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Chapter Text

Alec wasn’t exactly sure how he’d ended up here. One minute he was stepping into the Portal to visit Idris and the next, he was standing in what seemed like, well, a dull-gray London afternoon full with carriages and men with top hats. For a moment, he’d blinked and let it all set in. He’d taken a deep breath and bit down on his lower lip which kept him from yelling but not from the eventual tears. Alexander Lightwood wasn’t someone who cried – of course not, he hadn’t cried since, well, since Max died and well maybe since Izzy was harmed and –

All of that was besides the point. Currently, Alec was sitting on a wooden bench overlooking the Blackfriars’ Bridge. He was sitting in contemplation, with his head in his hands, just trying to make sense of the entire situation. When he’d first found himself here, he had thought that maybe if he turned back to look at the Portal so he could re-enter it and go back to the Institute, however, it was impossible. The Portal had been quick to dissipate right with Alec’s hope of returning to New York. Of course, after an hour of going around what seemed like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Alec had found himself now at the Blackfriars Bridge. Alec didn’t know a lot of people in London, apart from the person after he was named – Gideon Lightwood and his brother Gabriel Lightwood. Of course, other Lightwoods such as his infamous great great great great great grandfather Benedict Lightwor- LIGHTWOOD and of course, Sophie Lightwood and Cecily Lightwood and Thomas Lightwood and Christopher Lightwood and Andrew Lightwood –

But not knowing where he exactly was had unnerved him and besides, without any reference to any time period it wasn’t as if he was going to find any of his ancestors. In a bid to at least find out which era he was in, he drifted in and around the street sellers till he finally found a mundane newspaper stall. Of course with no money, and glamour, nobody could see him or even ask him for any money but still Alec hesitated. A man with a clear conscience never stole, and this made Alexander no exception. He peered into one of the stalls nonchalantly with his hands behind his back as if someone might catch onto what he was doing and almost fell over into the case.

5th June, 1878.

Oh god, Alec thought, surely this was some kind of a dream? Was he about to get caught up with Will Herondale, Jace’s ancestor and Tessa Gray and Jem Carstairs? Surely, this has to be a dream, Alec thought for what seemed to be like the millionth time as he slumped, his shoulders weighing him down as he pressed his hands back against his face.

The thought he was trying to suppress came up – What about Magnus? He could find Magnus and tell him everything and he’d understand, of course he’d understand, he was his boyfriend but... Then again, Alec was Magnus’ boyfriend in the 21st century, not the 19th century and oh, what if he has an existing lover already? Actually, no, ex boyfriend, he reminded himself with a sudden bitterness. A flush crawled up his neck as he tried to think rationally. Both of them had their past albeit Magnus had a longer past and Alec, well, had nothing. Maybe he could find out more about Magnus, but that would be unfair, wouldn’t it...

That was when a thought struck him – The London Institute, he could just pose as another asylum-seeking Shadowhunter and maybe try to get into contact with Magnus or someone or – of course, the famous Henry Branwell. The diagnostics seemed impossible at the moment, but surely he had to start somewhere and this somewhere seemed more plausible than any other somewhere.

Hodge had been a good tutor; he’d taught all the three the major Institutes of the world full with pictures and addresses. Thankfully, Alec was currently on Blackfriars Bridge, which meant that the London Institute wasn’t far, just off Fleet Street and once he’d find the cathedral, it was Hello Mission going back to the 21st century. Un-glamouring himself for a moment, he asked one of the courteous men on the street for directions to Fleet Street and with a courteous nod and a tip of the man’s hat, Alec set down the Blackfriars Bridge. The Thames River wasn’t as grand, just a mass of grey flowing in the gray evening and everything was well, just gloomy. Alec wondered if he was gloomier than the weather and decided he was definitely gloomier.

Getting off the bridge, a pang of homesickness went over him as the salty smell of the river disappeared, making him crave the Hudson River’s smell again. He turned around the corner he was reminded and surely, there was the abandoned Church of All-Hallows-Less. With some concentration, Alec managed to remove the glamour and found hurrying Shadowhunters falling out of their carriages. One of them seemed to be not a Shadowhunter and stumbling with her was a white-haired man along with a cane, a black haired man accompanied with a man with a stocky build, both carrying a man with them in their arms and all the rest seemed to be just flowing out and out – and once only two people were left, Alec decided to step into the gate of the Institute.

As the gate creaked, both the short woman and the man accompanying her looked up and Alec found his throat closing up slightly. The woman was small but intimidating somewhat like Clary and the main with his wild brown hair sticking everywhere just looked confused. Both of them looked like they were just out from a battle and before he could take another step, the man had raised his seraph blade and the woman was holding suddenly holding something that looked like a rope which gleamed in the almost-dark. From afar, Alec could tell that the woman was holding a whip, one which looked a lot like Isabelle’s and both of them seemed hell-bent on killing him. Alec held his hands up and he spoke.

“I’m Alexander Lovelace,” he said. “I’m here to seek refuge in the London Institute.”

Chapter Text

“Why does Charlotte wish to see me?” said Jessamine, sitting at her mirror, weighing her blonde curls in her palm, before looking at Sophie in the mirror.
Sophie stood awkwardly at the door, half in and half out of it. “Mrs Branwell said nothing to me, but I believe I saw a man and he perhaps is looking for you? Really, Miss, please accompany me.” She said in almost a pleading voice. Sophie looked distressed and her mind seemed more preoccupied. Her apron was stained with red but Jessamine assumed it wasn’t her blood.

With a sigh and flair, Jessamine stood up, gathering her skirts and started towards the door. Sophie gratefully ducked out of the door and helped Jessamine to the Institute’s library where Charlotte was holding their guest. Henry was as usual nowhere to be seen – perhaps back in the basement for more of his tinkering and well the others might be more preoccupied with other things, she assumed, as Sophie opened the door to the library. Without another word, she motioned Jessamine to enter before scurrying away towards the kitchen.

Jessamine entered to see a black-haired man with a set jaw, runes all over his arms and blue eyes. If Charlotte hadn’t introduced him as Alexander Lovelace, Jessamine would’ve thought it was a Lightwood.

“A Lovelace?” Jessamine enquired, incredulously, before giving the male a full look, up and down before he just gave her a shrug. He looked so uncomfortable and almost like he didn’t want to be there but had been dragged out here. “That’s impossible, my parents are dead and –”
“You forget, dear Jessie, your ancestors, they left the Clave around the 1700s to go to Scotland, and well you know how the Clave has been asking them to come back, I believe even you were given an offer.” Charlotte recounted thoughtfully, before looking at Alec. “However, this is strange, the Enclave never told me we were expecting visitors.”

Before Jessie could say anything, Alec cut in quickly. “I wasn’t summoned by the Clave, I – I decided to leave. I mean, I was given an offer before, but I didn’t accept it but now I want to come and join the Shadowhunters after- after, well my father and mother passed away in a- in a carriage accident.” He said, measurably and before he could try and explain further, Jessamine gasped and Charlotte gaped wide-eyed at Jessamine. She then looked at Alexander and gave him a wistful yet guarded look. Alec gazed back at Charlotte with a lost look, and that was it, Charlotte had melted. Walking over to where he stood, she reached out to him and pressed a hand against his arm. “Of course, you’re welcome to join us.” She whispered and looked at Jessamine who had gone white.

