Chapter 12: Suspicious Tongues

It was the crack of dawn when Rose woke up. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she dragged herself out of bed and puts on a fluffy pink robe to cover her pyjamas. Today, she felt particularly active and she quickly tied her hair in a high bun. She immediately went to the kitchen and started to cook breakfast.

After last night's incident, she felt a strange pity towards Magnus. She and Catarina had snuck in Magnus's room and stolen some important documents. Catarina had decided to keep those papers and hid them from Magnus when he finally came back home. Oddly, Magnus came back from the attic not from outside which made Catarina even more suspicious.

But Rose couldn't make herself despise Magnus, like Catarina, all she did was lower her eyes when Magnus staggered down the stairs. His eyes were sad and broken, and his mouth was only in a thin line as he dragged himself away from her and Catarina. He ignored the both of them in silence and simply shut the door in front of them.

Catarina may have scowled and complain about his behaviour but Rose only felt sorrow and pity for him. Magnus was no longer the joyful confident man she married. He was only broken and stressed. She couldn't face him knowing that she may have caused him more sadness.

It seemed like a long time ago when Magnus smiled as if there was nothing wrong with the world. His eyes shined with wonder yet wisdom. When she first met that man, she thought he was arrogant and annoying because of his liking of parties and weird jokes. But once she got to know him, she realised that he was actually very wise and kind. He loved to help others and had some sort of chivalry.

Rose frowned when she thought more and more on Magnus's behaviour but it was not only Magnus in her mind but also their whole marriage. Was their marriage really working out? Do they still love each other? Can they still make this work?

She knew their whole relationship was falling apart. From lie to lie. Secret to secret. Slowly they were both falling apart and as Rose noticed they both allowed their marriage to be ripped in pieces. They were both in denial and were too stubborn to deal with their problems.

No, they were not in denial. It was more like they were afraid.

Because Rose knew, that they was a third party. A third person finding every flaw. Every mistake and expanding them. Some sort of mastermind who was as cruel as the devil himself, who was scarier then anyone they ever encountered because Rose didn't even know if that third party exists.

There couldn't really be someone out there who would want to tore their relationship. Rose and Magnus may have many enemies but she was sure every one of them would rather see their heads chopped off quickly than see their relationship fall apart because they literally have no care for their marriage.

"Hey Rose, how are-?" A familiar voice paused and yelped. "The food is burning."

Rose immediately snapped out of her thoughts and looked down at the pan where pieces of bacon were charred black and smoke literally flowed around the kitchen. The warlock quickly shut off the flames and threw the burned bacon in the garbage can. Catarina's hand sparked blue and all the smoked seemed to just blow away towards the window.

"Rose, are you alright?" Catarina marched towards her and lifted up her arm which were slightly blistered and burned. "You're hurt."

"Sorry." Rose dropped her eyes and let Catarina heal her. The green-skinned warlock felt a slight tingly feeling as Catarina's magic enter her veins.

As her burns started to cool, Catarina gazed up her face. "What's wrong? You're usually the master chef here."

"I'm sorry." She sighed again.

"You did nothing wrong." The other female shrugged when she was finally done healing Rose's arms. "You're upset and I get it."

Rose stared at Catarina for a while knowing that they both had a certain understanding towards each other. It wasn't only Rose's marriage with Magnus that was falling apart but also Catarina's friendship with him. Both of the women knew it as not best to talk about it but they also knew that they needed the other's support.

Catarina clicked her tongue and said. "Listen, I'll go cook breakfast today. You can go relax at the living room. Watch some TV or something."

Rose averted her eyes and added. "It's fine. I was just…" She paused to find the right word. "…distracted."

"This is about Magnus, isn't it?" The other female looked at her with worried eyes and caressed her cheek in pity.

Rose only brushed her hand away and stayed silent. "I'm worried."

"Listen Rose, you can go talk to him if you want." Catarina said. "But I warn you, he's not going to be responsive to your actions."

"Quit being so mean to Magnus. You already barged in his room and stole his stuff." Rose scowled. "Besides he's in a really tough time right now, maybe all he needs is support and some help."

"He doesn't want our help." Catarina commented coldly. "Look, you can go try to talk to your stupid unresponsive husband but don't forget I said 'I told you so'."

