#gideon lightwood imagine

[malecarchive]

[im-out-of-it]

you like gabriel and gideon?? yasss share some hcs of them or with their partners pls

do I like Gabriel and Gideon? YES I LOVE THEM (this will be long so BEWARE) (quick edit, I DONT KNOW IF I DID THIS RIGHT NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED FOR MY OPINION BEFORE LMAO)

I feel they get severely mistreated. Gabriel is talked about in TID as this bad person. but is he really a bad person? his little sister gets humiliated so he takes matters in his hands (even if he fails) and then gets branded as the person who’s the problem. when it’s actually Will. Will is the one with the fake curse who treats everyone like shit and gets zero repercussions for it. what is so terrible that Gabriel did? I mean, he does say some stuff about Jem (not his proudest moment) but he ends up stepping away from his father, his fathers actions, and ends up trying to become a better person.

the fact that Will tries to make it seem that gabriel is only interested in Cecily to “get back” at Will is insane. SOME PEOPLE HAVE OTHER CONCERNS ADMIRATIONS HOPES DREAMS THAT DONT INVOLVE YOU WILL. Gabriel isn’t the one treating a woman as his whore but that’s for another day 😌 in my mind, gabriel is passionate, he has a soft side, and he will fight for what is his. I truly think he’s a wonderful father but it’s a shame we didn’t see him actually be a parent. the writing doesn’t allow us to see Gabriel’s growth. Anna can be seen as problematic and Christopher going to Grace after what she did to James is a little out of character but that’s mainly the writing. CC doesn’t understand how to execute her characters and show growth unless she accidentally does it for someone she doesn’t care about

Gabriel is one of my favorite lightwoods. he’s got one of those soft hearts and uses this defense with his sarcasm and jokes so people can’t hurt him. he has to kill his father and the whole thing ends up being a joke which I think is insanely messed up. I think the whole Gabriel and Will thing doesn’t get talked about. yeah Will has trauma but he uses it as an excuse to be awful to everyone. Gabriel has trauma but he tries to grow from it. Gabriel isn’t out here saying “oh I killed my father and had a bad childhood so I can treat you how I see fit.” I don’t ever recall Will ever apologizing or showing growth for his actions. but I do see Gabriel saying how he wishes to change and actually changing.

imagine if Gabriel humiliated Cecily or used Will’s fathers issues as a joke and song. then everyone would be like “omg Gabriel can you stop being a dickish bastard for one second please?” but Will jests on Gabriel’s trauma so all is well I guess. I don’t think Gabriel gets enough love. I just think almost everyone making Gabriel’s trauma into a song and joke is vastly disgusting and messed up and I hate no one ever talks about it

I adore Gabriel and Cecily together. I think they fit really well together. they’re both fierce, strong, and passionate. it’s a shame we didn’t get to see them grieve Christopher or any of their development. Gabriel not saying anything when Alexander gets kidnapped is sloppy and lazy writing. these two really get shoved in the back after TID

one of my fav Gabriel moments is when he tosses that demon into the river and his one liners are BEAUTIFUL

GIDEON!!!!!! what a sweet, beautiful, and thoughtful man. it’s funny how before he’s introduced, they’re like “you think Gabriel’s awful? wait for his brother” and he’s the most kindest man. is the evil in the room with us????? it’s adorable how he cusses in Spanish because he’s happy 🥲 Gideon tripping over his words and making a fool of himself for Sophie is high tier entertainment. Gideon seems to be a very calm soul. where Gabriel is a more reckless storm, Gideon is the calmness we need. he’s strict with Gabriel but it’s because he wants the best for Gabriel. I’ll always love the moody and quiet brother with the loud and always has something to say brother. we didn’t get enough of them bonding and arguing

now Gideon gets some growth. he goes to Spain and understands his father is wrong and he actively chooses to leave, tries to bring his brother back, and actually helps Charlotte. he’s another of my favorite characters. he’s very quiet but when he has something to say, it’s loud and clear. Thomas really embodies gideon and Sophie. I also really love Sophie and Gideon! Sophie takes a backseat after TID which is another shame

Sophie takes no prisoners and I love her calling out anyone who disrespects her family and herself. (Tessa acting like Gideon is a bad person and trying to warn Sophie off, girl the man you like treats you as some whore shut up already) it’s sad we don’t get more of Sophie. it would’ve been nice to see her as a shadowhunter and the family dynamic. Sophie and Gideon are just really good people full of love. it shows in their parenting because of what we see of Thomas, Eugenia, and some of Barbara. I think Gabriel and Gideon used their traumatic upbringing and decided to be better than what they had. they broke the cycle in a way. and this is only pertaining to their kids, I have no clue what happened to make Robert who he was 😬

one of my fav highlights of Gideon: when he tries to purpose to Sophie and his dry humor and MAN HES JUST SO FUCKING PRECIOUS AND MUST BE PROTECTED and I love Gideon defending Thomas 🥹

I don’t think their treatment gets talked about enough. they are almost perceived as the villains when they have the most growth in TID and are far from being villains. I think they’re both very funny and Gideon seems to have a dry humor that isn’t appreciated enough. in my head, they’re super supportive of one another and constantly are hosting family nights together. I don’t believe the whole the merry thieves first meeting at the academy when their families are close. I really see Gideon and Alastair bonding and hitting it off right away. I also see Gabriel and Cecily being like “we’ve had our childhood taken from us so we are here for you” and just making Alastair feel at home. (IN A GOOD WAY)

I really hate how Gabriel and Cecily get left behind. they don’t get to grieve Christopher. Anna desperately needs some guidance and little Alexander’s kidnapping doesn’t get mentioned or is the focus. we do get to see gideon and Sophie kind of grieve Barbara, but I would have wanted to see more of them with Thomas and Eugenia gets left out. when Thomas gets accused of murder, we don’t see Sophie anywhere near Thomas or see Thomas have a conversation with Gideon about it.

Gideon and Gabriel are severely underrated and underutilized. they’re the best part of TID (besides Jem) and the only reason I read that ghastly series. they don’t get talked about enough that I see. they get this villain treatment from CC when they’re anything but that. we don’t get to see Gabriel and Gideon much in TLH (which I get it’s not about them but it wouldn’t hurt to feature them) so that’s also sad

but all in all, I love these two so much and I wish we could have had more of them. they’re beautiful, passionate, fun, and humorous together 🥹 (you made me realize more how much I miss them so thank you) I could take more of Gabriel and Gideon tripping over their words and literally themselves to impress the women they’re in love with. it’s a real treat

[chibi-tsukiko]

Love Always Wins 🏳️‍🌈💕

Happy PRIDE ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Kicking off Pride this year with my favorite boys 🥰

This turned out better than I imagined and I had so much fun adding all the details!

I hope you like it! More PRIDE related goodies to come 😘

Characters owned by @cassandraclare

Tag list : @littleturtle95 @zfoxdraws @bookworm-jedi @magnus-the-maqnificent @beclynn-herondale @khaleesiofalicante @my-archerboy @youngreckless @thomaslightwood @runecarstairs @high-warlock-of-brooklyn @panicatwallmaria @banesbitch @alexandergideonslightwood @livvyheronstairs @ofsandstonebodies @la-lune-chaotique @starlight-in-my-eyes @tamaraheartz @anarchistbitch @iightwoodbane @icycoolslushie @zemiraa @raziyekroos @radisv @alexander-gideon-lightwood-babe @elettralightwood @literallytypogod @axoloteca @queenlilith43 @awecwightwood @astriefer @thomastaircompassrose @all-for-the-fanfiction @ibrushmyteeth-donttellanyone @ipreferfictionoverreality

[edwinspaynes]

do you know something I love of sophideon? Is that they may have met before but didnt know it, as the lightwoods went to the Institute from time to time, I remember Gabriel in CA went to a meeting as he was 18, so for sure Gideon went before his travel year, maybe they met but never talked. you know, like the invisible thread

SAME oh my God I'm so glad that someone else thought of this besides me but YES???

