So here's the new chapter! There are new faces appearing for the first time in this chapter, so I really hope you like it!


Chapter 4

The first stars of the night were just appearing in the sky when the skyline of the Spiral Labyrinth started to peek over the horizon. Magnus and Alec had been sailing for two days now, and although they both loved the sea more than anything in this world, it was always nice to see some land ahead, especially when they were in such need to stock up on certain things, namely food and rum.

When they had snooped around the supplies that the Clave, without knowing, had prepared for them, Magnus had discovered that among the crates and barrels occupying space in the storage compartment there was no rum—none at all. Not a single bottle of the precious amber liquid. Alec had been fine with it, he wasn't the drinking type, but Magnus had almost lost it after that. Rum was like the blood that ran through his veins, the elixir that kept him alive. Well, actually no, that was the water from the Fountain, but still. He needed rum, so reaching the Spiral Labyrinth before another day passed had become a priority, a matter of life or death.

"Look there, Alexander!" Magnus pointed toward the horizon. "See over there? That's the Spiral Labyrinth." He added, handing Alec his spyglass.

Alec took it and admired the view. "Well, it is smaller than I imagined it would be." He said sincerely.

"I told you it was a small island. In fact, the whole thing is the port...you can walk it all in one day." Magnus pointed out.

Alec seemed to analyze the information. "If it's so small, how is it that this is the most important pirate port in all Seven Seas?"

"Oh, because of its location, Alexander. Did you notice that we didn't see a single patch of land in all the way here?"

Alec nodded.

"That's because the island is located right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where the waters are so dark that sailors and merchants do not dare to sail."

"That's why it cannot be found on any map?" Alec asked curiously.

"No, actually, you can find it...you just need to have the right map, Alexander." Magnus said with a smile. Visiting this port always put him in a very good mood.

"So, the Clave knows of its existence?"

"They know alright, but they don't know how to find it. Maps with the location of the Spiral are the only secret that pirates have learned to keep for years, so you won't find one on your own—a pirate must give you one. And that, my dear, is a real act of trust."

"Why?" Alec asked intrigued.

"Because that place…" Magnus said, pointing to the now closer island, "is pirate heaven. There's no other pirate island in the world like this one. The Spiral is unique, dangerous, drunken, bawdy—the perfect place for us."

Alec took another look at the place. Now that they were closer the silhouettes of the buildings were more defined and the bustle of people could be heard.

"Well, it's noisy." Alec pointed out. "We are barely there and I can already hear all the commotion."

"You have no idea!" Magnus exclaimed. "This place is, perhaps, the noisiest place in the whole world."

"And, who discovered it? Has it been there for long? People live here?"

"Are you always so curious about everything?" Magnus asked quizzically.

Alec just nodded, lowering his head and blushing almost immediately. "I'm sorry, my father always tells me not to ask too much, but I can't help it. I like to know things." He confessed.

"It's okay, I admire an inquisitive mind." Magnus said. "And to quench your curiosity, I'll share some information. The Spiral Labyrinth has been around for as long as I can remember. Around the late 15th century, almost three centuries ago, a couple of English privateers, William 'Will' Herondale and James 'Jem' Carstairs, found this place and made it their berth. For years the Spiral was their hiding and sailing place, until well, they decided to share its location with the world and it became a safe haven for pirates, rogues, scoundrels, outlaws, privateers, prostitutes, thieves, drunkards and some sailors—the creme de la creme of our society."

Alec laughed with that last part. "And, who rules here?"

"No one!" Magnus exclaimed. "That's the beauty of it. The Spiral Labyrinth is a lawless place with no one to rule it. We are all equal here, no one is above anyone."

"But, who controls the brawls and riots?" Alec wondered. "It cannot be a pirate port and not have confrontations."

"No one controls it, Alexander. We just let people solve their affairs the way they want."

"Like savages…"

"No, Alexander." Magnus said, lowering the sails. They were about to make port. "Like pirates."

Magnus and Alec busied themselves lowering the sails and tying the ship to the nearest dock. There were many ships, large and small, anchored in the port, but none that Magnus recognized—and that was a relief. He didn't want to come across someone to whom he owed something. There were several pirates sailing the seas that had one or two outstanding issues with him.

