Plot: What if the vampire that killed Camille was an unknown character who isn't exactly in good terms with Magnus? What if he held a particular resentment for the warlock, hence the murder of his ex-girlfriend? And when the unknown character is found by Alec, who is physically exhausted and mentally vulnerable...
Disclaimer: The plot and characters of the Mortal Instruments series belong to Cassandra Clare. I own nothing.
Warning: slash, spoiler, alternative ending, inaccurate details, OOC
Notes: Part 2 of the 2nd chapter! :)
2
Simon cringed inwardly. There were red specks coming out from Alec's mouth once in a while as he threw up in the bin that he was able to conjure with his vampire speed. In retrospect, the Nephilim was in a terrible state. When Simon caught a glimpse of the boy in the station, he had to resist the urge to grab his phone and dial one particular warlock's number. It was not Simon's area to, for a lack of better term, play nursemaid. Especially to someone with Alec's condition. But he was given strict orders by the young Lightwood, made him swore not to say a word to Magnus, and he didn't have the heart to break his word after the Nephilim practically begged and pleaded with him.
But Simon was out of his depth. Just watching Alec puke his guts out sent him in a frenzy.
"Why me? Why didn't you call Magnus?"
Simon hadn't realized that he blurted that out loud, until sharp, blue eyes turned accusingly at him. But Alec was suddenly distracted by a fit of coughing, and Simon wanted to hit his head on a wall when he realized that he hadn't even bothered to offer the sick boy a drink.
"Wait here," Simon muttered, and went off to get the boy a glass of water.
When he got back in his room, he froze by the doorway. In Alec's grip was the bottle that contained the haunting red liquid, and his eyes stared at it, seemingly mesmerized, with a disturbing hunger. With quick, nimble movement, he rushed to Alec's side and slapped rather harshly the bottle tipped into the Nephilim's lips without a care that it would land on the floor.
And make a mess and a crashing sound that, to Simon's opinion, sounded quite lovely and satisfying to his ears.
To his surprise, Alec seemed not to agree.
"No!"
Simon had to grip Alec's shoulders when the Nephilim propelled himself to the direction of the fallen shards. Simon did not dare deliberate on what the blue eyed boy would've done if not for his restraint.
Of course, it was in the young Lightwood's blood to resist and rebel.
"Alec, listen to me," he urged, as the Shadowhunter trashed against the vampire's hold. "That is vampire blood, obviously. But its scent tells me that it's the blood of an Original," Simon put an emphasis on the last word, which seemed to have caused some recognition or sense in the Nephilim's mind as the boy stilled instantly.
"It has the effects of any vampire blood in the human bloodstream," Simon continued. "But only to a superficial point. It will heal you and make you feel good. But a small dose can already lead to addiction and poisoning of your blood. Death."
He didn't know what to expect from Alec, but resignation was definitely not it.
"I know," Alec rasped out, his eyes watching the wasted liquid on the floor. In longing, if the vampire wasn't mistaken.
This confused Simon.
"Then why?"
If you knew what it was, then why the hell did I just see you about to shove it down your throat?
There was no immediate answer from the Shadowhunter. Simon took this opportunity to let go of the boy. All of a sudden, it was awkward and tense as the silence stretched on. Which brought up Simon's curiosity, if not confusion, as to why he was in this situation. Surely, he had already gone through thick and thin with the Shadowhunter, perhaps even enough to constitute a sense of brotherly arms. And there was no way he would let the Nephilim die in his hands, unless he wanted Isabelle, or worse Magnus, to have his head on a platter. But still, aren't there better candidates to see Alec back to his health? Particularly someone who knows what to do?
"I'm sorry it had to be you," Alec started, as if he knew where Simon's train of thoughts was going. "My family is busy with Jace, and Magnus..."
Then Alec turned quiet, solemn, and Simon had a bad feeling about what the Shadowhunter was about to say.
"Magnus and I broke up," Alec muttered.
Before Simon could think of how he should process that information in his brain, Alec decided to change the direction of the conversation.
"I was looking for Camille, " Alec blurted out, which took Simon by surprise. Whether from the fact that Alec was opening up or admitting to what he just said.
"Camille Belcourt?"
When Alec gave him a tired look, he let the boy continue without further disruptions.
"Camille Belcourt, yes. But I didn't find her. I..." All of a sudden, Alec looked even more sick, and pale if it were possible, and Simon wondered if he should conjure the bin once more. But Alec continued without any more pause, which Simon didn't mind since he seemed to have lost any ability to speak after hearing everything the Shadowhunter had to say.
"I found a different vampire instead. Well, actually he found me. He's an Original, which I found out later, and we fought. He seemed to know Magnus, which explained why he seemed to know me too. I guess this might also explain why he killed Camille."
Simon noticed that Alec's body began to tremble at this point and his voice quivered and softened to a point that Simon had to strain his ears.
"He got the upperhand, and I supposed he was about to kill me. But he thought better of it. He has a sadistic and cruel nature, I could tell. The type that would enjoy torture and pain. He brought out a dagger, it was antique he said. It was covered in blood. Camille's. He said he wanted to see how long I can last without making a sound..."
Simon felt like he already had the gist of what Alec was trying to say, and his stomach churned at the thought of having to hear more. But he let the Shadowhunter continue. Somehow, Simon sensed that the Nephilim had to get this out of this system, that he had to open up now or he never would.
"Of course, I didn't give him the satisfaction, and he said that only served to his amusement. But I knew it did nothing but annoy him. Which was why he wouldn't kill me. He fed me his blood as he explained the ramifications of the act. All the wounds disappeared just as he said they would. He had a clean slate. And he repeated the ordeal again and again and I thought that there was no end to it. But he stopped. And a sick part of myself wished he hadn't. Death was a better option."
A part of Simon truly believed that, while the rest of his mind was still in shock, still reeling from the onset of information.
"But he was too cruel for that. He would feed me his blood whenever I was about to lose consciousness. It felt countless. So I coudn't believe it when he stopped. I thought my mind was only playing with me, or that he was playing with me. He did that a lot of times, too. But he really did stop, and just left me there. But not after feeding me with his blood, just to make sure I wouldn't cheat and die. I guess one good thing came out of that ordeal. He swore not to tell Magnus so long as I can keep my mouth shut."
This part caused Simon to snap.
"Wait, what? No! Of course you have to tell Magnus! He has to know! He'd want to know!" the vampire practically shrieked, which he'd deny once the situation become less of a life or death matter. All he received was a blank stare from the Nephilim.
"If you don't tell Magnus, I will," the vampire threatened, to which the Shadowhunter only shook his head in denial.
"You swore not to tell a word to anyone, remember that."
"That's not fair. That was before I knew what I was getting into," Simon huffed, crossing his arms as he glared at the Nephilim. "Or before knowing what you got into..." he trailed off quietly.
"He can't know, Simon. He just can't," Alec responded without a moment's hesitation. His eyes pleaded as he looked Simon in the eye. They held a sort of helplessness and vulnerability that Simon knew he wouldn't have the heart to turn his back to.
Like any other Shadowhunter, Alec was the type of person to hold his chin up at any level of challenge or pain. To actually call for help, from him no less, must have taken up swallowing his whole pride and every fiber of his being, and just for that, Simon will entertain the Nephilim's demands, no matter how ridiculous, for the moment. And in fear that the Shadowhunter might shut himself off, and do something equally stupid, should Simon betray his trust.
"Fine," Simon gritted out, clearly unhappy about it. "But I don't see anything good coming out of this."
"Trust me, it's for the best."
For who?
2
TBC