I like to imagine Sophie and Gideon bumping into each other like 3 years ago at A Function, Gideon thinking prettygirlprettygirli'mcombustinggottarungottahide and racing off. Sophie watches him go like, "who was that peculiar albeit handsome man" but then leaves because she has work to do

She serves Gideon a scone. He hates the scone. He eats it anyway because she's watching. Scones have always been their Thing. It is, in fact, the red thread of fate

[demy85]

Drawing you in

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2024: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver

It was inspired by @kasper-tag beautiful art and betaed by the lovely @maplemachiato

If you'd like to read it on Ao3 you can find the first chapter here.

Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV)

Warnings: Rated E.

Relationships: Alec Lightwood x Magnus Bane

Words: 28,366

Chapters: 8/8

Summary:

Magnus, a student in the theater/dance department, was close friends with Isabelle. He had been infatuated with her older brother Alec ever since he met him at a party. When the art department was looking for nude models for a course, Magnus saw it as an opportunity to get closer to Alec.

Chapter 1 is below. You can find the other chapters here:

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue

Chapter 1 - First Impressions

Ever since the night Izzy had persuaded Magnus to accompany her to one of her parents' dull parties, he simply couldn't get her older brother out of his head.

Alexander Gideon Lightwood was, inarguably, the most beautiful human being to have ever graced the face of the earth.

But Magnus realized sooner than he would have liked that Alec had no interest in getting to know him better. Even though it was evident that Alec did find him attractive, after that evening Magnus was sure that Alec was struggling with his own sexuality and that he might never follow through on his instincts. Definitely not at his parents' house and certainly not at a party where not only his parents were present, but also many of their business partners.

It was clear to see that Maryse and Robert were extremely unhappy with some of their children's decisions. You could read it in their eyes, gestures and facial expressions when Izzy and Alec introduced themselves to their business partners and told them about their studies.

Magnus couldn't imagine how difficult it must be for them to deal with their parents' apparent disapproval. But he didn't have to wait long to find out what it felt like to be under the scrutinizing gaze of the Lightwoods, which was laced with contempt.

It was by no means a pleasant experience when Izzy introduced him to her parents, and he swore to himself after that evening that he would never accompany Izzy to such an event a second time. 

His decision wasn't just due to the fact that Alec had given him the cold shoulder, no, it was rather because of the disdainful look Izzy's parents had given him when she had introduced him and he wanted to avoid meeting them again at all costs.

He knew that the Lightwoods were deeply involved in the history of Idris, the college where he studied. They were descendants of one of the founding families and therefore had great influence. Magnus just hoped that they wouldn't make his life at college more difficult now that they had actually met him.

𒐣

Alec had no idea why he had agreed to attend the annual Christmas party organized by his parent's law firm. He knew he would regret it, as these parties were always strenuous. He always ended up feeling drained.

However, Izzy had mentioned that she was going and that Magnus had agreed to accompany her.

Now that Alec knew Magnus would be there, how could he possibly resist?

Izzy hadn't stopped raving about Magnus since her first day at university and Alec was fascinated by all the things his sister had told him about Magnus.

Magnus was apparently two years older than her, had taken a sabbatical after high school and had been exploring the world.

She had told her brother so much about Magnus that it almost seemed as if Alec himself was friends with him.

However, that wasn't the case. Alec had difficulty making friends, especially with men.

So far he had successfully managed to avoid Izzy and her wonderful fellow student on campus, but that night he would be coming face to face with Magnus Bane and he wasn't sure he was prepared.

𒐣

Magnus was at a loss as to why he had agreed to accompany Isabelle to her parents' party. He was feeling rather nervous, after all he had seldom heard any nice stories about her parents. But at least it gave him the opportunity to visit his father in New York, or rather both his fathers.

Ragnor Fell had adopted him from the orphanage,taken him in, and raised him with much love and affection. Together with two other children, Raphael and Catarina, Magnus spent a wonderful childhood with Ragnor.

He had never felt a desire to find his biological father, even though Ragnor had assured him that he would help him if he wished to do so. But Magnus would prefer to forget his past. Forget finding his mother’s lifeless body and what his stepfather had done to him as a result.

Looking for his biological father at that time would only have created another wound 

But  the decision was snatched away from him one day when a man suddenly appeared on their doorstep.

Asmodeus Yeung.

Asmodeus got along well with Ragnor  from the start which allowed Magnus to open up to him more quickly than he would have thought possible.

Even though he had decided to keep his name and continue to live with Ragnor, he was still in regular contact with his biological father and the relationship between the two of them created many opportunities for Magnus and his siblings.

Magnus was well aware that without Asmodeus, he would probably never have been accepted into Idris.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard someone say, "You look quite handsome, son." Magnus turned to see Asmodeus standing in the doorway with a wide grin on his face.

"I hope you have a wonderful evening with Isabelle Lightwood. I'm sure you'll enchant them all with your good looks and charm," Asmodeus said, giving his son a hug before bidding him farewell and retreating back to his study.

After that, Magnus was convinced that the evening would be a good one. After all, Izzy would finally introduce him to Alexander. He had been waiting for this ever since he had first seen him on campus.

So he made his way to the venue in high spirits.

𒐣

For Alec, being introduced to Magnus by Izzy was a truly life-changing experience. It made him wish for the floor to open up and swallow him as he noticed the heat creeping into his cheeks.

Magnus seemed to be enjoying the sight, which only made Alec all the more nervous.

Izzy was beaming brightly at him as she began to address him, "Hey, Alec. I want you to meet Magnus, my dance partner."

Magnus gulped as he let his eyes roam over Alec unfiltered for the first time. Of course, he had seen him in passing on campus, but never up close.

He was tall and had dusky brown hair that seemed to fall over his forehead as if he'd been running his hands through it. His pale skin stood out against the dark clothes he wore, and when Magnus looked at him, it was almost as if his brain blanked out. 

As he finally lifted his gaze to lock eyes with him, he saw beautiful hazel colored eyes staring straight back at him, making his stomach twist with excitement, and a smile that made Magnus weak in the knees.

Alec couldn't help but stare at Magnus. He exuded so much confidence and appeared to be comfortable in his own skin. Alec admired and envied him at the same time.

He held out his hand and when they made contact, it was almost as if an electric shock shot through his arm.

Alec hoped they wouldn't notice what was transpiring in his head as he literally squeezed out the words, "Nice to finally be able to meet you, Magnus."

It was a mystery to him how he had managed not to make a complete fool out of himself and to be able to utter a full sentence. The elation didn't last long, however, and when he saw Magnus' smug grin, he knew that he had revealed more of his inner turmoil than he would have liked.

𒐣

He had no intention of appearing rude, but Alec was well aware that there was a good chance that if he remained in Magnus' immediate vicinity for much longer, he would be unable to hide his feelings.

Instead of speaking to his sister and Magnus, Alec excused himself and proceeded to find the only friend he had made among his parents' fellow attorneys.

