Maryse was filling out paperwork in her office when her angelic rune started to harshly burn and glow a gold colour.
What the hell? Why is the rune burning and gold? That looks like Xelqua's magic; it feels the same as his silencing wards did when he summoned them around my office. I think something might be wrong? Is he alright?
Maryse opened the Institute's file on Xelqua. Staring at the file a photo of the High Warlock with his magic flourished into two blades. The shadowhunter then locked eyes with the engraved business card on her desk with Xelqua's number etched on the back in cursive handwriting.
Maryse called Xelqua's number on her phone letting out a sharp sigh when it picked up.
"Hello? Who is this? How did you get this number" A woman's rough whisper came across the line.
"My name is Maryse Lightwood" The woman across the line let out a chuckle at the shadowhunter's name. "So you're the shadowhunter Xel was talking about"
Xelqua mentioned me to someone. Maryse thought to herself
"Yes I am a shadowhunter, now who are you? I'm assuming you're a warlock''
"I am. My name is Catarina Loss"
"Ms Loss? Is Xelqua there I need to speak with him? It's important."
"Can't the Clave handle whatever problem it is you are having."
"This one is the Clave has no matter whatsoever this is personal." Maryse snapped
"From your snappy tone it does seem important nephilm but unfortunately Xelqua isn't here but I could help. Does your problem have anything to do with your runes or angelic core overloading, I specialise in healing magic myself"
"Yes-s my angelic rune is burning gold I think it might be Xelqua's magic"
"Shit." The warlock mumbled before hurriedly stuttering "G-give me a moment Lightwood." The line went silent as Catarina muted the call.
Catarina instantly turned to Magnus, "The shadowhunter's rune glowed gold, Xelqua must have sent out a warning."
"Agreed, but why send a warning to the shadowhunter and not you or I, it doesn't make sense."
"I know Magnus. I know."
Catarina then unmuted the phone, making the line cackle harshly for a moment, "Are you in an untraceable and secure location?"
"Yes, as far as I know, Xelqua's wards are surrounding my office." "That will definitely be sufficient, We will open a portal to bring you to us then we'll see you soon." The call ended instantly.
"Magnus?" Catarina grabbed his hand noticing that others' glamour covering his eyes dropped, knowing what she was going to ask Magnus retorted back "I can't sense his signature, something demonic based is disrupting it."
"If something is distributing the signature, it could be him. I'll try to call Dot. See if she answers"
"Very well, I'll open a portal to bring the shadowhunter here."
Maryse was in her office. Her seraph blade sheathed on her side along with her stele.
Maryse was waiting for Catarina or one of the warlock's she was with to open the portal, when a circular light started swirling around a wall in front of her.
The shadowhunter was blinded as it washed over her. She clenched her eyes shut and staggered forward, feet feeling out the warped wood of the first step. Even though it was so bright, degrees dropped like dying flies.
The gold behind her eyelids faded to red for a millisecond, and she squinted warily. The light was gone, reduced instantly as she landed on a carpeted floor. Maryse sat up sharply as a voice sounded.
"Shadowhunter?" As a man in a pair of black boots walked towards her helping Maryse to her feet.
"I'm fine.. Thank you for the portal."
"You're welcome, I'm Magnus. Magnus Bane."
He's the High Warlock of Brooklyn and by his last name he's possibly Xelqua's brother or relative of some sort.
Magnus was dressed in denim trousers and a denim coat with brass buttons. He was small and quick, light of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose.
"Pleasure to meet you Magnus. I'm Maryse Lightwood."
"I know who you are, Lightwood."
"We both do Magnus." Another voice, this time female, said, so she must be Catarina Loss.
Catarina spoke up covered in jeans and a denim jacket also, "Now Maryse, let me see about that rune of yours."
Maryse shows Catarina her angelic rune which is now harshly glowing a stronger gold than before. "Got any ideas Catarina?" Catarina trails her hand over the rune as her own orange magic was hovering around the rune.
