Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instrument series. Everything recognisable belongs to Cassandra Clare.

Warning: May contain emotional and disturbing scenes. (I put up the warnings because the story is T-rated, if anyone is wondering)

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.
I know you want Clace! trust me, it will come. You just have to be patient, and I think we will all be satisfied with the outcome.
I don't want to rush anything, remember it's only chapter 17.

Enjoy.

He yanked out of his dream-filled sleep. The first thing he noticed was the taste of blood in his mouth. The metallic taste filled his mouth and he gagged. The smell came second. Making him sick. It was a rotten smell. The smell was moist and tight.

Iwan spat, his blood dripping from his lips.

He opened his eyes slowly, it hurt like crazy.

His hands were tied together with something. Flex-cuffs or robes, he couldn't make out exactly what. He was too weak from dehydration and the pain made him sick to his stomach.

Iwan looked around. It was dark, but he could make out an antique, claw-footed sofa with a matching coffee table. Two swords crossed over a large unlit fireplace and paintings hanged all over the walls. It was a fashionable carpet lying across the floor, but it didn't reach where Iwan was sitting.

After glancing around the room he saw Max. He was seated on the opposite side of the room, his hands too bound tightly to an uncomfortable wooden chair.

"Max." Iwan whispered. He didn't dare speak louder.

"Max."

Nothing. The dark-haired boy didn't move. His face looked pale and he had blood running down from his temple.

'God, please don't be dead.' Iwan inhaled deeply, a sharp pain followed and he groaned.

He tried to sit up straighter, but the cuffed hands burned as soon as he moved. Iwan breathed sharp breaths, trying to keep the dead smell out.

He heard someone talk behind a closed door and bent forward in his chair. He could see a blond person's head through the glass-door.

The person opened the door and walked in.

"Ahh, I see you've awoken little Shadowhunter." the delicate voice echoed through the room. The woman walked towards him with steady steps. She was definitely a vampire. Beautiful in a way, she was tall and pale, with silver-blond hair and dangerous red lips.

Iwan didn't answer her. He watched her as she moved gracefully in front of him. She bent down on his level and smiled a breath-taking smile, her fangs poking slightly out of the corners of her mouth.

"I see. You're not much of a talker, are you?" she asked.

Iwan opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was too dry and only a raspy whisper escaped. "No."

The girl began laughing. "It's okay, we'll find ways to make you talk." she reassured him in a false friendly tone.

Iwan leaned against the back of the chair and breathed heavily. He glanced over at Max, who still hadn't shown any sign of life.

"Your friend is alive." said the vampire loudly, "Weak, but alive."

"What have you done to him?" Iwan's raspy voice called out a bit louder.

She only smiled at him before she moved quickly away from him and over to Max. "Nothing." she replied.

"He had quite a rough fall out there. You should've known better than attacking the Children of the Night, lousy Nephilim." she spat angry. It was something about her voice that made the hair in the back of Iwan's neck raise. She wasn't just angry. She was hurt.

It didn't take long for Iwan to find out he was right.

"You killed one of ours tonight young Shadowhunter." she spoke clearly and held a stern tone.

"Adam. You killed him, like your kind killed hundreds of ours." she explained.

"I could kill you back. In fact that's what I want to do. And I will do it, just not yet." The blond girl smiled slyly.

"You see, you killed one of ours, we kill one of yours." she walked over to Max and pressed one sharp fingernail against the thick vein in his neck.

"No." Iwan whispered hoarsely. "No, not him! Please!" Iwan began to panic as he saw fresh, crimson blood trickle from under her nail.

"It's a little too late to beg now little Shadowhunter." she pressed her finger deeper into his artery. The blood ran slowly don't his neck and Iwan could swear he heard a whimper escape Max's lips. Iwan closed his eyes in utter fury.

She began dragging her finger a few millimetres down making a cut in his skin. She smiled and licked her lips at the sight of the red blood.

"STOP!" He screamed loudly, his throat burned, but the sight of Max and the woman was killing him.

She let go and turned to Iwan again. "Ah, I said I would find a way to make you speak." she laughed and walked out of the room with soundless steps. Iwan saw her lick her finger as she walked out and again he felt like throwing up. He probably would've if there was anything in his stomach.

xxxx

"Was that really necessary?" Lily asked the blond haired girl in an irritated voice.

"Of course, how will we gain respect if we don't show them who are the leaders?" Camille replied dryly, walking down the corridor of Hotel Dumort.

"Respect? I think you just gained a lot of fear and anger." Lily replied sarcastically.

Camille looked at the blue-haired girl and raised an eyebrow at her, "What's the difference Lily?" she laughed cuttingly and continued walking.