"Welcome to the Spiral Labyrinth!" Magnus exclaimed as they descended the ship. The night was now at its fullest and the stars shone high above the sky. "I could give you a brief tour if you want, but I think it's better if we just hurry. We have things to do before dawn and if we want to find a crew so quickly then we have to-" Magnus stopped when he noticed that Alec wasn't paying attention.

"Are you okay?" Magnus asked.

Alec looked uncomfortable. He was stiff, stealthy, watchful, as if waiting for something or someone to attack him at any moment.

"I-I can't go in there." Alec confessed.

"Why? Are you afraid of pirates? You sailed with one for two days, darling."

"No," Alec said, shaking his head to emphasize his statement, "I mean that I can't go in there dressed like this." He pointed at his slightly grubby, but still elegant outfit. "I'll stick out like a sore thumb! They'll think I'm some kind of spy from the Clave."

Magnus analyzed the situation for a minute. The boy had a point, he did look different from the rest of the male population of the island, but Magnus liked to believe that it was because the Lightwood boy was...well, very attractive. But maybe Alec was right and it was because of his clothing. Magnus hadn't thought about it, but Alec's elegant clothes did give him away.

"Here." Magnus said, taking off the cloak that the boy was wearing and opening his shirt a little.

"What are you doing?" Alec exclaimed scandalized, as if Magnus were stripping him.

"Helping you." Magnus said, rolling his eyes. "Now, stop whining and let me finish." He added, now messing Alec's hair a bit and tying a band—that he had gotten from tearing Alec's cloak on strands—around the boy's waist. "There, see? Now you look like one of us."

"I'm not a pirate."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, darling." Magnus said dismissively. "Now, shall we? We need to find the Emerald Prince. He is the one who's going to help us get the crew and-"

"A real prince lives here?" Alec asked surprised, as if the mere idea of a prince living on the island was impossible.

Magnus agreed that the Spiral didn't seem like quite the place for royalty to live, but it was not that bad. The island had its charm.

"Of course not, the Emerald Prince is just a nickname."

"Does he have a lot of emeralds or something?" Alec questioned.

"No, but he used to trade them to save slaves, so people started calling him like that." Magnus said. "Now, let's go. Come with me, the tavern is over here." He said, already making his way to the left side of the island, where a very ramshackle building stood. It was all crowded, but Magnus was not expecting anything less. The tavern was the most popular place in the entire island—and the dirtiest.

"Magnus, wait." Alec whispered.

"Now, what!?"

"Are you sure this is safe? I mean, what if people recognize me? I am the son of the Inquisitor, and yeah, maybe in the past he was one of you, but he betrayed his own captain, he's not an honorable man, even among pirates. What if-"

"No one will recognize you. Your father is well-known and despised here, but luckily for you, you got your mother's look. I don't know her, but I knew your father and you don't resemble him in the least." Magnus said. "Now follow me, and let me do the talking. You're pretty charming and all, but these people are dangerous."

Alec nodded, and Magnus opened the tavern's door with a smile. After all coming to this port always felt like coming home.

o-o-o-o-o

When they entered the tavern Alec was not surprised to discover that Magnus was well-known in the place. The man was a legend, people looked at him with awe and admiration. But Alec was very impressed to see that his fame was not all about his discoveries and activities as a pirate, no, Magnus Bane, was famous because he was...well, a lothario.

Boys and girls alike were exchanging pleasantries with him in a very flirtatious way. The news that Magnus had made port in the city had spread like wildfire and apparently, all the lovers that Magnus had ever had were there in line waiting to see him.

Alec caught some names, Etta, Axel, Edmund—they all were very attractive people. Some a little older for the young pirate, but attractive nonetheless.

"You're quite a catch around here." Alec pointed out when they were alone for a few seconds. "I didn't know you-"

"Magnus!" A man shouted from the other side of the tavern, interrupting what Alec was saying. He had brown skin, sparkling dark eyes and rumpled hair. "It's been so long!" He added, giving Magnus a quick peck on the lips. "I'm so glad that the winds have brought you back!"

