A/N: Greetings! So, I'm going to go ahead and give a fair warning that a lot is revealed in this chapter, so for those of you that desperately want to know what on earth is happening, here you go! I don't know if I ever said this, but just in case, I am open to ideas if anyone wants to give them.
I really like writing this story and trying to do something different, and I'm really glad that everyone seems to be enjoying it so far! I actually just finished the rough draft of a Christmas Malec fic that I plan on posting in early December. Now, on with the story.
Songs listened to while writing:
Monsters (Ruelle),
The Rest of My Life (Ashley Tisdale),
Viva la Vida (Coldplay)
Disclaimer: My imaginary lawyers were, once again, unsuccessful in their task of buying the characters. Rats.
~Ice~
When he awoke, there were a multitude of problems that he realized almost immediately. There was a persistent throbbing in his temples, his muscles were sore, and his mouth was chalky and tasted like death warmed over. He groaned and moved his hands to his head, shivering all the way at the extreme temperature.
The next serious problem he noticed was that he was most certainly not in his bed. The sheets and mattress were unnaturally comfortable; he wasn't sure if it would be more accurate to say heavenly or sinfully so.
He moved his hand to hunt for a weapon on himself, but all of his weapons – and clothes – were gone. Instead, he was dressed in black pajamas that felt like the same material of the sheets. Creepily enough, Alexander was monogrammed on the pocket of the button-up top in dark blue fabric. He abruptly remembered being knocked out on top of the institute.
He quickly sat up, eyes opening, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, assessing the rest of the room with quick eyes, hoping to locate a half-way decent weapon. The first thing that struck him about the room was how ridiculously extravagant it was.
The color scheme was apparentely dark brown, metallics, and a multitude of blue shades. The ceiling was high and arching with a crystal chandelier hanging over the rug in front of the bed.
There was a light crackling sound coming from his left, and he turned to see a huge fireplace that was lit. Bordering the fireplace were huge, completely filled bookcases. There were lavish armchairs sitting in front of it all.
Directly across from the bed was a wall covered in royal blue drapes that were broken only by a huge flat screen television. He glanced to the right and saw a mostly plain wall that had three doors. He would investigate those in a moment, since one was hopefully the way out.
He made his way to the dark blue drapes, and pulled one to the side, revealing floor-to-ceiling windows. He did a double take, a wave of both fear and awe taking over him.
There was a beautiful snowy mountain stretched out in the distance that was lit by the strangest blue tinted light. When he looked up to see what was causing it, his mouth dropped open. He had never, not in his entire life, seen stars this clearly. He dragged his eyes back to the mountain and leaned forward as movement caught his eye.
No way! There were two frosty tinted giants moving across the mountain, carrying what looked like some type of huge deer across their shoulders. One of them laughed and he caught the glimpse of blood red eyes and brightly glinting teeth that looked like they could rip a human to shreds.
Before he could completely comprehend what he was seeing, there was a bright, fiery light shooting into the sky. His eyes zeroed in on it, and he saw a nearly human-looking figure flying, but his skin was the color of glowing molten lava, his hair smoking spikes.
Alec was seriously considering pinching himself to see if he was dreaming because there was no way that he was on earth, and surely no kidnapper would drag him into a different dimension, right? Right?
Knock, knock, knock.
He quickly turned on his heel, trying to find a weapon as the dark wooden door quietly swung open. There was no time for anything, though, and he tried to launch himself back towards the bed, hoping to use it as cover.
All of him impromptu plans crashed around him, however, when a shockingly familiar silky voice spoke, and he started to feel light headed. "Good, you are up. I had worried that you were injected with too much narcotic."
Alec looked up, blue eyes wide, and all of the air escaped from his lungs as he stumbled, catching the bed frame to hold himself up.
The handsome man standing in front of him was someone who's face he knew almost as well as his own. His skin was lightly tanned, his hair a slightly messy blond halo around his head, and a smirk played on his lips that somehow seemed both lazy and mischievous. His eyes glowed with an unnatural, inhuman light. He was, without a doubt, the brightest, most attention drawing thing in the room. And he was the fallen angel Lucifer.
Alec gaped, made an undecipherable noise, and promptly fainted.
. . .
"Where the hell is Alec at?!" Isabelle demanded, hovering over both Jace and Clary, while Simon barely managed to get away through the door. That was fine. She would just find him later. "Maybe he could talk some sense into the two of you! What in Raziel's name were you thinking, going to the vampires?!"
Clary winced, but Jace's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, where is Alec? He's here, isn't he?"
Isabelle faltered. "No. I went to check on him last night to make sure he'd gone to sleep, but he wasn't there. But neither were you. I thought he'd gone with you!"
