Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare.
Chapter 6: Lock, Retreat
He lost track of time. He didn't know how long or how far he had been running. His shoulders were aching and his legs felt numb because he pushed himself to his limit on running. He wanted to stop and rest for a while, but knew he couldn't. The aching and numbing he felt was a constant reminder of his true purpose. He was the key to stop the Circle. Most of all, he couldn't let Magnus down right now, not when he helped him to escape and fought all alone, all for him.
Magnus needs me. His life is on my hands. He thought.
He sighed in relief when he past the thinned lines of trees and a house emerged in his eyesight in the middle of a gigantic field. He could see several figures were moving towards it from all directions. Alec pressed harder on his wound and sprinted, hoping he wasn't too late.
The Downworlders easily noticed him and titled their heads unto him. They were staring and shouting at him, as they recognized the abnormal aura of the intruder. "Stop right there!"
Once Downworlder yelled, followed by several others and started voicing their rage towards his kind.
"Seize the Shadowhunter!"
They were screaming as they hurried towards his direction and grabbed Alec down. With Alec's current condition, he knew he couldn't outrun their magic. His ankles were caught by a magical net and he was soon being lifted by his collar. He could see that his capturer was a Werewolf with bright blue pupils. Canines were extending and bit him hard on the neck. Alec winced in pain as the teeth were hurting his neck painfully. Alec punched the soft belly to retaliate, making it moaned and transformed to human form. The Werewolf was tall in his middle age, brown short hairs were right above his glasses.
"You're injured." The werewolf finally noticed as he observed while Alec was now in the center of a Downworlders circle. They were whispering words of disparagement. Alec looked around; those various judging eyes made him felt weak and powerless. He was nothing but an ant that could be stomped to death within a second.
"God – look at him, so filthy and bloody."
"He smells like one of us. Which poor soul was murdered this time?"
"Kill him. He is definitely a spy, don't be blinded by his innocent beauty. Underneath his look he possessed a murderous evil soul. All Shadowhunters have."
His ankles were sticky in blood and out of his command. Alec swallowed the pain and propped himself up to face the Werewolf, who seemed to be the kindest of them all. "I am with Warlock Bane," He carefully said as his mouth was dry and throat begged for water. He was panting. "We were attacked as soon as we went through the portal and he asked me to seek help for him."
Everyone gasped in shock at what he had said and the crowd was filled with eerie silence. Until one Downworlder in the crowd shrieked in realization. "Oh my Lord — he is Alexander Lightwood, isn't he? Warlock Bane is supposed to accompany him to the meeting."
"Really? This is Alexander Lightwood?"
"No wonder when I look at him my stomach churn and I nearly throw up. Insufferable!"
"Repulsive brat. We should kill him right now – "
The roars of fury were stopped by one of the Vampires. "I did see a shot of magic in the sky; at first I thought it was a mistake. It must be Warlock Bane. We need to go."
"How do we know if he isn't lying?" One Downworlder questioned the Vampire back. Alec flinched at the doubtfulness of the Downworlder but he supposed it was fair; he was their enemy and shouldn't be trusted. Feeling disrespected, Alec gritted his teeth. He would never joke about one's life, especially Magnus's. "I am NOT lying. I would never lie about this: your ally is in danger and needs reinforcement. I don't need you to trust me, but for Magnus' sake! Help him!" Alec wasn't sure if the shirt was clutched onto him because of the blood or sweat.
"Better safe than sorry." The Werewolf who had grabbed Alec said. The crowd orderly grouped and ten Downworlders of mixed races galloped to the direction Alec had come from. Just when his guard was lowering, someone gripped the net and it hooked onto his ankles. Alec yelped; it was the Warlock who had set up the trap. The raven-feathered hands towed him towards the house despite of his protest. He felt his bones were cramped and they were detaching from his muscles.
"Let go of me!" He struggled and turned his back up to the sky, stretching his hands out for someone to hold.
Stares were the only thing he was given. They were malicious and scornful towards him. Many were deriding, pointing fingers at him and then laughed, belly bent for his pathetic struggles against the bird-like Warlock and comical beseechers.
It was unbearable: the pain, physically and emotionally. The Warlock was at the front and other Downworlders at the other end were watching him, the greatly sinned Nephilim in the middle of the parade, entertainment and amusement filled in their eyes while he was in agony. His nails dug through the grasses and dirt, marking the route. "Please stop! Please – "Alec closed his eyes when he suddenly felt a painful sting on his cheeks.
Oh, the humiliation. The pride of a Lightwood was shit for them.