"Imasu." Magnus said, smiling at the man. It was clear to Alec in the way they were familiar with each other that these two shared a past together. "I didn't know you were still here. I thought you were in Peru."

"No, I was there for some time, but the waves brought me back." Imasu said. "And, who's this?" He asked, pointing to Alec, who had just been watching them. Alec couldn't deny that the man was handsome, in his own way, but handsome.

"Oh, this is Alexander." Magnus said, formally introducing them. "Alexander…this is Imasu, an old...friend."

Alec acknowledge Imasu with a polite nod. The man seemed to be sweet and very friendly, but there was something in the way he was looking at him that made Alec feel unsure about him.

"Well, it's good to have you back." Imasu continued, ignoring Alec. "When the boy from the docks came to inform us that you were here, I said to myself, 'Imasu you have to see that with your own eyes.' There was a rumor about you and we weren't sure if you were still alive, but I'm glad you're fine. We must celebrate! Have some drinks while you share with us your latest adventures. I'll even play the charango just for you. If you want, I can call some-"

"I'm not here for pleasure, Imasu." Magnus interrupted him. "I have some business to attend, actually."

"Oh, okay, that's fine. But I'll still play your favorite ballads. I'll just go get my stuff and be right back." Imasu said, already walking away.

"Well, that was Imasu." Magnus sighed. "He was a slave brought from Peru nearly five years ago. I saved him and since then he's been very…grateful. I think he's still trying to pay me for what I did for him." He added.

"With sexual favors?" Alec couldn't stop the words from spilling out of his mouth. He had seen the way Imasu was looking at Magnus: as if he were the reason why the stars shone at night.

Magnus looked at him with surprise. "Sometimes…" he admitted, "but mostly, he just plays for me. He's a great musician, you'll see."

Alec chuckled, avoiding Magnus's gaze and looking around the very crowded tavern. He felt uncomfortable. He was with a man he barely knew and whenever he learned something new about him, it made him feel uneasy. It was like reading a very complex map that although he found easy to read, had hidden and probably dark secrets that Alec didn't know if he wanted to discover. He trusted Magnus because he had no choice, but there was no doubt that the pirate represented an enigma that Alec didn't feel prepared to solve.

"So, anyway," Magnus said, "sit here please." He said, pointing at one of the few empty tables. "And wait for me."

"Where are you going?" Alec asked already panicking. He didn't want to be left alone in that place. He felt like a sheep among wolves—an easy target.

"To look for my First Mate."

"Then I should go with you, I don't want to stay here and do nothing. I can be useful, you saw it yourself. I can-"

"I'm not saying you're not useful, Alexander." Magnus interrupted him. "But I have to do this on my own, I'm sure you understand. Just stay here, okay?"

Alec sighed, but nodded. "Fine."

"Okay, I'll be back shortly. Stay out of trouble and stay away from the prostitutes! Yeah, they are beautiful, but they are like mermaids. Deadly creatures, Alexander. They'll just make you lose your mind...and your money. Besides, we don't have time for that."

"I…" Alec tried to speak, but words were failing him.

"It's okay, just keep an eye out. Girls around here have a soft spot for pretty boys like you, so be good and do not fall into temptation."

"I-I…that won't be a problem." Alec finally found the words.

"Why? Is there already a lovely bride waiting for you back in Alicante?" Magnus asked curiously.

"What?" Alec asked confused. "No! It's not that...I'm-I'm…"

"Already married?" Magnus asked like trying to guess.

"No! God...I'm gay, okay?" Alec said, lowering his face completely abashed. To say that he was still not very comfortable with his sexuality was a big understatement. Back home the whole 'Alec likes boys' topic was a taboo. They simply couldn't accept the fact that the firstborn of the Inquisitor of the Clave was gay. It was not right, they said. Alec had a duty to his family. He had to carry the name and honor of the Lightwoods to the next generation.

"Well, in that case stay away from the boys. They won't steal your money, but they'll probably fuck your brains out." Magnus said with a wink.

"Jesus, Magnus!" Alec exclaimed scandalized. That was information that he didn't need to know. "Just get out of here."

