The Aftermath Chronicles: A TMI FanFic

Part 7

Regret.

That was what Magnus felt.

He hadn't intentionally been avoiding visiting San Francisco. But he had been busy in New York. Mundanes were dying and there was traces of magic at all of the scenes. He was getting heat from the Clave to get his warlocks under control. 

And as much as Magnus abhorred giving favors to Shadowhunters, Alexander was the exception. As soon as Jace had called, Magnus was on his way to the nearest Portal.

Clary was waiting on the other side. She didn't seem shocked to see Magnus and didn't say a word as she lead him through the Institute to get to Alec.

Jace had a chair pulled up to Alexander's bedside. 

"Out," Magnus ordered. Jace jumped up to protest. Magnus wouldn't have it. "Out!"

"Magnus," Jace pleaded. Magnus shook his head. Jace left, giving Magnus a wide berth as he passed by. The door shut behind the warlock and he rushed to take Jace's place at Alexander's bedside.

"Oh my dearest, Alexander," Magnus sighed, brushing Alec's long black hair out of his face. The hair seemed to stick to his face which was shiny with sweat.

A iratze had been drawn on Alec's skin but it wouldn't do anything to heal the cuts across the boy's arms where the Raum's tentacles must have slashed effortlessly through him. The runes that were supposed to protect him had begun to fade.

Magnus began working, despite his exhaustion. Tracking down the warlocks responsible for the mundane deaths hadn't been easy. He hadn't had a moment to rest. When he left New York, he placed an eager, young warlock in charge. He was too stupid to usurp Magnus' power as High Warlock of Brooklyn. Hopefully, someone back home was working.

It would take awhile for Alec to be completely healed. Magnus placed a damp washcloth on Alec's head. It would be a painful process, purging all the demon blood from Alec's body. Raum poison was tricky because it infected so many different spots.

The warlock lay down on the massive bed, his fingers interlocked with Alexander's.

Magnus could feel his eyes drooping shut. He just wanted to sleep. . .

Alec's fingers tightened around Magnus', making him jump. He couldn't pull away from the sleeping boy's grasp.

"Alexander!" Magnus cried.

Jace came crashing through the door, a blade in his hand, glinting in the witch light.

Alec sat up, his eyes flying open. Magnus cried out when he saw the blue of his boyfriend's eyes were missing, replaced with pure black.

Alec's head snapped to look at Magnus.

A malicious smile formed out of Alec's lips. 

"Magnus Bane," said a voice that wasn't Alec's. 

Magnus was frozen, half on the bed, half off.

"This is the beginning of a new time for Downworlders. Join us again. Let us unite the warlocks like the Shadowhunters you love have united through the Clave. Together, we shall gain the power we once had."

Alec fell back onto the bed with a cry, mouthing hanging slightly open, eyes closed. His arm went limp and Magnus was able to step away.

Just as soon as Magnus had stepped back, Jace was pressing Magnus back against the wall, the knife at his throat.

"What the hell was that?" Jace hissed.

Rage burned bright in Jace's eyes.

Alec began to seize on the bed.

"Jace," Magnus protested. This wasn't the time to be worrying about this.

"Magnus! Tell me the truth," Jace said. Magnus was speechless, his eyes transfixed on Alec, the victim of Magnus' past. "A name, Magnus!"

"Foedus Venenatus," Magnus said, looking Jace in the eyes. The knife slipped away from his neck and Magnus pushed his way back to Alec. He began reciting a chant. The wounds on Alec's arms which had been healing were bleeding again. "Get me bandages!"

He could hear Jace moving around in the bathroom.

"Hurry," Magnus whispered. He started chanting a healing ritual.

Jace returned and Magnus began wrapping up Alec's arms. 

Tears began flooding Magnus' eyes. 

This was unlike any sorcery he'd ever seen.

Alec, he thought, just be okay. Just be okay. I'm so sorry.

Alec's eyes opened.

"Isabelle," he said, in a voice that was his own. His eyes fluttered shut again. 

Magnus heard the door to Alec's room shut as he fell to his knees beside Alec's bed.

..........

"Just come in," Isabelle offered. Charlie looked up at the Institute.

She watched him carefully before grabbing his hand and throwing the front door open, pulling him inside.

The lights were bright in the main foyer, indicating everyone was still up and moving around even though it was close to 10. 

Jace stood talking to Clary, a consoling hand on her arm, at the foot of the stairs. He was watching Isabelle as she continued pulling Charlie into the room. 

She moved forward numbly. Something was wrong.

"Isabelle," Jace said, letting go over Clary and walking towards her. He sounded tense.

Was this about Charlie?

"Jace," she said slowly. 

"We need to talk." He noticed Charlie. "Who is this?"

"This Charlie," Isabelle said, her voice lightening. "He's a Shadowhunt--"

"Where have you been, Isabelle?" Jace asked. His voice was on a dangerous edge. Isabelle looked to Clary who was silent.

"Out," Isabelle said. Jace grabbed her by the shoulders.

"It's not a game," Jace growled. Charlie began to butt in.

"You're right," Isabelle said. "But you're not my mother, Jace Lightwood." She shook free of him. "What's the matter with you?"

"What do you know about Foedus Venenatus?" Jace asked.

"Never heard of it," Isabelle said.

"I have," Charlie said. Jace turned to him. 

"What do you know?" Jace asked.

"It's an old warlock group. They were all about uniting the warlocks kind of like the Clave." Charlie looked at Isabelle. "I never thought they might be the ones causing the problems."

"What problems?" Jace asked.

"Murders of mundanes," Isabelle said.

"And you didn't report this?" Jace yelled. 

"You're not the head of the Institute or the Clave, Jace!" Isabelle shouted back.

"What's the matter with you, Isabelle?"

"Jace!" Clary yelled. Everyone turned to look at her. "There was an attack on the Institute. Alec was injured. Magnus is with him now but he's asked for no one to disturb him."

Isabelle's heart sunk. 

If something happened to Alec. . .

She rushed past Jace, sprinting up the stairs.

She didn't care if Magnus wanted to be alone. 

She stopped just outside the door to Alec's room, her fingers grazing the door knob. A sense of guilt overcame her. She should have been here, helping protect Alec. He shouldn't have been alone.

Isabelle walked away from the door and to her room.