Rose huffed and left Catarina. She immediately raced up towards the staircase and into Magnus's room. Her husband's quarters were at the end of a long hallway towards the right. She quickly strolled towards his door once she reached the top of the staircase and knock on the hard wood.

"Magnus, are you in there?" Rose called as no answer cam back. "Magnus." She called again.

After a few minutes, a voice muffled through the door. "Go away."

"Mags, could you please let me in? I just want to talk."

"No."

Rose lowered her eyes. "Please I'm just worried. I really wanna help. Just tell me what's wrong?"

Silence was answered and Rose felt hopeful because maybe Magnus might grow to trust her again.

"No." That answer broke her heart.

The female warlock only sighed and said. "Fine." Then she left ignoring the ache in her chest.

Matthew Lovelace always loved perfect weather. From the perfect sky blue eyes with no hints of white to the shining sun descending upon him. During this type of weather, he could just do his papers on his porch as he watched over their garden. He sipped on his tea and signed some documents.

The man sighed when he put down his tea. Being an Inquisitor was quite stressful because he felt like the whole whole Shadowhunter community was on his shoulders. But even through all the sleepless nights and stressful pains, he still held himself up with pride and happiness. Lovelaces are known throughout history to be quitters but Matthew never let his blood take over him, he had climbed up to this position with blood, sweat, and tears. He had sworn to better the Shadowhunter Society and he wasn't going to give up. He was never going to quit.

"Father.." A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Matthew looked down and saw his daughter Lucy standing in front of him. Her eyes were large and green as she held out her small thin arms which were stained with dirt and mud. The dress she wore was made of soft pink silk and lace that Matthew remembered buying her in a shop. He cringed when he saw the clothing was stained much worse than her arms because that dress was quite expensive, but he soften his eyes when he saw her tiny hand hold out a pile of white roses.

"Lucy, what is it?" He smiled warmly as he brought his hand over her blonde messy hair and brushed off a leaf.

The little girl smiled back and placed the roses on his lap. They felt soft on his skin and he noticed that he could't find a single thorn on the flowers stem. His eyes lowered when Lucy hands were finally naked and he could see the tiny cuts and blood on her fingers. "For you.."

"Thank you." Matthew panted her head as she stared at him with those big eyes. For a child, she didn't really talk much. She was always quiet and closed-off. She didn't get along with other kids and she would always rather just play by herself in the gardens.

The inquisitor sighed knowing that one day his precious little girl had to gain confidence and start talking to others, but now she was very young. Only a tiny of age of five, she didn't even receive her marks. Her skin was pale and flawless unless you count the cuts on her fingers which she had gained from picking flowers.

"Sweetie, you should go back inside. Mama will clean you up." Matthew explained slowly.

Lucy shook her head and replied. "Still want to play. I saw some lilies that mother might like."

The man sighed. "Fine but once you're done, please go back to your mother okay?"

"Okay."

Lucy left immediately after her statement and Matthew had a soft smile as he pluck the roses from his lap and place it on the table. Lucy was really a smart girl. She knew that Matthew's favourite colour was white because he would always wear a single white tie in his black suit even if he was in gear fighting demons he would always place a single band of ivory just to soothe his senses. He never really knew why he found the color satisfying. Maybe it was because it was the colour of purity.

Matthew shook his head to stop his wandering thoughts. He dropped his eyes back to his papers and continued on his work. His hands started to write different paragraphs and signatures as sweat dripped on his forehead. He paused and wiped it off knowing more and more stress were building up.

Deciding to take a break, he pushed himself away from his desk and glided back to the inside of his mansion. His home was huge and made of marble. It had greek columns and statues because of his love for Greek mythology. He always did have an appreciation for ancient history.

Once he entered the main hall, he found his wife frantically shouting at the maids. Her forehead dripped sweat as her arms swayed in different directions.

"What do you mean you can't find her?" She hissed as the maid cringed at her growls.

"Miss, please calm down." A ginger haired maid said.

Matthew appeared beside his wife and said. "She's right, Lilian. Being rude to our servants is not going to lead you anywhere."

Lilian gasped at first from shock then her eyes soften and she glanced at the maids. "I'm sorry for being rude."

The maid only smiled back kindly. "It's alright, miss. I know your worried for little Lucy."

