Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Thirteen 🗝

It took nineteen minutes to dismiss everyone from the party, and those there were only allowed to leave after Magnus Bane had used his magic to make sure that no one had the book.

"I'm not sure why it's so important?" Clary was the one to ask the question, her ignorance to most Downworlder habits and learnings understandable so early in her training. Though everyone could see the slight flutter of frustration in the Warlock as he threw his hands through his hair, tugging at the roots.

Varian sighed, hand twisting around his wrist as he made an attempt to concentrate. "A Warlock's spell book holds all counter curses, it can take apart not only all of my spells, but Ragnor Fells as well." Varian shook his head. "The simplest, to the ancient spells, in every language."

A flash of every spell, curse, and counter-curse that he had ever preformed passed through Varian's head.

"The amount of people I've protected with spells that I've created-" Varian's voice broke as he spoke, hands flapping by his sides as he tried to not cry, the thought of everyone he's ever helped in danger. "Oh gods, we've got to find it."

The Warlock's hands began to shake at a higher rate as he shoved himself away from the comfort of being near Alec. "I've always kept it beside me, right here." Varian mumbled the line over and over again, taking comfort in the repetition, his right hand tapping against the empty spot on his left wrist.

Eyes followed him back and forth, and back and forth, as he paced the length of the room. The impossibility of loosing his spell book set in stone as he moved, every guest in the party had been checked and yet still Varian thought through them all, making sure that none of them were a threat.

 Varian paused in stride, looking up at his baba  and then at Alec with an all-knowing look in his eyes. "The red cat!"

Though no one knew what he meant, not one of the group hesitated to follow Varian through the apartment, watching as he looked under every couch and table in search of this red cat. Clary, Izzy, Jace, and Magnus all felt obligated to stop the moment Varian made his way into his bedroom, the intimacy of both Varian and Alec's shared bed something none of them wanted to infringe on.

A shout of satisfaction came from the Warlock as he pulled a cat out from under the bed by the hind legs, only releasing it when it made a swipe for his hands, the cats claws sunk into the backs of Varian's hands. Alec lunged forward, making an attempt to catch the cat before it could slip out of the room.

He missed, but the action was to aggressive of one to recover from quickly, and as the cat ran off, Alec crashed into Varian, accidentally knocking him into the bed.

"Merde!"  Varian shouted loudly, wiggling aggressively as he tried to push Alec off of him, though some part of Varian (the severely anxious part) found comfort in the weight of his boyfriend on his chest.

Alec muttered an apology, not missing the way that Varian seemed to shake underneath him.

They hurried from the room, Alec noticed the change in Varian the moment he stepped in front of the cat-turned-woman.

"Iris Rouse." Varian's voice was firm, and so uncharacteristic, Alec had to think twice as he listened to Varian continue. "I should have known, those French dialect spells have always been your forte, haven't they love."

It was spoken in a condescending tone, one so unfitting to hear from the kind Warlock. The glare that Varian fixed on the woman made Alec shiver, he had only ever seen this when he had spoken to Valentine before.

Varian stepped closer, unflinching as the woman made an attempt to cast a spell. He had complete faith in his baba's  powers and ability to hold Iris back. "Where are my counter spells?"

The woman scoffed, though she was visibly tense at with how close the young Warlock was getting. Varian lifted a hand, as if ready to cast a spell, the Witch flinched, shouting the one name that all of them expected but didn't want to hear. "Valentine!"

Varian let his hand fall, stumbling backwards as his worst fears were confirmed.

"The Institute is at risk." Varian muttered, turning to face those in the room. He waved his hand over his shoulder, giving Magnus permission to send the Witch to Idris. The action is passive, showing that Varian could care less about how the woman could feel in this moment, that is, until she spoke again.

"He have Madzie Varian." She looked absolutely panicked as she spoke, straining herself against the bonds that Magnus had her trapped in.

Varian paused, feeling apologetic at her words, though not at the way that she went about things. "I will save her, but she will not be safe with you."

It was a slight on the woman, Varian was fully aware of the experiments the Witch performed on Mundanes and Demons alike, but he had never had the right amount of proof for it. This would protect Madzie, and get Iris Rouse the punishment that she deserved for the torture of Mundanes.

Iris had tears rolling down her cheeks, and she was just barely able to mutter a 'thank you' before Magnus threw her through the portal to Idris.

No one was sure about how to act.

Varian stood, looking at the spot where Iris had just been, hands clenching and un-clenching by his sides. Alec walked forward slowly, extending his hand to his boyfriend as everyone started to leave.

"I'm sorry." Varian's voice was just above a whisper, he held his hand to Alec, grabbing his boyfriends and becoming pliant in his actions.

Alec pulled Varian to his chest. "You've got nothing to apologize before V." Alec muttered, pressing a kiss to Varian's forehead before just wrapping his arms around his boyfriend and holding him close.

Varian found comfort in Alec's arms as he wrapped his hands around his waist.

Madzie was priority, but with Alec at his side, Varian felt as though he could accomplish anything.