Alec wasn’t exactly sure what had shook her so hard, but she seemed like she was going to pass out and the only thing holding her together was the stronghold she had on her skirts which were rumpling under her hold. Charlotte bit her lip and looked at her sympathetically before looking up at Alec and guiding him to the door. “Sophie will be waiting for you and be helping you find your room, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want, but I must warn you, we’re currently under – we’re under a crisis situation and since you aren’t trained, we’ll be trying to get you to train with Will and Jem. I’ll have to inform the Clave – and we’ll take it from there, then.”

At the mention of the Clave, Alec froze and shook his head. “Charlot- Miss Branwell, no. Please don’t inform the Clave of this, I don’t – I don’t want to go somewhere else and I don’t want to recount whatever happened with my family and honestly, just please don’t inform them, my family has been traitorous but that doesn’t mean I am, too and I’ll be willing to help you with anything you want. In fact- In fact, I don’t even need training, my training was completed by my father, he believed I needed training to defend myself and take care of myself, so I can wield anything you want – a sword, a bow, a seraph blade. I speak various languages and have been trained as a Shadowhunter, I’ll do anything but please don’t inform the Clave.” Alec rambled, stiffened under his clothes. “I can also draw runes.” He finished and waited for the woman’s answer.

Charlotte regarded him with a stare, before sighing, and suddenly she seemed taller. All her muscles had loosened up and she was just looking at Alec like he was a small boy although Alec was six foot tall and had towered even Henry Branwell, Charlotte’s husband. “Very well, then, I won’t inform the Clave but only till you settle in. After that, I will have to inform them and talk to them about your postings and such. You said you were 19, didn’t you? You can stay wherever you want, as an adult Shadowhunter, but if you wish to stay here, by all means, you can stay here. I will also schedule a talk with you just so I know what all you have already learnt and then we can have someone teach you what you don’t. As for now, Sophie will take you to your room and you can clean up after yourself. Is that alright?” She asked, in a motherly tone and Alec could do nothing but nod. His mother had been so different, caring but different and Charlotte had such a motherly vibe to her. Maybe she even cared for Jessie the way she’d she shown her care for him right now. With a last glance at Jessamine, he nodded and stepped out, the door closing behind him and with it Jessamine.

Alec felt guilty, he really did, he hadn’t even known there was a Lovelace in the Institute, the Shadow World wasn’t really in favour of families who left the Clave but with Sebastian and everything going on back in 21st century, the Clave was approaching every Shadowhunter family and asking them to join in and help them fight the war that threatened not only the Shadowhunters but also the human race.
Alec ran a hand through his hair and looked around to find a woman in brown hair taking a bucket from Sophie and walking up the stairs to the attic, while Sophie looked at the woman fondly and with a rather grateful look. She had changed her apron, but it was now wet with water and it was sticking to her legs. She then suddenly found her gaze coming to rest on Alexander and for a minute she looked as if she was wondering who he was before widening her eyes and promptly coming over to him.

“Master Lovelace, I apologise, I got caught up with Will and Mrs Branwell,” she said as if he knew who Will was, but as a matter of fact, Alec did know who Will was and he couldn’t wait to meet Will. But, he also needed a shower, and food and he was craving a nap. “I shall take you to your room, now.” Sophie cut his thoughts and Alec nodded without a word.

As Sophie turned, Alec saw a deep scar running from Sophie’s eyebrow to the side of her mouth, which had completely disfigured her face. Despite the scar, Alec had noticed how beautiful she was, and he’d known that this was his ancestor. He really wished to hug her, and talk to her and ask her about his great great great great great uncle, but he knew he couldn’t because she was still a mundane, and as far as his knowledge about his family went, Sophie Lightwood had ascended and became a Shadowhunter after the war with Mortmain. He wondered absently, as he walked behind Sophie if he should tell them all he knew about Mortmain and his automatons or witness the history as it unfolded and battle alongside the Shadowhunters. He decided that the latter wouldn’t freak out his ancestors and he would also see Will Herondale and his famous parabatai Jem Carstairs and of course, Jace’s great great great great grandmother who was a mix between a Shadowhunter and demon and looking back, his trail lingered at the staircase he’d seen the brown-haired woman disappear. Could that have been Tessa? He thought, before Sophie who was walking in front of him, stopped. Alec would’ve almost run into her if he hadn’t heard the door unlock.

“This way,” She said, her expression solemn but somewhere inside, she looked like she was struggling with keeping her emotions straight. She helped him in, and instructed him about the room. How the door worked, where he could find her, where the shower was, the basic stuff even Alec had told Jace when he’d first come to the New York Institute. The bedroom looked a lot like the one at the Institute, where he’d currently been living after his break-up with Magnus.

Magnus, Alec thought with a sigh, before he heard Sophie informing him that she’d be back with some sandwiches and tea along with some of Master Will’s clothes.

Once Sophie left, Alec sat down on the king-sized bed and sighed. Now to work out a backstory, he thought and shook his head before falling upon his head. Charlotte couldn’t have missed his American accent, so he somehow had to make sure that he included that he lived in America in his formative years. Other things included, a family – mother and father, and he’d conveniently tell them he had no other relatives and no siblings, he was the only child.

With his mind set on a story, Alec stripped down and showered back in time to see sandwiches and tea, with a note that was addressed to him:

“Master Alexander,

Supper will be laid out at 6:30 PM and I will be having a talk with you after in the library. Sophie will help you with some clothes that belong to Will, a member of the Institute, and you can wear them. Please feel comfortable to explore the Institute, if you must.

- Charlotte Branwell.”

Chapter Text

Alec wasn’t exactly sure when he’d fallen asleep, but he’d been woken up by voices – both male and female, inexplicably yelling at each other. After a while, he heard a door, it must have been close to his room, shut with force and he’d heard footsteps followed by another pair quickly. After that, he’d heard other people silently vacating the room one by one and the last one was again, two pairs of footsteps and yet, both of them went in different directions. Hoping everything had settled, Alec sat up in his bed and looked down at the crumpled piece of paper that lay beneath him. It was the note Charlotte had given him, and he had slept on top of it, crumpling the paper and even tearing it in some places. He shrugged, and simply flattened out the note before folding it, and putting it in his jeans pocket, making a mental note to himself to give it to Clary once he gets out – or rather, if he gets out of this century.

Being here was more like being in prison, Alec thought as he got out of bed and walked over to the window. Easing the curtain, he saw the front gate of the Institute and two people – a man with white hair, and the same woman he’d seen a while back, the one he’d presumed was Tessa, walking out of the Institute gate. They looked happy, Alec wondered if the two were dating or having an affair, but then that would mean she wasn’t with Will and that was weird, thought Alec, his hand pressing at his temple. He just shrugged as if he would never be able to figure out how straight couples worked and let the curtain fall back. One glance around his room, and he realised that maybe he should freshen up for supper, straighten his clothes and head out to see what time it was. Maybe even explore the Institute as Charlotte had said. Thinking of doing just that, Alec went to his vanity drawer and sorted through the contents. He wasn’t used to having one and the most he’d even used a vanity drawer was when Isabelle had pleaded to help him with his outfit before Alec’s first date with Magnus.

Somehow everything lead back to Magnus, and honestly, he couldn’t help but feel another pang of guiltiness hit him. He knew that Magnus could be somewhere around, and he knew that if he looked hard enough, he’d be able to find him, but the question lingering on his mind was, Where to start? With a sigh and a hand across his rumpled clothes, he opened the door only to find a lingering Jessamine at his door. As he opened the door, Jessamine gasped and almost fell back, but Alec’s quick reflexes worked in and he held her arm to keep her from falling.

