Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare

Chapter 24: Goodbye, Hello

Ragnor wasn't sure what caused Alec to jump the gap and embrace Isabelle despite of his phobia, but it was a great start. The joy, however, was soon taken over by chills and hollowness.

He could never be more worried than he was now. The whole morning he had been trying to communicate with Aline and Magnus but to no avail – the messages ended up with the failure of finding the recipients. He wanted to go back Pepin to see what was going on, yet it was hardly the time. Isabelle was in the haze of shock and disbelief that she didn't speak nor eat for the past few hours. She even let her brother stuffed her into the backseat of the car and didn't protest when Ragnor began driving.

Alec looked calm though. The plight required him to be. With Maryse and Robert Lightwood having business trip half the universe away, Alec took the responsibility of taking care of his family as the eldest. As the Mansion came into their sights, Alec patted his unmoved sister. "Izzy, we are home."

Being pushed lightly on her arm, she jerked and turned to Alec who was getting out from the car and going to her side to open the door. Ragnor waved the butler Hodge away and stood next to Alec, watching him carefully held his sister and walked into the hallway.

Her commonly red lips lacking colors, merged with the sick-white skin. The once flushing cheeks that painted by sorrow were hoary like an ancient sculpture. Isabelle aged within an afternoon and with evening coming, she looked even older under the yellowish sunlight. On the outside she was still young, a woman in her blooming youth.

On the inside…

Ragnor interrupted his thoughts. They were proceeding up the stairs into Isabelle's room. Alec rounded his arm and held her close to him, leading her with a straight back. Humping her back, she leaned into her remaining brother as if it was her last resort. Ragnor suspected in her state of mind, she could have allowed anyone to take her away. He never loved anyone before, not the way Isabelle and Simon did. But he understood.

Alec gently laid her on the perfectly made bed. Ragnor retreated by the door and tried to send messages to Aline and Magnus. Then again, the failed delivery left him panicked. Of course there were many factors causing the malfunction – yet he had a stirring stomach telling him it wasn't that simple.

"Do you need anything?" Alec whispered after tucking her in, stroking the white cheeks and stared into the empty eyes. Her lashes fluttered and closed without a word, leaving Alec there mumbling to himself idiotically. The blue-eyed man sighed and sat by the end of the bed, seemed unable to go regardless of the silent protest from Isabelle that she wanted to be alone.

"Alec," Ragnor called and saw the red-rimming eyes of his master. His tone softened instantly for the miserable looks of both Lightwoods. "You should eat something."

"I am not hungry." Said Alec.

"Come on," He walked closer and pulled his master up from the bed. "You need energy for whatever is coming next. Isabelle needs you." He hated to say this; under such circumstances Alec would volunteer to take the stones on his shoulders and yet it pained Ragnor to see Alec so lost. He wanted to tell Alec he had done enough: he had given out everything he had.

But Alec was unsure of himself. He always wished to offer more even he had poured all his heart. Sometimes it burdened him instead of giving him a sense of success. It didn't count as achievement but only disappointment for him when people were not satisfied for his services. The confidence in which believing he had the ability was too low, way lower than anyone could possibly be; Alec never considered how ridiculous those requests were.

"You are right," Alec trembled. "May I stay here?"

He was asking as if it wasn't his place to do so, as if he was merely a servant that required permission to be with Isabelle. Ragnor crouched down in front of him and took his gloved hands, rubbing them in tenderness. "No."

Alec scowled. "Why not?"

"You deserve a break. I can look after her." As he stood up trying to pull Alec with him, the eldest Lightwood dissented. Wrinkles formed between his brows, he said. "What makes you think I deserve it?"

His voice was too small for anyone to hear but Ragnor. Said robot knelt and cupped Alec's face, making his master looked right into his sincere eyes, thumbs soothing the dry skin. "Don't punish yourself, Alec. It is an accident." Ragnor lied. Luke had warned him before – just that they didn't know it would drag Simon into the mess, nor would it cost his life.

Alec didn't move. Ragnor added hastily. "I am not allowing you to rest. Just a short break, ten minutes. You eat, then you get back here."

