The Mortal Instruments: The City of Dust

Chapter 9: The Magnificent Magnus Bane

  Clary stalked towards the door, her stomach fluttering every step. She could just hear the beat of the drum, and suddenly she was there standing in front of the red door. Her heart found the music's beat and joined in, beating quickly and loudly. She saw a group of Vampire Motorcycles on the side of the road, and her stomach sank. 

  "You know, Alec says some of them can fly." Jace said sounding amused, "Holy water would ruin one of those." He laughed deceitfully.

  She stared at the door, terrified to knock.

  "Now I don't think Mr. High Warlock is psychic." Jace leaned against the door and stumbled as it flew open, "I stand corrected."

  Clary took in the man in front of her, he was tall, at least six foot, and his spiked black hair added at least three inches. The warlock wore a brightly patterned robe atop leather pants and an unbuttoned tux shirt, revealing his bare chest. He had a bright pink bow tie placed upon his bare neck, and boots with made with what Clary was almost certain to be demon skin.

  "Now I don't remember inviting any of your kind." It was then, as he spoke, Clary noticed his eyes, they were slotted like a cats, and seemed to stare into your soul.

  "We weren't particularly invited, you see--" Clary stopped unexpectedly.

  "Well I must say I am not surprised to see you Clary."

  "I need you to reverse the spell, on my brain. I am here in behalf of the Clave. You see my mother was--" Jace cupped his hand over Clary's mouth.

  "May we speak to you in private?" Jace blurted out, giving Clary an annoyed look.

  "I suppose, but please no burning, tearing to pieces, poisoning, flicking holy water at, et cetera." He rolled his eyes allowing them in, "These people, are my guests. They may be your kill, but they are my friends."

  The boys gave a loud humph, as Clary followed Magnus towards his room.

  "Come on!" Isabelle hollered over the loud music, grabbing Simon's hand, and in seconds they disappeared into the crowd. 

  Ronan disappeared with Alec, and soon only Jace and Clary were left following the Warlock around, like ducklings, in a perfect line.

  Magnus' room, was messy and stacked with Spell Books and potions, Clary sat on the floor, something about it felt right.

  "You used to sit there when you were little, read my spell books." He smiled, "Of course you don't remember."

  "Reverse it, I want to remember." She replied crossing her arms.

  "Your mother used to take you here, twice a year. She had me perform a simple spell, and then knocked you out with another, so you wouldn't remember your visits. You were supposed to show up yesterday, that is how I knew something was wrong."

  "My mom, she--"

  "Wanted to protect you. Valentine had done a lot to you and your mother, your brother Jonathan-- Well all of you had a terrible burden just knowing the man. She wanted to protect you from the inevitable, it was foolish, but it worked for longer then I expected it to."

  "I want my memories back!" Clary cut him off in mid breath.

  "Even if I could give them back, you couldn't afford me."

  "The Clave could." Jace budded in.

  "I suppose-- but your memories will come back on their own. Until then, I am of no help. Sorry." He didn't sound or look sorry, but Clay knew his words were sincere, enough.

  "Well what can you do?" She asked, her heart sinking into her stomach.

  "Here." He handed her something wrapped in a white cloth, "It is a gift from your mother, she wanted to give it to you on your birthday, but--"

  She took the cloth unwrapping it carefully, inside was a locket. Clary opened it hesitantly, inside were two photos, one of her and her mother when Clary was five. She could remember that day, Luke had taken them for Christmas in Alicante. They had posed for a photo, a little old-fashioned witchlight powered camera, balanced in Luke's hands. They both were happy then, it was before Clary had moved in with the Aldertrees, she and her mother had lived in Park Slope then. The other photo was of an unusual looking man, a young boy and her mother, pregnant. The man was tall with broad shoulders and white blond hair, similar looking to the boy but quite bigger.

  "Thank you." Clary breathed.

  Alec barged through the doors breathless and looking shocked. Isabelle came in behind him looking distressed.

  "I couldn't find him Isa--" Ronan jumped through the doors behind the two, going silent when he saw Clary's face.

  "Couldn't find who?" She asked.

  "Simon-- he drank one of the potions, he-- he is a rat." Isabelle exclaimed.

                                                         ~***~

  "He is a what?" Clary shouted.

  "He--" Clary ran at Isabelle, Jace catching her by the arm.

  "She turned him into a rat!" She looked up at him, all her anger flooding away, "She--"

  "I know." Jace mouthed.

  "Where did he go?" Clary asked, using all her force to pull away from Jace.

  "I-- I don't know! He scurried away like a--" Isabelle looked super upset.

  "Like a rat?" Ronan suggested.

  "Where?" Clary asked, Isabelle pointed towards the bar, "You won't get away with this Lightwood." She walked towards the bar, then kneeled down, a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  She could barely see the outline of a furry creature, her heart raced.

  "Come on Simon. It's me, Clary. Just me." She whispered, "Come on buddy." She made a clicking noise with her tongue and he puttered towards her. She lifted him up, immediately knowing it was Simon, "Got him!" She ran towards Ronan, just as a few hard core Vampires walked towards the group.

  Magnus stepped forward.

  "They ruined our bikes!" The vampires shrieked, making Clary stand back.

  Jace smirked, Alec giggled, and  Ronan's face went white.

  "I am sure they did nothing of the sorts!" Magnus fought for them, "This is all one big misunderstanding." The vampires tried to fight past Magnus, but he held strong, "Enough! Leave! Your whole clan, the did nothing of the sorts."

  "We can't, those Fairy potions turned them into rats... and other an--" The tallest vamp budded in.

  "Well collect them and go!" Magnus shooed them away.

  The vampires turned to leave, giving a long sharp look at Clary as if it was her fault. She shrugged it off, shoving Simon into her purse, or someones purse... She stole it off a Fairy, while walking towards Magnus' room.

   Magnus seemed angry, and with a snap, the crowd was rushing towards the doors, Clary stuck in the middle. She grabbed at Jace, he was laughing.

  "How can you laugh?" She was feeling quite claustrophobic. 

  Jace went silent, as the crowd dispersed and Magnus' door slammed shut. Clary swore she could hear him curse behind it, but didn't bother trying to hear more.

  Clary walked in silence beside Jace, her eyes focused hard on the road in front of her. She couldn't imagine what could be hidden in her mind. Maybe she did really kill a toddler...

  She thought of Simon, and was suddenly aware of the lack of squirming coming from her purse. She dropped to her knees opening the bag.

  It was empty.