Almost done.
Enjoy.
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Izzy smiles as she and Alec walk down Flatbush Avenue. She always looks forward to her monthly patrol with her big brother. Since he became Head, Alec keeps his field work to a minimum, preferring to spend time in his office. But a couple of times every month he patrols with Izzy and Jace.
They cross Empire Boulevard and walk past Prospect Park.
Two demons come out from between two parked cars and stand in their path. Izzy eyes them as she and Alec stop walking, "What the hell?"
Alec glances around, "Don't forget Valentine has the Mortal Cup."
"Yeah, but why are they just standing there?"
"No idea." He and Izzy bring out their seraph blades as they step towards the demons.
The demons go after Izzy as somebody grabs Alec's arm from behind. Alec turns around and sees Ambrose, a warlock who has been to the loft a number of times.
Ambrose nods towards Izzy, "I'm not to harm you, but if you don't drop the blade, I will kill her."
Alec's eyes narrow, as he lets the seraph blade fall from his grip, "Have you been working for Valentine all this time?"
Ambrose sneers, "None of your business, now let's go." He opens a portal and pulls Alec through.
Izzy kills the second demon as she hears a blade fall to the ground. She turns around to see her brother disappear through a portal. She runs over but the portal closes. She picks up Alec's blade, pulls out her phone and runs to the subway entrance. She calls Magnus, "Meet me at the Institute, Alec was just taken."
"Taken by whom?"
"No idea."
"Okay."
She ends the call and runs down the stairs.
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Ambrose and Alec step out of the portal into a large room. Valentine walks over and pats Alec on the back, "Welcome, can I get you anything?"
Alec looks at him coldly, "I want nothing from you Valentine. Why am I here?"
"I realized my mistake, instead of seeing you as an enemy, I should look upon you as an ally."
"Ally? By the angel, what the hell have you been drinking? I would never be an ally of yours."
"Alec, may I call you 'Alexander'?"
"No."
"Fine. Alec, you have the distinction of being the youngest ShadowHunter to become the Head of an Institute. I've watched your career, and it's impressive. Your father was too bothered by that warlock to be proud of you."
"My father was bothered by a lot of things before Magnus came into our lives."
"Maybe, maybe not, but he allowed that warlock to distract him from training you."
"Training me for what?"
"To rule by my side, of course."
Alec coldly laughs, "Your side? Why the hell would I want to be at YOUR side?"
"Because my side will win."
"That's why you and my father are in hiding, because you won?" Alec rolls his eyes.
Valentine smiles, "Your father is in hiding because he is my back up plan. I respect that warlock you are married to, and just in case I end up like Hodge and Warner." Alec raises an eyebrow, "Yes, I know that he killed Warner and that Catarina Loss got rid of the body. My eyes are everywhere. I told Warner to let it go, but he insisted on going after you. Foolishness on his part. Unfortunately for Warner, those loyal to me, aren't loyal to each other. When I was informed that he had returned to the Institute, I ordered my man to stand down and let fate find Warner. I only wanted to know the outcome of his actions."
"Who's your man inside?"
Valentine laughs, "Do you really think, I'm going to tell you? Oh and don't think you can agree to my terms then stab me in the back once you return to the Institute. I'd know if you are playing me."
"You won't have to worry about that, because I will never agree to work with you."
"We'll see." He nods to Ambrose, "Take Mr. Lightwood to a room, so that he can think about things."
Ambrose smiles, "Of course." He pushes Alec, "This way." Alec glares at him. They walk down a hallway with cells on both sides. Ambrose stops at one and pushes Alec through the open door. He closes the door and smiles at Alec, "Hope you enjoy the accommodations." He walks away, laughing.
Alec looks around the cell. It's empty except for a cot and a bucket. Disgusted, he stands there. He realizes that although he dropped his blade, he still has his phone and stele. He looks through the bars, into the hallway and seeing nobody around, takes his phone out of his pocket.
No signal. "Damn it." He puts the phone back. He takes out his stele and draws the unlock rune on the door. A minute later, it swings open. With a smile, Alec pockets the stele and slowly walks out the cell. He walks down the hall. He glances into a cell and sees blades on a wall. He runs into the cell, grabs a few of the blades, and puts them in his back pockets. He runs back into the hallway.
He peeks into the main room and seeing nobody, walks in. A minute later, Valentine and Ambrose walk out a side room.
Alec stops as Valentine claps, "Well done, Mr. Lightwood. You will be a welcome asset to the team."
Alec's eyes narrow, "How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not joining you." He throws a blade. Valentine calmly gets out the way and the blade hits Ambrose in the throat. He falls to the floor, dead.
Valentine sighs, "Oh well." He glances over at Alec and smiles as the love rune starts to glow blue, "Things are about to get interesting."
