The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices and all their rights belong to Cassandra Clare .Fangirl and all it's rights belong to Rainbow Rowell .
Chapter Two –The high Warlock of Brooklyn
Alec held Izzys slim wrist in his tight grip ,seemingly to stop her from pressing the gilded buzzer marked with the word "BANE " for the sixth time .It was clear to his sleeping mind that he was dreaming ,everything was wrong – transhipnotic ,blurred round the edges like an old sepia photo, soaking the world into blue and white shadows .At their helm ,stood Jace .A dark expression across his face – bloody murder , shimmering seraph blades in both of his gloved hands ,an array of weapons strapped to his person , around his hips sinking low .
Strangely Alec couldn't find himself to question the illegal items or the strangeness of the dim night , for it all felt to normal . The arrow seethe and bow on his back , knifes at his side where all familiar weights ,much the same as a phone might be in the hands of a mundane .The door swung open , and the black clad group make their way up a spiraling silver staircase to the loft of the Brooklyn apartment .
It was clear what was happening around him ,a unquestionable acurance – He ,Jace ,Izzy and the stupid mundane where attending the party of the High Warlock of Brooklyn to retrieve information about the block on Clarys mind .Alec bit down on his lip hard running over the plan ,as he let Jace walk ahead golden hair glinting against the door lacquer .Something was terribly wrong ,he could sense it – but Alec just didn't know what .I am a shadowhunter ,he recited in his head , and I uphold the law . Nothing is wrong .
Maybe it was the slight guilt he felt for what he and Jace had did to the vampires flying motorbikes outside the building ? Or maybe it was the hatred he felt for the tiny redhead who seemed to think she owned Jace ? Drunk forgetfulness was what Alec assured himself he felt (though he had absolutely no idea when this alcohol may have been consumed) as he moved to the door after Jace loudly knocked .
For the first few moments Alec saw nothing of the figure who answered the door , only hearing an angered velvet voice ,as Isabelle rambled about their invitation .The door swung wider on its hinge and a slip of the startlingly attractive man (that clearly had to be Magnus Bane ) came into Alec's view .
His eyes swept over the shadowhunters ( as well as Clary and the mundane ) ,and displeasure took his features .Yet even displeased he was so utterly entrancing that Alec was caught up by all the glitter ,tight leather and bright clothing ,soft warm skin and a elegant face of sharp cut cheekbones and chin much like a marble bust . Bright eyes the color of the orange preserving stone , as though an indent of the year's they had seem were printed in his honey colored gaze – a warlocks mark of cat eyes ,but a beautiful one at that .
After words with Jace,that where difficult to hear over the thumping music of the party within Magnus moved back into the sway of the party ,and the shadowhunters entered .Alec followed Jace into the haze , his parabatai moving closer and closer to a fairy with ebony hair and lips ,who strung a string of antifreeze hued flowers around Jaces neck .
The room ,gave the impression that a glitter bomb had exploded in a scene from "A thousand and One Nights ".Drapes shrouded the ceiling separating the rooms from view ,like little chambers surrounding the open floor filled with swaying bodies and open skin everything in rich gold and jewel tones .Jace moved back to the rest of the group ,and like the trained soldier that he was , Alec followed .Nothing was wrong ,their was no nagging suspicion that wormed its way under his skin and made his insides rile as they searched for its source .That simply wasn't the case .
A conversation ensued ,and Alec surprisingly found that he was one to partake in it .Clary and Jace both seemed to snap at the High Warlock ,while Izzys eyes kept tracing their way back to the dark haired mundane who only ever looked at his best friend .Simon ,Alec reminded himself ,his name is Simon Lewis .
A brief mention of the words "Mortal Cup "set off alarm bells that triggered warnings in Alec's head ,drowning out what happened around him ."Find the Mortal Cup " he heard the words as they were spoken to him in a bleary untouchable memory "Valentine has returned with the circle " . "Save our world before it's too late "blared in his ears , inaudible to the rest .
