First Fanfiction! I hope you enjoy it! (No copyright intended, all characters belong to Cassandra Clare)

CASTLES MADE OF SAND, CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tomorrow Never Knows

"Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream, It is not dying, it is not dying.
Lay down all thought, surrender to the void, Is it shining? Is it shining?
That you may see the meaning of within, It is being, it is being.
Love is all and love is everyone
Is it knowing?"

Humongous. Gigantic. Enormous. Towering -the list could go on and on, when describing the outer appearance of the Bane manor. Alec looked to it in awe, watching faintly from the corners of his eyes as Isabelle and Jace starred in wonder as well -their mouths dropping slack open. The estate had that raw secluded grand cathedral atmosphere to it. Everything was black -from the intricate carvings around the base and shindlings of the roof top, the large carefully scattered black spiral pillars, to the obsolete waxy, black, wood front door. The only thing that it didn't have was sky scraping watch towers -if it did, it would come pretty damn close to replicating the design of the St. Cajetan Church -a darker replica of it however.

It was flanked in a semi-half crescent shape, by clusters of pine, and evergreen trees -the ground bedded by a lush carpet of dark moss, and perfectly cut green grass. The driveway was equally as big in ratio to the lot; coming up the way from the gravel street, and then curving into a full circle around a marble stoned fountain, with the statue of a weeping fallen angel on the top, palms facing upwards to the sky. Alec's breath caught in his chest. This had to be the most outlandish estate there was in Alicante -he had never seen a house of this magnitude.

"Pick up your chins. We didn't come here to gawk." Maryse said, from Alec's side. He looked to her, and had to marvel at the way she appeared. Her hair was curled effortlessly into delicate black waves, resting feather-like on her strong shoulders. She was wearing a deep sea foam green dress, which stopped just below her knees, and was cinched at the waist by two gleaming silver broaches. For some reason, she wore the pearls their father, Robert, had given to her years ago -even if they weren't necessarily on speaking terms with one another. During the time he had been gone, Maryse never dared to go near anything he had ever bought her; but now that he was back, things were changing.

"You expect us not to gawk at a house like that, Maryse?" Jace raised his hand and pointed his nimble fingers in the direction of the estate. His liquid golden eyes still attempting to take in the image in front of him -as they all were.

"It's mom to you, Johnathan Christopher," Maryse tried to sound stern, but there was a hint of teasing in her tone. "And yes, no gawking, it isn't proper." She turned to Alec, then, and began to fix the light grey blazer he had on; her hands swiping over the edges, once, twice, and then they moved on to the white button down he had on. "I really wish you would've ironed this before we left, Alec." She chastised him, sighing pointedly to herself.

"Got home a bit too late for that," Alec smiled over his shoulder at Jace, who gave him an equally cocky grin.

"You two still haven't told me where you went." Maryse shook her head, and tsked under her breath.

"Wherever they went," Isabelle walked up to Alec, and slung her arm around his muscled waist, hugging him close to her very little-clothed body. "I'm sure they had a very good time," Isabelle winked up at him from under her long eyelashes. When Jace and Alec had gotten home, Alec recounted the couple of hours they spent on the boat, drinking and hanging out with everyone, to Isabelle -even if Alec didn't take more than two sips of a baileys, he still had an amazing time. The only problem he had with the time spent on the boat, was how he had to be very persistent in avoiding William at all costs. Which was quite the accomplishment in its own -seeing as the size of the boat was no bigger than an average living room space.

But nevertheless, Alec could take away from the situation good memories, and a few new wonderful friends. The Shadows weren't exactly what they were made out to be -sure they liked to indulge in the expensive and superficial things in life -but more than half of them were as normal as anyone at their school could get. Alec could connect with almost all of them, on a certain level; besides Gabriel, Gideon, and Johnathan really -those were the ones who were a bit hard to work over.

"Oh, you bet we did." Jace said haughtily from Alec's other side. Maryse furrowed her structurally angular eyebrows at her kids, angrily. She knew for certain that they would keep that information to themselves, and that she couldn't win. In any other circumstance it would have been a given to tell there mother where they had went, but really -telling their mom that they spent the day on a boat which they broke into, drinking to have a good time -was not a very good idea.

