City of Shattered Glass

Part 12: I Loved and I Lost You

Author's Note: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE READING THIS PART! Okay, so just I know this should be at the bottom, but I just need to inform readers of a few things first. First, I'd like to say again that I'm incorporating some elements from future books. Second, this part is a little shorter than the others because I feel like it just needed to be on its own because of how impactful it is.

Lastly, I got a lot of inspiration for this chapter from the song, "Hurts Like Hell," by Fleurie. It can be found on Spotify and I recommend listening to it either while or after reading this part (probably after)

I am so absolutely sorry,

CadenceRomanov

Alec woke to Magnus shaking him. His face was urgent, and Alec shot up, wondering what was wrong.

"Magnus—"

"We have to go," Magnus said, "Now."

Alec shook his head, confused, "Magnus, what—"

"The city is under attack."

Alec practically leaped from the bed and grabbed his gear, gathering weapons as quickly as he could, "He was supposed to come tomorrow."

"Apparently he didn't want us to be prepared," Alec stuck a seraph blade through his belt and drew several runes on his arms. Magnus seemed to remember something then, "Alexander, the binding rune."

He jolted, almost forgetting as well. He pulled out his stele as Magnus held out his hand. Alec gripped his wrist to steady him and drew the rune, then he handed the stele to Magnus. When Alec's rune was drawn, he gasped at the sudden string that seemed to connect him and Magnus, the strength that surged through him.

He grabbed Magnus' shoulder, "You use as much of my strength as you need Magnus, take all of it if you have to. We need you to be at your best on the battlefield."

"Alexander—"

He stuck the stele back into his belt, "Let's go."

Magnus dropped the subject and they rushed out of the house. When they emerged, the screams had already started. Shadowhunters battled against millions of demons, downworlders already partnered with other Nephilim. All except the faeries, they would not let themselves be runed. Alec's first thought was that he needed to get the kids out of the city, but Magnus pointed toward the Gard, where warlocks were opening portals and people were rushing through.

"Be careful Alexander," Magnus said and kissed Alec quickly on the lips. For some reason, he had an awful feeling in his stomach afterward, as if to tell him that he would not emerge from this battle the same as he was now.

Alec didn't waste time, he leapt into the battle. He removed his bow from his shoulder and released arrows in a stream toward the oncoming demons. As other's battled around him, Alec tried to stay at a distance, making it easier to loosen his arrows. Demons ran at him and he used his arrow heads to slice through them, their bodies crumbling to dust before him and returning to whatever realms they had originally been born. Alec flipped and turned, dodging claws left and right. There were too many of them, the Nephilim alone could not win this fight, even with the support of the Downworld.

The field above the Gard was swarming, demons and several endarkened heading toward where the warlocks were frantically creating portals to get anyone under eighteen out of the city. Alec wondered if Magnus was up there.

He continued to fend off the beasts, but eventually one was able to grab a hold of his bow and bring it down on its gnarled knee, breaking it. The snap resounded in his ears. Alec was so stunned that his reaction was slow when the demon lunged at him. He threw himself to the side as claws scraped against his shoulder, drawing blood. Alec drew his seraph blade as he fell, slicing upward, decapitating it with a sickening, shlock. The demon's ichor sprayed onto his neck and chest, causing him to hiss in pain as it burnt his skin. Getting to his feet, Alec could feel Magnus pulling on his strength. The feeling in his stomach had been right, this fight was not going to last very long, at least not for Alec.