His tone was harsh, yet it was what Alec needed. He used to take orders from Sebastian who had treated Alec like a vamp, who had taught him obedience was the only thing he could have. Alec had been better now, but in some occasions he was still under the impression which he had to be allowed to do things or what not to do. And now it was the time. Ragnor could only do that with a hardened heart because Alec had to be pushed.

Nodded finally, Alec got up. Before he exited he took off his cloak and tossed it on the chair nearby. He lingered around the doorframe and Ragnor shooed him. Spared one more look at his sister, Alec left. Thuds of footstep going down the stairs.

As soon as Alec was out of the bedroom, there were small whimpers coming from the ball on the queen-size bed. Ragnor wouldn't dare say or do anything. The undeniable fact of Simon was gone could not be changed. Maybe by crying it out Isabelle would feel better.

Ragnor asked politely for the keeper Seelie, which turned out to be in the master bedroom doing some cleaning. The robot bowed and the green-skinned one directly ordered her to encrypt a message for him.

"Non-exist recipients." Seelie repeated after three attempts. So the possibility of his system had glitch was zero. That meant either the signal was too weak to pick up anything or something was wrong with Aline and Magnus. Ragnor exhaled a breath that he didn't know he was holding and dismissed Seelie.

Ten minutes were fast. Alec skipped some steps back to the Isabelle's bedroom, who had stopped the muffled sobs and muted after her brother's arrival. His master cautiously sat on the chair, playing idly with his fingers. Ragnor leaned into the desk behind him, thinking about Aline and Magnus.

"What are you thinking?" Alec said without moving. Ragnor thought about the unanswered doubts he had and declared. "Nothing."

Upon hearing this Alec turned, frowning at the robot. "There is something troubling you."

Smiled bitterly, Ragnor found that nothing escaped the clear blue eyes. He was their master and he read them with accuracy. Alec had enough in his hands now so he lied. "It's just a minor thing." Alec didn't buy his explanation and his nails were digging into his own thighs. "Tell me then. I am your friend." Then his face switched to a horrified expression. "Am I not?"

"You are our friend. It's nothing, really." Ragnor wanted to reassure Alec he was treating them right. There were flaws about Alec and one of them was he always thought he had spare effort left. "I am not troubled by anything."

"Ragnor, don't lie to me. It is an order!"

Alec jumped up from the chair and the scratching noises it made startled him; he shoved himself up from the desk and took a step backwards. It was the first time Alec had given him a direct command. An order that he couldn't disobey. It felt like he was back to the days of being a body guard of a filthy rich fat ass who favored beating the shit out of them. He could only stand there waiting for the blow – he was powerless. An object ranked lower than slaves. Ragnor had not felt that for a long time, not ever since he was with Alec.

"I said – " Alec emphasized.

He flinched slightly when Alec stepped forward. The blue-eyed man realized his nasty tone and he dropped his reaching hand. "I was rude; I am sorry."

Ragnor shook his head. Alec was taken over by his emotion for a short while, that's all. "No hard feelings."

Alec looked at him with guilt and he ran a hand on his forearm uncomfortably, upset by his own unreasonable behavior. "What is it?"

Decided to be frank, Ragnor said about the problems that had been on his chest for the whole day. "I can't get in touch with Aline and Magnus. It could be nothing." Alec was taken aback and he pried further. "How long has it been like this?"

"Since this morning."

"What?" Alec gasped. He strode and clutched onto the collar of Ragnor's T-shirt. "Why didn't you tell me?" Ragnor covered his hands on top of Alec's, trying to calm him down by the touches. "You have more important things then."

Alec's frown deepened "You guys are as important as Isabelle and Jace to me. You should have told me when you feel something is wrong." A pause ensued and he let go of his grips, encouraged. "We should go check on them."

Ragnor wasn't certain about that. Luke was dead – it meant the Institute had launched their first wave of attacks. Probably it was also the reason why he lost contact with them. The Institute was a powerful organization and was in possession of many advanced technologies. Pepin was a distant neighborhood far away from the center of Vikram and if it was attacked, no one would know.

Ragnor didn't want to believe. It is just some robotic problems. He convinced himself.