"Okay, we're all set to go," Robert walked over from their car -well his car technically. He was wearing a ashy dark blue suit, with a grey button down, and shiny black formal shoes. In his large muscular hands, lay three containers full of different pies, marmalade, and a chiffon cake -for which they brought as a sentimental offering. Alec highly doubted, just by seeing the outer exterior of the house, the car Magnus had, and the way he dressed -that the Bane's wouldn't have tons of desserts of their own.

"Did you make sure to grab the cake?" Maryse squared her expression at Robert. Alec hated seeing their mother act so abrasive towards their father, who didn't truthfully deserve it... Or did he?

"Yes, Maryse." Robert said exhaustively, shrinking his shoulders down.

"And the strawberry-rhubarb pie?"

"Yes, Maryse." Robert instantly replied, like a robot set on auto play.

"And the -"

"Mom, I'm pretty sure dad got everything out of the car." Alec cut her off, before she could continue to belittle Robert, in front of them all. Maryse huffed slightly, and turned on the balls of her toes, and stalked her way -somehow gracefully -to the black front door. Robert and Isabelle fell into step behind her, walking short brisk steps.

"When did you learn to grow a pair?" Jace stood directly beside Alec, their shoulders almost matching each other. He had his muscular arms wrapped over his chest, slightly curving his back. Jace was clad in a dark black pinstripe suit, with an faintly striped grey and white round necked t-shirt underneath. His golden locks were still slightly fresh and damp; dripping dots of water over the shoulders of his suit.

"Huh?" Alec replied.

"Interrupting mom, especially when she's been on edge for the last hour," Jace chuckled lowly, shaking his head from side to side," is never a good idea, bro."

"I just wanted to get inside faster, and not stand out here all day." Alec suggested, taking long hasty steps in the direction of the door. The staircase was a hard slippery black marble, with random scattered flecks of light grey patterns interwoven in the material. It almost resembled the look of a midnight sky littered with swatches of dark grey almost non-existent clouds.

"You and I both know that wasn't the reason." Jace whispered low enough for the rest of the family not to over hear, as they came to stand beside them on the threshold of the Bane manor. Maryse reached out, and pulled the brass lion shaped knocker off of the surface of the black door, and let it hit home, once, then twice. Within an instant a small pudgy woman with golden hair, and deep chocolate eyes opened the door. She was wearing a plain white apron, and upon inspection of what lay behind her, she might have been the only speck of light in the house.

"Oh! Do come in! Don't want you standing outside for too long, before the rain meanders its way back 'ere." She had a sweet southern accent, which seemed to match her demeanour perfectly. "I'm Sarah. But I guess I don't need to introduce myself to you, Mrs. Lightwood," Sarah ran her hands along her apron, either smoothing down the wrinkles, or wiping her hands. She instantly stuck her hand out to Robert who had to juggle the dishes of desserts in one hand, and her pudgy fingers in the other.

She gave Isabelle a tight hug, and studiously commented on how her bones felt so brittle. It wasn't hard to miss the fact that Isabelle was all height and legs; skinny in the waist, but precariously busty around the hips and chest. She could have been a model with her looks really.

Sarah went on to greet Jace, who complimented her on her eyes. Alec rolled his eyes at that, Jace was always one for making subtle flirty impressions on people. "So you're Alec," Sarah stood directly in front of him, and smiled, a hidden message type of smile up at him. "I've heard some things about you." Alec narrowed his expression at that; How had everyone been hearing about him? He faintly remembered that, that was exactly what James had said when they first met each other in the Academy's parking lot earlier that day. Again, he couldn't help the light flush, which settled on the apples of his cheeks.

Sarah led them through the door, and now they were standing in the middle of a grand foyer, surrounded by harsh dark cherry wood wall panels. Upon walking in, Alec was instantly hit with the image of the grand staircase, which stretched down on two sides, curving to the center around its base. The ceilings were ominously high, it felt like stepping into a vaulted church, with its intricate designs along the trim of the ceiling and floor. There was also a studiously large chandelier, which dangled like silver fire upside down in the air, directly above the grand staircase. Alec could imagine what the space could feel like, and look like, filled to the brim with people walking around, and talking, sipping crystal glasses of champagne.

