The Warlock of Notre Dame: Chapter Seven - What Makes a Man?
Alec POV Five Minutes Before Fire: "I must be losing my mind. The fact that I'm letting you even step foot in my shop right now is absolutely bonkers!" Raphael groaned, pacing around his antique store while rubbing his temples.
"I know I'm the last person you want to see right now. My being here puts you and every vampire in Paris in danger. I wouldn't have come unless it was a dire emergency. The Nephilim can't check your store during the day. That will give me time to lay low and leave by sundown."
Raphael dropped his hand to his side, glaring at me. "Do you really think they won't know you're here? If you thought of this plan, I'm sure there are more who will think as you do. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."
He was right. There was a chance at least one Nephilim will consider that I'm hiding in here. Even if they did though, there would be nothing they could do about it. It was against accord law to force the vampires into the sunlight. There is no viable way for Jonathan to check this place until nightfall.
Eliot peeked out of the blinds hanging over the door window, and he frowned. "I see figures in black approaching. They may be Nephilim."
Raphael groaned before shooting another glare in my direction. "Fine, head upstairs and don't make a sound. All the Paris vampires are up there sleeping. If you wake them up, they may just kill you themselves."
I nodded in understanding before running up the stairs, not going all the way up them. It was foolish of me to stand at the top of the stairs, but I couldn't help but listen in.
The bell for the store jingled, signifying that someone had entered the shop. I held my breath, hoping it wasn't Jonathan Morgenstern. Raphael was the first to speak to the guests.
"What do you want Nephilim? This is a Downworlder or Mundane establishment only. No Shadowhunters allowed. Tell me your business and get out."
There was a moment of silence before Jonathans voice answered him. The sound of it sent cold chills up my spine. He was all the way downstairs, but it still felt like he was pinning me to the wall, whispering things in my ear.
"I'm looking for someone named Alec Lightwood. There was word that he was spotted in this shop not too long ago. If you are holding him, Raphael, I suggest you give him up at once."
How were they able to find me so fast? Did someone really see me walk in here? I thought I was being so careful.
Raphael was fast to respond. "I don't get involved with the DDS. Even if they claim to help Downworlders, they are still made up of ex Nephilim and I trust you as far as I can throw you."
He meant that too. The fact that he was helping me at all was shocking. Raphael made it plainly obvious how much he distrusts the DDS. Every time we try to help him or any other vampire, they always brush us off. They have too much pride.
"Guess you don't mind me checking upstairs then," Jonathan inquired, making me tense up.
"Actually, I do mind. All the vampires of Paris are up there sleeping. Do you really want me to wake them all up after just falling asleep? Nothing is worse than a cranky vampire. Also, the sun is up. If we let you check the place, we would have to go outside to be out of your way, and that won't be happening while the sun is up. Come back tonight and you can check it all you want."
"All the more reason to think he is here," Jonathan seethed, making me tense up more, leaning against the wall.
"I only care about my own kind. Why would I risk getting in trouble with Nephilim to protect any other? Leave this place and come back tonight if you still don't find him by sundown. I guarantee that while you are here, badgering me, he is closer to getting out of town."
Guilt started to eat away at me now. Raphael was risking a lot keeping me from Jonathan and the other Nephilim. He would get locked up or worse for this if he is found out. He could lose everything, including his life.
Maybe I shouldn't have come here after all.
The sound of the door bell pulled me out of my pity party, making me wonder if Jonathan had left. Jace's voice hit my ears, making me relax a bit.
"Why aren't the three of you sleeping?"
"Some of us have to make a living," Raphael answered back simply.
Silence spread across the room for a moment before Jace said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed your business."
I stood up, putting my hand on the wall and looking down the stairs. Maybe I could catch Jace and have him help me escape. He said we were friends, so maybe he would help me over Jonathan.
He didn't hesitate to kill his other friend.
A voice whispered in my head, making me stop half way down the stairs. That's right. Jace chose duty over friendship before. What was stopping him from doing it again? He knew the other guy a lot longer than me, and he still killed him. He has only known me for a few days and we have only had one or two conversations.
There is no way he would be on my side.
Raphael climbed up the stairs, looking at me irritably. "Well, it didn't take them long to get here. You couldn't have been more careful?"