Alec turned and whimpered as his wound on the shoulder hurt even more. Irregular waves of sharper pain busting his whole arm. He felt pathetic and weak. Useless. He bet the Mundanes could even do better than he was right now.
The way to the house wasn't that far. On the outside it was merely a farmer house, but rooms and stairs of a Mansion were packed inside. Once they entered, everyone left for their own resting rooms and let the Warlock lead him through a long hallway.
Eventually Alec gave up, knowing he couldn't do anything about it. His torso and face crushed on the carpeted floor which was coated with small blood dots. His chin was rubbing against the material but he was too tired and in pain to lift his head from it. His half-lidded eyes saw a pair of leather shoes standing in front of a room nearby the entrance. It was the Werewolf with brown hairs.
"Luke, come in and get a drink." Someone called and the man hummed in response.
Luke remained there until Alec couldn't see him anymore with the corner turned. The noise of metal door had Alec crooked his head to look behind him. The Warlock was pushing an iron gate with stairs leading down to another level, wearing a sinister smirk on his face. Shuddering, he was engulfed by darkness with the neo blue trap net shining.
The continuous tearing pain of his ankles didn't stop Alec from observing the environment. The dungeon was dark, with candles at the four corners lit up the tiny space. Three unoccupied cells were lined up on one wall, while the others left bare. Contrary to Alec's expectation, it was clean if not considered the hot air there.
"I can walk." He said as the Warlock tugged him through the middle cell door.
The Warlock plainly replied. "You don't need to." His bass voice was monotonous. "And let's hope you won't for the rest of your life. You have to understand this," Alec was kicked by his side rib and he curled and hissed, backing up with his wiggling hip until he hit the metal bars. "It could have been worse."
The trap net was gone by a snap and Alec blinked quickly to adjust the darkness. The Warlock said nothing more and walked out and locked the door with magic enchantment. Alec barely watched the silhouette going upstairs and then, he was alone in the dungeon.
Only then his tense muscles finally relaxed. Alec was spent and his eyes kept rolling to the back of his head. He forced himself to concentrate, groping his pockets for his stele. It was his luck that the Warlock didn't search him.
He nipped it between his chapped lips as he rolled up his sleeves. Scowling when the numbing agony began to surface from his shoulder, Alec bit down the bile rushing up his throat and drew a strong healing rune according to his memory somewhere on his forearm. The burning was unbearable but still he was ecstatic about it. It meant he was still alive.
He laid down after he finished tracing the rune, tried to reserve energy as much as possible. His temples met with the dry concrete floor, the torment was too overwhelming that Alec couldn't sleep. The wounds caused by Warlocks healed much slower. Not to mention the complete silence in there that buzzed his ears.
He felt like he was going crazy.
He thought about Max to calm him down. Yet, it awakened a soft spot in his heart and he felt the tears were welling up in his eyes. Alec shut his eyes tight, he didn't want anyone to see him crying even when he was the only audience. He missed Max's nonsense yells and the endless hunger. He missed breastfeeding Max, for it was the most intimate moment between them. This was more unendurable than giving birth – the separation. The unknown.
"No." Alec said to himself. He couldn't drown in sentiments when the time required him to be rational.
Alec convinced himself. You have been through tougher time. You can do this.
Moving his ankles in caution, he whimpered when the slight movement triggered an agonizing pain that made him winced and sweated profoundly. Carefully he changed into a more comfortable position and monitored his breathing.
"I am a Shadowhunter."
His gasped was the only answer he heard.
Sebastian bounced off the tree and scowled. He could hear noises from North and it was possible to be Downworlders. A group of them. Clary was still standing next to the Warlock who was at the last step of enchantment.
Magnus Bane deserved his name among the Shadow World. He was strong and fast. His power seemed to be endless compared to those they had encountered before. A shield was put up and whips and daggers were blocked; only magic could break it through, Sebastian thought. He shouted to Jonathan, who was launching another hit of his sword.
"Jon, let's move! More are coming from the North!"
"No!" Isabelle exclaimed and gave up on hurting Magnus. She ran straight to Clary and the Warlock. "Where is Alec you dumb – "
"AH!"
"Jace!" Clary abandoned her post when Jace's groans spread in the forest.
Sebastian stood between Isabelle and the hunching Warlock. "We have to go! Clary open a portal!"
Magnus was in the middle with a blue semi-transparent spherical shield. Clary was yanking Jace up and draped his arm over her shoulder while the blond was crippling. He was hurt; with no blood and no opening. Jonathan noticed it too and he dropped his sword, running towards the couple.
"We will get Alec next time." Sebastian said and dragged the Warlock up, bringing her as well. He didn't look back to see if Isabelle was following but the footsteps coming up towards him confirmed it.
