Pandemonium: Chapter 31
If any of this actually belonged to me, I would be a lot less poor.
A/N: Calculus will be the death of me. I've been trying to integrate more writing into my schedule, but every time I end up getting on a tangent. Regardless, I hope you derive the general gist of my apology here. Anyway, from now on I will try to be more like a vector, with both magnitude and direction. Okay no more bad math puns.
"THAT BITCH!" Magnus shouted.
Even after paying the bitch off he was still beholden to her evil ways. What more could she have wanted from him? Was she really so vain as to try to accuse him of murder now too?
For the first time-ever probably-Whitelaw smiled. "That bitch, indeed. Unfortunately," he said, "that bitch now will be testifying against you, and because she 'knows' you so well, it will be hard for us to refute her evidence. I'm going to need to know all about your past-all of it."
And so Magnus told him everything about him and Camille. Everything. It ended up taking an hour, and the entire time Whitelaw took a copious amount of notes in order to prepare the counter arguments. Parts of Magnus' story were punctuated with "hmms" and "could you elaborates," but other than that it was a single sided story telling.
During the part where Magnus was telling Whitelaw about his last encounter with Camille and her son, they both heard a knock on the door.
Whitelaw immediately silenced Magnus. Slowly, he got up to the door and in a vexed manner asked, "May I be informed as to who is interrupting my meeting with my client?"
"Alec-I mean Prince Alexander," Alec replied.
The door swung open and Alec rushed in, bypassing Whitelaw to hug Magnus. It was only after a few seconds of embrace that Magnus motioned to the open door and to Whitelaw. Such signs of physical affection were generally considered inappropriate, but the Crown Prince embracing a man on trial for murder? That was just a scandal waiting to happen, one that even the illustrious Olivia Pope couldn't handle.
They quickly moved away, and Whitelaw quickly shut the door. He had a single eyebrow raised and a wry smirk on his face. Yet he said nothing. As he had promised Carstairs, he asked nothing.
Putting on his most delicate smile he asked, "May I enquire as to why I have the pleasure of the Crown Prince's presence?"
"I have come to see my b-councillor and dear friend Magnus Bane," Alec said. "I heard of his predicament and came to offer my support in his time of need, and to speak to him privately about some matters of state in which he was engaged prior to his arrest."
Whitelaw's eyebrow went up again; clearly he knew that was a lie. Instead of calling Alec out, however, he said, "Very well then, I shall give you some privacy. If you should get to loud I will knock on the door twice. The walls have ears here."
With that he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Magnus, unfortunately was still chained to the table. Nonetheless, Alec rushed over and kissed him. For a few minutes they just were there, kissing. Eventually, Alec's hand ventured to Magnus' shirt and tried to begin removing the article of clothing.
Magnus immediately smiled sadly and moved Alec's hands away.
"Darling," he said, "I don't think we can do that any time soon. Especially if I'm chained to a table, and as Whitelaw said, the walls have ears; I don't think they'd be too pleased to hear the sound of either of us moaning."
Alec blushed deeply at Magnus' words.
Eventually squirming away to the side of the room, he began:
"Well actually, that's what I came here to talk about. Obviously you didn't murder her because I knew where you were that night. You and I were in the same place, engaging in certain...uhm...activities."
"So?" Magnus asked.
"You can't be charged for murder if you have an alibi and someone to back up where you were, especially if that someone is the Crown Prince. I'll just tell them that you were with me that night."
"No," Magnus said softly.
"What?" Alec asked.
"You heard me. No."
"What do you mean, 'No?'"
"Alexander, don't be petulant. It doesn't suit you. No means no."
"Don't disparage me and treat me like a child!" Alec said, raising his voice. "What do you mean by 'No?'"
Magnus face was writhing with consternation. Raising his voice slightly he said, "No means no Alexander. I prohibit you in your entirety from telling anyone that we were in the same place that night."
Aghast Alec asked, "And why do you think I would do such a thing? That would be tantamount to letting them find you guilty. That would be tantamount to letting them throw you in jail for the rest of your life. That would be tantamount to losing you forever."
Magnus chuckled sadly. With a renewed weakness in his voice he said, "Do you realize what saying that means?"
"It means that you will go free, yes I know."
"No. It means ruining your life forever. It means you being ridiculed and cast out from society. It means you being thrown in jail with me. It means you losing everything you care about-your family, your duty, your honor."
"I don't care about those-well I do-but not as much as I care about you."
"Am I worth ruining your life over?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
"Do you love me, Alexander?"
"Of course I love you Magnus, that's why I'm doing this-that's why I will do anything for you."
"Anything you say?"
"Anything."
