Chapter 41

Dante Serpens barely had time to get off a shot of magic before Jace and Alec were on him. He had fought a number of shadowhunters in his long life, but none who rivalled this pair for speed or ferocity. They each seemed to know instinctively where the other was and what the other would do. Long as his acquaintance with Druganin had been, he and the Abbot had never possessed the degree of intimacy required for such a beautiful, deadly dance. It was a pity he would not get to watch it from a safer distance.

The warlock stepped back the several paces necessary to allow for another blast of magic directed at Jace, leaving Druganin to deal with Alec Lightwood. It had surprised Serpens to see the man here instead of locked up in Idris. Still, one or two additional shadowhunters would not derail the Abbot's plans. Those were the warlock's last coherent thoughts as found himself fully engaged by the blonde shadowhunter.

Alec's seraph blade swiped the air millimetres from Druganin's neck. It was only the vampire's long years of experience and instinct that saved him from the shadowhunter's lightning quick assault. Faster than could be followed by the human eye, the ancient vampire moved behind Alec, raising as he did so a large, curved-bladed dagger that he intended to bury in his opponent's back. Druganin's vicious forward thrust was stopped abruptly, however, when an electrum whip wrapped itself around his wrist.

Druganin growled in frustration as he grabbed the end of the whip and used his massive strength to yank Isabelle Lightwood off her feet and send her flying into her startled brother. The Abbot would teach these annoying shadowhunters who they were dealing with!

With the grace of a dancer, and the reflexes of a ninja, Alec caught Izzy and allowed her to use him as a spring board, catapulting her back into the fight. Alec knew from long experience how ferocious his sister was in battle, and the cause they were engaged in brought out the vicious fury of an enraged mother protecting her child. Isabelle had never really gotten over the death of their younger brother Max, and to think that another child belonging to the Lightwood family might suffer a similar fate….. never on her watch!

Suddenly, a great blast of blue magic shattered the air and raised clouds of dense dust from the ruined buildings that littered the battleground. The fierce fighting paused briefly as combatants struggled to see what had happened, and catch their chocking breaths.

As the dust settled around the exhausted Aidan Briosag, the High Warlock experienced something unexpected, a moment's respite, and the faint stirrings of something like hope. He recognized the enormous blast of blue magic, that brought the demon Belial to his knees, before he actually saw Magnus Bane racing towards him.

Belial roared in pain and fury releasing a wild blast of hellfire as he struggled to regain his feet. Magnus dodged the attack easily and used his magic to disrupt a stone wall behind Belial burying the demon under tons of rock.

"Magnus! Thank heavens you're here!" Catarina said as she and Aidan moved quickly to greet him.

"Help me draw a pentagram, that rubble will only hold Belial for a short time!" Magnus yelled over the din of the battle that was picking up again now that the dust had cleared a bit. "Once he's freed himself from the rock, we will force him back to Edom, preferably in pieces this time!"

Aidan and Catarina scrambled to help Magnus with the pentagram. Normally this kind of work was done carefully and methodically, but the three warlocks didn't have that luxury. The thundering from the rubble that encased Belial told them that he would free himself very soon. As Magnus placed the finishing touches on the hastily drawn pentagram, he asked Aidan; "M-my child?"

"Safe with Morag;" The High Warlock replied quietly as though that fact hadn't been won at great cost. Catarina's arrival with the New York contingent had allowed the other healer to return to her young charge, and to help those of Aidan's fighters who were brought in wounded.

Magnus gave a brief nod, his expression saying what words could not, that he would be forever grateful for the courage and sacrifice that had kept his only son safe from the powerful enemies arrayed against them. There was no time for further discussion, however, as the roar and thunder of rock, shifted by unbelievable energy, told the three warlocks that their adversary had indeed freed himself. They turned as one to face the fury of the enraged demon, overwhelmed by the scent of burning, of sulphur, of hell. Magnus had been counting on temper to cloud Belial's judgement, and he wasn't disappointed.

