Malec Tales Series 1: The Nephilim and The Warlock Chapter 4: No Prince Charming.
Magnus Pov- I didn't sleep all night long. After escorting Alec to his bedroom I was shocked by him invitation to join him for breakfast.
If you want to call what he did an invitation. The way he asked, it was like he didn't really want to have breakfast with me. if that's the case, why even ask?
Still, he did invite me so I need to be on my best behavior. Can not show any resentment or give him reason to withdraw from me.
Groaning, I turned onto my stomach and plopped my face in my pillow. Why would I stress myself so much over a Shadowhunters approval?
Sure, he is our one last chance to keep our souls, but is there even a chance I could fall in love with him?
I know I can phisically. He has the black hair and blue eyes that I just adore more than anything else.
He is phisically appealing but so far his personallity isn't something to fall for. He is very defensive and crabby.
That just might be his way of protecting himself though. God knows my additute toward him and his kind is my way of protecting myself.
Something tells me this isn't what he's actually like. If I can break through his defensive wall, maybe I will find someone worth loving behind it.
Groaning, I hid my face deeper into my pillow.
Just because I could possibly fall in love with him doesn't mean he will fall in love with me. There's no possible way.
A knock on the door disturbed my thoughts making me sigh and lift my head.
"What is it?"
Raphael's voice came through the door saying, "Breakfast is ready Magnus. Simon is waking Alec now as well."
"I'll be right down" I called, tossing my blankets back and hopping out of bed. I made my way to my wardrobe, wondering how I should dress.
I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard but at the same time, I also don't want to be a slob.
I have all the latest styles of clothing. Just because I've been locked away in a castle for hundreds of years doesn't mean I'm not with all the trends.
My magic still works outside these walls. I only use it to get clothes and food for my friends and I.
I really shouldn't have listened to Simon when he begged me to get him shirts with superheros and mundane cartoons on them. It's all he ever wears.
Raphael's taste in clothing is more refined but it was also expensive. It would cost me a arm and a leg if I actually paid for the clothes.
Everyone else in the house had simple clothes. Tessa loved wearing her old victorian clothing most of the time and Ragnor wore jeans and button up shirts. As for catarina, she wore scrubs because she likes how comfortable they were.
My fashion sense varied depending on the centery. Right now I was into skinny jeans and loose fitting shirts.
Also glitter... well, everywhere.
Deciding that I wanted to actually make an effort to look good for Alec, I chose to wear my black skinny jeans with glitter inbedded on them, a light blue tangtop that matched his eyes, and I spiked up my hair slightly.
Maybe if Alec see's I dressed up for him, he will be impressed. I wonder what thought he put into dressing for me? His wardorbe is full with nice options for him to choose.
Feeling surprisingly giddy, I quickly left my bedroom and made my way to the dining room. I hopped down the stairs with a slight pep in my step. That felt strange but nice.
My excitment died though the moment I walked in the dining room, seeing everyone but the boy who invited me.
I looked around confused before looking at Simon. "Where is Alec?"
"He said he was coming down. He sounded drowsy through the door. Maybe he's not much of a morning person?"
The thought of a Shadowhunter not being a morning person was weird. Normally they are all up at the crack of dawn even though they spend all night hunting demons.
Deciding to give him a chance, I made my way to my chair and sat down. There was a matching chair at the other side of the table for Alec. That had Tessa's doing written all over it.
Ten minutes passed and I wondered if Alec really was trying to dress to impress me. Why else would he take so long to get down here? He's the one who invited me to have breakfast. Would he really leave me hanging?
Just when I was about to go into a fit of rage and storm up to his room, the dining room doors opened and Alec walked through them.
Disapoinment took over me as I looked over the attire he picked for the day. Out of all the options he had to choose from, he picked out an old gray holy sweater and some baggy jeans?
His hair was also sticking up in places as if he just rolled out of bed and didn't bother to brush it.
honestly... it was a little sexy.
