Malec Tales Series 1: The Nephilim and the Warlock- Chapter Seven: Tale as New as Us.

Magnus Pov- As I made my way to the kitchen I felt like I was floating on a cloud. Alec Lightwood accepted my dinner invitation. How could something so simple make me feel so warm inside?

Maybe it's because the act would be close to unimaginable a thousand years ago. If I asked a Shadowhunter to dinner back then, they would have reared back in disgust and horror.

Not Alexander though. He joked around with me and said he would love to have dinner with me. Love! I don't think anyone has ever said they would love to have dinner with me. Not even the Downworlders I dated in the past. Alec was a whole new creature all together.

"Why do you have that stupid look on your face?" Raphael asked when I walked in the kitchen. Everyone was here and accounted for so it was good that I wouldn't have to repeat myself over and over.

"I have this look on my face dear Raphael, because I have a dinner date with Alexander today."

They all gasped, eyes and mouths open wide. "He agreed to go on a date with you" Simon asked excitedly.

"Well… he agreed to have dinner with me. We never specified it as a date. It's a step in the right direction right?"

Tessa nodded in agreement, she being the only person in the kitchen, besides me, who was still smiling.

"It is progress. We will make sure to cook the best dinner ever made and set up the dinning room to perfection. We will also get the ballroom ready as well. Some elegant music for dancing."

I frowned at that "Maybe no dancing. I don't want to scare Alec off. He doesn't seem like the dancing type."

"If he sees you dance he will definitely be scared away" Ragnor sassed making me flip him the bird.

"Nonsense Magnus," Tessa soothed, putting her arm around mine. "You love to dance. Maybe Alec will appreciate learning a few moves."

"Alec is supposed to be in bed resting, not dancing" Catarina sighed.

"Don't worry so much Cat. You healed him great and he looked like he was doing fine. A little physical activity could be good for him."

"Why is everyone in the kitchen" Alec's voice came from behind us, making us jump in surprise.

"Alexander, how long have you been standing there" I asked, hoping that he didn't hear us talking about dates and dancing.

"I just got here. I couldn't find anyone around the castle so I started searching."

Tessa smiled grabbing Alec's hands. "We will work hard to make your dinner tonight perfect. Until then, how about you and Magnus get some fresh air? It started snowing a little bit ago."

Alec looked at me with hopeful eyes. "Can we go outside? I promise I won't leave the garden."

I nodded smiling, not able to deny Alec anything he asks for. Especially when he looks so adorable asking for it.

"Of course Alexander. You need to wear a coat though or Catarina will have a panic attack" I said snapping my fingers and making a black wool coat appear on him.

He looked it over smiling before grabbing my hand and literally pulling me out of the kitchen.

The fact that he was holding my hand made my face flush. No one has ever made me so flustered over the simplest things.

We made our way outside and Alec let go of my hand, looking up at the snow falling out of the sky. It was light and not thick enough to stick to the ground.

Alec pouted slightly looking down at the ground. "I was hoping it would stick to the ground. I like snow. Jace and I always have snowball fights, and Isabelle and I go ice skating."

This surprised me for some reason. "Somehow Nephilim doing something so mundane shocks me. They would have never done those kinds of things a thousand years ago."

Alec shrugged smiling. "The times have changed you know. Jace always finds a way to make a work day into something fun."

He lost his smile slightly, glancing away and rubbing his arm frowning.

"You miss them I take it" I guessed, watching him. He nodded looking back at me. "Of course I do. Isabelle is my sister and Jace is my Parabatai so he's practically my brother. We have never spent this much time apart before."

I was suddenly feeling really shitty about throwing them in that portal and not letting Alec say goodbye. Maybe we wouldn't have started on such bad terms if I just gave him that chance. A good man would let him leave to be with his family. Sadly, I have too much at stake to be a good man.

Instead, I decided to take Alec's mind off his siblings. My hands glowing blue, I used magic to make the snow fall thicker. Alec noticed, looking back up at the sky with wide eyes before looking back at me.

I smiled slightly at him before flicking my wrist and making the small pond in the garden freeze over.

