FicWad

Chapter Three

I was running through an endless wasteland, devoid of all life. An Iblis demon hissed from the shadows as I passed, and I glimpsed a dead body that it was… playing… with. I recoiled and fell to the ground. I began to retch as the dead, decaying scene in front of me unfolded before my eyes.

Before me, on her knees, was my dear sister, Isabelle. She was naked, and yet another Iblis demon had gotten ahold of her. She screamed in agony and utter disgust as the creature raped her, tearing her side open with a clawed tentacle and sucking the life from her defenseless, battered body. Beside her was Clarissa, who we all called Clary. She was lying in a coma whilst one of the Forsaken, rotten and reeking, slowly ate her. Jace was just out of arm’s reach of her, fighting to save her, while being torn apart by a Ravager. Simon, the fledgling vampire, having been Jewish in his past life, was being burned alive by his own symbol- the demons had tied him down to a giant Star of David.

But the scene that hurt most, even more than seeing my own sister murdered by a foul, loathsome creature, was what was happening on an altar raised above the blood bath that surrounded it. Magnus was lying, unconscious, on the altar; a human-like demon with blazing eyes looming over him. The demon turned to where I was still retching and smiled, offering me the silver, serrated, sacrificial dagger that he held in his hand.

My body began to move of its own accord, despite my struggles to fight back, to grab Magnus and run, to tackle the demon. I stepped over the fallen, lifeless bodies of my family and friends as my body marched towards the only sign of life left in this place besides myself. My hand closed around the dagger as I accepted it from the demon’s cold hand.

I raised the dagger above my head, tears streaming down my face, my hands trembling with effort as I tried to stop myself. Magnus stirred; his eyes his eyes opened slowly, then flew open with shock.

“Alec? Alec, what are you doing? Don’t do this! Alec, I thought you loved me? I love you, Alec, please don’t do this!” But my body was deaf to his cries, though my ears were not. So, as he pleaded, I drove the dagger through his heart…



“NO!” I screamed, and sat bolt upright in bed. My head throbbed, I was soaked in sweat, and tears were pouring down my face. I flopped back down on the pillow, sobbing, and felt someone’s arms around me

“Shh, Alec, it’s alright. I’m here, I’ve got you. You’re alright. Nothing is going to hurt you, I promise. I swear it.” I cried harder at the sound of Magnus’ voice. His cries of anguish, his cries for help, they echoed in my ears. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. It was only a dream.”

I sobbed loudly for a few minutes before my sobs resolved into shudders, and, finally, into nothing. I looked up into Magnus’ worried face and sighed before burying my face in his chest. He clutched me tight, and after awhile, I fell back asleep.

*

I awoke to the smell of Magnus. I smiled slightly, turning over and burying my face in his pillow. There was a slight smell of sulfur, and suddenly my dream came rushing back to me- Magnus’ screams, the smell of burning flesh, the sight of the ones I loved slowly dying in front of my eyes, Magnus going limp at my hand…

I began to shake as terror overcame me. I had never had such a vivid dream, and I was scared and confused. And Magnus wasn’t here to help me.

But his pillow- it was still warm. That meant… he was still there? Somewhere in the apartment?

“M-magn-nus?” I stuttered, looking up from the bed. “A-are you th-there?”

Magnus’ worried face poked around the corner. When he saw me lying on the bed, shaking with fear, he immediately strode across the expanse of the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He placed a hand on my forehead, brushing a lock of hair out of my eyes and checking for a fever.

“My dear, Alexander. You’re worse off than I thought. Are you sure that demon didn’t sting you as well as trip you? I have given you two treatments now, rather than the usual one that most of my patients require. I’m now glad that I kept you here. You need to stay relaxed if you are going to heal.” Magnus leaned forward and kissed me lightly on the lips, and I sighed blissfully. My dream was still nagging at my mind, however, and I thought I may as well ask Magnus what he knew of it.

“Magnus?” I asked, steadying my voice so as not to stutter. “What do you know of… dreams?”

“Dreams?” he looked bemused. “Well, Alec, I am very sorry to say that that is one subject that I know little about. I was taught in healing, and offensive magic. But dreams? That is a matter that has interested me for years. However, I have never found a willing test subject, nor the time to learn what I would like to. I’m sorry. I wish I could help. What is it that you would like to know?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but hesitated. I wasn’t sure. Why my nightmare had been so vivid? Why was I filled with such dread because of something that wasn’t real? But I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say, so I brushed it off.