A yawn escaped Alec as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. I guess Simon was right about him not being a morning person.
"Glad you could join us Alexander" I teased making his scowl sleepily at me.
"I told you not to call me that" he mumbled before glancing over at the 'throne' chair at the end of the table. It was the only seat not taken.
"Is that for me?"
Tessa nodded smiling at him. "Magnus thought it would be a good idea for you to have a seat of your own."
It wasn't my idea at all but I wasn't going to say anything. Obviously Tessa wants me to take credit for it, so why object?
Alec made his way to the chair and hesitated a moment before sitting down in it. Unlike my chair, that was cushioned in red fabric; Alec's was in a dark blue that complimented his pale skin.
Tessa really knew how to pick a chair.
"What's for breakfast" Alec asked looking at me.
"that's a good question. What have you prepared for us this morning, Tessa?"
She smiled clapping her hands and some servants brought out the dishes. There was everything from eggs, to French toast, to pancakes.
Alec's lips watered as he looked over the options. There was even fruit salad and toast on any type of bread you could think of.
"I haven't had food like this since I lived in New York." He said scooping a little bit of everything onto his plate.
"You used to live in New York?" I asked, wanting to learn more about him. It surprised me that he revealed something about himself.
He frowned having realized that he let something slip and he just started eating, not saying anything else.
This caused me to frown. Was he giving me the cold shoulder? He was the one who asked me to have breakfast with him yet he has the audacity to ignore me?
I clenched my fork in irritation,my anger and magic making the fork bend backwards. Seeing this, Ragnor took the fork out of my hand and Catarina gave me a new one.
Alec looked down at the bent fork before looking back up at me with a raised eyebrow.
"If you must know Mr. cranky pants, I lived in New York for most of my life. My family moved there when I was two and we ran the institute for awhile. Once my father became Inquisitor two years ago we moved back to Idris and the Morgansterns' took over the institute."
Ugh, the Morgansterns. They have always been a troublesome family. I'm surprised they were even given an institute.
"What Shadowhunter family are you from, Alec?" I asked, ignoring Simon as he smothered blood on his pancakes. Alec seemed unnerved by this. It used to bother me but I just pretend it's strawberry syrup.
I put some french toast on my plate before using my new fork to shove most of it in my mouth.
Alec watched me, once again looking unnerved. "I'm from the Lightwood family. Alexander Gideon Lightwood."
The name Lightwood made me choke on my food. I caughed, slamming my fist over my chest to try to get the food out.
Simon got up and slammed his hand on my back, making the piece of food come flying out of my mouth and back on the table. Alec looked more than unnerved now. He seemed disgusted.
I took a quick drink of water before clearing my throat, trying to pull myself together.
"So let me get this straight, you're a Lightwood," I asked when I was finally able to talk.
"Yeah I am. My father is Robert Lightwood, the Inquisitor. The girl you held hostage was my sister Isabelle Lightwood."
"You look more like a Herondale than a Lightwood. You lack the sarcasm of a Herondale though."
"He must be a descendent of Will's sister" Tessa said softly, frowning down at her plate."
Alec looked at her before looking back at me. "I'm not a Herondale but the blonde guy you had here last night is."
That made Tessa drop her spoon and the whole room went quiet. There is a living Herondale, he was in the castle and we never even knew.
When William was killed, the children Tessa and him had together got taken away. Tessa always assumed they were killed too. She lost hope that they would be alive. They couldn't possibly be alive today but they have descendents.
Alec looked around at everyone confused by the sudden silence. Deciding it was time to change the subject, I smiled at him.
"Do you like living in Idris or New York better?"
He didn't answer me at first. Instead he just watched me as if he was studying something. The look made me feel slightly uncomfortable.
"New York for sure. Idris is nice but it's too quiet. I miss the loud street noise of the city."
It's been so long since I've been to New York City. It's been forever since I've been anywhere other than this castle. I understand what he means about not liking the silence.