Lily ignored her question and looked up at her leader. "What are you going to do with them?" she asked curiously.

"Kill them. Or I think I will give Grace and Cliff the honour, Cliff seemed very bloodthirsty when they brought them here, don't you agree?" Camille said in a chilling voice.

"Yes Camille, but why keep them tied up and tortured if you're only going to kill them in the end?" asked Lily.

"Isn't it obvious?" Camille asked displeased. "Revenge." she finished before Lily could reply.

"Revenge? What are you talking about?" Lily asked with a confused tone.

"God Lily." Camille exclaimed, not even flinching at the use of the holy name. "Enough with the questions. Just make sure they don't get away." commanded Camille annoyed.

Lily nodded and walked back towards the room where the two Shadowhunters were held captive.

xxxx

Iwan felt his heavy eyelids begin to close, but he pressed his hands against the flex-cuffs keeping his hands together. He couldn't fall asleep. Max hadn't woken up yet, and if the vampire came back, Iwan had to make sure he could at least speak with her.

He had begun to feel the sharp stinging in his head where he had fallen against the hard asphalt. It thumped like rapid heartbeats in his head and he had to fight the urge to just fall asleep.

A few minutes passed by without much happening. He wished the room had a clock; he really hated not being able to tell if it was night or day.

Iwan looked over at the sleeping form of his best friend. Max's black hair stuck to his forehead like it was glued there. He was covered in sweat and looked really ill.

Suddenly Max's eyelids flickered quickly. He moaned in agony and suddenly his bloodshot eyes opened and he gasped for air.

"Max!" Iwan whispered to his friend. "Max, thank god." he cried as he saw the confused expression on his friend's face.

"Wh-" Max began but was cut off by the soreness in his throat. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Where are we?" He whispered scared.

"I think we're in Hotel Dumort." Iwan explained. The shocked expression on Max's face left Iwan with a guilty feeling.

If it hadn't been for Iwan's stupidity and foolhardiness they would never have been looking for the vampires in the first place. He shouldn't have suggested they went looking for those vampires. It was stupid and not at all how a Shadowhunter should act.

"Max." Iwan whispered after a moment of silence.

Max didn't reply, but Iwan knew he had heard him, because he always crooked his head to the side when he pretended not the hear people.

"Max, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Iwan said quietly.

Max didn't reply. He didn't as much as look in Iwan's direction.

"I know you probably hate me, by the angel, even I hate me. And I know that even if I apologise it won't matter, and I don't even think I deserve to be forgiven, but I am so sorry." Iwan pleaded and looked down, unable to look at his bloodied friend.

Max still didn't answer. He kept his hard gaze at a painting to Iwan's left and breathed heavily, from time to time he let out small half-coughs, clearing his throat from dust and blood.

xxxx

Lily looked up at the younger vampire. His brown hair curled wildly on the top of his head and he looked like a childish version of James Dean. He wore a black leather jacket and dark boots.

"I don't understand, why would she keep them here?" Simon asked confused.

"That's what I don't get either." Lily replied while looking around to make sure nobody heard them.

She stood outside the prisoners' door looking at them through the small window. "She said something about revenge, but I don't know what she meant." Lily explained and bit her lower lip in irritation.

"Camille is one of those who think the accords are broken." Simon said, it was not a statement, merely a suggestion.

"Yeah, it could be what she meant. But I don't know." Lily replied looking sceptical.

"Are we just going to let her kill them?" Simon asked the blue-haired girl.

"I don't know, they are on our territory. The accords don't count anymore." Lily answered unsure.

"Cliff and Steve brought them here, they didn't come freely." Simon argued with her and looked in the direction of the Shadowhunters.

"I know, but Camille won't care about that." Lily snapped at him. "Do what you want to do Simon Lewis. I don't care. Go tell your little Nephilim friends, but you should know that if you do, the clan won't be happy." Lily whispered and pointed her index finger at his chest, where his heart no longer beat.

"Okey." Simon whispered back carefully. His voice was raspy when he spoke and he turned his head to watch the two boys tied tightly to chairs. They looked tired and hurt, and Simon could smell the blood from where he was standing.

He heard Lily sigh loudly before she turned on her high heels and stumped away from him, leaving him alone with the two young Shadowhunters.

xxxx

Iwan breathed heavily, he could hear his own blood pump in his veins.

The door opened and a vampire dressed in a pretty flowery top and dark jeans walked inside.

"I see you are both awake. I love when they are awake, it makes it so much more fun." she said excitedly.

She walked over to the two Shadowhunters with a shiny smile on her lips, her sharp fangs showing. She looked at Iwan and said eagerly, "I can smell your blood for here little Nephilim, and what wouldn't I do to get a taste, sadly, I've been ordered to only drink from the smaller one." she sighed and walked over to Max.

