Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Forty-Five 🗝

To find Tessa, all Varian had to do was concentrate, which was a harder sell then he wanted it to be.

The woman appeared in glimpses as the three ventured through the streets of Venice. Varian left Alec to be in charge of Jem, to make sure that the Silent Brother turned back into a Shadowhunter was not going to get lost or implode from all the new inventions around him. The first time that Varian felt Tessa it was at a corner cafe, the vague shape of her appearing in the window seat.

She was gone by the time Varian attempted to completely concentrate.

Minutes later she appeared up the block, his faded hands flipping through a record sale that had taken place weeks ago.

Every step forward felt like three steps back but the pure excitement radiating off of Jem kept Varian's hopes up about finding the woman. It was only due to Jem that they even knew where to begin searching, a Warlock library in the heart of the city that would not allow admittance to Shadowhunters despite the fact that they were with Varian.

It's entrance was dramatic, a spiral staircase that only appeared after Varian placed his hand on the correct stone. He could feel the power pouring from the underground without even having to reach for it. The space around the entrance was a clear city square that fit perfectly with the texture of the world, though Varian knew that its existence was solely because of the repellent spells placed on the library.

"I'll be back soon." Varian felt unprotected leaving Alec above the surface of the tunnels, though the Shadowhunter acted unfazed the blue-green tinge of the air around him let Varian know that he disliked this idea just as much as the Warlock did. "I love you."

Alec kissed his forehead, "I love you too."

When Varian turned and began his decent, he didn't look back.

The archives were just as he could remember them being, despite the fact that it had been years since the Warlock had been here. All dark corners and dusty overfilled air, Varian breathed shallowly, his eyes looking across all of the shelves in easily visible astonishment.

Volumes of books in every shape, size and language, their topics ranging from specific studies of magic to spells that only the rare few could perform. Varian entirely understood why Tessa had been drawn to here.

"Can I help you?"

The woman that spoke was beautiful, even Varian could see that. Her long brown hair was pinned in a bun at the top of her neck. Her eyes held something more in them, as if they held centuries of a lifetime in them despite the fact that she couldn't be more than thirty. She smiled softly, shelving the books currently resting in her hands and taking a step towards Varian, her head tilted slightly.

"Have we met?" A pale yellow colored the air around her, curiosity.

Varian shook his head, "No, no." He carded a hand through his hair, "But you knew my predecessor, Ragnor Fell?"

The woman smiled brightly, though her eyes held a sadness in them. "I felt his passing, I am glad he lives on in you." Her head leaned in the other direction, her eyes moving across Varian's face. "Though I do not know who you are."

Varian wanted to smack his forehead, a voice that sounded suspiciously like his baba chiming how rude he was being. "Right, my name is Varian Bane and my fiancé and I have been looking for you for a long time, Tessa Gray."

Tessa tensed, her eyes darting around the room as if looking for a quick escape. Varian understood the sentiment. "How did you find me?" The hand that had been previously shelving books reached for her back pocket, Varian could feel the powers in the woman shift. She was getting ready for a fight.

"Jem Carstairs helped me."

The reaction was almost immediate, Tessa dropped her defensive position, her hands falling open at her sides and her mouth opened wide. "Is he-" He voice broke, a bright smiling began to grow on her face, reaching her eyes in a way that made Varian happy. "Is he here?"

Varian knew for a fact that the last time Tessa had seen Jem he had been dying from Yin Fen poisoning, that he had become a Silent Brother so that he wouldn't die. So when Varian nodded slowly and she squealed he was fully prepared for the sound and didn't allow it to overwhelm him.

"Can I see him?" Her voice was impossibly small when she spoke again.

Varian just smiled, turning and motioning for her to follow him. The way out was not as interesting as the way in, Tessa stuck behind him the entire walk, and when Varian and Tessa broke through to the surface it was to the a dark sky, stars apparent. Tessa shivered in the cold and unconsciously Varian raised his body temperature, using the Heavenly Fire in a way similar to that of a space heater.

Tessa took a step closer to him. "Why were you looking for me?"

Varian sighed, his breath clouding like smoke the moment it left his lungs. "I am currently possessed by an Angel and was directed to you in relation to figuring out how to remove the Angel's soul."

Tessa hummed, the sound different than before, "I know of Angel soul's and the grip that they hold on their hosts." Varian's mind reached for Alec's. "Whatever it is to separate the two of you, it will cost much."

"I'm ready to pay whatever is necessary." There was no truer statement. The Angel's possession of him felt incorrect, the knowledge that more than one conscience shared his mind was nerve wracking. "I want to be alone in my mind Tessa Gray."

"Then we will do it here." Tessa glanced around the square, pleased with its emptiness.

Varian reacted instantly, his hand waving and bright lilac magic dancing from his fingertips. A shield, should this interaction prove volatile. He wanted Alec to be here, but knew that if this were to go wrong and his partner were to be injured he would never forgive himself.

"Take my hands Warlock Bane." Tessa held both of her hands out to the younger Warlock, a faint smile on her lips as she waited for him to do as she said.

Varian was cautious as he stretched his hands out to the woman, a small part of his concentration rested on the shield around the pair and another on finding Alec.

When she spoke, the language was old, a chanting sound that Varian swears he could place if not for the current tired standing of his mind and body. He wanted more than anything to lay down and sleep but the moment Tessa stopped speaking the world shifted.

"You are not ready to be free of me just yet Varian Bane." The voice was Varian's angel, annoying just as loud and powerful as before. "You have not completed all of your purposes, there is much to be done."

Varian wanted to ask how long.

"Patience and a few more weeks." The voice fell silent for just a moment. "She draws near."

There was fear in the Angel's voice, but before Varian could question further, Tessa's hands were pulled from his and he was tipping backwards. He caught himself before he hit the ground, lilac magic forming a cushion that let him down softly.

Tessa looked panicked, but the panic faded to tears the moment she saw Jem Carstairs. Varian let their reunion happen, his hands reaching for Alec with a faint smile. His fiancé was nervous, but pushed the fear away in favor of pressing an open mouthed kiss just behind Varian's ear.

"The Angel tells me there is still something I must do." Varian's voice is just above a whisper, his hands shake where they grip Alec's jacket. "I fear how much I have in me Darling."

Alec nodded, "You won't be doing it alone." Alec leaned back, a smile in his eyes as he looked at Varian in a loving way. "I'll be there every step of the way."

But something to Varian that that was not true.

~~~

Sorry for being gone so long.