"I haven't been to New York in centuries. Cars were just invented at the time. I doubt it was as loud as it is now, but it was still louder than London."
Ragnor nodded sighing. "It's true. London had it's moments of hussle and bussle, but it was mostly quiet. We still had carriges while everyone else were moving to automobiles."
Alec seemed interested in that. "You lived in London, Ragnor?"
"I didn't just live in London. I was the High Warlock of London."
The confused expression on Alec's face was cute. He scrunched up his nose when he's confused. Something tells me he doesn't even notice he does it.
"what's the High Warlock of London?"
I shook my head sighing. "You shadowhunters really don't know anything do you? How does the clave manage to hide such important people in history?"
Alec's confused frown turned into an irritated scowl. Now his eyebrows were scrunching up, which was still cute.
"It's not my fault that the Clave hid your exsistance. I have read every book I can about Downworlders but there's only a handful of books on the subject in the public library. I was going to sneak in the Archives to try to find out more information on your kind, but I got a fire message from Jace and dropped what I was doing."
To my surprise, Ragnor answered Alec's question.
"Every city had a High Warlock. They are the strongest warlocks in the area. The High Warlock was the one Nephilim went to when they needed magic assistance. High Warlocks were also the ones most effected by the Claves betrayal. They thought the Clave needed them and because of that, they were left with a false sense of security. Nephilim took advantage of that and killed off all the High Warlocks but two."
"One of them was you, Ragnor," Alec said before looking around the table. "Who was the second one?"
"That doesn't matter. Let's change the subject," I demanded, not wanting him to know that I was the High Warlock of Brooklyn. This whole conversation was getting really close to the war. I didn't want to talk about the war. Especially to a shadowhunter.
Alec didn't like my dissmissal though. He glared at me for a moment before putting down his fork.
"Why do we need to change the subject? I want to know about the history of Downworlders."
"It's none of your buisness what happened to the Downworlders. Your people are keeping it in the dark so maybe that's where you should stay."
That answer didn't satisfy Alec.
"What kind of bull crap is that? Maybe if you tell me about what happened, I can take it back to the Clave and find a way to help make up for what my kind did to you."
I laughed at that, wondering how he can even think such a thing, let alone say it out loud.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the Clave already knows about us. They are keeping us hidden from the world and pretending like we aren't here. It may have been centries but I know there are some that know the truth."
"You don't even want to try to be noticed? If all the other Nephilim find out about you, they might force the Clave into fixing the wrongs of our ancestors."
"Incase you forgot, you're going to be trapped here forever. That means you won't even have the chance to talk to the Clave."
Alec glared at me before saying, "If I can't ever leave this castle, then by all means, you should tell me about the war. Who can I tell if I'm trapped here?"
"I will not tell you anything about the war and no one here will tell you either" I growled, looking at all my friends before glaring at Simon, knowing that if anyone was going to say something, it would be his loud mouth.
Simon just put up his hands before going back to eating his blood covered pancakes. I watched him a moment before looking back at Alec.
Alec looked around at everyone before glaring at me. "You're really going to be that way?"
I ignored him, taking my knife and fork and cutting into my food. He glared at me a moment longer before pushing off the table and standing up.
"Fine if you want to be a jackass so be it. I'm going back to my room." He growled before storming out of the room, throwing the door open.
I watched him go before going back to eating, ignoring all the eyes that were on me now.
"Really, Magnus, would it be so bad to tell him about the war? Maybe it will do you some good to talk about it," Catarina sighed.
"I don't need to talk about it and he doesn't need to know about it. it's not his place to know about the past. I meant what I said. No one better talk to him about the war. That's the one thing I will not forgive."
"What was so bad about the war anyway" Simon asked looking around at everyone. "You threatened me the most out of everyone but I know close to nothing about the war. I was a mundane for most of it and didn't even know a war was going on."
