Here you go. Hope you like it.

I was lying on my bed dreading the upcoming night and thinking of all the ways it can go wrong.

This can't be healthy. I thought with a sigh.

The sound of crackling flames made me open my eyes just in time to see a piece of paper materializing right in front of me.

Who is sending me a fire massage? I wondered as I watched it land on my stomach. The only ones I can think of are my parents but they write to Hodge. Not me.

I slowly took it and smiled when I saw who had sent it.

Of course it's him. I thought as I started to read it:

Alexander darling,

Just reminding you that you promised to come to my party tonight. No excuses this time. Also, I wanted to tell you that you can't come in one of those ugly excuses that you dare to call a sweater. If I see anything with a hole in it I am dressing you up myself.

Actually forget about that. Just come with as many holes as you like so I can dress you up.

Looking forward to seeing you tonight,

Magnus

I smiled at the note.

It is so like Magnus to send me a fire massage to say that I need to dress up.

I took out a piece of paper and a pen from my bedside table.

Magnus,

Why didn't you just use your phone?!

Alec

I wrote before drawing a fire rune in the corner of the paper and watching it go up in flames.

It didn't take long for the new massage to arrive. I snatched it up while there were still lingering flames on it.

Alexander darling,

How can you even ask me that? It is more dramatic this way.

Magnus

I laughed. Of course it is.

Well, I am definitely not letting him dress him up. Knowing him, he really will do it if I don't do as he says and come in "normal" clothes. I got up from my bed with a sigh. I don't think I have anything like that in my closet.

I groaned knowing that since I am not going shopping this leaves me with only one other option. Borrowing some clothes from Jace.

I slowly made my way to his room hoping-for the first time ever-that he is out with Clary.

It was strange.

I noticed recently that my feelings for Jace are slowly starting to be outshined by my feelings for Magnus. I couldn't figure out if that was good or bad. I had only ever loved Jace in that way but my feelings for Magnus are different. Somehow…Stronger. Not so painful. Being with him was as easy as breathing. I didn't know what to make of it. Didn't know what to make of these new strange feelings. I guess I just have to wait and see.

I knocked on the door hesitantly.

No answer.

With a relieved breath I entered his room and quickly made my way towards the closet, not wanting him to catch me here and ask questions I don't want to answer.

"What are you doing?"

I froze. But it wasn't Jace's voice.

It was Clary's.

"Borrowing a shirt." I said taking the first black-not too tight-shirt I could find.

"Why?" She asked suspiciously.

"None of your business." I turned around to face her.

She was standing in front of the door with arms crossed and eyes narrowed. I glared at her, wanting to get out before Jace comes back.

"Since you're taking my boyfriend's shirt, it kind of is." She said stubbornly not wanting to let it go.

I felt the all too familiar pang of emotions when she said the word 'boyfriend'. Jealousy. Hurt. And anger.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I asked to redirect the line of questioning off of me. "Where is he?"

"He will be here soon. I came here to wait. But you still haven't answered my questions."

"There is nothing to tell." I said walking forward and pushing her slightly so I can get to the door. "I needed a shirt and came here to borrow one. Nothing more."

I stopped with one foot out of the door and looked back at her over my shoulder. Her arms weren't crossed anymore and her stature was a little less offensive but she still looked suspicious.

"I know I don't have the right to ask-what with the way things are between us-but I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Jace you saw me here. Or at all really." I said and walked out only to be stopped by her hand grabbing my forearm.

"What's going on?" She asked me hesitantly.

"What do you mean? Nothing is going on." I answered confused.

"Don't lie. I know it's something. You don't hang around Jace as much anymore. You were just nice to me. Well, more nice than you ever have been before. Jace says it's nothing but I just know that there is something." She insisted. I saw a flash of worry in her eyes.

She's worried about me?! I thought taken aback by it. Why is she worried? She should be happy by me not being around.

"Look, it really is nothing." I said pulling my arm out of her grasp and starting to walk away. "Just let it go." I called back before turning the first corner.

While I walked back to my room I tried to make sense of what just happened.

I just couldn't. First she was angry and suspicious. And then she was worried. About me. I was always so cold toward her so it's hard to believe it. But she really looked worried.

Maybe I should at least try and be nicer to her in the future. I still don't like the fact that she's with Jace but she seems like a good person. I should at least give her a chance.