Jem Carstairs was a young, sympathetic man who was very different from all the other attornies that worked for Alec's parents. Alec could talk to him about anything without fear of condemnation or disapproval.

But that evening, as Alec made his way through the crowd in search of Jem, he found him in a heated discussion with some of the older partners at the law firm. Alec didn't want to intrude, so he decided to back off and get through the event alone.

He found a quiet corner, away from the noise and the stares of the other guests. Leaningagainst the wall and watching the crowd, his gaze constantly drifted to Magnus and Izzy. He couldn't deny that Magnus had an intriguing personality. He was charismatic, charming and had a special way of moving, as if he was dancing to a tune that only he could hear.

Alec couldn't help but to wish that he could be a part of that melody.

Yet , he was aware it was impossible. He just knew there was no way he could come out, not in front of his family and certainly not in such a public setting.

𒐣

Jem caught a glimpse of Alec walking towards him out of the corner of his eye and immediately reversing his direction when he noticed the person Jem was deep in conversation with.

If he was honest, he could hardly blame Alec for not wanting to be part of their conversation. A talk with Valentine Morgenstern was certainly not a pleasant experience. That being said, he was a very close friend of Robert Lightwood's and therefore it was best not to offend him.

However, Jem was more than relieved when Morgenstern finally dismissed him after a few more minutes and turned his attention elsewhere.

He didn't hesitate and set off in search of Alec.

After finally finding him, he momentarily hesitated as Alec seemed oblivious to the world around him. His gaze was fixed and when Jem followed him, he understood what must be going on in Alec's head.

Alec was staring unashamedly at a flamboyant young man who was engrossed in conversation with Izzy. 

Jem could see the longing in Alec's gaze, the conflict going on inside him, and his heart broke a little for Alec, because he could empathize with how Alec must be aching inside.

He wanted to help him, to show him that it was okay to not conform with the established social norms and an idea began to blossom inside him.

𒐣

Christmas had slipped past them in a blink of an eye. Alec had spent most of his time holed up alone in his room and had even avoided his sister. His parents were once again working on an important case, so it wasn't surprising that they were hardly ever seen.

If he was honest, he couldn't even remember the last time his family had spent Christmas together, especially when they had all been living in the same house.

One of his parents was always busy with work, and since Jace had left for California, he hadn't spent Christmas with them either. Jace played for the USC Trojans, the University of Southern California’s football team, and his excuse was that his training schedule wouldn’t allow enough time to come home to New York for the holidays. 

Alec and Izzy tried to make the best of it. They usually spent a lot of time wandering around New York, stuffing themselves with all sorts of goodies they found at the various Christmas markets.

Alec had always really enjoyed spending quality time with his sister, as they rarely got to just relax during the semester.

But this year was different, because Izzy was pissed and still hadn't forgiven him for the way he had treated Magnus at the Christmas party. He could hardly  blame her. However, he was also unable to tell her the reason why he had been so short with Magnus.

And so, she had given him the cold shoulder until the moment when she had walked into his room on Christmas morning and stared at him with sorrow in her eyes.

𒐣

He had a sheet of paper lying in front of him and had started to sketch a person. And even though the drawing was still in its early stages, it was clear to see which person he was drawing.

Alec observed as Izzy began to open her mouth and he was already expecting the worst. Thinking that she was going to reprimand him again for his behavior towards Magnus, he was surprised when he heard what she said to him instead.

"Hey, Alec. Something's bothering you, hasn't it? You seem unhappy, do you maybe want to talk about what happened at the party when I introduced you to Magnus?" said Izzy as she came into the room and sat down on the bed, commenting casually, "The drawing is beautiful, you know."

Alec turned the paper over, he didn't like people looking at his art before he'd finished it. But obviously he hadn't turned it around fast enough, because Izzy had seen it. 

Shyly, he averted his eyes from her. "Nothing's happened. You introduced me to Magnus and I joined the crowd afterwards to socialize like our parents expect me to," he said. 

"Alec, I can see that something has happened."

"Nothing has happened, Izzy. You're reading too much into this. Please, just let it go." 

Ever since he'd seen Magnus at the party, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. And at night, while he slept, his dreams were filled with Magnus. But he couldn't afford to tell his sister about it, because it would mean revealing a part of himself and he wasn't ready for that, not quite yet.

𒐣

He gave his sister a pleading look on his face before pleading with her again, "Just please let me be, Iz. It doesn't matter. Besides, even if something had happened, it really wouldn't be any of your business." 

Alec witnessed the exact moment his words stabbed straight through his sister's heart, and he would have wanted to slap himself for the harsh words.

Izzy shook her head, she couldn't believe Alec wasn't able to open up to her, but she knew when it was time to back off and stop bothering him. Still, she was unable to hide the hurt that his words had caused her from her expression. 

"I love you, Alec, and I hate seeing you like this. If you don't want to talk to me about it, then maybe you should talk to Jace. You might find it easier to confide in him and I'm sure he can help you," she sighed as she stood up. Izzy walked over to Alec and gave him a kiss on the cheek before leaving the room again.

Relieved, Alec lay down on his bed and wished that the time until the start of the spring semester would pass more quickly.

[bookishjules]

Im so excited for bib but sad to not see any tid couples other than wessa, what do you think could have been good stories of them?

gabrily:

i know i mentioned this in my last ask about them but gabriel and cecily figuring out their footing as a couple would have made a great story. if gabrily was a romcom, we kinda just got the first half of their story in tid, and it would have been cool to see some kind of friction arise between them that they would have come out all the stronger for.

as much as it would hurt, i also think there's a good story to be found in the aftermath of chot. being parents and shadowhunters wouldn't always allow people the time and space to grieve and heal and learn how to cope, and i think it would be something special to see them find solace in each other. it would also be interesting to see how the way they look at little alexander changes, since he's in the very unique position of being brought up in that aftermath.

on a lighter note... gabrily proposal!! since edmund and linette are still like.. in their lives to at least some extent, do we think gabriel would have done the respectful 1880s gentlemanly thing to do and talk to her parents first? also the potential for cecily to give that proposal a 10.. i would cry.

chenry:

their first time after realizing they were in love with each other the whole time. i really don't need to add any details here hehe makes me aksdfadsjk just thinking about it.

their first time after henry becomes a paraplegic. the self-consciousness on his part, his insistence that charlotte deserves better, will always deserve better than him. charlotte being like fuck that, we'll figure this out. and then they do and it's sweet there's laughter and love just threaded throughout

it would be great to see them as parents when the boys were young too (and i swear that's not just because imagining baby matthew makes me inexplicably happy). just finding moments to look at each other and smile, or sneak away for a quiet moment together away from the busy-ness of being the consul's family with the chaos of raising two very different boys who definitely got on each other's nerves.

sophideon:

there are two stories in my head that are similar to ones above but i think would also be good for sophie and gideon. the first is how they handle grief post chog. and the second is their young family. i think a story about them just laying in bed discussing their kids would be so sweet.

as for more specifically gideon and sophie stories... their wedding would be wonderful i think. sophie being the one whose doted on for once, the one having her hair done up by charlotte and tessa, and how out of place that would feel for her. gideon getting nervous not because of cold feet but because sophie is the closed thing to an angel he's ever seen. he's such a silly-in-love lightwood and watching him walk down the aisle with gabriel and stand beside sophie would be beautiful.

the two of them moving into a house together in idris. i feel like this could have a lot of potential generally, but there's this specific kind of moment i'm thinking of where sophie is cleaning out of habit and gideon either joins her or takes over for her, telling her to relax, or to read to him if she insists on doing something useful. there's so much tenderness that could spark from that.

