Hello my fellow fangirls/fanboys. Sorry for the delay. Now, the beginning of this chapter might be somewhat of a repeat, but eventually it will get on with the story. Please review so I know that people like this story! New chapter will be up soon hopefully!
Brooklyn, New York, 2013 (One Year After COLS)
"For the love of everything that is holy- SCARLETT GET OUT OF BED!"
"Ugh, why?"
"Because it's time for warlock training with your favorite uncle!" Magnus Bane grinned as he opened the curtains to his niece's room. He sighed as she groaned and pulled more of her green blankets above her head. "You know, I didn't have to give you a special birthday gift today."
She peeked over the blankets. "You said that about that about the 'Make Your Own Glitter' kit you got me when I was six."
"Your point?" Magnus quirked an eyebrow, sitting at the edge of my bed.
"You used it all."
Rolling his eyes, the older warlock pulled a velvet box out his pocket, setting it on the bedside table so it was at eye level to the stubborn teenager. He watched in amusement as a tanned hand like his own came out of the mountain of blankets, grabbing the box. He heard her gasp as she opened it.
"Is that-"
"A Bane family ring?" Magnus asked, taking the thick piece of metal from his niece. Scarlett sat up in the bed, leaning on his side as he twirled the ring with his fingers. "Your mother and I thought it would be fun to come up with our own symbol, just like Shadowhunters do. And I thought, since you, my dear, are turning fourteen today, that you are responsible enough to have it."
Scarlett gently took the ring from her uncle's hand, looking at the fine detail. Obviously, it was a glittery metal that was engraved with numerous sizes of stars and what looked to be flames. It was a perfect design for the family name. She happily slipped it onto her finger, only to find it too big on all of them. Biting her lip, she reached over and opened her mother's jewelry box and looked for a chain.
Magnus watched her as she put the ring on a black rope-like chain, which already had her Uncle Will's family ring on it, tying it around her neck. God, she looked so much like her mother.
"Well then," he coughed, standing. "You should be happy to know that this was only half of your surprise. So if you want the rest, I suggest you get your tushy downstairs and eat some breakfast."
Scarlett rolled her cat like eyes, giving her father figure a tight hug before running down the stairs and into the kitchen. She gathered her cereal and milk, mixing it together before taking a huge bite.
"So," she said through her chewing. "What what's the other half of this big surprise you got going on?"
Magnus smirked, kissing her forehead before going to the front door. The blonde girl frowned. She didn't hear the buzzer go off.
"Where's the birthday girl?" she heard someone ask. She dropped her spoon into her cereal bowl and ran to the living room, only to jump onto the person that Chairman Meow seemed to be hissing at.
"Uncle Will! Aunt Tessa! What are you guys doing here, I thought you two were on your hundredth honeymoon?" she asked.
Obviously, Will and Tessa Herondale were not strangers in the Bane household. They've been there lots of times, especially when an angry warlock rose Will from the dead a few years back somehow making him immortal (which was the punishment) and was able to be reunited with his wife once again.
Over the years though, Magnus had noticed how much Scarlett and Will were alike. They both were very stubborn, both sarcastic, hotheaded at times, and sometimes, when you look close enough, their looks gave it away. Magnus shook it off, saying that it was just his niece's time spent with Will ever since she was a toddler.
They all sat in the living room, talking about the most random of days or memories of the days when they were young.
"Who are you calling old?" Will would joke, only to get smacked in the back of the head by his wife. Since they have stayed so long in America, the married couple has lost most of their English accent, but not all since they now lived in the abandoned London Institute.
"What happened to it?" Scarlett asked, munching on the sleeve of her very bland sweater. Magnus despised it, waiting for the day she outgrew it so he could burn the horrible thing.
"The Inquisitor at the time thought it would be better to have the Institute somewhere else in London so it didn't have an obvious location." Tessa explained, sipping a cup of tea.
"And besides, we have great memories there and we couldn't part with it." Will smirked as Tessa who glared at him. Will just turned to Magnus. "So, why are we here, Magnus? And we both know it's not for cake."
Magnus's face became stoic. "Scar, can you go feed Chairman? He seems thirsty."