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Magnus paces as Izzy and Jace check the monitors for any sign of Alec. Every now and then he closes his eyes, but he gets nothing from the love rune, "What good is having a tracker on my husband, if it can be blocked so easily?"
Jace glances over, "That was a rhetorical question, right?"
Magnus waves a hand at him, "Of course, it was." He sighs as he continues to pace.
Izzy types, "Just how many warlocks does Valentine have working for him?"
Jace looks at her, "Another rhetorical question?"
She nods, "There's just a glimpse of him, but Alec wasn't grabbed by Ivan this time."
Magnus rubs his thumb over his fingers as he looks at the monitor, "Ambrose, another third level warlock." He resumes his pacing.
"So a third level warlock can block your magic?"
Magnus sniffs as he continues to pace, "It's about knowing the right spell, not about power."
"Oh, sorry."
He shakes his head, "Nothing to be sorry about, my dear." He stops pacing.
"Magnus, what is it?"
He slowly smiles, "I found him."
Jace nods, "Let's go." Izzy stands up with a nod.
Magnus opens a portal. They walk through and walk out into a large room.
Magnus sees Alec on the far side of the room and walks towards his husband. Iris calmly walks out a room and waves her hand. Magnus slams against an invisible barrier and narrows his eyes at her. Izzy and Jace test around them and see that they are trapped as well.
Valentine smiles, "Welcome, one and all."
Alec glares at him, "Let them go."
Valentine laughs, "They invited themselves." He claps his hands, "Now, join me or they die."
Magnus' cat eyes glare at him, "Why would Alexander join you?"
"Nobody is talking to you, warlock. Alec, I've been a patient man, but my patience is wearing thin. Maybe I'll start with your lovely sister?"
Izzy narrows her eyes, "Try it."
Alec takes two blades from his pocket. He throws one at Iris and one at Valentine.
Iris quickly flicks her hand and the blade flies back at Alec, hitting him in the shoulder. He falls to the floor as Magnus curses.
Magnus pushes against the barrier surrounding him. Iris is sent flying across the room. She gets to her feet as Magnus sends a fireball her way. She slams into the back wall and her neck snaps. She slides down and crumbles on the floor, dead.
The blade hits Valentine in the middle of his forehead and he falls to the ground. Jace runs over to him, as Magnus and Izzy run to Alec. Jace watches as 'Valentine' flickers. The glamour drops and Ivan is revealed. Jace looks at the others, "Son of a bitch."
Alec gets to his feet with help from Magnus, "He must have left after I got locked up."
Jace shakes his head, "Damn it."
Magnus tosses the blade to the side as he heals Alec's shoulder with magic, "I'm taking Alec back to the loft, see if you can find out where that bastard went."
Jace nods.
Magnus opens a portal and he, Izzy and Alec leave. They arrive in the loft.
Alec shakes his head, "Just when you think it's over."
Valentine walks out their bedroom, "It's about time you got here." Izzy brings out her seraph blade as Magnus brings magic to his fingertips. Valentine laughs as he holds a remote control in his hand, "Last time, Lightwood, are you going to join me?"
Alec narrows his eyes, "You can ask me until the end of time, and my answer will still be 'no'."
"Suit yourself. Remember that pat on the back I gave you when I welcomed you? I was injecting you with a capsule that I am now going to open." He pushes the button.
Alec blinks then his eyes roll back as he falls to the floor. He starts to convulse and foam at the mouth. Izzy screams as she drops her blade and runs to her brother's side.
Magnus' cat eyes flare as he yells and rushes Valentine. He reaches into Valentine's chest and pulls out his heart. Valentine's eyes widen as he watches his heart burst into flames. He falls to the floor dead. Magnus flicks his hand and the flames are gone. He runs to Alec and Izzy.
Izzy is sobbing. Magnus quickly runs his hands over Alec and his body stops seizing.
She asks, "You cured him?"
He shakes his head, "I put him into a state of suspended animation, so the poison would stop going through his system." He opens a portal, "Go to Jace, look for an antidote, or find out what the poison was. Something I can use to fix him."
She nods. She stands and runs into the portal.
Magnus wipes away his tears as he opens another portal. He gently picks Alec up and stands. He walks through the portal into the Infirmary of the Institute.
He carries Alec into a room and gently lays him on the bed. A doctor walks in, "Izzy texted me. Is it worth looking at him?"
Magnus steps out the way, "Go ahead."
The doctor exams Alec and shakes his head, "We have nothing to fight this."
Magnus closes his eyes as tears run down his face, "Valentine created this poison, hopefully he created an antidote as well."
The doctor squeezes his arm, "By the angel, I hope so." He leaves the room.
