Magnus stepped out of the portal in his apartment and promptly fell to his knees, trying to fight off a panic attack. He quickly sent off a fire message to Ragnor and Catarina when he had his breathing back under control. He stood up, snapped a drink into his hand, and downed it- not tasting it in any way. He repeated that three more times before he finally felt he was back in control.
The sound of a portal opening behind him, broke him out of his spiraling thoughts. "Magnus," said Catarina, her voice filled with concern, "what did you do?"
Another portal opening stopped Magnus from responding, "Magnus, old friend, what's wrong?"
Magnus turned to face the pair, and Catarina gasped at his expression and overall appearance, "I… I did something I probably shouldn't have."
"Oh Magnus," said Catarina, suddenly understanding what Magnus might be alluding to, "you didn't."
Magnus just hunched his shoulders and looked away from the pair, "I don't really have time to explain. But I'm going to need your help to banish a demon. Please."
Catarina and Ragnor shared a look before they both stepped up to their friend, each putting one hand on his shoulders. "Of course old friend," and "anything Magnus."
Magnus took another steadying breath and nodded, "right. Ok, we need to go."
He created a portal to the top of the alley where Max was attempting to stop Jace. The trio stepped through to the sound of swords, and a yell of pain from Max.
"Wait," said Magnus when his friends started to move towards the sounds of the fight. The warlock brushed a hand over his side, over the pentagram and brought his magic out to activate it. He softly spoke the phrase that would summon the demon as his magic swirled through the mark.
The pentagram tingled with what Magnus now realized was the demon's magic, before its shape suddenly exploded out into the alley in a blaze of hell fire. Without warning the fire suddenly sizzled out, and Alec was standing where the circle had landed. Magnus watched as the circle completely disappeared within seconds. Unlike when Alec burned the circle into his side, there was no pain when Magnus activated it to summon him. But that was a fleeting thought as the Greater Demon was now on the Mortal Plane and staring right at Magnus.
"Hello again, Magnus," said Alec, looking exactly like he had when Magnus first saw him in Edom, "I didn't realize you'd be so eager to initiate our deal. I thought I'd have to wait a few hours at least."
"Alexander," said Magnus, not wasting any time, "the demon possessing my friend is back here," he gestured further into the alley.
"Down to business I see," said Alec as he turned to walk into the alley where Jace and Max were fighting, "though I can see why you wanted me to come so quickly seeing as the demon is attempting to stab your friend through the chest with an arrow." He said this like he was commenting on the weather. He was also completely ignoring Catarina and Ragnor, who were following behind them, almost like a guard.
"Max!" Cried out Magnus, quickly pushing past Alec to get to his friend. However, before he could get too far, a ball of magic hurtled past him to hit Jace square in the chest. The magic pushed the blonde Shadowhunter against the far wall where he was growling and attempting to get free.
Magnus fell to his knees at Max's head, already working on healing the chest wound, Catarina on his other side doing the same. Ragnor came in front of the trio to guard them, allowing Magnus and Catarina to fully focus their magic on Max.
A hiss from Alec pulled Magnus' attention away from Max for a moment. "You didn't say your friend was a Nephiliam," said Alec with a voice practically spitting fire with anger.
"You never asked," was Magnus' sarcastic response, before he realized who he was talking to, "a deal is a deal. I up-held my end, now you up hold yours."
"Oh, with pleasure," said Alec as he stalked towards the wall where demon Jace was being held in place by magic. When he got to the blonde shadowhunter, he thrust his hand into Jace's chest, burning the demon out of him and causing Jace to scream uncontrollably. When Alec knew the demon was dead, he removed his hand and released the magic holding Jace on the wall.
The blonde promptly fell to the ground where he started coughing, choking, and up heaving until the bubbling remains of the demon came out of his mouth, and dissolved in a fiery mass on the pavement. There was no wound on his chest from Alec's hand, but there was a large bruise that wouldn't be healed with a rune, or any angelic magic. It would have to heal the old fashioned way.
"Jace," said Magnus, when he realized the shadowhunter was okay and was about to join the warlocks surrounding Max, "Max will be okay. But Clary is upstairs. Hurry!"
Jace nodded and took off into the building. The blonde could feel the truth in Magnus' words through his parabatai bond with Max.
Alec's attention was turned towards the roof of the building, seemingly unaware of what was happening around him. He hadn't moved from his spot since stepping back from Jace when he released his magic.
Catarina and Magnus finished healing Max, enough that he could get back to the institute for further treatment. Magnus gestured for him to stay down, and when Max nodded, the warlock pair stood to better surround Alec, along with Ragnor. The three of them started to gather their magic to hopefully banish the demon before he realized what they were doing.