Scarlett did as he was told, muttering something about feeding him earlier. When she was out of sight, Magnus twisted to see if she was listening. He then turned and sat at the edge of the chair he was sitting on, leaning forward towards that married couple.
"I think she knows about Valentine." He whispers. Tessa put her hand to her mouth, gasping as Will stood up.
"How would she know about him? She doesn't even know she's a Shadowhunter!" he hissed. Magnus looked at the floor. He has not told Scarlett of her heritage, true, but he had good reason.
"I've told you multiple times now. I have a good reason for not telling her Will-" he started.
"No you don't!" Will snapped. "The longer you wait to tell her, the less she'll be able to train and be able to protect herself from anything that might come after her."
"You don't understand Will. I don't want her to get hurt." Magnus stood up, seeing that he was still somewhat taller than William by a few inches.
"I know that Magnus. I don't want her to get hurt either, but I had to go through that with my kids and they turned out fine."
The High Warlock glared at immortal Shadowhunter. "Your children, Herondale, were brought up as Shadowhunters. Scarlett had never even stepped inside a church, let alone hold a seraph blade."
Will sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Magnus, anyone could see you love her. I do too, and that's why I think you should let me train her."
"No!" Magnus shouted. He sighed in frustration. "Tessa dear, could you and Scarlett go for a short walk please?"
Tessa nodded, grabbing her coat and going into the kitchen to retrieve Scarlett. When they were out the door, with Scarlett looking at both of her uncles in a confusing manner, William and Magnus turned towards each other.
"Why don't you want her to know?" Will started, trying to keep his voice calm.
Magnus rubbed his hand against his voice, tired of all the fighting. "She keeps saying his name in her sleep."
"Whose?"
"Valentine's."
"But I thought he was dead." Will stated.
"He is, but considering he wanted Scarlett for her power, his son might be looking for her too." Magnus stood up, towering over the Shadowhunter. "I don't want to lose her because she was fighting for mankind, I won't allow it."
Scoffing, Will kept following the Warlock through the apartment. "This is about that Lightwood boy, isn't it? Ever since you two broke it off, you've been keeping Scarlett prisoner in her own home and you're treating both of them like they're children. Just because you've been around longer than anybody, doesn't give you the right to-"
"HE TRIED TO TAKE AWAY MY IMMORTALITY!" the High Warlock of Brooklyn screamed. "I'M TIRED OF EVERYONE REMINDING ME OF WHAT I LOST, BUT NEED I REMIND YOU HE MET UP WITH CAMILLE BEHIND MY BACK?!"
"If she was trained properly, she could take care of herself! And honestly, that wasn't the only reason you broke it off with Alec, was it? Because he was meeting with your ex-girlfriend?" Will smirked, watching as his 800 year old friend scowled at him from across the room, Chairman Meow curling around his feet.
"My answer is no, William. Scarlett will not be training with you or any other Shadowhunter," Magnus whispered in defeat. "That is final."
"So what are you going to do about her dreams? You can't just block her memory." Will's eyebrows crinkled.
Though he is not the legal guardian (the closest thing to a LEGAL guardian anyway) to Scarlett, he had been around for most of the girl's life. He and Magnus both raised her when he first came back to America after traveling the world with his wife since Tessa thought it was too painful in raising another child. Will was also Scarlett's godfather, and knows what is best for his niece and he'd do anything to protect her, even if that meant wrestling Magnus, the High Warlock. He's fought demons before he died (the first time) and will continue to do so to protect his family.
Will smiled sadly as he remembered giving Scarlett the Herondale family ring on one of her birthdays. Magnus yelling at him broke him out of his thoughts.
"Of course I can and I will! She is my niece, my blood, therefore making me the decision maker of her life."
"And what will you do when she turns eighteen, when she is an adult? What if she's immortal like us? Are you going to keep babying her until she finally cracks and rebels against you?"
The two stopped arguing when the front door of the flat opened, only revealing Tessa and Scarlett, carrying two paper bags.
"We knew that neither of you would cook for lunch, so decided on Taki's." Tessa laughed, as if someone told her a funny joke.
"Magnus, you should've seen the trick-or-treaters that dressed up as warlocks this year." Scarlett smiled at her Uncle, knowing he got amused every Halloween because of the mundanes and their ridiculous costumes.
