A Malec Story

Chapter 19: Twelfth meet

Magnus

It cost Magnus an immense amount of energy and power to keep the wards off the ship. Valentine had protected it well. Luke and Jace had left the truck ages ago and in the mean time Shadowhunters had come on boats. They all had boarded the ship and the battle was on. He could see the many swarming figures, demons and Shadowhunters fighting. Seraph blades swirling through the air. He didn't know who was on the winning side, but he did know they had to hurry the process along. He felt it would be a matter of hours, maybe less, before his energy would be drained.

He watched the boat and saw a girl with flowing black hair descend down a ladder from the side of it. Isabelle. She climbed down towards the Shadowhunter boat lying next to the ship. Magnus saw she tilted her head and he followed her gaze. His breath caught.

The lanky warrior with black hair was flying through the air, diving down fast and hit the water with such an impact that Magnus could hear it from where he was sitting. He didn't waste a minute, put a quick spell on the truck and dove into the water. With what he thought were his last magical efforts he drew Alec's body to him, through the water. As soon as he was in his reach, Magnus grabbed the unconscious body of the Shadowhunter and pulled him up in the back of the truck. From the corner of his eye he saw Isabelle had reached the Shadowhunter ship, she was watching them anxiously from a distance. Magnus climbed in the truck after Alec and hovered fearfully over him. He was lying on his back, his face paper white and he wasn't breathing. "Come on," Magnus said, slapping Alec lightly on the cheek, "Come on, Alexander. Breathe."

He rolled him over on his side and slapped on his back with a flat hand. "Don't you dare die on me." He called out.

For one agonizing second he thought he was too late, but then Alec's body spasmed. He coughed loudly and sat upright. Choking and gagging on the filthy river water.

Magnus sat back against the side of the car, feeling a profound relief. Alec was alive. Magnus was heaving from the physical exertion, watching Alec as he was trying to catch his breath. He was gasping. His face still extremely pale and his teeth began to chatter. "What—what happened?"

"You tried to drink the East River," Magnus said. "I pulled you out."

Alec looked bewildered, he grabbed around his belt, his head turning, looking for something as he remembered what happened. "Isabelle! She was climbing down when I fell—"

"She's fine. She made it to a boat. I saw her." Magnus reached for Alec, worried about his frantic state. He had hit the water so hard. "You, on the other hand, might have a concussion."

"I need to get back to the battle." Alec pushed his hand away. "You're a warlock. Can't you, I don't know, fly me back to the boat or something? And fix my concussion while you're at it?"

Magnus fell back against the truck. He was having difficulty keeping his eyes open. Fly me to the boat. Fix my concussion. He felt he was turning rapidly into Alec's little slave.

Alec apparently realized that himself as well. "Sorry, I know you don't have to help us out—it's a favor—"

"Stop. I don't do you favors, Alec." Magnus sighed deeply. Wondering if he should explain to the boy what was so obvious to him. How could he not know? "I do things for you because—well, why do you think I do them?"

Alec swallowed hard. The blue in his eyes almost gone in the dark. Magnus thought he looked beautiful. Burdened, upset, and confused but beautiful nonetheless. He saw a flicker of pain in Alec's eyes and thought for a moment that Alec might understand. That he truly liked him and cared for him. That he didn't want him to get hurt. That he wanted the best for him. For Alec to be happy. That was what he wanted.