Chapter 26
I lay awake all night thinking about the wedding. Could I do it? Could I watch the man I maybe, sort of, possibly have feelings for get married to someone else? I really didn't know, and when it reached morning and the birds began to chirp I still hadn't reached an answer. All the guests had been excused from morning preparations to get ready but I didn't need that long so went over to Magnus' to see if he had had any luck with Ragnor's stuff. I spent a couple of hours there searching through to see if we could find anything of importance until my phone rang. It was Izzy. It was time to get back. Until the phone call rang off, I hadn't realised I was just staring at the phone.
"You're not picking that up?" I shook my head.
"I can't." Magnus came and sat by my side.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't watch him get married."
"Why not?" Magnus probed.
"You know why?" I snapped, getting upset.
"Say it."
"Because I… I have feelings for him. And I think he does for me. And now we are never going to be able to explore that because of this sham of a marriage."
"So what are you going to do about it?"
I shrugged. "What can I do about it?"
"Stop it."
I rolled my eyes. "This isn't one of those movies." Magnus stood suddenly.
"Who are you? Because the Charlie I know, is a badass, who doesn't just let things happen that she doesn't agree with. If you don't agree with this, then make a stand or if you can't be the other Charlie."
"Who's that?"
"The loyal friend. Who's there for everyone, especially when they are doing something as big as this." I nodded gently before checking my phone. I now had 3 missed calls from Izzy and 2 from Clary.
"I have to go." I stood as Magnus produced a Portal.
"Wanna lift?" I grinned and ran through the Portal into my room. I grabbed the dress off the bed and ran into the bathroom to change. I still had time so did my makeup and hair in lightning speed. Looking at myself in the mirror, I sighed. Not as grand as Izzy probably would have done it but it suited me. Looking at my phone again I realised it was time. I walked down to the assembly hall and crept in through the back. I didn't want to draw attention to myself, meaning I could leave if I wanted too. Annoyingly my eyes met Alec's as soon as I walked in. I gave him a small smile and a nod which he returned. Clary saw me and beckoned me over. I shook my head and stayed where I was. She smiled sadly understanding and turned back around.
The Silent Brother at the front of the hall thudded his stick into the ground. Silence fell.
"Attention. The ceremony is about to commence." My hands shook as everyone turned to watch Izzy walk in. She looked beautiful, her golden dress swishing around her feet. She made it to the front, and all our attentions were drawn to Lydia. I was gobsmacked. She cleaned up well. Her hair was pulled back into a delicate braid and her dress was covered in diamonds. Her smile was the brightest thing though. She looked genuinely happy. I flicked my eyes to Alec who still looked unsure but drew them away when his met mine again. He helped her up the stairs and they faced each other. I clenched my fists together. I needed to stay as long as I could. For him. Lydia turned and took a golden bracelet of the pillow Izzy was holding and gently placed it around Alec's wrist. Alec then turned and took a necklace off the pillow Jace was holding. No words were said. No vows nothing. That was the Shadowhunter way. Lydia turned and he placed it round her neck. Again, his eyes caught mine and I offered him what I hoped was a strong smile. I felt my lip wobble and hoped he hadn't seen. They both turned away and faced the Silent Brother.
"It is time for Alec Lightwood and Lydia Branwell to mark each other with the Wedded Union rune. A rune on the hand, a rune on the heart, a union is born." Lydia took the stele from the pillow and touched it to the stone. She turned to Alec as he offered his hand. I didn't think I could watch anymore. Just as I turned to leave, I caught Alec's eye one more time. I couldn't hide my lip this time, as much as I bit down on it. Lydia turned to look at me as well, which then caused everyone too. I didn't really notice because of the look on Alec's face. His face was steely and his eyes strong. He'd made his choice. Nerves caused my skin to tingle. I flicked my eyes around to the audience who currently looked like they were watching a tennis match turning their gaze from me to Alec. I gulped. I watched as Maryse got up and walked over to me taking my hands gently.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen." She smiled softly at me.