Magnus laughed and quickly got lost in the crowd. Alec tried to followed him with his eyes, to see where the pirate was heading, but the flood of people made it impossible. He didn't know where Magnus was. The dim light coming from the candles wasn't enough for him to see what happened beyond a few tables. He tried for some minutes, but there was no sign of the pirate. It was as if the earth had swallowed him.

"He went to the back of the bar," a female voice said, "the Prince is waiting for him there."

Alec looked up. There was a black woman smiling at him. She was very pretty and her warm smile made Alec feel as if he could trust her. She was carrying a pitcher of beer and a couple of bowls with peanuts in them.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said, remembering Magnus's advice to stay out of trouble and not talk to anyone.

"He trained you well, but don't worry, you can trust me. I'm Catarina, I own this tavern." She smiled. "Here, have a beer. This one's on the house."

Alec smiled and although he didn't like to drink that much, he accepted the foamy beer with gratitude. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was. "You know him well?" Alec asked after drinking half the beer in one gulp.

"Magnus? Yes...he's been around for a very long time." She said with a wink. "Are you his new Cabin Boy?" She asked, eying him from head to toe.

"Hmmm, no. We're just hmmm, helping each other out."

"Well, he did say that you had helped him out of prison, so he owes you big, but don't forget that he's a pirate." She warned him. "If there's something I've learned over the years is to never trust them completely."

"Why are you telling me this?" Alec asked half puzzled, half worried.

"Because you're not like the rest...I can see it in your eyes—you're a good man. And I'm not saying that Magnus isn't a good man too, God knows that he is, but he's not perfect." She said. "Just be careful, okay?" She added, walking away and leaving Alec more confused and more worried than before.

o-o-o-o-o

Magnus stepped out of the bar and made his way to the small table that was hidden behind some barrels and crates. A man was already sitting there, drinking something from a pitcher. His hair, as per usual, was stylized to resemble a pair of horns and his clothes were, to no one's surprise, a complete mess.

"I hate it when you start without me." Magnus said, patting the man on the back with a lot of familiarity.

"My dear old friend, if I always waited for you I'd never drink a single drop of rum. You're never here. How am I supposed to know that you suddenly remembered that you have friends?"

"You're always so melodramatic, Ragnor." Magnus said, grabbing the other pitcher that was on the table. "You know I'm always thinking about you, my dear Prince, I'm just a busy man."

"Yeah, busy enough to get yourself arrested without me being there to make fun of your pitiful life."

"That was an incident, a mistake on my part that won't happen again." Magnus said. "How have you been?"

"Trying my best, my friend." Ragnor said. "But, tell me what happened? Why did you get arrested? What were you doing in Alicante in the first place? Didn't we agree to never set foot in there again?"

"Blimey, Ragnor! Are you my friend or my father?" Magnus said. "I was following a lead near Alicante, but my boat suffered some damage during a storm, so I made port there to try to fix it. It didn't work, though, by the time I arrived the boat was no more than a single floating piece of wood."

"Did you get arrested for that?"

"What?" Magnus exclaimed, taking a sip of his drink. "No, of course not. I was trying to be a good citizen and that was when they caught me."

"A good citizen by trying to steal something?" Ragnor asked in a joke.

"Actually no," Magnus confessed, "I was helping someone."

"Is that someone the boy who came with you?" Ragnor inquired.

"You saw him?"

"Aye, when the kid from the docks came running to the tavern to inform us about your arrival, I couldn't believe it, so I went there to see for myself. You were there with him on the docks—undressing him. Is he your new boy toy?"

"What? No! And first, I wasn't undressing him, I was helping him look more like a pirate, and second, he's not my new boy toy. In fact, he is the reason why I'm here—literally." Magnus said. He could see that Ragnor wasn't understanding anything, so he elaborated. "I'm going after the Danube, Ragnor."

"Haven't you been doing that for the past fifteen years?"

"Aye, but this time I know I'm going to get it back. I have something I didn't have before." Magnus said with a smile.

"And, what is that?"

"Seriously, Ragnor?" Magnus rolled his eyes. He never had to explain his plans in such detail. Usually, his friend understood them even before having to hear the rest. "The boy! You idiot prince of green minerals."

"The boy? How is it that this boy's so important?"