Evidently, that hadn’t been the best thing to do. A red flush took over Jessie’s face and she yanked her hand back from him. “It’s very rude to grab a lady like that, you know,” she said, eyeing him up and down as if he was some alien specimen up for her observation. Alec wasn’t used to being stared at like that, and hence when he said, “It’s very rude to stare.” Jessamine was even more appalled at his rudeness, but apparently, that was it, that was what told her that he might indeed be a Lovelace.
“I see you are a Lovelace, then.” She said, gazing down at the Marks that coated his arms. She seemed a bit disgusted, but still, she was staring at him with some distant fondness. It was so distant that Alec thought he might have imagined it. He silently made a note to hide his parabatai rune at any costs, in case it got him into any trouble.
“In blood and bone, right in front of you, ma’am.” He said, lingering on the ma’am, before stepping out of his room and bringing the door along with him. Jessie looked slightly rumpled as if she’d been asleep, but without asking her about it, he enquired about the commotion before. With a dismissive wave, she said it was nothing important and something about Shadowhunter politics. Alec also noticed a blush against her cheekbones when she’d gazed at the door she was possibly in before, before telling him urgently that she needed to go.

Well, how weird, thought Alec as he watched Jessamine hurry into one of the many rooms of the Institute, and bang the door shut. With a shrug, he descended down the corridor, looking around at the walls of the corridor. It wasn’t similar to the New York institute, it looked more like a castle, but it had similarities in the sense that there were recurring Raziel motifs on scrolls adorned on at almost every two inches full with other fluff such as paintings and vases. A wave of homesickness hit Alec as he walked along the corridors, and he longed to be back in New York, in his home, which was confusing at the moment because Magnus’ home had been his home but after the break-up...
Honestly, was Magnus just as miserable as Alec was or was Alec just over thinking all of this? Could Magnus have replied to any of his texts, of course, he wouldn’t know considering the phones didn’t work in the 19th century and well – He just tried his best to not think about New York, at all. However, once he entered the library, another wave of homesickness hit him, and this one was bigger than the one before. He’d seen the library before, but everything had been such a flux of images and random unknown faces, that he hadn’t exactly soaked in the entire library and its grandeur. Now that he looked closely, the library had what seemed like million shelves, with even a million more books stuck in here and there.

From a faraway look, Alec recognised some books he’d seen in the New York Institute, such as Tale of Two Cities or Vahtek, even in the same copies, might he add. But at a closer look, Alec noticed other books which albeit himself made him snigger a little. Books about Demon Pox lined one line of shelves, and after amusing himself by going over a few of them, he kept them back. He then found himself looking at the maps, and the map of Idris and the globe, and everything and it had almost seemed like hours had gone by, when Sophie found him curled up by one of the chairs with an ancient history book in his lap, talking about mundane technology and mundane wars and mundane everything. He wasn’t really fond of mundanes, but Alec loved history and well, he was in history so he wasn’t going to leave any opportunity unturned to delve into Victorian Era history.

“Master Lovelace?” Sophie asked as she ducked into the library. Alec’s head shot up, and he straightened up right in time. “Supper will be ready in 5 minutes; you might want to accompany me to the dining hall.” She said, but she sounded a little out of breath – maybe she’d been looking for him, Alec thought a little guiltily as he nodded at Sophie with a smile. He kept the book in its place and followed Sophie out of the library.

“You can call me Alexander or Alec – It’s a nickname,” Alec explained sheepishly, scratching at the back of his neck. His aunt was so beautiful, Alec thought as he tried his best to contain his excitement about having actually met his great great great great aunt. “I’m sure we’re the same age.” He explained and Sophie stopped to look back at him.

“Pardon me, but I’m a maid, I can’t call you by your Christian name.” She said, before tilting her head to the side as if she sensed some kind of a longing towards him.
“But you call Will by his name,” He pointed out and for a moment, an expression of fondness went over her as if she recalled an earlier situation of explanation. She resumed walking down the corridor.

“That’s a story for another day.” She said and before he could protest, she opened the door to the dining hall and ushered him in. There weren’t a lot of people sitting at the table, he noticed as soon as he entered. There were Charlotte and Henry and a black-haired man whom he hadn’t been introduced to yet, but he’d seen him before. As Sophie helped him sit down, Charlotte introduced to the stranger man as Will Herondale and he realised that his suspicion was right, indeed. At first glance, he’d figured out that it was a Herondale because of the man’s mannerisms which were so much like Jace’s. They had the same lazy gait and posture and yet they both had the same jaw and eyes and same nose and if both of them hadn’t had the same colour scheme to their hair and eyes, Alec would have mistaken him for Jace. However, at the moment, Will looked like he’d been thrown water at a million times and he looked genuinely tired. He also had that angsty look on his face which meant that he wasn’t going to talk to anyone and was only here for the food.

Will gave him a look of superiority before digging into his food, as Henry and Charlotte did the same. “So, are you the only ones in the Institute?” asked Alec. “You know, except Jessamine.”

Will looked as if he simply didn’t wish to answer that, Henry looked distracted and Charlotte looked like the only one who even noticed their presence. “There are two more: James Carstairs and Tessa Gray,” she said, and then with a second thought, she spoke further. “Currently, Tessa’s brother is also with us in the Institute, getting looked over. I wanted to talk to you after supper. I’ll explain everything, then.” She said, and Alec honestly couldn’t argue much.

He dug into his food which was pleasantly warm and delicious and the one thing that didn’t remind him of home. The food didn’t taste like grease and neither did it taste like Isabelle’s many failed endeavours. He’d almost finished his food when all of them straightened up due to a sharp metal clanging sound which seemed to be coming from outside. Without any further, dialogue all the four Shadowhunters were up on their feet – even Henry and Sophie stood with the door open to the dining hall.
All of them stepped out and grabbed anything and everything that was to be seen. Alec was surprisingly handed a sword by Will who had just assumed that he could fight, and before he could thank him, the main door to the Institute had opened and all of them were spilling out. Alec immediately heard the whirr of automatons and the metal clanging against metal. Charlotte had her discs out, Henry was cutting around with a seraph blade and Will, with a scythe, was violently hacking at the automatons.

Alexander, without any thought, struck into the melee, and brandishing his sword, he tried to follow others’ examples. He was good with the sword, but his preferred weapon being bow and arrow, he missed it, but nonetheless, worked his way among the automatons. It was difficult breaking through them, but after dismantling one or two of the automatons, Alec thought he had a grip. As if on cue, an automaton jumped on him from the behind, and struck at him from the behind. Ducking and swinging himself away from the automaton, he struck his sword into the automaton’s abdomen in time to hear Will calling out to Thomas and Thomas immediately coming out to help the white-haired man he’d seen before. As Will and Thomas carried the man inside, Alec’s gaze fell over the brown haired woman – Tessa, he guessed. He dropped his sword, and helped her up and carrying her inside the Institute. She looked like she was confused as to who he was but she didn’t question it, just went along with it. The automatons were gone, he’d realised suddenly, in the middle of Will yelling and Tessa looking lost, and Henry and Charlotte were at the foot of the steps looking over the automaton bodies. Alec thought Henry almost looked happy, but the thought dissipated as he entered the Institute and Tessa only became weaker and weaker in his arms.