"What are you doing" he asked walking up to the pond. I followed him smiling. "You said you used to have snowball fights and go ice skating right?"

He nodded, seeming even more surprised when I held out a pair of ice skates to him. He hesitantly took them, looking them over before looking back at me.

"Why only one pair? Aren't you going to skate with me?"

My heart fluttered with happiness at the fact that Alec's first thought was to skate with me. That happy feeling immediately turned to dread though when I fully understood what Alec was asking of me.

"Oh… um… you don't want me skating with you."

"Why not?" He asked sitting on a rock and taking off his boots.

"I've… I've never ice skated before."

Alec paused tying up his skates to look up at me shocked. "You've never skated before? Aren't you a hundred years old?"

"Actually, I'm a thousand years old. I've only lived in this castle for a hundred years."

"I can't believe you've never skated before."

"I've been busy protecting my people and brooding over life's unfairness" I mumbled crossing my arms over my chest.

This made Alec laugh and shake his head. "Right. Well you should stop brooding and come skating with me. You don't have to worry about looking dumb. I won't laugh at you if you fall."

"What makes you think I would fall?" I asked putting my hands on my hips.

He shrugged. "I just assumed that since you've never skated that means you don't know how to balance on ice."

I scoffed at his assumption. I mean… he's not wrong but I would never admit that.

"I assure you Alexander that I have amazing balance. I don't see why that would be any different on ice."

"I think you're underestimating how slippery ice is Magnus" Alec teased, a playful glint in his eye.

"Are you challenging me Alexander?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I am."

Taking his challenge, I snapped my fingers and made another pair of skates appear in my hands.

"You asked for this Alec."

He gasped putting his hands on his face in mock surprise. It was cute but he was pushing his luck.

I strapped on my skates and the moment I stood up again, my legs started wobbling. I couldn't even stand on solid ground with skates on.

Alec put his hand over his mouth hiding a laugh. "Are you sure you want to try getting on the ice? You look like you're already having trouble."

"Don't patronize me Lightwood. I said I can do it and I meant it."

Alec smirked at me before shrugging and getting on the ice. He was as graceful as you would expect from a Shadowhunter. He glided with ease around the pond, showing off by performing a triple axle and landing on one foot, gliding with the other one in the air.

"No one likes a show off Alec" I called out making him laugh and put his foot down. He did a twirl before stopping complete, putting his hands on his hips.

"Well, are you coming on the ice or not?"

"Don't rush me. A real master of the ice paces themselves."

Alec laughed again. I really liked Alec's laugh.

"So you went from never skating before to being a master of ice? How is that possible when you won't even get on it?"

"Fine. You want me to get on the ice? I'll get on the ice."

I took a deep breath before stepping on the thick water. The moment I was on, the ice met with my face. Alec gasped rushing over to me.

"Magnus are you okay? You landed on your face really hard. You're not bleeding are you?"

The pain in my face was nothing to the joy I felt for Alec actually being concerned for me. He asked me if I was okay and didn't even laugh at me.

"I'm alright. Just had a little slip" I sighed pushing myself up on my knees. Alec gasped slightly making me look up at him confused. "What?"

He got on my level taking the sleeve of his sweater and pressing it to my temple. "You're bleeding Magnus. Did you really fall that hard?"

"My head is bleeding? That's surprising."

"Why is that surprising? Do warlocks not normally bleed?"

I shook my head. "We bleed. Ragnor always says that I'm thick headed though."

This caused Alec to laugh even though my blood was soaking up his sleeve.

"You don't have to use your sleeve for this Alec. I can just use magic and heal it."

He smiled looking into my eyes. "Not everything needs to be done with magic. Besides, I don't mind getting my sweater bloody if it's for you. Consider it payment for healing me."

He took a few more minutes to put pressure on my cut before taking a band aid out of his pocket and putting it over the wound.

"Nephilim use band aids?"

He shrugged. "This Nephilim does."

"You surely are one of a kind Alexander."

He cocked his head to the side skeptically. "Is that a good thing? Everyone in Idris always act like it's bad to be different. They're always trying to change me. Especially my father."