"Alexander is the son of Robert Lightwood." He said as a matter of explanation, but his friend was still not understanding the plan. "Did you hear about the attack in Alicante?"

Ragnor nodded.

"That was Valentine's doing. He attacked at night and, do you know what he took?"

Ragnor shook his head.

"Robert's son...Jason."

"He took one of his sons?" Ragnor asked surprised. "You think that?"

"Aye," Magnus nodded, "you remember that old tale we found about the curse?"

"Aye." Ragnor nodded in understanding. He was finally catching up with Magnus's plan.

"I think that our dear Captain Morgenstern finally found it too."

"So you think it's true then?" Ragnor inquired. "Does he really need the boy to break it?"

"Aye, but here's the part that I like the most, my friend." Magnus said, almost whispering now. "He took the wrong son."

"What?"

"James is adopted." Magnus said. "Alexander is his eldest son."

Ragnor's eyes widened. Magnus knew that he had put two and two together. "How did you convince him to come with you so willingly?"

"I didn't...he was the one who asked for my help. He wants to save his brother."

"So he doesn't know that...?"

"No," Magnus shook his head, "and he can't find out. He's reckless, he'll just ruin everything."

"Then what did you tell him about the treasure?"

"Not much, just what he needed to know." Magnus confessed.

"But if he's coming with us, we can't hide the truth forever. He'll learn the truth and-"

"We will try." Magnus said. For his plan to work it was essential that Alec didn't find out the truth. If what he had learned from him these past days was true then he knew that Alec wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice himself just to save his brother, and if he did that, Magnus would never have the chance to recover his ship. They had to be very careful.

"How?"

"We will focus on finding the bloody island. I'm sure Valentine is already on his way there." Magnus said.

"Aye, but how long do we have? Finding the island won't be easy. By the time we know where it is, the boy's brother could already be dead."

"I don't know, my friend. For all I know we could already be late and Jesse is dead, but Alexander can't know that. We still need him. When Valentine realizes that the other boy's blood didn't work, he'll try to get his hands on Alexander and that's when we get my ship back."

Ragnor nodded. "One for the other."

"Aye." Magnus said with a smile.

"Then we need to get our hands on that old tale again, my dear friend." Ragnor pointed out. "And this time it would be wise to bring with us someone who can read and translate Spanish and Latin."

"Let me guess?" Magnus said, already mocking his friend. "The only person in the world who can read both is your love, am I right?"

Ragnor smiled. "What can I say, I'm biased, my dear."

"You both are disgusting." Magnus said. "But never mind, bring whoever you want just remember that we don't have much time. We part at dawn."

"But hmmm...there's a slight inconvenience, my friend."

"What?"

"Hmmm, in order for me to ask my love to help us, we need to make a brief detour to Cadiz."

"In Spain? Why? What happened?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about, on the contrary, we had some things we wanted to sell and there was a couple of Spanish privateers that seemed interested." Ragnor said. "But it's okay because the church where we found the tale about the curse is in Cartagena so it is on our way anyway."

Magnus sighed. "Aye, alright." He agreed. "But you must get us a crew and rum."

"How many?"

"Thousands of barrels my friend."

"No, you insufferable alcoholic, how many men?"

"Twenty or thirty. We don't need many."

"Are you planning on overthrowing Valentine and his crew with only twenty men?"

Magnus shook his head. "I'm planning on overthrowing Valentine with just one man." He said, with a smile.

"I don't know if you're crazy or just brilliant, but I'll get us some men." Ragnor said. "And let the God of the seas protect us 'cause I'm not sure whether we will make it out alive this time or not."

"Fear not, my friend." Magnus said. "This time I'm not letting that scallywag escape with my ship. I don't care who is helping him. The Danube will be mine again, even if I have to sink with it myself."

Ragnor smiled. "Then...may your anchor be tight-" he said lifting his drink.

"-your cork be loose-" Magnus continued.

"-your rum be spiced-"

"-and your compass be true." Magnus said, clinking his drink with Ragnor's.

They drank the full content and slammed the empty pitchers on the table. This adventure was just beginning and the winds seemed to be already blowing in their favor.


Thanks for reading. The next chapter will be up next Tuesday, so see you soon! Come talk to me on tumblr (link on bio)!