Sympathetically, he stopped and held her letting everything wash over her before she heard Sophie’s voice, and slowly eased Tessa out of Alec’s arms. Tessa only looked grateful to be taken out of a stranger’s arms and Sophie looked at him as if she was thankful.

“Miss Tessa,” Sophie said, “Are you alright?” She asked and Tessa looked up at her dazed.

The two conversed about Henry and Charlotte and Alec let his mind wander a little. He thought about how he’d been so engaged in the battle to not even notice the white-haired main that’d fallen prematurely and he wondered if he was sick, with a sigh. However, he was still buzzed with the feeling of having fought automatons and helped the Institute people defend themselves and possibly saved Jace’s ancestor. If she was his ancestor, anyway, thought remembering the white-haired man, again. Could that have been Jem?

He was snapped out of his reverie as he felt a tiny hand against his elbow. “Alexander.” He recognised Charlotte’s voice and he blinked to find that Sophie and Tessa weren’t standing in front of him anymore – they were gone and had been replaced by Charlotte. Henry was gone, too, Alec thought as he smiled down at Charlotte as if nothing had been wrong a few minutes ago.

“Mrs Bran- Charlotte,” he cut himself off as he remembered her asking him to call her Charlotte. “You were very brave.” She said and Alec blushed, he wasn’t used to being complimented by people. Of course, there had been Magnus... Shutting his thoughts out which even mentioned Magnus, Alec gave a shrug before dismissing her compliment with a shake of his head. “It is my duty, I mean,” He corrected himself. “That’s what I read in my father’s Codex.” He lied.

Charlotte shook her head. “Nonetheless, for a munda – For a person who had lived in the mundane world, you fought very bravely.” She restated.
Alec just dropped a smile and shrugged as if to say It was nothing.

“Let’s go to the library, it’s time I told you about the Institute,” Charlotte said and with a purposeful gait, started towards the library.

Chapter Text

“Very well,” Charlotte said, her small fighter’s hands resting against the mahogany desk in front of her, eyeing Alexander thoughtfully. She hadn’t been too pleased to let another person even enter the Institute when they were being threatened by something so severe. In fact, she’d been really apprehensive, and for once, Henry had to take her to the side and explain to her how happy it’d make Jessamine to know that there was someone who could act as her family apart from her adopted family. All of them had been good points, indeed and thus, Charlotte had allowed Alexander in but she’d still been very sceptical of him because he’d showed up on an unlucky day, and honestly, she was in no mood for any more traitors – de Quincey had been enough of a hassle for her. In fact, she’d turned even more sceptical of him when he’d said not to tell the Enclave and she was going to, anyway, but when he’d seen him fight, she saw a true Shadowhunter, helping and defending her people – her Jem, her Tessa, her Will, her Sophie, her Jessie, her Henry...

“I believe it’s time to tell you about the Institute and us, and well, what exactly is going on. I cannot leave you in the dark about the fight especially after you’ve helped us,” She said patiently, and Alec was sitting in front of her. Charlotte had applied runes to him, albeit very carefully and apprehensively. He could tell by the set of her shoulders that he was afraid he might combust into flames although she’d already seen his runes before. He didn’t blame her, though. “I was handed over this Institute after my father’s death,” she narrated, looking down at her locked hands. “Will came to the Institute when he was 12 and shortly James, Jem, arrived from the Shanghai Institute.” She explained and there it was, the white-haired man was presumably Jem. Alec could tell how careful she was being with the details; she made sure she didn’t delve into too much. “Jessamine – Jessie, presumably your cousin, came to the Institute after her parents passed away in a carriage attack,” Charlotte said solemnly, but Alec’s expression changed. Out of all the lies I could conjure, this was the best one I could think of? No wonder Jessamine was so shocked after hearing him, thought Alec a little sadly, and let out a soft puff of air. “That’s why she was so shocked when she heard about your parents,” Charlotte said with a slight nod as if he’d heard his thoughts.

“That’s terrible,” said Alec and all Charlotte could do was nod. “But, what about the fight that happened? Not that I mind fighting, but if I knew more information, I’d surely love to help you with anything.” He said, and of course, he could, he was from the future. He knew something if not anything.

Charlotte pursed her lips and nodded. “That’s what I was coming at. I’d like to thank you for the bravery you have exhibited today – Your father must have taught you everything there was to know.” Alec nodded before she continued. “Tessa came to London from New York, you might have recognised her American accent since you possess one just like her, I’d like to know more about that,” She added absently. “When she came to London, she was abducted by two warlocks called the Dark Sisters and Will managed to track her down and rescue her. We found out that a man called Magister had been looking for her, and in fact, we had just come from a rescue mission when you showed up at the door. Initially, we’d thought you’d been the Magister – de Quincey’s associate, but after you told us you’re a Lovelace, we thought you must be trusted and besides, Jessie has been craving to meet a family member ever since she came to the Institute; she’s not too fond of Shadowhunters, as you can tell.” Alec nodded; he’d noticed her look at her Marks in disgust. “Currently, we’re trying to get as much information on the Magister and the Dark Sisters as we can and we’re trying to also find out more about the automaton army he possesses. The Dark Sisters are dead, but the automatons sent by the Magister still pose a threat not only to Tessa but also to the Shadowhunters.” She explained, and Alec had gone white. He’d known that it was a terrible time but not this terrible.

“I will help you,” Alec said without a moment’s thought, and Charlotte looked at him with a fond expression. “I will help you find the Magister and do anything that is necessary to prove my allegiance to you as well as keep Tessa safe. You need not worry.” He said and Charlotte nodded determinedly. “However, to prove my allegiance to you, I realise, I must tell you about me and maybe even try to map out my relationship with Jessamine.” Charlotte nodded as if saying Go ahead. “I was born in the United States, in New York. My father had been raised by one of the other Lovelaces; George and Rebecca Lovelace and my mother had been a mundane. My father’s name is Robert and my mother’s name is Mary. My father wanted to join the ranks of the Nephilim, but his father stopped him multiple times even though, I know, parents’ refusal doesn’t matter. My father had great respect for his father and could never disobey him, so he ended up not joining the ranks,” Alec said with a little difficulty, he needed to make a mental note of what he was saying so he didn’t end up having any loopholes in the story. “My grandfather passed away when my father was in his 30s, and as dramatic as it sounds, made my father promise he wouldn’t join the Shadowhunters. No one knew why my grandfather despised them so much, but he did and my father couldn’t go against his father’s wishes. Hence, when he had a boy, he’d been really happy, not that he minded having a girl, but he wanted a boy. He started my training from scratch, taught me what runes were from the Codex, and taught me every kind of martial arts, history of Shadowhunters and everything. When I asked him how he knew so much about the Shadow World, he told me that he’d known a Shadowhunter who’d died in battle, but he’d taught him everything he’d known in secret. I never asked the person’s name, and he’d never told me.” He said and then took a breath. Charlotte was listening intently, ready to pick on anything that seemed even a bit suspicious.