"Again," Jace said, his voice vibrating off the darkened walls. "You seriously expect us not to gape? Have you gone mad woman?"

"I expect you to hold yourselves with grace, while we are here." Maryse lowered her voice to a whisper, "Valentine and Gerald, are my new bosses. Impressions, are needed to be great and worthy of high praise."

"Will do mom," Alec said, his blue eyes still feverishly trailing around the room, attempting to map out every nook and corner. He was essentially committing the inside of the house to memory -for whatever reason.

"Ah, Maryse," a deep baritone voice called from their right side. They all instantly turned -a bit shocked -towards the sound. An exotic looking man, with tawny golden skin, eyes ripe green, hair a slick stream of faded black pulled into a sharp ponytail, and a black on black suit -like what William had worn on the first day -stood where the sound had emitted from. He had a pointed smile on his face, and his palms turned upwards, just like the weeping angel statue outside. He resembled Magnus so closely; you wouldn't be able to mistake that this was his father. But then again, there was something about how sharp Gerald's features were, compared to the likes of his sons almost delicate planes to his face. "I am greatly humbled of your family joining us for dinner."

His voice alone, scared Alec immensely. Even if he was putting on the front of a pleasant formal dinner host; Alec could see straight through the exterior, and into the soul of a disrupt and or corrupt man. "Oh no, the pleasure is all yours. We are very humbled that you would invite us over." Maryse grinned warmly. "This is my son Alec," she shoved him forward, placing her small hand on the centre of his back. "Jace," she repeated her motions; and instead of pushing Isabelle forward, she gripped her arm, and pulled Isabelle to her side. "And my lovely daughter Izzy."

"Achanté," he bowed. And for quite possibly the fifth time in one day, Alec had to hold back rolling his eyes. "My name is Gerald Bane, and as you may have met him at the Academy, my son Magnus should be joining us shortly." He looked past them all to the large staircase behind, as if he was anticipating for Magnus to walk down the stairs that instant. Alec followed his gaze, and was met by nothing -Magnus was not standing at the top of the stairs; and at that realization, Alec felt instantly disappointed. "Follow me, we can start without him. He rather hates salads anyways."

They all walked silently after Gerald, through a large rounded archway, which was followed by a long wide extremely high ceiling dining room. This house seemed to one up itself every time you passed through into a new room. Surprisingly -given the demeanour of the outside, and inside of the foyer -the dining room was stark white in contrast. From the narrow crystal white table, which ran the whole length of the room, to the walls and marble floors. There was an equally large chandelier, which quite ideally matched the one which stood over top of the double grand staircase, in the center of this room.

The table could easily seat fifty of more people; it was almost like those dining halls you saw in movies like Marie Antoinette, where the tables were as big as to match the size of a third of a football field -or at least to Alec, that is what it resembled. "They've got to be the richest people in Alicante," Isabelle whispered to Alec over her bare shoulder. Alec was sure Gerald heard it, the way that this room seemed to echo even the faint sound of his shoes hitting the marble floor as he walked, gave indication that Isabelle's words had travelled.

"My house keepers, Olive and Sarah should be out soon with the salad. I do hope you like arugula, and sweet ginger." He gestured for them all to sit around the middle of the table, where dark scarlet colored place settings were neatly laid out. It looked like blood was trapped in structured shapes along the white pristine color of the table. How fitting, Alec thought -seeing as he found this house to parallel an old haunted vampire church, of the sorts.

Gerald and Maryse sat across from Robert, Isabelle, Jace and Alec. Exactly in front of Alec, was another set of place settings, which matched the rest -laid out for Magnus. "So, Alec, Jace, do you two play any sports?" Small talk. It tended to make a situation less awkward, but not in this case.

"I play center forward," Alec replied quickly.

"Soccer?" Gerald quipped, placing his large tan hands under his chin almost too delicately.

"Yeah," Alec mid-shrugged, but then stopped himself, seeing the look on his mothers face from the corner of her eye -realizing that shrugging was really not proper etiquette. "Jace plays goal," Alec tried to deflect the attention from himself, and onto Jace. He felt more than uneasy with those ripe green eyes focused on him.

"-And wide receiver in football." Jace added, smiling his dazzling white smile.