"Wait, what happened to Lucy?" Matthew immediately asked quite worried as his eyes grew wide.

Lilian sighed, her eyes lowering as her long eyelashes touched her cheek. "Missing. We couldn't find her for three."

Matthew scratch his hair in frustration. He didn't know he had been working for such long hours but time does tend to seem fast when you work too hard. "I saw her at the gardens earlier."

"I already sent the maids there and they couldn't find her."

"She did say she wanted to go to that lilies.." Matthew informed as he held his wife's hand and squeezed it to help her calm down.

Lilian sighed. Her hand wiping over her sweaty bangs as she leaned on to Matthew. "Try to find her in the lily patch. It's in the far right corner of our gardens." She ordered to the maids.

The servant immediately scrambled out of the house. Matthew gave Lilian an embrace as she breath in to his chest. Even with her cold and calm eyes, her body shook with fear and panic. He brushed her blonde curls as he kissed her forehead.

"Enough with the sappiness." Lilian scowled and pushed him away but his grip on her waist tightened.

"You should relax more.." Matthew smiled sadly.

"But Lucy….."

As if on cue, a maid with bright red ran towards them. She shouted. "Master. Mistress. We found Lucy."

"Is she alright?" Lilian immediately asked.

The maid was hesitant and pale.

"Tell me."

"I'm sorry ma'm. But we only found her body."

When Magnus found Rose knocking again at his door, he felt a mix of shock and guilt. Shock because he didn't expect her to came back, and guilt because of how cold and rude he treated her earlier. His heart was still bleeding from Alec's words earlier, but it didn't mean he could be mean to someone who just wanted to help him.

"Magnus, may I please come in?" Rose's voice muffled through the door.

Magnus sighed and sat up from the bed. Earlier he was just lying on the sheet, staring at the cracks of the ceiling wondering if making that deal with his ex was worth it. He didn't only bring himself in danger but also the few people he had ever cared about. In his indecisiveness, the warlock decided to stay silent and wrapped the blankets around him tighter.

Rose sighed as her fist pounded on the door even lighter. Her knocks went slower as time moved forward. "Listen Magnus, I just came here to tell you that I'm leaving."

That statement ripped him from his hesitance. He immediately tore himself from the bed and bolted towards the door. He turned the knob and pulled revealing his wife standing in entrance. Her hair was in a neat ponytail and she wore a thick jacket. He noticed she had a backpack strapped on her shoulders and she had combat boots on ready for walking and traveling.

He didn't care if the cold air was making his bare chest shiver or if his hair was spiked in many different directed. His hands seized on Rose's wrist as he said. "Why?"

Her grey eyes lowered as she sighed. "I just needed some private time to think."

"Think about what?" Magnus demanded.

"Our marriage."

Those words made Magnus freeze. He couldn't utter any word or move any limb.

"Listen Mags, I'll just be in San Francisco for a few days or weeks. You can stay here with Catarina.." Rose frantically explained.

"Can't we talk about this like mature adults?"

Rose slowly shook her head as her mouth turned into a frown and her eyes seemed moist. "I don't think any conversation can solve our problem."

Deep down Magnus couldn't find it in himself to protest. He knew she was right. Their relationship was like toxic and any conversation would always end in arguments because Magnus hid too much secrets and Rose could be stubborn and insensitive.

"What now?" Magnus cracked out in a voice so broken.

Rose looked up as if she would kiss his frown away but instead she only hugged him and whispered in his shoulder. "We need to think and decided by ourselves. Evaluate our thoughts and calm our emotions before we could have a serious conversation. So for now…"

Her eyes were lowered and sorrowful as she let go of Magnus and removes a small gold band from her finger. She placed the ring in his outstretched palm.

"Goodbye.." Rose said as she slipped away from his grasp.

"I'm sorry.." Magnus croaked out not able to say 'I love you'.

"I'm sorry too."

The corpse was still stuck in Matthew's thoughts as he was finished giving his report to Idris. Lucy didn't even look like his daughter anymore. They were only bones and torn up flesh. Red staining the grass as the only clue he had left of his daughter was a piece of pink fabric laying on the ground.

Tears still fell from his eyes as he drank more wine. Lillian refused to come out of their bedroom as he could hear her screams and wails from across the hall. A bottle of alcohol was held in his hand as he swallowed away all his problems. Still the lingering sorrow never left and he threw the wine-holder away making the bits of glass shattered everywhere.

