Jonathan landed in the castle he called home for years, already feeling the oppressive Edom heat weighing him down. It was strange. Lilith wasn't here. She should be though. The Mark of Cain on that vampire had banished her back here at his rebirth.

"Lillith!" Jonathan screamed as he stretched his demonic energy out into Edom in a last ditch effort to locate her. /Where is she?!/

Nothing. There was no trace of her in Edom at all.

"Hello My Hunter," said another voice Jonathan knew all too well.

"Alec," said Jonathan, relieved. He opened his eyes to look at the taller demon. Alec was standing with his arms crossed in front of Jonathan, not too bothered by Lillith's absence. His appearance hadn't changed since the last time Jonathan had seen him.

"I see you are doing well," said Alec as he looked Jonathan over. "I'm glad the Mortal Realm agrees with you."

"Where is Lillith?" Asked Jonathan, getting right to the point. He wanted to finish this as quickly as possible to get back to Earth.

Alec gave a small smile, "come now My Hunter, surely you have a better sense of things than that."

Jonathan frowned, before reaching out with his senses again to locate Lillith. Suddenly Jonathan gasped, his eyes opening wide as he realized what had happened, "How… what…"

Alec's smile became a little wider, "I told you I would take care of her for you. It all started with a warlock…"

Alec proceeded to give Jonathan an abridged version of the things happening since Lillith started the resurrection process. Not because he didn't trust the other, but because there were things happening that the younger demon didn't know about, nor would they impact him. Alec asked about the rune that Lillith had given Jonathan and Clary's match. And suddenly it was Jonathan's turn to tell Alec about everything that had been happening and what he was trying to do.

"Hmm," said Alec, a plan forming in his own mind to go along with Jonathan's, "Perhaps there is something you can do for me when you find what you are searching for…" The two talked for what felt like hours before Alec suddenly disappeared via a summoning.

And Jonathan knew exactly where he needed to go next.

88888888

"I am still against this," said Jace as he watched Izzy finish setting up the Malachi configuration in the warehouse they were in. Yes, he was going along with the plan, but he wanted his thoughts voiced one more time before they clicked everything into place. Maybe it would push one of them into coming up with a better plan than summoning Lillith after having just defeated her.

"It will be fine," said Simon, always the optimist.

"Yeah. Thanks, by the way, for getting Cain here. Now go away." Said Jace as he fidgeted with his gloves.

"What?" Said Simon, blind sided by the dismissal, "why?"

"I don't have time to babysit you now that you don't have your mark," said Jace to the vampire, "You're defenseless."

"Defenseless?" Said Simon exasperated, showing his fangs and claws, "do these look defenseless to you?"

Izzy was to the side watching the pair's interaction and smiled slightly at the vampire while he hissed at Jace.

"Look," said Simon, "where Clary goes, I go. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Alright," said Clary, looking between the pair, "let's do this. I'm going to open a summoning portal inside the Malachi configuration. Once Lillith surfaces, she'll be trapped inside."

"If she breaks free," said Izzy, joining the conversation, but talking to Cain specifically, "use your vamp speed to get in front of us as a shield."

"I will do my best," said Cain with a false bravado.

"Everyone be careful," said Jace looking around the group, "she's not to be trusted at all."

Izzy nodded and pulled out her Seraph blade while Jace did the same.

Clary drew the ruin in the air, thinking about summoning Lillith into the Malachi Configuration. Inside the square a circle did form. The fire created in the circle flashed into the air before the whole thing vanished.

Smoke and ash remained in the Malachi Configuration square.

"That…" said Simon, breaking the confused quiet that had fallen around them in the warehouse, "was that supposed to happen?"

"No," said Clary, "That ruin should have summoned Lillith. She should be here where the pentagram landed."

"Clary," said Jace, as he tried to reassure Clary but also find answers to what went wrong.

"No!" Said Clary, interrupting him, "I drew the ruin right. I know I did. That's not the issue."