“My father was ready to give up any kind of contact he had with me, as long as I joined the Shadowhunters because he didn’t want me to be an ordinary mundane, he wanted me to be a great Shadowhunter and he wanted me to make him proud. He carved my first Rune on me, and did everything he could, or was in his power to give me everything I wanted. I believe he even contacted some warlock to go over all my initial stages of being a Shadowhunter. After that, we came to Scotland, when I was 13, and we lived in harmony for most of our life. My father wanted me to join the ranks when I was 20, for reasons that I wasn’t aware of, and yet, I had to join early after both, my mother and my father passed away in a carriage accident a few days ago. After that, I knew I had to find the Institute and join the Shadowhunters. My father had a deep affinity for London, and he’d often tell me stories about London and tell me how much he liked London. So, instead of going to any other Institute, I decided I would come to the London Institute, instead of any other Institute.” He finished but decided to add another detail. “The Clave had never really asked us to join the Shadowhunters and none of us had even bothered to even try out except for my father. I hadn’t even known that another Lovelace was at the Institute..” He said a little distantly and thoughtfully.

Charlotte sighed, and got out of her chair. As if uncomfortable that he was the only one sitting now, Alec rose to his feet, and as Charlotte came from behind the desk, he couldn’t help but realise how tiny she was. After the battle, she’d looked exhausted but after a few iratzes she looked to be fine. “I’m sorry, Alexander.” She whispered, touching his arm in an affectionate gesture. “You see, Will, Jem, Jessie and even Tessa have become like my children and I believe I have another one to take care of now,” She said. “Not that I mind, of course.” She added quickly before smiling up at him. “I’ll let you know if something comes up or if any of us need help, but for the time, you can oversee Tessa’s brother’s health or maybe even help out with some research on the Pandemonium Club – it’s the club de Quincey, the Magister, works and it is to be believed that they kill mundanes for pleasure and to feed on them which is strictly prohibited by the Accords. We managed to rescue Tessa’s brother, Nathaniel and are getting help from the Silent Brothers, to help him recover.” She said a little tentatively as if unsure if he knew about the Silent Brothers but after his expression had turned into an understanding one, Charlotte had nodded pleased and Alec couldn’t help but smile.

“Of course, I’ll do anything.” He said, with confidence. “In fact, I’ll start on going through anything related to de Quincey or his circle of maniacs.” He nodded, his arms crossed.
“Very well, you can start from the books here and if you want, you can help yourself to the rest of the supper you missed. Oh, and if you need any assistance from anyone such as Silent Brothers, myself or anyone – Ragnor Fell, the High Warlock of London, Magnus Bane, or even Will for that matter, don’t hesitate. I’ll lend you help.” She said, and with another affectionate look at him and a pat on his arm, she strode out of the library all skirts and twirls.

Magnus, yes, Magnus could help me. He thought and licked his lips plaintively before deciding to finish his dinner and then go to looking through books. He stepped out of the library and strode his way to the dining hall, where thankfully all the plates had still been. He finished the rest of his cold soup and what was now hard bread and set back down the corridor to the library. How odd, he thought, he was already familiar with where to go, how to go and who to call upon if he got lost. It had been only 12 to 13 hours he’d ended up in Victorian England and he was already adjusting. Everything was quiet around him, and he guessed that everyone was either in their own rooms or perhaps talking to each other secretly. A slight sense of anxiety rose in him but it was eased down when he reached the library again. He pulled out some books, ready to study them but before he even opened the page, a huge yawn cut its way through his body and he realised that his jet lag was finally kicking in. He wanted to help, really, he really wanted to help but he couldn’t, his eyes were shutting from exhaustion and not to mention the battle he’d went into unprepared. Alec’s parabatai bond felt like it was being stretched and the distantness he’d felt when Jace was gone had set in again, and with less energy, Alec felt like a rag doll. Promising himself that he’d read the books later, he gathered them up in his arms and started towards his room, which he thankfully had memorised.

As he neared the drawing room, he saw that Will and Tessa were coming out and Will acted as if he didn’t see Alec and Tessa looked at him as if she remembered him, but didn’t exactly know who she was. She stopped, blinked and then a flush rose on her face as if she suddenly remembered how he’d held her – with a sense of protection and responsibility, much as he held Isabelle. “You must be Tessa,” Alec said, and Tessa nodded.

“You must be Alexander.” She pointed and Alec nodded. “I want to thank you for helping. I don’t know how long I would’ve sat there if it wasn’t for you.” She looked up at Will who had stopped in his tracks, but hadn’t moved an inch, he was standing with his back to them, and his set of shoulders looked strained – as if he was trying really hard not to punch someone in the face. Alec couldn’t even pretend to not notice that, he’d found Jace in the very same position multiple times.

“Please don’t thank me; I was only doing what was necessary. However,” he said, following her gaze and landing it on Will. “You seem to be preoccupied, maybe we can talk later. Please attend to your urgency.” He said and Tessa nodded. She dropped another thank you and as soon as she did, Will started walking and Tessa hurried to keep up with him. They ducked into a room a few doors ahead, and Alec walked down the corridor, turned around the corner and found himself in his bedroom.

Leaving the pile of books at the foot of his bed, he kicked off his shoes and his shirt and fell into bed. That night, Alec slept peacefully only to be woken up after, what seemed like 10 hours by an urgent knocking on his door.

Chapter Text

Alec awoke suddenly, bolting upright in his bed, his sheets scrawled around him, one of his blankets half on the ground and half on his bed. Another knock resounded in the room and Alec rubbed at his eyes with the back of his. Getting off, he called out to the door. “I’m coming.” He said a bit impatiently and jerked the door open to see Sophie. She looked panicked and at his sight, she panicked even more. “Oh, thank the Angel you’re here,” she said hastily before turning pink. “I mean, we’re all trying to look for Master Nate – Miss Tessa’s brother, and I was afraid you were gone too.” She said, trying her best to not panic.

“Let me help.” He said, running a hand through his hair. Sophie nodded and looked at him a bit urgently which is when he realised, she was expecting him to freshen up and then look for Nate. He then nodded, before thanking Sophie and closing the door. The next few seconds went by in a whirl, he stripped his clothes off, as fast as he could, washed his face and put on a fresh set of clothes. He opened the door to not find Sophie and he immediately closed the door in a slight sense of panic, before walking out as fast as he could.
The Institute was buzzing with activity at such an early hour and Alec found himself trying to actually explore the Institute this time. He walked up the steps which looked like they might hold a hiding person. At a closer look, he found himself approaching a door. He opened the door quickly, but ended up finding the weapons’ room instead. He blinked, his eyes focusing on the weapons in front of him. He loved being here, he almost felt peaceful, but of course, before he could set a proper foot in the room, he heard a soft voice at the steps. “They’ve found him, Master Lovelace. He’s in the drawing room. Follow me.” He quickly closed the door and went back down the steps he had come up.

Sophie, with a tray of sandwiches and tea, led the way and they met Charlotte, Henry and Jessamine in the way. Charlotte and Henry wished him a good morning and Jessamine only ignored him. He was expecting as much, but he was still surprised. Leaving his face devoid of any expression, Alec silently followed Henry while Charlotte walked in front, and the other two women walked by Henry’s side. They ran into Jem, Tessa and Will outside the drawing room and for what felt like the first time, Will noticed Alec and he narrowed his eyes at him while Charlotte engaged in a conversation with Tessa. Alec reciprocated his gaze and for a moment he looked suspicious of Alec. He could feel his gaze cut daggers into him, but Alec tried to seem unfazed. Before they could open the door and enter the room, Will held the knob in his hand as if stopping them. “What’s a Lightwood doing here?” He asked, pointing his chin towards Alec. “And who even is this? Can’t be one of the fondest Lightwoods we’ve come to know.”