I guess Magnus really did change everything. Everything is different. It's so confusing. I laid on the bed with a groan. I don't want to be with Jace all the time anymore. He is still there at the back of my mind but no longer consuming my every thought.

I never thought I would see the day I got over Jace. But maybe…maybe that day is coming. Maybe I really will get over him.

I didn't know if this was a good or a bad thing or even if all of this will end well but I didn't want to think about it. I should just live in the now. Forget all of this and focus on Magnus's party tonight.

I sighed at the thought.

I am already regretting agreeing to go. I don't know what to expect but since it's Magnus… It can't end well.

The next few hours I spent in the training room. Alone, since Jace was somewhere with Clary. Again.

I found myself not getting as annoyed as I usually would.

Around eight pm I showered and dressed. I put on a jacket so my sibling wouldn't notice the borrowed shirt.

"Going out again?" Came a familiar voice from behind me.

I tensed and turned around slowly, finding myself face to face with Izzy.

So close. I thought glancing towards the elevator door only a few feet away.

"I'm-"

"Going going for a walk." She finished for me. "Yeah I know. You have been doing that a lot lately."

"I feel like walking. Stop trying to find something more out of it." I said, guilt slowly building in me. Trying to get me to confess.

I won't. I thought stubbornly. Standing my ground.

"Stop acting so suspicious then." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at me sternly.

I shifted under her gaze but didn't back down. "Can I go now?"

"No. Not until you explain."

"There is nothing to explain. I like walking. It clears my mind."

"Bullshit." She spat at me. "I don't care what you say. I know you are hiding something."

"I am not!" I said with enough conviction to make her back off.

And I was surprised when she seemed to do just that. She relaxed a little and it seemed like she was finally-though reluctantly-believing me.

"Fine." She said with a sigh. Looking defeated.

I knew I should be happy and relieved about it but all I could feel was guilt.

She had believed my lie. I felt bad but I shook it off, trying to convince myself that lying to her is still necessary.

"I am sorry if I worried you or something but I really am only going for a walk." Suddenly it was really hard to look into her eyes. I could see trust in them. And it killed me.

"Fine." She repeated taking a step backwards. Her eyes softened a little more.

I looked her up and down for the first time that night. "You look like you're going out." I said indicating at her too short dress.

"Not yet. Jace is training Clary and you are no fun so I decided to go out and have fun for the both of us." She said not seeing how her words made me feel even guiltier.

If only she knew where I am really going. I thought with a sigh. I had to fight down a sudden impulse to tell her.

"Well, goodbye now. Got to go take a walk." I said before I can say something I'll regret.

She just nodded and smiled softly.

I turned around and practically ran into the elevator. The truth was on the tip of my tongue.

"Alec!" She called after me before I had time to push the button.

I turned around, fearing that she will start again but on the other hand, secretly hoping she would. When I looked at her her expression was different. Softer. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I won't judge you. Whatever it is."

I nodded and turned around again so she can't see how guilty I was feeling at the moment.

"Way to go Izzy." I murmured while the elevator went down. "Making me feel guilty."

The elevator came to a stop. I sighed while exiting it and leaving the Institute. Starting the long walk to Brooklyn.

I felt like I really did need a walk to clear my head a bit. After all, I was just seconds away from confessing to Izzy. Not good.

When I finally came to the right building I saw a row of vampire bikes parked outside.

I eyed them warily. This is going to be a long night.

The hall was silent as ever as I made my way up the stairs. But I could feel the presence of Downworlders. A lot of Downworlders.

My Shadowhunter instincts screamed at me to run. To get away while I still can. And my hands were reaching for my weapons-which were hidden under my clothes-every few seconds. It was like a tick that I couldn't stop.

The only reason why I didn't just turn around and go home was because I promised Magnus I would come.

Why did I do that?

I sighed looking at the door in front of me.

Why am I always so weak to everything he wants?

I took one last deep breath and opened the door. I gasped in surprise, seeing how the loft had transformed overnight. No doubt the work of his magic.

Floor-to-ceiling windows were smeared with a thick film of dirt and paint, blocking out most of the ambient light from the street. Big metal pillars wound with colored lights held up an arched, sooty ceiling. Doors torn off their hinges and laid across dented metal garbage cans made a makeshift bar at one end of the room. At the bar, a lilac-skinned woman in a metallic bustier was pouring drinks into tall, harshly colored glasses that tinted the fluid inside them: blood red, cyanosis blue, poison green. And everywhere I looked were just more Downworlders.