This was one of the many reasons I couldn't stand Nephilim. Why would they want to change someone as amazing as Alec? He actually has a heart and is compassionate to others. That kind of human being is rare, let alone a Shadowhunter.

"Well if it makes a difference, I think you are amazing the way you are."

Alec met my eyes again, his face flushing dark red. "Really?"

I nodded. "I wouldn't lie about something like that. Especially to you."

Alec glanced away, pushing a strand of hair behind his ear shyly before he stood up again. "How about I help you? Here take my hands" he said holding his hands out to me.

I bit my lip wondering if this was a good idea. Usually I would kill myself before letting a Nephilim help me with anything. Alec is another story all together though. I feel like I could put my life in his hands and not regret doing it.

Alec pulled me up on my feet once I gave him my hands and he didn't let go as I tried to stay balanced.

"Okay I think I got it" I said letting go of Alec's hands. My feet immediately started slipping and I yelled "I don't got it" as I wrapped my arms around his neck to stay up.

He wrapped his arms around my waist holding me tight against him as he looked down at me with wide eyes.

"By the angel, are you okay?"

I couldn't answer him. I was too lost in his eyes to hear anything coming out of his mouth.

"Magnus… hey are you listening?"

"What? Yeah, totally."

Alec raised an eyebrow at that, not looking convinced. "What did I just say?"

"You said 'wow Magnus you are trying so hard to skate and I'm so proud of you'."

He shook his head smirking at me. "Yeah, that's not even close to what I said. I suggested that we should give the ice skating a rest before you break your neck."

"Oh… Well yeah, that's a good suggestion."

He laughed pulling me off the ice and to the snow where I immediately used magic to turn my skates into fashionable boots.

"Much better. Would you like a pair Alec? Some new boots would be a lot better than those old dirty things you're wearing now."

I was met with silence making me frown and look up. Alec was gone. I looked all around but he wasn't anywhere.

"Alec? I don't like hide and seek" I called out, still looking around.

Something cold suddenly hit me on the back of the head and I gasped loudly, feeling snow go in my coat.

I turned where the snow came from and Alec was bent over hugging his stomach from laughing so hard.

"Did you just throw a snow ball at me" I yelled.

"Yeah I did. What are you going to do about it," He challenged.

"Maybe this!"

My hands glowed blue as I flung them up in the air. About thirty snow balls levitated, spinning around me.

"Oh shoot" Alec cursed, running for cover.

"Running is for cowards Alexander" I yelled before flicking my wrists, making the snow balls go flying forward.

Alec hid behind a tall garden statue. "Using magic is cheating Magnus. It's not fair and you know it."

"All is fair in love and war Alec, and this is war!"

I made more snowballs appear, shooting them all toward Alec's hiding spot. He got low and rolled on the ground to avoid being hit. "How about you drop the magic and fight me like a man?"

"But using magic is much more fun" I laughed aiming low to try to hit him. He got behind another statue before any could touch him.

"Fine, you want to have a fight Magnus? You got a fight."

He came out from behind the statue, tossing four snowballs at me at an impossible speed. They almost hit me but I was able to dodge out of the way.

I flung twenty snowballs at him at once and watched in aw as Alec maneuvered around them. He ran straight ahead at me, yet not a single one hit him. When a high ball came at him, he slid down on the ground. When a low ball went at him, he did flips over them like it was nothing.

I was so shocked by his swiftness that I didn't notice him closing in on me until he was about a foot away.

"Oh shit" I cursed, going to use magic to make a thick snow wall around me. It was too late though. Alec leaped forward and tackled me to the ground, making me Yelp in surprise.

We crashed to the ground together and it knocked the air out of my lungs. Alec laughed laying his head on my chest.

"That's what you get for cheating and also underestimating me."

Catching my breath, I looked down at Alec watching him laugh against me. Suddenly I was breathless for a whole other reason. Alec was smiling and looking like he was having the time of his life.

"Are you okay" he asked sitting up on his knees, getting off it me. I sat up swiping the snow out of my hair.