"Hmm," said Alec, finally looking away from the top of the building and back towards Magnus, a small smile back on his face, "it seems like you won't need me to help you with Lillith after all."
He took in the three warlock's gathering magic and his smile widened a little, "aww. Sending me back already? You haven't even introduced me to your two warlock friends."'
The magic from the three warlocks surrounded Alec and the demon felt how it was pulling him back to Edom. He allowed the move, the secretive smile never leaving his face as he held eye contact with Magnus. Right before he followed the pull and disappeared from the mortal realm, he gave Magnus a wink. Though, the warlock was positive he was imagining it. Before any of them could say anything else, a sonic boom was released from the top of the building, complete with a giant explosion of blue light, and debris falling down around them.
It seems Lillith was also back in Edom, but Clary was missing, presumed dead from the explosion.
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It was a few hours later that Magnus became fully aware of his surroundings again. After the trio had banished Alec back to Edom, the events of the day seemed to catch up with the ex-High Warlock of Brooklyn. He was moving as if in a haze, letting Catarina and Ragnor take the lead with his shadowhunter friends, then portal him back to Catarina's house. Madzye seemed to realize they were there, because she came running out of her bedroom and clung to Magnus on the couch, falling asleep with her head on his shoulder within the hour.
Catarina and Ragnor were both sitting with him on the couch, just staying close, and giving him space to process the events of the day, while also showing their silent support.
When Magnus was ready to speak, the first thing he did was put a silencing bubble around Madzye, who was still comfortably sleeping against him. "Max and Isabel asked me to go to Edom to make a deal with Asmodeus," said Magnus, still being quiet as he started his tale.
"Things were getting dire, and I couldn't lose more friends- more family- to Lillith's demon. So I went. Only he wasn't there…" Magnus went on to explain the odd addition of the doors to the house, the eerie quiet in the house, the way the Greater Demon seemed to just appear behind him. He explained about the demon's name- how he didn't recognize it as one of the greater demons, and the deal, his hand going to the pentagram he could still feel tingling on his side.
/Alec's magic./ Thought Magnus, not sure how to feel about that fact.
Both Catarina and Ragnor frowned at Alec's name. It wasn't familiar or known for either of them as well.
What he didn't explain was his conflicting emotions about the demon. Or the tingling magic still pulsing through the pentagram softly, and barely in Magnus' scoop of awareness. How his own magic seemed to accept it and wasn't fighting it.
Ragnor, who was sitting on that side of Magnus, gently lifted his friend's shirt to see the mark. However, he was met with completely smooth unblemished skin. He couldn't even feel it when he ran his hand over Magnus' side, or when Magnus placed his hand directly on the mark.
/Well that explains the tingling then./ Thought Magnus slightly hysterically, while he tried to fight off another panic attack.
"Magnus," said Catarina softly, drawing the older warlock out of his spiraling thoughts, "I think you are in too deep with the Shadowhunters. I think you need to step back, give yourself some space. Going to Edom…" she shook her head, "they've been asking you for too much. It's going to get you killed, no matter how careful you are, or you think you are."
Ragnor was nodding along with Catarina's words, even as Magnus was shaking his head in denial, "Yes. I agree. You are no longer the High Warlock, and you have houses all over the world. You need to take some time for yourself and figure out your new reality with this deal you made."
"I have responsibilities here," said Magnus as a weak refute, "I can't just upheave my life and move halfway across the world."
"That's what portals are for," said Ragnor with an eye roll. The 'idiot' of his rebuttal was left unsaid but clearly heard based on the glare Magnus gave his friend.
"The Lightwoods need to start relying on the new High Warlock of Broklyn," said Catarina, "and you need time for yourself. It's not fair to you that you are at the beck and call of the Shadowhunters for every little emergency that arises."
"You need to be safe, Magnus," said Madzye quietly, lifting her head from Magnus' shoulder, sleep still present in her eyes, as she seemed to finish shaking off his silencing spell, "We don't want to lose you because of the Shadowhunters."
"Aww," said Magnus as he pulled Madzye in for a hug, "I'm not going anywhere Sweet Pea, promise. Did you just wake up?"
He glanced toward the window and realized the sun was already more than halfway over the horizon. Madzye nodded and let out a small yawn.
Catarina shuffled the group into the kitchen and conjured breakfast, while they talked about lighter things. What magic Madzye was learning, how she was doing with her restraint and control. The new book Ragnor was apparently in the process of writing. (By in the process of writing, they meant he had a vague idea running around his head with little to no substance to develop it).
By the time Magnus and Ragnor parted ways with Catarina, Magnus was fully settled and ready to have a conversation with Max and Isabel. His friends were right, he was in way too deep with the Shadowhunters and he needed space to regroup.