It made me feel terribly uneasy.

I stepped inside and was immediately overwhelmed by them. Their proximity made my skin crawl. I was raised to hate and feel disgusted by them after all.

My hand shot to my front pocket, grabbing my stele tightly as I looked around.

I needed to find Magnus soon or this wasn't going to end well.

I gulped as I noticed some of them looking at me.

My skin was covered in fresh and old runes alike and most of them were showing.

A hand grabbed my shoulder and I turned around, finding myself only inches away from a vampire.

"Nephilim." He said it like an insult. "It wasn't very smart of you to come here. You will regret it soon enough. I guarantee it." He smiled widely.

It didn't faze me.

He was on the floor in a matter of seconds with my foot on his back, keeping him there.

"Do you mind if I don't?!" I looked down at his angry form. I could see that his fangs were out as he snarled.

Not wanting any trouble, I let him go and tried to get away as quickly as I could.

As I did so I could see that there was a crowd forming around us preventing me from going too far. They all looked at me with disgust and anger.

Not good.

"You little bastard!" I avoided the vampire by an inch as he pounced at me.

I didn't want to fight-there were just too many of them-but as he was getting ready to pounce again it didn't seem like I had any other choice.

"You-" He suddenly stopped. His eyes grew wide and his hands went to his throat as if he was choking.

"You do not touch him." A familiar voice said from behind me.

I turned around startled that I didn't hear his approach.

He looked more than a little angry. "Do you understand?!"

The vampire nodded furiously.

"Good." He said letting the vampire breath again.

He gulped taking in as much air as he could.

"Now go." Magnus splayed the fingers of his hand, and the vampire turned as if someone had grabbed his shoulders and spun him around. He marched back into the crowd, heading toward the door.

As I watched him leave, Magnus's arms snaked around my waist making me lean back against his chest.

"Magnus…?!" I jumped looking around at the Downworlders around us.

"Oh, hush." He whispered into my ear. Not letting go. "There is no one here that will say anything to the Clave or any of the other Shadowhunters. Don't worry." He kissed my cheek. "No need to hide here."

I still wasn't sure about it so I stayed tense while looking around at the crowd that was watching us.

Magnus sighed at that and took my hand, pulling me towards the kitchen.

He pulled me in and shoved me against the door closing it with my body. He leaned into me and kissed me hard. When I responded to the kiss he deepened it, licking my lips, asking for entrance. His lips and tongue were making me forget that there were people-more or less-just behind the door.

But I was reminded of it as we broke apart. I flushed, bright red in an instant.

Magnus laughed softly, caressing my red cheek with one hand. "I apologize for the idiot from earlier. I will make sure that doesn't happen again."

I didn't say anything but just nodded. Still a little fazed from the kiss.

He pulled away a little and looked me up and down. "Let me guess. You are hiding one of your sweaters under that jacket." He smiled, looking absolutely predatory. It made me squirm under his gaze. "You thought I was kidding, didn't you?"

"No I didn't." I said pulling the zipper down. "I know you don't kid about clothes so that is why I borrowed a shirt from Jace."

Magnus's eyes darkened as his gaze roamed over my chest and the shirt that was clinging to me like a second skin.

I blushed.

"I never thought I would be grateful for that little bastard." He said taking my hand and pulling me flush against him. "But this shirt makes you look so sexy." He purred before kissing me again.

There was some racket on the other side of the door that made us break apart.

"BANE! COME OUT HERE! WE NEED TO TALK!" A voice boomed.

"Excuse me for a minute. I need to see what they want." He kissed me softly. "I'll be right back." He went of the door. Leaving me alone.

After a quick decision I made my way out of the kitchen and to the opposite wall, as far away from the crowd as possible.

As I walked I could feel their eyes on me. Some were looking at me in disgust. Some were just angry. But then there were others who looked intrigued. And interested. Looking at me like a piece of meat.

Their gaze made me worry the most.

After a few minutes of standing by the wall and avoiding everyone's gaze I felt someone settle beside me.

"Alec?!" The all too familiar voice asked in surprise.

I turned around quickly hoping against all hope that I heard it wrong. That it's someone else's voice.

My heart almost stopped beating as I saw that I wasn't wrong. She was standing there in front of me in her too short dress and eyes wide in shock and surprise at seeing me here.

"Izzy!"

I know this is bad. But the next one will be better I promise. I needed to cut it in two because it would be too long otherwise. So, tell me what you think.