Jace was on his feet in a second. "Well, he obviously didn't come with us. Are you sure he wasn't in there this morning?"
Isabelle started to look very worried. "I'm sure. Maybe he just went walking like he does sometimes? Or maybe he's in the library?"
The two immediately started running towards the vast room, hoping their brother would be in there. With everything that had been going on with Valentine, they needed to be very careful. The library was empty of all but Hodge.
"Have you seen Alec?" Isabelle demanded, nails digging into her palm with nervous anticipation, already dreading the worst.
Hodge looked confused and shook his head. "No, not since yesterday. Why?"
Jace cursed loudly, and the two ran from the room just as Clary managed to get there, out of breath. They made their way to Alec's bedroom just in case, but it was completely devoid of anyone other than them.
Jace ran an agitated hand through his hair. "He's alive, I know that much. The parabatai rune isn't acting up. Where could he be?"
Isabelle though quickly. "Maybe Magnus's?"
Jace's nose twisted. "The warlock's? Why would he be there?"
"Maybe because they hit it off so well? He could have gone over there this morning and have been somewhere else in the institute last night."
Jace looked grim, but nodded. "Let's go over there and check, just in case."
The three of them, Clary following with a slightly lost expression, quickly made their way towards Brooklyn. Each second seeming infinitely long with their adrenaline pumping, and they all were twitching with the need to do something.
Eventually, finally, they were in front of Magnus's, and Isabelle quickly held the buzzer down several times, getting aggravated when they weren't immediately let in.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU NEED SO DESPERATELY THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE SOME PATIENCE?!" came the thundering voice.
"Is Alec here? We're from the Clave." Isabelle immediately answered, pushing the button to respond.
There was a pause, then: "Alec. He's the adorable one with the blue eyes, right?"
If it had been under different circumstances, Isabelle would have been amused. "Yes, and we can't find him."
"Well, he's not here. Hold on, I'll come down." There was a touch of concern in his voice.
They did not have to wait long before the door opened to reveal the warlock dressed almost as eccentrically as he had been the night before. He observed them with disapproving eyes. "Did you check under the couch?"
Jace's hands clenched into fists, and his golden eyes were alight with fury. "My parabatai is missing, presumably kidnapped, and you're making stupid jokes?"
Magnus looked slightly insulted. "Are you sure that he's missing and that he didn't just wander off? Surely you've called him?"
Isabelle started to respond, but sputtered, feeling slightly stupid. She had forgotten to try to call him. She quickly pulled her cell phone out under the warlock's amused gaze.
She wasn't surprised when the call would not go through. She lowered the phone and shook her head. "It won't even ring, and he always keeps his phone on."
Magnus shifted slightly, and he suddenly looked all business, worry flashing in his eyes. "Do you have something I can use to try a tracking spell with?"
Isabelle and Jace both fumbled through their pockets, and eventually Jace removed a knife from his boot. "Here. This is his. I just grabbed it the other day so it should work."
Magnus nodded, and his fingers were suddenly flashing with sparks as he mumbled words that were in no language recognizable to Isabelle. The hair on the back of her neck prickled at the power coming off the warlock.
He looked grim when he stopped, and he shook his head. "There is absolutely nothing, which shouldn't be possible. Even if I performed this spell without something of his, it should still have a faint signal, even if they were being purposely concealed, but there's nothing." He paused, a horribly regretful look appearing on his face. "Normally that only happens when the person trying to be located is de –"
Jace cut in, "He's alive! My parabatai rune hasn't changed at all, and I would feel it if anything like that had happened."
Magnus tilted his head, a curious expression on his face. "This is most odd. I've never heard of that particular rune making a mistake in all the years that I've been alive, but this spell has never failed on me before." He ran a hand through his spiked hair. "This should not be possible."
The warlock and three shadowhunters exchanged grim looks, all having a really bad feeling about this.
. . .
The next time he woke up, his stomach was growling and the mouth-watering smell of breakfast food was flooding the bedroom. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling horribly confused and disoriented.
Not five inches from his face, Lucifer grinned and straightened back up, shoving a tray full of food into his arms. "Now, are you going to pass out again, or are we going to talk while you eat?"
Alec's mouth was hanging open, his eyes widened, and he couldn't believe his eyes or his ears. "L-Lucifer?"
The devil nodded happily, and he gracefully sank down into an armchair that had been moved to the bedside. "The one and only. Surprised to see me?"
Alec nodded, and he suddenly felt very young. "Where am I?"
Lucifer tilted his head to the side, observing the shadowhunter with an eerie intensity. "Eat, and all shall be told."