"This is his choice to make." She whispered before turning back to him. His eyes were still locked on mine. I saw Jace lean over and whisper something before he pulled his eyes from me and looked back at Lydia. I wondered whether that was it. Whether he had chosen her. I watched them talk before she put her hand on his cheek and caressed it gently. She dropped her hand and he turned towards the audience. He didn't say anything, but I watched him take a deep breath. He slowly walked down the steps leading from the alter and stopped again. My breath caught on every intake, my head feeling light. He kept his eyes locked on mine. I felt Maryse let go of my hands and step back. I looked at her but she just nodded back to Alec. My eyes connected with his again as he began to walk up the aisle towards me. I couldn't breath, my head felt like it was about to explode, and just before I thought it might, I felt his warm hands clasp my cheeks and his lips touch mine. Now you know when people say they feel fireworks when they kiss someone, I never believed it; until now. My arms found their way round his neck as our lips moved together in perfect harmony. It was full of want and need and trying to express exactly how we felt for each other in one kiss. I drew back for a second to look at him and to catch my breath. All of the almost exploding head thing meant I had forgotten to draw breath. I smiled and leant in. This time it was soft and gentle, just two people realising that they had done it - that the hard bit was over. We drew back again and he rested his forehead against mine whilst I rested my hands on his cheeks. I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. As I breathed out, I giggled. I don't know why it happened. Probably because the most amazing thing in the world had just happened, but also because Alec was grinning. I hadn't seen him grin in so long. My laugh made him chuckle so for a second we stood their locked in each other's arms giggling to ourselves. That's when I locked eyes with Maryse who was stood behind Alec and remembered we were in a room full of people.
"We have an audience." I whispered.
"Shit." Alec whispered causing to me giggle again.
"To late to bail?" I suggested, causing him to give me one of those looks. I shrugged. We stood back from each other and glanced around at the crowd. Most looked confused, but the ones that mattered, our family were grinning ear to ear. Izzy came bounding up to us like a puppy.
"Alec, I am so proud of you." She beamed as us. I looked up at Alec as he took my hand. He still looked a bit shell-shocked; which wasn't helped by the appearance of our other puppy in residence.
"Guys, that was incredible." Simon babbled. "It was like watching the live version of The Graduate. You know, the Dustin Hoffman movie? The amazing one? You were Ben. "Elaine"" He cried, trying to mimic Dustin Hoffman, gesturing to me. "And you were Elaine," this time gesturing to Alec. "I mean, a, a taller, masculine, handsome version of her. But at the altar, though, you were like…" He gasps and pretends to see me at the end of the aisle. "Ben!" This came out in a weirdly feminine voice. "And then and then now, you're both sitting on the bus at the end of the movie, both totally stoked, but wondering, like "What're we gonna do now?" You know?" Simon finished his little rant, which left me smirking at Alec's very confused expression.
"Who invited the vampire?" He turned to me. I could tell he was joking, but I'm not sure Simon could.
"Seriously?" I giggled at Simon's response and subtly shook my head. A whoosh caused us to look behind us at a Portal that had just opened. Magnus stepped through looking apprehensive. I gave him a soft smile causing him to beam.
He swished past us dropping a kiss on my cheek, "Good choice," He mumbled to Alec who nodded and took my hand. I squeezed it and smiled up at him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked Magnus curiously.
"We need to speak privately," He looked behind us to where Clary and Jace were talking. "All of us." I nodded firmly and catching Clary's eye nodded to the Magnus and then the door. She nodded and we headed to the training room.
As we walked in Magnus cast a spell causing an abundance of items to appear on the table before us. "I pulled every item of magical importance from Ragnor's belongings. But I can't determine which will lead to the Book of the White." I glanced round the table to see if I could get an impression of any, but nothing came.
"Wait, this bookmark. I've seen it before." Clary showed it to me, and I nodded. The alternate Magnus had had it. "In the alternate dimension you showed me a book of spells, and this was in it." Alec quirked a brow at me. I forgotten he didn't know about our travels over the last few days. I guessed that conversation would come imminently.
"It must have been the Book of the White." I filled in.
"If that's the case, we can use the bookmark to track the owner of the book." Alec supplied. I smiled; I had missed this. All of us working together.
"Okay." Jace said reaching for the bookmark. Magnus snatched it away.
"Warlock tracking is stronger." I grinned but this soon subsided as he passed it over to me.
"Me?" I open and closed my mouth a few times before taking the bookmark from him.