"I am aware that Mount Western has a wonderfully excellent sports academy. Both of you must be trying out for some of the teams, yes?" The way Gerald spoke, held so much finality within it; he was so sure of himself, and what he was saying. He wasn't at all modest, he knew people looked upon him with envy -and in some sense, he used that to propel himself forward in his outer appearance to everyone. To Alec, Gerald was an open book, with hardly any pages to read; almost as if, the middle of the book had been savagely ripped out, and hidden in a deep and dark place, but still the rest that was left, was laid out on display for everyone.

"Yeah, well, I saw the soccer posters the other day, and I'm pretty interested." Alec turned his head to Jace who was sitting beside him. There were little marks of sweat around his temples, and pieces of his golden hair curled and stuck to those spots. His thick long eyelashes spidered over his eyes, essentially shadowing them, and turning his eye color to a subtle amber brown tone. Alec sighed internally, regaining his breath, before continuing. "Jace, your going to try out for soccer with me, right?"

"Of course," Jace drawled, giving Alec a mock expression. "Wouldn't want to leave sweet cheeks here all alone." He said in a lower tone of voice, knocking his knee against Alec's. Alec blushed, but it was a weird blush -not as feverish and frequent as his blushes used to be in the presence of Jace. If Alec had to think of it, this flush was so minuet in comparison to what Magnus was able to elicit from him. With Magnus he felt as if his cheeks would burst into flames -a feeling he used to get when being around Jace. How did things shift so dramatically, in the shortest amount of time?

"Robert, you are lucky to have such sport driven boys. I've always wanted Magnus to get into some type of leisure activity, but that boy rather play the pi-"

"But I much rather, shop. And indulge myself into the latest trends and what not." Magnus' voice wavered into the room, from the doorway to Alec's right. Shivers crawled up his back, as he turned to take in the sight before him -as everyone else did. Magnus was leaning his shoulder against the frame of the archway, one leg crossed in front of the other. He was wearing a off-white button down dress shirt, which was opened and or unbuttoned at the collar to reveal tan skin underneath, dark black tightly fitted pants, that hugged his thigh muscles perfectly, and a deep toned purple opened blazer. His hair was sultry turned up to one side, sweeping over the tan skin on his forehead -as if he were standing in front of a strong wind, blowing him to the right. His blazing yellow-green eyes were rimmed by a thick line of black, and gold glitter was swept lightly over his checks and eyelids.

Alec drank his image in. And definitely not subtly, because when Alec had returned his gaze to Magnus' face which was equally as dazzling, Magnus was smirking at him. A devious fox kind of smirk, which sent even more shivers to trail up and down Alec's back.

"Magnus," his fathers eyes were a steely acid green. He stood up, and fluidly gestured with his hand to the seat beside him, "why don't you have a seat."

"Don't mind if I do, father." He eased himself into a standing position, and slinked his way over to the seat, straight across from Alec.

"As I was saying, Magnus usually divides his time between -"

"Oh dad, enough about me. Lets talk about something else." Magnus cut his father off, and the look Gerald gave Magnus could shatter glass. If Robert had ever glanced at Alec in that way, he would go run and cry somewhere, where no one would ever be able to find him. But Magnus brushed it off, knowing that in the presence of company, his father couldn't do anything about his abruptness and rudeness. "You must be Robert. I haven't had the pleasure to meet Alexander's father." He stretched across the table diagonally to Robert, his hand turned outwards to him. His long lean body hovered over his father, and Alec watched as Maryse's face turned from somber, to instantly shocked, her mouth falling open.

"Hello Magnus," Robert took his hand kindly, not seeing the fault in Magnus' ways at all. He was the more laid back parent of the two; not exactly caring for the simple petty things in life, and mainly caring about the here and now, living life. "You have a lovely home,"

"It's a bit too big, don't you think?" Magnus tilted his head and lightly laughed.

"No... I apprecitate the fine detailing along the trimmings of the ceilings in the foyer. And that angel fountain out front -"

"'The Weeping Angel', a favorite of mine." Magnus returned his hand, and sat back down in his seat. If there was anything Robert loved more than escaping away in his own mind, it was discussing architecture, and folklore about angels. Alec could see a glint flicker at the back of Robert's eyes, wavering and oh so ever present.

