Bloodloss: An Alec and Magnus (Malec) Fanfiction

Chapter 18

I fall with jarring impact, pulling Izzy down with me. Her body collides with mine, all bony elbows and long limbs, and she pulls herself upright.

“Thanks for breaking my fall.” She says, reaching a hand down to help me.

I grunt in response, letting her pull me to my feet. Then a thought hits me and I pull her back by the waist.

“Move!” I say, dragging her out of the way just in the nick of time as a veritable swarm of Downworlders and shadowhunters alike pour through the portal. They’re too packed together to fall, all holding one another up. Still, Izzy and I only just miss getting crushed.

It’s only now I realise we’re not in the Seelie Court, as I expected we’d be. We’re in a huge field dotted gaping holes. The grass is browning and in patches, the ground dry and dead.

“Where are we?” Izzy asks, voicing what I was wondering myself.

“Trust me.” Clary says, appearing beside us, with her stele in hand and Jace in tow. “They’ll be here.”

“But…” I start.

“Trust me.” She insists, and I nod.

I turn from them and go back to the Downworlders. Luke and Raphael are there, looking uncomfortable as they strike up some sort of agreement of temporary alliance. Their clan and pack stand awkwardly side by side, not mixing. Then, something amazing happens. A werewolf girl I’ve seen at the Praetor steps forward. She’s lovely; soft-spoken and helpful, and it’s impossible to dislike her. She walks over to a tall vampire boy with ashy hair and a sour expression. She taps his shoulder and he turns on his heel toward her.

“What?” he snarls and I wish I’d had time to warn her about the unease between the two Downworld groups. She was a mundie up until recently – arrived after I did – and she isn’t to know about the tension, but she doesn’t look fazed. 

“I just wanted to ask if any of you needed weapons? Some of us could probably give you ours.” She says, in her quiet, even voice.

The boy blinks at her, surprised.

“Oh. Urm. Thank you. I think we’re alright, but…it’s very kind of you.” He says, and I even think he smiles a little, his fangs catching briefly on his lower lip.

He must be in a position of some respect within the clan, because almost instantly another vampire – a tall, elegant boy with ink black hair – goes over to one of Luke’s pack.

“Hi.” He says, startling the werewolf boy.

“Oh, hey.”

“I hope you and your pack are okay tonight in the battle.”

The werewolf nods, smiling. “Thanks, you too.”