Cassandra Clare - The Last Stand of the New York Institute

The man was far too close. He lingered by the postbox about six feet away from Magnus and ate a sloppy Grays Papaya hot dog covered in chili. When he was done, he crumpled the chili-stained wrapper and threw it onto the ground in Magnuss general direction, then tugged at a hole in his denim jacket and did not look away. It was like the look some animals gave their prey.

Magnus was used to a certain amount of attention. His clothing invited it. He wore silver Doc Martens, artfully torn jeans so huge that only a narrow shining silver belt prevented them from slipping entirely off, and a pink T-shirt so big that it exposed collarbones and quite a slice of chestthe kind of clothing that made people think about nakedness. Small earrings rimmed one ear, ending in a larger one swinging from his earlobe, an earring shaped like a large silver cat wearing a crown and a smirk. A silver ankh necklace rested at the point over his heart, and he had shrugged on a tailored black jacket with jet bead trimming, more to complement the ensemble than to protect against the night air. The look was completed by a Mohawk boasting a deep pink stripe.

And he was leaning against the outside wall of the West Village clinic long after dark. That was enough to bring out the worst in some people. The clinic was for AIDS patients. The modern plague house. Instead of showing compassion, or good sense, or care, many people regarded the clinic with hate and disgust. Every age thought they were so enlightened, and every age was stumbling around in much the same darkness of ignorance and fear.

Freak, the man finally said.

Magnus ignored this and continued reading his book, Gilda Radners Its Always Something, under the dim fluorescent light of the clinic entrance. Now annoyed by the lack of reply, the man began to mumble a string of things under his breath. Magnus couldnt hear what he was saying, but he could take an educated guess. Slurs about Magnuss perceived sexuality, no doubt.

Why dont you move along? Magnus said, calmly flipping a page. I know an all-night salon. They can fix up that monobrow of yours in no time.

It wasnt the right thing to say, but sometimes these things came out. You could take only so much blind, stupid ignorance without cracking around the edges a bit.

What did you say?

Two cops walked by at that moment. They cast their eyes in the direction of Magnus and the stranger. There was a look of warning for the man, and a look of thinly veiled disgust for Magnus. The look hurt a bit, but Magnus was sadly used to this treatment. He had sworn long ago that no one would ever change himnot the mundanes who hated him for one thing, or the Shadowhunters currently hunting him for another.

The man walked off, but there were backward looks.

Magnus shoved his book into his pocket. It was almost eight oclock and really too dark to be reading, and now he was distracted. He looked around. Only a few years before, this had been one of the most vibrant, celebratory, and creative corners of the city. Good food on every corner, and couples strolling along. Now the cafs seemed sparsely populated. The people walked quickly. So many had died, so many wonderful people. From where he was standing Magnus could see three apartments formerly occupied by friends and lovers. If he turned the corner and walked for five minutes, hed pass a dozen more dark windows.

Mundanes died so easily. No matter how many times he saw it, it never got easier. He had lived for centuries now, and he was still waiting for death to get easier.

Normally he avoided this street for this very reason, but tonight he was waiting for Catarina to finish her shift at the clinic. He shifted from foot to foot and pulled his jacket tighter around his chest, regretting for a moment that he had chosen based on fashionable flimsiness rather than actual warmth and comfort. Summer had stayed late, and then the trees had turned their leaves quickly. Now those leaves were dropping fast and the streets were bare and unsheltered. The only bright spot was the Keith Haring mural on the clinic wallbright cartoon figures in primary colors dancing together, a heart floating above them all.

Magnuss thoughts were interrupted by the sudden reappearance of the man, who had clearly just walked around the block and gotten himself into a total state over Magnuss comment. This time the man walked right up to Magnus and stood directly in front of him, almost toe to toe.

Really? Magnus said. Go away. Im not in the mood.

In reply the man pulled out a jackknife and flicked it open. Their close stance meant that no one else could see it.

You realize, Magnus said, not looking at the point of the knife just below his face, that by standing as you are, everyone will think we are kissing. And that is terribly embarrassing for me. I have much better taste in men.

You think I wont do it, freak? You

Magnuss hand went up. A hot flash of blue spread between his fingers, and in the next second his assailant was flying backward across the sidewalk, then falling and striking his head against a fire hydrant. For one moment, when the mans prone form didnt move right away, Magnus was worried that he had killed the man by accident, but then Magnus saw him stir. He peered up at Magnus with his eyes narrowed, a combination of terror and fury plain on his face. He was clearly a little stunned by what had just happened. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead.

At that moment Catarina emerged. She appraised the situation quickly, went right to the fallen man, and passed her hand over his head, stopping the blood.

Get off me! he yelled. You came from in there! Get off me! You got the thing all over you!

You idiot, Catarina said. Thats not how you contract HIV. Im a nurse. Let me

The stranger shoved Catarina away and scrabbled to his feet. Across the street some passersby watched the exchange with mild curiosity. But when the man stumbled off, they lost interest.

Youre welcome, she said to the retreating figure. Jackass.

She turned to Magnus. Are you all right?

Im fine, he said. He was the one bleeding.

Sometimes I wish I could just let someone like that bleed, Catarina said, taking out a tissue and wiping her hands. What are you doing here, anyway?

I came here to see you home.

You dont need to do that, she said with a sigh. Im fine.

Its not safe. And youre exhausted.

Catarina was listing slightly to one side. Magnus grabbed her hand. She was so tired that Magnus saw her glamour fade for a moment, saw a wash of blue on the hand he was holding.

Im fine, she said again, but without much heart.

Yes, Magnus said. Obviously. You know, if you dont start taking care of yourself, youll force me to come to your house and make my magically disgusting tuna soup until you feel better.

Catarina laughed. Anything but the tuna soup.

Then well eat something. Come on. Ill take you to Veselka. You need some goulash and a big piece of cake.

They walked east in silence, over slick piles of wet, crushed leaves.

Veselka was quiet, and they got a table by the window. The only people around them spoke quietly in Russian and smoked, and ate cabbage rolls. Magnus had some coffee and rugelach. Catarina made it through a large bowl of borscht, a large plate of fried pierogi with onions and applesauce, a side of Ukrainian meatballs, and a few cherry lime rickeys. It wasnt until she had finished these and ordered a dessert plate of cheese blintzes that she found the energy to speak.

Its bad in there, she said. Its hard.

There was little Magnus could say, so he just listened.