Broken Rose

Chapter Six: Ave Atque Vale

Chapter 6: Ave Atque Vale

-1953 -

Blood ran cold as it dripped its way down a limp body and onto a dirty, dusty floor. Cat eyes glanced around the old, broken-down, rusty room with tears glistening in them. He was far too late to save the poor latino dead on the floor in front of him, barley two steps away. He had not come soon enough. He had failed in his task. What would he say to the young boy's mother?

The caramel-skinned boy blinked at him, his mouth stained red from the blood he'd just drank.

"What am I?" he choked, eyes trying not to let tears fall out, but he was just a scared fifteen year old boy so down they went. He wiped at them quickly, almost like he wanted to get them before the warlock saw, but he saw them indeed. Magnus sighed. He didn't want to tell him this. He dreaded it but there was no avoiding it.

"You're a vampire," the words left his mouth before he could stop them and once they had flown into the air to dance with all the others he felt enormous pity for the poor child in front of him. The boy sank to the ground and cried. Once the blood and tears had stopped dripping onto the floor he looked up at Magnus.

"I'm a monster." His eyes hardened and Magnus felt afraid of what the boy would do. He believed he was damned and that his God would no longer love him but that was not the case.

Raphael looked up and glanced at a spot of sunlight that had snuck its way past the boards of the rundown motel that the vamps of New York lived in. Dust and other unpleasant things floated in its mist. He looked up at Magnus and that's when it all clicked for him. He jumped to hold the boy down as he tried to jump up and run towards the sun. He thought it would save him. It would not...

It would only hurt him as it burned his skin away forever.....

- Present -

Magnus looked at Raphael, worried. 'Would he kill me so easily?' He thought. 'Did saving his life all those years ago mean nothing?' Thoughts ran around his head over and over again as Raf grabbed the knife and Jonathan's eyes lit up like Christmas lights. He enjoyed this, that sick freak. Magnus glanced at Raphael, his face unreadable. Jonathan grinned.

"Go on, vampire. Save your soul so you may go home." Raphael rolled his eyes and flung the knife to the ground. He turned to look at Magnus and spoke, his face open in a way that Magnus had not seen in years. Not since he told a fifteen year old boy that he could never walk in the sun again.

''I have no soul but I made you a promise on my mother's doorstep and she was sacred to me. I was a child then. I am not now. I cannot; I will not. I owe him a debt from many years ago." After he said that he would not kill Magnus the warlock didn't feel at ease like he should have. It only meant one thing. Raphael was more than likely not going to come home and that thought alone made him want to cry and beg the demon that wore jocelyn's son's face to give him mercy.

At that, Jonathan's eyes turned black and he growled at the vampire.

"Fine. If you wish it to be so, your debt is now fulfilled. And with it, your life is now mine." With that, a stake was pushed through a heart that had not beat for seventy years and Raphael was turned to dust, shattering Magnus's heart. It blew away along with the last remains of the son he'd raised from a child. The howls of Magnus's pain could be heard from miles and miles around. All the way to Seelie and past, making Alec's heart stop and his eyes pool with tears.

Something very wrong had happened.

___________________________________________

- Seelie -

The group fell into an icy pond that took their breath away with every inhale they dared to take. Isabelle was the first to pop her head out of the water and look around, gasping. It looked just like winter. Was it? Or were their heads being played with like toys in the Seelie Queen's sick game? Izzy shuttered, getting out and grabbing their things.

The next to resurface was Jace, with Simon and Clary following shortly behind. They all looked tired and cold. Funny, since they had all just woken up and jumped through the portal to the realm of the fey. They all got out to dry off since the water was oddly very real and made them feel iced to the bone.

Alec loved this feeling. It was so painful and it made him stop thinking of the problems they were facing. It helped his mind think...the pieces all clicked and he knew exactly what had happened. He jumped up, gasping. He looked at his family on the shore and swam to them. Getting out was a lot harder since he was dripping and his clothes were a lot heavier when they got wet but Alec trudged up to the shore and changed his clothes.

After they were dry they started heading towards the throne room, or where they thought it would be. Since they'd only ever been escorted to the throne room by faeries themselves, they had no idea where they were going. Luckily they came across Meliorn on their journey. As the group question him, Alec did not say a word. He knew what he wanted to know and it was a long shot but it was best to catch him off guard. He waited and then, knowing it was the right moment, he glared at Meliorn.

"Answer me this, halfling" Alec practically growled. Meliorn just grinned and answered a simple, "yes?"

"How long has the Queen been working with Jonathan Morgenstern?"

______________
Okay so I'm not updating this book until sometime next month. I'll have it posted on my Tumblr when I'll return so be sure to go give it a follow. It's 0--shadow--0

Lucifer_Larry
Thank you for editing it and for being there to give me pointers. I don't know where I'd be with out you. You're so amazing! :3

-vampiregraphics
For the beautiful cover. May your covers live on and may you never run out of inspiration!