Alec breathed in concentration as he grasped his glass-like sephe blade tightly by the handle, to get it out of the wooden wall of the training room. This was his third time trying to get this thing out, but it wouldn't badge, though when he tried again and finally it worked. The dagger flung out of wall like a rocketing bullet and landed in his silver lined hand. Alec shoved back his black hair that was in his Lightwood eyes, trying to calm himself as his neck was thudding heartbeats full of adrenaline. The thick strands of his hair were quite sweaty and they were stuck to his forehead in little loops of curls and when he tried to take them back; they bounced forward into his blue eyes again. Alec had been practicing for hours, trying to throw his sephe blade into the middle of the golden target. But it was a bit hard as he had to accomplish hard courses throughout the training room before he threw the blade into the target. He took a few steps back and wiped the hot sweat off his face, "Again!" a mechanical voice shouted from the speakers in the corner of the room. He sighed. Alec moved to his starting position, once again starting at the back of the training room. The training room was a large room with timber floors and dark Victorian wooden walls and white arched doors. There were dark lights in the old floral-shaped silver lamps – six of them on each wall. Their orange flames flickered around the room, to make a slight glimmer onto the objects around him.

He took a deep breath, a long and deep breath to get his head in the game – though this wasn't a game. The room was quite silent as there was no one and nothing there to bother him or interrupt his focus. Be hopeful Lightwood. He nodded, clearing his mind, you can do this Lightwood, he told himself and he knew he could because he was a Shadowhunter. He waited a second. Then Alec ran – bolted – a straight path, dodging automatic punching gloves. His small heart was pumping heavily – there's was nothing to help him, but only his runes to guide him. Alec soon then climbed the ridges – that burnt his palms – on the wall to the very top, and jumped over to the thin ledge – parallel from him – with a flip. He landed on his feet, he smiled, and he was finally doing well. Alec then pulled his arms out and balanced on his feet, holding his sephe blade in his right hand and eventually he ran when had gotten his balance. A large gap was then formed in front of him and he had to jump once more, and so he braced himself and strained his shoulders as he leapt off the thin ledge and onto a vertical steel ladder. The Monkey bars. Alec hung from one of the bars, his gloves helping him grip, his flexed his arm muscles – lifting him up – as one of his arms went to grab the bar front of him. His shoulders loosened and his other arm followed, he hung onto the new bar and repeated swinging onto a new bar. He repeated this again and again for the next six bars left. Alec groaned as he swung to the second last bar of the twelve bars, his up body was getting sore and his legs getting lose. He finally made it to the last bar, and then he let go after hanging there for a few seconds.

His flipped down onto the mat on the ground, only a meter jump – though he hit the ground hard on his feet. He ran once more, jumping and dodging objects on the way – getting the feeling back his legs again. Alec breathed in a huff – he had heaps for things to do, - but he cannot stop now. He started to sprint again – like at the start – as he ran up a flight of steps, judging automatic punches left and right at his hips. Alec's knees were high as they climbed their way to the top, his breath getting really heavy. His back started to sweat even more, this is the sixth time he has done this, and his hair was stringy and stuck to his forehead once more. Alec's palms started to sweat as well and his sephe blade was getting harder and harder to keep a grasp of – but he tried to keep it in his hands, he juggled it from hand to hand. The sephe blade he was holding shone a bright color – it glowed brighter than any other light in the training room – as he walked on the fat ledge at the top of the steps then a metal slide showed at his feet. Alec did a heavy exhale – his breath and energy was gone – he then shot down his legs and glided down the bulky slide, spikes then ascended out of the bottom of the slide and he whizzed himself to the left to judge them. Alec continued to slide and then from the left, automatic punches started to fire from where he slid and so he dodged them to the right. He was nearly finished the course… just one more objective. The slide stopped and so he rolled.

He stood up from the roll leaving sweat marks on the floor from his back and head. Alec saw the golden target in the distance – he strengthened his grasp on the handle of his glass-like sephe blade. His eyes were like daggers as he tried to focus his aim on the middle of the target. He walked up to the target – his heart racing in nervousness – the gold light shimmered onto his cheeks. The color of the target made him think of Jace – the color of Jace's eyes, the color of gold. His eyes sparkled at him in his mind as Jace smirked widely like he was just laughing; Alec tried to shake the thought of Jace out of his head so he could concentrate on the target, as he came to the place where he stood before. He had to throw the sephe blade soon – no now. Alec breathed but the thought of Jace's eyes were still on his mind – he was always on Alec's mind. Don't think of Jace, Lightwood, he thought to himself, but I cannot. The thought of Jace killing a demon know showed his mind. The demon would strike him at the collar bone of his shoulder, Jace would grit his teeth as he tightens the blade in his hand – it shone brighter than Alec's – his blonde hair would move away from his face… and his angelic eyes as he walked. He would be angry but not fearful; he would then strike the demon with a heavy blow to its knees and it would fall. Jace an Isabelle would attack the demon until it screams its last deathly and devilish cry. They are strength. He is a warrior – Jace is far stronger than Alec.

But he could do this – Alec can throw the blade into the middle of this target right now – and he will. Alec bit his lips – making them red – showing concentration. The most pure concentration that made him feel everything around him. He could feel; the air, the sound, the smell, the feel, the ground, the walls, the warmth of the flames in the lights, and the sharp blade in his hand. His black runes – all over his body, the marks of the angel – they guided his sight as he blinked himself into a clear vision as he stepped forward – he was ready to throw the dagger. Alec's muscular arms flexed into a triangular shape as he moved his biceps and his elbow behind his head and the bright light of the glass-like dagger was in the side of his eyes. But he tried to focus and as he breathed slowly, he threw the dagger moving his biceps in front of his head instead behind. The dagger flung rapidly into the air and made a glass-like ting. And soon after the ting a loud piercing sound of the dagger echoed throughout the room as it hit the target. Alec didn't want to see if he had hit the middle of the target – he just hoped he did – but then the speakers yelled, "Well done Alexander, you have passed." Alec looked up to the golden target and… He smiled. Finally, the dagger was now was in the middle of the target, Alec then threw his hands up in the air in celebration. He twisted around on his feet in a dance, he saw Jace walking into the room for is his try; he nods at Alec as he closes the white door of the training room. He was wearing his Shadowhunting gear – like Alec – and runes; he didn't seem worried about this drill like Alec was – though, Alec knew that Jace was different.

Alec moved toward him, heading for the door, Jace stops to talk to him, "how did you do?" Alec looks at him with a grim expression. His face… His eyes distracted him… Jace was the reason that Alec just passed. Every time he tried this course, he had failed, because he thought of Jace. That he couldn't have Jace. One reason is since Alec was gay and well… Jace wasn't because Jace had a girlfriend, Clary and the other reason was Jace was like a brother to Alec. Alec didn't answer him and tried to walk past Jace without shouting at him but Jace grabbed his arm, stopping him in front of the door. Jace looked at him with curious golden eyes and a cold chill spread down Alec's spine as he watched them watch him. "What's wrong?" Jace asked him but all Alec did to respond was to shove Jace's hand off his arm, and walk out of the room, leaving Jace by himself to do the course.

TO BE CONTINUED!