At that, all eyes fell on Alec, and Alec blushed, looking down at his feet. Charlotte was simply confused and looked back at Jace immediately while Jem and Tessa’s gaze lingered. “This is Alexander Lovelace, Will; I introduced him to you last night at dinner.” She said, the confusion still in her voice. “We don’t know for sure if he’s Jessie’s cousin yet, but we’re trying to find out.” At the mention of Jessamine, Jessie looked at Charlotte, then at Alec, and immediately strode towards the door, swatting Will’s hand off it and striding into the drawing room. Hesitantly, Tessa followed Jessie in, and the rest silently went in barring Jem and Tessa, while Will lingered in the hallway with Alec and Jem,Will's attention mostly on Alec. The two went in together and he couldn’t help but notice how similar they were. The two had a slight difference in height, but he had Will – his great great great great great uncle’s hair. Of course, he was Cecily and Gabriel Lightwood’s ancestor and he wondered where Will’s sister – Cecily was.

In the middle of the room, near a window, sat Nate comfortably and next to him sat Jessamine; Alec followed Will at his position near a wall. Will leaned back against it, while Alec stood a little away from him, his arms crossed and staring at Nate. Tessa was lingering by Jessie and Nate's side, while Jem came to join him and Will near the wall. The siblings talked to each other, and he could see the emotion flowing between them, much like him and Isabelle and he suddenly realised that he missed Isabelle. Closing his eyes, he put his hand on his heart just below his parabatai rune. He saw all his close friends and his family – Izzy, Jace, his mother, his father, even Clary and Magnus... He opened his eyes at the thought of Magnus and he heard Will; for a minute he almost heard all the Jace in it.
He could hear words like Mortmain and Pademonium Club, and with every mention of Mortmain, he could find himself stiffening up. He was trying really hard to not fall apart and tell all of them the truth and by this time, it was pretty sure that Nate was blatantly lying.

Nathaniel continued his fake story. “I thought perhaps he’d send me a bribe, some money to shut me up. Instead I got a first-class steamer ticket to London and the official offer of a job once I arrived. I figured I was onto a good thing so, when I got to London, I went straight to Mortmain’s house, where I was ushered into the study to meet him. He greeted me with great warmth, telling me how glad he was to see me and how I looked just like my dear dead mother. Then he grew serious. He sat me down and told me he had always liked my parents and had been saddened when they had left England. He had not known they were dead until he received my letter. Even if I were to go public with what I knew about him, he claimed he would happily give me a job and do whatever he could for me, for my parents’ sake.”
“I told Mortmain that I would keep his secret—if he brought me with him to attend a meeting of the Pandemonium Club that he owed it to me to show me what it was he had shown my parents. The truth was, the mentioning of gambling in my mother’s diary had sparked my interest. I imagined a meeting of a group of men silly enough to believe in magic and devils. Surely it wouldn’t be difficult to win a bit of money off such fools.” Nate closed his eyes.

“Mortmain agreed, reluctantly, to take me. I suppose he had no choice. That night the meeting was at de Quincey’s town house. The moment the door opened, I knew I was the fool. This was no group of amateurs dabbling in spiritualism. This was the real thing, the Shadow World my mother had made only glancing reference to in her diary. It was real. I can barely describe my sense of shock as I stared around me—creatures of indescribable grotesqueness filled the room. The Dark Sisters were there, leering at me
from behind their whist cards, their nails like talons. Women with their faces and shoulders powdered white smiled at me with blood running out the corners of their mouths. Little creatures whose eyes changed color scuttled across the floor. I had never imagined such things were real, and I said as much to Mortmain.
“‘There are more things in Heaven and earth, Nathaniel, than are dreamt of in your philosophy,’" he said.

“Well, I knew the quote because of you, Tessa. You were always reading Shakespeare at me, and I even paid attention some of the time. I was about to tell Mortmain not to make fun of me, when a man came up to us. I saw Mortmain go stiff as a board, as if this were someone he was frightened of. He introduced me as Nathaniel, a new employee, and told me the man’s name. De Quincey. De Quincey smiled. I knew immediately he wasn’t human. I’d never seen a vampire before, with that death white skin of theirs, and of course when he smiled, I saw his teeth. I think I just stared. ‘Mortmain, you’re keeping things from me again,’ he said. ‘This is more than just a new employee. This is Nathaniel Gray. Elizabeth and Richard Gray’s son.’ Mortmain stammered something, looking baffled. De Quincey chuckled. ‘I do hear things, Axel,’ he said. Then he turned to me. ‘I knew your father,’ he told me. ‘I liked him quite a bit. Perhaps you’d join me for a game of cards?’”

As Nathaniel continued his tale, Alec found himself turning even more red and angry, he knotted his hands into fists and as he explained that he tried to give up his sister in return for his loyalty, Alec found himself growing even angrier. He could see the anger being reciprocated in Will – His entire body was taut as spring and he didn’t blame him when he let out another snarky comment. In turn, he was rewarded by Jessie setting off, and surprised, Alec stared at her, his eyes wide. As the two bantered, he shifted his gaze to Tessa who looked struck, sad and disappointed. However, her expression quickly faded away, and she was agreeing with Jessie who’d said it wasn’t his fault – that he was being threatened. Alec just shook his head and found Jem gazing at him. He deflected his gaze and straightened up as if to say something but Nate was talking again. Gritting his teeth, he leaned back against the wall like Will had, and he just looked away in disgust as continued his lies about De Quincey and the Magister and he really tried not to punch Nate. As their conversation about binding demonic energies continued, Jem randomly disappeared, claiming to check the lunar calendar. When he was back, informing that the full moon, necessary for him to bind the energies, all the inhabitant of the drawing room were in a panic.

“Wait,” he said, and everybody looked at him like they didn’t even realise he was there. Trying not to stutter, Alec looked at Nate and then Charlotte. “Maybe we’re rushing into this. Maybe de Quincey lied to Nate – Maybe de Quincey just told him all of this to throw him off, maybe he didn’t mean it.” He said, trying to make sense and sound sensible, but Charlotte just looked bewildered.

“That might be the case, but we can’t risk it.” She said and before he could protest, she interjected. “I should go and inform the Enclave.” and with that, she hurried out of the room and proceeded towards the library while the rest stayed. Nate gazed at Alec suspiciously, once, before he was being ambushed by Henry who was asking him to point to the map, asking him where de Quincey’s hide out was. All the rest were buzzing around the room, the buzz he knew so well – the buzz before a battle. Once Henry got a location, everyone hurried out except Tessa and Jessamine, who stayed put.

Alec followed Will and Jem out, and before he could go to the library to ask for Charlotte, Will was whirling on him and Jem was pulling at his arm as if he knew what was going on; he missed Jace with a pang. “I don’t know who you are, but if you’re planning on sabotaging this mission, don’t even try.” He said, his face devoid of nothing but anger. “I- I’m not trying, I’m just saying that we should be wary. We cannot be completely reliant on a man who’s been held captive for so long and who might have even had an experiment or two done on him. Maybe – Maybe he was brainwashed, maybe he’s in the league with – ”

“Master Lovelace,” Jem interrupted. “I understand that you’re new here and you might have had other experiences but this is actually Shadowhunter world and that man in there is Tessa’s brother. However terrible he might’ve sounded to you, we have to believe him, and we can’t take any risks.”