Alec's stomach growled loudly at the reminder and Lucifer laughed, a silky and angelic noise. He felt the heat rise to his face and he quickly grabbed a piece of toast, biting into it.
Lucifer rested his elbow on the arm of his chair and rested his chin in his hand, lightly crossing his legs as he did so. "You have been dreaming of me, have you not?"
Alec nodded.
Lucifer nodded, a pleased expression on his face. "Good, then you know of my actions lately. How much do you know of my plans?"
He swallowed a mouthful of bacon, and said, "Not much. Just that you've been working on them for a very, very long time, and that that incubus that you met in Hell is helping you with them."
Lucifer looked considering, and he smoothly stood, making his way to the open curtains. It was still dark, and the mountain was every bit as beautiful as he remembered. The fallen angel clasped his hands behind his back, gazing into the dark. Alec realized with a start that he could not see his wings.
When Lucifer spoke, his voice was softer but still every bit as attention-grabbing as before. He was undoubtfully one of those rare people that could always hold everyone's attention no matter his tone of voice. "You know the barest of basics then." A frown played on the corners of his mouth, and his face had the deep blue light from outside reflected on it. "I'm sure you know by now that you are involved in my plans?"
Alec nodded and pushed the now empty tray to the side, getting out of bed and joining Lucifer in front of the windows, his eyes once again drawn to some icy blue giants. His head felt like is was overloading from how surreal this way. "Yes, I had figured as much."
Lucifer turned his head towards him, and Alec was struck by how much he really did look like an angel. "You are involved in my plans more than you could ever imagine, Alexander Lightwood."
Alec thought about telling him to call him Alec out of habit, but he decided not to. He said nothing, and felt very nervous. He hated it when people relied on him too much. He always seemed to mess it up.
Lucifer turned his entire body towards Alec, a deliberate smoothness in his movements that spoke of decades of practice. He stepped closer to the shadowhunter, a serious look in his eyes. "I want you to rule Hell in my stead."
Alec took a second to process that, but when he did, a hysterical laugh pushed its way out of his mouth, and he wondered if he had finally gone crazy. "Very funny, Lucifer, but I'm not going to pass out again."
Lucifer said nothing, eyes still serious.
His laughter abruptly stopped, his stomach clenching in horror. "You're not serious, right? I mean, I'm a shadowhunter! I could never rule hell. Demons are evil!"
Lucifer looked amused. "Peace, little shadowhunter. All demons are not 'evil' as you so claim, and you were born with the express intent of taking the throne."
Alec stumbled back, feeling like he had been doused with ice water. "What?" he whispered. "No. No, that's not possible. I'm supposed to take the Lightwood seat in the Clave and be a shadowhunter. I'm supposed to hunt demons, not rule them! I refuse."
Lucifer's expression of amusement never changed, an almost fond look crossing his face. "No, your parents want you to take the seat, but you were never meant to. Your birth was prepared for by myself, Raziel, the archangels, and my father himself for centuries in advance. Your reign has been highly anticipated for a very long time, Alexander."
He shook his head numbly, looking for any flaw in the plan. Because, really, he doubted God would ever be overly interested in him. Not even Jace would be so arrogant. "But – but I'll die in just a few decades!"
Lucifer quirked an eyebrow, an amused smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You became immortal the second of your eighteenth birthday. You will be this age for all eternity. If you're concern is getting into human bars, you can easily pass as twenty-one with a fake ID."
"But –"
Lucifer shook his head, cutting him off. "Listen, please. Father knows I have made many mistakes in my time, but I have been given a wonderful second chance that I never thought possible. Unfortunately, I am unable to deal with the demons on my own." A regretful look flashed over his features, his shoulders slumping slightly in tired resignation.
His inhuman eyes snapped to Alec's face. "You, however, can. You were blessed by my father, my brothers, my sisters, and myself to be capable of more than even I know. But I do know that you have the power to take control of the many rings of Hell, scattered throughout so many dimensions, and help not only the demons but the earth itself." He gave Alec a sidelong look. "After all, if the demons are united under a common banner of peace, how shall they harm the humans?"
Alec had to admit that that was a good point, but he felt like the entire situation was one big cosmic joke. Surely he would have noticed if he was blessed with amazing powers. His family would have noticed. Wait. "But what about my family?"
"That is your choice." A wicked grin covered the devil's face. "You do, of course, need to overthrow the Clave and instal a group of advisers and liaisons. Your council will be granted immortality, so you could always make them part of your council if you so desire."
Alec sputtered, feeling so in over his head. "Make them immortal? Overthrow the Clave? A council? What?"
