"Clary, I don't think we should do this," Jace advised from the other side of the bed.

"I don't care if you hurt me. I just want to feel you again."

Jace had to admit he was just a bit turned on. "Well, if you say so. But if I burn you too much, tell me right away."

"Got it," Clary agreed. "But we could always-" Jace's phone started vibrating on the bedside table. Alec's name flashed on the screen. Clary looked up at him.

"Let it go to voicemail," Jace said. "It's probably just him asking if we wanna double date with him and Magnus."

Clary giggled. "Remember when we went over to Magnus's apartment for dinner, and he filled the salt shaker with glitter?"

He shuddered inwardly. "Don't remind me. I practically make the toilet bowl sparkle for-" He suddenly clutched his right leg, near his thigh. "What's wrong?" Clary asked, her eyes wider than plates. Jace cringed and cradled his hand.

"I think it's Alec. Get me my phone."

Clary reached for the nightstand, grasping the phone and handing it to Jace. He dialed Alec's number with lightning speed. It didn't even dial before Jace heard two loud tones and The number you are calling cannot be reached.

Jace turned red with panic as he dialed his voicemail.

Jace, it's Alec. Magnus...Magnus and I br-broke up. Jace could hear him sobbing. I'm at Magnus's apartment now, packing my stuff. Camille is dead, and you'll never believe who killed her. Jace heard a pounding noise, presumably Alec's footsteps as he walked into another room, and then, a blood-curdling scream. Clary's eyes widened further, something Jace didn't think was possible. There was a loud crash. Jace! Get here now! It's Seba-

Message finished.

Clary watched as Jace's head fell into his hands. Clary put her arm on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Jace shuddered. "Sebastian," he said stoically. "Sebastian has Alec."

"Oh Angel." Jace dialed a number on his phone.

Hello? answered a voice.

"It's Jace."

I thought I told Alec that I never wanted to see him or his friends again.

"Last time I checked, calling wasn't face-to-face."

Listen, Jace. I'm not your pet warlock. I have business to attend to-

"I don't give a tin shit, Magnus."

Excuse me? Do you really want to talk-

"Magnus, Alec got kidnapped at your apartment while he was packing his things after you dumped him. You know who kidnapped him? Sebastian."

What? Are you serious?

"Magnus, who the hell would joke about that? He's been kidnapped. If that sadist decides to make a pillow out of Alec's ribcags, it's your fault. Meet us at your apartment if you even care about Alec." Jace hung up the phone before Magnus could reply.

Jace sent a text to Maryse. Get to Magnus' ASAP. Something's happened to Alec.

.*.*.*.

There was blood everywhere. There were red marks on the walls, on the floor, on the couch. Isabelle collapsed to her knees next to the door, which was only attached to half a hinge, and leaning crookedly. Clary went to comfort Isabelle, but all Jace could do was hope that at least some of it was Sebastian's.

Magnus walked in the room at that moment, with Robert and Maryse in tow. The instant they looked at the scene, they went postal. Except for Robert. While Maryse burst into tears and hugged Robert, hoping for some sort of reassurance, Robert had an expression that made this scenario synonymous to one where his wife drags him away from the football game to have dinner with her parents. Magnus's jaw fell open.