"I'm fine. In fact I'm great. That was the most fun I've had in a hundred years."

Alec's face flushed but I couldn't tell if it was from what I said or from the cold. He glanced away playing with the sleeve of his coat.

"Same here… I don't remember the last time I had this much fun."

Those words made the butterflies come swarming back in my chest and stomach. Everything Alec says makes me feel young and love-struck.

Alec looked back at me and our eyes met again. I couldn't look away from his blue orbs as we stared at each other in silence. The snow fell in his black hair, his cheeks a rosy pink, and everything about him was stunning and perfect.

I wanted to kiss him.

We were inches away from each other now. All I had to do was lean forward a little bit and our lips would connect.

Before I knew what was happening, I was leaning in. Alec's cheeks darkened but he didn't move away. Our lips were only an inch apart.

"Magnus! Tessa said to come in and get ready for dinner" Simon's annoying voice cut through my romantic cloud, making reality crash down on me.

Alec quickly stood up looking at Simon who was standing on the castle steps smirking at us.

"I'm sorry. Did I interrupt something" he asked knowingly.

I glared up at him before standing up, brushing the snow off of my clothes. "We will be inside shortly, Simon."

He nodded before going inside, smiling ear from ear.

I shook my head before turning to Alec. "We should head inside. Tessa won't be happy if dinner is late."

He nodded looking a little dazed. "Yeah… yeah dinner."

"You okay" I asked cocking my head to the side.

He nodded moving over to the stairs. "Yes. I'm fine. I'm great."

"You sure?" I asked, watching him go up the stairs. He stumbled on the last step and caught on to the railing to balance himself.

"Yeah. Just a little clumsy" he chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. He looked at me smiling slightly while biting his lip.

"I'll see you at dinner?"

I nodded watching him. "Of course."

He nodded "Good. Good. Well, I'll see you inside."

He turned to go inside but stopped for a moment looking back at me. I smiled slightly at him and he smiled before going through the door.

If I didn't know any better… I would think that Alec was interested in me. He was dazed and flustered like a lovesick puppy.

I shook that thought out of my head immediately. There was no way Alec would ever want me. I'm a Downworlder and he's a Nephilim. It's impossible for him to love me.

Sighing, I ran my hand over my face before going inside. I made my way to my room to get ready for this dinner. Even if it wasn't a date, I was going to enjoy the hell out of it.

"Well look at you. I don't think I've ever seen you with this much pep in your step."

My entire body froze at the voice. I turned toward it and standing by the witchlight was Asmodious.

"What the hell do you want? The light is still on the rock so you don't need to be here."

He shrugged walking in my room and looking around. "Can't a father come see his son every once in a while?"

"Not when the father is a literal demon who cursed his son and everyone he loves with a death sentence. Leave now."

He pretended to think about leaving before shaking his head. "nah, I have some things I need to go over with you. Figured maybe you would like to be refreshed on the terms of our agreement."

"How could I forget? Fall in love with a Shadowhunter and have them love you in return. Fail to do this before the witchlight goes out, everyone in the castle loses their souls."

Asmodious smirked, sitting on my bed. "How is all of that going? I see that you've fallen deeply for Alec Lightwood. It's a shame he doesn't feel the same way."

My hands clenched and unclenched anxiously. "He could love me. He's not like all the others. If any Shadowhunter could love me… Alexander could."

This caused his smirk to grow wider. He stood up, moving over to me and slowly walking around me.

"I do so hope that's the case. I would hate for the man you love to lose his soul."

Those words made me feel cold inside. "What are you talking about? Alec won't lose his soul. He's not part of the curse."

He shook his head sighing. "I'm disappointed in you Magnus. Surely you aren't this stupid. What was our agreement?"

"That I and everyone in the castle…"

My eyes widened in realization.

"Do you understand now? As long as Alec stays here he is a part of the curse. He can leave the castle for now, but if he's here when the light goes out, he will die as well. That also applies to if he rejects you. If you confess your love and he says no, he will be trapped here and will die with you."

"You can't do that! Alec doesn't deserve it!"