Lucifer looked slightly sheepish. "Apologies. I may have overloaded you with too much information."
"You think?" Alec grumbled, slightly surprised at how comfortable he felt around the fallen angel. Although, he'd always viewed Lucifer as a kind of older brother that he'd always wanted.
Lucifer made an amused noise. "Think of it like this, Alexander. What would the Clave do if you did take control of Hell and requested that demons no longer be killed on sight? If you tried to make peace with them and get demon seats within their council?"
Alec imagined it with a grimace, and he felt uncomfortable thinking in such a negative way about his own government. It was practically treason. "Probably laugh in my face and try to get me admitted into a mundane psych ward."
Lucifer nodded. "And if you tried to get downworlders equal representation within their chambers?"
Alec frowned, scuffing his bare foot on the carpet beneath him. "Okay, okay. I get. The Clave has got to go. But I can't just put a new government into place and expect everyone to just go along with it."
"Why not?"
Alec made a strangled noise. "Why not?" he repeated. "Because you can't just do that!"
Lucifer shook his head, an amused smile curling on lips. "You have much to learn, little shadowhunter – or shall I say 'little lord'?"
Alec's head snapped up. "That's what that those two demons called me."
Lucifer nodded. "Most of my council and the higher ranks will refer to you as that, although the lower ranks will refer to you as 'lord'. It is your new title. Lord Alexander, King of Hell. It has a nice ring to it, does it not? I shall have to get you a crown made to make it official."
Alec had no idea how to respond to that, and he realized that that shifter must have been pretty high on the demon hierarchy scale, so he blurted: "Why can I not see your wings?"
Lucifer looked startled for a second, then laughed softly. "That's right; you could see my wings in your dreams." He looked somewhat awkward, which really did not suit his confident frame. "I normally have them concealed, at least when I'm here. Some of my feathers have yet to return, and it still makes many demons uncomfortable. Soon, angels should be welcomed here, and they will grow used to it."
"And where are we?"
Lucifer suddenly straightened up to his full height, a radiant and almost proud expression taking over his face, and he raised his arms in a presenting gesture. "Welcome to the ice realm of Hell. This is my personal favorite."
Alec sputtered again, feeling lightheaded. "Wait – you mean we're in Hell right now?!"
"Yes. We have a few things to do before we leave here. Put this on." With a graceful movement of his right hand, a pair of dark clothes appeared on the end of the bed.
Alec warily made his way over to the pile as he saw the expensive-looking material. There was a pair of regular black pants, but the shirt was very different from anything else he had ever worn. A majority of the material was black, and it was made of a silky material with the faintest charcoal designs. He wrinkled his nose, but started changing clothes as requested, finally sliding on a pair of black leather boots. "Where are we going?"
"To a separate realm that my father has temporarily made for our use."
"What's so special about it?" he inquired as he looked at his reflection in one of the windows, and he once again wondered why God would care so much about him of all people.
He did a double-take when he saw his reflection. He looked like a different person. He had never been dressed so nicely, and he really almost did look like a lord. Even his hair seemed somehow neater despite him not brushing it, and his eyes seemed to stand out more vibrantly than normal. Strangely enough, he felt incredibly okay with the change of clothing styles and did not crave his worn sweaters.
Lucifer handed him a dark trench coat. "Put that on, too. It's quite cold outside." He addressed Alec's question. "Time will move incredibly slowly there. Father didn't get into the specifics with me, but it is something like a day in there for every few earth hours."
His eyes widened as he shrugged on the coat. "Why do we need that?"
Lucifer gestured for him to follow him as he left the room with a liquid fluidity in his movements that Alec had spent hours upon hours trying to mimic when he was a child. The fallen angel glanced over his shoulder at the shadowhunter. "I'm sure you've already noticed, but there is a storm brewing. We have little time before it hits, and you must be ready."
Alec tried to observe the rest of the huge mansion as he followed the fallen angel. "But I thought that everything was falling into place, and that peace was coming?"
Lucifer made an amused noise. "Before any peace, there must be a struggle. So is the balance of the world." He gave Alec a sidelong look. "Do you truly think that all of the demons just accepted it when I informed them that a new king was going to take control from me and that there was to be peace with humans?"
He shook his head dumbly, wondering why he hadn't thought of that.
"They have had a lot of time to get used to the idea, and most are accepting it quite well. Some even seem relieved. There are those, however, that take great joy in harming humans, and they are gathering forces quickly. They seem to be trying to use Valentine Morgenstern, stupid man that he may be, as a means to get onto earth to try eradicate the human race in one final swoop."