"I thought I was being careful" I sighed, going back up the rest of the stairs. He followed me before leaning on the wall of the hall. The hallway we were in stretched on for what felt like forever. There were enough bedrooms to hold every vampire in Paris, so of course it had to be spacious.
"The moment they get off my property, I want you to leave. You are a danger to my people and I can't have the ones I care about getting hurt over a Nephilim."
As he said that, one of the bedroom doors opened and a boy with scrappy brown hair walked out, wearing a red T-shirt with a faded superhero symbol on it, and black pajama pants. He rubbed his eyes tiredly before he pouted at Raphael.
"Raphe, you promised you would actually come to bed with me for once. Lily and Eliot can handle the shop without you," he groaned tiredly.
Once he was done rubbing his eyes, he looked at me seeming surprised. "What is a member of the DDS doing here?"
"He's just leaving. Go back to sleep Simon. I'll be there in a minute."
Simon watched me for a moment before smiling slightly, walking up to Raphael. "Are you helping him, Raphael?"
"No," he said simply.
Simon smiled sweetly at him. "You're already helping him, why send him away now?"
"Because he is endangering my people Simon." He frowned, glancing away. "He's endangering you."
His concern for the boy in front of him surprised me. Yeah, Raphael is known for caring about his clan, but this seems like a whole other kind of relationship. As if to prove me right, Simon grabbed Raphael's hand and kissed his cheek.
"You don't have to worry about us. If helping Alec is the right thing to do, then we should do it. There is plenty of room for him to stay here. At least until sundown. He will be gone by then and everything will be okay."
Raphael looked into his eyes, entwining their fingers and frowning. "You don't know if everything will be alright. Something could go wrong."
Watching them together like this made my heart ache for Magnus. We haven't known each other for very long, but it seems the more I think about him, the more I miss him. It's as if he left an imprint on my heart. I wish I didn't have to leave Paris without him. Does he think I murdered Valentine as well?
I hope he doesn't.
The sound of screaming came from downstairs, making all three of us flinch. Simon went to head toward the stairs, but Raphael grabbed his arm stopping him. I went instead, gasping when I saw flames licking the floor at the bottom of the stairs. The entire bottom floor was covered in fire. The screams of Elliot and Lily were now silenced, meaning they had turned to dust.
Raphael stood next to me, cursing. "I knew that Nephilim was crazy. He's sentencing us all to death."
I looked at him, my eyes wide with horror. This was all my fault. I brought this upon the vampires.
"What do we do? Even if all you vampires get outside, the sun will burn you alive. There's no way to escape. Do you have an underground tunnel to take or something?"
Raphael shook his head no, clenching his fists at his sides. The flames were spreading fast, already starting to make their way up the stairs. He looked at me, a fierceness in his eyes that I have never seen in another person before.
"There is no way out for me and the other vampires. You and Simon can though. He is a Daylighter, so the sun will not kill him. Both of you need to go to the back door and escape.
Simon frowned, moving over to Raphael and grabbing his hands, squeezing them tightly.
"No, I refuse to go. If you can't be saved, I don't want to be saved either."
Raphael glared at him. "We don't have time to argue over this Simon. Either the flames or sun will burn me alive. There is no saving me and the others. You have a chance to keep living, so take it. I'm old Simon. You are still young. There is so much for you to live for."
Tears trailed down Simons' cheeks as he shook his head no. "I have nothing to live for if I don't have you. There is no way I'm leaving you."
He wrapped his arms around Raphael's neck, holding him tight. "If you burn, then I burn too. We were made to be together. Nothing else matters."
I expected Raphael to shove Simon away and keep trying to convince him to leave, but to my surprise, he wrapped his arms tightly around Simon's waist.
He hid his face in Simon's shoulder, his own shoulders shaking as tears stung at his eyes. Simon held him tighter, rubbing his head gently.
"I couldn't protect them after all," Raphael cried softly.
Simon shushed him, still rubbing his head. "You did what you thought was right. No one blames you."
Raphael held him tighter and Simon did the same, looking at me over his shoulder intensely. His eyes were telling me to get moving. My body wouldn't budge. The guilt was eating away at me like the flames engulfing the staircase.
These people who loved each other so deeply were going to die. Simon loved him enough to die with him. All the vampires in Paris were going to be burned alive and it was all my fault. I brought this upon them.
