Nexus fell back against the chair, shock numbing her insides so a neon fishnetted pair of arms hung limply over the metal sides of the seat, two black leather boots slipping down the silvery designer dinning chair to slide over the white lotus-patterned tile, "My... Mother?"
Alec and Magnus had told Nexus of her mother, briefly, and she had never pressed them for more information. As far as they were concerned, they were her parents in every way that mattered, and she was proud of them even in the worst of times. What shocked her was the fact that she should be seeing her mother now, and presumably as intact as she was the day she had died - logic dictating that no fifteen year old corpse could still have its skin and clothes. Being only one at the time her biological mother had died, it was highly improbable that she should remember anything of that time, but what else could it have been if not her home?
"I gave your mother that necklace," Magnus glanced at Alec, quick to add in, "a very long time ago. Nexus, the room you saw your mother in, were there subtle blue tapestries of fairy lore embroidered with silver hanging from the walls?"
In the dream, the details were just there, so commonplace and familiar that the room seemed be background. But really, what Nexus had seen of the house was full of splendor and spoke of vast amounts of riches. The curtains, all voluminous velvet, were well-cared for and had black tassels fringing the bottom, the windows gleaming silver even in the night, and the frames sparkled with polish, slicking over intricate cravings of demonic and angelic runes alike. The walls were high, smooth, and greyish-white marble that domed with gilded roses, stained glass depicting epic battles past, and swirls of silver stars surrounding the entire area. The floor was cherry wood, carpeted with oriental rugs and scribbled with crayon. Pictures were hung on the walls, mostly hand-drawn ones of flowers and people, but the odd photograph graced the tops of fancy end tables. Generous vases full of flowers bloomed brightly here and there, peppering the cold room with splashes of life.
She responded deliberately, thinking only of the grand room and its simplistic purity, "Yes. How did you know?"
Alec answered her, catching them both off guard, lacing a broad, satiny sable leather cuff to his forearm, "Before your mother died, Magnus and I went to visit her so he could try to heal her, but..."
"She died." Nexus had never known her mother, only seeing a picture or two and hearing a select number of stories from Magnus, so there was nothing for her to miss, only a vague void.
"No, I stupidly thought that I had succeeded," His voice was strained, and he seemed saddened by more than just failure, but he smiled at Alec as he braced his shoulder with a soft, reassuring smile, "it would seem that I had only succeeded in slowing whatever was killing her..."
"Whatever did kill her was something beyond even your skill." The Shadowhunter held Magnus, rightfully so, as one of the more powerful entities in the world, greater even than his own kind.
Magnus sighed at his partner's ill-timed compliment, bringing him in for a slow kiss, "Really Alexander, you must have the worst timing in the world."
Nexus was more than used to their displays of affection, so she just turned a blind eye, catching sight of the orange-backed clock behind Magnus' spiked head as he started to suck Alec's face off, "Crap, if I'm late, Jace is going to kill me!"
Though Alec may not have been related to him by blood, Jace was his brother and always would be, "Jace wouldn't actually kill you... Well, maybe he would."
Nexus rolled her eyes, sending the dirty dishes soaring into the sink with a aqua-colored snap of her spidery fingers, "Thanks. We'll talk about this later, alright?"
This was an important matter that should have received immediate attention, but they were all pressed for time, running on excruciatingly tight schedules, "I might be gone for a few days, the demon I'm hunting is traveling between certain boarders, so there may be difficulties down the line."
"And I have a mounting number of contracts to fulfill, all of which must be finished immediately." Magnus frowned deeply, suddenly thinking of Alec's sister, "Ask Isabelle if you can stay with her until we get back. I don't want you alone right now."
She grabbed her acid green backpack from beside the counter and slung it on her back, "I'll stay with Aunt Izzy until one of you gets back, I swear on my best friend's life." As if reading their minds, she hastily went on, "I know you guys are worried about me, but you can't put everything on hold for my sake. You made promises, promises that can't be broken. I'll be alright, you raised me to be strong and to take care of myself. And if I have another nightmare, I swear that I'll talk to Jace."
They were reluctant to let the matter go, but she had to leave yesterday, and they themselves only had a short time to prepare for their work, so they had to give an answer on the spot, "We'll be back as soon as possible."
Hugging them a million times each, Nexus stood by the front door, wishing them luck, "Come back safe, alright? You have a family to return for, so no dying!"
Alec poked her shoulder lightly, "The same goes double for you."
"Try to behave," Magnus tapped her nose, "and don't go getting yourself into any regrettable situations."
His cat-eyes gleamed as if he knew something, but Nexus pushed it away, twisting the burnished doorknob open with a last glance back, "I love you."
A/N:
The house does NOT change, it its merely a combination of what was previously described. And yay, two reviews already! You guys rock! But now I feel some hardcore pressure to make this fic shine... I hope I'm up to the challenge!
