Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Seventeen 🗝

"Valentine." It was said in the most threatening voice that Varian could muster up, despite the compromised position that he was kneeling in.

The strongest part of him would not let Valentine see the fear in him, Varian stood slowly, his back readjusting as he went, the sound jarring in such a quite room. Without turning his head he looked around, noticing the lack of his twin and her boyfriend, he felt a form of reassurance with the both of them missing.

"Warlock." It was said in the same tone of voice, though Varian was sure that Valentine did not fear the powerless Warlock standing in front of him. The walls of the Institute loomed over the few in the room.

Varian watched as Valentine moved through the office, even the way that he moved was villainous. The slinking steps and head held high, it was as if no matter what the situation surrounding him was, he truly believed that he was always the best.

"You did well kiddo," It was said in a soft voice, but there was an almost aggressive tone to it. "So close to finding your aunt."

It was in that moment that Varian noticed the little girl sitting just to the side of the Head of the Institute's office. Madzie. The voice inside his head supplied the name and he couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. Her little scarf tied round her neck was all the familiar blue polka dots that he had seen her in before.

"Madzie!" Varian called her name, feeling compelled to reach towards her.

But the look that she gave was an empty one. As if the world around her were something she did not feel the need to recognize, or perhaps even recognize her. 

Varian fixed a glare on Valentine, who looked almost gleeful at the look he was receiving from the Warlock. "What the hell did you do to her Valentine?" It was said in a way that Varian did not recognize in himself.

"Oh," Valentine huffed out a laugh, as if all of this was the funniest thing of the day. "Just a little love, false promises, and a healthy dose of threats to Dorothea."

It was a name that the Warlock recognized, and if he truly thought about it, the name was associated with Jocelyn and Clary, and the female Warlock was the woman who had sworn her protection on the pair for a small part of her nearly immortal life. Dot, as her friends call her, had been missing for the better part of a year, and the realization that she was with Valentine made the young Warlock's blood run cold.

"Leave her be." Not even Varian was sure if he was speaking about either Madzie or Dot, but the phrasing was all the same. "Leave her be."

Valentine glanced at Madzie, kneeling down in front of her and reaching to straighten the scarf on her neck. "Go on Madzie, I've got to have a few words with my son."

The words drew a cold feeling in Varian's heart. He thrived on the knowledge that Valentine wasn't aware of who he was, but that was no longer true. The evil father that he wanted nothing to do with now knew exactly who he was, and the knowledge was a threat. Valentine turned, stalking across the room and coming to rest just a few feet from Varian.

"I see her in you." It was spoken in an almost soft way, like Valentine felt he could share a little bit of a sob story, sprinkle on some half-aggressive compliments or apologies and everything would be perfectly alright. "You have her nose."

Why did everyone feel the need to take apart Varian's face to see what they wanted to see? He fixed a glare on Valentine, "I am not a sum of my mothers best features, or the combination of your worst. And if you think, that by batting your eyes and sharing a sob story of Jocelyn with me I will somehow see your ways you are more than wrong."

There was a confidence in Varian's voice as he squared his shoulders, looking up at the man who appeared to tower above him. His fingertips itched for a weapon as his eyes flicked across the room, the sudden memory of Aldertree's paranoia and the sword tucked under the edge of the desk, brought Varian a few feet forward. An attempt at making the action something of a power move rather than a move towards power was nearly successful.

Valentine did not falter, the odd smile stuck to his face as he stared down his nose at the Warlock. "A powerful testament, but if you do not make your decision willingly, I will simply just compel you."

The fear that Valentine had in his possession someone dear to him was quickly wiped away when the man produced a needle. Varian took a deep breath, willing himself to trust in his instincts just as two of Valentine's newly created Shadowhunter's stepped forward, arms outstretched to grab for the powerless Warlock.

Varian lunged, shoving past the villain and making for the desk. His hand reaching under and finding comfort in the weapon stored there, he pulled it free, lifting it with a slightly shaking left hand until it was even with Valentine's goons.

"One more step," The threat was followed by a cautious step backwards by the Warlock, he inched carefully towards the door, his eyes unfaltering as he concentrated on his potential assailants.

"Grab him." Valentine's words were connected to a flippant hand motion as if he saw himself as better than the Warlock, realistically he did.

The goons moved quickly, both pulling their weapons from their sheaths and advancing on the Warlock who appeared unphased. They were new, and despite the physical strength that they possessed Varian felt assured that his handle on weaponry was significantly better.

Varian made the first move.