Catarina and Aidan broke left working their way behind Belial as Magnus grabbed the demon's attention, taunting him in the hopes he would not notice the pentagram until it was too late.

Belial roared in fury as his rage focused on Magnus Bane. The demon's anger eclipsing the fact the warlock was the son of Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, and that, though not particularly fatherly, Asmodeus took a rather perverse pleasure in his powerful child's exploits. Belial rushed forward sending blasts of hellfire at Magnus, and becoming further enraged as the warlock seemed to dodge them easily. At the last minute, however, a glance down told him he was teetering on the edge of a pentagram that would send him back to Edom. "You will not trick me so easily warlock!" The demon snarled as he made to step away from the trap that had been laid for him.

"Now!" Magnus yelled, and prayed he would be able to avoid Belial's next blast of hellfire or, if not, that his magic would be sufficient to protect him from the worst of it. The next few seconds seemed to unfold in slow motion. Magnus watched as Aidan and Catarina came from their positions behind Belial to send united blasts of magic at the demon's knees. A tremendous scream rent the air as Belial collapsed forward into the pentagram, and a final blast of hellfire engulfed Magnus.

The massive demon seemed to disintegrate leaving behind nothing but dust and the overwhelming stench of burning and sulfur. With the loss of Belial, the majority of the Hellfire Club seemed to lose their taste for the conflict, and began to beat a hasty retreat out of the Edinburgh Underground. Dante Serpens, seeing the lay of the land, used his remaining magic to cloak the Abbot and portal him away from the dreadful scene as soon as they were clear of the wards.

Alec Lightwood watched helplessly, praying when the dust settled his husband, the love of his life, would still be alive. They had been through so much together, and the thought that Magnus might be taken from him, without any chance for a final word or touch was almost too painful to bear.

Aidan and Catarina were closest to Magnus and rushed forward as soon as enough of the dust had cleared for them to see the warlock's prone form. Catarina knelt down, sending her healing magic out to assess Magnus' condition.

"Cut it out Cat! That tickles." Magnus wheezed, his throat dry and irritated.

A moment later, Alec was there, on his knees, arms around Magnus sobbing in relief.

"Oh Alec, my Alec it's alright, it's alright now;" The warlock murmured stroking Alec's back soothingly.

The battle weary members of the Edinburgh underground and their New York allies formed a protective circle around the pair, only breaking it to allow Morag Nightshade to pass carrying the couple's son.

As soon as little Aiden caught site of his fathers, the boy struggled to get down, crying "Papa! Daddy!" and flew into their arms as fast as his small legs would carry him. The reunion of this small family who had been through so much touched all those present, and there were very few dry eyes among the onlookers.

Aidan Briosag opened his home to the survivors of the battle ensuring that the wounded were tended to, and everyone fed. A fire message from the Edinburgh Institute informed the High Warlock that the remaining members of the Hellfire Club, except for Druganin and Serpens, had been arrested as they tried to flee the underground. They would be taken to Idris for trial at the Court of Assize. The hunt for the Abbot and his Circuitor was underway. The message was signed by Robert lightwood, Inquisitor.

Aidan Briosag knew that tomorrow would bring the sad task of burying the dead, and the hard work of re-building the Edinburgh Underground. But for this one night, he would count his blessings, the child was safe and back with his doting parents, and he was surrounded by many of the people he considered treasured friends. Old prejudices and mistrust had been challenged through this difficult time and been set aside. The Accords had worked, and Aidan would take that as a victory.

Magnus sat next to Alec who had little Aiden asleep on his lap. Neither of them could bear to have the boy out of their sight at the moment. Alec's free arm reached out to pull Magnus closer, and the warlock wondered what he had ever done to deserve the love of this extraordinary man? Whatever it was, he knew as he laid his head on Alec's strong shoulder, he was grateful, he would always be grateful.

Note: Sorry for the delay in posting. Just one more chapter to go! Can't believe this story is almost done, thanks to everyone who stuck with it!