"You should stay here." Ragnor said. Yet Alec staying here wasn't making him feel any better; after all the Mansion was broken in not long ago. Moreover, it would be the first time in two years Alec was not with either Aline or him. Ever since he had consciousness, he had been with Alec no matter when and where.

"I want to go with you." Insisted, Alec eyed his sister on the bed who slipped into slumber after she had exhausted herself by crying. "I am safe with you."

The faith he had in Ragnor was something the robot treasured. He felt like he had completed his duty as a butler and a personal guard. He was fulfilling a purpose he had chosen himself.

"No." Ragnor refused firmly. Despite of the his ability that Alec trusted, there was no definite answer to whether he could protect Alec when the members of Institute were lurking around the city, not to mention they had already taken Luke and Simon's lives. "Look after Isabelle." He slipped into his jacket and shrugged it into the proper position. Alec was jogging behind him as they went downstairs.

"Please," Alec pleaded. "Isabelle is fine with the guards. Please let me go with you. We stick together through everything."

A hand brushed his shoulder and Ragnor ignored it. "I shall return before midnight the latest. If none of us does, don't look for us and don't go to Pepin."

Alec of course raised his objection. The hand found the brush wasn't enough so it grasped the elbow and forced him to a stop. "What do you mean don't look for – " Before he could utter another word, Hodge appeared from nowhere and bowed to them.

"Master Alexander, Mr. Carstairs and Mr. Bane are in the living room. Your presence is requested."

Ragnor took it as his chance to get out. Flexibly he went past the gap between the butler and the wall and he sent an order to the core operator: don't let Alec follow me. If Jem and the human Magnus are here, they must have information from Detective Herondale. Therefore he held Alec's hand over the railing and said, "Talk to them and you will know. Alec, be selfish."

With a smooth and rapid motion he withdrew; Alec reached out to grab him but he was too slow and was blocked by Hodge who took Ragnor's order very seriously. Alec shouted in desperation.

"Ragnor you get back here right now!" His shout could be heard miles away. Afraid to receive an order, Ragnor walked out to the garage in top speed and caught a glimpse of gray exiting the living room. He trusted Jem would dissuade Alec from going out in the open.

Two people were bickering in the hallway. Looked around the grand living room, he felt out of place. Magnus shifted uneasily in the sofa and when the shouts were getting louder, he locked glanced with Jem who mouthed Alec and Ragnor's names. "Ragnor you get back here right now!" The voice cracked at the end and Jem quickly left the living room, trying to see what happened. Magnus remained, patting Chairman Meow.

A small luggage was right next to his shin, two more near the opposite chair where the warmth of former occupant still there. His heart was beating fast inside his chest even the atmosphere outside was still bright and joyful. Not many knew of the attack in the black market; he was notified this morning at the farewell party for the closure of his fashion business. In the middle of the party, Jem called and ordered him to pack.

He did what Jem told him to: turning off all the robots, keeping his luggage light, taking out all the money in his bank account and additionally, he brought Chairman Meow with him. There was no way he left the cat behind.

Faces flashed in front of his eyes. Magnus thought of the smiles of Camille who decided to move away to another safer planet. All of his employees who had worked for him when he was in his peak and rock bottom. There was a chance that they would never met again.

Woolsey. The furs under his fingers was nothing like the blond curly hairs but the Colonel's face just came up like that. Strangely when he recalled the memories of them together, the first scene was the night Woolsey came back with bloods on his uniform, exhausted in both body and soul. Also there was a time they laughed at the silly logics of the soap opera, and the day Woolsey and him said goodbye. He wondered where he was now: was he fighting at the front ling, or was he dead already?

"Ragnor can manage himself." Jem said while two shadows moved into the living room and stopped his rambling mind. It had been some time since the last encounter of Magnus and Alec. Circles under his once shining blues and he couldn't be even paler, Magnus noted. Alec looked dismal and he acted like he could give two shits about the world. Further down, his lips were chapped; lines of dry blood stuck on those pink plump lips.