[alexanderlightweight]

Happy Wednesday! Can I request either frost of fury or craft of adoration for an update for prompt Wednesday? Hope all is well!

Nightshade has finally recovered from his beesting! though the trauma of it remains and he now hates bees.

i hurt my wrist which sucks because packing is bad enough without the ouch but i borrowed one of my bf's compression gloves for writing! so things are as well as they can be and they could be far worse considering my luck ^_^

i hope you are doing well! nightshade sends protection from bees if thats something youd like

i hope you enjoy the craft of adoration

<3 lumine

Magnus stares in the direction the shadowhunters left for far longer than he should, certainly for for longer than he needs to.

Still…

Magnus steps off of the roof and lets his magic float him down to the ground and he steps slowly, boot landing by a deep groove in the asphalt and cement.

“Aren’t you such a delight.” Magnus murmurs to himself as he lets his memory play before him.

Magnus’ magic captured details his own eyes couldn’t and Magnus sucks in a startled breath, delight catching him unawares.

His shadowhunter is gorgeous, young but competent and with a clear aura of authority around him.

Petrichor is in the air — even though rain is far off — and Magnus tastes it on his tongue, opening his mouth to inhale the scent. It lingers from his shadowhunter’s whip, the electrum purifying all the ichor it touched.

“Well, aren’t you quite the find.” Magnus murmurs to the mirage his magic is projecting before he lets the picture fade with a wistful sigh. “Now then, lets see if you’re playing hard to get.”

Magnus lets his magic spill out, purging all other signatures as his hunts down the wielder of the whip that wounded the false ground so. The whip that pierced through ichor and metal and cement until it touched the dirt below and gave it hope.

Little seeds have been planted and Magnus nurtures them, calling up the well-fed and determined roots and vines until they poke through the cracks.

“Not so hard to get after all.” Magnus whispers aloud, a dark glee in his voice as he spins an orb of his own magic around the tiny shard of angelic energy.

It shouldn’t have been able to be harvested, but Magnus has killed enough nephilim to be very aware of their energy.

Even more than they themselves are.

It’s with delight that Magnus cradles the little piece of angelic energy that will betray it’s owner to him. Magnus portals home and then, in the middle of a quickly drawn array, he floods the room with magic and lifts the orb to his mouth, absorbing his own magic back even as he swallows—

Oh.

Magnus nearly moans at the taste of knowledge granted to him.

Alexander Gideon Lightwood.

Magnus’ precious Alexander then, for Magnus can’t imagine letting him go. Not when the shard of his energy was pure ambrosia and the imprint of Alexander’s nephil magic submitted to Magnus so eagerly.

[vwritesaus]

      ‘I don’t know how exactly, but I wish to speak with them about it,’ Thomas confesses. ‘Because I miss her, Genie. I miss her so bloody much.’       Eugenia’s voice wobbles horribly. ‘As I do. Every day.’       ‘I miss Kit, too.’ Thomas rubs his chest over his clothes, the buttons of his waistcoat catching on the edge of his family ring. ‘There’s a hole deep in my being which will never be filled again. It grows bigger with every reminder of them. Barbara’s favourite novel that’s still sitting in her room. Pieces of Kit’s laboratory set still in our room in the Devil’s Tavern. Barbara’s perfume, Kit’s notebooks… They’re endless, Genia. And I cannot escape them. Not truly, and it bloody hurts.’       He hates feeling like this, hates how pathetic he sounds. He hates that it reminds him of that day with Alastair in Zachary’s nursery, and hates that his voice cracks.       But so many things have changed, and none of them are reversible.       There’s a shaky sounding exhale and a murmured, sympathetic, ‘Oh, Thomas…’ ...       Out of both his parents, Thomas still finds it amazing how he and his father are almost the spitting image of each other, while Barbara and Eugenia look exactly like their mother. There are small differences, of course, such as how none of the children inherited their father’s greyish-green eyes, or how Eugenia has a smattering of freckles at her hairline she did not get from Sophie. But the resemblance between the two men is staggering regardless: hair the colour of sand that changes with the seasons, stocky build, skin painted with pale freckles that darken during the summer months.       When he was confined to his bed as a child, Thomas’s mind would sometimes wander and dream of being as big and tall as Gideon. Never did he consider that it would come true, such thoughts reserved for the nighttime when Thomas closed his eyes and let his imagination run wild. He would picture what the world would look like from up high, peering over rooftops and clock towers and church spires; he would chase demons, seraph blades held tightly in his hands, and have overwhelming triumph swell in his chest as those weapons would glide through the demons like butter.       He was strong. He was capable. He was the same height as his father when they stood side-by-side, and Gideon would gaze at his son with pride shining in his eyes.       Thomas always woke up feeling invincible after those dreams. ...       ‘Tell me, Thomas,’ Sophie starts. ‘How would you like to celebrate your birthday this year? I imagine James and Matthew have something up their sleeves.’       ‘You would be right,’ Thomas says dryly and with a smile as he glances at his mother, recalling Matthew’s detailed plans spilled over glasses of lemon squash and cups of coffee in the Devil’s Tavern some days ago. ‘I believe it involves a rather illustrious theatre and an Oscar Wilde play.’       Sophie looks surprised. ‘Is that so?’       Laughing, Thomas shakes his head. ‘No, but I imagine Matthew would appreciate such an event for his own birthday celebrations. It is a mere picnic outing, Mama. Nothing horribly special—at least that I know of.’ Recalling Claribella the reverse mermaid at James’s bachelor party, Thomas hopes no surprises like her show up at this picnic. Though knowing his friends, anything is possible.       ‘That sounds lovely,’ Sophie says. ‘No doubt you’ll all have a marvellous time. Though make sure you pack accordingly should it snow. We don’t want any of you getting sick. You’ll need blankets and some umbrellas—oh, and take your overcoat. The navy one. It will keep you warm and you look so handsome in it.’

~

so the results of the poll asked for a preview of ch3, so here you go! some little lightwood-collins family snippets </3

lol "a little"... the whole chapter is basically thomas doing stuff with his family members, and it's dialogue heavy, so watch out

the full chapter will be up on early sunday morning AEDT, so keep your eyes peeled :>

~

(also if i haven't added you to the list when you asked me to... please tell me again, bc i locate half of my posts on my blog anymore thanks to tumblr's graciously awful tag & search system :) so sorry!!)

tag list: @drunkonimagination @alastairstom @what-ho-christopher-put-in @ferrari-go-vroom-vroom @thomastaircompassrose @astriefer @faithfromanewperspective

let me know if you’d like to be added to or removed from the tag list!!

[wessasbitch]

can you imagine those Christmas parties where Will, Gideon and Gabriel would just tell their kids, when they were definitely too young, the details about how they killed that giant worm that was once Benedict Lightwood? I mean, Lucie was so proud when she told Jesse about that. how hilarious

[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

okay okay so in shrek forever after shrek has like one day to revert the magic and return the world to its original state or it become permanent for good (the only way to revert the magic is with true love kiss btw). what if magnus only realize his previous unmagicified life with alec like 5 minutes before it’s a new day. what then

Part I

Part III

Three months. It’s been three months since Magnus has been living with a huge ass whole inside his chest. Like he went for a surgery where the doctors cut him open but never stitched him back again.

Only the insane part about all of this is that Magnus doesn’t even remember the surgery he went in for.