"Perhaps try another Greater Demon from Edom, like Asmodius," suggested Cain quietly.

"Or that demon that Magnus summoned," said Jace, "the one that was at the Warlock Day School- what was that asshole's name?"

"Alec," said both Izzy and Clary at once, "that might work," said Izzy continuing to speak, "he might be able to tell us what happened with Lillith. Wasn't that a part of Magnus' deal with him?"

Cain drew a sharp breath in, "This demon would have the power to somehow bind Lillith to Edom even against a summoning? That…" Cain didn't even know how to finish that sentence properly as he just shook his head.

Clary nodded, not realizing the gravity of Cain's hesitation, "Let me try again."

The group reset themselves and Clary started to draw the ruin again thinking about the demon she had briefly met at the Warlock School- trying to remember as much about him as she could both from what she had seen and from what the others had told her. This time, the flames drew up much higher but didn't flare out right away. When they did finally disappear, a familiar figure was standing in the middle of the square, arm's crossed, with a terribly unimpressed look on his face as his eyes traveled over everyone outside the circle.

Jace let out a snarl, which brought Alec's attention to him. But aside from a raised eyebrow and small smirk, it did not affect the demon in any way. He also wasn't talking, which was a little weird for the Shadow Hunters. Most Greater Demons loved to hear themselves talk when summoned.

Alec was actually weighing the pros and cons of conjuring a throne to sit on for this interaction. If only because he knew it would piss off the blonde shadow hunter even more than he already was. Perhaps he'd be angry enough to make a mistake, like trying to enter the square Alec was currently stuck in.

"Welcome back," said Clary, drawing Alec's attention away from Jace, which was her intention. When Alec still made no move to speak, Clary continued, "Lillith put a ruin on me and Jonathan. I want to know how to remove it and you're going to tell me how."

Alec's smile grew to show more teeth, "am I now?"

"You will if you want to continue living," growled Jace as he stepped up closer to the binding square, hefting his blade up in a combative stance.

Alec's eyes barely flicked in Jace's direction before returning to stare at Clary, causing the blonde Shadow Hunter to grow even angrier. "How quaint that the Shadowhunter's think they can order me around like a pet."

Simon had to physically hold Jace back from breaking the Configuration and releasing Alec.

"You're trapped," said the vampire, "and this is an abandoned warehouse. No one will come look for you if we were to leave you here. And you have no way of getting out of that square on your own. So if you answer our questions we will release you back to Edom."

"Hmm," said Alec, "that sounds like a terrible deal. No."

"Enough," said Jace, finally getting his composure back as he stepped away from Simon, "if you aren't going to willingly cooperate, then we are going to make you."

He nodded to Izzy, who stepped up to the square and touched one of the swords, which caused blue Angelic energy to swamp Alec.

Alec let out a hiss of pain, as he staggered drunkenly when the energy hit him. It was a brief attack, but concentrated. He barely got his feet under him before Izzy did it again. This time he couldn't control his scream of pain as he fell to his knees panting to catch his breath.

"Ready to talk now?," asked Clary haughty.

Alec glared at her, his eyes burning with hellfire flames, as he gasped in pain on the ground. Izzy turned the sword again and this time Alec spoke through his scream, "gaaah, there is only one way to break the connection."

Izzy immediately let go of the sword, but hovered her hand near the hilt as a precaution. Alec kept gasping for breath, but refused to curl up further in front of his enemy. He needed another minute to collect his thoughts, but Izzy's hand was still hovering over the sword's hilt.

When she looked like she was going to turn it again Alec did his best to answer the question, "there's only one way to break the connection," he repeated in an effort to stall so he could breathe through his pain.

"Well?" Asked Clary.

Alec grit his teeth, "you've heard of Michael and Lucifer? Yes? Lucifer possessed the Morning Star blade, but Michael had a sword of his own called Glorious. It was imbued with Heavenly Fire, which gave it the power to purge demonic energy."

