1995 - 4 years prior
"Xelqua? Herondale wants to talk to you in his office?" A tall blonde nephilim says with a smile walking towards the warlock as Xelqua walks towards him
"Have you told him yet Andrew?"
"Xelqua.. I don't want to.."
"I told call me Xel.. that's what my friends call me besides Lorenzo needs someone like you"
"Xel.."
"Go to him Andrew you both deserve to be happy" the nephilim was blushing before muttering "only if you go to Ari.. he's missed you to while you were in London for that meeting we both did"
"Also if Lorenzo asks what drink say Miami you'll see him beam"
"Thank you Xel for introducing us. I can never repay you"
"You don't need to. That's what friends are for isn't it.. I shouldn't keep the Head of the institute waiting long, should I?"
Andrew chuckles "probably not but since it you he won't mind"
Xelqua flicked his wrist and summoned a golden portal for Andrew to go through
The nephilim went through then the portal vanished behind him and he walked towards his office leaving the control room
"Have fun, love birds." Xelqua mumbled not wanting to seem having close connections with every nephilim in the institute. He did have a reputation to preserve after all but since it was Imari who summoned him he went into the shadowhunter's office, closing the door behind him after he entered Xelqua let out a soft sigh. "So Imari, what do you want to talk about?"
"Valentine."
"Of course you do, did he finally start to go after shadowhunters and experiment on them too like he did to downworlders… Like I've been trying to warn you nephilim and your damn fucking Clave about for weeks."
"We both know I wanted to and have tried to. Xelqua but I couldn't intervene until I got approval from the Clave."
"So did you darling?"
"No.. but as you once told me, You have to do what's right even if the rules try to limit you." Xelqua kisses Imari on lips and the shadowhunter turns bright red and blushes, "Focus Bane-e" the shadowhunter says with a stutter slightly pulling away from the warlock.
"Right of course cutie.." Xelqua mumbles looking at the nephilim up and down before continuing… "We know Val has The Mortal Cup, one of the three instruments made by Raziel and Kaveth. So what is our plan of attack."
"Some nephilim scouts alongside a few warlocks and seelie trackers located a ship in Redhook Bay that Val we believe is in."
"It is time we take the fight to him?"
"Yes but we can't do this on our own Xelqua. He'll kill us.. We will need more backup."
Xelqua let out an airy chuckle, "You want me to ask the other downworld leaders if they will help nephilim.. But is it to kill Valentine or capture him for the Clave? I wonder which one, Imari?"
"Kill. That son of a bitch is going to die finally."
"He's your parabatai.." Xelqua started in a soft tone
"I know Xels.. but we both know he's gone too far."
"He needs to be taken out."
"I can try to make the parabatai rune not hurt too much when we.. finish this if you wish."
"I'd like that Xel."
"I just have one condition about killing him."
"I'm listening"
"I get to send his corpse to Edom where he can rot in hell for all eternity."
"Ha.. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"But one thing you might not have thought of Imari. Is that with that cup, he can control demons.. Which means he can still influence the minds of Werewolves, Vampires and even some warlocks when and if he has enough demonic energy to activate the instrument's full power."
"That's why, we need to take him down before he does."
"I think I still owe you a double strength scotch after last week. Xels" Imari said with a smile
Xelqua got up to leave, when Imari grabbed his wrist, and mumbles "Silence the wards" before releasing the warlock's wrist.
Xelqua flicked his hand upwards and activated his deafening ward around the room. "Why did you want me to do that Imari?" The blonde grinned with an upcurved smirk when he started getting breathless and swaying on his feet slightly.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine."
"No you're not.. I'm worried, Xel. You're looking a bit off and pale.. Let me check over your runes."
"Imari I'-" Xelqua's sentence was cut off as he let out a sharp gasp and clenched his hand tightly on the wooden desk in front of him.
"Still think you're fine."
In a flash of golden magic the warlock's shirt vanished and his runes appeared.
"Xels?" The shadowhunter was shocked at how quickly his body glamour dropped. He's never dropped it so fast before. But Imari couldn't focus on how hot the warlock looked shirtless right now when he is obviously in lots of pain.
That was when Imari noticed an adamas blade cut near the blonde's strength rune over the left side of his ribs with black lines going out of the wound.
"Why didn't you heal yourself or do an iratze.." Imari growled, snapping angrily at the warlock recognising the weapon the wound was from.
"I did an iratze." Xelqua snarks back
"You have what looks like poison going through your system Xels."
"I have to get it out of my system." Xelqua mumbled as his previously angry expression changed to one of panic as he hovered his magic laced hand over the wound as he started sending his gold magic into the wound, when it rebounded and burned his hand causing him to let out a sharp gasp as he closed his glamoured green eyes for a moment.
"Xelqua?." Imari mumbles as the wound on the warlock pulsed red causing him to let out a pained whine. He bit his lip trying to stop a scream "Xels.. I need to bring you to the ground. Alright?" Imari said quickly, noticing he was becoming worse especially when his brown eyes locked onto the blonde's gold
"Ari.. Get back" Xelqua rasped abruptly out a warning as his eyes widened and his body began to convulse, uncontrollably he sent a burst of red and black attack magic at the shadowhunter which he dodged by darting to the side.
