This World is but a Canvas
Stepping into the next room was like stepping into a painting. Every wall was covered in brightly designed scenes and adornments. Down on the floor was a rough black and white sketch of Maryse and Robert holding an infant Alec in their arms. There was nothing drawn beyond the three of them, the rest of the floor an unused canvas.
The ceiling, however, was covered in details and designs with no space left untouched.
Alec stood in the middle, looking down at the group. His eyes and runes appeared to glow. His bow rested against his left leg, his quiver and arrows peeking over his right shoulder. He was dressed to the nines in clothes made for a prince, all white apart from his cloak which was made of the same dark material as the flower hidden in Magnus’s vest pocket. It seemed to shimmer and fall down in waves around him.
He was surrounded by people. The group closest to him included Magnus, Jace, Izzy, Max, Annette and one other person. None of them would have recognized this mystery person even if his back hadn’t been turned to Alec and thus the group. His head was turned slightly so that his profile was just visible enough to notice his eye glowing red.
Max rested against his right hip, head leaning against Alec’s shoulder. In his visible hand rested a shining stele. He was dressed in regalia. Izzy, wearing a beautiful vintage dress, mirrored her younger brother on Alec’s left side, arm entwined with his, her head resting on his other shoulder. Her whip glimmering on her other arm.
Jace stood in front of him, in bright golden amour, seraph out and ready to defend. He, along with Izzy and Max all wore golden circlets.
Magnus stood behind him, one arm thrown protectively over his neck, hand resting over his heart. His other arm was wound his waist. His fingers glowed with magic, the ones over Alec’s heart were azure blue and the ones resting on his hip were crimson red. He did not have a circlet of his own, but instead a necklace made of yellow diamonds. His cat eyes were lit and his smile was dangerous, as if daring someone to attack.
Annemette sat near his feet, legs crossed, an old large book resting in her lap, open but tilted so nothing inside could be seen. She wore old brown trousers and a white shirt that kind of reminded Simon of a pirate. Her eyes twinkled with mischief barely concealed by a kind smile. A boy leaned against her back, his profile showing him to have a large scar across his face. He had the same strawberry blond hair as Annemette .
A smiling Mabuz, the dark haired girl Genevieve, an androgynous shadowhunter that looked like her and was probably Alex, and an unknow fae girl all sat in a half circle around Annemette. All of them wore clothes worthy of a night on the town.
Madzie and a few other shadow world children stood between Nettie’s group and Alec.
Clary, Simon, Lydia, and Luke were all depicted as silver knights circling the inner groups.
The rest of the ceiling was filled with randomly placed people including Maryse, Robert, Rapheal, Jocelyn, and many other shadowhunters and downworlders.
In between the people were random items like stacks of books and weapons, and pictures of important places like the Institution or Magnus’s loft in frames were scattered throughout the painting.
The border was vines made of ice and sparklingly black velvet flowers woven along the edges.
In one corner of the room stood a table with art supplies surrounding it and Alec was draped over it.
The group walked towards the table glancing at the artwork on the walls as they passed.
There were woven tapestries hanging down which looked magnificent in both detail and design.
On the right and left walls, both tapestries was divided into three columns. The one on the right was Izzy’s, Jace’s, and Max’s likenesses knitted into the fabric of their individual columns.
Surrounding them were looped scenes of important memories that had left an impact on Alec.
On the opposite side, Annemette and Mabuz shared the middle column. The two men from the ceiling portrait whose backs were turned were once again facing partially away from view on either side.
Both of those columns appeared to be covered with shadows and trying to pick out any details beyond strawberry blond hair and red eyes was difficult.
There was a white sheet covering the wall in front of them.
The Alec on table slowly rose as they walked the last few steps towards him.
He sat up on the edge of the table, his arms behind him holding him up, and his head thrown back.
He was covered in colors from paints, oil pastels, and other artistic materials. He wore what was once a plain white, extra large T-shirt that hung off his shoulder and pooled around his waist. His bright white pants had smears and hand prints all over them and were ripped at the knee from wear.
Magnus thought he looked gorgeous and wanted to see how far down the colors went.
“Hello.”
Alec smiled at them and nodded lazily.
“Greetings,” he replied, “Apologizes for the mess, my dears, but art is often chaotic, I’ve found.”
“Who are you?” Lydia asked, straight to the point as ever.
“His artistic, fanciful, philosophical side… I suppose” He answered half-heartedly with a shrug.
“You suppose?”
“Art, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what is philosophy but words dressed up to appear important and sound intelligent?”
No one was really sure how to respond.
Simon walked up to the table and sat down next to Alec.
“I bet you could come up with a great band name.”
Alec smiled down on him. “Names are just labels designed to place people and things into boxes.”
Simon glared at Alec for a moment in suspicion, “You’re trolling me, aren’t you?”
Alec’s eyes went wide in false innocence before he threw back in head and laughed in delight.
“Just a little.”
Simon laughed along.
“I like this you.”
Alec tipped an imaginary hat at Simon.
“I didn’t realize that any part of you got along with Simon.” Raphael muttered beneath his breath.
Alec heard and grinned, “Oh he isn’t so bad.”
Simon pretended to wipe away a tear, “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Alec patted Simon on the head a few times.
The group was now even more confused on how to approach this new Alec.
Simon turned to the others and said, “He’s my favorite, can we keep him?”
Everyone but Alec rolled their eyes at him.
Simon began to fire questions.
“So what’s up with those shadowy guys? Why is there a white sheet? What’s the deal with the tapestries? Did you make them yourself?”
Alec raised his hand and Simon paused.
“One is concealed in betrayal, the other in mystery. The white sheet veils an unfinished project. The tapestries reveal the past. And yes.”
“Cool. Who's who?”
“Pardon?”
“Which one of them is the betrayer and which one is the oh so mysterious one?”
Alec blinked.
“The one on the right is the the deceiver and the one on the left an unsolved mystery.”
“Cool.” Simon suddenly changed the topic of conversation, “So what’s your story telling technique?”
Alec smiled knowingly.
“Touch a tapestry and find out.”