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Max Lightwood-Bane buried his face in his hands. He knew he shouldn’t have gone looking for answers Max wasn’t sure he wanted. But he did so anyway, and now he was paying the cost.
He exited the room he was in towards his brother, Raphael. Raphael looked at him expectantly. “Well? Did you find out?”
Max nodded grimly. Raphael’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion. His little brother was so excited to figure out who his parents were, especially his demon parent, that Raphael was confused on why Max didn’t look as happy as Raphael thought he would.
“Who is it?” Raphael asked tentatively. He presumed that Max didn’t like the new information he had acquired. Max shook his head, and Raphael knew not to press further. Max would tell him in his own time. Besides, Raphael wasn’t a warlock. He may not remember who his parents were, but he knew that none of them was a demon.
Max started creating a Portal home, neither of them uttering a word. After a while, not able to stand the silence, Raphael spoke. “You should probably tell Dad. He might be able to help.”
Max sighed, “No, I don’t think he can. I’m sure my demon father is much worse than his.”
“Even so, you can still tell him. It’s not like Dad’s going to kick you out of the house,” said Raphael, now slightly annoyed by how discreet and despairing Max was acting. How bad can it be?
“Fine,” Max relented. It was the only way to get Raphael off his back. Otherwise, he will bug him to insanity. Also, his father may have advice for him. It’s worth a shot.
They entered the Portal and dropped onto their couch, Max accidentally crushing Chairman Meow’s tail. The cat hissed at him and slunk away.
Magnus and Alec, their dads, waved at them from the kitchen. “How was the trip? Found anything useful?” called Magnus. Although he was smiling, there was worry in his eyes.
Max left the room without saying anything, leaving Raphael to explain the situation. “Max found out. But he thinks that it’s the most terrible thing that has ever happened and is not sharing any details.”
Alec and Magnus exchanged glances and silently decided that Magnus should go and talk to Max in a way only his parents could. Magnus walked to and knocked on Max’s door, letting himself in when Max didn’t respond.
Max was sitting in a corner, his arms wrapped around himself. He was rocking ever so slightly. “Are you alright, blueberry?” Magnus asked quietly. Max shook his head. Magnus went over to his son and wrapped him in a hug.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad. Even if it is, you are not your parents,” Magnus whispered, trying to comfort him. Max looked up at Magnus with sad eyes. “But it is that bad. My dad...h-he was a Prince of Hell.” Max murmured the last words with fear and turned his gaze to his feet.
Magnus froze and bent down to Max’s level. “A Prince of Hell? Do you who?” Max nodded, and there was a pause as no one said anything. Magnus looked at Max questioningly.
Max took a deep breath and uttered a name that shocked Magnus. “Asmodeus”.
Max took his father’s silence as disgust. “I know it’s terrible. But you said so yourself, I’m not who my parents are.”
Magnus snapped back to attention, “Of course, blueberry, I know that. It’s just that Asmodeus is a name I’m familiar with.”
“Well, of course, you are. Asmodeus is a Prince of Hell!”
“No, not like that. The thing is, Asmodeus is...also my father,” Magnus confessed, gauging Max’s reaction. Very few people know that, and now Max is a part of the list.
Most people are wary of his father, so it surprised Magnus when he saw a tiny smile on his son’s face. “You’re telling me we both have the same father? That means we’re half brothers.”
Magnus hadn’t thought of that, but now that Max pointed it out, he couldn’t help smiling too. “Yes, it’s true. But I’ll always consider you my son, no matter the blood connection.”
“And you will always be my father, no matter who my biological one is,” Max replied, leaning into Magnus’ hug. Max wasn’t sure if he was ready to share the news of his father with the rest of his family, but it comforted him to know that he wasn’t alone out there.