He again moved to his friend's side, "Xelqua? Xels? Can you hear me?"
The warlock's golden eyes were now glazed over and dilated, flickering from side to side.
"Xelqua?.. stay with me."
The warlock's convulses began to get stronger.
"Lorenzo tolong bantu aku semuanya menyakitkan" (Lorenzo Please help me.. Everything hurts)
"Xelqua Aku tahu.. Aku tahu..Sakit Kamu tidak sendirian. saya berjanji" (Xelqua I know.. I know..It hurts You aren't alone. I promise.) Imari said softly as he pinned the warlock to the ground trying to stop him from convulsing and hurting himself more.
"tolong bantu aku" (Please help me)
"Xels tunggu" (Hold on) Imari said, instantly dialling Lorenzo's number.
"Come on Lorenzo.. Come on.. Pick up." The phone made a near silent clicking noise as the call answered.
"Lorenzo."
"Imari What can I do for you? Kind of in the middle of something"
"We need you at the institute urgently."
"Is everything alright? What's wrong?"
"It's Xels he has some sort of poison in his system. It's bad.. Lorenzo I wouldn't call if it wasn't urgent,"
"Shit we are on my way."
Instantly the call ended and Xelqua started yelling
"Tolong." (please)
"Tolong" (please)
"dia datang.. bantuan datang saya janji ahli sihir saya" (He's coming.. help is coming I promise my warlock) Imari said, grabbing the Xelqua's hand.
"Janji?" (Promise?)
"Apakah kamu berjanji?" (Do you promise?) Xelqua repeats softly as his body trembles with a shiver
"Saya berjanji" (I promise) Imari whispers as a portal opens next to him and Lorenzo alongside Andrew walks through instantly running to Xelqua's side. Locking eyes with the shadowhunter beside his best friend.
"Xelqua?" Lorenzo called out
"teman-n?" (Friend)
"Aku disini" (Help please)
"Shit.. he's really out of it. What the hell happened Imari.. Andrew?" Lorenzo breathed, turning to the shadowhunters.
"Poison.. I'm not sure what type." Imari mumbles softly not wanting to look the warlock in the eyes, blaming himself.
Lorenzo nodded instantly, hovering his silver hands over Xelqua trying to sense how much magic was drained. That's when the High Warlock of California sensed a dark energy. Making him wince for a moment before continuing, The intruding magic was one that he and Xelqua know about all too well.
"When was he attacked? Do you know?"
"He had led a scout patrol yesterday to detect Valentine.. It could have happened then. I suspect this is the Circle's doing."
"The poison is from Edom.. Herondale."
"By the angel"
Lorenzo's hands were creating waves of bright silver magic that entered Xelqua's body to look for the remaining fragments of poison left behind. There was a lot of it, almost too much for Lorenzo to handle alone. The poison has reached a strong part of Xelqua's blood system and is currently on its way towards his best friend's heart. He could not let this happen.
Using more and more of his energy, Lorenzo took one of his hands and quickly built a couple of magic barriers in Xelqua's blood system to slow the spreading of the poison while his other hand created a portal right beside them.
He looked at Imari and Andrew before nodding, turning to face them for a moment, "Meet us in the loft." Lorenzo had to bring him now.
Pulling the portal towards and over them, he held onto Xelqua's trembling hand and levitated him to a spare bed as soon as they reached Xelqua's apartment.
"Lo.. Lorenzo!" Xelqua's eyes were closing and his muscles started convulsing once more as the poison continued travelling through his veins.
"Aku disini." (I'm here) Lorenzo answered absentmindedly, searching through his shelves filled with potions, frantically knocking some of them to the ground, while he tried his hardest to keep a steady blanket of magic wrapped around Xelqua.
Finally, Lorenzo found the potion he needed and immediately, he approached Xelqua's lying figure and put a few drops of it on the blonde's parted lips. He put one of his hands into Xelqua's hair, threading them through the strands and caressing his skin.
Lorenzo was still working his magic but he could feel that he was losing him, losing the remains of life inside of Xelqua. There was one more convulsion that rocked through Xelqua as his golden eyes turned to the inside of his skull and then everything went still.
"Don't you dare Xels" Lorenzo whispered, snapping his fingers but he only reached darkness and emptiness inside of his best friend's unconscious body.
The potion was supposed to work, it was supposed to save him! Where did he make a mistake? What did he do wrong?
Lorenzo started shaking again, but this time it wasn't just fear. It was a freezing mix of emotions that paralyzed his mind as he continued to search for signs of life in the blonde's body.
"No.." Lorenzo whispered one more time and pushed all of his remaining magic to that one spot in Xelqua's heart.
And there it was..
Faint but solid..
A heartbeat.
"Thank the angel" Lorenzo breathed out leaning his head against the blonde's bare chest, he listened to that beautiful unearthly sound of breathing. Xelqua's lungs started working again and Lorenzo reached for Xelqua's hand with trembling fingers.