Really after being in the presence of Magnus, when he attempted to be at his nicest and most friendliest, it was hard not to find something about him that you liked, or connected to.

He was a darkened slow flickering light, that Alec was drawn to. Whether he liked it or not.

Olive and Sarah had come out and placed dishes of bright colorful crisp salads in front of them; everyone except Magnus however. And in a low voice, too low for anyone to be able to overhear what was said, Magnus latched his hand around Olive's arm before she retired to the kitchen parlor door she had come out of, and said something to her, eliciting a cute giggle from her. It was warming seeing Magnus interact nicely with his maids, compared to how Gerald seemed to brush them off as if they were merely present to please him and fit his needs.

"So, Gerald," Robert began, setting his fork down. "Maryse tells me you are having some type of banquet in two weeks?"

"Ah, yes, about that. It is a banquet I hold ever year to commemorate the start of the shipping season of mine and Valentine Morgenstern's company. The elite are invited, as well as there families. Seeing as there are so many teenagers the same age in every family in this town, it just fits that they can all be together, while us adults can discuss business." Alec noticed the way he said 'elite', so indefinitely and drawled out. "I suppose the children find their own dates for the event -black tie, by the way."

"Are you planning to bring anyone Jace?" Maryse asked with a smile. Continuing to make the conversation as fluid as possible.

"Uhh, most likely Valentine's daughter. Clary." Jace answered, unsure if his reply was a bad thing or a good thing. Seeing as Valentine was Gerald's business partner, Jace probably didn't think he had made a good enough impression on Gerald, to give the okay to Valentine.

"She is a beautiful young woman isn't she? Just like her mother." Gerald smiled a small smile. The corners of his mouth only twitched up a fraction. "How about you Izzy?"

"Will Herondale, he already asked me about it at school." She spat his name out abruptly -obviously forcefully trying to get a rise out of Alec. Heat and fire coursed through him again, at the suggestion that his sister and William were interacting with one another. Alec looked across the table at Magnus sharply, to find the expression on Magnus face, as one that was openly shocked. His mouth was open as if he were about to say something, but the air had escaped his lungs, and his dark eyebrows were knit tightly together.

"Who's this Will, Izzy? I sure haven't heard of him. He'll have to meet me first before you go to this banquet with him. Definitely we will be having the talk," Robert joked, laughing at the end along with Gerald, and Maryse. Alec didn't find it funny at all that his father wasn't all to concerned about a guy walking into Isabelle's life fairly quickly -but then again, he didn't know what William was like at all.

"And you, Alec?" Maryse asked after coming down from her brief fit of laughter. Alec couldn't help glancing at Magnus again, once Maryse had spoken; but this time he caught those intoxicating yellow-green eyes in his gaze, and for some reason, he couldn't let go.

"I'm not sure yet," his voice was a bit laboured, starring into Magnus' eyes, which held a silent threat within them. Something moved between them; a sudden pulse of energy and static. He broke his eyes away, and returned them to everyone else at the table. "I haven't had the chance to meet a lot of people that I would like, at the school yet," he had a hard time getting that out.

"I'm sure you'll find someone soon Alexander." Magnus said, stretching a bit forward on the tables top to rest his elbows in the middle. As he did so, the front of his shirt -the portion which was unbuttoned -fell open even more, and revealed his smooth chest to Alec, again. Alec strangled back a low sigh. "You just have to be looking in all the right places. Usually, the one thing you are looking for, is the one thing you try to not see. And that person, or thing as you may, that you try to find, is always right in front of you." He held Alec's gaze even stronger this time -it was so hard to pull away, almost unbearable to do so. Those eyes held the weight of the world for Alec in this moment -he couldn't help not wanting to ever let go of Magnus' gaze. Alec would do anything just to have a chance to be able to stare at them all day long -but he knew that, that was an impossible wish to come by.

His cheeks were getting hot, too hot, and he knew he must have flushed the color of a ripe tomatoe. His skin wouldn't stop prickling with shivers and tremors which ran freely the length of his body. Under the table Magnus accidentally knocked Alec's foot with his own, and even that bare minimal contact seemed to unravel something within him. It was as if each time he was around Magnus a part of him would come loose and uncoil; and soon he would unwind so much, that he would run out of resistance.