Asmodious rolled his eyes. "None of your friends deserved this. The only one who deserved it was you. You decided to be selfish though, and selfishness comes at a price."

He vanished and reappeared in front of the Witchlight. "You may want to decide what you want to do. You have twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours?! I had a week left! You can't just come in here and cut my time like that!"

This made him smirk. "Well actually, I'm the one who made the rules so I can change them. You have twenty-four hours starting from right now. You might want to decide soon how important Alec really is to you. Good luck."

With those final words he vanished again, this time staying gone. I clung on to the table, staring down at the now barely lit witchlight. If Alec doesn't love me, not only are me and my friends going to lose our souls, but so will he.

Alec will die and it will be all my fault.

No! No I won't let Alec die. I am going to have this dinner with him and make him fall in love with me. There has to be a sliver of a chance that he will.

I have to believe that he will.

A couple hours later I paced around the dining room, stressing about everything being perfect.

"What if he changes his mind? What if all this fancy stuff is too much and he gets weirded out? Maybe I shouldn't have dressed so nice. He's most likely just going to wear his sweater again."

Raphael grabbed me by the shoulders before smacking my hard across the face. "Snap out of it Magnus. You are over thinking this. It's okay if Alec doesn't fall for you tonight. We have a week."

I couldn't bring myself to tell them that there were only twenty-two hours left before we all possibly die. They deserve to know that information but I didn't want them to panic. I was panicking enough for all of us.

Tessa stormed into the dining room looking beyond excited. "Alec is ready for dinner. Is everything in here in order?"

Raphael nodded "everything is under control except Magnus. He's panicking."

Tessa smiled up at me putting her hand on my cheek. "Don't be nervous Magnus. Everything will go great tonight. Now come on. You should meet Alec at the stairs when he comes down."

I nodded silently following her out of the dining room and over to the main staircase. She glanced at me as we walked. "Are you okay Magnus?"

I stopped in front of the stairs, looking down at her frowning. This girl has been by my side through everything. She didn't hold a grudge when I failed to save James and Will. She didn't hate me when I got us all cursed. I don't know what I would do without her.

"Listen Tessa… if all this stuff with Alec doesn't work out… I'm sorry."

She put her hand on my cheek again, smiling sadly at me. "I know what the war did to you Magnus. I will never blame you for anything that may happen. Asmodious is a demon. He would have found any reason to hurt you."

"I just hate that you all may die because of me. I fought so hard to protect you and for what? It all may have been a waste."

She shook her head and kissed my cheek. "Never think like that. We all owe our lives to you. No one fought in the war harder than you did."

I just frowned down at her not knowing what to say. She glanced over my shoulder and smiled, whispering "turn that frown upside down. Alec has arrived."

Those words made me turn around and look at the top of the stairs. My eyes widened as they got a look at Alec. He was stunning, wearing a gold suit, a black dress-shirt, and a gold necktie to match. You can tell he attempted to brush his hair back but it just fell back in place.

Guess I wasn't the only one who dressed up for this dinner. I was expecting him to show up in his rundown sweater and faded jeans. Never would I have imagined he could look so handsome.

Alec made his way down the stairs, watching me as he came. Once he was in front of me he looked my outfit up and down.

I was wearing a dark blue suit jacket with gold trim, white pants, and nice black boots.

"You look amazing Magnus" he said meeting my eyes.

"Thank you. You look ten times more amazing than me Alexander. That suit is perfect for you."

He glanced away blushing slightly. "It feels strange to wear this. Shadowhunters normally only wear gold on their wedding day." He glanced over at the gold trim on my jacket, saying, "we're both wearing it."

I looked down at my jacket before looking back at him. "If you aren't comfortable you can go change."

He shook his head no. "It's alright. We don't want dinner to get cold."

I nodded holding my arm out to him. "Shall we go in the dining room then?"

He nodded wrapping his arms around mine and we headed to the room. Tessa followed us smiling. "There is a door in the dining room that leads to the ballroom. I left it open in case you two decide to go dancing."

I glared back at her, having specifically said that I didn't want to scare Alec off with the option of dancing. That was too much like a date.