"That's definitely Xelqua's magic infused in your rune Maryse. I can sense him"
"What happens now?" Maryse snapped.
"We will try to contact Xel."
"And if it doesn't work."
"Then I'll improvise." Magnus mumbled under his breath
"I don't like this." Maryse said.
"Neither do I but you need to stay calm, Shadowhunter."
"I am calm!"
"Lightwood…"
"Where is he then, Magnus? His runes are burning.."
Magnus threaded his fingers and tried to curb his irritation as Maryse paced around the warlock's apartment. "How do you know they are burning?" The warlock snapped
"I can feel it, Magnus he's in pain."
"I'm sure he's fine."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because Xelqua is too smart to let anything bad happen. He's the High Warlock of New York for a reason."
"But-"
"Maryse," Magnus chided softer this time. "You need to trust him. He'll get in touch when he can. Besides, he said he'll be only an hour before he left."
"Magnus? What if he can't, you said it yourself something is wrong with his signature" Catarina muttered, "The shadowhunter does have a point"
"I know Catarina bu-"
"What if we use a rune from the Book of the White and track him?" Maryse asked, "Got any ideas which rune shadowhunter?" Catarina asked, before Maryse could respond Magnus butted in "True north? Do you agree Lightwood?"
"True North would work.. But will the rune be strong enough to track his signature?"
"No not by itself.. but if we use my blood when you draw it should be able to get a stronger signal on where he is"
Magnus pulled a chain from under his shirt with a charm that had both siblings' names on it. Which Xelqua made for him 500 years ago. The warlock took the chain off his neck holding it tightly in his High Warlock handed the shadowhunter the metallic object, in a matter of seconds he held out his hand and summoned a small blade slicing the inside of his palm in the process. Maryse held her stele out in front of her holding it near the warlock's outstretched hand letting his blood drip onto the angelic device.
Maryse nodded and on the inside of her palm started to draw the rune, in an instant once it was drawn Maryse eyes rolled to the back of her head and turned white.
The shadowhunter for a few seconds saw Xelqua bleeding and trembling his runes all a dull grey colour. That's when she noticed a Neon light of the Pandemonium flickering behind the High Warlock, the vision abruptly ended and Maryse fell to the floor.
"Lightwood?" Catarina called out,
"She'll be fine Cat.. that happens after doing True North, its common fo-" Suddenly, Magnus' started ringing making him slide to his knees but that is when sensed something he hasn't felt since he was last in Edom centuries ago.
"Mags,"
"Magnus? Are you alright?" Catarina asked grabbing her fellow warlock's hand
"I'm fine.. Cat just sensed something that's all." He whispered getting off the ground
"What was it? Catarina asked
"I'm not quite sure it felt like a greater demon energy near ley lines.." He murmured, shakily getting off the ground walking near Maryse letting a blue glow hover over her, after a few moments, the shadowhunter jerked forward with a gasp..
"Maryse?" Magnus mumbled the shadowhunter's name.
"I found him.. I found Xelqua, He's in an alley next to the Pandemonium."
Magnus flourished his blue magic around him and opened a portal in front of him, turning back to face Maryse and Catarina before nodding at the pair.
The High Warlock bites Lucifer's hand covering his mouth forcing him to release him. He pulls out the blade in his shoulder which he held tightly, before letting a burst of energy flow out of him and fly towards Lucifer sending him flying backwards.
"What do you want, Lucifer?"
"I am here to warn you Little nephew, but we both know Magnus wouldn't believe me that I would want to just talk, so let's make this a show, shall we." Lucifer said, twirled a blade in his hand and rushed forward at the warlock who had a small knowing smirk curving up his lips.
Lucifer with a blade clenched in his hand lands a hit on Xelqua's left hand and makes the warlock's bones shatter forcing him to stumble backwards. "I'm listening." Xelqua says
"He's Alive, Your father sent me to warn you, He's coming for you. In this realm you are weaker especially without the power of Edom flowing through you. You won't win against Raziel, Xelqua, not alone."