Magnus smiled sadly at her, glancing at Will before taking one of the bags and bringing it to the coffee table in the living room. They sat and ate there, while watching Halloween movies that made Tessa and Magnus laugh mockingly at the wizards/witches and their obnoxious spells.
Hours later, after being stuffed with food from their favorite restaurant, Tessa and Will left the flat, saying their goodbyes and happy birthday to Scarlett, but not before giving her a small box, wrapped in blue paper.
"Open this when you're in your room," Will instructed her. "It's a girl thing, so I guessed you wouldn't want him to see it. Even though he's the most flamboyant homosexual anyone's ever seen." He grinned.
"Hey!" Magnus called from the living room. "I am a flamboyant bisexual, thank you very much!"
Scarlett's POV
"My god, I feel so old!" Uncle Magnus moaned into his hands. I laughed, throwing some popcorn at him.
"You're over eight hundred year old! How do you feel old now?" I asked, petting Chairman Meow.
"My baby girl is fourteen! That's how!" he put me in a headlock, ruffling my hair until it was all knotted and tangled. "Few more years and you'll be leaving me for some other man!" I smiled up at him, watching as he snapped his fingers, causing all of his make-up to disappear. In my opinion, he looked so much better without all of his make-up caked on his face; covering up anything he thought was imperfect about him. "We're going to have to skip warlock training tonight, love. We'll continue on healing spells tomorrow."
Magnus kissed me on the forehead, whispering good night and a happy birthday before he made it up the stairs, complaining about his beauty sleep. I waited until I heard his door close, listening for any signs of him just faking it and staying in the hallway.
Nothing.
I pushed Chairman off of my lap, going straight towards Magnus's study. My eyes took a while to adjust when I turned the lights on, the bright colored walls seemed to glow, the pictures on the walls moved as if they were scenes from a movie, and his large wooden desk was pushed against the back wall. I sat in it, sinking a little.
My hand automatically went to the drawer on my left, unlatching the secret (well not so secret) bottom door, showing numerous papers. I lifted them up and put them onto my lap, flipping through them.
One with my Aunt Tessa and Uncle Will with Jem Carstairs, Cicily and Gabriel Lightwood, Gideon and Sophie Lightwood, and Magnus all standing in front of the London Institute. I turned it over, looking at the date that said September 23, 1880.
There was one with Magnus and some guy with black hair and bright blue eyes in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Magnus kissing the guy's cheek. I could see a rune wrapped around the guy's forearm, which was hanging on Magnus's neck. With an eye quirked, I looked on the back to see written in Magnus's fancy writing, Magnus and Alexander Forever.
I gently set the photo down, looking at the next one. And the next one. And then the next one. I looked through all of the photos until I saw the one I wanted to see most.
It was the day I was born, with the newborn me in my mom's arms. She was looking down at me with what looked to be love in her eyes, her smile brightening up the room. Magnus was on his knees next to the bed next to my mom, also looking down at the scrunched up, sleeping baby.
Gently, I touched my mother's figure with my index finger, stroking it lovingly. It was obvious that I wished I had a mother, everyone knew it. I mean, yes, I love Magnus and Uncle Will with everything I have, but when your 800 year old uncle decides to give you the talk about how a girl's body works, thing tend to get really awkward.
I sighed as I stuffed the small pile of photos in my pocket, closing the drawer and leaving the study, going to the hallway and into my little space. Well, actually it's a dumb waiter which I played in when I was younger, but as I got older it's become my sanctuary.
Even for a fourteen year old, I seem to never grow any taller than five feet. Magnus says I'm way too small for my age, me being only 110 pounds, since I can still sit in the dumb waiter without it going down or me getting cramped.
I gently crawled into the wooden box, trying not to make it creak because of its age. Sighing for what seemed like the thousandth time, I leaned my back up against the corner, lighting what was left of my candle before taking everything I had out of my pockets. My fingers ran over the smooth paper that was covering my gift from Uncle Will and Aunt Tessa; they were itching to find out what was inside. My curiosity finally give in, my hands shredding the paper into bits as it fell around my like blue snow.
