Once Upon A Time In Brooklyn

Chapter Thirteen: When The Clock Strikes Midnight

"Magnus, it's quite the gathering," Camille said, toying with her hair around her finger. Magnus felt Alec's hand slip out of his own and looked away from Camille in time to see Alec's steeled gaze sliding down to the floor. He gritted his teeth.

"I don't remember inviting you, Camille," he bit out. Camille brushed her hair over her shoulder.

"I don't remember Cinderella being personally invited to the ball. She turned up regardless though," she replied. Magnus glared at her.

"Who told you that this was a Cinderella party?" He demanded. Camille's carefully shaped eyebrow rose and she tilted her head to the side.

"So it's true, then? The rumors of your curse? I wondered if it could possibly be true but I guess this confirms it. You are so lucky that I decided to come. Imagine if some other had taken the spot of Cinderella? That truly would have been a disaster in our love story," Camille said, taking a step forward and trailing a finger down Magnus' chest.

Magnus heard Alec's shaky breath, loud enough to draw Camille's attention.

"Oh and what's this?" She asked, turning her attention to Alec. Magnus wanted to move in front of Alec, to protect him from Camille's venom, but his feet felt rooted to the floor. "Oh, another boy toy Magnus? Really? Well, I guess I can't blame you for playing with these short-lived mortals seeing as I do so myself-"

"I am nothing like you. I do not play with people," Magnus cut her off. Alec was refusing to look at either of them and Magnus wished he could do something to get Camille to leave.

"He looks so much like that Herondale you liked once... What was his name? Bill?" Camille looked Alec up and down. Magnus' throat felt tight.

"You know his name was Will," Magnus replied sourly.

"Ah yes. The same coloring, that dark hair and blue eyes that you always loved so much. I guess it's a shame that Herondale only had eyes for Tessa. I guess you just weren't his type. But these mortals are hardly worth playing with anyway," Camille said and with a dismissive gesture she turned away from Alec.

It wasn't like Alec to be silent like this.

"You know nothing about Will, Alec or myself in this matter, Camille," he said firmly. "You only know the past, and a skewed, self-serving version of it at that."

"Do you still have the ring, Magnus? The one you were going to promise me forever with-"

"Enough, Camille."

That was Ragnor. Magnus had never been more grateful for Ragnor's ability to project his voice clear across a room.

"If you cannot play nicely, I will insist that you not play at all. Go, get yourself a drink, mingle with whoever you want. Your time talking to the host is over," Ragnor walked towards them, the tingle of magic around him saying it wasn't an empty threat.

Camille glanced at him before rolling her eyes and stalking away towards the drinks table. Magnus' shoulders sagged in relief. He felt Ragnor's hand land on his shoulder.

"Go reassure your guests that this drama will not affect the party. Don't worry, I'll take care of Lightwood," Ragnor said, sotto voce. Magnus nodded and plastered on his party face, going to fuss over the DJ and trying to ignore Camille's eyes on his back.

*

Alec reached down to loosen the laces of his shoes. They hurt like hell by now and he had nothing to change into. He sighed in relief as his feet were able to move a little more. Hurriedly he tucked the laces in. Perhaps he could blame the pain he felt on the goddamn shoes Izzy had made him wear rather than the very real possibility that his pseudo-relationship with Magnus would end that night.