He sat with his head bowed and eyes shut.

"Why?" Iwan asked her angry.

"I don't know little Nephilim, I thought you might have had the answer for that." she told him and ran her fingers through Max's hair. She grabbed a piece of the black hair in his neck and yanked his head up.

Iwan could see he was tired, he hunched into the back of his chair, unconsciously trying to get as far away from the vampire as possible. The vampire realized this and a thin, toothless smile crossed her lips.

"You don't need to be afraid little boy, I won't kill you yet, we've been instructed to just weaken you. At least for now." she laughed when she heard Iwan yell angry at her.

"Why him? Why not me?"

"Shut up." another, darker voice rang from the end of the room. A vampire dressed in black clothes walked in, he was tall and roughly built and looked around nineteen or twenty years old.

"No." the girl answered him. Her voice was silky and low. She let go of Max and began walking over to Iwan. "I'd like to hear what he has to say, he is our guest after all."

She raised an eyebrow at him and Iwan saw the man walk closer to the chair Iwan sat in as well.

"Please continue."

Iwan swallowed angry. He shook his head back and forth and tried to look away from her bright green eyes.

"No? Nothing to say? Well, feel free to pipe up if something else cross your mind little Shadowhunter. Just know that every time you open your mouth without being told to do so, your little friend over here will know exactly how angry I can get." the girl finished and walked towards the man.

"Now, Cliff, will you do the honour and show our little friends not to snap at us?" she laughed and brushed her hand over the vampire's shoulder.

"With pleasure Grace." he answered and walked over to Max, who cried out as the vampire rested one hand on his face.

"No! Use me, don't him! Drink from me!" Iwan shouted panicked.

"Ah-ah-ah. What did I say about speaking without me giving you orders?" Grace asked irritated, "Cliff." she said it loudly and the vampire brought his mouth down to Max's neck. Iwan closed his eyes; he didn't want to watch as they drank his friend's blood. He could hear Max emit a tired whimper as the teeth sank into his neck. Then it went quiet.

Iwan didn't dare say anything; he was too scared for Max's life to go against the vampires again.

After a little while the vampire backed away and Iwan opened his eyes. "There, that wasn't too bad was it?" Grace asked and petted Iwan's head mockingly.

Iwan didn't answer.

"I'll give you two a little time alone before we come back and repeat. And we'll see if we need you yet or not." she spoke directly to Iwan.

The man licked his blood stained lips with a grin and followed the girl out of the door.

xxxx

"Max!" Iwan whispered scared, "Are you okay?" he knew it was a stupid question; of course his best friend wasn't okay. How could he be?

"Yeah." Max answered, but he didn't look at Iwan. He hadn't looked at Iwan since he had woken up.

"Max, I'm so sorry. If there was anything I could do I-" Max cut him off, he looked straight at him with anger-filled eyes. "But there isn't anything you can do Iwan! You can't save the day, because you aren't any better than me and there isn't anything we can do!" Max seemed tired, but his voice was strong.

"I know. I didn't mean I was better than you. I just.. I just meant I wish I didn't force you to come with me." Iwan replied.

"Me too." Max answered angry.

"Did it hurt?" Iwan asked after a few minutes of long silence.

"Did what hurt?" Max snapped back.

"The bite? Did it hurt?" Iwan asked again and looked at his raven-haired friend. He had blood seeping from the bite wound in his neck and looked even paler than usual.

Max looked at Iwan for a long time before answering, "No. It didn't hurt."

Iwan just nodded carefully and looked away from his friend's bloody neck. "I'm so sorry." he whispered again.

xxxx

Grace had walked in two more times in the past two hours, and both times she had been the one feeding on Max. Iwan didn't know why they didn't just kill both of them straight away, they didn't ask for information nor did they seem to have a motive.

Max was no longer conscious, he had lost too much blood and Iwan didn't think he would be able to survive another feeding.

Iwan closed his eyes tiredly, he was so tired, he hadn't slept, drunken or eaten anything since they had been captured and he would do anything for something to drink.

He could feel his lips were dried, and blood trickled from small cuts in his lips down his chin.

Iwan wondered if anyone at the Institute had noticed they were gone, he didn't think they had, it was probably late at night and everyone at the Institute was sleeping.

"Iwan." He heard Max whisper hoarsely. He had apparently regained consciousness.

"Yeah." He replied.

"I'm sorry." he said a little bit louder.

"What?" Iwan asked confused, why was he sorry, he hadn't done anything wrong.

"I'm sorry I let you go, I should've stopped you. I came along; it's not all your fault." Max told him tiredly.

