Price to pay Chapter 2 : Announcement, a shadowhunters fanfic

Chapter 2 : Announcement :

Magnus had been brilliant at the trial. By calling Lydia to the bar, she had broken her direct connection with the Clave to express clearly her feelings on this matter. For a few moments, the warlock had won his trial, until the Inquisitor changed the rules. Magnus and Izzy chatted for a long time in the young woman's chamber before Alec entered the room, a huge smile on his face :

-Jace and Clary are back. They gave the cup to Lydia.

An immense joy invades Isabelle :

-You are free !

-You were right. They returned. You knew it.

The young woman took refuge in the arms of her brother :

-Actually, I did'nt know.

Magnus smiles at the shadowhunter, happy for her that everything ends well :

-Well, my job here is over.

The warlock took his suit jacket :

-Walk me ould you, we have some business to settle.

Izzy looked up at his brother as Bane left the room :

-What did he ask for payment ?

-Euh… I… Euh…

-Aleeeeec, insisted Isabelle.

-Me.

The young woman opened her eyes wide :

-Sorry ?

-He asked me to be the payment.

-You refused, I hope. Tell me you refused Alec.

The silence of brother brought him his answer :

-You signed a contract with him ?

-Yes.

-But what havec you done ?

-I di dit for you Izzy. To defend you.

-But was it necessary to give your life for mine ?

-I'll do anything to protect you and I know you know.

Isabelle rubbed her neck :

-Magnus may be willing to negotiate.

-I already asked. But now that I have signe dot, it's no longer negotiable.

-Did you read it before signing it ?

-I didn't have the time. Every second played against you. I didn't know if Jace and Clary were going to come back with the cup. I had to do whatever it took to save you.

The shadowhunter took refuge again in the arms of his brother and clung to him as if his life depended on it :

-Magnus will not hurt you… Even if you did. But… Promose me to careful.

-I'm a shadowhunter, Izzy, I know how to defend myself against a warlock.

-Maybe, but we're talking about Magnus. And you don't react as usual when it commes to him.

She was right. Even thought he did everything to hide it, Alec had feelings for Magnus. And he had hurt seeing the pain of the warlock when he had annouced his marriage to Lydia. But what worried him most was the fact that he was going to have to learn to deal with his feelings for Magnus whan he was married to Lydia. Isabelle went away from her brother :

-Go and join him before he counts the malus.

The elder of the Lightwood swallowed before leaving his sister behind him. The warlock was waiting for him in his own office. He contemplated the works Alec had exhibited in his library. The hunter closed the door behind him :

-Can I read what I signed his morning ?

Without a glance at him, Bane snapped his fingers to make the contract appear. Alec seize dit, unfolded it and began to read it. He nearly chocked with his saliva from the first lines

« Alexander Gideon Lightwood hired Magnus Bane to be the defender of Isabelle Lightwood during her trial for hight treason to the Clave. The employee asks to be paid for his services. The asking price is : Alexander Gideon Lightwood.

By this contrzct, the following points shall be respected by both parties :

-Under in her power to defend Isabelle Lightwood at best.

-The marriage between Lydia Branwell and Alexander Gideon Lightwood is canceled.

-Alexander Gideon Lightwood leaves his apartements at the New-York Shadowhunters Institute to move into Magnus Bane's apartement. The elder Lightwood will remain a shadowhunter and will go to his worplace every day to return every night to the apartment of warlock Bane.

-Alexander Gideon Lightwood is committed to meeting and satisfying all of Magnus Bane's demands.

-Alexander Gideon Lightwood is committed to avoiding physical and/or sexual contact with other people outside of Magnus Bane. The same goes for the second party.

-Magnus Bane is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of Alexander Gideon Lightwood. The latter undertakes to do the same.

Signatures of both parties. »

The shadowhunter looked up at the warlock. It was a joke, he couldn't actually sign it ? HJe was totally shocked and his mind was already in strange delusions one in which he finished naked… Under Magnus. Alec shook his head and tried to regain his spirits :

-I have questions.