But the words that didn't seem to mean anything as they couldn't quite be grasped ,for Magnus kept looking in Alec's direction after words trailed from the shadowhunters own lips ,reassuring him about a long forgotten past .Izzy returned (though Alec couldn't place when she had left ) shouting in horror about Simon being a rat ,suspicious vampires ,and the voice in his ears faded completely as his sister spoke .
Cat eyes ,blaring sound ,laughter high and sweet , piercing to the core ,drunk words and angry fists .Holly water smeared on rusty pipes ,moon children and the night ,a high warlocks smile showing glittering teeth ..."The Mortal Cup !" a voice cried out in warning "Find it ".As Alec felt his eyelids fall shut ,as he was whisked to another world .
Startled , Alec sat up like a bolt in bed ,pushing the quilted blankets off his body as his mind raced with the dream he had just had .What the bloody hell was that about !?Mortal cup I've heard those words before ,that has something to do with Raziel right ? High warlock of Brooklyn is quite a title .But why where we all the shadowhunters –it's like Jaces old games, all over again .How odd. "The Mortal Cup "He whispered aloud in astonishment ,brimming with confusion .
For a moment he sat there baffled , letting his eyes adjust to the bright lighting that shrouded the small rectangular room .He turned leaning against the cinder block wall , rubbing his head wondering how the curtains had opened when he say Magnus perched on the edge of the other bed .
He must have been a morning person for he was already dressed . Rainbow leather leggings that where tight (so tight Alec could already feel his blush),combat boots again and a blue satin waistcoat .Just the waistcoat .
"Good morning handsome " Magnus winked an eye that where covered in dark liner "someone has some seriously sexy bed head in the morning ".Alec who had never been more confused in his life ,and had no idea how to react to the teasing ,blinked rapidly and pushed the warm nest of covers further away .Only to immediately pull then back up again after realizing he wasn't wearing a top and his chest and stomach where on show .
"No please "Magnus almost cried out "I don't mind .Where all friends here ".Alec sat up darkly holding the sheets tight ,doubting this very much –they had little know each other for twenty four hours ."I'm going to get ready " Alec mumbled , darting from the room and down the thankfully empty corridor before he got to a lone bathroom stall .He changed into his hole bitten black jumper and jeans , hoping that maybe Magnus would just be gone when he got back . Having to spend every morning this embarrassed wasn't a prospect to look forward to .
Alec returned to see Magnus on the floor cross-legged purring ."Em.. what are you doing ?" He said in alarm only to have Magnus shush him .
"Come on Chairman ,come and meet Alexander –he's very pretty , I think you might like him "Magnus announced wisely .Alec wasn't sure he was talking to him or the furry white cat that popped out from Magnus's arms (he hoped he was talking about the cat being pretty, he really couldn't deal with any more confusion with possible warlock boys ).
"This is Chairman Meow "Magnus said happily holding up the ivory tabby cat with gem green eyes ."Get it away from me "Alec warned throwing himself on his bed to avoid the furry creature catching his sleeve on the frame as he went .
"You're not scared of Cats are you , Alexander?"Magnus mused a smile playing on his lips. "No of course not "Alec said hurriedly ,looking at the tiny fluffy tabby only to see the rotten face of the overly velvety Church ."Don't worry Alexander I can get Ragnor to keep him in his room if you want ?"Magnus looked over at Alec on the bed ,and smirked."No its just ...you're not aloud pets in the dorm rooms "Alec knew he sounded like a stick in the mud ,so his voice broke off into a mumble .
"Ragnor's it is then "Magnus purred to the cat ,who was slinking towards Alec's bookshelf with a self assured glide ."No ,no "Alec said jumping up from the mattress to shoo the cat away from the large bookshelf near the door that apart from the bed took up most of the room on Alec's side .The cat hissed bristling ,paws stretched out in-front before it curled in a ball hissing softly to itself .
"Well the chairman must really like you otherwise your ... "Magnus glanced down at the books on the bookcase bottom row reading aloud "Harry Potter books would have been in shreds ".The thought of anything happening to his books made Alec want to shun the cat from the building , so he replied surely "Magnus ,If that cat comes near my bookcase again I might have to report it or something ".