"Heavenly fire?" asked Izzy thinking over the story.

"By stabbing Lucifer with Glorious," continued Alec, "Michael was able to nullify the rune's power and break the connection."

"Where is Glorious now," asked Clary, intrigued with the story.

"Nowhere," said Alec as he was finally able to stand again, "Glorious was destroyed the moment Michael pierced Lucifer. Its blade was shattered into a thousand pieces and lost to time." Alec stopped himself from saying anything else to the group, no matter how pissed he was. He knew they would react with more torture.

"No!" Said Jace as he moved to where Izzy had been turning the sword hilt, "Lillith put that rune on Clary and she will take it off. Where have you hidden her in Edom? Tell us now!"

Alec stayed quiet and Jace twisted the sword hilt, which sent the Greater Demon back to his knees in pain. "Not….hidden…," was all he could get out with his screams.

"Stop!" Shouted Cain over Alec's screams, which startled Jace enough to release the sword's hilt. The daywalker moved so he was kneeling at Alec's eye level across the square, "you…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but Alec nodded to him anyway in confirmation.

"How…" asked Cain quietly, as hope bubbled in his undead chest.

Alec's eyes moved to the daywalkers forehead and breathed out "deal," between pants of breath.

"Then I am in your debt," said Cain with wide eyes. Without warning the daywalker moved to where Jace was still kneeling and threw him away from the Malachi Configuration. He then moved to another sword and pulled it up, releasing Alec from his bindings.

Not even a second later, Alec was gone from the warehouse. Cain was also gone moments after that, taking the sword in his hand with him, as the angry cries of the teens echoed through the warehouse.

"Watch out!" Came from Izzy, as Jace was standing up from where he was thrown. The blonde barely had a chance to bring up his seraph blade as Jonathan attacked him from behind.

888888888888

Magnus was working on a potion in his office when he felt his bond flair hot then pain shot up and down his whole side. The pain flared three times, each time lasting longer than the previous before it finally stopped. Magnus was grasping his work bench with white fisted knuckles as he tried to get his breathing back under control while also not toppling into the potion he was making.

A moment later he banished the cauldron so if he did fall over it wouldn't land on top of him. The fourth time it happened was the worst and lasted the longest. When it finally let up, after what felt like hours, but was really only about a minute later, Magnus was looking at his ceiling, the work bench laid on its side next to him. /Thank Magic I banished that potion./

A minute later the bond pulsed again, this time without the pain. Magnus heard a crash from his living room that sounded suspiciously like something falling through his coffee table and smashing to the floor. "Alexander!"

Magnus got up with as much grace as he could muster then ran out of his office to the living room. When he finally got there his strength was back to full, the pain completely gone. However, Alec was lying in the glass and wood remains of his coffee table- completely unconscious. Magnus realized the okay feeling was only on his side of the bond. The demon was covered in small cuts and was sparking blue energy that Magnus realized was Angelic in nature.

The warlock had a bad feeling about this whole situation. He banished the broken coffee table and moved Alec to the couch, where he started to use some magic to heal the cuts. He debated the pros and cons of wrapping up the bond so Alec would stay where he was. Magnus didn't know enough about the situation to know if he had been summoned somewhere, or if this was something else. He finally decided to wrap the bond while Alec was unconscious and not able to defend himself. He wasn't sure why, but he thought it would keep Alec from being summoned again if that's what had happened.

Magnus' next task was healing the wounds being caused by the Angelic energy but also removing said energy as well. It didn't take long for Magnus to completely heal the Greater Demon. Now it was just a matter of waiting for Alexander to wake up. Magnus absently waved his hand to conjure a new coffee table, then moved to his drink cart to mix himself a martini. With both tasks done, Magnus sat on the newly conjured coffee table and waited for the demon to wake up. If Magnus spent that time with his eyes roaming over Alec's sleeping form, then that was his business.