"Feel it," Magnus whispered. I nodded and held in firm in my grasp. Closing my eyes, I rubbed my hands over the material getting a feel for its physical feel before reaching out for its magical signature. I caught a whisp of it and caught hold of it. Following the path, it presented I started to get a picture.
Tall, creepy building. Familiar. Hotel DuMort. Basement. A loud shrill scream and a flash of an unfriendly face caused me to pull back and open my eyes.
The others were all looking at me in suspense. I nodded gently causing Magnus to smirk.
"Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is we all know the owner."
"And the bad?" Alec probed.
"It's Camille."
"Camille?" Clary gasped. I nodded again.
"Looks like Raphael has her locked up in the basement of the Hotel DuMort." I tried to hide my smirk. That's what you get when you mess with us. "Remind me to high five Raphael for that." I smirked at Alec who just rolled his eyes. He'd missed me really.
"Well, after I punched her, there's no way she'll help me." Clary groaned.
I raised an eyebrow. "You punched a vampire?" She grinned at me. "I taught you well."
"She won't have a choice. Trust me." Jace murmured. Jace stalked off and Clary followed with a sigh. Magnus looked between Alec and I and excused himself also. I snickered as he walked out. I heard Alec take a deep sigh.
"I'm so glad we got away from that crowd and all those people. So intense." He grinned at me and I couldn't help but smile back.
"I've missed you." I reached for his hand which he gladly took. "I haven't had the chance to apologise." He looked confused. "About rescuing Meliorn." He sighed and stepped forward.
"It's okay. It's in the past." I sighed and rested my head on his chest. I felt him rest his chin on my head and for a second we just stood there, appreciating the silence. It had been a crazy couple of days. I looked up at him, our eyes connecting. Golden specks lit up his eyes beautifully, however they soon turned to confusion.
"Alternate dimension?" I blew out a chuckle.
"It's been a crazy few days." Alec raised his eyebrows but nodded, nonetheless.
"I'll say." He smiled down at me. I grinned. "So, how was it?"
"Crazy. It was like this world but there was no Shadowhunters." Alec furrowed his brow.
"What?"
"Shadowhunters hadn't existed for generation. Downworlders were still a thing but they all lived privately. You want to know the craziest bit."
"There is crazier than a world without Shadowhunters?" I nodded with a smirk.
"We all still knew each other." Alec's eyebrows raised.
"Clary's parents were together. Jocelyn and Valentine – but he wasn't evil. He was never a Shadowhunter and never knew about the Downworld so never turned bad. He ran this tech company out of the Institute. Izzy worked for him. She had a bit of a crush…"
"On Valentine?!" Alec looked horrified.
"Yep. Clary was in art school, like she had always planned. She was with Jace, who worked at this coffee truck in the park. Simon was still with his band and not a vampire. You were a party planner- which I never thought would be the path you took but it made sense. You love being organised." Alec rolled his eyes.
"What about you?"
"I was there. Still best friends with Clary and Simon but there were some changes." I took a deep breath. "My parents were alive." Alec put his hand on my shoulder in comfort. I took it gently and moved it in to my lap. "I saw my dad. I spoke to him about my life and mum and you…"
"Me?" Alec looked confused again. I smiled softly.
"In the alternate universe, we were together." Alec nodded gently. "More than that actually, we were engaged. It was weird. When we were there, we took the spot of our alternate self, but they were still there. It was like we were fighting for control. Sometimes they would take over and I'd start talking about the wedding and the planning procedure and about things that the real me had no idea about; but I was saying it. My lips were moving. I felt what she felt and what I felt. It was kind of overwhelming. We had to not let the real us get lost in this fantasy. It was hard – it was an entire world exactly how I wanted it. My parents, Clary, Simon, you… there was no war or pain or suffering just joy and fun."
"Did you want to stay?" Alec murmured. I took another breath.
"For a second, yeah I did." An audible sigh from him caused me to look up. "You have to understand that the world I was coming back too was a bleak one. My parents gone, Valentine and to top it all off you were going to get married. Seemed like an easy fix. But do you want to know what changed my mind." He nodded. "You."
"What?" I sighed, knowing that I was about to reveal more about the inner workings of my mind that I really wanted too but he needed to know.