If you die here, their sacrifice will have been for nothing!
The voice in my head was practically screaming and I clenched my teeth tight before finally moving. I ran into the room I was using, quickly grabbing my bow, an arrow and a long rope. I tied the rope to the arrow before making my way back to the stairs.
Simon and Raphael were still holding onto each other, whispering I love you to each other and not paying me any mind. A part of me was glad that the other vampires were asleep. They would turn to dust in their sleep, never even knowing what happened. There would be pain from the flames at first, but their deaths should come fast. They won't suffer for long.
I placed my arrow on the bow before pulling it back and shooting it off. It dug into a pillar on the ceiling and I pulled on the rope, making sure it was stuck good. Taking a deep breath, I held on tight to the rope and swung on it just as the flames reached the top floor.
I swung to the bottom floor, looking around for a spot where the flames weren't touching. Luck was on my side, because the doorway leading to the back barely had flames around it. There was a lot of smoke in that direction though, meaning it will be hard to see where I am going, not to mention breathe.
I let go of the rope, landing on the ground. As my feet planted, the sound of Simon crying out in agonizing pain made my ears ring. Raphael stayed silent, most likely screaming on the inside. He wasn't one for showing weakness.
His screams soon ended and a whole choir of screams took its place. The flames must have reached the bedrooms and was slowly killing the vampires.
Tears stung at my eyes and I forced my legs into a run. The black smoke in the back room was so thick, I couldn't see anything around me. I remember that the door is straight ahead, all I had to do is walk straight.
Coughing, I forced myself through the smog, choking and gasping for much needed oxygen. Just when I thought my lungs were going to collapse on themselves, I kicked forward, hitting my foot against the back door and forcing it open.
My knees gave out on me, making me hit the floor hard. I wasn't going to give in though. Using all the energy I had left, I dragged myself through the door, crawling outside and immediately feeling relief when clean air filled my lungs.
I coughed out smoke and ash, looking down at the ground. My hands were covered in soot, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
The screams had subsided now. All I could hear was the cracking of the wood that made up the building. It was falling into itself, meaning the building was on the verge of collapsing.
"I finally found you!"
My eyes widened in horror at the cold sound of Jonathan's voice. Panic filled me as I looked over my shoulder, seeing Jonathan Morgenstern standing ten feet away from me, a wicked smile on his face. There was a crazed look in his eyes that made the chills take over my body once again.
Jace was standing next to him, looking completely stunned that I was here. Had he started the fire? No, I don't think Jace would do something so cruel. I glanced down at Jonathan's hand, seeing he was holding a Steele. It had to be him.
He started making his way toward me in fast strides. The panic inside me took over my body and I tried to crawl away, my nails digging deep into the dirt. My body was still too weak to stand up. I needed my legs to work! I needed to get away from him!
A hand quickly grabbed around my ankle, yanking me hard and dragging me backward. I screamed, digging my nails deeper in the dirt, trying to stay in place, but failed. My fingers dug up the dirt as I was pulled in front of Jonathan.
Jonathan fell on his knees on top of me, smirking wickedly as he pulled out a sword and pressed it against my neck. I shook in terror, not liking him being on top of me. All I could see is him in that alleyway, kissing me hard and forcing me against the wall.
Come on Alec. You are stronger than this. You can beat this guy easy if you just get up and fight!
That was the thing though, I couldn't get up and fight. Breathing in all that smoke weakened me. Besides that, something about this guy made my bones feel like liquid. He scared me in a way I didn't think possible. Clary and Magnus had told me he was a sweet guy. They said besides Valentines influence, he's harmless.
There was nothing harmless about this man. He was terrifying. He was a monster! A Monster who wanted me, no matter what the cost. He killed his father just to have me!
"There is nowhere for you to go Alec," he gloated, smirking wickedly. "Face what you have done and receive judgment."
I struggled underneath him, trying to escape his hold. "We both know I was not the one who killed your father. You had to have used the arrow I shot into the alley wall. You framed me."
Jonathan glared down at me before moving as quick as lightning, clenching my throat tight, choking me. I gasped for breath, grabbing his hand with my dirt covered fingers, trying to claw it off my throat.
"You have some nerve making up lies!"
