angels we portaled here because I wasn't walking any distance in these things. Was that Stella, Mags?!"
"Yup, all good!" Magnus replied from deeper in the loft.
Alec walked into the back room where Magnus had all his potions and magical equipment for clients. "Who was…that?"
"Stella Woods," Magnus explained. "A longtime client and the lead in Wicked. She lost her voice. A touch of ground ox claw, some calcified lizard's feet, and she's back on the bill."
Alec picked up something and sniffed it before wisely setting it back down again. "It's been a long time since I've seen you with a client," He remarked.
"I wanted to take her, but Magnus refused to let me make a deal," Charon sulked.
Shu chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Come on, big bad memory demon. You'll get a snack soon enough."
He sulked and followed her back to her room in the loft.
"Well, it's frowned upon when you're the High Warlock," Magnus continued. "Potential conflicts of interest and such. But since I've been dismissed, I'm free to see whomever I want."
Alec picked up a small animal skull and examined it before turning at Magnus's words and tossing it back on the table. "Wait…'dismissed?' W-W-What happened?"
"While you were in Idris," Magnus explained from behind a shelf of potions he was sifting through. "The fallout from my decision to lend the warlocks' support to the Seelie Queen."
"I'm sorry."
Magnus walked back to his desk. "Don't be. I'm not upset. I'm actually…elated." He tossed an olive to Alec from the jar he'd grabbed that the Shadowhunter quickly caught. "Shouldering the weight of all the warlocks in Brooklyn…it gets exhausting."
He walked into the living area with Alec behind him. "Well, I understand, I just…I thought this was important to you."
Magnus set a jar of olives on the platter of drinks and grabbed the cocktail flask to shake it. "What's important to me is I can start seeing clients again. Help them achieve their dream." He poured his drink. "And make a lot of money doing it."
Alec let out a small chuckle.
Magnus dropped an olive into his drink and moved to sit on the couch. "So. How was Alicante?"
Alec let out a deep sigh. "It was fine. Yeah, I, um…I was offered a position on the Council." Magnus looked up from his drink. "A Delegate, under the new consul, Jia Penhallow."
Magnus spread his arms in delight, standing from his seat. "Wow! Congratulations, Alexander." Magnus struggled to come up with words. "I'm…sure your family's proud."
Alec pursed his lips. "Actually haven't told anyone yet."
"Why?"
Alec hesitated. "Well it would mean…moving…to Idris."
Magnus shook his head. "Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?"
"I've always dreamed of meeting someone like you."
"Oh, I'd only be a portal away," Magnus shrugged.
"Well actually you wouldn't be allowed to visit. Warlocks are not allowed in Idris."
"Ah, yes. 'The Perks of Being a Downworlder.' Hmm." Magnus sipped his drink. He saw that Alec didn't smile and realized how serious this was to him. "Look. Whether you're in Idris or in New York, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you. And so's Shu. You're not gonna get away from her that easy. She'll bug you into eternity and beyond no matter where you try and run to."
That got Alec to smile.
"Now, the best martini in the world?" Magnus offered.
Alec took Magnus's glass as Magnus walked past him to the table to make another. Alec couldn't help but feel better at Magnus's attempt to cheer him up, but his smile wavered the moment the warlock wasn't looking.
"You lied to him," Shu said.
"He doesn't need to worry about me," Magnus said. "It's not like knowing the truth will change anything."
Shu wrapped her arms around Magnus from behind while he organized potions. "I know you're hurting Mags. There's no hiding it from me."
Magnus chuckled without humor. "I can't even feel you," He admitted. "I guess I'm burying more than my pain."
"I think you need to give yourself time to be upset. Bottling things up only makes them build to higher heights. We're here for you, bro."
Magnus sighed. "I'm not sure I can handle the pain if I let my guard down for even a second. In all honesty, I'm afraid to try."
"I know. But if you ever decide that you need help, you know where to find me. If Alec leaves for Idris, it's not like he can't come and visit you, even if you're not allowed to go to Idris. And why would you want to go to Idris? Alec can have his Shadowhunter business there, but your happiness together shouldn't be tainted by that place. If you're gonna be together, at least do it out in the regular world and not with those stuck up snobs who think they're better than everyone else."
Magnus let out a smirk. "Thanks, Shu."
"No prob, little brother. What are sisters for?"
"You mean beyond being an eternal pain in the ass?"
She pinched him. "Don't get cocky." She walked over to the shelf of spell books, running her hand along the spines. "I guess I don't get to be the High Warlock of Brooklynn's sister anymore."
Magnus leaned against the desk. "Yup. You're stuck being just Magnus Bane's sister."
"I wonder who they'll give the mantle in your stead."
Magnus shrugged. "No one nearly as glamourous."
Shu hugged Magnus again. "We'll get through this, Mags. At least they didn't take away your magic and lock you up on some cell."