His eyes widened, and he felt a jolt of fear. "Oh. Wow."
Lucifer's mouth twitched. "Yes, 'wow' is rather accurate." He stopped in front of a room. "Come. You must meet my council. They will be yours for some time until you start making your own personal council, although mine will always be willing to offer their assistance, even after I have regained my position among the choirs of angels."
Lucifer opened huge double doors, and they stepped into a massive room that had a huge round table made of darkly stained glossy wood. Fifteen people simultaneously rose to their feet, all murmuring "My lords.".
Alec felt overwhelmed at the very different-looking creatures in front of him, and was surprised by how human-like they all looked. None of them looked entirely human, of course, but he was used to grotesque demons.
The demons all sat in one fluid movement as Lucifer waved a dismissive hand, and he realized that they all had various drinks in front of them. "Come, Alexander. Sit."
Together, he and Lucifer sat in two of the high-backed throne-like chairs. He was struck by how there was no head of the table and all of the chairs were the exact same. He had expected something more . . .
Well, honestly he didn't know what he expected, but this obvious display of equality surprised him, although it probably shouldn't since he had known Lucifer for practically his whole life.
"Alexander, this is my council. Each of the demons sitting at this table are in charge of one of the twenty realms of Hell, and I trust each with my life." He paused, looking pained. "As you can tell, there are only fifteen representatives despite the existence of twenty realms. The other five, unfortunately, immediately separated themselves from the rest of Hell when they realized that my plans were not going to change."
All of the council members, Lucifer included, bowed their heads mournfully at this. The fallen angel brightened soon after, though. "All gathered in this room, as well as myself, will be assisting in any way that we can while you learn everything you need to and will help you stay informed of the happenings in all of the realms."
A sinfully handsome man (pun one-hundred percent intentional) spoke up, familiar eyes glinting. "It would be our honor to help you, little lord."
Alec snapped, remembering where he had seen the dark-haired demon. "You're the one that brought me here! I feel like I've met you before that, though."
He inclined his head in recognition. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, leader of the incubi, and father of one Magnus Bane."
Alec's eyes widened, and everything clicked into place. At least he now had a good explanation for how ridiculously attractive Magnus was. Having the leader of sex demons as your father would certainly explain that. "Wait, you're the demon that gave Lucifer this whole idea in the first place? And one of the Princes? And Magnus's father?"
Asmodeus looked amused and glanced at Lucifer. "Yes, little lord."
"Hm," he hummed, sitting back in his throne-like chair, and he settled in to listen to the introduction for the rest of the council members, feeling a lot like a small child trying to make it seem like he understood the adult's conversation.
When the Princes were introduced, he realized that Mammon (greed), Leviathan (envy), and Amon (wrath) were all noticeably absent. That meant three of the seven Princes were probably in the five "evil" realms. That did not bode well.
Lucifer seemed to be anxious to get into that realm that God had created, though, because he stood, and all of the demons rose as well. Alec hurried to follow. "While Alec and I are away, I expect you to cover things in our place. The throne hours may be split between you in any way you so desire. Those of you that have children or charges to be involved in the next stages of the plans, check in on them and make sure they are ready, but do keep from alerting them to your presence. Especially if they are not particularly fond of you."
Was it his imagination or did his eyes flick over to Asmodeus? Were Asmodeus and Magnus on bad terms? That wasn't good, especially since he was probably going to need Magnus's assistance with the witches and warlocks, if any of this was actually real and not some super weird dream. It really was strange that he was already thinking of plans, especially since he still had so many questions to ask.
"Does anyone have anything to add?" Lucifer asked, but none of the assembled demons said anything. The fallen angel nodded. "Good, then. Keep your underlings out of trouble with the shadowhunters. Meeting adjourned."
The council members left the room, presumably to go back to their own realms, and he wondered if the ice realm was the realm of pride. Lucifer certainly seemed fond of it. He wondered if Lucifer would stay in control of his realm once he went back to heaven, or if he would leave that in Alec's control as well.
Lucifer made his way to a door that suddenly appeared in the corner of the meeting room, and he swung open the door, letting a bright light illuminate the room. Alec's eyes widened.
Lucifer held his arm out in a presenting gesture, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Are you ready to begin your training, Lord Alexander Lightwood, future king of Hell? If so, step through the door and into the next great era of your everlasting life."
Alec quickly and surprisingly easily made up his mind. It felt like everything in his life had led up to this one event that would forever change everything he had ever known.
Deciding to embrace Lucifer's need for dramatics, he held his head high and easily strolled forward, letting his black coat flare behind him. He met Lucifer's eyes seconds before stepping into the eternal light.
