Chapter Text
When he got back to the institute Izzy was sprawled across his bed on her phone. She rolled over when she spotted him then sat up. “What’s upset you so much that you cancel on for patrol for the first time in 5 years?” Her voice softened as she patted the bed beside her. “Come on, talk to me big bro.” He slumped down on the edge and Izzy shuffled over to him.
“I’m getting married.”
“Oh, to who?”
“Whatever ‘respectable’ girl Mum and Dad choose.” He planted his face in his hands.
“Oh.” Her voice is even quieter this time. Alec just nods in response. “When’s this happening?” He drags his face from his hands which he clasps and rests his chin upon.
“I’ll be engaged by the end of August apparently. The only choice I get is which girl I get to marry.” His voice was low and full of despair. Izzy sucked on her bottom lip, a nervous habit which had a tendency to ruin her lipstick.
“Alec.” She took a deep breath. “I know. I know why you really don’t want to do this. I’ll tell Mum and Dad that I’ll get married, at least I might actually end up liking whoever they choose.” Alec turned to her.
“I can’t let you do that Iz. You’re 19! I’ll do it. It’s not like they’’ll ever let me marry a—I’ll end up with whoever they choose regardless.” He paused. “How do you know?” Izzy just smiled quietly.
“I know you Alec, better than you seem to think. Don’t forget I’m on your side, and Jace will be too.”
Alec woke up the next morning to Jace banging on his door and storming in. “If you let me sleep for another half hour, I’ll give you my croissant from breakfast.” Alec mumbled but Jace just sighed.
“I wish. You’ve got to get up. A warlock was found dead again. Their mark gone and same stab wound as the last one.” Alec bolted up.
“What? Where?”
“They were found in an alley this time, near their house.” Jace glanced at the briefing in his hand. “Alex Cooper. Recently moved here last year from England. Better get dressed, the body is in the morgue.”
The scene was the same as last time, though there was more blood around the corpse. This warlock’s mark had been their hands which had claws rather than nails. They’d been cut off. Alec blanched but swallowed his disgust then handed the photo back to Izzy.
“Same demonic reading as last time – nothing.” Teresa said. “This is two in two weeks, exactly the same. I don’t think it’s demons, Alec.” He grimaced and glanced at a photo of the surrounding alley.
“I agree. And I don’t think it’s random either. Both were in places well out of the usual places frequented by the warlocks. In an alley and hidden away in an unpopular area of the park.” He stared down at the files spread out on the table. “Izzy, can you do the autopsy as soon as possible. Maybe it’ll turn up something. Jack, can you please email any warlocks we have on system, tell them to be careful who they meet up with until this is over.” His team nodded and departed. Alec stayed where he was, scouring the photos before him.
“Both at night, neither had told anyone where they were going nor was it an appointment. No witnesses. Who, or what, can overpower two powerful warlocks with nothing noticed by others.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “It’d have to be something incredibly powerful, or someone they trusted. No demonic reading though, and anything powerful enough would have left a trace.” Alec frowned at the files spread out before him. Could a demonic signal be removed? Perhaps someone was harnessing a powerful demon to do their dirty work. Another warlock?
Alec slumped back in his chair. Two hours of research and nothing had come up. Izzy hadn’t gotten back yet with the autopsy – she thought there was something in the blood she couldn’t identify so she was running tests. He shifted uncomfortably and ran a hand across his face. He was too tired to keep going. He looked up at the clock on the library wall, it was almost 3:00pm. His gaze shifted to a nearby display cupboard, sifting through the contents. Is that pair of horns? Warlock marks? Alec recoiled, it seemed callous to display ‘trophies’ from dead warlocks while warlocks were being murdered in the streets. Perhaps I should call Magnus and have him consult on this case. He can also tell me how best to dispose of those warlock marks.
Why were the warlocks marks being taken? What could they be used for? A ritual? Or was it a twisted form of revenge? Alec had nothing to go on and it was incredibly frustrating.
Was it better to call or text Magnus? Probably call considering it was an official thing. He scrolled through his short list of contacts to find Magnus. It was easy, he was the only one with a picture. Magnus had taken it the second time they’d met up, they’d gotten coffee from Starbucks and Magnus had stolen his phone to take a photo with a cream mustache which he’d then assigned to his contact. Alec smiled then clicked the small green phone icon.
“Hello, hello, hello. It’s your friendly neighborhood warlock Magnus Bane. How’s my favourite shadowhunter?”
“Hey Magnus.”
“How’re you feeling, after last night and all?”
“Better. We can talk about this later but I presume you’ve heard about Alex Cooper – the warlock who died this morning.”
“I did.” Magnus’s voice dimmed, it lacked its usual flair.
“The institute is investigating it and we’d really like your help. Could you come and consult for us?” Alec paused. “Also, I found some ‘trophies’ from when Shadowhunters used to kill warlocks, and I’d like to get rid of them. I was wondering what was the best way to do so.”