He’s so fucking sure something is going on, that’s he’s losing it but there’s no one he can go to—no one he can confide in with this problem because how do you solve an issue that doesn’t even exist outside his mind.

But even if Magnus doesn’t understand most things, doesn’t have enough clues, one thing he is absolutely sure about. That this, all of this, connect to one man.

Alexander Gideon Lightwood.

Ever since that Magnus met the man, he’s been feeling a hundred different kinds of way.

And he knows he has a tendency to exaggerate, has time and again blew things out of proportion for an infatuation or attraction but this isn’t it. While he knows he’s attracted to Alec and would love to climb him, he knows whatever this is, isn’t his libido making him feel.

This is something far deeper, far more significant.

“Magnus?” A voice, the voice brings him back from his thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“Where did you go?” Alec asks. “We were discussing about the issue with the demon towers in Alicante.”

“Yes, of course. My apologies, Alexander,” he exhales.

“That’s okay.” Alec takes another sip of his drinks and winces, like he does every time.

I should have made him that other drink.

He’s been having random thoughts like this all the time.

That Alec would prefer a cocktail over this beer he keeps on asking for.

That he would like chocolate bars.

Or that he would like his coffee better if he’d put two cubes of sugar instead of one.

He doesn’t know why but he keeps on thinking he knows more about Alec than he does and what an insane fucking thought is that?

He finally goes to Catarina with this. It surprises him when Catarina doesn’t dismiss him.

“Weirder things have happened in our world, Magnus. If you think something is wrong, we should atleast check it.”

He pulls Cat in a hug, relieved that she believes him. Because of Cat doesn’t believe Magnus, what choices does he have left with?

They go over all the possible theories but come up with nothing.

And then everything goes to shit one fine night as the lot of shadowhunter stands in Magnus’s loft for a demon summoning.

Magnus remembers a demon summoning between the very same loft, one that hadn’t ended well. He’d hoped that this one would be different.

He’s proved wrong not ten minutes later when a memory of the person you loved the most resurfaces for everyone to see.

A memory of Clary smiling appears from Jace’s mind.

A memory of Simon and Alec laughing together from Isabelle.

Magnus sees a small smile appear on Alec’s face at the memory.

It’s Alec’s turn and there’s a memory of Isabelle and Jace and Max.

He expects Alec to smile at the memory but a sad smile appears on his face and Magnus wonders for a second before his heart breaks. He imagines how suffocating and heartbreaking it must be to be married and not in love.

Alec and Lydia do not love each other is a fact that Magnus picked up on very quickly. It’s a marriage of convenience.

He thinks of Alec’s rare smiles that he’s only ever witnessed occasionally. Alec is smart and beautiful and has a dry sense of humour that never fails to make him laugh.

He’s fighting for a better world for shadowhunters and downworlders. He fights every single minute of his life with the world and Magnus wishes that the man had one place, in his home, with his partner where he didn’t have to fight.

Alec sniffles at the memory and looks away but there’s a second when both their eyes match. Magnus looks away for he can’t see Alec in pain and it’s insane because he barely knows the man.

They’ve formed an easy friendship now but that’s what it is—a friendship. Because Alec is married, even if it’s in name, there are lines that Magnus would never cross. And Alec doesn’t seem the type to either.

Then Simon and Clary’s turn comes and for both of them, it’s a memory of the other one. They exchange a beautiful smile at that.

And then in an instant, everything turns to hell when it’s his turn because this time, it’s a memory of Alec.

It’s from one of those rare days when Alec laughed in a way that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. The memory focuses on Alec’s faces and anyone with a single functioning braincell could feel Magnus’s feelings.

“What the fuck?” Jace yells, followed by everyone else.

Alec breaks the circle as he stands up, his eyes widen, face filled with horror.

“Magnus—what?”

He looks embarrassed and it quickly changes to anger. “How could you—what?” Alec tries but nothing else comes up.

“Alexander, listen,” Magnus swallows, knowing that if Alec leaves, he’s never going to be able to fix this. Even though he doesn’t know what this is—he needs Alec to stay. “I know this must all be confusing. It’s for me as well but I think that there’s more to what we’re seeing. There’s something between us and I—-“

Alec raises a hand.

There’s a pin drop of silence before Alec stares at him, fire in his eyes as he says, “Don’t ever come near me again.”

Isabelle and Jace’s eyes sadden suddenly, as if they know, and he’s sure they know why Alec is so shocked about this. Isabelle puts a comforting hand on his shoulder before they all leave.

Clary tries to stay but Magnus asks her to leave.

He needs time.

He falls to the floor, clutching his head in his hand as he tries to figure out what’s wrong. He yells out of despair, of feeling like he’s living with half his organs, half his mind, half his memories and all the pain let’s him to lose control and Magnus unleashes his magic onto the world. He needs to get Alec out of his brain so he wracks inside his brain and takes out all the memories of Alec, from every pit and crevice inside his brain and throws them outside.

A few second in, Magnus is surrounded by blue magic around him, memories and memories of Alec around him. Magnus’s eyes widen as he goes through them.

There are hundreds of memories and he knows for a fact that while these are his memories, he doesn’t remember living them.

There’s his first meeting with Alec. First—first meeting.

Alec and Magnus playing polo.

Alec grinning as he cooks French roast for them.

Dancing.

Alec almost dying. Multiple times.

Magnus in Edom. Alec in Edom.

Smiles and happiness and love—so much love.

The one that completely breaks Magnus’s heart is the one where they’re getting married.

And their wedding night.

Alec becoming Inquisitor and kissing the daylights out of him when he tells him.

Then the memories turn more somber. Darker. Sadder.

“I want to go home.” “This is home, Magnus.”

He doesn’t even have to wait, he knows the words already on his lips.

“I wish I had never married you, Alexander.”

And Magnus remembers.

He remembers why it’s been feeling like he’s living without his heart—because he was. His heart was living outside his body, in a world that’s created by Magnus’s anger and despair.

One moment of weakness and Magnus’s entire life changed.

By his own doing.

“Alexander,” Magnus falls to the ground and cries for his husband. “What did I do?“

After a few hours of lying on the floor mourning his life, Magnus goes to Cat.

He tells her everything and cries in her arms. “Cat, Alec—Alec is my husband. I remember. I remember him. Please I need to—I need to fix this. I need him back,” he cries.

It’s an ancient curse is what their research tells them. Now that he remembers, it’s easier to find the source.

“I need to talk to Alec…I—“

A huge gasp leaves Catarina’s mouth and he turns.

“Catarina what? What now?”

“It’s 11:55pm.”

“And?”

“Fuck!” Cat exclaims.

“Catarina, what?”

“I’m sorry, Magnus. But tomorrow morning, you won’t remember him.”

“What?” He says in horror.

“The memories will be lost forever.”

Alec will be lost forever.

[purplebass]

who do you think told gabrily and how do you think it changed them? For me they became extremely overprotective of Alexander

I believe that Charles told them. I can't remember if Belial kept the York portal open until the 36 hours mark or not (I mean, if he opened that portal or if it was already there). If he did, then the people in Idris just kept doing their business in there, until the people from London came. And they explained what had happened in London and how the TLH guys had decided to stay behind to solve the problem.

I believe Charles probably told everyone about this bit, since he has this leader tendency, and that's how the TID parents knew that their kids weren't there. Then he gave the saddest news to Gabriel first. I believe that he decided to do it thinking that his was a duty to inform his friends and family, since Kit was like an adoptive son to Henry, and he was super close with Matthew. He thought that he owed them to know from him and not from someone else.