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A little over a month later, Magnus was sitting at a small cafe in Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower. He had finished his lunch and was debating the dessert options when he felt a presence come around his table and pull out the seat across from him then settle into it.
Magnus only half took his attention away from the menu to address the intruder, "there are plenty of other tables available currently. Perhaps you could go find somewhere else to sit."
His tone, while not dangerous, wasn't exactly welcoming either. The person across from him just leaned his elbow onto the table, settling in more, "aww," Magnus' horror filled eyes snapped up at the other in recognition, "it almost sounds like you don't want me here Little Warlock."
Alec was staring at him from across the table, legs crossed, one arm thrown over the back of the chair, the other set on the table. He was the picture of nonchalance and his smile was small, but teasing. Magnus was fighting the urge to dart his eyes down to stare at the demon's smile.
"How," said Magnus in a panic-filled whisper. He knew he hadn't summoned the demon again since the night they saved Jace. /This has to be a trick of the light; my imagination running away from me; Something to explain this!/
The magic coming from the pentagram on his side had barely fluctuated over the course of the month. Occasionally there were small spikes, which had Magnus worried at first, but when nothing became of them he shrugged it off. /That was clearly the wrong choice./ Thought Magnus now, /I should've studied the magic more. The connection. I should have prepared more./
"We banished you." Was all Magnus could settle on saying when his voice came back to him.
Alec nodded, and gave a simple, "yes," of acknowledgement.
"And I haven't summoned you again," said Magnus a moment later with more panic in his voice than he wanted to show the demon.
Alec didn't respond verbally this time, just merely smiled wider and raised an eyebrow at Magnus. He was clearly waiting for Magnus to work out what was going on. To see if he could work out what was going on.
/That asshole is toying with me./ Thought Magnus as he felt anger build throughout his body.
Magnus' mind was reeling as he frantically thought back over the deal he had made with the demon, trying to figure out what he was missing. The thought about the first summoning, the magic tingling that he'd been trying to ignore as much as possible over the previous month. The small spikes in the pentagram that would occasionally pop up.
Suddenly everything clicked, from the wording of the deal to all of the things that had happened since the summoning, "Blessed Magic…" started Magnus in an intense angry whisper, "you didn't tell me you would be able to just waltz between the two realms without being summoned."
His angry whisper was turning into a furious hiss rather quickly.
"You didn't ask," was Alec's sarcastic reply, as his smile widened even more. It was the exact same tone that Magnus had used when Alec was mad about rescuing a Shadowhunter. This realization just made Magnus even madder. He debated different ways to banish the demon properly this time, and if it wasn't for the fact that he was in a Mundane area, he would totally release his anger.
"Have you decided on a dessert, sir? Anything for your friend as well?" The waitress had just come back to the table, interrupting the conversation and inadvertently helping Magnus control his anger enough to realize where he was.
"Oh, no," he said flirtingly, "I've actually decided that I'm full, even though the desserts all sound delicious. I do need to go though, so perhaps I could just get the check?" His eyes were darting between the waitress and the demon, not sure if the latter would try to hurt the girl in some way. He prepared himself for a fight either way. "Nothing for him either," said Magnus, gesturing slightly at Alec, "he's not big on sweets."
"Of course," she said, smiling back at his flirting, "I'll go grab your check for you now." She turned to leave and Magnus let out a shaky breath when she was out of ear shot.
Alec's smile became bigger and full of teeth, "how precious," but he didn't elaborate or hint at what exactly he thought was 'precious.' Magnus felt the pentagram spike again before it leveled out.
The waitress was back a moment later, and Magnus barely read the numbers on the check before nodding, throwing a bunch of bills inside- definitely more than enough to pay for his meal. "Thank you so much! Please keep the change. I insist. We really need to be going though, lots to do today."
Magnus grabbed Alec's wrist when he stood up, which was lying on the table, pulled the demon to his feet, and was halfway into an alley next to the cafe before he realized he was dragging the demon behind him like a small child. A. Greater. Demon. He quickly released Alec's wrist and spun around to face him, reading his magic in case the other decided to attack.
Alec's smile was slightly predatory as he didn't stop moving forward when Magnus released his hand, causing the warlock to back up as well.
"Did you change your mind about having sexy times Magnus," the warlock's knees buckled slightly at the way his name practically oozed out of Alec's mouth.
"No!" Said Magnus in a higher voice than he wanted to. "No," he tried again with a more even tone.
It did the trick of Alec no longer stalking towards him like a tiger about to pounce on its dinner. Magnus' wasn't sure if he was upset or relieved at that. He pushed the mental image out of his mind as he continued talking, "I was just getting us away from the Mundanes."
The 'in case there is a fight,' was unsaid but very clearly heard.