About thirty minutes later, Magnus was halfway through his second Martini, when he saw Alec's brows twitch, and his eyes fluttered open. Right away, Magnus released his hold on the bond and gave Alec a small smile, "Hey. Glad to see you're awake."

Alec's eyes narrowed as he glanced around the room, trying to figure out what was happening. The demon blinked then sat up on the couch, turning to face Magnus head on. He cleared his throat and turned his eyes down, away from Magnus' kind smile.

Sensing Alec was embarrassed- another thing Magnus found odd about this demon, the warlock decided to change the subject, "drink?"

Magnus didn't wait for a reply, just got up to mix the demon a drink as well. He half expected Alec to be standing behind him again like the last time, but when Magnus turned, the demon was still sitting on the couch. Magnus handed him a drink and moved to an armchair across from him.

Alec took a small sip before setting it on the coffee table like last time. "I'm sorry for dropping in on you like this…" He trailed off, not sure what else to say. It wasn't often the demon had to apologize for anything he did. It was a novel concept to him.

Magnus shrugged, "It's fine. I'm glad you felt safe coming here when you were clearly in pain. You don't have to tell me… but can I ask what happened?"

Alec growled, "Shadowhunters," but didn't elaborate.

Magnus nodded knowingly. Alec knew the warlock had an idea about what happened, but he wouldn't tell him it was the ones he was friends with that had caused this pain.

Magnus cleared his throat, "Umm… I do want to tell you… uhh, when you were unconscious, I did, ah, I activated the bond," He swallowed and started talking faster, "but only because I thought it might keep you here- safe, I mean, if there was a summoning involved with why you were hurt. And umm, because you weren't conscious, to tell me what happened, I was just improvising?"

Alec gave a small smile then picked up his drink to take another sip before saying, "mm-hmm, again with the bondage Little Warlock?"

Magnus sputtered, but then realized the demon was teasing him. The warlock snorted and rolled his eyes before finishing his drink. He banished his glass with a snap of his fingers and decided to tease the demon back a little, "you know, I did heal you up. Perhaps I should get a reward in return?"

Alec raised an eyebrow, with laughter in his eyes, "oh really? What would you like for your reward Little Warlock?"

Magnus swallowed back his initial comeback that involved the two of them, less clothes, and a bed. He wasn't quite ready to take that step with a demon- no matter how handsome he was. "Mmm, perhaps you could come over here and give me a few kisses?"

Alec's smile got a little wider as he purred, "of course." He reached towards the coffee table to place his glass on it, before smoothly standing and making his way over to where Magnus was sitting in his armchair. He stopped in front of the warlock and used his knee to nudge Magnus' legs apart before kneeling on the ground in front of him.

Magnus was having issues breathing with the sight of Alec kneeling in front of him like that. Alec's smile grew, while his hands slowly ghosted up Magnus' legs then sides, barely making contact with his clothes. Magnus shivered, and leaned forward when Alec's hand reached his jaw. Alec leaned forward and up as well, balancing with one hand on the arm of the chair. He hovered his mouth over Magnus' for a brief moment before his nose ghosted over his cheek and his lips brushed against his jaw. When Alec's mouth reached his ear he breathed out, "you should be more specific with your requests, Little Warlock,"

Alec nipped his ear, then trailed his mouth back across Magnus' jaw towards his mouth. Magnus let out a whimper, and tried to turn his head toward Alec's mouth, but the demon used the hand on his jaw to keep him in place.

"That's cheating," Magnus gasped out, having trouble with higher brain functions. His hands were clenched on the arms of the chair. When Alec's mouth reached his chin, Magnus reached up, grabbed his face, then crashed their lips together.

Magnus' cell phone ringing broke the pair of them apart some time later. The pair of them were disheveled, and breathing hard. Alec swallowed, "until we meet again Magnus."

In a blink Magnus was alone in his loft again, while his cell phone rang shrilly in his office. "Blessed Magic," he said as he moved to grab his cell phone.

