"You know, I think it looks even prettier on my finger than around my neck." I laid with Alec in our bed at home, my head laying on his bare chest, sheets covering our bare bodies, the only light kit being the flames from the fire, as we looked at the shining diamond ring on my finger.
"I can't say I disagree." Alec's finger dragged up and down my arm, keeping me as close as ever, "Especially since it means you said yes to being a Lightwood."
"I feel like Zee Lightwood has a nice ring to it." I moved so I could face him, putting a hand on his face, "I only said yes for the name."
"Oh, I figured-" Alec pursed his lips to hold back his laughter, "Knew you never loved me-"
"Not one bit." I booped his nose, "I was after the name this entire time- had you fooled."
Alec softly laughs, pushing some hair out of my face, "I love you so much."
"And I love you." I tilted my head to the side lightly, my expression softening, my voice quieting, "How do you do that?"
Alec grabs my free hand, "Do what?"
"Love me regardless." I stared at him, my eyes locked with his, "After all I've done."
Alec took that hand and placed it over his heart so I feel his heart beating, "Because you're my heart."
"Alec." I couldn't help but softly smile, then lightly shake my head, "I'm being serious-"
Alec's eyes were filled with joy and sincerity, a small smile playing at his lips, "So am I-"
"I've hurt you so much." I stare at him, my expression fading to guilt, "The looks on your face whenever I said those- awful things-"
Alec squeezes my hand, "It wasn't you."
"It doesn't matter-" I lightly shook my head, "I don't know how to come back from everything I've done-"
"If Jace can come back, you can." Alec said to me, "And I know you will."
"I don't know-" I sigh lightly, laying my head back down in the crook of his neck, "I messed everything up- the only reason Jonathan got his hands on the Morning Star is because I helped him- and now? Magnus is gone- he sacrificed himself fixing my mistake."
"You need to stop blaming yourself." Alec ran his fingers through my hair, "If it weren't for the rune, you wouldn't have done any of it."
"I guess so." My voice got quiet, "I don't know- it almost feels wrong having the wedding without Magnus."
"He's the one who convinced me to come to your wedding- he knew you'd choose me- and now he's not here to see me marry you?" I swallowed hard at the thought, "It doesn't feel right."
"I know, I know it hurts- but, we both know that he can't ever come back." Alec reminded me with a sigh, "The rift would reopen and all of Edom would come back with him-"
"I'm going to find a way." I stared ahead, drawing shapes on his chest, "And I'm going to get him back."
-
I slowly walked into Magnus' apartment, looking around, my heart aching at the scent I was so familiar with.
I walked into the living room, looking at his shaker for his margaritas, making me sigh quietly, flashbacks of all the times I've been Magnus make drinks filling my mind.
I stopped all movements when I heard scraping behind me, slowly turning to see a small lizard in it's glass environment, except it had just carved the word 'help' into the glass.
I suspiciously walked toward it, pulling out my phone and dialing Catarina's number, her answering within a few rings, "Hey, Zee-"
"Hey, Catarina-" I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at the lizard, "Uhm, I don't know if I'm going crazy or not, but- uhm, I think you need to come over to Magnus' and check on his pet- lizard."
"Lizard?" She repeats, "Magnus has a lizard?"
"I know right?" I replied to her tone, "I had no idea he had one either."
She responded, "I thought he hated reptiles."
"That's what I thought to-" I began, but cut myself off when I caught a fire message sent to me by Alec, "You have to come over here quickly- I have to go, something's happened to Isabelle."
-
"I didn't set her on fire." Simon walked alongside Alec and I, "We were just kissing, and then-"
Alec questions, "You were kissing my sister?-"
"Wow, that kiss really sparked a connection between you two, didn't it?" I joked, only to cover my mouth when Alec looked at me, "I'm sorry-"
Isabelle joins us, "Easy, big brother-"
"Iz-" I immediately hugged onto her, holding tight for a few moments, "I felt something was wrong- are you alright?"
"We were so worried-" Alec hugged her as well.
Isabelle nods slow, "Just some temporary side effects, but- I'm gonna be fine."