With that, Jem turned and pulled Will along with him, who was staring daggers at Alec. With a sigh, Alec ran his hand through his hair, wishing the others would understand. He made his way to the library, quickly, wishing to get Magnus’s details with the excuse of wanting to consult with him and get his opinion on how we could tackle this situation.
“You couldn’t possibly – Magnus Bane doesn’t entertain a lot of Shadowhunters, but I suppose you could try. I can’t ask you to join us in a battle especially after all of this, but yes, perhaps you can talk to Magnus Bane.” She said, scrawling something on a piece of paper. Once in his hand, he looked down at the address and the name, underneath which was another address and another name that read Ragnor Fell. “If you can’t find Magnus Bane, which you may not, but this is the last address I know of his, so you can check there.”

Alec nodded and thanked Charlotte. Before he left, he decided to let Charlotte know he was apprehensive about Nate. “I mean, I’m sure he’s a nice person, but what if he’s lying, what if he was actually brainwashed into thinking that de Quincey is the Magister when he actually isn’t?” he enquired and Charlotte turned to look at him thoughtfully. “I’ve read a few novels, and there was something along the lines of this...” said Alec, thanking Hodge inwardly for making them read mundane literature.

“I understand what you mean, but there’s also a probability that Nate’s right. In that case, don’t you think it would be really a shame that we didn’t pay heed to his accounts?” Alec sighed, she was right, he wished he could tell her that he was from the future, but he couldn’t. Instead, Alec nodded and looked down at the note in his hands. “I understand. Thank you anyway, Charlotte. I’ll be on my way to Magnus – Magnus Bane’s now.” He said and wished Charlotte luck, before slipping out and going to his room to dress up. Thankfully there was a gear, and running a bath for himself, he quickly bathed, dressed up in gear as comfortable as his own and set out.

He was finally going to see Magnus and he couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

Alec set out with a map in his hands, making sure that he was following the right path to Magnus’ last known location. Sophie had helped him mark the route before he had left which had been a huge help. Of course, he knew how to work maps but if Sophie helping him meant that he’d get to spend some time with his aunt, he was going to take her help. He had strapped on a seraph blade and a few weapons here and there, but since he wasn’t going to glamour himself, he’d made sure all his skin and weapons were completely concealed. He wanted to approach mundanes if he couldn’t find his way around.

He’d been to London once in his life before and he didn’t remember much of it, because he was but a child. It had been because of some Clave business Mayrse and Robert but of course, Alec was busier being babied by his parents’ friends. He remembered little, but he remembered Hodge who he had also seen back then. He’d learnt to forget Hodge, but sometimes the memories just made him sadder.

Alec turned a corner to find himself at a worn-down residence. Of course, this was strong warlock magic and a magic Alec knew oh-so clearly. There was a bit of strangeness in it, but Alec assumed it was because this Magnus was different than the Magnus he knew. As he peeled away the layers, he saw, in front of him, a spacious manor house with a smack lawn in the front yard. The gate was made of iron and beside it stood a brick wall, encasing the entire manor in a circle. The small plate next to the gate said, “ Residence of ... Grosvenor Square.” The name was scratched out and illegible. Alec sighed and ran his hand through his hair. The manor had evidently been taken care of, but if nobody was in it, he had lost his chance of meeting Magnus.
He decided to take a chance, though. Looking for something to call upon, he set his hand against the gate and before he knew it, it was opening. Bewildered, he looked around to make sure no one was looking, before setting foot into the residence. It was beautiful; all sorts of flowers were blooming, their smell running wild around the perimeter. It almost reminded him of Faerie Court and before he could continue smelling the rest, the manor’s door opened and there stood a man. A man who looked pale, short, and almost mundane-like. What was a mundane doing at Magnus’ house? And why was he a he? And why was he running towards him, oh, by the Angel. Alec hated using weapons on mundanes, for one, they made them burn. As the man rushed towards him, Alec thrust his arms out and stopped him a good metre away from him. The green-eyed man looked bewildered and the knife in his hand dropped.

“Let me go, I am the human subjugate of Lady Camille Belcourt-” he choked, and Alec eased his grip on the man’s arms. Of course, that didn’t shake off the weirdness that Alec felt when this unnamed man mentioned Magnus’ ex that-almost-helped-Alec-strip-off-Magnus’-immortality. “I am Archer, and if my sire were to find out a Shadowhunter was trying to kill me and get into her lover’s residence-” Alec let him go with a sense of distaste, almost ready to throw up. There was so much to unpack in those two sentences. First off, this was Archer, the same Archer that his mother and Kadir and Jace and the other Conclaves had killed. There was a second one.. Walker, he remembered. Archer looked so much better in the 19th century. The 21st century Archer looked so pale, and sickly.. and somehow, shorter. Secondly, he’d just called Camille Magnus’ lover, and thinking about it made him almost throw up again. But, instead, he stood up tall and waved off any unpleasant feelings he felt towards this whole Magnus and Camille relationship.

“I demand you to take me to Magnus Bane.” He said sternly, and the mundane rolled his eyes saying something about how Shadowhunters are so annoying, but Magnus Bane was probably more annoying. Alec decided to ignore that and looked at him expectantly.

“Well, whatever, but Bane sent me here to look around so we can’t leave till I do.” He said almost disgusted and turned around to start walking towards the house. He then stopped in his tracks and looked back at Alec, “Will you come or do I have to escort you?” Archer had a lot of attitude for a mundane, Alec thought. He picked up the fallen knife and followed the man, hesitantly. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see Magnus’ house - it felt a little too personal. Magnus had always been hesitant about letting Alec into his past, and now, he was literally walking into Magnus’ past. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself as Archer and Alec floated into the hallway of Magnus’ manor. He soon realised that the whole house was empty on the inside. Confused, he looked around and then at Archer, raising an eyebrow in enquiry.

“What’s there to get?” Alec asked, curiously. “This place is entirely empty.”

“Well, yes, Ban- Master Bane,” Archer corrected himself exasperatedly. “Sold this place to buy Lady Belcourt the most exquisite necklace.” Archer seemed annoyed but Alec could tell that he had good taste in jewellery. “It’s this silver necklace, studded with a red coloured ruby- In fact, Lady Belcourt loves it so much, especially the red, she has compared my blood to the colour of the ruby countless times.” Archer seemed almost proud to tell Alec that. Somehow, Alec didn’t have to put two together, and he realised instantly that Archer was talking about Isabelle’s enchanted ruby necklace that glows in the presence of demons. Alec knew it had belonged to his Aunt Cecily but hadn’t realised that it had belonged to Camille once. Let alone, that it was a gift from Magnus. He was about to gag when Archer spoke again.

“Now he just likes someone to return to this house and look around and make sure everything is okay. The owner of the house never did anything with it, but no one really cares much about who goes in and out either way. If anything needs fixing, the Master comes around and fixes it.” He said as he turned around and noted something in his notebook. The manor had pale and stripped-down boring walls - something Magnus would never allow in his own home. Yet, it wasn’t his own home anymore.

“Where is Magnus Bane now, then?” He asked, almost expecting the answer to be anywhere but Camille Belcourt’s.

“Well, of course, Lady Belcourt’s.” Alec cursed inwardly as he leaned against one of the walls near the door of the manor. He poked his foot at the floor annoyed, as he impatiently waited for Archer to be done with his survey. “We shall leave…” he said as if to create suspense and then joins Alec by the doorway. “Now.”