-I would have been surprised if I had not.

-My marriage with Lydia is canceled ?

-I have already sent the letters to the diffferent parties. With your signature of course. Everything is in order. This marriage will not take place.

-But…

-You have no choice. Everything is already settled.

Alec scowled. He was at the same time relieved not to have to spoil his life in this arranged wedding but he was anxious. How would her family react to this ? And Lydia ? And the Clave ? :

-When you say that I must answer and satisfy the least of your requests… What do I have to understand ?

-If I ask you to wear a necklace to which I can attach a leash, you will do it without protest.

-Pardon ?, cried the shadowhunter.

-Whatever I ask you, you will do it without any protest.

-Are you asking me to become your submissive ?

-In a way.

-I refuse !

Magnus snapped his fingers and the contract was left to flutter before the eyes of the shadowhunter :

-Shall I remind you that you have no choice ?

Alec grabbed the contract and tore it up :

-And now ?

-Now you realize that I am not stupid enough not to have made a copy of this contract.

The warlock snapped his fingers and the contract reappeared in his hands :

-I can make as many copies as I want. So go and have fun ripping ir as much as you want.

Alec sank back into his chair :

-By the Angel, inwaht have I embarked myself ?

-Don't be so depressed, I'll take good care of you.

« That's what worries me », thought the shadowhunter.

-Tell me it's a joke Magnus. Tell me you don't want me to do that…

When Alec lifted his eyes, he shrugged. The warlock was now a few centimeters from him, his hands resting on the armrests, preventing any leak :

-I want us to comply with this contract point by point. And we'll start right away, I'll leave you three hours to collect your stuff. When the time had passed, I would come to get you to settle in with me, he murmured.

-His breath on his skin made the young man shudder with blue eyes :

-You will not marry Lydia, you will come to live with me and you will be totally mine to eternity Alec. You signe dit yourself…

Alec swallowed, he should have thought before accepting to be the price to pay for the work of Magnus :

-I know you have feelings for me Alexander. And you know I feel them too. So stop asking yourself questions and fully accept this contract that reflects only our common desires.

Had he thought about the consequences ? To the reaction of his friends ? From his family ? From the Clave ? Certainly not. The hunter frowned, clapped the contract on his chest while pushing him away and standing up from his seat :

-And what do you think the others will say ?

-I don't care about the others. They can think what they want as long as you respect the contract. And then… You can hide behind you iin case things get too pleasant to you.

He gave him a satisfied smile before disappearing in a beat of eyelashes, leaving Alec alone with himself. He remained for a long time petrified by the anguish on his chair before getting up feverishly to pull his bag from under his bed. He put it on his sheets and stared at him silently for a moment. The elder of the Lightwood family walked over to his wardrobe, took out some of the clothes he had and stuffed them into his bag. He also arranged the few personal belongings he possessed. Once he had finished, the shadowhunter began to fix the contract with a evil look, in the hope of making it disappear, but it didn't work. He sighed again before rolling the contract and stuffing it into the black pocket of his jeans. He grabbed his cell phone and summoned his family and friends to one of the Institute's meeting rooms. The young Lightwood trembled with anxiety as his heart drummed in his chest. What had he done ?

Alexander paced the meeting room waiting for the others to arrive. He was totally panicked. How would they react when they heard the news ? His mother was probably going to kill him… :

-Alec ? Your message seemed urgent.

The elder Lightwood stopped circling to turn to his parabataï. Even if they had argued, Jace had to be informed of the situation. The latter had arrived with Clary :

-I… We have to wait for everyone to talk about it.

The duo exchanged a glance before taking a seat. When Isabelle arrived, she embraced her brother very strongly before going to sit without a word. Then the door slammed on Maryse and, behind her, Robert :

-What did you do with Alec ? Why did you cancel your marriage ?