"Oh say that again "Magnus smirked moving closer to Alec who stood pressed against the bookcase ,now completely sure that his use of sarcasm had offended his roommate ."That if your cat touches my books Il report it ?"Alec's confusion make Magnus shake his head and mouth the words through his soft glittered lips "No , my name ".
"Magnus "Saying his name was an excel of sharp breathe ,submerging yourself in a body of cold water ,the rush of posting a new fanfic chapter .It made Alec feel warm and frozen at the same time ."Alexander "Magnus laughed a melodic tone ,hearing Magnus say his name made his face swell with fresh blood as he spluttered slightly .
" I need to get to class " Alec's words where short and clipped , he couldn't quite look Magnus in the eye ,as he grabbed his satchel and swung open the door once more .He was hoping to all the gods that Kaelie the pink Ugged stalker wouldn't be lounging in the hall ready to pounce .Where on earth did she come from anyway ? It was a boys dorm corridor , yet she always managed to be there .
"Oh you freshmen and your classes " Magnus said silkily , lying on his bed holding the feline menus ."Are you not a freshmen to ?"Alec was distracted once again ,turning to look back at Magnus was an uplifted brow ." Not quite, I've in college for a while . But I guess not that long in this one – all these places are the same to me " .
"Umm well , bye then " Alec wasn't quite sure if the conversation had ended , but Magnus had closed his eyes and seemingly fell asleep along with the cat . He shut the door , standing against it for longer than necessary , hand lingering on the door handle . Magnus must have classes to right ?He couldn't just party all the time and never go to class ?
As Alec thought about it he realized that Magnus hadn't said anything about the party he was in attendance to last night .He had simply been there when Alec woke up - which meant that he had been there when Alec was asleep .Oh my God , he must have came back when I was sleeping !He couldn't have heard my snoring , he might had friends over or something !
His face turned bright pink as he blushed furiously .Walking down the grey corridor , Alec shook of the strange thought like a shiver running down the curve of his spine . A grumble in his stomach was a welcome distraction. Gosh I really need to eat !
The cafeteria or food court as it was oddly called was the most likely option of finding consumable food before class started. But the many food halls around campus (especially the main one ) scared him with their new customs , rules and regulations that he surely didn't know . What if he did something wrong whilst waiting in line ! He might be shunned from the place forever , never to return to eat their strange combinations of cheese and peach's .
He made his way through the early bird riot of students, to the stone and glass building in the center of campus that houses the colleges eating needs . Izzy and Clarys dorm room was in Selleck Hall , a short minute walk from the main cafeteria , his siblings most likely place to eat breakfast .
Sliding his phone from his pocket , there wasn't a single text from Jace or Isabelle about having breakfast together . Alec loomed near the glass panel that let light stream into the canteen ( Canteen ! Cafeteria ! Dinner Hall ! What on earth was it ? And why was nowhere in this maze of a campus clearly labelled ? )
Standing on the path far enough from the canteen he couldn't be seen as lurking ,but close enough that he could glance in and see that his usual table was empty of its residents .Alec decided he wasn't hungry anymore .
Taking the shortest path to the largest cluster of old buildings that houses his next class - Fiction Writing –,Alec found himself sitting on the large grass path under the shade of a flyer draped tree going through his phone .Familiar taps caused him to find his way into fanfiction . net where the Harry Potter folder beckoned .
Alec also found himself reading a little bit of Drarry out of boredom.
Draco's lips where hard stone against Harry's honey glossed mouth .Hands in Draco's snow hair Harry had never felt so confused .Why was he kissing his worst enemy in the prefects bathroom ?And most importantly .Why did he never want to stop?
Alec was glad that he could vent his frustrations with a verging on smutty Harry /Draco fic ,but the lonely tug (or was it just hunger )pulled at his heart and his head was no longer in the story .What was the point when he could never go to Hogwarts ?It was a sickening thought to knew that he was now officially to old for Hogwarts – the gates to his true home where now closed .