Alec blushed again, holding on tighter to my arm. "I don't know how to dance believe it or not."

"Well I'm sure Magnus would love to teach you" Tessa suggested before I could speak.

Alec looked back at her before looking up at me. "Could you?"

I looked down at him with wide eyes. "You want me to teach you how to dance?"

"I-I mean, if you want to. It could be fun… but if you don't want to I understand. Forget I asked."

"No we can dance. I just figured you wouldn't be into that sort of thing" I admitted.

He glanced up at me again. "I normally wouldn't but I feel like it would be fun if it was with you."

My heart skipped about ten beats. I'm surprised I wasn't dead from how long my heart stopped in it's tracks.

He has to have feelings for me. It's the only reason I can think of for how he can say such things.

Maybe it's just my last shred of hope stretching out as far as it can. Even so, I need to take a chance on it. I need Alec to love me as much as I love him.

That thought made me stop in my tacks, also making Alec stop as well. He looked at me confused but I couldn't move.

I just admitted to being in love with Alexander Lightwood. A Shadowhunter. I really was in love with this beautiful person. We haven't known each other for long, and sure, the curse is what pushed me to try to be with him. Still, I have a feeling that if the situation was different and the world was fair, I would have still fallen in love with Alec.

"Magnus? Hey, are you alright" Alec asked watching me frowning.

I looked down at him wanting to just let all my feelings pour out of my mouth. I didn't though. There was too much at risk to just blurt everything out. I had to wait for the right moment to tell him and hope to God he felt the same way.

"Sorry, I don't know why I stopped. Let's go eat" I said leading him the rest of the way to the dining room.

He watched me skeptically until we entered the room. When we walked in, his attention was immediately on the décor of the room. Tessa went all out on decorating; getting out the silver China and utensils. The table cloth was pure white and our 'throne' chairs were sitting on each end of the table.

Alec frowned and dread hit me like a truck. What was he frowning at? Was the décor really too much? Was this too much like a date?

"Why are you frowning Alec?"

He looked up at me. "Our chairs are so far apart. Can't we just sit next to each other? It would be easier to talk."

Once again, the dread was replaced with those damn butterflies I'm getting used to. Alec wanted to sit closer to me. He wanted us to be as close as possible to talk together as equals. The thought almost brought tears to my eyes but I wouldn't let it happen.

Shadowhunters hated having dinner with me let alone sitting next to me at the table. They always wanted to sit as far as possible. I should have known better than to assume Alec would be anything like that.

"There are plenty of chairs around the table. You two can choose wherever you want to sit," Tessa suggested.

Alec let go of my arm and walked up to the table, looking for the best place to sit. Deciding on two chairs in the very middle of the table, he sat in his before pulling mine out and patting it, inviting me to sit.

I smiled walking over to him and sitting down.

"What's on the menu tonight," asked Alec. "Catching you on the ice and destroying you at snowball fighting has me starving."

"Oh, we have jokes now," I asked smirking at him.

He shrugged smirking back at me. "I'm just saying that for a thousand year old warlock, you don't have much game. It must come with old age."

"Wow, who is this Savage and what has he done with my sweet Alexander?" I asked laughing.

It dawned on me that I called him 'my Alexander' and I was going to freak out but Alec didn't even bat an eye at it. He just continued smirking at me.

"I only joke like this to my closest friends. You should be honored."

"Believe me I am," I admitted making him blush.

I considered myself beyond honored and lucky to have Alec think of me as someone close to him. The fact that he said friend though makes me worry. If I get friend zoned then what am I supposed to do?

He cleared his throat before looking at the food now on his plate. We were so lost in our banter that we didn't even notice Tessa set our food on the table.

Alec grabbed his fork and dug into his dinner. I made sure to conjure up some fresh lamb since it was his favorite. Simon somehow got that information out of him.

He moaned in delight as he savored the flavor. "By the Angel, this is the best lamb I have ever had. How did you get it?"

I shrugged "I can summon things from outside. Lets just say that a butcher place in Chicago is missing a pound."

