Jayson Bane || Alec Lightwood

1.2

 |Six Years Later|

The morning sunlight invaded my room, rudely disturbing my slumber. I grumbled and burrowed deeper under the covers, seeking refuge from the intrusive rays. However, a flicker of magic swiftly dismantled my peaceful cocoon, and my blanket vanished into thin air. With a resigned sigh, I sat up and shot a playful glare at Magnus, affectionately known as Pops. He grinned mischievously before sauntering out of my room, leaving me to grumble in his wake.

His voice echoed from the living room, calling me to attention. "You have ten minutes, Jayson. Meet me downstairs," he instructed. I begrudgingly threw on one of his oversized shirts and padded down the hallway, still half-asleep. Finding Magnus seated on the couch, I approached him with a questioning glance. "What's up, Pops?" I inquired, bracing myself for whatever errand he had in mind.

"I need you to get dressed; we're heading to my club," he announced casually, pouring himself a drink. Relief flooded through me at the mundane task, until his gaze landed on my attire. "Is that my missing shirt?" he teased, earning a sheepish grin from me as I retreated to my room to rectify the situation.

In quick succession, I swapped the shirt for something more suitable, opting for black ripped jeans and one of my favorite garter belts. Locating my white silk blouse, I breathed a sigh of relief and slipped it on before pulling on my boots. With a final glance in the mirror, I joined Magnus, ready for whatever the night held in store.

The journey to the club was as exhilarating as ever, the familiarity of Magnus's portals never failing to thrill me. As we strolled through the entrance, heads turned in our direction, drawn by Magnus's magnetic presence. He effortlessly charmed those around him, a skill I admired and envied in equal measure.

Kat awaited us at the table, her presence a welcome sight amidst the bustling crowd. I greeted her with genuine enthusiasm, leaning into her with a grin. "Kat! It's been too long," I exclaimed, ignoring her reminder that we had seen each other just the day before.

Our conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and shared drinks. Kat's playful teasing about my nocturnal escapades with my friends brought a flush of embarrassment to my cheeks, which she found utterly amusing.

Before long, Magnus intervened, citing an emergency in the VIP section that necessitated my departure. Despite my protests and inquiries, he swiftly ushered me back home, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my guitar.

As I strummed absentmindedly, Magnus reappeared, his demeanor more somber than usual. I couldn't help but question his abrupt decision to whisk me away from the club. His explanation of shadow hunters causing trouble only served to deepen my curiosity and concern.

With a reassuring smile, Magnus urged me to retire for the night, promising to share more details in the morning. I obediently made my way to my room, though not before stopping in the kitchen to take my medication, a routine reminder of my precarious health.

Deciding to seclude myself in my room for the day, I opted to catch up with my friends via FaceTime. Pops, sensing my mood, left me to my own devices, understanding that I was in the midst of one of my episodes. "Jay, did you get the list I sent you?" Lexi inquired, breaking the silence. I glanced up from my book, realizing I had yet to open her message. "Yeah, I got it. I just haven't had a chance to look at it yet," I admitted sheepishly, earning a reproachful sigh from her.

Attempting to change the subject, I turned to Xander. "Have you spoken to Bella recently? I haven't heard from her in ages," I queried. He shrugged, indicating he hadn't been in touch either. "She's probably swamped with exams, stuck in the mundane world," he remarked with a grin. Marcus couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark, which earned him a playful rebuke from Lexi.

After our lighthearted banter, it was time to get down to business. "We need to focus if we want to make progress," I reminded them, prompting a chorus of groans. "Hey, we have to put in the effort if we want to succeed," I insisted, determined to motivate my friends.

After bidding farewell to my friends, Pops barged into my room, tossing his wallet in my direction. Unfortunately, a stray coin jabbed me in the eye, eliciting a pained groan. "Pops, what the hell?" I protested, rubbing my eyes. He cut straight to the point, requesting that I fetch some flour.

Before complying with his request, I made a detour to the store, where I struck up a conversation with Linda, the friendly owner. After completing my errand, I strolled back to Pops, taking in the sights along the way. However, his unexpected call informing me of a change in our location plans left me bewildered.

Teleporting to the new address, I found myself atop a building, contemplating the scenery below. Suddenly, I overheard voices nearby, including one that struck a chord of familiarity. Ignoring the urge to confront them, I returned to the apartment, where Pops revealed that his request for flour had been nothing more than a ploy to coax me out of my room.

I grumbled in annoyance as he discarded the flour, feeling duped yet again. As he chuckled at my expense, I resigned myself to the fact that he had outsmarted me once more. Left alone in my room, I sighed and reached for my medication, pondering the events of the day.