Alec's mind was filled with a quote he had seen not that long ago, in the back of an old tattered book he had found at the library, back in the east coast, Oble, one day;

And think not you can, Direct the course of love, For love, If it finds you worthy.

"What words of wisdom Magnus," Maryse cooed from the side. Magnus turned to her and smiled wistfully in her direction.

"I read it somewhere once. It's been stuck in my mind ever since."

"You like to read a lot too?" Robert asked. Another thing he loved, and likewise Alec loved, was to discuss poetry and fine literature. It was something Alec and his father connected on, on a huge level. Since no one else in their family took a liking to it -it was their special thing. And now, he had found another to share in his love.

"Well yes, I tend to dabble a bit in literature. But not many people know that about me," Magnus said, honestly -without any sign of conviction.

As the main course was being brought out: Fresh garden vegetables tossed in a stir fry, smooth creamy mashed potatoes with fresh garlic, and medium rare seared pieces of steak with a light mushroom sauce on top -everyone fell into a silence, eating quietly to themselves. Alec continued to sneak quick lingering glances at Magnus every now and then -only because when he wasn't looking, he could feel those cat eyes watching his every move. But alas, every time he dared to look up, Magnus' had his attention on something else. But maybe that was a good thing, because then he had a few seconds to study Magnus -the strong way the muscles reflexed in his jaw as he ate, the feathery way his fingers moved while he held his fork -for some reason it was all really interesting to Alec. It felt as if he were learning more and more about Magnus, just by watching him.

But the real question Alec had to consider was, did Magnus even want to learn things about him?

"Oh," Gerald said loudly, and wiped the corner of his mouth. "What I was meaning to mention about the banquet, before we became sidetracked, was that it will be postponed till two months from now." He sighed, so low, that it was hard to identify it as a sigh. "For you see, it is just too close around the date, of my wife Palmer's passing. I don't find it proper to have it in two weeks anymore."

"I am so sorry Gerald. I didn't know that, of course every one of your colleagues including us will understand." Maryse raised her hand to his shoulder, and pat him lightly. He gazed to his side at Maryse, and gave her a weak -to Alec a very fake -small smile, and the words 'thank you' as a whisper on his lush lips.

"It really does mean a lot to -" Gerald began.

"You've never moved the date before." Magnus scoffed, slouching back in his seat, throwing his arms across his chest. Everyone turned their attention to him hastily -only because his tone of voice was held with so much scorn. His face was as closed off as it ever had been, in Alec's opinion. He was hiding something within, even if Magnus wasn't aware of it himself, Alec could sense it. His eyes were dark orbs of emerald now, no shine or light of gold in sight.

"Magnus," his father rather hissed, "yes, I have."

"No you haven't. You've never cared." Magnus stood up from the table. "You've never cared..." He whispered breathlessly. Things were transpiring in fast motion -one minute they were happily eating their delicious dinner, enjoying the company, and the next Magnus is accusing his father of not caring of his mothers death; while the rest of them looked upon them in dismay. Jace had his fork posed in front of his mouth, he had stopped mid way, before Magnus had stood up from the table. Isabelle's eyes were wide, as she was stricken by the suddenness of events as well. Alec didn't even want to think about what his expression might have looked like.

Gerald stood from the table as well, slowly rising out of his seat. A black shadow, morphing out of the darkness into a tall man with acid eyes. "Magnus, may I have a word with you?" He inclined his chin, narrowing his eyes, as a silent threat. Magnus again snaked his arms over his chest, and stood his ground, gesturing with his eyes to continue. "Outside. Now." Gerald reached out, and grabbed a hold of Magnus arm, practically dragging him from the room.

They all listened and sat in silence as the sound of their steps dissipated from the foyer, and became too far away for it to be heard anymore. The only sound in the room was the constant ticking of the grand father clock, which was situated at the far back of the room.

"Well that was interesting," Jace said finally after minutes of silence.

"Johnathan Christopher," Maryse scowled, turning her steely blue eyes on him.

"What?" Jace put up his hands in front of him, to ward her off. "Seriously, you can't tell me you didn't find that interesting? Being here in Alicante, is like being in one of those soap opera things you like to watch."

