Better Angels

Chapter Two: Magnus

Chapter Two

Magnus

Magnus wasn’t sure whether or not to clue on the Nephilim of whom they were about to face or the secrets that Victoria had been keeping. But he knew that he had to for they needed to know who was going to be at their doorsteps in a matter of minutes. They would be meeting some of the most powerful Immortals of all time. Nicholas Flamel, Perenelle Flamel, Sophie Newman, and Josh Newman aka Marethyu, Death. Magnus left Victoria’s side, leaving her in the capable hands of Isabelle Lightwood, in search of the other Nephilim.

Magnus took a deep breath of air as he exited the infirmary which smelled of blood. Though it ended up that two of the three Shadowhunters came to him. Clary came up with a bewildered expression on her face before entering the Infirmary after Magnus told her that he wished to speak with all of them. Then came Jace who appeared pale and stricken.

“Jace?” Magnus asked wearily. Jace’s eyes focused on him.

“Victoria... ghost,” Jace whispered. Magnus arched his eyebrows and quickly ushered Jace inside and had Clary get him a glass of water before setting off in search of Alec. Alec and Victoria were very close and Magnus knew that Alec would most likely be where Victoria’s presence was. Her favorite place. The Library. Magnus quickly found his way to the Library and found Alec. He was sat at the window seat looking out over Brooklyn. Even though they were broken up Magnus had never loved anyone like he loved Alec. The sun cast a glow around him deepening the contrast between Alec’s black hair and the world around him.

Magnus cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but there are some things that we all need to discuss involving Victoria, and how we are going to get her well.” Alec nodded silently before standing and brushing past Magnus without a word.

Magnus let out a sigh of frustration and ran his fingers through his short black hair before pressing them on the side of his nose to relieve the build up of pressure. As much as he wanted to worry about his no longer existent relationship with Alec he knew that he had to place these thoughts into the very back of his mind if he wanted to help Victoria. He would not lose her again. So many times had they lived together and been each other's family, but then he lost her every time, and it never ceased to be painful even though he knew that he would see her again. Magnus also knew that Victoria would be very young and he would watch her grow up and then die again. He would watch as her youthful eyes would slowly become guarded and frightened for she knew that every time she lived there was no way to escape death.

This was different though. She was only seventeen though her eighteenth birthday was a three months away. This would be the last time that Victoria would be reborn. Magnus was going to make sure that Victoria made it to her birthday this time. She would live, but then cursed like he was. The curse of immortality was one that many people would welcome as a friend. They would view it as a gift. To never age and never die. Though sometimes Magnus did view it as a gift at one point in time now all he sees is death. He'd seen empires rise and fall and he watched as people that he'd come to care about grow old and die around him. Why would anyone want such a curse and call it a gift? This was the question Magnus had asked himself so many times until he finally found the answer. He hadn’t even realized that he knew the answer until a young William Herondale asked him how he had endured so many deaths when his parabati, James Carstairs, was lying on his deathbed. Magnus could remember his answer as if it were yesterday for he had kept these words with him ever since. 'You asked me how I, being immortal, survive so many deaths. There is no great secret. You endure what is unbearable, and bear it. That is all.'

To endure was all Victoria had ever done. She lived every day with the memories of her death and every day she knew she was getting closer and closer to dying again. Though she had stayed strong in the face of fear and death. Magnus knew her better than that. The young Nephilim had never really seen her in emotional pain until the days that followed that battle in Idris. When she had lost someone she called her brother. Maxwell Lightwood. His death brought up the painful memories of losing her family.... but enough of all that. Magnus needed to address several grieving Shadowhunters.