"Stealing is wrong Magnus" Alec chastised behind a mouth full of food.

I laughed at him, shaking my head before saying "it's hard not to steal when you can't leave your home to buy things. I have no modern money."

He nodded taking a drink of some red wine. "I guess that's true." He looked at his wine glass surprised. "This is delicious too. You have really good taste Magnus."

I shrugged "when you live long enough you know all the best stuff. I believe you said it's my age showing."

He smiled at me, using his fork to flick a grape from his fruit salad at me.

"Looks like someone else's age is showing. You are acting like a child Alec" I noted, trying to look serious but I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I usually don't act like this. Not even with Jace. Maybe I'm just really comfortable around you."

"It makes me happy that you can be yourself around me. I like this side of you."

Alec smiled at me again before going back to eating. I ate as well, beyond excited that this dinner was going so well. It was raising my hopes higher every minute.

Once our plates were empty piano music started playing. We both looked toward the ballroom seeing Tessa playing the piano. She was playing the only song William got to teach her before he died.

"That music is beautiful. I don't think I've ever heard it before" Alec said softly.

I nodded looking back at him. "That's an original piece made for Tessa from William Herondale."

"Those two loved each other very much didn't they?"

I frowned thinking about it. "They did but so did Tessa and James. The three of them had a strange relationship. Both men died for her honor."

"I can't decide if that's romantic or tragic. I can see where they came from, I guess. I would easily die for Isabelle or Jace."

A question was burning in my throat, wanting to claw it's way out. It hung on my tongue but I wouldn't let it get passed that.

Would you die for me?

It was a stupid question. Of course Alec wouldn't die for me. I'm not important enough for such an honor. I wouldn't want him to die for me but just thinking that he cared enough about me to do it made me feel special.

Stop fooling yourself Magnus.

"Magnus… hello earth to Magnus. Are you listening to me?"

"What? Oh, sorry Alec. What did you say?"

He shook his head smirking slightly. "You seem to make a habit of zoning me out. Am I that boring to listen to?"

I was quick to put that idea out of his head. "No! I love hearing what you have to say!"

He blushed, glancing away and biting his lip. I've come to notice it was a nervous quirk of his. Kind of like pushing a strand of his hair behind his ear is.

"I asked you if you wanted to dance now."

"Oh, yes let's dance" I say standing up. I pull his chair out for him and he thanks me before following me into the ballroom.

The ballroom was the biggest room in the castle. The floors were made of marble and there was a huge Crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling.

Alec stared up at it in aw. "Wow. I've never seen such a big chandelier before. I don't think I've seen a room this big before."

"I made this room with the intention of having parties. When the curse fell upon us… there wasn't much to celebrate anymore. This room hasn't been used in a hundred years. I'm sure magic is the only reason it's still in such great shape."

Alec closed his eyes and held out his arms slowly twirling around the room. I watched him confused. "what are you doing?"

He shrugged "I'm trying to imagine what a party in here a hundred years ago would be like."

This made me smile. "You won't figure it out like that."

He shrugged but didn't stop. I watched him amused with his tactic. It was a strange effort but an effort nonetheless.

I flicked my hand making orchestra music start to play. Alec stopped spinning but didn't open his eyes yet. I used my other hand to make projections of people dancing around the ballroom.

The sight of it all made me feel a little choked up. There was a ballroom in my mansion in Alicente and every night it looked like this. People in suits and gowns dancing around to beautiful music. Every day used to be a party before the war started. I really miss those times.

Alec finally opened his eyes and he seemed breathless as he looked around at everything.

"This is amazing" he whispered, taking it all in before looking over at me. To my surprise there were tears prickling on the edges of his eyes.

Smiling sweetly, I walked up to him and wiped the tears away.

"It's overwhelming huh?"

He nodded looking up at me. "Is this what your world used to look like?"

I nodded taking one of his hands and placing his other hand on my shoulder. He blushed again as I put my hand on his waist.

We started moving together around the room slowly. Alec didn't know what he was doing so of course he watched his feet. I smiled at him before looking around again, getting lost in the atmosphere.