Alec's face blanked out, and Magnus felt the pentagram spike again briefly.
"The Mundanes are not a challenge," Alec's tone was completely bland, his face equally as blank. Magnus wasn't sure how to take it.
Alec looked like he was about to say something else, before he seemed to think better of it. He gave Magnus a toothy grin, winked, and purred, "until next time, Little Warlock."
He was gone a moment later. Magnus got the feeling he was missing something very important and portaled back to his apartment to run through the whole scenario again and again.
However, for the life of him- he couldn't figure out what he was missing.
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"And then he just disappeared!" Magnus' frustration was quite clear as he paced with his hands waving around in the air, in front of Catarina and Ragnor, the pair sitting on a park bench while Madzye played on the playground a few feet away from the trio. He'd been ranting and not panicking about the interaction he'd had in Paris at lunch with the demon Alec.
His warlock friends were giving him the oddest looks, which were practically identical mixes of fear, incredulous, and exasperation. They also kept glancing between him as he paced and each other, having a silent conversation that Magnus was too irritated to really focus on.
"Magnus," said Catarina slowly as she tried to wrap her head around what Magnus was telling them, after she and Ragnor exchanged another pointedly silent glance, "there is a lot to unpack here."
"I'll say!" Said Ragnor, joining the conversation and trying to wrap his head around the interaction Magnus just had with the Demon Alec.
The "he let you pull him down a street into an alley without murdering you!" from Catarina and the "he's created some kind of get out of Edom Jail Free card with your deal!" from Ragnor, that came at the same time, had Magnus falling to the ground dramatically with his hands covering his face as he groaned.
Yes, those were also extremely terrifying and valid points, but they weren't what Magnus was fretting about with the whole thing. He still couldn't figure out why Alec had decided to show up in Paris, or what information he was missing from the entire exchange. The information just brought to the front of his mind by his two friends made him realized just how fucked he was with this whole situation.
He had put his hand on the Greater Demon, and dragged him into an alley without getting tortured, let alone murdered, was something he wasn't nearly ready to unpack without at least having drank three bottles of his strongest alcohol.
For once, he and Ragnor weren't on the same page, because his friend was continuing the conversation about what the pair of them had said, "no it makes sense," said Ragnor, waving down at Magnus, who was still sprawled on the lawn, "if Magnus is his free pass out of Edom without needing to be summoned, then of course he wouldn't do anything to harm him. Physically at least. If Magnus gets killed, then bye bye revolving door between the realms."
Magnus debated the merits of conjuring a glass of alcohol and chugging it, or just bypassing a glass completely and conjuring a bottle.
Catarina was nodding along, but clearly keeping her eyes on both Magnus and Madzye, who was still playing, but had moved over to the jungle gym tower and slides area. "Magnus here is probably the most protected Downworlder on Earth then," she added, "he's probably keeping an eye on you wherever you are. Stopping to see you in Paris was a strategic move to keep you from potentially trying to banish him back to Edom if he ever decides you are in danger of dying and intervenes to keep you alive."
She didn't say stalking, but it was implied in her tone.
"Not that it would do any good to banish him!" Magnus wasn't shouting, but it was pretty close, even with his hands still covering his face. /By the Magic, I am so fucked!/
The conversation was interrupted when Madzye came back over to the bench, "Catarina, I'm ready to go home now."
The trio immediately noticed the ice cream cone she was licking, "Madzye," said Ragnor, eyeing the cone, "did you conjure up ice cream without asking Cat first?"
The little warlock shook her head in denial, "my friend gave it to me before he had to leave."
The three older warlocks immediately sat up straighter, even Magnus who was no longer laying on the ground, and were scanning the park for this 'friend.' The last person to pull that kind of trick was Valentine and the adults weren't taking any chances.
"What's your friend's name Sweet Pea?" ask Magnus as he continued to look around the park. A hint of black caught his eye, but when he looked more closely it was gone.
Madzye just smiled and continued to eat her cone, not answering his question, except, "I like his eyes. They are pretty like your Magnus."
Another Warlock then. Although there was a feeling in Magnus' gut that said it wasn't a warlock.
A sudden twinge in the pentagram at his side seemed to confirm Magnus' suspicions.
"I think it's time we got home," said Catarina, coming to a similar reasoning as Magnus, "Madzye still has some homework to finish before dinner. We'll see you guys later. Fire message or call if something else happens."
"Of course," said Magnus, "but you should also go as well, Ragnor." The 'in case the demon is stalking me, I don't want you to get hurt, killed, or used against me.' was implied, but still there.
The three of them portaled home separately. If Magnus threw up his strongest wards, and tiptoed around the corners of his house, expecting the demon to pop up again even with his precautions in place, that was his business. Nobody else's.
-end Chapter 2-