"Yes it is. If I hadn't tried to be like Jace and gone after them you wouldn't be half dead now, if I had only listened to you instead of being an idiot we wouldn't be here. It is all my fault." Iwan replied with a broken expression on his face.

"Maybe it is." Max said quietly and connected his grey-blue eyes with Iwan's brilliant blue.

"What?" Iwan asked a bit hurt.

"Maybe it is your fault." Max replied, "Maybe it's all your fault and I should probably hate you, but I don't." the corners of Max's lips curved upwards in an awkward tug.

"I could never hate you. You're my best friend and I know you're reckless, irresponsible and at times you're really stupid," "I get it, I'm an idiot, what's your point?" Iwan interrupted with a small pained smile on his lips.

"My point is that I haven't started hating you for all those things yet, so I'm not going to start now." Max answered his best friend and breathed slowly.

Iwan studied him closely, he looked so weak, his blue eyes had lost most of its colour, his hair was sweat-stained and his clothes ripped. He had a steam of red blood running down from his neck to his collar bone.

"Thanks." Iwan replied after a while, but Max seemed to have fallen back into unconsciousness.

xxxx

The door opened with a loud bang and Camille walked in. The boys were sleeping now and she flicked the blond Herondale boy on the cheek.

"Wake up beautiful." She said loudly as she saw him react.

He tried to speak, but he was so hoarse his voice couldn't bear the dry throat and died before the sound escaped his mouth.

"I think we're ready. Don't you agree little Nephilim?" Camille said happy.

The blond boy cleared his throat and inhaled deeply, "Ready for what?" he asked tired.

"The grand finale little Shadowhunter." Camille replied.

Camille went over to Max and again his head was bent to the side. His wound open for view. Max woke up, but because of all the blood he'd lost he didn't resist.

She bit his neck slowly and Max let out another cry, he seemed to understand he wouldn't survive more and Iwan screamed curses at the blond vampire. He didn't care his throat was on fire, he didn't care he had no more strength left, all he cared about was his best friend and that he was about to die a horrible death right in front of Iwan's eyes.

He scream, a pained scream full of power, but the vampire didn't care.

She yanked the young boy back and turned to face the blond Shadowhunter.

"Shut up. God." Iwan was surprised by how easily she said the name 'God' and he wondered how old this vampire was. He went silent as she backed away from Max. He sat with his head bent forward and his whole body shook violently.

"Shut up." Camille repeated.

"Why don't you just kill both of us?" Iwan pressed through his chapped lips.

"Because, I don't operate like that." she replied, and for a second her eyed flared up with hatred.

"I told you before young Shadowhunter. You killed one of ours, we kill one of yours."

Iwan inhaled and spoke hoarsely, "But Shadowhunters have been killing vampires for centuries, what makes this one so different?"

"EVERYTHING!" Camille yelled. The sudden change in behaviour made Iwan flinch back in his chair.

"Everything makes this different. You see, you didn't just kill some random vampire last night. You killed my brother! And if you think for one second I will let you get away with that, you are even more stupid than I thought you were." Camille said angry.

"Your brother?" Iwan replied confused.

"Not blood related of course." Camille regained her calmness. "But he's been by my side for over a century." True hurt could be detected in the vampire's words as she spoke, then she turned around to face Max.

"That's why I am not killing you young Herondale, because that would be too quick and easy. No, killing your brother, that is the perfect punishment. Knowing it will be your fault that he is dead." she smiled a wicked smile and rubbed Iwan's cheek roughly. "Knowing you could not save him. That will be the greatest punishment for you young Herondale, it always was."

Iwan didn't ask her what she meant, and she took one last glance at the dying boy in the chair before she smiled, "Who would've thought it would be a Lightwood." she laughed and stumped out of the room.

Iwan breathed heavy, he forced himself not to cry. He couldn't. It wasn't him who was almost dead, it was Max.

Max's eyes were half shut and he looked on the verge of passing out. In his semiconscious state he looked up at Iwan smiling a smile that failed to be reassuring.

"I know it doesn't matter anymore.."Iwan began, he wasn't sure if Max could hear him or not anymore, "But I wanted you to be my parabatai, I always thought you would be. The vampire is right, you're like my brother." He finished.

Max didn't answer his head leaned forward and his body seemed limp. Iwan didn't want to look at his friend, he didn't want to see if he was still breathing or not. He feared the latter.

That was until he heard the silent sound of air leaving Max's lips, "I would've said yes."

So, that's the end of another chapter.

I know there is no Clary nor Jace in this chapter either, but I think the three next chapters will make up for that. So if you leave a review I will update soon and give you some action.