Uncle Will loved to put knotted ribbons onto gift, so it would take longer to open and for the person to get pissed off. Lucky for me, I carried a small pocket knife (that no one knew about, I would be grounded until I was 500) that sliced through the thing ribbon. My mouth fell to my lap as soon as I saw what was hidden by the wrapping paper.
The Shadowhunter's Codex.
Why would Uncle Will give me this?
"Holy-"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOUNG LADY?"
I jumped so high I hit my head off of the roof of the box when the tiny door flew open, revealing my uncle in his neon yellow sleep attire. Hopefully he didn't see me hide the Codex under the blanket I always kept in the small elevator.
I looked up at his grinning face. "Scared you?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"The bump that's forming on your forehead," he chuckled as he helped me out of the dumb waiter. "What are you doing up this late anyway?"
I looked at the large Grandfather Clock at the end of the hallway; it was only one in the morning. "I don't know, guess I couldn't sleep." I shrugged it off.
"Mhm," he crossed his arms, his cat-like eyes narrowing. "Then why were you in my study?"
"I-uh . . . well, you see Magnus . . ." I started, too embarrassed to tell him the real reason why.
"Please be honest, love. There are a lot of dangerous things in my office that could harm you. It could not only harm you, but also my favorite Persian carpet from my favorite Persian King."
"Who you stole the carpet from," I pointed out. He just ignored my comment with a wave of his hand.
"Details," he scoffed. "Now tell me the real reason." His eyes softened when I pulled out the picture of him and mom the day I was born. "Baby, why-"
"I just wanted to see what she looked like," I murmured. I wasn't surprised when Magnus pulled me into a tight embrace, his silk shirt feeling like heaven on my burning skin. His thin hands rubbed up and down my back, making my skin tingle. "What was mom like?"
Magnus sighed, sliding a hand over his face in exhaustion. "Well, for starters, she was just like you."
We spent the rest of the early morning cuddled up on the couch with mugs of hot chocolate in our hands while he told me stories about him and mom.
-linebreak-
I couldn't stop reading the Codex.
Of course, I couldn't read it when Magnus was around, so I'd wait until he went to see or had a client over. I'd stay in my room or in the dumbwaiter, finding myself lost in the mysterious pages of the angel Raziel and his descendants. I learned about different runes, how some were for healing, strength, speed, and stamina. I learned about the Clave and the Accords, this person the Inquisitor and so on. There was even an oath a Shadowhunter must take before he or she trains.
"What are you reading, love?" Magnus opened the door to my room, startling me. I quickly shut the book, muttering a soft "Nothing."
I noticed he was dressed in his normal sparkly and colorful attire, his hair spiked with bright blue tips, his nails the same shade. He wore plain black skinny jeans and a white shirt with a red leather coat and matching leather boots.
"Are you going somewhere?" It was six o'clock in the morning; Magnus was never up before at least ten o'clock.
"I'm going to see a client in Manhattan and was wondering if you'd like to come," he explained. Usually he didn't want me to be seen by a client or exposed to the "insane" ones as he called them. "It's just a werewolf having a baby, so I think it'd be perfect for you." Magnus smiled.
Since I could remember, Magnus has always expected me to be the next High Warlock. As soon as I turned five, he started to teach me about potions, spells, how to deal with clients, and how to heal wounds. I guess it made him think I was immortal along with him.
Over the years I've seen my Uncle, who is basically my father, have days where he was depressed and miserable about his immortality and how he'll eventually have no one.
"Will I be immortal with you, Maggie?" I had asked when I was four. I remember him giving me the saddest smile I have ever seen him wear as he pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"I don't know, sweetheart. We'll just have to see what happens now, don't we?"
Shaking my head to get rid of the depressing thoughts, I went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Just for fun, we went on the subway to a place near Central Park where you could hear the poor female werewolf screaming from the street.
"Scar, get me some hot water and towels. Meet me upstairs when you're done, okay?" Magnus instructed as he was dragged away by, who I guessed to be, the husband and gather of the pups.
By the time the pups, three to be exact, were born, it was nearly eight at night. I basically had to drag Magnus out of the apartment building and onto the street. We waited there, trying to hail a cab when I heard someone call my name.