8888888888

Over the course of the following month there was a lot of energy buzzing through the Shadow world. The Shadowhunters were tense as more and more ex-circle members were being slaughtered across the globe. There were many Shadowhunters that blamed the deaths on the Downworlders. However, there was no proof to the accusations, and any Shadowhunter that tried to retaliate against a Downworlder found themselves being hospitalized as well. It took a while, but the Clave realized that it wasn't the Downworlders killing the Shadowhunters, it was a Greater Demon. They just couldn't figure out which one. In an effort to stop the depletion of their numbers even more, all pardoned ex-circle members were recalled to Alicante, inside the demon wards.

As an afterthought, the Clave issued a decree for Shadowhunters to not retaliate against the Downworlders, but it wasn't really enforced. However, for the Downworlders, word was spreading quickly that there was a powerful demon keeping them safe. There were whispers of it being a trick, but with more and more Downworlders being saved excitement quickly overtook the fear, no matter how odd the situation was.

Also, at the New York Institute, Jonathan managed to get Clary under his spell, or at least got her to give into their bond. Jace was pushing everyone super hard to find a cure, while also trying to get Clary back. He went to Magnus to try to get the warlock's help. However when Jace explained how the group had figured out about Michael's sword Glorious, Magnus snapped in anger and refused to help them unless the world was literally ending. With a flick of magic, Jace found himself out on the street, while Magnus' wards pulsed in front of him, denying him further entry.

Through all of that, Magnus and Alec started communicating more via text and the occasional phone call. At first, it was Magnus who would initiate the conversations- sometimes tidbits about his day, or thoughts he had that he wanted to share. Other times it was invitations to go out for drinks or dinner. Magnus wanted to learn more about Alec, to figure out the reason behind the Greater Demon's support of the Downworlders, but also to learn more about him in general- to try to solve the mystery that was the Greater Demon.

Alec agreed to a few dinner dates, and the pair would talk through the whole meal. The demon was hesitant to share much information about himself, which added to his allure in Magnus' opinion, but the warlock never pushed for more information than what Alec was willing to give. When Alec realized this, he also started to initiate more of their texts and phone calls.

Physically the pair hadn't moved past some seriously hot make out sessions, which was still fine with Magnus. The warlock was still partially struggling with the fact that he was semi falling for a demon. It was hard for him to wrap his head around, especially with what he knew about demons- they didn't do emotions like love. Lust, yes. Love? Not so much. Alec seemed to be happy letting Magnus set the pace, always pulling away before things could go too far, no matter how he teased Magnus on their outings or conversations.

Alec was a conundrum and Magnus was terrified of falling too hard for the other. A small voice in his head was whispering that it was too late for that- that Magnus was in way over his head, but he ignored it with as much gusto as he could manage.

Denial really was more than a river in Egypt.

By the end of the drama-filled month, Jace finally managed to break the bond between Clary and Jonathan that Lillith created. However, Jonathan snapped with the loss of connection to his sister, and embraced his inner demon with the help of the Seelie Queen. At the same time, Glorious, the sword they used to separate the siblings, exploded and managed to pierce Izzy with multiple shards when she was protecting Simon in the Seelie Realm.

However, all of that was put on the back burner, when days later Jonathan managed to drop the demon wards around Alicante and opened a rift to Edom, which had demons pouring through en masse.

When word got back to Max, as Head of the Institute that Alicante was under demon attack, Clary opened a portal for their small group of Max, Izzy, Jace, and Simon to help contain the threat and possibly stop Jonathan once and for all.

What they arrived in, was utter chaos. Families were running through the streets trying to evacuate, while demons flew overhead breathing fire at the crowds. Jonathan was using his wings to fly around from location to location, making it harder for Clary and Jace to corner him.

Max rallied the group on the stairs leading to the main square, ready to make a last stand against the demon horde. However before they could attack, a fireball was shot from behind them into the demons, making that group explode.