A group of Ray – band warring older teens shuffling along the grass told him that it was most likely time for class .Well , Alec thought to himself moving towards the pillared building , guess Drarry will have to wait .
Their first class with Professor Imogen had been an awkward affair , though it was a given that most anything Alec did was awkward .The Greek amphitheater shaped room , have the appearance that they were waiting on some great lecturer , or for a glowing screen to drop at a midnight movie premiere .
The buzzing affect of the first day of class , eye contact kept to a minimal , overly friendly smiles if such eye contact was to take place , wore of as Professor Imogen arrived a few minutes late .A pale albino like woman , with marble grey eyes and a pinched snubby nose , Alec had realized that she was even more commanding than she looked on the book jacket .
Alec had read all of her books over the summer , shocking Izzy with the fact that they didn't contain wizards or a chosen one ( not even a magic wand , or enchanted forest in sight ) .They were all depressing yet well written tales about futuristic America etc etc .She arrived to class in a similar style , doing a swivel on her chair to survey the room from her desk ."So " She had said by way of a hello the first time round "Welcome to Welcome to Fiction Writing .It's good to see all of you , some of you I remember and some are brand new " .
It struck Alec in that moment as she looked around the room at faces not belonging to Alec , that he was clearly the only freshmen in the class .Their where things that clearly marked the freshmen , to new clothing , extra effort put in on their appearance .Alec had decided that if he was going to be staying here for a while then there was no point in making up a facade – he wore his usual hole bitten black jumper ( because this was probably a better choice than a Harry Potter or some other fandom shirt ) , jeans and his favorite black converse .
The difference between him and the rest of the students in the room was still plain to see . It had been quite a difficult job securing this particular class at college , but it would surely be worth it .Or at least Alec hoped so .
"Today where going to talk about books " Professor Imogen practically purred the words , having students topple forwards in their seats to here ."And who here likes books ?" This got a chuckle from the class , and smiles from the students up at the front not fearful in the slightest of showing their enthusiasm ."But what do you like about fiction books , then ? Tell me !Tell me "She ushered throwing her body into the movement strands of ashen hair leaping from her already messy bun .
Hands shot into the air ."Other worlds " A girl near the front shouted as she was chosen by the point of the hand ."What about these other worlds ? "Imogen pressed " The feel , the newness of it all , the possibility of a different place ?"
"Characters " A boy with hazel curls , and a cable nit called out " Seeing how another's mind works "."Good , good . But tell me more " The professor had even more hands jumping up at that .
"Villains' " A silk voiced boy called from in front of Alec , all that where visible of him being his crisp snow head of hair and pale delicate hand ." An antagonist that helps carry the story .Getting a taste of evil " .
"We have a Moriarty " Professor Imogen smiled " Good to see not everyone wants to read about the hero ". Alec thought about what it was that made him love fictional books and worlds so much .The feeling of holding a read story in your hands , looking in on one it to see the books clockwork aspects churning under your fingers – in his mind he picked it apart looking for the answer .
Worlds from someone else's head , stepping out of your body and into a world that had been created for you .A soap opera much more interesting than the screen , characters playing out their stories just for you . Just for you – a world to escape into . No one could really hurt you in fiction – and you never worried anything could . Not when you could fly through the sky on a dragon ,slay evil on the battle field , be the chosen one for once .
Alec looked at the notebook laying blank before him , as his head filled with scenes from books ."Love stories " Was cried out along with " The supernatural " and " Magic " .Those words all felt trivial , just components that could be used in a perfect cake , but it took an expert baker to get it right .
What makes me love fiction ?The art of it all , escapism , stepping through the pages , a world in your head , being someone else for a bit . Alec traced the line on his page with a finger , the words bubbling up in his throat but he knew he would never shout them out .
To disappear from the world – fiction makes us forget .
The class was lulled back into silence as Professor Imogen posed her next question " Well if we knew what everyone lies about fiction – why is it so hard to get it all right ? "
Thank you very much for reading .