“Nothing, Magnus. It’s fine.”

Magnus smiled at me. “So,” he said, “are you up for some lunch? You slept through breakfast, and you need to eat something.”

“Sure!” I exclaimed, struggling to sit up, my face still flushed from the fever. “What are you thinking?”

“Well,” Magnus said, grinning his little seductive smile, “there are a few gorgeous restaurants around New York. I know a positively charming Downworlder Den that we could dine in, if you don’t mean being seen with me. Or, we could eat here. I’ve been told I make a mean garlic shrimp bake.”

“You can cook?” I asked, incredulous.

“Well of course I can cook! I may be High Warlock of Brooklyn, but I’m not insanely rich. I can’t eat out all the time! And when you live alone for eight hundred years, you have a lot of free time to perfect your dishes. So I take it you want to stay here and eat?”

I nodded, still shocked at the information that Magnus had just given me. “Is there anything you can’t do?” I asked, staring into his beautiful face.

He laughed, running a hand through my hair.

“I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you,” he answered. I blushed crimson, hiding behind my raven locks. Magnus ran his hand down my neck, down my shoulders, down my chest…

I then remembered that I was still only in my boxers. I hid inside the quilt that I had slept with, which I was pretty sure that Magnus made himself. Though he had seen me in just my boxers the night before, I was still nervous about being half naked in front of him in broad daylight. I couldn’t help but think that if he could see me for who I was, he wouldn’t love me like he did.

I felt Magnus rise off of the mattress. I could hear the light sound of his footsteps cross the room, and when he spoke, his voice sounded farther away than before.

“Do you want to change? You seem uncomfortable.”

I peeked out from the blanket. Magnus was standing at the door of a large open room that seemed even bigger than the bedroom that we were in. The room was dark, and I couldn’t see what was in it due to the shadows, but he seemed to want to go in. I nodded shyly, staring at his robed figure, and he tossed me the gold silk robe that was resting on the arm of the mahogany bench. He then turned around to give me privacy, an amused smirk lighting up his catlike green eyes.

I slipped the robe on over my bare chest and tied the sash, walking over to where Magnus stood.

“Close your eyes,” he told me, taking me by the hand. I could feel my heart start to race, and I complied. Magnus led me into the dark room, and I could see that he flipped on the light by the brightness that flooded into my eyelids. I could feel myself grinning like a little child as he let go of my hand. I felt him wrap his arms around my waist from behind and pull me close to him. He bent down and whispered in my ear, “Okay. Open.”

I slowly opened my eyes, and found myself in the most extravagant dressing room that I had ever seen. Suits and clothes lined the walls on racks. A huge vanity nestled in the corner, with a floor-length, three sided mirror in another. A sink and massage table, along with about fourteen different bottles of hair dye, sat in the middle of the room, and an open shower occupied the last corner. The floor was covered with a thick blue rug, and the walls were gold and luminescent. The whole room was flooded with light, and it was an extraordinary sight.

“So, what do you think?” Magnus asked, nestling his nose into my neck and nibbling on my ear with his sharp teeth. I was almost unable to answer, due to the fact that my breath and my nerve were leaving me because of Magnus’ touch, but I managed to choke out, “It’s amazing…”

Magnus giggled in my ear. “I thought you’d say that. Now, would you like to take a shower while I pick out an outfit for you? You never play up those beautiful eyes of yours when you get dressed, or anything about you, for that matter. So I am going to show you how amazing you can look. To the shower with you.” He slapped my butt playfully, sending me in the general direction of the shower. I blushed again, and looked at Magnus, who was watching me expectantly.

“It’s alright, I won’t look,” he assured me, turning around with a smile. He glided over to the wall, where a line of shirts hung, organized by color. He started picking through the section with the blues, glancing in my direction every few minutes.

I sighed and began to strip, praying that Magnus wouldn’t turn around. I was soon standing in my boxers again, and turned on the tap. When the water was warm enough, I dropped my boxers, stepping into the hot water and sighing. I soon forgot that Magnus was standing in the room, or that I was completely naked in front of the man I loved. I simply enjoyed the marvelous feeling of the steaming water pouring down my back.