"Then I ask, no I demand as the love of your life, that you do something for me. And if you should not do it, I will assume it is because you do not love me."
"Of course I will do it, Magnus. No need to be so dramatic about it."
"Good, because I want you to never tell anyone about what happened that night or where either of us were. You will stick to our story, and that's it."
"M-m-m-magnus you can't ask that of me. You can't demand that of me!"
"You said you loved me. Do this for me. Do this for us. Do this for our love."
"This isn't love, Magnus, this is blackmail!"
"Alexander, don't you understand? I love you. I love you too much. I cannot see you ruined by this. I will not be the cause of your ruin."
"I'll lie then! I'll say you were visiting Mr. Moncrieff with me!"
"And then what, Alexander? What happens when they go to find Mr. Moncrieff? Will they find someone who doesn't exist? Or will he mysteriously die right before they can ask him whether or not I truly was there? It will never go well, so please stop. Give up. Move on."
"Magnus Bane, I will not give up on you. I will not stop, and by the Angel's Sword I will never, ever, ever stop."
"Please, Alexander, don't do this. Just listen to me, and don't do anything rash. Go back up. Tell Carstairs what I said. He'll make you understand."
"I-"
"Please!" A frustrated Magnus said, "just listen to me will you!? I will not let you be ruined. It will not happen."
Alec just glared angrily at Magnus.
"Whitelaw!" Magnus shouted, "The Prince and I have concluded our conversation. Would you please let him out and escort him back to his chambers?"
The door opened, and Whitelaw entered. He saw Magnus on the verge of tears and Alec's face red with rage. He pressed his lips together and motioned Alec to the door.
Slowly it shut and they both walked out in the direction of the stairs.
As soon as they left, Magnus let out a soft sigh and allowed the tears to stream from his eyes.
"It is not my position, Your Highness," Whitelaw said on the way up, "to make any commentary regarding your position or relation to Mr. Bane; however, I will impart a small bit of advice if you allow me."
Alec only looked at him.
Seeing that he was not prohibited from speaking Whitelaw continuted:
"It would not be prudent for you to engage with Mr. Bane further, Your Highness. It is unwise for a Prince of the Realm to engage with a man tried of such a grievous crime. Some would think to implicate you, Your Highness. Perhaps it is best to let me do my job, and for you to continue on without pause."
Enraged Alec said, "Mr. Whitelaw, you are a respected barrister and apparently a friend of Carstairs' so I shall forgive you this once. You are right. It is entirely improper and beyond your station to make any comment about my position or relation to Mr. Bane. Furthermore, sir, it is entirely unwarranted and unwise of you to advise me on any matter that you have not been asked, regardless of how prudent you may think your advice. I can make my own way. Please return to Mr. Bane."
Whitelaw gave a cold bow to Alec, turned sharply and walked away from Alec.
Alec then took no time to rush up the stairs. He ran forward, bursting through his own door.
Lounging lazily on the couch, Izzy, Jace, Clary, and Simon just stared at him inquisitively. Carstairs on the other hand was pacing back and forth with a very concerned look on his brow.
"So," Jace asked, breaking the awkward silence, "where's Sparkles?"
"Magnus," Alec replied, glaring at Jace, "is still trapped in a cell somewhere beneath us."
Smirking, Jace said, "You must love the though of that...Magnus beneath you."
Alec turned bright red with shame and anger.
"This is serious! If I don't do something he'll end up in gaol for the rest of his life."
Finally, Carstairs walked over. Sitting Alec down he asked, "What exactly did you say to Magnus, and what did he say back? Also, what did Whitelaw say to you?"
Exasperated, Alec went through the entire story of what had happened so far. When they finally finished, everyone was staring at Alec in silence and a bit of shame.
Jace was the first to speak. "For once I have to agree with Sp-Magnus. He's absolutely right. You're not doing anything of that sort."
"And who do you think you are to tell me that!?" Alec shouted.
"We are nobody. Each and every one of us, save Isabelle perhaps, has no right to say anything to you," Carstairs said softly, "however, we will say it anyway. Magnus is right."
Alec's rage fell right off his face. What was left on his visage were the remnants of a despair, and the beginnings of tears. Looking desperately at Izzy he asked, "Is this really what you think is right? Is this what I must do?"
They only nodded in agreement, none wishing to make eye contact.
It was in this silent, solemn state that they stood for a few minutes.
Suddenly, Alec got up, with the look of an idea on his face. "I will go to Tessa," he said sounding rather pleased, "and we will discuss crime and I will do my best to convince her otherwise, WITHOUT mentioning Magnus' true whereabouts."
He turned sharply and left the room.