“I’ll come over right away. See you soon darling.”
“I have great instincts. Trust me.” Magnus said, looking gravely around the table at the assembled shadowhunters.
“Right, like that time you thought that—” Alec said dryly with a tiny, devilish smile.
“Nope, shut up, no one needs to know about any embarrassing stories!” Magnus faked panic as he cut Alec off with a gesture and a square of blue magic found its way to hover over Alec’s mouth. Alec smirked but shut his mouth, Isabelle giggled from beside him. With a wary glance Magnus removed the magic.
“Mmmm,” Alec hummed, “tastes like blueberry pancakes.”
“Damn, I was going for more of a ‘stale bread’ taste.” Magnus grumbled. With one more sideways glance at Alec, he continued in a more appropriate tone. “As I was saying, this definitely isn’t random. The taking or destruction of the warlock marks is too deliberate. I’ve not heard of any dark magic that requires a generalized warlock mark. Most require a specific form. So it could be revenge, or just plain hate.” Alec grimaced. As he’d been reminded that morning, shadowhunters had a bad history with downworlders.
As his team discussed the problem he surveyed the shadowhunters at the table. Isabelle and Jace would never do something like this. Both had dated downworlders quite seriously at times in their lives. Raj was a douche sometimes, but he’d known Raj since childhood and he wouldn’t possess enough hate to do anything like these murders. He didn’t know Janice very well, she’d moved here about 4 years ago but she was very reserved, almost shy, and they’d seldom worked together aside from patrol. Teresa and Jack were new transfers from the Florence institute here on training. They’d only arrived a few days before the murders began. The siblings were a very good team but Alec had not payed much attention to them since they’d arrived. He’d spent most of his time thinking about Magnus.
He shifted his gaze to Magnus who was in deep discussion with the rest of the team, his hands with painted nails moving through the air. He had a sharp wit and if he focused, Alec could feel the power emanating from Magnus. He was the high warlock of Brooklyn for a reason. His ensemble was well put together and he looked sleek, and fantastic and powerful. And yet, just last night Alec had seen him in sweatpants and a loose, but fashionable, shirt. He refocused on the conversation.
“Yes, but what can we actually do about this Magnus?” Jace countered.
“We’ve ascertained it’s not random, and not demonic, you’ve already alerted warlocks of the potential danger. Ask them to report any meetings with unknown people until this is over. For the more suspicious cases, send out a shadowhunter escort.” Magus said firmly.
“That’ll drain our resources a lot if we respond to every suspicious downworlder meeting in New York.” Jack said
“Warlocks are dying, innocent people. You can afford it.” Alec nodded<.
“Send out the message, Jack. I’ll report back to the Clave then give an address to the institute.”
Alec walked bleary-eyed to his father’s office. It had been a hectic three days, another warlock had been found dead – this time in their home – and there were traces of demonic activity, but Fissure had been well-known as a warlock who did a lot of summoning. Then the Clave had sent a small team to help with personnel issues due to the new protection for ‘suspicious meetings’ and Alec had been relegated sorting out their accommodation and the schedule for help – not that warlocks, or their clients, were keen to have shadowhunters lurking in on meetings.
Both Maryse and Robert were waiting in his office when Alec arrived. His father gestured at chair and Alec sat down.
“You haven’t come to us with a potential match yet, but with the team from the clave here we thought it best to seize on the opportunity. Have you spent much time with the team leader Lydia Branwell?”
“I haven’t.” That was true. He hadn’t interacted with her much beyond showing her to her room and briefing her team on the situation. She seemed efficient. Like a good leader. She was pretty perhaps as well.
“She is a rising star in Idris, and our families have always been close. Maryse and I are going to reach out to them today with a proposal of partnering our families. I suggest you make the first courting overtures soon, Alec. She will be good for our reputation.” Alec nodded tiredly, he would do it for his family. “That is all. We both have plenty of work to get on with.” Alec stood up and walked out of the office. An image of Magnus smiling warmly at him flashed through his mind. He set off to find Lydia.
He found her in the training room practicing her hand to hand with another of the Idris team. He waited by a pillar until they finished their bout.
“Lydia, could I grab a word with you?” She nodded to her teammate who sauntered off to grab a drink then picked up a sword to run some moves.
“What’s up? Another dead warlock?”
“Nothing like that, thankfully. I just have some news I thought best delivered by me.” He took a deep breath. “My family is pushing me to marry and my parents indicated they wish for me to begin courting you. They’re sending a message to your parents today.”
“Romantic.” She said dryly. He huffed.
“Indeed.”
“I suppose we better get to know each other better then. Coffee? Tomorrow at, say, 11?” Alec nodded once.
“Sounds good.” He stalked off.