It was like being pulled back in time. Everything felt so real and with Alec here with me, it felt so right. Any world with Alec in it felt perfect.

How have I fallen so fast and so hard?

"What are you thinking about" Alec asked looking up at me. I shrugged looking in his eyes. "Thinking about the past. About how things used to be. It's been so long since I let myself think of the good times."

Alec looked around smiling "With a life like this I bet it was perfect."

"No life is perfect Alexander. It was pretty close to it though. It would have been perfect if I had you there."

The words slipped passed my lips before I could stop them and Alec looked up at me with wide eyes, his face flushed.

I bit my lip thinking now would be a better time than any to tell him. "Can I talk to you somewhere private?"

He looked around us seeing the illusion was gone, as was Tessa.

"We are somewhere private."

I grabbed his hand just leading him out of the ballroom and up the stairs. Alec's eyes widened when he noticed we were going to the war wing.

"Why are you taking me to the war wing?"

I didn't answer him. Instead I led him to my room and outside to the balcony where the witchlight sat in it's glass.

Alec looked at the witchlight seeming surprised by how dim it was now. There were now twenty hours left until it would go out completely.

He looked away from the stone and walked up to the edge of the balcony, looking over the trees to the city of Alicante. It's the only spot in the castle where you can see it.

The look of longing in Alec's eyes were plain as day as he looked at his home. He missed it. He missed his life and his family. From what he told me, his family is everything to him.

I took that away from him.

"What did you want to talk to me about" he asked turning toward me and leaning on the balcony.

I looked down at the witchlight wondering what I should do. Should I take a chance and tell Alec how I feel? I don't think I can handle dying with a broken heart.

Do I really want to give a Shadowhunter this power over me? Him rejecting me feels worse than death. Do I want to risk it?

Here I am being selfish again. My friends lives are in danger and all I can think of is my fragile heart. That and saving Alec.

It's too late to save my friends but not Alec. He still has a chance to leave. If he says no to me then he is trapped here with us. I don't want Alec to die no matter if he likes me or not.

"Alec… I brought you up here to say goodbye."

Alec's eyes were wide as he stared back at me. "I don't understand."

I turned my back to him, not able to look at him while my heart was shattering in pieces.

"You paid enough for what your siblings did. You don't deserve to be stuck here forever. You're sweet and like no one else I have ever met. For that reason… I'm setting you free."

Alec stared at me in shock before looking toward Alicante. He kept looking back between his home and me. The last sliver of hope made me think he was torn.

How amazing would that be if Alec told me he wanted me and not the world. It's false hope on my part. No Shadowhunter would ever choose a Downworlder over the world.

"I'm really free?" he asked obviously shocked.

I nodded still not able to face him. This isn't what I wanted at all. I wanted to beg him to stay of his own free will and tell me that he loves me as much as I love him.

God did I love him. I never imagined that I could love anyone this much. It happened though and it hurt more than anything else I've ever been through in my life.

And God damn, I've been through a lot of messed up shit.

"Yes Alexander. I'm letting you go, so please just go."

I went back into my room, opening my wardrobe and pulling out his bow and arrows. Alec was standing behind me when I turned around and handed him his stuff.

He looked down at the weapons in his arms before looking back up at me, meeting my eyes. His blue eyes seemed confused and a little sad. Then again, maybe the sadness was just in my mind. I was desperate for him to tell me he didn't want to go.

He bit his lip looking away again before sighing and looking back at me. "I'll come back to see you. I promise."

A part at me screamed to tell him about the curse. To tell him that this was most likely the last time we would ever see each other again.

"I believe you Alec."

He wrapped his arms around my neck giving me a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist squeezing him as tight as possible. I never wanted to let him go but knew that I had to.

"Goodbye Alexander."

He let me go, looking at me for a long moment before turning around and leaving the room. I watched him leave until he was out of sight. Once I couldn't see him anymore I walked out to the balcony again.

I stopped in front of the Witchlight looking down at it, feeling like my heart died inside my chest. I had twenty hours left of life but I might as well be dead now.

Everything worth living for is gone.