When they reached Idris and met the others, I guess only Gabriel was there, because Cecily stayed home to watch over Alexander. Whom, like you also said, made Gabrily and Anna even more protective of. I imagine that everyone of the TID guys, upon not seeing any of their children, immediately thought that there could be one of them on the bier. But Charles went to Gabriel, and at that moment, he realized it was either Anna or Kit. I think Charles told him he was sorry, but that they couldn't do anything to save him. He couldn't find the right words to say, but it's not an easy talk to tell someone your son is dead. Of course, the TID gang was around him. I believe they were petrified. Some of them started weeping, some others started shaking. Gabriel stood in shock, his mouth half open, and run to the bier to check for himself. It was indeed Kit. He started weeping on his body and the others run after him, desperate as much as he was but at the same time (it hurts to say it but we know it's true) relieved that it wasn't one of their kids. Gideon held his brother to keep him from falling, and later, it was Will who accompanied him upstairs after they gathered at the Lightwoods to tell Cecily, while the others stayed in the drawing room to keep them company from afar. Alexander was asleep when he came in, and Cecily knew something was wrong. His eyes were red rimmed and energy had evaded his body. He was worn out. Cecily shouted and started to weep. It was an ugly cry, the crying you do when you know you can't reverse the situation. Her legs gave in, and she fell on the carpet, Gabriel trying to hold her as she trashed in his arms.

I'm planning to write a fanfiction about this, don't worry. There is more. I think this moment of grief was too important not to include it in this book.

[malecarchive]

[immortal-enemies]

I'm so sad for Kit death for what it meant to Gabriel specially as he was the one that looked like him, and probably Tatiana Im sad for Gabriel in this book, Tatiana hated him more than Gideon given that it was Gabriel who killed their father and killing Christopher she gets back at him, and also with a knife that is Cecily weapon of choice. I am sad too because while they grieve Kit they will have to take care of Alexander who probably is traumatised after the torture Tatiana make him suffer

NO EXACTLY BC HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THE ICONIC TID LIGHTWOOD BROTHERS NOT EVEN HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH TATIANA, JESSE OR GRACE AND NOT EVEN GIVE THEM LINES ABOUT THE SITUATION AND NOT EVEN GIVE ONE OF THEM ANY LINES AT ALL WHEN THEY'RE LITERALLY THE MOST DEEPLY TIED INTO THIS WHOLE CONFLICT??

Gosh. We really should have gotten a scene from Gabriel's POV about the whole thing.

Imagine just. Even a scene where they don't talk (bc we know how Cassie hates giving them lines) and they're just holding Alexander and sitting by the fire, wrapped around each other, silently grieving.

[chibi-tsukiko]

Say My Name 🍂🍁

Takashi Han & Hein

This is exactly how happy I imagine them when Hein finally says “Takashi” instead of “Master Takashi” for the first time 😆🥰

Work is draining the life out of me right now and this piece gives me so much serotonin…I hope in seeing it, you feel some as well! ✨

Tag list : @littleturtle95 @zfoxdraws @bookworm-jedi @magnus-the-maqnificent @beclynn-herondale @khaleesiofalicante @my-archerboy @youngreckless @thomaslightwood @runecarstairs @high-warlock-of-brooklyn @panicatwallmaria @banesbitch @alexandergideonslightwood @livvyheronstairs @ofsandstonebodies @la-lune-chaotique @starlight-in-my-eyes @tamaraheartz @anarchistbitch @iightwoodbane @icycoolslushie @zemiraa @raziyekroos @radisv @alexander-gideon-lightwood-babe @elettralightwood @literallytypogod @axoloteca @queenlilith43 @awecwightwood @astriefer @thomastaircompassrose @all-for-the-fanfiction

[drunkonimagination]

Maybe it's because the TID/TLH lightwoods have a chokehold on me, but I wish we'd been given more scenes of them before and after Barbara died :( I know that TLH has a much larger main cast than the other TSC series, but they each have so much going on (James' heritage, Math's alcoholism, Kit's inventions, Tom breaking out of the 'kind one' box, Cordelia's desire to save her family, the parentification of Alastair, Lucie's necromantic adventures) not to mention their romantic entanglements (1/?)

anon.

from a lightwood family enthusiast to another all i can tell you is: you are right.

i would have loved to have more moments revolving around thomas's family, but, as you said, there's so much going on, so many important stuff that absolutely need to get sorted out/developed more and we have just one book left. and despite its quite huge it still remains one book. so, to be fair, i don't think we'll get too much focus on the minor characters (tid cast, eugenia, etc.) but still there's a tiny part of me that really hopes we'll get at least glimpses of tom and eugenia's dynamic and their relationships with their parents....also another thing im hoping for is a scene in which tom comes out to his family i know i know im delusional i just want so much to read about gideon, sophie and eugenia's reaction like....they already know? if not, are they surprised about thomas's revelation? what do they say to him? and what about alastair? what are their thoughts about him? of course they will adore the boy and instantly forgive him for the rumor issue, but i would love to actually read all of this jwksj

about tom and barbara, anon you said you're not a writer but that scene you just delivered is so good 😭 pls it was so tender, i loved it.

and yes. i would have very much liked more focus on the lightwoods tbh and i know, im biased, but i just love them so much, i can't help it!?! like, as you pointed out, learning more about barbara and her relationship with oliver, tom's opinion on him, the way he interacted with both of them.....and i can just imagine how difficult must be to handle so many characters at once for an author, but honestly i would have probably emphasized more on tom and barbara's relationship? and not just bc im a sucker for the lightwood-collins family, but also bc it would have given us definitely more context to understand better thomas's behaviour in choi and how much his sister's death affected him.

overlooking thomas and barbara's relationship, such as tom's suffering after her death, just enforce the idea that what he's going through is not that serious, it kinda minimizes the gravity of what he's living and makes the reader less sympathetic toward him and also contributes to reduce thomas's character to the other half of thomastair

and i don't care if he's a shadowhunter and got used to the idea of death, he's still a 18-year-old traumatized boy constantly terrorised to lose the ones he loves.

and this fear is so tangible if you linger on some aspects of his story. like his tendency to put his needs/desires aside and keep everything inside for the fear of losing more people (because saying he was in love with alastair at the time of the academy would have made his friends uncomfortable and pushed them away or simply going to james and cordelia's house because he couldn't face the possibility of eugenia's death all alone.)

all these things....they give immediately the idea of how much scared and broken thomas actually is.

and (imo) the fact that we haven't gotten the chance to properly grow fond of barbara and her relationship with tom, makes it difficult for us to understand the extent of the actual nightmare thomas is living.

oh

you asked me about the lightwood family and i ended up talking about thomas. what a clown. im so sorry i got carried away, but i hope i properly answered what you asked me in the first place help

[livia-dovehallow]

anticipating Chain of Thorns with Cecily Herondale

a random night at 2am two weeks before CoT's release, maggie has a sudden break in writer's block to spew some nonsense from Cecily's point of view about the events to come in Chain of Thorns.

no spoilers, obviously, because CoT is not released yet and this is all speculation. besides, i doubt we'll get a Cecily POV in CoT anyway :P

each section has no smooth transition as i cannot write transitions to save my life. enjoy these random bits of Cecily Lightwood

Cecily brushed his cheek as if her thumb were just a feather. His eyes were sunken and red from all that the past two days had brought. Cecily couldn’t blame him—she felt as run down as Gabriel looked, and she still could not get the image of him covered in blood out of her mind. “Don’t push yourself so hard,” she murmured. “You need to heal.”