His mind again dug out the buried memory. He could see Alec biting his bottom lip trying not to scream too loud under him, while guiding his hand into the tented sweatpants. Chairman Meow purred lightly at his scratching and the small cat seemed like the hot erection that he had held and stroked reluctantly. Moans, desires and the scent of pre-cum –

When the astonishing blue eyes landed on him, the boney fingers in black leather gloves clenched into fists. Apparently Alec knew about him; his amber irises focused back to the present and he unconsciously licked his lip, got himself a glare.

Jem explained as he noticed the tension between them. "I hope you don't mind that I bring him here with me." He was hovering around the pale man whose eyes couldn't tear away from Magnus. Embarrassed, he tugged a smile to show he was friendly but Alec stood like a stone statue near the door, pupils stared right at him. Jem's hand raised and lowered. "Alec, there are urgent matters you need to know."

Magnus held Chairmen closer but the cat hissed at the tightness, ran away and scooted to hide behind the legs of Alec. He could not be more humiliated by then. However, Alec was too distracted to acknowledge the small cat laid between his feet.

"What can be more important than they? Ragnor said he couldn't talk with Aline and Magnus. Something has terrible gone wrong; I know it." He threw himself at the wall as if his knees couldn't support his weight. He spoke of Magnus's name like he wasn't in the room, and indeed that Magnus wasn't.

Chairman Meow dodged the messy steps and again leaned into the denim jeans Alec was wearing.

During the small plan of theirs, Magnus got to know about this mysterious man Jem and Will had been talking about. When he first saw Alec, he was pure angelic and innocent-looking. There was not a better word to describe him.

The more he knew about him, the more he wanted to destroy his collection Misfortune and Torment which Magnus made years back then that had his name appeared in every fashion magazine, for how it suited Alec perfectly and how he was exploiting an ordeal.

Every piece was plain white, painted with variety of red and dark purple in forms of splashes of water, sewed in black threads. Now that he thought about it, it was like bloods on them. Alec was a plain paper stained by irremovable inks left by evils.

To Alec's stubbornness, Jem had unlimited patience. "You have to think about yourself and your sister first. There is a war – "

"They are my family too." Alec retorted, his brows frowned at the comment. Magnus doubted he could listen in anything after Jem had unintentionally implied humans were prior than robots. In reality though, probably it was only Alec who thought the idea of it was nonsense. Jem quickly understood his subtle meaning and apologized. "I don't mean that, please forgive me."

Suddenly changed the topic, the taller man didn't say if he cared about the mistake Jem had made. "Ragnor told me to talk to you. What did you say? A war?"

"Unfortunately yes." Jem was hesitated to speak. "It is the Institute that murdered Luke and Simon in the black market. Will is picking up his work and we think it would be the best if we team up. That's why we are here."

"… Luke?" Alec froze, dumbstruck.

Magnus watched tears running the edges of those eyes that haunted him at nights. Messily Alec rubbed his face and an unnoticeable trail was smudged. "No one – tells me." He cleaned his strangling throat a few times before he could speak in a fluent sentence. "The, the Institute?"

Jem nodded. Alec was shaking like leaves in winds. While none of them was willing to move, Magnus stood up and indicated the empty chairs and sofa spots. "You two should sit down."

The hands that rubbed together jolted as Magnus spoke. Alec tilted his head to him as if he didn't know Magnus was there. Quickly stole a glance over the glittery human, the blue-eyed Lightwood shuffled to the nearest sofa. Jem and Magnus stayed for a safe distance, did not wish to make the mundane unnerving.

"Is it about the war with the Transformed? The Institute is on their side?"

Getting a stern nod from Jem, Alec exhaled and squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He was wrapping around himself like he was cold; and he was trembling, breaths fastened and came out short. It was an unsettling and unpleasant topic for Alec, he could imagine. Magnus couldn't help but comfort the man who had his favorite combination. "He isn't going to get you."

It sounded unconvincing, and Alec did suspect his credibility. "He is going to get us." Said Alec as he tried to stop his quivering. "What does he want?"

"The Institute dreams of a world leads by Aristos, those cliché." Answered Magnus. Deliberately he left out the ideology believed by the organization that Mundanes were the lowest rank among them, even Transformed were better than duds like Mundanes – of which were ordinary and incompetent. If the Institute did take over the place, a foreseeable genocide was threatening every lives that had Mundane blood. Magnus didn't want to scare Alec even more.