I turned around to see my friend Josh, waving his long arms to get my attention. Like me, he was a warlock in training, and a bit more outgoing than I was. If Magnus had a biological child, Josh would be his son. There was no doubt as I looked at his wardrobe, similar to my uncle's.
"What are you doing in Manhattan?" he asked as he stopped in front of us.
"Magnus had a client was in labor with her pups," I answered, gesturing to my exhausted uncle. "We're on our way home now. What are you doing out so late?"
"The others and I thought it would be fun to get some pizza. Would you like to come?"
I let out a deep breath. I had to make sure Magnus got home safely since he did have a history doing reckless things when he was tired or drunk from a party.
"I don't know Josh." I said. "I have to make sure my uncle gets home."
"Do you want any help?" he asked as I started my way towards the subway. "I could make a portal for you."
"You're still in warlock training! Last time I used one of your portals, only half of my body made it through!"
"I've gotten better!" he defended himself with a huge grin on his face. Rolling my eyes, I faced towards him.
I pointed my head to my almost asleep uncle, who was nearly dead weight on my shoulder. "We're taking the subway, and I don't think that's your cup of tea."
"I'll still help you, and then we can get some food." Josh stated as he gently grabbed Magnus' other arm, taking on half of his weight as we walked through the scattered crowds of people on the sidewalk.
By the time we got to the loft, it looked like it was ready to start raining. Uncle Will helped us carry him to his room and put him on his bed, taking off his shoes and pulling the blankets over his slim form.
"Scar," I looked Uncle Will. "Why don't you go with your friends, yeah? It's only eight thirty. Oh, and bring back some food if you can. You know Magnus sucks at stocking his kitchen."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? What if he needs anything?"
"I'm staying the night. Tessa and I had a small fight, and I didn't want to sleep on our couch, that bloody thing." He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, showing old and new drawn runes. He had multiple stamina runes, an angelic rune on his collar bone, speed runes, one or two glamours, and dozens of others that I knew the names and the meaning of. Uncle Will narrowed his dark blue eyes at me, his hands going to his hips now. "You read it, didn't you?"
I blinked, shaking my thoughts. "Read what?" I said almost dreamily.
"You're a smart girl Scar, don't act dumb. You know what." He smiled down at me. It always irked me that both of my "fathers" were way taller than me, and I had to literally look up at them to make eye contact.
"Well, y-you gave it to me!" I hissed. He started to laugh, clutching his sides while he wiped fake tears from his red cheeks. "You know what? I'm going with Josh!"
Will was still laughing on the couch when Josh and I left the loft.
-Linebreak-
"Well it's about time you guys got here!" Benny yelled across the pizza parlor. Josh and I looked at him, watching as he got yelled at by the person at the next table. "Oh shut up! You've been having phone sex with your probably minor of a girlfriend for the last hour!" He snapped at the man.
I stifled a laugh as the man got up from his seat, put a twenty on the table, and left while putting a hood over her head and face.
"Didn't we tell you to stop harassing innocent mundanes, Benny?" Josh said as we took our seats.
"Pfft, so? It's too much fucking fun." Benny scoffed, jumping off the table and sitting next to his brother, Solomon (Sol for short.) "Besides, how would I entertain myself while the new season Project Runway starts next week?"
"Hmm, I don't know, maybe doing community service, or actually doing your magic homework?" I said.
Benny barked out a loud laugh, wiping a fake tear from his eye.
"Where's Sam?" I asked them. Benny just pouted.
"He and I had a fight," he said. "A fight which I don't want to talk about."
"Oh, a little lovers quarrel?" Sol teased. Benny took a huge swig of his soda.
"Samaskedmetomoveinwithhim."
Sol did a spit take onto Josh's face, coughing up what was left in his throat. "He what?!"
Benny played with the hem of his neon pink shirt. "Um, Sam asked me to move in with him. And we had a fight about it."
I gave him a questioning look that clearly asked him why. He sighed, rolling his eyes, putting his elbows on the tables in a dramatic manner, and resting his chin on the palm of his hands.
"You know we've been dating since I was fifteen? That's three years with one guy," he started to explain, his hushed voice defining his British accent. "And I'm still shocked we lasted this long. I told him that we should wait a little while longer, but he apparently thought that three years was enough. So we basically screamed at each other, threw stuff. Yeah, it wasn't pretty."