"Sorry I'm late," said Magnus as he readied another fireball, "traffic was hell."

"Magnus!" exclaimed Max, "you came! I wasn't sure if you would after Jace told you what he and the others did."

"I did say world ending problems only from now on. I feel like this qualifies." Magnus responded back, letting off another pulse of magic.

Around them the demon-tower assault guns exploded, as the demons turned their focus primarily onto them.

"Look," said Magnus, "I don't think I'll be able to close this rift here. I think I'll have to do it from Edom." He started to create a portal as he spoke, but was cut off by a familiar voice from behind him.

"Now, now, Little Warlock," said Alec as he walked over to their group, "would you really go all the way to Edom for this group of Shadowhunters? Again?"

"I don't really have a choice," said Magnus as he kept his focus split on the portal and Alec himself. Which is how he realized that Alec was covered in blood again, like he was at the Warlock Day School.

Max made a sound like he was going to interrupt their conversation, but the arrival of Jace and Clary, both with startled gasps, stopped him. Max held a hand up to keep Clary and Jace back away from Magnus and Alec, just in case the demon decided to attack them.

"You always have a choice, Little Warlock. Or did you forget our deal already?" Alec was standing next to Magnus now, but kept his attention split between the warlock and the shadowhunters. He wasn't going to turn his back on them ever, especially with the previous summoning.

Magnus abruptly closed the portal, "you would help me when I needed it… so you'll go to Edom to close the rift?"

Alec wrinkled his nose in displeasure, "why would anyone want to go to Edom. No, the rift can be closed from here, by us working together." He held out a blood covered hand towards Magnus, "unless you are still too hesitant about me and my intentions. Then yes, by all means go to Edom alone to close the rift."

Magnus' world tilted as he registered what Alec was proposing. To share power with a demon… that was unheard of! The warlock remembered back to the other parts of their first meeting, where Alec refused to allow Magnus access to his magic. Now… now he was willing to help Magnus close the rift so the warlock wouldn't be stuck in Edom forever. The trust alone was staggering to contemplate. /But…/ Thought Magnus, /if I'm stuck in Edom, then if he gets sent back *he's* stuck in Edom…/

Before he could change his mind, Magnus reached out and took Alec's offered hand in his own. Even with the thought that Alec was using him to stay out of Edom, the demon was still willing to share his power with him.

"Max, you can stay and guard our backs. The rest of you go find the demons still loose and get rid of them. That's not a request." Magnus wasn't going to let Jace or Clary interrupt the spell to attack Alec. Not with the demon willing to trust him like this.

Max nodded, and gestured for the others to go do what Magnus was saying. Jace looked ready to protest, but a glare from Max kept him quiet and moving away as Clary pulled on his arm. At the same time, Magnus and Alex both closed their eyes and focused their magic on their joined hands. They both also opened the bond completely- both for the first time, to help boost the connection.

Slowly the magic gathered around their hands. As one they lifted their hands towards the rift and released their magic into it. It took a few seconds, but the rift slowly did begin to close.

When the rift was completely closed, Magnus and Alec lowered their hands, releasing their hold on their magic. However, before either of them could close the bond, they were flooded with memories from the other.

A look of horror overtook Alec's face, while Magnus gasped in surprise at what he was seeing. Alec ripped his hand away from Magnus and stumbled away from the warlock in a panic. He tried to close the bond between them, but couldn't focus enough to do it. He ended up vanishing before Magnus could even begin to process the memories overwhelming him, or try to stop the demon from running.

Alec, Magnus realized, wasn't scared of Magnus' memories. The demon was scared of Magnus seeing his own history. Scared of how Magnus would react. Scared of rejection.

Magnus had that realization right as Alec managed to close the bond from wherever he was now, while also realizing the city was getting dark, very quickly and the ground was getting very close.

"Magnus!" Called Max, as Magnus fainted from memory overload, and his brain tried to process what he was seeing.

-End Chapter 5-