Everyone stayed silent not answering the question. Even Raphael wouldn't speak. The war was hard on all of us.
Raphael was the only vampire left. He was so distraught over it that he went to a mundane bar and bit the first person he saw.
That person was Simon.
They couldn't stand each other at first. Raphael took Simons mortal life and to Raphael, Simon was just annoying. After being together for so long they somehow fell in love with each other.
Catarina was a peace keeper so to speak. She wouldn't fight in the war but she was always on the battlefield, healing anyone, and I mean anyone.
She would pull an injured Nephilim to the side and heal him. It didn't matter if that shadowhunter had taken many Downworlder lives. To her, a life doesn't equal a life.
For the longest time I was furious with her. She would heal these shadowhunters and they would just go back out and kill more of our people. I felt like by doing that, she was betraying us.
Once the war ended, I chose to forgive her. I only had a hand full of friends left. I didn't want to lose anymore over petty things like anger and hate.
"You should at least go apologize to Alec. If you don't want to tell him about the war than at least tell him more about Downworlders. I'm sure he would be happy with that," Raphael suggested.
I thought about that for a moment before nodding, standing up, and quickly making my way out of the room and down the hall.
Surprisingly, I met up with Alec by the staircase. I expected him to be half way to his room by now.
"I'm surprised you aren't locked up in your room already" I commented making him huff and cross his arms over his chest.
"If you must know... I got lost," he mumbled trying to hide his blushing face.
I couldn't help but smile at the blush. He was cute when he was embarrassed.
"This is a pretty large castle. Look, I came to apologize about my behavior. I just don't like talking about the war. No one here does."
Alec looked like he was going to snap at me again, but thought better of it and just crossed his arms tighter, still looking slightly irritated.
"I get it but you didn't have to be such a jerk about it. A simple 'i'm sorry Alec but the war is hard for me to talk about and i rather not say,' would have been just fine."
"Fine. I'm sorry, Alec but the war is hard for me to talk about and I rather not say," I replied back smirking.
Alec snorted in distaste, shaking his head at me. "Okay, thanks smart-ass. I would have appreciated a little senserity but it's whatever."
The corner of my lip lifted slightly in a half smile. "look, I won't tell you anything about the war. However, if you would come with me to the study, I will try to answer some of your questions about Downworlders. Sound fair?"
He seemed to think it over for a moment before nodding. "I would like to know more about your kind."
Honestly, a part of me thought he would reject my request. Now that he said yes, I feel like I need time to prepare what will be discussed. Don't need him somehow tricking me into talking about the war.
"How about this? Since brakfast was obviously a bust, how about we have lunch together in a couple hours. We'll meet in the study room and eat in there while I answer your questions that I find acceptable to answer."
"Will you actually make an effort to tell me or will you only give me half baked explinations? I have been curious about Downworlders for the past year and will be very disappointed if you cheat me out of knowing as much as possible."
"I will do my best to give you as many answers as you'd like. Just as long as you don't ask anything about the war. Deal?"
Alec contemplated it before nodding. "Deal."
Alec Pov- I went back to my room wondering if any progress was made between Magnus and myself. What kind of progress could be made with a crazy warlock who is keeping you hostage in a castle? Still, I was happy he was at least considering talking to me about Downworlders.
I still know so little and he has knowledge on the subject that I could only dream of having.
Why couldn't he tell me about the war? Was it really so bad that none of them want to bring it up? From the look Magnus gave him, Simon would be the most likely to spill secrets about the war. At the same time, something tells me I won't get a lot of information through Simon.
I sat in my bed, criss-crossing my legs before I reached under the pillow and pulled out the leather bound journal I had hidden underneath.
"I bet M.B, would tell me about the war. He writes about such painful things in this journal. I bet it would help him to say these things out loud."
Thinking about it, I haven't read a single entry since coming to this castle. Maybe the answers I seek are in this book.
With that thought in mind, I cracked the book open to the third entry.