"Thank the Angel." Simon went to hug her but she stepped back, "What, am I not allowed to say that?-"
Isabelle stammers, "No, uh-"
"Izzy, hey, are you okay?" Jace and Clary joined us.
"Hey- we came as soon as we heard." Clary hugged Isabelle right after Jace had pulled away.
"Great." Simon swallows hard, looking at Isabelle, "Hugs for everybody else."
"Simon-" Isabelle sighs, "The heavenly fire, from when the sword exploded, until it leaves my system, I can't touch anyone with demon blood."
"For how long?" Simon questions, "Are we talking days, weeks, months?-"
"I don't know- I don't know." Isabelle assured, "But- I'm gonna be fine, okay? It's manageable."
Jace gestured between us when he noticed the looks Alec and I were giving them, "What is going on here?"
I began to smirk, "Oh, get ready for this one-"
"Isabelle and Simon were kissing when this happened." Alec gestured between them, holding the same expression that I did.
Jace blinks, "What?"
Isabelle cleared her throat, looking at Jace and Clary, moving the conversation, "Please tell me you have a lead on Jonathan."
"Yeah, we tracked down a mid-level demon known for associating with the Clave on Wall Street." Jace sighs, "He didn't have any information on Jonathan- but- he did have news on Lilith."
I went serious, "What is it?"
Clary swallows hard, then sighed quietly, "She's gathering an army to take down Magnus."
My heart dropped, "She'll kill him-"
Jace exhales, "And if she does, the rift will reopen."
"No, no- he can't take her on his own." I started messing with my hands, "He sacrificed everything to save us- if he's going up against Lilith, he needs back up-"
Clary stares at me, "Zee, you know that if any of us went to Edom, we'd die instantly-"
"The atmosphere is demonic, but- maybe I can go." Isabelle offers, "My heavenly fire might protect me."
"No- I'm not letting you put yourself in danger." I stared ahead, "Only someone with demon blood can survive there-"
I then faced him, "Simon-"
Simon began to stammer, "I don't have my mark anymore, but- I'm sure if you give me enough swords, maybe I can-"
"No, Simon-" I put my hands on his arms, "I need you to turn me- so, that I can go."
"What?" Alec stares at me with wide eyes when he processes my words, "Zee, that's crazy-"
Jace gapes, "Zee, are you out of your mind?"
"I know it's impulsive, but- there aren't any easy options- and I'll be damned if I just let Lilith kill him-" I shook my head, "Simon- just, please-"
Alec took a step, "Don't lay a hand on her-"
"Absolutely not-" Isabelle was denying as well.
"I won't, I won't- and Izzy's right-" Simon gestured, "I'm a terrible sire."
Clary cuts in, "We'll find another way."
"What other way?" I snapped at all of them, looking between them, "Tell me- tell me something, any of you?"
Silence followed by all of them.
"That's what I thought." I scoff lightly, then walked past them, leaving them in the hall, needing to cool down.
-
"She said the heavenly fire in her veins would shield her against Edom's demonic atmosphere." Meliorn told us, informing us how Isabelle went to Edom on her own.
Alec asks, "Why would she take that on herself?"
"She didn't want all of you putting your lives at risk." Meliorn stood tall, looking between us all.
Simon crosses his arms, "And you didn't try to stop her from going?"
"I did, but- she convinced me it was the only way to save Magnus." Meliorn said, "She begged me not to tell you."
"Yet here you are." Jace stares at him.
Meliorn sighs, "I wanted to honor my word, but- the thought of Isabelle in danger, all alone- I had to tell you."
"Thank you, but- what can we do?" Alec replied.
"Uhm-" I spoke for the first time, inhaling sharply, "I think- I might have an idea, but-"
"No." Jace points at me, "Your ideas are crazy-"
"I promise that this isn't- as crazy, just hear me out- okay?" I looked at Meliorn, "Can you get all of us into Edom through the Seelie Realm?"
"I'm afraid not- my Queen just sealed our borders." Meliorn replied, "I know not why."
"Even if we could, we'd die." Clary mentioned.
"Okay, but- what if I could create a rune that binds Downworlders to Shadowhunters?" I thought out loud, "I mean- we could share- everything, skills- powers- blood."