"How do you know? He's back" Xelqua snapped angrily, his eyes burning a dark red as he kicked Lucifer to the ground, and embedded a blade of his own on the ground next to the demon's shoulder. "Because he did this when we tried to stop him." Lucifer showed his nephew his eyes which had a scar across it. "He almost killed Lilith.."
"Luci.. I, Fuck.. What do you propose we do?" Xelqua says.
"Come back home, Raziel wants you. We can protect you Lilth, Asmodeus and I. Or are you just like him? Do you want to be more truly endarkened like Raziel, A traitor to the people of Edom you swore in a sacred blood oath to rule." Xelqua hesitates and flinches at the thought of Raziel.
"Don't mention his name"
"He's even brought back the nephilm you killed."
"No.. impossible."
"I would normally agree, nephilm do normally stay dead, but I saw Valentine Morningstar get revived with my own eyes, little one… He is very much alive." That's when he senses a familiar magic near him, "Magnus is here. You know how to contact me, we need to work together this time. You know that."
"I know.. Magnus doesn't trust you three like I do."
"That's damn obvious, and you know well why"
"And whose fault it that"
"That night changed everything"
"I can sense him also so shall we make it a good show then Uncle Luci." As Xelqua says as he lets his golden eyes shimmer as Magnus opens a portal that Catarina and Maryse step through.
"Lucifer?" Magnus says with a growl his eyes widening at the sight of his Greater Demon Uncle.
"Oh… hello Magnus. It's been a while, has it not?" Lucifer said with a smirk as he flipped Xelqua over and pinned the warlock to the ground before straddling him, preventing the blonde from moving. The blade in the demon's hand was a dark red, the metallic weapon was hovering over Xelqua's neck. Xelqua tried to push Lucifer off him but he couldn't move.
"Lucifer.. don't. Hurt him" Xelqua said softly glaring at his uncle who only softly pushed the blade further into Xelqua's throat not causing fatal damage to his favourite nephew.
Magnus held a ball of fire in hands instantly and went to move closer to the demon when Lucifer sneered, making him flinch, "If you move, Magnus and he gets cut."
"Magnus I'll be fine." Xelqua rasps
Suddenly a blast of orange energy from Catarina hits Lucifer's back forcing the demon to let out a pained growl as he is pushed away from Xelqua. Lucifer turns angrily and flicks his head up with a growl before throwing his blade at Xelqua.
The warlock leans back to avoid it but the demonic weapon flies backwards, still slicing its blade across his face cutting across his right cheek. Xelqua yells in pain as he stumbles backwards against a wall behind him. He grasps his cheek, putting pressure on the wound. Trying to stop himself from bleeding out, as he feels crimson blood stains as the liquid drips onto his clothes.
"Xelqua?" Magnus calls out as Maryse and Catarina pin Lucifer to the ground. Catarina restraining him with magic.
"We need to send him back to Edom Magnus now-w." Xelqua says with a stutter, as he summons a red and gold portal in front of him as Xelqua walks closer to Lucifer pulling him to his feet, "Luci, tell father I'll see him soon and to be safe." Xelqua whispered in the demon's ear as he flicked his hand instantly, sending a pulse of red attack magic at the demon sending him through the portal which disappeared behind him.
"Magnus? Are you injured?" Xelqua grumbles breathlessly sitting on the ground as everything around him was blurring from too much magic being used in quick succession.
"I'm fine and you?" Magnus asked as Xelqua sighed, leaning his head against the ground tiredly.
"Xelqua?.." Catarina snaps as she panickingly rushes to the warlock's side.
Xelqua doesn't answer, just closes his eyes, shaking. His skin was turning white. "Xelqua." she says, sharply "Bane, hey I need you to stay awake."
His eyes suddenly flutter open, his slitted golden pupils uneven. There's blood on his lips, and Catarina has to bite back a curse. "Magnus," Xelqua says.
"It's me, I'm here." Magnus says as his brother coughs harshly "Warn Imari," he says. "Warn him. Val."