He leaned forward so close, his mouth was bye my ear. "Stop playing this game Alec. The vampires have already been sacrificed because of your selfishness. Stop teasing me and just accept me. You know you want me as much as I want you."
I clenched my teeth, glaring up at him with all the hate I could muster.
"I rather die then ever be with you."
To my utter surprise, Jonathans eyes looked pained at my rejection. It only lasted a moment though before that crazed look returned, now mixed with rage.
"That can be arranged," he growled before lifting his sword high, going to jab it in my chest.
I closed my eyes tight, bracing myself for the pain, but none came. When I opened my eyes again, Jonathan was no longer sitting on top of me. He was on his feet, fighting with Jace who was trying to pull the sword out of his grip.
The fact the Jace was fighting him off shocked me more than anything else. What was he doing? Jonathan was his boss. It was his duty to listen to him. Jace always did what his duty demanded of him, even if it meant killing his only friend.
"What are you doing," Jonathan yelled, trying to shove Jace back, but he was evenly matched in strength. "You're the head guard of the Notre Dame institute! Your job is to do what I say. Why are you fighting me?"
Jace clenched his teeth, shoving Jonathan back before pulling his own sword out of it's holster.
"It may be my job to listen to you, but it's become clear that you've become corrupted. I don't know what triggered this change in you, but it has affected the way you perform your job. Does this even really have anything to do with your father?"
"Questioning me is not part of your job. Your job is to listen to me and do what I say no matter what. Alec is guilty of killing my father and he needs to be punished."
Jonathan charged at him and Jace swung his sword, making metal clash. "Clary mentioned something about you trying to assault Alec. I left you alone with him and suddenly the world around us fell apart."
Jonathan pulled back his sword before slamming it back down again. Jace twirled around, once again stopping his sword with his own.
"You would believe my idiotic sister over me? She resorted to helping filthy Downworlders. Her credibility is none."
Jace glared at that. "Your so called 'brother' is a Downworlder. You claim to hate them so much, yet you love him. Why is Magnus the exception?"
"Magnus isn't like the rest of them. He was raised by my father. He was saved from the filth of Downworld."
"Yet you say he is tainted. You and Valentine wear gloves when you touch him because you are afraid he's somehow toxic. That's not something you do with family."
That's right. Jonathan and Valentine were the ones who convinced Magnus that he shouldn't be touched. They were the ones who tore him down and made him feel worthless. Valentine did anyway. Magnus did nothing but praise how much of a great brother Jonathan is. Something tells me that he doesn't know the difference between an abusive relationship and a normal one. Jonathan liking Magnus doesn't mean he treats him with respect.
I glared up at Jonathan, rage suddenly filling me. Magnus didn't deserve to be treated like dirt. I didn't deserve it either. He thought he could just hold us under his thumb and make us fear him. I can't leave Paris and leave Magnus alone to deal with this.
Coughing slightly, I pushed myself up on my feet, trying to stay on them but they were still shaky from trying to escape the burning building. "Magnus and I aren't your possessions. You can't just treat us like objects."
Jonathan turned his glare to me, clenching his sword tightly in his hand. "I don't treat you like objects. Magnus is my brother. As for you, you're the one who started all of this."
"I've never even spoken to you before!"
"Liar!" He screamed back before running at me so fast, I didn't even have time to blink. He lifted his sword high to stab me in the chest, but before he could, Jace moved in front of me. My eyes widened in horror as the edge of the blade stuck out of Jace's back.
A breathless gasp escaped Jace's mouth as he fell to his knees, the sword stuck in his chest. Blood slipped passed his lips and trailed down his chin as he looked down at the ground. I quickly fell to my knees next to him, putting my hand on his back as gently as possible.
"Jace! Jace why did you do that?!"
He opened his mouth to speak but all he could manage was to cough up blood. "Don't speak. Hang on, you will be okay."
I couldn't promise that he would be okay. He had a sword sticking out of his chest. It barely missed his heart. Who knows if it punctured any other arteries. He needed medical attention immediately.
"You really are a fool," Jonathan hissed, glaring down at him.
I sent him a glare back, hating this man more every second. Assaulting me, killing his father, burning the vampires alive and now stabbing Jace. He truly was a monster.
"Jonathan! What happened to the Antique shop?!" A group of Nephilim came running, most likely seeing the smoke rise from town. They stopped running, looking down at Jace gasping.