Jem observed them quietly, mainly Alec who looked at the carpet like there was a hole he could hide in at any moment. He curled slightly towards himself, hoping to be in invisible. However, no one would ever overlook Alec when they were in the same room. The younger man had the attractive aura surrounding him that was beyond his appearance; it was something about his inside, the kind heart that everyone wanted a piece of taste.

Magnus was only told the linkage of the Institute and Alec in brief details yet he could tell how hard Alec's life had been affected by the history. Past shaped a person but the changes weren't always good.

"We will be here with you." Jem leaned forward, showing his care. A ring of his phone interrupted the silence. Alec was again startled by the noise and gripped on the sofa.

Even Chairman Meow could sense his nervousness – the poor cat couldn't jumped onto the sofa for his short legs, so he attempted to catch Alec's attention by bouncing up and down, mewing softly over the whispers of Jem. After a few shots, his cat eyes finally met with the blues. Without a second thought, Alec scooped him up by his belly gently and hugged the feline close like a pillow. Normally Chairman would protest, because he was the master in Magnus's house and the tanned man was merely his servant. Yet he compliantly let Alec hug him and purred. It was something Magnus would never picture with theunruly cat which he had lived with for years.

He was always this sentimental to those small gestures. Chairman seemed to calm Alec down. It was adorable that a small cat being held by giant hands, but all Magnus saw was a broken man seeking the last remaining warmth the world could provide him. It was anything but nice.

Magnus prayed. Stay pure. Be pure in this chaotic mad world.

Will sighed when he closed all the tabs on the screen. The tablet was about to run out of power as it was tossed on the table. Jonathan shot him a gaze. "Hold your temper."

Gritted his teeth, he had no idea how Jonathan could stay sane after the event in the black market. Jordan was dead, his colleagues were dead, and Luke and Simon were dead. Like the latter men, they were all dosed some new nasty drugs. It was too late when they were found in the back of a shop. Residents in the black market were all attacked by their own robots and added to the number of casualty. Basically everyone lived in there was murdered. The news spread over the office and everyone was mourning. The Clave had compressed the media with its power, which Will thought was the stupidest thing those old men had ever done. Not that they had done anything useful anyway.

"I told you it was him." Will said, and was terrified when a vengeful thrill burnt his veins as Jonathan looked away in shame. "You didn't listen; you thought I was picking on him."

"Fine!" Jonathan slammed his desk in despair. The neon green words on the panel shook as they scrolled across. "You must be happy to prove me wrong. Sometimes I even think you are born to torture me." With a rapid motion his tie was loosened and some buttons popped due to his force.

Pointed with his chin, Will answered in a cocky manner. "Take my Branding away then we are even."

Jonathan immediately sat straight and the brows were frowning deep enough to nip an ant to its death with the wrinkles formed above the nose bridge. "You are serious." He said in sheer disbelief.

The blue-eyed detective confirmed. "Dead serious. My lover is his psychiatrist, the serial killer I've been working on is Sebastian who has traumatized him, who has killed his best friend Simon and his rescuer Luke – "

"What is your point?" The blond Commissioner huffed.

Will leaned back into the chair opposite Jonathan. "I can't escape from him. For two years don't you think that I haven't tried? I have nightmares; I watch Alexander dies in front of me, every night a different way. The Branding doesn't help. It is fate; I am connected to Alexander, our lives are linked. Do you understand?"

His hands grasped the handles, knuckles turned white as those visions came back again. A good night of sleep was a luxury after the kidnapping for Will. He would watch Sebastian cut the boy that resembled his appearance and let him bleed to death, or he would force Will to hold the knife which was still dripping the blood of previous victims. He was on pills for two whole years. And he had had enough.

"The black market attack is sufficient." Jonathan mumbled. Will's eyes instantly brightened and the excitement made him leap from his seat. "Well?"

"I'll call the Clave. You on the other hand leave for the hospital now. The Clave has approved to the curfew that everyone has to stay indoor from nine p.m. to seven a.m. the next day."