"Master…" A brunette maid touched his shoulder slowly. "You're bleeding."

Matthew lowered his eyes and saw the shards of glass piercing his arms and legs. Crimson was starting to stain his skin but in his drunken haze he couldn't feel any sort of pain. He only felt dizzy and delirious.

"Could I please take you to the infirmary?"

The Inquisitor only laughed as more tears escaped his eyes. His mouth tasted salty and rustic while his hands gripped his arms tighter. "I don't know.." He managed to slur.

"Please come with me. Ms. Loss is already waiting for you in the infirmary."

He looked up finally staring the servant's face and said. "You mean Catarina…"

"Yes Catarina." The maid replied quickly.

"Well, help me up then…" Matthew hoisted his arms up and the maid grasped his wrist.

The pair managed to make it to the infirmary. The maid placed her master on a bed as she called for Catarina. A tall slim warlock with grey skin and white hair.

"You've been drink again." Catarina scowled as she forced him to drink a potion that healed his cuts. She took some pliers and started to pulled the shards from his skin. "I thought you stopped for Lucy."

"There is no Lucy." He drowsed off as he felt his eyes started to be moist again.

The female warlock's eyes softened as she placed a hand on his forehead. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't change anything." Matthew replied. "If anyone is apologising, it should be me because I always call you to heal me."

"I don't mind after all you saved my life." Catarina said.

He sighed and brushed her hand away from his forehead. The warlock always had some sort of feeling that she had a debt to him because he saved her once from a pack of demons. After that incident, they've been friends and he always hired her for any magical job.

"Anyway, I heard about well…." The female lowered her eyes not able to continue her sentence.

"Lucy."

She nodded. "I looked at your reports and I think I may have a lead on the murderer…"

Matthew stayed silent and let Catarina continue.

"I noticed in your report that your daughter seemed like she was eaten by a demon." Catarina explained. "But the wards still seemed intact and even with your team searching they found no demon. I have a theory it could be possible that a new creature has appeared."

The warlock showed him a pile of sketches. They had drawings of weird creatures and had some symbols written all over the page. "What is this?"

"My friend, Magnus, has been researching on a certain demonic infection." Catarina said. "This creatures here are goblins that have been infected. Magic doesn't affect them, and they once broke into my house and managed to break the wards."

"How does this relate to my daughter?"

"Have you noticed that maybe it's possible that my magic is different from your wards?" Catarina said. "It could be possible that these creatures are not affected by runes and normal magic. They managed to break my wards so it's a great possibility that they could have easily pass through Idris's barriers."

"This friend of yours, Magnus you say?"

Catarina nodded.

Matthew growled out in anger. "He could be responsible for these attacks."

Catarina widened her eyes and hesitantly replied. "Possibly, but Inquisitor please don't arrest him he's a great friend."

"Fine but if he crosses out one line." Matthew said. "I will send him to court and arrest him for illegal demonic experimentation and murder."

Nicholas's home was still as dirty as ever. Every time she moved two steps, she could spots littles pecks of dirt and paper scattered on the floor. She sighed and lifted up the flashlight spotting nothing but furniture dying from abandonment. Ever since Nicholas was murdered, no one took care of his home. The locals told her that this place was cursed that even the police refused to investigate the area.

Rose sighed disappointed as another room was empty and had nothing significant. Why was she even doing this in the first place? Because she had some hope that maybe she could find the answers. Answer to why Magnus is s broken? Why was he obsessed with his ex now out of all times?

Once Rose reached the end of the hallway, she noticed a wooden door. She reached for the doorknob expecting the same disappointment to flood in her but instead as she crept closer, she could hear sounds coming from the door. She quickly opened it and found a small room. It was dirty and dusty like the rest but the only difference was that a boy was inside. A teenager to be more exact.

He stood there just watching her with a smirk showing off his shark like teeth. His skin was so pale, she thought he could've been a ghost.

"You must be the famous Mrs. Bane." He smiled. "The names Alec Lightwood. Have a seat."

Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments

Author's note: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to update. I was in Hawaii and I had so much schoolwork. Hopefully you love this chapter and I will be updating soon.