Chapter Text
Since Alec became the Head of the New York Institute, he had to visit Idris for a business matters quite often. Also often for even a few days. Magnus honestly hated that. There were plenty of reasons, of course beginning with the usual longing for Alec's presence,ending on the lack of trust in Clave's representatives. But that not what was bothering Magnus the most; the most painful thing was that he could not accompany Alec in any way as equal, no matter how much he wanted to. The low is the low, as Shadowhunters kept saying. The Downworld had no way of enter Alicante without a special invitation, which in the world ruled by the conservative Clave rules meant more or less that the Downworld could only dream about it.
Alec was gone for three days now, and Magnus had to survive another four without him. The meeting was unfortunately obligatory and Alec had no choice but to go. Which did not change at all the fact that Magnus missed him terribly.
They talked everyday of course. Always before going to sleep, one of them called to just say, "Goodnight. I love you".Pr at the morning for the simple “Hello, have a nice day”. This, however, was not the same and the worlock longed for the simple presence of hisboyfriend. Especially in bed. Clearly too much time has passed.
Magnus dragged himself off the bed and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. After losing magic, when he could not just summon things anymore, Alec did everything he could to make him feel better. He installed the light sensors in bedroom so that Magnus would not have to get up to turn off the light, he would buy a coffee maker so he would not have to go down to the café downstairs. In a word, he did everything to make Magnus feel as good as possible with a new situation. Now when he finally had his magic back, he was used to the "old" routine so much that he did not even want to use magic for it anymore.
He set up the espresso machine and while he waited for the coffee he checked his phone. He already had a morning message from Alec, with a standard Good Morning and information on how his schedule would look today. It looked like it would be in the auditorium until late in the evening.
Magnus sighed and poured a coffee. That’s it, looks like he had to cancel the plans for night phone conversation. He had so many hopes about that one! They had been together for some time, but some things they still didn’t try, and Magnus couldn't wait to try it out with Alec. Magnus simply loved to test new things and check how Alec will react to them.
After reading the message from Alec, he checked what else he has on his phone. There were several messages from potential customers, one from Lorenzo, which he decided to ignore and a message from Isabelle. This one interested him most. Besides Alec, of course, Isabelle was his favorite Lightwood. Instead of reading the message to the end, he decided to call her instead.
Isabelle answered after the second ring when he was in the process of applying (or rather summoning makeup).
- Hey Magnus - Isabelle's voice sounded happy and melodic as always - It's great that you are calling because I have a favor to ask for you.
Magnus smiled instinctively, Isabelle, like Alec, was one of the few hunters using the phrase "I have a favor to ask." Most of them didn’t did not ask, they order.
- Everything for you. What do you need my dear?
- It just so happens that today we have a small chaos in the institute. New recruits from Idris arrived and they causing absolute chaos. One of them threw the nunchaku to the right and left and caused some damage. Could you come and fix it? A visit awaits us and I do not want to go wrong. Alec would murder me.
The worlock fixed a hair a little bit and looked in the mirror. At the last moment he changed his purple jacket to red and nodded to himself.
- Of course I can. I do not have anything important planned for today. I will be at the Institute in a few minutes.
- Thank you very much! You're the best! See you in a moment.
Magnus hung up and reached for a cup of coffee to drink before leaving. Chairman Miau jumped into the corner of the couch, as if looking at him knowingly and slowly moved his tail. Magnus looked at him intently. His cat was quite strange and most of the time he spend on his favorite spot on the balcony. However, he had something in his gaze that disturbed Magnus. He had had Chairman for years and cats predictions never fooled Magnus. Worlock put down his cup, recognizing that it might be his own paranoia. Throughout the continuing chaos since the appearance of Valentine, the real peace seemed a bit abstract. He adjusted his jacket and opened the portal to the Institute.
Isabelle was already waiting for him.
- Come with me, I'll show you exactly what happened. You can also see the footage It's quite funny cause he hurt himself in the process - She winked - Any news from Alec?
- I didn’t talk to him today. In the morning he sent a text message that he would be at sessions all day, so I’m not expecting to receive any information from him.
- It's frustrating. They announced this meeting at the same time dropping the most workload on the institutes. We have new recruits, new regulations have been introduced and this control has been introduced...
- Surely you have nothing to worry about - Magnus consoled her - For now, you were great at the position of Weapons Master. Any control will only confirm this.
Possibly. Maybe you're right and I’m unnecessarily panicking. It's here.
Magnus looked at the training room and the place indicated by Isabelle. In fact, there was some destruction, but it was nothing he couldn’t deal with. Isabelle looked at the phone.
- I have to go now, but if you need something, you know where to find me. Come by my office when you’re done, ok?
Magnus just nodded and started to work.
***
Alec went to the balcony in the debating room and once again tried to dial the number. Finding a working network in Idris was always difficult, probably by cutting off the country from the world, but in some places it was possible to get through without any problems. Apparently he was not in one of them. After another unsuccessful attempt, he sighed and returned to the room. Most people had already come back, the break was really short, so there was no time to go too far. Alec was slowly moving to his place when his attention was attracted by a stir among the hunters around him. Everyone was looking at something behind him, the hunter instinctively turned to the balcony and view that stretched out of it. There was no longer a standard view of the towers, instead there was smoke. The towers were burning. And that meant the Alicante was left unprotected.