Jonathan asked in worry. He was always worried when it was about Alec. "Is it Alec?"
Nodding without strength, Jace leaned onto the small frame of Clary whose spare hand was creating a portal with her stele.
"You think I would let you guys go just like that?"
Blue sparkles travelled in light speed and were heading towards them. Magnus's palms were lighting up again, preparing for the next wave. The portal was nearly done; a few seconds were all they needed. Sebastian shoved the Warlock to Isabelle's arms and snatched her whip. She yelled. "What in the Angel's name?!"
Being a good Parabatai, Jonathan told Isabelle to get closer to Clary and Jace so that they could enter right away when it was ready. She stomped angrily but didn't argue.
He wasn't familiar with long distance weapons. He rotated his wrist and the whip cracked the air. Though it didn't hit Magnus, still it made the besuited Warlock to retreat.
The tiny twist of the fine eyebrows reflected in his black eyes – Magnus was tired. He was bluffing. Sebastian took this chance; he threw a dragger and swished the whip at the same time. The shield blocked off the blade but not the other. It reached inside and Magnus jerked.
Blood was running down his cheek from a long neat slash.
"Seb!" Jonathan called him and that was the moment a group of Downworlders emerged behind Magnus who was touching his wound in a blank expression. He ran the 50 meters and dodged those attacks barely as he heard the roars of Werewolves and smelled the thick scent of magic from both Faeries and Warlocks. He could practically feel those fangs on his neck.
Jonathan reached out, half of his body was inside the portal. The others had already left and Sebastian hopped – and he took the waiting hand. A strong pull and the next second he was back to the haunted house.
"Shut it. Now." Isabelle urged as Clary began the work. Before any unwelcomed guest could come through, the portal was closed.
"Thanks." Sebastian panted, laying down on the carpet and Jonathan was next to him, sticking his fingers inside the nest of inky hairs. He was smoothing them into order. "You are my Parabatai."
Those fingers lingered a while. Then Jonathan was distracted by the fact that Jace was feeling extreme pain through the Parabatai rune and his ankles hurt without reason. They both knew what it meant. Alec was definitely hurt and in agony right now.
"We are going back." Jonathan said firmly. Clary and Isabelle went to deliver the limping Jace to the entrance and they all jumped at the sound of fist collided with the wall. A hole was left on the ugly yellowish wallpaper. His Parabatai was mad. And Sebastian could feel it through the connection, how it pulsed along his heartbeat.
Approached alertly, both of them let out a long breath when his hand touched the tense shoulder blade. "Don't give up."
Jonathan shook his head and he pointed his chin to the three. "Go ahead. We will be right behind."
The three moved on. They knew silence was the best response for him. Sebastian took his fist away from the wall and frowned at the wound, complained. "Your knuckles."
"I know." Jonathan said and he let him draw a simple iratze near the wrist. Once he was done, the blond Shadowhunter recoiled and shrugged under the jacket. The rampart was up again, pushing Sebastian away.
He walked straight to the Warlock who was still lying on the floor, exhausted from the close call. Like a deflated balloon, Jonathan mumbled. "If you dare say a word – "
"No I won't. I promise." She answered without hesitation and Jonathan nodded approvingly, headed to the entrance without looking back. Sebastian added, "You better not." and immediately jogged to Jonathan, walking with him side by side.
The streets of London were almost empty with few drunk Mundanes grumbling at how unfair the world was. Jonathan suddenly tilted his face to Sebastian, who returned his stare firmly.
"Do you think we can have Alec back?"
"We might."
"But why did he leave us in the first place?" Jonathan's delicate brows pinched lines. His hands were playing with loose strings inside the pockets. "I don't understand."
Sebastian looked ahead, feeling the question was the stupidest one he had ever heard. However, he lied instead. "None of us does. Maybe Alec is fed up with the Circle. It isn't new that he doesn't like what we do."
"He… Whatever."
The rest of the way to their temporary house was in night's lullaby.
He had pictured what it was like to see the couple building their own family, yet the Jonathan he knew had been taken over by demons. Sebastian was glad Alec and Max were gone. He understood Alec.
A/N:
To anonymous fan: Thanks for your support:) The Circle members will make more appearance!
To bluesweetie: Jonathan/Alec is my secret OTP LOL.
To cheesekun: The experiment involves everyone in the Circle and the old female Warlock was assisting back then. Oh I can't really tell you what it means :p Spoiler!
Once again a huge thanks to my Beta meishPV, she is writing a fascinating story Inside the Devil's Den with novel settings. Have a read and follow if you like it:)
Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Things are about to get complicated!
Wish you guys a good day and a review is highly appreciated:)