He met her eyes. “I can’t just lay here, Cecy,” he whispered. Each sound of the crack in his voice sent a crack through her heart. “Not when all these things are happening to our family.”

Cecily was silent for a moment. She felt as he did, frightened and worried and angry. How could they not? One niece had died. Another was locked up in the Silent City. Another was missing. And their long-dead nephew was now alive. Cecily felt a pang of guilt and selfishness that her own children were safe at home, all under one roof. That her husband had not died from his injuries. “I know,” was all she could muster in response.

Gabriel let out a shaky breath and reached up to grasp her hand in his and lower it from his cheek. She could only keep gaze with him as he did so, afraid to look down and see the bandages that wrapped his entire chest and burst into a fresh set of tears. “I don’t know what Tatiana did,” he continued. “Whatever she did to get herself charged with dark magic put Grace in the Silent City, and Jesse—” his voice cracked at his name—“Brought Jesse back.”

Despite her best efforts, tears began to drop from her eyes once more. “Whatever Tatiana did is not your fault,” she told him sternly. “Not yours. Not Gideon’s. Do you hear me?”

“She’s still my sister.”

Cecily swallowed painfully. For all the grief she had put Will through all those years, she hoped she never brought him to tears the way Tatiana brought her brothers to tears. 

Oh, God. Will. 

At that very moment, Will was with James, jumping portal after portal to find Lucie. She could imagine it now, even as she sat beside Gabriel in their dimly-lit bedroom, the desperation in her brother’s eyes to find his daughter. The frustration he would feel each time his Familias rune did not lead him to Lucie. Never letting James out of his sight while they searched. 

And Tessa, holed up in Lucie’s bedroom sobbing, praying for Lucie to come home safe. The guilt she was feeling at not being able to wear a Familias rune and help her husband and son look for Lucie. 

Cecily was brought out of her thoughts at the feel of Gabriel’s hands wiping her cheeks. She blinked until she was back in her bedroom and leaned into his touch. “They’ll find Lucie,” he said softly. “They won’t give up until they do.”

“I know,” she sniffed. “We’ll find Jesse, too. And when we do, we’ll be able to help Grace.” Suddenly, realization lit up across Gabriel’s face. Cecily took one of his hands and squeezed. “What? What is it?”

“That’s it,” he said, his voice clearer. He moved to sit up, but the moment he winced, Cecily planted her hands on his shoulders and forced him back down with a fierce look. Gabriel sighed, but did not fight against her. “We can find Jesse the same way Will can find Lucie. A Familias rune.”

Cecily’s heart ached. He wasn’t wrong. Gabriel shared blood with Jesse. He could use a Familias rune. But he was too hurt to join the search, and being only his uncle, his Familias rune wouldn’t be as strong as Will’s was to Lucie. “You’re too hurt,” she told him, sounding angry only because she couldn’t bear the thought of Gabriel getting more hurt. 

“Gideon can use it too,” he added anyway, determined. 

“By your logic, so can Eugenia and Thomas,” she tried to reason with him. Gabriel’s features began to soften. “And our own children.”

“You’re right,” he relented. Cecily wished terribly that she could crawl in next to him, curl up with him, and pretend everything was all right. She didn’t even take pleasure in being right. “We’re not sending our children anywhere.”

She sighed, and instead of crawling beside him as she wanted, Cecily moved from her stool to sit beside him instead, facing him with her hand locked tight in his. His eyes followed her every move. “Gideon is working on a plan to find Jesse, I’m sure of it. And a way to get Grace out of the Silent City. There is no chance he isn’t.”

Gabriel squeezed her hand with as much strength as he could muster. “You’re right about that, too,” he said, giving her a tiny smile. Cecily did not take pleasure in being right anymore, she decided. 

.

Cecily didn’t want to leave once Gabriel had finally fallen asleep, but she could not sit still watching him knowing the lengths the rest of the family was going through to find the missing children. 

The closer she dragged herself to Lucie’s room, the more she could hear voices murmuring. Was someone already with Tessa?

Cecily pushed open Lucie’s door and stuck her head in enough to spot Tessa looking up at her from the floor beside Lucie’s bed. Beside her, Sophie was patting Tessa’s hand gently. “May I join?” Cecily asked.

Tessa nodded and held out her other hand toward her. Cecily scurried across the room and fell beside Tessa until both her and Sophie were squishing Tessa between them. Tessa was shaking, her breaths hitching, but she’d otherwise stopped crying long ago from the dried streaks on her cheeks. Cecily’s heart hurt terribly—she knew the pain of not knowing what would happen to your precious child. But at least she knew exactly where Christopher was. She could not imagine how it would have felt if he’d been missing. 

“Is-Is Gabriel doing all right?” Tessa whispered. Tessa sounded more English when her voice was choked like that. Cecily preferred Tessa’s natural American accent because of that. 

Cecily squeezed Tessa’s hand. “He wants to help in the search,” she answered. “And you? How are you doing?”

Tessa hardly moved. She had a fixed gaze on the rug that covered most of Lucie’s bedroom. Dozens upon dozens of journals and loose papers were everywhere, as they usually were. Nothing was inordinarily out of place. “I don’t know,” Tessa answered blankly. “I thought I might find a clue as to where she may be in here, but there’s nothing.”

Cecily bit her lip and thought deeply for a moment. There was no way Lucie didn’t write down every aspect of her life, every thought. She knew Tessa knew that too. But Lucie wrote in riddles and stories. Names for people that weren’t always as obvious as Cruel Prince James. 

“There is probably something,” Sophie offered quietly. “But she’s hidden it well. It may not even be in her bedroom. Don’t blame yourself for that, Tessa.”

“Sophie is right. And Lucie is resourceful. She’ll be all right, and Will is going to find her.”

Tessa closed her eyes, sending a new wave of tears down her cheeks, but she remained still in her place. “There was something Jamie said before they left,” she sniffed. “I don’t know what he meant. But I think it had something to do with Lucie. ‘She could see him.’”

“’She could see him?’” Cecily repeated. She met Sophie’s eyes, equally curious. “That could mean many things. Maybe he’s told Will what he meant by that. James wants to find Lucie as much as you do, of course.”

Tessa nodded. She was normally a quiet person, Tessa, but even now, she was uncharacteristically quiet. Cecily felt strange about it, but not unable to understand why. And James’s words lingered in her mind. She could see him. Who could she see? If James sounded surprised by it, did that mean Lucie could have seen a ghost that he couldn’t? 

Cecily started. Lucie was last seen going down into the Sanctuary. Where Jesse’s body was being held. Where Jesse’s body disappeared.

“Cecily?” Sophie asked, concerned. Cecily turned to both of them, eyes wide and heart racing. “What is it?”

“Jesse,” she breathed. Tessa and Sophie looked more puzzled. Cecily sat up further, her mind racing. She had to find Gideon. “’She could see him.’ If James said that because Lucie could see something he didn’t, it couldn’t have been just any ghost, right?”

Tessa began to nod. “It’s possible,” she said slowly.

“I think Lucie could see Jesse’s ghost.”

.

Gideon stared at her, shock frozen across his face. “Come again?” he asked her, his voice choked.