"What happened to Jace," Hodge Starkweather asked, going to walk over to him, but Jonathan held out his hand to stop him. I could see the wheels in his head turning before he looked at the others, his face stricken in fear and grief.
"It seems taking my father from me wasn't enough! Alec Lightwood stole my father's sword from me and stabbed Jace in the chest. He barely missed his heart."
The cold looks I got from the other Nephilim was chilling. Jonathan was lying. There is no way I would ever hurt someone like that. They don't know that though. In their minds, I am a murderer already. What's one more body count? Nothing I say to them will convince them.
"Jace… I need to get you out of here," I whispered to him, putting his arm around my neck. "I'm not strong enough to carry you, so I'm going to need you to help me out a bit, okay?"
He managed a nod before standing up on shaky legs. Seeing us, the other Nephilim pulled out their weapons, ready keep me here even if it kills me. I cursed, wondering how I could possibly get out of this with Jace.
As if the heavens were on my side for once, the burning building finally gave into itself, making it topple down in our direction. I backed up quickly, barely missing being crushed by scorching wooden planks.
I could hear Jonathan curse from the other side of the flames dividing us. He was screaming at his men to get to us, but there was no way from them to go around the fire. I took a moment to breathe before turning away from the flames, practically dragging Jace as I ran away from the previous home of the Paris Vampires.
We got two blocks away before Jace's legs gave out, no longer able to run. Cursing lowly to myself, I pulled him into a small barn where horses were being held. I laid him in a pile of hay, cringing at all the blood caking his shirt. He sure lost a lot of it.
He's about to lose more.
"Jace, I need to pull the sword out. Please bear with me for a moment, okay?"
I stuffed a cloth in his mouth before he could answer. This was going to hurt, and I didn't need him screaming out and giving away our hiding spot.
"Breathe in through your nose," I directed before slowly pulling the sword out of his chest. Jace's cries of pain were muffled by the cloth in his mouth. His teeth clenched on it as he seethed and breathed as I directed.
I tore off one of my sweater sleeves before pressing it to his chest, trying to stop the bleeding. There was no way it was going to work. I pressed it there for three seconds and it was already soaked. Frustrated, I pulled the cloth out of his mouth, glaring down at him.
"Why would you do that? Jonathan won't stop until he either has me or kills me. Your sacrifice won't change anything, so why do it? You lost your job, credibility, and possibly your life. Why?"
Jace took a couple shaky breathes before looking up at me, smirking like the cheeky bastard he was. "Because, the best relationships… are the ones you have to fight for."
I stared at him stunned. That was the same thing he said about my relationship with Magnus. Tears stung at my eyes, but I refused to let them escape. Jace didn't need me crying like a baby right now. He needed healing.
"You'll bleed out if we don't get you some help. We need to see Magnus." I said, pulling a piece of paper and a Steele out of my boot. Jace frowned at that. "that means going to Notre Dame. Jonathan will be expecting you to go to Magnus for help. We can't risk it."
"I can't let you die Jace. Friends don't let their friends bleed out after being stabbed by them. We need Magnus's magic to heal you." I frowned, looking out the stable window. The sun was beginning to set, meaning it would either be the best time to see Magnus, or the worst.
"It's not just healing you. I need to convince Magnus to go with me. There is no way I can just leave him here with someone like Jonathan. He needs to learn what freedom feels like. What real love feels like."
Jace raised an eyebrow at that. "Are you confessing to being in love with Magnus."
My face flushed as I began writing on the parchment. "That's none of your concern, stop talking and conserve your energy. We will need all your strength to walk to the Institute."
"Who are you sending that fire message to," he asked, ignoring my orders to be silent.
"I'm sending this to Clary. I'm going to need help getting you up to the bell tower. She still has her marks, so she's allowed to enter the institute. She's the only person I can think of who will risk being caught with me."
He nodded, not saying another word. I was thankful for that as I placed the burn rune on the paper and watched it burn. A lump formed in my throat as I watched the flames, thinking of Raphael, Simon and all the vampires of Paris. They were all gone because I was foolish enough to think I would be safe with them.
I closed my eyes for a moment, before taking a soothing breath, standing up.
"Come on, we need to get to Magnus."