July 17th 1815,
The events I have feared have finally come to pass. The Downworlders have waged war on the Nephilim.
I still don't understand what they are thinking. They want justice for Woolsey, Camille, and all the other Downworlders that were caught in the cross fires of the Shadowhunters pride.
I want justice for them too but declaring war is a mad man's errand. We are out numbered by many and they have to know that there is no possible way we can win.
Not all the Shadowhunters are turning against us. William Herondale has not turned his back on me. Ever since he found out his wife is half warlock, he has been trying to keep her safe from the Clave.
The mention of Will Herondale made me stop reading. Didn't Tessa say that Will Herondale was her husband? If that's so, then this warlock knew them. Better yet, Tessa may know who wrote this journal.
Keeping that thought in mind, I continued reading.
I would like to think that even without Tessa being a warlock, he would still come to my aid when needed and be on my side. He and James Carstairs are the only Nephilim I have ever truly trusted. I just hope they don't betray that trust.
There's no turning back now. A war is at hand and the Downworlders will need me there to fight for them. As the only warlock alive willing to fight, it's my duty to protect my kind.
Even if I too die in the process.
July 17th 1815 - M.B
Him mentioning Tessa by name proves it. She would know who wrote this journal. To get that information from her, I would have to show her the journal and risk having it taken away. I don't know if I want to take that chance.
"I wonder if Tessa is the only one he knows" I asked myself out loud before turning the page, reading the fourth entry.
October 3rd 1815,
The cold is setting in, in more ways than one. It may only be the beginning of Fall but there is already snow falling to the ground. There's also red blood mixing with that snow.
The war has been hell. It's only been two months and most of the werewolves have been wiped out. The Nephilim are showing no mercy, even going as far as to kill their young.
Not all bad news to report though. Peace has been made somewhere else tonight. The mundane war between The United States and Great Britain has finally ended.
That war has been going on for three years and is being named The War of 1812.
Not the most original name but at least it has ended.
It's weird to think about though isn't it? Someday in the way future, people will learn about a war fought in the past. It will be in history books and maybe the next generation will use that knowledge to not repeat past mistakes.
Maybe the world will find peace. Or who knows, maybe the whole world will go at war with each other. Each having to take a side and fight. A real World war.
I can't concern myself with how the mundane world might turn out. Especially when the Downworlders world's are so close to ending.
How many more entries will I be able to write here? How much longer will I be alive? Will I die without ever experiencing true love?
I've never really been in love before. I thought I was with Camille but I was wrong. What we had wasn't love.
I want someone to come home to. I want someone who will smile when I walk in and truly be happy that I'm there. I want to love someone so deeply that the thought of ever losing them made my soul ache.
The truth of the matter is, I may never live long enough to find that person. I'll die before ever getting the chance.
It doesn't hurt to dream though. I'll keep on dreaming until the day it comes true.
Who knows, maybe the one who holds my heart is reading this right now.
October 3rd 1815- M.B
His words about love made my face heat up and my heart beat fast. That might have been the most romantic thing I have ever read. He was so hopeful for love even in the midst of war. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was innocent to love.
Was he still like that today? Was he even alive today to feel those feelings?
If he was alive then he would live in this castle, right?
I was pulled out of my deep thoughts by the coo-coo clock on my wall chiming, telling me that it was now noon. Lunch time.
Magnus was expecting me in the study room to talk about Downworlders.
Frowning, I looked down at the journal in my lap, wondering if I should take it with me and ask him about it. He might know who wrote it and could possibly tell me more about him.
Then again, there is talk about the war in this book. Knowing Magnus he would have a fit and take the journal away from me. He was so obnoxious and rude. Nothing like the sweet, caring warlock who wrote in this journal.
No. If I was going to take a chance showing the journal to someone, it would be Tessa. I don't think she would yell at me for it or take it away. I'll have to mention it to her later.
For now, I had lunch with Magnus to attend. Let's hope it goes better than breakfast.