"Look, bonding one Shadowhunter to another, that's one thing." Jace sighs, "This is different- it's dangerous."
"I can handle it- I can make this work." I looked between them, "Please trust me on this."
"If it's the only way to save Izzy and Magnus, I think it's worth a try." Simon sided with me.
I looked at Alec, "What do you think?"
"I think that I trust you." Alec grabbed my hand, "If you say you can make it work- I know you can."
I nodded once, "So- let's do it."
-
"Lorenzo, thank you for coming on such short notice-" I greeted him, walking him toward Alec, Meliorn and Simon.
"Thank you for restoring me." Lorenzo points are me, "Not that it changes anything between us. I'm here for my fellow warlocks, not you."
"Mr. Lightwood-" Lorenzo greets, "Ah, Meliorn, envoy of the queen-"
Meliorn greets back, "Good evening, Mr. Rey."
"And Mr. Lewis, "Royal Blue" himself." Lorenzo smiles at him, "I can appreciate a good melody when I hear one."
Simon didn't know how to react, "Thank you."
"I see the representative for the wolves has yet to arrive." Lorenzo notices, "As my first act on the Downworld Council, I move that we start the proceedings without them- give a dog too much leash, and they never learn to heel."
"Well, good thing I lied." I exhale sharply, "This isn't actually a council meeting- I bated you here to help us save Magnus and my parabatai."
"Help you save the warlock who stood by and watched while his father turned me into a reptile, left to dine on dead flies?" Lorenzo gapes at me, "May your precious boyfriend spend eternity in Edom- goodbye and good riddance."
"Not so fast." I grabbed his arm, "If it weren't for me, you'd still be eating dead flies- so, I'd like to think this as a- you owe me."
Jace joins us, "This isn't just about Magnus."
"It's about Isabelle, too." Alec said.
Clary adds in, "And the fate of every other living creature on the planet."
"I'll tell you this." I began, "Help us, and you'll forever be known as Lorenzo Rey, the warlock who helped save the world."
-
"You ready?-" I looked at Simon after I had drew the rune on the Clary when she had offered to go first.
Simon swallows hard, "Bubbie Helen would kill me if she knew I was getting a tattoo-"
"Simon." I shot him a look, my eyes glowing gold already, before I could see the rune in the air, present to everyone else as well.
Simon breaks my focus, making the rune fade, "You sure one of you guys doesn't want to go first?-"
I look at him, "Simon-"
"Absolutely not." Lorenzo shook his head once.
Meliorn smiles lightly, "No, thank you."
"Hey." I put my hand on his shoulder, looking up at him, "I need you to trust me- okay?"
"I've never doubted you before, Young." Simon sighs then held his arm out, "Alright- go."
I nodded once, focusing on my abilities, watching as the rune appeared in front of me, as I slowly pushed it onto Simon's skin, only for it to push back, the lights starting to flicker, making Jace speak, "Zee, this is a lot of resistance-"
"I got it-" I seethed through my teeth, "The angels wouldn't have given me this power if they didn't want me to use it."
I pushed back harder, forcing the rune into Simon's skin, stepping back with a grunt, breathing slightly heavy.
Alec walks toward me, "Are you okay?"
Simon rubs his arm, "It stings a little."
Alec shot him a look, but I looked at Clary, swallowing hard, "How do you feel?-"
Clary didn't get a chance to reply, when she took a step, rushing around the entire room with her new vamp speed, skidding to a stop, "Whoa-"
"Told you I could it." I breathed out, looking between everyone, "So, who's next?"
-
"Almost there." Lorenzo said from the ground, as he was kneeling, drawing a pentagram on the ground.
Simon asks, "You really sure this will work?"
"It has to." Clary exhales.
"This is incredible." My eyes were glued to my hands, messing with the magic in my hands, understanding exactly why Magnus didn't want to let go of it.
"You're incredible." Alec emphasizes, doing the exact same thing, "I can't believe you did this-"
"Okay, so, Zee and Alec get magic, Clary gets vamp speed, and what do I get?" Jace looks at Meliorn, "Pointy ears?"
