Beneath the Skin

Demons in the Dark

Alec was standing out on the balcony of Magnus's apartment, looking out at the city. He leaned against the ledge, crossing his arms on top. He couldn't help but replay last night in his head over and over again.

"Nobody's going to miss you" "You're a murderer, Alec." "Why are you still here?" "You're weak."

Those words echoed in his head, repeatedly. Alec tried hard to shake them but they just wouldn't go away. He grabbed the edge of the balcony, gripping it so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"How could I have been so stupid??" Alec yelled, slamming his fists down onto the concrete ledge.

Magnus walked out onto the balcony, joining Alec. "Is everything alright Darling?" he asked Alec, looking at him, trying to examine him.

Alec looked away from Magnus, his fists tightening and nails digging into his hands, red crescents forming on his palms.

Magnus placed his hand on top of Alec's, giving it a small squeeze. "What's wrong, My Dear?" He asks again, this time with more urgency.

Not only did Alec not respond, he wouldn't even look at Magnus.

Magnus put his finger under Alec's chin and moved his head to face him, only to see that Alec's eyes were red and puffy and a tear escaped his eye. "Alec..." he said softly, not letting go of Alec's hand.

"Magnus, please..." Alec begged, trying to look away from Magnus, but he kept his hold on Alec. "I'm sorry." is all Alec could say before he took off, going back inside Magnus's apartment.

Before Alec could make it very far, he felt an arm grip his tightly, stopping him in his tracks. "Alec, don't. We need to talk about this." Magnus said softly, trying to reassure Alec that he's there.

Alec ripped his arm away from Magnus' grip and kept his back turned to him, his arms now down his side and hands dripping blood onto the ground.

Magnus watched as blood fell to the ground, one drop at a time. "Alec, what have you done?" He walked closer to his boyfriend, his hands beginning to tremble from the sight in front of him. Alec stood there in silence. "Talk to me, please!" Magnus pleaded, reaching for Alec yet again, but Alec pulled away.

He kept his back facing Magnus when he spoke, "Magnus, I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about." Alec claimed, not very convincing at that. "I just scraped myself on the edge of the balcony, that's all."

"Alexander, please look at me."

Alec took a deap breath and turned around with a forceful smile on his face. "Magnus, I'm okay. I promise." He tried to reassure him, but Magnus wasn't having it.

He went to reach for Alec's hands, but he flinched and pulled them behind his back. "Please Alexander, give me your hands." That was the most Alec had ever heard Magnus say 'please' in one day. He knew he couldn't deny Magnus so he slowly placed his hands into Magnus' and couldn't help but let a single tear fall from his glimmering icy-blue eyes. "This may sting a little." He told Alec, preparing him for what was coming.

Magnus snapped his fingers and moved his hands over Alec's. Slowly but surely the cuts and bruises on his hands started to heal as the blue sparks closed his wounds. He continued to wave his hands over Alec's, making sure he healed every cut and every bruise.

He finished and grasped Alec's hands in his own. "How did this really happen, Alexander?" Before Alec could answer, Magnus jumped in with, "and don't even bother lying to me again. You're a terrible liar." Magnus took in a deep breath and exhaled. "I'm going to ask this again." he paused. "How did this happen?"