Magnus lays beside Alec and holds him. He looks up at the ceiling as he whispers, "Mistress Destiny, I never questioned your decision to make me love a ShadowHunter. Or to make him love me. But I now question why you are taking him from me so soon. I have been your faithful servant all these years, please, I beg you, give him back to me." He buries his face in Alec's neck as he sobs.
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Magnus opens his eyes and looks around. He must have cried himself to sleep. He looks at Alec. His husband is still pale and still dying.
Magnus' phone beeps. That is what woke him up. He pulls it out his pocket. A text message from Izzy, We got it.
He quickly sits up and opens a portal. Jace and Izzy run through. Jace is holding a journal and Izzy is holding a vial.
Magnus gets to his feet and takes the vial from her, "This is the antidote or the poison itself?"
"That's the antidote. According to his journal, he had it just in case he accidentally dosed himself."
Magnus nods as he flicks his hand and a syringe appears. He fills it with the antidote and closes his eyes, "I'll have to remove the stop on his system in order for it to work. We have to hope the antidote goes though his system faster than the poison." He waves his hand over Alec, and he starts convulsing again. Magnus quickly injects Alec's arm with the antidote.
Izzy grabs his arm with both hands as Jace holds the journal close to him and prays.
Magnus doesn't stop the tears that roll down his face as they watch Alec fight for his life. The convulsions stop and Alec lays there motionless.
Izzy looks up at Magnus through her tears, "Is he okay?"
"I don't know."
Jace whispers, "He's breathing?"
Magnus nods. Alec's eyes flutter as he looks around with unfocused eyes, "Magnus?"
Izzy lets Magnus' arm go, as he runs to his husband's side, "I'm right here." Magnus sits on the bed and gently pulls Alec close.
Alec rests his head on Magnus' chest, "What happened?"
Magnus buries his face in Alec's hair, "We almost lost you." He holds Alec tight.
Izzy sits by his feet and squeezes his leg, "That was close."
Jace sits next to her, "Too fucking close."
Alec looks up at Magnus, "And Valentine?"
Magnus kisses him gently, "The bastard is dead."
"And the Cup?"
Magnus shakes his head, "Completely forgot about it." He looks at Izzy and Jace, "Did you find it?"
Both of them shake their heads. Jace looks down at the journal in his hand, "No Cup, but I found this."
"And what is that?"
"This is who I am. My mother was Celine Herondale and Valentine cut me from her womb." He reaches into his pocket, "He took this ring off her finger afterwards."
Alec nods, "Impressive."
Jace shrugs, "Doesn't change anything, still want to go through with changing my last name to 'Lightwood'."
Alec smiles, "Mom says by the end of the week, it should be official."
Izzy nods, "Helps to know people in high places."
Jace smiles, "Can't get any higher than the Consul."
Alec nods as he rests his head on Magnus' chest, "Tired."
Izzy and Jace stand. Izzy walks over and kisses Alec's cheek, "Rest, I'll take care of the Institute." She kisses Magnus' cheek, "Take care of him."
Magnus smiles, "That is something I never have to be told." She laughs as she walks out the room.
Jace squeezes Alec's arm, "Valentine is dead, regardless of where the Cup is. Still a win."
Alec nods as he closes his eyes, "True."
"I'll let you rest." He leaves.
Magnus waves his hands around and portals them to their bedroom.
Alec opens an eye and smiles, "Nice." Magnus lays next to him and Alec snuggles close. He rests his head on Magnus' chest, "I assume you killed Valentine."
"Yep."
Alec looks at him, "You okay?"
Magnus kisses him, "I am now."
"The last thing I remember is Valentine pushing the button in his hand."
Magnus holds him tight, "Poison, a very powerful poison. Lucky for us, Valentine had an antidote."
"Or it would have been a great way to see if I came back."
"Came back?"
"Yes, remember Monday we were talking about reincarnation?"
"No, Alexander, YOU were talking about it. I want no part of any conversation that revolves around you dying."
"Magnus.."
"No, there is no 'Magnus', about this. I refuse to let you die."
Alec looks at him and is surprised to see tears running down Magnus' face. He quickly sits up and wipes the tears from his husband's face. He kisses Magnus, "I'm sorry for upsetting you."
Magnus holds him close, "I'm not ready to lose you. I don't think, I'll EVER be ready to lose you. I watched a boy that I grew fond of become the man that I love and I don't want to lose him. If that makes me a selfish person, than I'm okay with that."
Alec kisses him, "I love you."
"No more talk of dying."
Alec nods as he lays back on the bed, "No more." He rests his head on Magnus' chest.
"Good." Magnus kisses the top of Alec's head as they hold each other. They fall asleep in each other's arms.
-tbc-
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Almost there.