Meliorn shot back, "You'll learn my true powers next time you take your lover to bed."
Lorenzo gets up, "Impressive, if I do say so myself."
Alec points, quitting with the magic as did I, "And you're positive this can get us into Edom?"
"Not just in- out, too." Lorenzo replies, "Although, it feels like a waste to ignite such craftsmanship- I suppose thus is the ephemeral nature of my art."
"Let's do this." Jace interjects, "Maybe, if we're lucky, we'll find Izzy and Magnus in the same keep."
Simon nods once, "Right, where's the keep?"
"I have one of Magnus' scarfs." I held it up, "We're gonna use this to track him when we get to Edom."
Alec exhales, "Okay, everyone ready?"
"What could go wrong?" Simon's voice varies when he spoke, "It's just- Hell."
"This might burn a little." Lorenzo said, before sparking up his magic and letting the pentagram ignite in flames, as we all slowly took a step in, enduring the pain until we got sent one by one down to Edom.
When I landed in Edom, I immediately got defensive when I noticed I was alone, pulling out my kindjals, "Alec? Jace?-"
When I heard someone coming up behind me, I spun around, Alec coming into sight, his eyes wide, "Wow- it's me!-"
"Jeez, Alec- you scared me-" I breathed out, letting down my kindjals, putting them away, "You can't sneak up on me like that-"
Alec put his hands up, "I wasn't trying to-"
"Neither am I-" Lorenzo walked out to us.
"We're alone- aren't we?" I breathed out, then looked around, "Great."
-
"My Tracking rune isn't working." Alec sighed as he tried after me, "None of them are."
"Then it appears you're more of a warlock than you bargained for." Lorenzo replies, "Our connection must be strong enough to fool your stele."
"You drew the pentagram." I looked at him; frustrated, "Why didn't you keep us together?"
Lorenzo shot back at me quickly, "Likely a side effect of your Alliance rune."
"I can't even send a fire message to tell them where we are-" I took a few steps back, "Isabelle and Magnus are counting on us- and we're what? We're just- sitting ducks- with no way to find them-"
I started to breathe heavily, small rocks and dust starting to circle around me, Alec's eyes widening, "What's happening to her?-"
"It's her emotion, her anger-" Lorenzo began, "Ms. Young- look at the rocks surrounding you, you have to calm down-"
I raise my voice, "I can't-"
"You can!" Lorenzo tried, but it didn't work.
Alec acted quickly, stepping through the barrier of dust and rocks, my eyes widening when I looked up at him when he grabbed my face, "What're you doing?-"
Alec didn't reply, pressing his lips into mine.
I instantly melted into his embrace, my hands resting on his chest, the rocks and dust slowly disappearing from around us, as Alec had calmed me.
I slowly pulled away, looking around, then at Lorenzo who spoke, "The same magic that confounds your stele is at your disposal."
My voice was low, "Magic we can't even control."
"Nobody ever said this was going to be easy." Lorenzo put a hand on my shoulder, "But luckily, you have me."
-
"Magnus?-" I called out when we had reached his home in Edom, rushing in, my eyes widening when I spotted him, "Magnus!"
"Biscuit?-" Magnus turned at the sound of my voice, as I quickly rushed over to him, throwing my arms around him as he lifted me off the ground, "It's- it's really you- how? What're you doing here?-"
"It's- a really long story, let's just say that- I'm really cool and this rune ability comes in handy-" I hugged him tight, "We came here to help you fight Lilith-"
Magnus slowly set me down, "We?-"
Lorenzo spoke when Magnus spotted him, Alec next to him, "I'm simply doing what any High Warlock would do-"
"Magnus-" Clary ran in, a smile on her lips that he was okay, "You're okay-"
"Jace and Meliorn are on the way." Simon joined us, "But- where's Isabelle? Is she here?"
I took a step, "You guys haven't found her?"
"Isabelle?" Magnus repeats, "Should she be?"
authors note:
i missed zalec so MUCH
i haven't written an actual zalec moments in so long for this book, it feels REFRESHING.
and omg there's only two chapters of this book left- i'm so sad sksksk my heart can't take it-
but, thank you for 128k !!
go read metanoia !
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