Both Magnus, Catarina worry that a sentence starting with that son of a bitches name after all these years isn't going to end well. "What about Valentine? Xelqua"
"He's alive"
Xelqua shudders, his hand clenching on Magnus' while Catarina's stomach twists as she dumps healing magic into the blonde's shoulder, sealing the worst of the damage there knowing Magnus will handle the cheek knowing it's better to use a more familiar and sensitive signature near there..
"Catarina?" Maryse asked
"He's stable for now." Catarina mumbled as she walked over to Maryse leaving Magnus to stay with Xelqua.
"How is Valentine alive, that should be impossible."
"I don't know."
"I'll contact Herondale, get him to arrange a meeting with Xelqua?"
"Do it Maryse.. But Imari doesn't deserve to hear about Valentine's condition from you, Lightwood, is that clear "
"Of course."
"Not bad for an entrance brother." the pair hear Xelqua chuckle.
"Let me see your face." Magnus chuckled slightly at his brother remark as he hovered his hand over Xelqua's cheek with blue healing magic starting to flow around the wound when Xelqua abruptly grabbed Magnus' wrist pulling his hand away making Magnus growl "Xelqua what are you doing?"
"Stop. Don't waste your magic."
"Not gonna happen Xelqua. You could have.. Lucifer's blade.."
"Is made from Dark Adamas I know.. But it won't kill me. We both know that but we need to talk." Xelqua snapped
"Xelqua look at me.. We will, but that will be impossible if you are dead, now how many fingers am I holding up?"
Xelqua forces his cat slitted eyes to open even though it makes no difference because everything is going black from lack of magic, he can't even see his brother right in front of him.
Damn it Lucifer.. You had to clip my cheek didn't you, it burns like hell. You son of a bitch How the hell am I supposed to warn him about Raziel. He hates Asmodeus with a passion and can't stand Lilith and you. He doesn't have any trust left about Edom and our people.. our own father Asmodeus.
Xelqua grumbles under his breath and closes his eyes. "Do it." His breath catches on his next inhale. "I can't see."
Magnus forces his magic around Xelqua's cheek. Healing the wound but not able to remove the scar across his face.
I'm sorry Xel.. That's gonna scar but the magic should help with the pain."
"I'll be fine Mags.. now Lightwood? What in the angel are you doing here?"
"What do you mean, W-what am I doing here you called me? I knew something was wrong, I sensed it through my runes"
"That's Impossible.. Maryse, I didn't call you."
How could this be possible? A shadowhunter's runes don't just infuse with one another, that's when Xelqua remembered the connection Imari and Valentine, share with one another but they are parabatai. It's different.
"By the angel.." Xelqua said with a mumble, a sense of shock was obvious in Xelqua's expression. "Maryse, we need to talk now, so I can figure out how this is possible."
"Damn right we do Bane. Got any ideas?"
"Not yet, If I can scan your signature, I might. But I won't do it here. Catarina? Do you mind opening a portal for us to the loft?"
"Of course not, old friend." said Catarina instantly, opening a portal to Xelqua's apartment.
"Xelqua? Tomorrow… We need to talk."
"I know Magnus.. We will. But for now shall we, Lightwood.." said Xelqua with a small smirk as the pair walked through the open portal and vanished.
Catarina turns for the open portal which vanishes when Magnus grabs her wrist making her halt in place.
"Catarina, wait? Will he be ok seeing Imari again after everything.. with they ended it all."
"Xelqua will figure this out, Magnus. Beside you know what he's like"
"Maybe. I just hope he's careful... He's to soft when it comes to Ari."
"I know Mags.. But I'm sure he will be careful there is more at stake then before.. I have to go, I have a 5 am shift in a few hours." Catarina mutters softly, pulling her wrist out of Magnus' grasp.
"Goodbye Catarina." He said opening a portal for Catarina to go through.
"Goodbye Magnus" Catarina whispered with a smile. Magnus summoned a portal of his own with a blue flourish and went to his apartment.