We all sat there, slowly eating our pizza until the parlor was ready to close for the night. It was down pouring when we got outside, but it there were still hundreds of people wondering the city.
"How's your training going?" I asked the guys.
"Ugh, please don't start with me. Tessa is kicking my ass," Josh groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I can't seem to get this one spell right no matter how much I study or practice."
"Ha, well I'm glad we like our mentor," Sol said, gesturing to him and Benny. I turned to see Benny with his arms wrapped around himself, his gray eyes cast downwards. "Hey, what's wrong with you? Benedict?"
Benny looked up at the sound of his full name. "Don't call me that." He hissed. He started to walk faster than all of us, going ahead a few blocks until he went around a corner and was out of sight.
"Dear Lord, he's such a drama queen." Sol sighed, waving and thanking us for dinner before running to catch up with his brother. Josh shrugged at me before we started to jog to catch up with them, which wasn't so hard since they were walking.
"God, it's only nine thirty! What do you guys want to do?" I said, stretching my arms above my head, sighing at the painful pop that came from my shoulder. Benny and Sol just gave me a look of disgust as I continued to crack my neck and knuckles.
Benny snorted as I bent backwards to crack my spine. "It's amazing how you live with Magnus Bane, the King of glitter and color, yet you act more like a guy then me." I just smirked in his direction.
We spent the rest of our time walking around Central Park, eating over-priced ice cream, and talking about anything that popped up in our minds.
"So besides that fact that your dad lost part of his leg, he still lets you use the portal?" Benny asked Josh. Josh groaned.
"Yes, I'm still allowed to use and make portals, is it that hard for all of you to believe?!"
"Yes." The three of us replied. We all cracked up, holding our sides, bending over and rolling in the cool grass with tears streaming down our cheeks.
"We need to stop hanging out with each other." Sol laughed.
"Oh Sol, please say you don't mean that?" I pouted playfully.
"Hey, do you guys want to-"
"SCARLETT LOOK OUT!" Benny screeched, pointing to something behind me. I barely had time to turn before I felt a pain in my head.
I fell onto the cobblestoned ground, my skull cracking. I could feel the rush of warm blood coming out of what I knew would be a large, deep gash.
"What the fuck is that thing?" I heard the disoriented voice of Josh shout. Even through the horrible vision my head injury has caused me, the smell of it just made me want to vomit. I recognized that smell, the smell of rotten eggs, iron, and a little bit of just bile. I gently lifted my head to see my friends scattered in a tall tree, kicking at the thing. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I've never seen one in real life before, and never have I been attacked by one.
A demon.
I looked around me to see if there was anything I could use to fend myself, but there was nothing that could go up against a demon. I stood up, my legs wobbly from blood loss.
"Hey!" I screamed at the best, throwing a large rock at it. With a growl, it turned towards me, the red eyes glowing, its mouth filling with poison.
It lashed at me, its claws scraping through my pants and slicing at the skin of my leg. I hissed in pain, tears gathering in my eyes but I refused to let them fall. No way was a I showing this monster it had control over me.
But it did. I was losing too much blood in a short amount of time, and Sol, Josh, and Benny had no idea what to do if case this would happen. Only Magnus did.
The demon started to run at me, claws at the ready for the final blow, fangs and jaw ready to snap my bones. But before it could get to me, I was pushed to the ground onto my back, my head echoing in pain.
I just stared up at the stars as my breath started to slow down. The area under my small body was warm with blood, and for the first time in a long time, I wanted my dad, my Uncle Magnus, to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay, to play with my blonde curls and tell me stories about my mom. I could hear Josh screaming at Sol to call Uncle Will.
"Hey, hey, don't fall asleep," I heard someone whisper above me. The guy was on his knees, leaning over me. He had blonde hair and gold eyes and looked about a few years older than me. "We're going to get you healed but you have to promise not to fall asleep on us."
I saw Uncle Will standing next to him, and I reached a hand out to him. He looked confused, his blue eyes a different shade than normal but he took my hand in his anyway. Gently, he squeezed it, as if telling me I was going to be fine.
"My name's Alec, and this is Jace. We're going to bring you to the Institute to fix you up okay?"
I remember giving a hum before everything went black.