"Well sort of. The alternate you really. He looked at me like you do now, and we laughed and joked like we do, but… he wasn't you. As much as he looked and sounded and acted like you, I knew that he wasn't, and it wasn't him that I had feelings for. It was you. It was you that I fought and killed demons with. It was you who pulled me from the clutches of the memory demon. It was you who I swore I would make watch Harry Potter. You that I had introduced tea too. All the things that make me feel the way I do hadn't happened between me and him. So as much as I had almost everything I wanted, I didn't have you so…" Silence fell.
Alec took a deep breath. "But how did you know that I wouldn't marry Lydia?" I shook my head.
"I didn't. But I would rather live in world in which you're married to someone else but everything that happened between us actually happened, than live in a world where it didn't." Again, we fell into silence. I kept my gaze on our joined hands not wanting to see his face. My cheeks burned with embarrassment at the amount that I had just shared. I felt his other hand lift and rest gently on my cheek. He crooked his finger under my chin and tipped my head up to look at him. Our eyes connected and before I could say anything to backtrack the deep insight I just gave him, he kissed me. Soft, sweet and simple. It lasted only for a few seconds but I found myself breathless by the end all the same. I had let my eyes flutter closed and kept them that way as I focused on how close his body was to mine. I could feel his body heat causing my arms to prickle with anxiety.
"Open your eyes," He whispered to me. Slowly I let my eyes open and look at him again. He was smiling. A soft, genuine and wholesome smile. "For a moment after I ended with Lydia, I wondered whether I had done the right thing - throwing away everything we had planned. I thought when I kissed you that I was certain that I had done the right thing, but truthfully I don't think I was." My eyes fell to my knees. "I am now." His voice was so quiet I almost didn't hear him but when I looked at him again, I knew he was telling the truth. Warmth spread through my chest, pooling in my stomach, shooting through my arms and legs causing my toes and fingers to tingle with electricity. I bunched the lapels of his jacket in my hands and pulled him to me gently. Our lips met again – emotion flowed through us, a mixture of excitement, happiness, nerves and worry. His hands cupped my face pulling me closer and closer until every breath was shared between two. My hands found his shoulders and I pulled back and rested my head on his. His hands moved down my arms to my hands. I opened and stood back, keeping hold on Alec's hands I hopped up and sat on the table. I sighed deeply.
"I can't believe you actually did it." I grinned up at him. A quiet clacking of heels interrupted Alec's next statement as Maryse and Robert entered the room. I went to drop Alec's hand out of panic, but he held it strong. Maryse saw this interaction and smiled.
"Not quite the conclusion we were expecting but were not opposed to the idea." I blinked but said nothing. Maryse was okay with this? I thought that her son marrying strategically was her idea of smart.
"This doesn't mean you're going to make Isabelle marry, does it?" Alec blurted out. Maryse looked to Robert, and they shared soft smile.
"We have decided it's time for you to make your own decisions. Clearly we can trust them." She nodded to me. I was still stood in complete shock. "Are you okay, Charlie?"
"I don't understand. I thought you would think I was putting him in danger." All present Lightwoods looked at me in confusion.
"Why would you think that?" Robert asked gently.
"Because of what I am. Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike are going to come for me and I've put your entire family in danger by being here." Maryse smiled and put a hand on my shoulder.
"When you first got here, I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly." Alec looked at his mother in shock. "But after talking with you and seeing how you act around everyone, I can see that you're loyal, trustworthy and most importantly your parent's daughter." I stared at her in disbelief. "I trust you completely around my children, you don't need to worry about that." She squeezed my shoulder before turning to Alec.
"So I haven't disappointed you?" He murmured to his mother. Maryse shook her head.
"Quite the opposite, my son. You followed your heart and made a tough decision; for that we're proud." Maryse smiled at the pair of us before turning and leaving. Robert stood in front of us for a second before saying, "That was quite the show." He grinned a boyish grin before following after his wife.
Alec and I stood in stunned silence for what felt like hours before he turned to me. "What just happened?"
I shook my head blankly. "I have no fucking idea." I coughed out a laugh.
"I think that's the first time she's ever admitted to being proud of a decision I've made." Alec grinned. I shrugged my shoulders. Alec cleared his throat gently getting my attention. "Would you maybe wanna, I don't know, get a drink sometime?" I laughed at the backwards timeline of this relationship but nodded.
"I would love that."
"Great."