They didn’t have to wait long for effects. From the moment when the towers began to burn, and the alarm spread throughout the city, the minutes past till the city was flooded by demons. Most of the hunters at that moment threw themselves into the fight, the few were to call their relatives, but the vast majority went to arms. Alec was one of them. His weapons, however, remained in the room like the others weapons. He had only a Seraphic sword with him. Alec activated him and ran out onto the street. He did not have time to take more weapons with him, so he had to rely on what he had.
Everywhere around him a fight took place, the demons were just disappearing so that other ones would appear in their place. Alec managed to kill another demon attacking him, when he saw how one of them creeps to attack an unarmed child who just ran out into the street. The hunter, without thinking much, threw the sword straight into the demon's head and quickly destroyed it, he was about to run to take the abandoned sword from the ground when he saw the shadow behind him. He had no time to react quickly enough, and before he raised the sword, the demon struck him with all his strength.
***
Jace honestly hated the Seelie Realm. It was unfriendly, deadly and Jace associated with him much more unpleasant memories than the good ones. Clary beside him did not look happy being here either. They were called, however, by the Queen, and in the name of good relations Alec wanted them to go. Jace did not know what this time the Queen wanted from him and Clary - the last time did not end well. And this lack of knowledge filled him with anxiety about which sick games Queen may try this time. When they reached the palace with Clary, they stopped for a moment. Jace turned to her and looked at her intently.
- Ready?
- Do we have a choice? Clary raised an eyebrow and dragged him toward the entrance.
As soon as they entered, they were surrounded by seelies and, as a standard, took every weapon they had with them and only then lead them to the Queen. She sat at the table filled with food. She smiled broadly at them.
- Oh, how good that you came! I've been waiting for you! Please, sit down - she indicated the subjects to prepare places. As soon as they sat down Jace could no longer hold back the question.
- Your Majesty, it's an honor to be at your court, but we have not been informed of the reason for the visit. Could we know why you wanted to see us?
- Oh, my dear, politics everywhere, is it the only thing you want to talk about it? Wouldn’t it be better to talk about something nicer?
- Forgive me Queen - Clary said - but we need to return quickly and we do not have time for that. Why did you call us?
Jace looked at her with a smile. No one could, like Clary, be that blunt with Seelie Queen. This girl really had a fire in her. One of the things he loved about her.
The queen looked at them unbothered - Is there any place where you have to be?
Jace was about to answer that yes, but sudden pain stopped him. Alec. The pain came from the parabatai rune, which could only mean that Alec was injured. Jace involuntarily touched the burning place. Clary looked at him and it took her a second to understand what is happening. Together with Jace, they got up - We must already go. Jace parabatai...
Before they could make any move they were surrounded by the Queen's knights. Yet the Queen herself remained unbothered. She slowly stood up, adjusted her dress, and looked again at the pair.
- But my dears! It's rude to leave so fast! We still have so much to discuss!
***
Magnus had just finished the last repairs and was supposed to go to Isabelle's office when alarm went off. Soon all the shadowhunters were ready for upcoming danger. It soon turned out, however, that the alarm did not result from the attack on the institute, it was much worse. The pictures from Alicante began to display on the monitors. Burning towers. Hordes of demons.The city was on fire. And Alec was in it. Magnus didn't see the monitors anymore, the pictures from Alicante, he had seen like through the mist, the orders that went from the speakers did not matter to him either. Alec. Alec is in Alicante. Alicante was attacked. It took him the moment to see terrified Isabelle on the other side of the room. She hurried to him.
- Magnus!
The worlock, however, barely heard her. His thoughts were only with Alec. In his head he was already planning on how to get to Alicante.
- Magnus! - Isabelle's voice finally ripped him from his thoughts.
- The Institute is on lockdown. All portals have been banned. We are to remain cut off so that we do not risk the demons attack on the mundanes. For now, nothing more is known, they will inform us about the state of the city.
Magnus tried to process the information. Cut off. If New York was cut off, then other institutes too. And that meant ... that Alicante was left alone. Alec stayed in the severed city!
- You want to tell me that they just want to leave them!? Alone?! With a horde of demons!
- I know Magnus! I'm scared too! But there is a whole army in Alicante ...
- I do not care about shadowhunters army! I care about Alec! - Magnus didn’t care anymore about whatever he was raising his voice or not. It did not matter to him that all the Shadowhunters were now looking at him. Not necessarily with sympathy. Only Alec counted.
Isabelle took a deep breath.
- Do you think I don’t care?! Do you think I'm not worried?! For your information in Alicante there are two of my brothers! Two Magnus!
The warlock only now realized what Isabelle was saying. Alec mentioned that if he had time I would like to spend it with Max, who stayed in Idris to finish his training there before moving to the Institute in Los Angeles. Magnus looked sympathetically at Isabelle. None of her brothers was safe. Only now he noticed that her hand was shaking. He took her hand and hugged her. Only then did she allow her weakness and tears fell from her eyes but she quickly get it under control.
We have no time to waste. I will take over control over the Institute. I will try to find out something about the situations in Alicante. Maybe I can contact someone. Call Luke and my mom, inform the leaders. They should know what's going on. Let's try to take control of this situation. And check out the protection spells. If demons are to hit us too, we must be ready.
***
When Alec woke up he was sure he’s dying. If not from wounds, then surely from the attack of the next demon. Everything hurt, it felt like his whole body was on fire. With the rest of his consciousness he saw the figure leaning over him, or rather its outline. Through pain he saw only blurred lines. He felt someone's touch, for a moment he also thought he heard his name, but he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure about anything anymore. The pain was overwhelming, he realized it was probably the demon's blood in his veins. So this is how the dying feels like, he thought. Before he lost consciousness, he thought about Magnus. And then the darkness took him.