Chapter two: Reflect

Alec lay in a sea of white sheets, thinking.

After being with Magnus long enough, he had learned not to care about the time. He also learned not to keep his cell phone on, as he was no longer fearful of his siblings' needs; he knew they were fine without him. But something at that very moment made him want watch his cell phone, located on the dresser opposite him. Something made him want to make sure it didn't light up or bleep in warning.

But all he saw was the time, blinking – as if taunting him. He was in Idris now, where phones didn't even work. No one was going to call him. Nothing was going to happen.

It made Alec want to touch his cheek (again), just to check if it was bleeding - that there was a cut there after all. But there was nothing… and there never was.

He sighed, forcing himself to turn over. He pulled the sheets up as he felt a chill sweep through him. He watched as rain pattered on the window beside him; the liquid running down in crooked paths, skewing Alec's view of what was outside. The rain wasn't harsh like the night before, but it was still unnerving. It didn't feel right.

Alec sat up and rubbed his eyes. Something about the gray sky made him want to stay in bed, but he decided against it. He didn't need to be lying around all day; he wanted to keep Magnus company.

He lazily rolled off the side of the bed and stumbled towards the door. He had passed Magnus's large mirror, which seemed to want to emphasize his hair; it was sticking up in multiple places, turning in a crown around his head. Nothing changed – Alec was still Alec, and Alec's hair was still Alec's hair… unless Magnus decided to touch it.

To a certain extent, this was fine with Alec; only the sparkles were the problem.

As he reached the end of the hall, he smelt exactly what Magnus was cooking. Alec felt his nostrils flare, and his mouth water in delight. It was a sweet, soft aroma that had reached him: one that Alec knew to be pancakes. Magnus's pancakes.

As he reached the door, the smell had gotten stronger and much more mouth-watering. But nothing – nothing at all could surpass the amount of joy Alec felt when his eyes made contact with Magnus's. Nothing.

He was dressed casually that day, adorned by a plain black shirt and skinny jeans. His dark, black hair hung loose; even his eyes, which were usually covered in makeup, were clear. Alec enjoyed these moments the most, early in the morning – as he saw something other people usually never see: a normal looking Magnus Bane.

"Hello, hello," Magnus said. "He's awake," he teased, walking over and intertwining his fingers with Alec's. He immediately felt his nerves stand on end, his brain signaling the betrayal of a blush. Magnus had leaned down slightly, kissing Alec's brow.

A smile crept onto the corners of Alec's mouth. He automatically looked over Magnus's shoulder, and saw the half-cooked pancakes on the pan. He also caught a glance of cut up fruits – strawberries, blue berries – bedecked onto a pearl-white ceramic plate.

"Breakfast?" Alec questioned.

"Yes," Magnus said. "Just for you." He led Alec towards the white granite table in the middle of the kitchen and sat him down.

Alec stared at him precariously. "Why breakfast, all of a sudden?" He frowned. "Is there something I'm forgetting?"

Magnus was stationed back at the kitchen counter, flipping pancakes. "Nope," he smiled, "I'm just treating my boyfriend to breakfast today." He turned off the flame with a quick snap of his fingers. The pancakes had appeared on the ceramic plate, where the bits of fruit were. He then walked over to Alec, plate in hand. He placed it in front of him.

A smile had reached his eyes, which sparkled in the dimmed light. The golden-green slits reminded Alec of stars, which were usually embedded within the glass city's night sky. Not because of the colors, the rarity, or even the beauty – but for its ability to illuminate. Those stars were better than any stars Alec had ever seen; for they watched over him in a whole new way… in a way not even an angel could.

"Thank you," Alec said. He gingerly took the knife and fork out of Magnus's hands.

As Alec ate, Magnus had stared down at him expectantly. Almost carefully. "So…" Magnus said. "What happened last night?"

Alec had looked up, half way into his second pancake. "Nothing," he said quietly. "I just felt sick."

Magnus's face had knotted into a frown. It wasn't meant to be harsh, but it made Alec shift in his chair. "I don't believe that. I don't at all," he said back. He poured some milk into a glass. He watched as the white liquid filled the cup, consuming it all the way into its peak.

Alec picked up the glass and took a sip. "Well," he said. "What are you going to believe?"

"Something that isn't a lie," Magnus said carefully, looking him in the eye. "Something that doesn't make your eyes travel… look away—"

Alec cut him off. "I am looking at—"

"…Something that doesn't make you shift in your seat," Magnus kept going on and on, ignoring him, "something that doesn't hush you, leave you at a loss for words."

Alec stared up at him, his eyes still and unblinking - almost as Magnus's eyes had been when he watched his.

"Look," Magnus said after a while, placing his hand on Alec's shoulder and squeezing it tightly. "Something is troubling you… and I want to help."

Alec almost ignored him then; he was too absorbed in the pancakes in front of him and the mess of the batter behind Magnus. "I could have cooked," Alec said unexpectedly.

Magnus took his hand away and sat back in his chair. "Are you seriously ADHD?"

Alec was going to speak a retort, but he heard a knock on the door.

He watched silently as Magnus sighed and got up, answering it. Alec immediately heard the rain pound when Magnus opened the door; the sounds seemed to be out of place in such a quiet, tense environment.

Alec saw a female warlock standing at the base. She bore a long cloak that seemed to hold the darkest of nights within its fabric. Her blonde, spiky hair was cropped short and resembled the sun's potent glare. She seemed to be no older than him, but naturally petite; Magnus completely towered over her and forced her to arc her neck uncomfortably. And with a jolt, Alec realized she had two small horns peeking through her hair – showing she might be a warlock, like Magnus.

When Magnus first saw her, he didn't say anything. He just walked out with her, speaking under his breath.

Alec frowned. Whatever they were talking about, he wasn't supposed to hear. He felt like listening in - much like an immature child – but decided against it. Magnus's trust seemed to be dwindling already.

Alec settled for putting his plate in the sink, cleaning it off with a washcloth and drying it with a small towel. He scrubbed it harshly, hoping to cool off a bit of baseless anger. He hated it… seeing Magnus hide things from him. He knew it was probably something that didn't exactly concern him, but it still made him angry. It made Alec feel like he was Magnus's child, rather than his partner.

He put the plate down on the counter and picked up the knife. It was one of the blusteriest tableware he had ever seen. Though it was a bit dirty, it held Alec's reflection without strain. It was also sharp... sharp enough to be careful while cleaning.

Alec ran it under the water and used the washcloth as a scrubber (or anger reliever). He was doing fine until he heard a rather loud bang – one that made him jump just enough for him to move his hand abruptly, slicing his pointer finger.

Alec cussed under his breath, knowing he didn't have his steele on him. He had left it in Magnus's and his own room, knowing it was just a false comfort he would be imposing on himself.

He willed himself to reach for the towel, hoping to use it to compress his finger, but he couldn't. The world was spinning, running in circles around his head. He was trembling, and he was glued, glued to the floor: just like before.

He was forced to look into the knife he had held, which was freshly wet with his blood and the sink's water. He felt himself jerk as he saw what was in there, besides his reflection.

A demon; a demon that watched him.

Next: Chapter three – there