Lorenzo knew he'd be alright now. There was no fever and no more poison in his system nor anything else to stop the blonde's angel blood and warlock magic from healing his body.
"I thought I lost you Xelqua." Lorenzo said softly, holding his hand on the blonde's cheek. Xelqua was still half unconscious, just slightly starting to stir.
Xelqua's confused silver snake eyes eventually opened to find Lorenzo heavy gaze on them, his breath heavy as he sat up "Lo?"
"How are you feeling"
"Like I've been high for an unending time on Yin Fen and am now crashing."
"How did Valentine know about the poison Xels?"
"Val.." Xelqua let out a huff "I showed him my runes besides he knew about Asmodeus, remember? Help me up Lorenzo please." Lorenzo let out a sigh before hesitantly nodding, placing one arm under the blonde's shoulder as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Xelqua let out a heavy sigh as he stood up beside his friend, his legs trembling as he leaned all his weight into Lorenzo. "Hey.. easy.. easy.. I've got you."
Both warlocks lifted their heads as they sensed an all to familiar presence near the wards of the apartment.
The door to Xelqua's apartment opened with a click as Imari and Andrew came into the room before moving to the bedroom where the two warlocks were.
"Thanks Lorenzo for.. You know.." Xelqua whispers to his friend
"Always.. that's another whiskey you owe me."
The blonde just chuckled before mumbling under his breath "I know.. I know. Just add it to the list"
"You alright Xels?" Imari asked interrupting the pair walking closer to Xelqua
"I'll live Ari"
"Good. You scared the shit out of me.. Besides, I'd hate to have to find a new High Warlock to deal with."
"Awww. Now Imari, here I. thought you cared." Xelqua said flirtingly with a pout planting a kiss on the nephilim's cheek.
"Honestly all jokes aside, I'm glad you're doing better than before Xel."
"Thanks, Ari. Also have you forgotten about that dinner you owe me?"
"No I haven't Xel"
"Why didn't you come to me directly after the attack? I could have stopped the poison then" Lorenzo said rushingly
"I didn't even know I was poisoned until I talking with Ari Lorenzo otherwise I would have"
"Lorenzo?" Imari mumbles pulling away from Xelqua who was blushing. The blonde warlock's golden eyes with the shadowhunter and nodded as Lorenzo smiled slightly and turned his attention back to his friend.
"Now rest please, your runes and magic need to regenerate." Xelqua opened his mouth to retort something "Don't argue with me Teman, that is an order from the High Warlock of California."
"We both know I outrank you Lorenzo." Xelqua said with a mischievous smirk on his face while Imari had to hold back a snicker
"That's true in that regard, Xels but I almost lost you.." Lorenzo said softly, moving his friend back onto the bed. He started hovering his silver energy over Xelqua who only nodded, golden eyes widening for a moment before leaning backwards against the bed forcing himself to relax.
"Alright Rey" Xelqua whispers as he feels himself drift off.
Lorenzo left the room once he was sure his friend was asleep and Imari followed behind him but no before squeezing the blonde's hand
Instantly Andrew moved to Lorenzo's side and pulled him into a hug before whispering to the other "are you okay Tesoro?"
"I'll be fine.. angel"
"Lorenzo?" Imari mumbles softly with a quiver in his voice not wanting to interrupt the pair.
"He'll be fine, Herondale. I promise."
"I know that but.. How are you feeling?"
"Fine.. I could use a glass of tequila right now though.. Do you know who Asmodeus is in relation to Xel.." Lorenzo started cautiously
"Xels told me he made both me and Valentine swear on a blood oath to only tell someone who he trusts fully."
"I want to slit Valentine's throat.. That traitorous motherfucker." Lorenzo growls as Andrew brushed his fingers over the warlock's to calm him down which had a effect as he took a shaky breath
"I know.. Lorenzo.. I know.." Imari started before letting out a sigh "How bad is it that Valentine and his Circle members have access to a poison that lethal?"
"The poison that was in his system is from Edom but luckily for mostly all of the downworld it only affects Princes of Hell with angel bloodline."
"That means that you, Xels and Magnus are the only ones at risk right"
"It does.. But Valentine needs to be taken down once and for all, no matter the risk to me and Xel."
"I know.. Xels and I.. We will see to it ourselves that he does."
"You will kill your own parabatai?"
"For Xels. I'd do anything." Lorenzo eyes locked onto Imari for a moment
"I'm happy he has someone like you Imari"
"I'm sorry by the way for interrupting you two" Imari says his gaze moving between both Lorenzo and Andrew
"Dont worry about it" the pair said at the same time and started blushing
Imari walks towards the drinks cart and grabs three glasses, pouring them one with whiskey and handing it to Andrew and Lorenzo before pouring his own glass.
"At toast.. to us and to the fall of the Circle which three of you will do without a doubt."
"The four.." Andrew said with a small smile
"The four of us.." Imari repeated back as all the three sat in silence in the room and drank the glasses in one go.