"Jace..." Robert attempted to be the strict father of the situation, but gave away to a small chuckle. Jace smiled at that -and so did Alec. But at the back of Alec's mind, he was wondering where Magnus and Gerald had gone off to. He wanted to know things were all right, or that they were going to be alright with Magnus and his father. It was literally tearing at his conscience to go check on him.

And so he did just that. He shot up out of his seat, almost knocking the white leather chair to the ground. "Where are you going?" Isabelle asked, as Alec regained his composure, and straightened the chair.

"Uhh, I-I need to find a bathroom. I'll be right back." He lied, and without another second of hesitation left the room through the archway, and was re-submerged into the gaudy darkness of the rest of the house. He ducked under an archway, which lay on the right of the grand staircase, over by the front door. Alec quietly stepped through the archway and into a long winding narrow hallway -attempting to make minimal sound with his movements. Upon inspection he continued to pass through dozens of empty rooms, with bookcases, and beds, and a dark lit room, with a bright white grand piano in the middle of the space.

The last room at the end of the long hallway, had its door left slightly ajar, and harsh whispers emitting from it. Alec peaked his head inside slowly, to see Gerald standing in front of Magnus, his hands on either shoulder, squeezing hard enough to leave dent marks in the fabric of Magnus' white dress shirt -Gerald's back was turned to Alec, so Alec didn't have the risk of being caught by him. He was lowly yelling at Magnus; although Alec really didn't know what he was saying -since it was more so in whispered hushes. The only thing Alec was concentrating on was the sheer look of terror on Magnus' face, which was turned towards him.

Those yellow-green eyes found Alec's, and Alec cursed himself for being so stupid as to let Magnus see him standing there in the crack of the door. He starred into Magnus' eyes, waiting and watching for them to change -but they never did, and the message they held, was for Alec to leave it be.

But he didn't want to. He yearned to cross the room, and reach out to Gerald, so he could take his hands off of Magnus -it was maddening being so defenceless in a situation like this, because there was no telling what Gerald would do, if Alec had interfered in any way.

"Look at me when I am talking to you," Gerald boomed, grabbing Magnus chin between his fingers, jerking his head sharply to face away from Alec. He was oblivious to the fact that Alec was standing there in the doorway -too bent stricken on punishing his son. Alec watched as Magnus winced in pain. Magnussnuck one last quick glance over to Alec, his eyes basically pleading for Alec to leave.

Alec had to stifle back all of the sudden aggression that bubbled up within him; and with all the force he could muster within himself, not to cross that space, and shake Gerald, he turned on point and stalked his way back down the hallway silently.

He couldn't exactly comprehend what had happened there, why Magnus had accused his father of something terrible, and why Gerald had blew up on Magnus in such a equally terrible way. All Alec knew is that, whatever he had just witnessed, he would never forget.

A/N: How did I get this to be over 6,000 words? Oh gosh, this just took a tremendous amount of time, and I am sorry for the four day wait! Forgive me!
I would have included the boat scene, with all of them hanging out, but I just thought that would be way to hard -having to remember who was situated where, who was talking to whom, on this cramped little boat. So I just quickly skipped over that bit. Remember this isn't the biggest scene of them all. (I've already wrote the big scene, and let me tell you... IT'S BIG, but won't come in for another 20-30 chapters... oh gosh.)
I wanted you to get a better sense of Gerald, and of the Bane manor essentially (since you'll be seeing a lot of that house) -while establishing the connection between Alec and Magnus a bit more. I wanted to basically show you the tension in the air between them, even without them speaking to one another. It's those glances and subtle quirks that count the most to me. Sure having them talk and get to know one another is always important, but I want their utter tension to shine through, and just show how magnetically attracted they can be to one another.
Soon, it will be revealed what happened to Palmer Bane. Not too soon, but soon enough. The next chapter will get back to school, and all that jazz.
I want to thank you guys for sticking with this, even this long, and reviewing. So here you go, a little snippet from a (really) future chapter:

"Mag -Magnus. We have to study," Alec breathlessly said, letting his eyes slip shut."

Review, and another snippet may be coming your way!

Amber,