Will grinned, feeling the rare euphoria running through his whole body. "Thank you, Jon." The blond middle-aged man returned a small smile and shouted after Will's loping form. "Be back before the curfew – there are work to be done."

"Yes, sir."

Smirking, Will sprinted to his car. As he was scampering in vigor, he dialed Jem's number. The news of removing the Branding without doubt would lighten up the low mood. The other end was picked up within a ring and he relaxed upon the voice of his love.

Tessa woke up to a voice coaxing like a lover. "Rise and shine, beautiful."

It was definitely a male. She groaned at the pain lingering on the back of her head; she was hit from behind by her own keeper. No one could control her robots other than herself… or hackers. She thought of her boss telling her Jem had been attacked by a hacked bot. They had returned, her as the target this time instead of Jem. Tessa recoiled when two pairs of hands caught her arms and pulled her up in a kneeling position.

"Don't be afraid," The voice whispered but it was authoritative. "I'm not going to hurt you unless you give me a reason to." Despite of the promise she was given, Tessa on the contrary felt more anxious. The blindfold was taken away and her gray eyes adopted quickly. They were in a room full of decommissioned military robots in disarray. She recognized the serial number on their naked shoulder blades.

Old versions that were replaced by a newly developed one. They should be destroyed right after they were out of the collection center…

"Theresa Gray."

The man standing in front of her was a blond. He was in black, a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt and a pair of fitting jeans, his boots tapped on the tile with anticipation. The coloring was wrong somehow. It didn't match the man at all. A handsome guy, crafty bad boy type and truly he let out the sense of danger which Tessa wasn't quite fond of.

She looked around but found no door. The strong hands prevented her from looking over her shoulders and she guessed the exit must be there.

"What do you want?" She gathered up her courage and asked. The blond man smirked. "I've learnt great things about you, Tessa. A leading designer in a major robot production company and the creator of a special kind of robot. Am I right?"

Tessa did not answer because it was evident that the man didn't really expect her to. He continued while his gray eyes darted around, acting like the place fascinated him. "You have talents and I want you to join our course, willing or not. But it would be nice if you be kind this once?"

The way he said her name turned her guts upside down. She ventured with a shake of her head, strands of hairs curtained her doubtful judging glance. "I don't know you, why would I?"

"Because," He started and a noise of door sliding echoed in the space. There was some muffled shouting. She tilted her head to see a golden-haired man with gold-like irises was thrown on the floor robustly. Sweats hung along his jaw and soaked the thin clothing like it was pouring rain. Mouth gagged, his hands were tied up at the back and he was bleeding. A circle tightly wrapped around his left ankle.

With a closer look, the inner was decorated with spikes – they were embedded into the flesh and partially took away his ability to move. Tessa gasped. "You monster!"

"Because," He picked up his unfinished sentence and kicked at the side of the poor young man who yelped and fell over. "You either help me modify the robots, or he bears the consequences. It's up to you."

Tessa studied the man's expression and she knew that he meant business. The whimpers went weaker and she could not tolerate the sight of a man suffer because of her. The man snickered and kicked the golden man one more time; said man couldn't avoid the boots crashing his ribs. They all heard a loud crack: Tessa jumped. She would punch him right in the face if it wasn't for the two stout men holding her down.

"I will do it." Tessa submitted. She agreed to modify, but it didn't necessarily to the way he wanted. Approvingly the man nodded and allowed her to stand up. He gestured the whole room and the young man was panting in agony, curling into a ball. "You better hurry up. His life is in your hand – I would only give him the cure when you finish the very last one."

Her gray eyes grew wild. "You drugged him?"

The man yanked the hairs of gold and forced her to look at the twisted face. "Tick tock."

Tick tock.

A/N:

Recently my job is stressing and wearing me out, I don't really have the energy to write after work and I only have a dayoff per week. I am not giving up this story, just that the weekly update might not be happening in these two months. Sorry! But good news: Jace is alive. For now:)

No Alec's POV in this chapter but I am quite into writing how Alec is in the eye of others. Tell me how you feel about this?

A review is highly appreciated and I hope you all have a good day!