"Always look on the bright side."
Shu patted him on the shoulder. "I'm gonna turn in. Don't stay up too late, Maggie. You need your sleep."
He nodded and she walked out of the client room. With a heavy sigh, she retreated to her room. She wanted to help Magnus get through this speed bump in life like she always had, but for some reason, she was at a loss as to what she should do. It was like, she understood everything Magnus was going through, but the solution just refused to come to her.
It frustrated her beyond measure, but for some reason, she couldn't help her brother. She couldn't concentrate, she couldn't focus on a way to cheer him up, or at least distract him. Instead, Magnus was working overtime to keep himself distracted and run from facing his pain. And Shu couldn't do a damn thing.
"He killed his mundane wife," Namir scoffed. "The Shadowhunters are probably onto us. We have to be more careful."
She wasn't sure if Lilith heard her or cared. It was hard to do anything with the woman when she had a mission. The nurse guy, Tim D-something, had come to the abandoned church that Namir and Lilith had set up for the ritual and whatnot that Lilith was planning. Lilith dubbed the place The Church of Talto, and when the mundane man arrived, Lilith proceeded to slit his throat and collect the blood on the altar.
"Wonderful," Namir drawled. "Well, I'm gonna go and tend to my own duties. Have fun with your dead mundie."
Namir walked down the halls of the old church and to the back room where she'd hidden her two prisoners. Honestly, they were the only fun she'd have while waiting for Lilith to revive her little pet son. The two men had been chained up once again when they'd reached their destination, the one in what had once been a white shirt still unconscious and the other barely able to move.
An angel and a demon.
Namir rubbed her hands together. "Shall we continue, boys? Let's see if this little angel wants to mingle with demons when I'm through with him."
Namir approached the unconscious man as her hands crackled with dark purple electricity. She launched it forward, and he instantly woke up, screaming through the pain of his rude awakening as his skin was seared, already cut and bruised from previous encounters.
"Stop!"
The chained demon threw himself forward to try and tackle Namir back. She expected the attack and smacked him away, sending him into the wall with a scream as his elbow was crushed from the force and snapped in the wrong direction.
"Ah, ah, ah," She taunted. "You shouldn't dare attack your queen. Besides, you've made him one of my subjects. I can do whatever I wish with him."
Her hands lit up once more.
"Don't! Please…I'll do what you want, just don't hurt him!"
She smiled and let her hands flicker out. "That's a good boy. We're going to play a game with little Shu. You'll get to go and meet her, though you shall take orders from me. Do as I say, and this one will be treated like a welcome guest. You'll even get to come and meet him during certain hours. Step out of line, and we'll get to see if this angel can survive the ordeals I was subject to for centuries on end."
"No, Kan," The angel muttered. "You can't…"
"I can," He declared. "But you have to promise me with a binding oath, no tricks, no traps, no loopholes or technicalities. If I do what you order, you won't hurt him in any way and I'll be allowed to see him freely within reasonable amounts of time."
"And if you don't, I'll make sure he suffers unbearable pain for the rest of eternity, while you will be able to do nothing but watch," Namir agreed. "I accept these terms to an ancient demon blood oath, unbreakable by even me."
She bit her thumb and let blood flow out, and he did the same, the two of them clasping their hands together and letting the blood mix. A circle of red light glowed and spun around the two of them, before it closed in and morphed into a series of blood-red runes circling the wrists of each of their clasped hands - his left, her right.
"The deal is made. Let us get to work, my dear Kandai."
Shu spun a knife in her fingers while lying on her bed. There was something about the rhythmic motion that worked to distract her. It made her realize how tired she was. Maybe it was just the party that got her in a bad mood. Parties still weren't her thing and left her exhausted.
"You doing okay?"
Shu wanted to punch Charon for breaking her zone that she'd gotten into, but tossed her dagger up into the air as it glowed and disappeared. "Fine. How about you?"
He flopped onto the bed. "Can't even feel the pain anymore."
"But the scar's still there."
"And healing."
Shu tossed him a silver chunk of adamas about the size of a baseball. "Souvenir."
"Awesome," Charon muttered, holding it up. "This is valuable. Where'd you swipe this?"
"Stole a couple weapons, melted 'em down."
"Nice."
Shu snuggled up next to him. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She chalked it down to her angelic state. Angels were sometimes just plain depressing, all stoic and business-like with little fun in their veins. She be back to normal soon enough, she figured.
At least, that's what she wanted to believe. Namir's voice had stopped inside her head, probably because of Razz's interference, but it still left her uneasy. For once, she wanted to hear the Demon Queen's voice just so that she knew where her counterpart was. The silence turned out to be scarier than the threat of possession. At least then she had her enemy right in front of her and knew to fight. Now, she had no idea if the Demon Queen had escaped with the rest of the Edomei, but she got a seriously bad feeling.