I pulled out a bottle of shampoo that smelled like cherry blossom and began to lather my hair, my eyes shut tight so as not to get soap in them. I then picked out a bottle of matching conditioner, and repeated the process, letting my hair soak as I proceeded to wash the rest of me.

When I had finished, I looked around to find a towel to wrap around my waist. As my hand found the towel, I glanced up and saw Magnus looking at me intently, taking in my body with a look of awe. I quickly wrapped the towel around me, my face turning red again as the shock set in.

“Y-you said… you said you wouldn’t look!”

Magnus shook himself slightly. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. You are so… gorgeous…” He stepped closer and twirled a lock of my wet black hair in his fingers. He smiled mischievously and inhaled the scent of the shampoo. “And it’s cute how self-conscious you are. You have an amazing body, Alec. I don’t get why you always hide yourself in those ugly sweaters and loose jeans. Which is why I have picked out something for you that will make you yourself how I see you.”

I blushed for about the eighth time that day and allowed myself to be led over to the full length mirror. Magnus blindfolded me and handed me the clothes one piece at a time, having me put them on and then facing me towards the mirror. He then whipped off the blindfold, and I was welcomed to the sight that he had created.

I was standing in a button down white shirt with a blue undershirt that was very form-fitting and matched my eyes. I was wearing nice black skinny jeans, and had on shoes that were hardly practical for demon hunting. I was amazed to see that for the first time in a long while, I was actually pleased with my appearance. I looked good, I had to admit.

“You’re taller than I thought,” Magnus stated absentmindedly as he examined me and fixed my collar and cuffs. “It helps when you stand straight.”

I was surprised to find that he was right- I was standing tall and proud, as if the outfit he had placed me in had taken away my fear. I looked more confident, stronger, more… like a Shadowhunter.

“Now, I just have to do your hair, and then we can eat. Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind and would like to eat out so you can show off your newfound pride?”

I nodded, still amazed at my reflection. Magnus snapped his fingers and made a hairbrush appear from thin air. He began to gingerly tug the brush through my tangled hair and sat me down on the chair in front of the vanity. He pulled out a pair of scissors and spun me around on the chair. I closer my eyes and fought the urge to sneeze as he clipped my damp locks. He finished and snatched a bottle of hair cream from the table behind me. He ran his hands through my hair a few times and messed around with the little details, and then strode over to the sink and rinsed his hands. He then returned to where I sat and turned me around, revealing my new hair cut.

My bangs were cut and swept to the side, revealing my blue eyes. I had a small shock of blue on the left side of my head, and I my hair looked full and healthy instead of greasy and thin. I had to admit- in my present state, I looked hot.

“How did you-“ I mumbled, taking a strand of blue hair and twirling it between my fingers.

Magnus smiled. “It’ll wash out in a few days. It’s not permanent like mine.” I nodded slightly, still taking in the view. I couldn’t believe that Magnus could have transformed me from the shy, scrawny, awkward teenager that I was into this. I looked older, prouder, and more sure of myself. I also knew I looked good. This I was surprised to find the most. I had never before felt positive about my appearance, always hiding myself in torn black sweaters. Seeing myself like this changed my view slightly- underneath the shy little gay boy, there was a man. And boy, did he look fine.

Magnus obviously shared my thoughts, as he was watching me again, almost as intently as he had when I was showering. His eyes were devouring me, and I could see a blush starting on his cheeks, a very unusual thing for a warlock of any status, especially Magnus. I decided right then, in a moment of outright, blatant, split-second reaction, to thank him for what he had done.

I spun around and grabbed him by the shoulders, backing him into a corner. He was still much taller than me, but somehow I mentioned to wrap my arms around his neck and throw myself up to his height in the most passionate kiss I could muster from a foot below him. Magnus moaned and kissed me back, wrapping his hands around my waist and bending down to kiss me back. My heart raced, and I felt myself smiling into the kiss. I pulled back, gasping for breath, and looked up at him with a small smirk.

“Thank you, Magnus,” I whispered, curling into his chest. “so much.”

Magnus pulled me closer and we stood like that for a moment, holding each other, relishing in the moment. I felt his lips on my hair, and almost wanted to laugh at his simple statement-

“Let’s go eat.”