Cecily fiddled with her hands in front of her. She could hear the rumbling conversation of the other members of the Clave just down the hall. They had to be so curious why she’d burst into the room and demanded that only family be a part of what she had to say. And when Tessa and Sophie appeared behind her, she could have sworn all the color had left Gideon’s face.

“I know it sounds unbelievable,” she said, uncertain. An unusual tone for her to take and the family knew it, for Anna, Eugenia, and Thomas stared in surprise from the other end of the table. “But Jesse being alive also sounded unbelievable. If the reason he’s alive is because his body was preserved, what if that also means he’d been a ghost all this time, unable to return to it?”

Gideon stumbled on his feet until he put his hand down on the table to steady him. “Cecily,” he said, his voice low. “This—This changes so many things if you’re right.”

Cecily made a small sound of distress. She hated uncertainty. She also knew she had to repeat her theory to Gabriel when he woke up, and she was not excited to put him through more shock. Especially if this was how his brother was reacting. “If I’m right,” she strained, “it also means Jesse has been here all these years.”

Gideon looked like he was about to vomit. He sunk into the nearest chair, looking horrified. The elder children at the other end of the table remained speechless. “Tatiana,” he breathed. “The dark magic.”

“You’re saying Aunt Tatiana was using dark magic to bring Jesse back?” Anna piped up. “And it worked?” 

“Tatiana was sent to the Adament Citadel weeks ago.” Gideon shook his head. “If it really did work, why did it take so long?”

Sophie let out a deep gasp. “Grace.”

A hush fell over the room. If Grace had not only known about the dark magic but took part in it, it was possible she continued the work after Tatiana’s arrest to bring her brother back. She’d turned herself in the same night he disappeared. 

“I have to go to the Silent City.” Gideon rushed out of his chair toward the door, but Sophie grabbed his arm with pleading eyes. 

“Tatiana spent years keeping Jesse and Grace away from us,” she said. “If you barge in their asking questions about Jesse, she might be too frightened to answer. We might as well be strangers to her, Gideon.”

It was harsh, and Gideon looked in pain, but it was true. Cecily wanted to cry at the expression on Gideon’s face. Gabriel would be just as hurt when he found out. There was a reason why Grace had turned down their offers to take her in. “I’ll go,” Cecily offered.

Gideon and Sophie turned to her. “Cecily—”

“I’ll go,” she repeated firmly. “She’s our niece, too. And she might feel more comfortable speaking with a woman. Even if I am her aunt, I’m more removed from Tatiana than you or Gabriel. Grace might not feel as much pressure if I go.”

Sophie turned back to Gideon. “She may be right, Gideon.”

Gideon sighed but nodded. ��Okay, Cecily, you go speak to Grace. See what you can find out about Jesse and where we might find him.”

.

Cecily dropped her shoulders. Grace was scared and alone, without her mother or brother, in a place her mother had refused to ever take her before. The lone Voyance rune on the back of her left hand the only sign that Grace had had true Nephilim parents before Tatiana.

“I’m not here to convince you to see your uncles,” Cecily said as gently as she could. She remained in place, hoping that the distance would make Grace feel more inclined to feel comfortable around her. Grace only stared back in silence. “But we do need to know where Jesse is, Grace. You’re the only one who can help us.”

At that, Grace startled, and shot up from her curled position. “Where Jesse is?” she asked. “What do you mean where Jesse is?”

Cecily blinked in surprise. Grace seemed shocked, and more scared than she had moments ago. “Grace, love,” she treaded carefully. “Did—Did you not know Jesse is alive and missing?”

Grace paled. Her knees buckled and Cecily shot forward below the girl hit the floor. Cecily held Grace up in her arms, more confused than ever. Grace’s breathing became erratic and Cecily did exactly what she would have done for any of her children—she hugged Grace and rubbed her back with long, gentle patterns. “Shh, love, breathe. Breathe.”

Cecily expected Grace to stiffen at the contact, but she did not. “J-Jesse?” Grace squeaked.

Cecily closed her eyes and scolded herself for being so brash about her question. The poor girl had no idea her brother was alive. “I’m sorry for breaking it to you in that way. I did not mean to shock you.” She pulled away and held Grace’s shoulders back enough to see the girl’s face. Tears stained her now red cheeks, the only color that had returned to her face. “We thought you may have had something to do with it or known about it. But I’m not here to punish you. We just want to find him and bring him home.”

Grace’s eyes were wide. She knew something, Cecily saw in her eyes, but she didn’t know he was back. No, it had to have happened after she was already in the Silent City. “Grace, dear, was it your mother’s dark magic that brought him back?”

Slowly, Grace began to shake her head. Surprise lit up Cecily’s body. If it wasn’t Tatiana, who did it? “Was it you?”

Grace did not shake her head yes or no. Instead she shook terribly in Cecily’s grasp. “I—We—We tried. S-She came to m-me. I gave up b-but—s-she did it.”

“Who, Grace? Who did it?”

The girl looked terrified. “Lucie.”

.

Cecily felt just as Grace had looked. Lucie. Lucie helped bring Jesse back. She could see him. Him was Jesse. 

The moment before stepping through the portal back home, Cecily felt like throwing up. It was all connected. Lucie’s disappearance and Jesse’s disappearance. Wherever they were, they had to be together. Which meant when Will found Lucie he was going to find Jesse, too.

Mrs. Lightwood? 

Cecily started with a sharp inhale and turned to the Silent Brother beside her. “I’m sorry. Lost in thought for a moment. I’ll be going.”

She stepped through the portal and looked around the lab. No one was there waiting for her. With a relieved sigh, she lowered herself to the floor and buried her face in her hands. How was she going to tell Gideon and Gabriel what she had found out? How was she going to tell Tessa?

Before long, loud footsteps came barreling down to the lab. When she looked up, Christopher was still in the entryway, looking at her with great surprise. “Mam?” he asked, incredulously. 

Cecily rushed to her feet and brushed her skirts. “Oh, Christopher,” she said, clearing her throat. “I was using the Portal. I’m sorry if I messed anything up with your lab, love.”

Christopher shook his head. “Nothing is out of place,” he assured her with a concerned frown. He looked so much like his father when he was concerned, Cecily thought to herself. Her sweet boy. “Are you okay, Mam? You look upset.”

Cecily gave her son a small smile and made her way toward the opening, where he remained standing. When she reached him, she squeezed his cheeks. “So much has happened the last couple days. With your father still recovering, I’m just a bit tired.”

“Why don’t you rest?” he asked her, genuine and caring. He was taller than her now, and Cecily had to look up a bit to meet his lavender eyes. “I’ll watch Alex.”

Cecily’s smile grew, though her thoughts still ran inside her head. “Thank you, love. I need to find your uncle, but I will go up and sit with your Father after. All right?”

Christopher didn’t look entirely convinced, but he nodded anyway. “I’ll bring you tea once you do.”

.

Cecily took a long, painful breath before pushing open the doors to the study. Gideon shot up the moment she stepped through the door, but only when the doors shut behind her did he begin questioning. “Is Grace all right? Does she know where Jesse is?”

“Gideon,” Cecily began, meeting his eyes with despair. His expression fell. “She didn’t know Jesse was alive.” Sophie gasped beside Gideon and covered her mouth with her hand. “The poor thing was in so much shock when I told her so brashly. Oh, I felt so guilty. She was in hysterics.”

“Is she all right?” Gideon asked, eyebrows furrowed. 

Cecily nodded. “She told me as much as she could. And—well, we all need to sit down and someone must bring Gabriel down here because I don’t think I can say all this again.”