Alexander opened his mouth to reply and explain the purpose of the meeting but his mother continued on her launch :

-Our family needed this alliance ! You just humiliated us in the eyes of the Clave by making them believe in a great event and why this Alec ?

The shadowhunter took the contract our of his pocket and thrust it violently on the wood of the table :

-To save Isabelle's life since you have done nothing to help her !

Everyone glanced at the contract as Alec watched his colleagues work behind the bay windows. He was awfully embarrassed to have the contract read, but he had no choice. Then Maryse's voice echoed again :

-Do you realize what you did Alec ? You have just given your life and your body to this… Warlock…

Alec closed his eyelieds, yes, he realize it, but he had done it for Isabelle. And the result was there, Magnus had won his case. Briefly, of course, but he had won it. He therefore deserved his payment :

-Everyone calms down, Jace shouted as the agitation took hols in the meeting room.

There was silence :

-Alec ?

The named turned his head towards his parabatai :

-Did you explain what happened to Magnus ?

Alexander took a chair and sat on it :

-Izzy wanted him to be his lawyer. He agreed to do it in exchange for a prize… Me.

He swallowed as his mother shot him with his eyes :

-I didn't know if you were going to come back… With the cup or not. So… I did what I had to do to protect my sister. I accepted… Without having read…

Robert let his head swing forward sighing in despair :

-How many times did I tell you to read before signing…

-I didn't have the time ! He wasn't palying in our favor. Each lost second brought us closer to the trial and the sentence.

-And look where we are ! This warlock will be able to do what he wants now that you have signed a contract that offers him your body, Maryse yelled. Was it really worth it ?

Alec's blood had only one tirn. He glared at his mother before spitting :

-Isabelle is my sister. Unlike you, I do what is necessary to protect my family.

Maryse caught her words with difficulty. She would reply but this time, Alec didn't give her time :

-If you will excuse me, I have about an hour to finish preparing my business before Magnus comes to fetch me.

The elder Lightwood turned aroung and walked to her room. He regretted not having read the contract before signing it but what was done was done. His sister was free and that was all that mattered. And then, it could be worse, he could be tied to a furious fool… In any case, he would pay the warlock and if he had to do… His things for him, with him. He would. He had only one word and he would hold it.

Magnus Bane appeared in his room as the shadowhunter finished taking his things in the bathroom :

-Don't you have anything else ?, the warlock worried.

-I don't have as much money as you.

Asmodee's son grimaced :

-We'll have to fix it.

Alec didn't pull up but closed his bag. The warlock snapped his fingers and opened a portal :

-After you.

The elder Lightwood loaded his bag over his shoulder and looked once more at his room :

-You'll come back to Alexander.

His name rolled so well on the warlock's tongue that a long shudder traveled the back of the shadowhunter. They crosses the gate to Magnus's apartment. They were greeted by a meow :

-But I don't forget you my cabbage, said Magnus catching his cat and hugging him.

He scratched his head before looking at his guest :

-You had never met him before. I present you Chairman Meow.

Alec watched the animal and the animal did the same :

-Approach your hand, gently.

Magnus's tone was soft and low, as if not to frighten either the cat or Alec. The latter obeyed and the animal snorted his hand before rubbing against it, purring :

-He likes you.

-You think ?

-Yes.

The hunter caught himself scratching the head of the animal and appreciating it :

-What are we doing now Magnus ?

The warlock placed Chairman Meow on the ground and the latter walked away to put himself in a ball on a silk cushion :

-I need to aw a customer. So I'll let you settle your things in the apartment. Then we go to dinner.

-Can you show me my room… Please ?

The warlock motioned for him to follow him and he led him into his room :

-But… It's your room…

-Our room Alexander.

The young Lightwood blushed violently. He was going to sleep with Magnus ? Every night ? In this large four-posted bed ? He swallowed :

-Be wise in my absence.

The warlock slipped a spark og magic along Alec's spine and the latter shuddered as he bent slightly. Things started off well…