Alec steps out and Archer follows. Alec pockets the knife Archer had dropped sneakily, hoping to make this as another one of his relics for when he gets out of this century. “Let’s go, then, lead the way.” Archer acts as if he never heard that and ignores Alec despite escorting him towards Camille’s house. As they walked, Alec was lost in his thoughts. He’d found out so much in just two days of being in this different century, his mind was whirring with so much information. He didn’t know what to think, what to say, and what to do when he saw Magnus, again. It had been days since he’d last seen his Magnus. Camille.. it felt like ages. He hated Camille for letting her lure him into his words, for letting him test his relationship with Magnus like that. Alec hated himself for what he’d done and the way Magnus had found out.

Aku cinta kamu, Magnus had said. Followed with, Not that this changes things.. Alec was so heartbroken and preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn’t even realise him and Archer were at the doorstep of Camille’s house and the hungry vampire had her fangs out, ready to greet her subjugate, only to stop to regard the Shadowhunter with him.
“A Shadowhunter?” She asked Archer incredulously. “Why you little trai-” Before Camille could continue, Alec stepped between her and Archer, his arms up to her know he brought no harm.

“I am just here to see Magnus Bane. The New York Institute recognises you, Lady Belcourt, as an ally of the Shadowhunters for you foresaw the matters at DeQuincey’s. I am simply here to chat with Magnus Bane.” He said. In the past two days, Alec realised that the British in the 19th century had a certain way of speaking.. at least when it came to the ladies.
“Okay, Shadowhunter I have never been acquainted with,” Camille said, one of her eyebrows raised in mock amusement. She raised a finger and laid it on Alec’s cheek. Alec shuddered and stepped back, almost knocking into Archer who was behind her. It felt strange to think Camille didn’t know who Alec was. She looked even more bemused at the rejection of her touch and stepped back with a sigh. “Magnus, dear, someone’s here to see you.”

Alec sucked in a deep breath, this was it. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. To see his boyfr- ex-boyfriend in the 19th century. From one of the room, Magnus poked his head out to look through the hallway and towards the door. “Who is it, my love?” Asked Magnus, and Alec almost cried a little on the inside. Instead of crumbling to the floor, he took a tentative step up towards Camille. Measuring her reaction, he climbed up the rest of the two steps to come in full view of Magnus.

“It’s me, Alexander Lovelace.”

Chapter Text

Magnus

As Magnus fully stepped into view of the strange man in the doorway, he was struck by his beauty. Magnus had seen a lot, met, and been with a lot of people but this boy looked like no one he had seen before. He looked taller than himself and Camille, definitely more flushed and youthful than… well, both him and Camille. His eyes exchanged a knowing glance with Camille and then back at the disheveled man in front of the pair and Archer. Brusquely ignoring Archer, as he usually did, Magnus finally snapped out of his staring contest with the boy when he heard his name.

“It’s me, Alexander Lovelace,” said the boy as if Magnus expected to know who he was. The only Lovelace he knew was Jessamine, who lived with the equally broken Will Herondale at the London Institute. Magnus ducked his head to the side as he reached Camille, slithering his arm around her waist and leaning against her figure. This seemed to make Alexander uncomfortable, yet his curious eyes were looking at him knowingly… like he looked at Camille.

“Do you know him?” Camille asked, as she pushed him off her and to stand straighter. Accepting the rejection of affection, Magnus stood up straight, his arms falling to his sides as he did. “You can call me Alec,” says Alexander, looking awkwardly between Camille and Magnus. Magnus looks up at Alec and extends his hand for a handshake. The Shadowhunter, who was glamoured, extended his hand hesitantly and shyly. Magnus could notice how red his cheeks were turning as he timidly and weakly returned Magnus’ handshake.

“Okay, Alec. Come in,” Magnus pulls him inside the house while still holding his hand. Camille shuts the door behind the new Shadowhunter and locks it. He can feel Alexander’s pulse under his touch, and when Camille closes the door behind him, he rips his hand out of Magnus’. Still curious about who this new person was, he looked the boy up and down. “As you can tell, Camille… I don’t know this man.” He cocks an eyebrow at the boy and looks across the doorway at Camille, who was hiding behind the door. Camille throws her hands up in the air exasperatedly.

“I have to sleep. It’s too early for me.” She declares as she walks towards Magnus, Alexander clearing up the space between them for Camille to give Magnus’ hand a squeeze. “Archer is back too, dear… I will take my time.” She whispers in his ear and for the first time, Magnus looks at Archer as if to say he’d not seen him in the room till then. The moment when Magnus could have pressed his lips against Camille’s had passed because she had already walked on, Archer following suit. Of course, thought Magnus in his head before shifting his gaze back to Alexander.

Poor Alexander, he looked like he was going to throw up. “Can I help you? I still don’t know who you are and what you are here for. I don’t seep business with Shadowhunters. Especially lately, considering I have already caught the attention of another one of you… who looks a lot like you, actually. I don’t want another love-stricken, broken Shadowhunter begging and crying for me.”

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Before Alec could say anything else, he put his hand on the doorknob behind him, opened it and threw up on Camille’s doormat. If anything else, if he didn’t get out the vomit already, he was going to have a hard time actually talking to Magnus. What he witnessed in front of him had been too much, too soon. The man… Sorry, the love of his life, with the woman that had done horrible things to his friends… To Jace, to Clary… hell, even Simon! Who was his friend.

And then to see Magnus look at him like he was a stranger for the first time, the affection Magnus tried to show Camille and her reluctance to stick around, and Magnus’ face at her rejection of his kiss… It had all been too much. As Alec straightened up and wiped his mouth, he could tell Magnus was very upset. He knew it probably wasn’t out of concern for Alec, and for the doormat, until Magnus gently approached him and held his hand, again. With both his hands, this time. He guided Alec inside, wordlessly, closing the door behind them again.

He brought him inside, and into the washing area, to help him wipe and wash his mouth. Alec had thankfully not gotten anything on his clothes, and was relieved to get some water to drink. Magnus gently inquired about his health as he sat down with Alec in one of Magnus’ ever-changing rooms. Colourful, as always, Alec thought as he looked around himself. It was very Magnus, but a Magnus Alec didn’t know. The longer he stayed around Magnus, the more his heart hurt. His shame and guilt had been eating him up since they last saw each other.

Alec took a deep breath in and then looked Magnus in his eyes, fists closed on his thighs. “Do you know Will Herondale?” Alec asks.

Magnus looks at him quizzically. “Yes, who did you think I was talking about earlier?” Alec blinked at Magnus before realising he was talking about Will being in love with… Tessa? Yes, it had to be his aunt Tessa.

“Okay, there is another Lovelace at the Institute. Jessamine Lovelace… her fiancée and Tessa’s brother, Nathaniel went missing this morning.” Before Magnus tried to interject something along the lines of “I can’t help you!” or worse yet, expecting an interrogation, Alec continued loudly. “But, we found him! And he told us a story! About Mortmain and De Quincey!” He forgot for just a second, there was a vampire in the house… He lowered his voice immediately. “I have reason to believe he’s not being… honest. I can’t tell you why I think this way but I think you will know more than me.”
“Okay…” said Magnus, tentatively. “And why should I trust you? There is no record of you, Lovelace. Where did you come from and why are you coming to me?”

“I can’t tell you. It’s something I just can’t tell you but I need you to know. I am not going to stick around here for too long, but you have to trust me. If you don’t do anything about, I understand but I have reason to believe that there is a bigger ploy at play here…”