Alec and Magnus arrived at the scene where Jace was waiting for them. He was talking to some Shadowhunters about the plan. He saw his brother walking towards him in the corner of his eye so he turned around.
''Already here, that's fast.'' said Jace.
''One of the benefits of traveling with a Warlock.''
''About that. Why is Magnus here exactly.'' said Jace now turning to Magnus. ''No offense of course.''
''Non taken.'' said Magnus with a forced smile.
''He offered me, us, to help out.''
''That's generous. We owe you one Magnus.''
''You guys already gave me what I wanted.'' said Magnus while looking at Alec. ''So what's the plan here? Of what use could I be?''
'' Let me oversimplify the plan. We surrounded the entire area. Me and Clary are going in to distract Rastor. Alec you need to sneak in and get behind Rastor. You need to get a good aim and shoot him down. Preferably not dead, so you know, we can extract some information from him. However, there is just one obstacle... or more you have to watch out for.''
''What obstacle?'' asked Alec.
Before Jace could answer Magnus already did. ''Wards.''
''Exactly. We have reason to believe that Rastor placed wards and other traps in case things take a bad turn. With Magnus this could be less of a problem. I hope.''
''I can detect wards better than Shadowhunters but it will still be dangerous. We need to be careful Alexander.'' Magnus had a worrying look on his face. This night already was a lot to take in and now this. He now had to keep an eye out for his precious Shadowhunter also knowing Alec would be doing the same for him.
''Alexander?'' asked Jace. But before any of them could reply he continued. ''It doesn't matter. Let's catch this piece of (a) garbage.''
''Get everybody in position and let's do this.'' said Alec. Jace joined the other Shadowhunters and ordered them to get in position.
The abandoned warehouse looked highly suspicious. Most windows were broken. The paint on the walls was fading and some appeared to have blood on them. Chills went down Magnus's spine. It certainly won't be a pleasant visit.
''Of course an abandoned warehouse is his hiding place. I thought people only did this in movies?'' Magnus remarked.
''More than you think, especially demons. Most mundanes avoid places like these.'' Alec looked around to see if someone was watching them. So far it seemed like a remote place where nobody was or wanted to be. The blood suggested otherwise of course. Alec walked to the entrance when Magnus told him to wait.
''What is it Magnus?''
''Step aside.'' ordered Magnus. He moved his arms around ready to cast a spell. It revealed some kind of barrier, most likely placed by Rastor to keep intruders from entering.
''Just like I thought. He has placed barriers around the building. Touch it and it will burn your skin away.''
''I'm glad I brought you with me. Imagine if-'' Alec couldn't even finish that sentence.
Magnus put his finger on Alec's lips. ''-don't even start Alexander. Now if you would follow me.'' gesturing at Alec to follow him inside. Once inside there was nothing out of the ordinary. It was mostly empty aside from some old crates and other junk. Built in the middle of the open space there was an old elevator, which was nothing more than a metal box with a rope system attached to it. Magnus walked towards the elevator to see if there was anything inside it.
''On what level was Rastor hiding again?'' he asked in the laziest tone.
''The fifth. And we are not using that, unless you have a death wish.''
''Of course not, it looks like it won't work anyway. Besides, we would probably plummet to our deaths halfway the ride.'' said Magnus sarcastic.
The walked around the elevator shaft. Once around forth corner became visible and appeared to have a broken -in -doorway next to it. Magnus broke down the barrier and they walked silently up the stairs to the second floor where the stairs abruptly ended. Just like the room prior, the first floor was also mostly empty aside from a gruesome detail. A body lay next to the elevator shaft.
''I guess we aren't the only ones here.'' said Magnus.
''Another victim of Rastor.'' said Alec with anger in his voice. Magnus walked to the body to see what it was. Alec stood behind Magnus and examined the body from a distance. Something wasn't right about this.
''It looks like a mundane.'' said Magnus. He saw something in his pocket, a phone. He grabbed it but the battery was dead. This raised other questions. '' I got his phone but the battery is empty, that's strange.''
''Why? Phone batteries die all the time. I thought you new this Magnus.'' said Alec teasingly.
''I'm serious. If the phone is dead that means that the body has been laying here for at least a couple of days... but the body has not even started to decompose yet, no smell, nothing. Suddenly the dots connected in Alec's head. This was no ordinary dead man. If Rastor killed him he would have his energy sucked out. This body looked nothing like the ones they encountered before. It was a trap! The realization hit and Alec rushed to Magnus and he pulled him back, right at that moment the eyes of the body sprung wide open. A demonic glare looked at them. A claw swung towards Magnus face. The tip of the nail scratching his face. They fell down. Now facing a demon.
''Are you okay?'' asked Alec.
''I'm good, its just a scratch.''
The demon rushed towards them. Magnus shot his magic at the demon but it was futile.
''The demon is magic resistant, shoot it down Alexander!'' Alec reached for his bow and arrows but the demon was to quick. He grabbed Alec and threw him across the room. Alec grunted in pain. Magnus tried to distract the demon so he kept using his magic which did noting but slow the demon down. He grabbed Magnus by his throat, raising him into the air. Magnus tried to free himself from the demon's grasp but he was not strong enough. His breathes became slower and shorter. He felt tears well up in his face. Things started to get blurry. He felt like he was floating to the sky. Alec became fully conscious again. He couldn't believe his eyes. A flame burned inside him. He saw a man he cared deeply about being chocked to death by a demon. He reached for his bow and arrow. The arrow flew trough the room and pierced the demon. He released Magnus who was now coughing on the floor to inhale air again. It still wasn't dead. Both Alec and the demon were facing each other. The creature of hell charged with great speed towards Alec again. But he was ready for round two. He shot his second arrow right in the middle of the demon's eye. Finally it dissolved into thin air. Magnus walked to Alec hugging him.
''Are you alright?'' asked Magnus.
''I'm fine, you?'' he asked with a worried face.
''Thanks to you.''
''We both saved each other.'' they smiled and hugged again.
''Now let's end this for everybody's sake, i'm done with Rastor.'' said Alec.
Rastor stood in front Clary and Jace. He knew something was up, his wards had been disabled. Alec and Magnus finally reached the floor of Rastor and got into position.
''It's over Rastor! We have surrounded the perimeter. You have nowhere to go!'' shouted Jace.
'' I see you brought a new companion.'' pointing at Clary.
'' You are a Downworlder to them too, they don't like you.'' said Clary.
Rastor laughed. ''My sweet naive child, there is so much you don't know. If were smart you would join out side!''
'' I would rather die than join you!'' said Clary.
Alec got into position. Magnus walked past Alec and got to another side of Rastor. Now he was surrounded on this floor as well. Rastor stared smirking.
''you Shadowhunters really think I was this oblivious.'' Rastor used his magic and lifted Clary into the air. His magic was suffocating her. Alec and Magnus now left the shadow from which they were hiding. Magnus was ready to cast one of his spells and Alec had his bow and arrow ready to shoot.
''Ah, there is the rest. I was wondering when you joined the conversation.''
''It's over Rastor! Let her go!'' Yelled Jace.
Rastor started laughing again. He was enjoying himself. He expected such an attempt and was and knew how to trigger their buttons. He slowly walked towards the elevator, still with Clary in his grasp, who was still finding a way to breathe. All eyes were on Clary and they didn't notice that Rastor quickly casted the same spell on Magnus. Once again Magnus was losing his breath, still recovering from his last battle. Rastor now ignored Jace who was helpless and turned to Alec when he arrived in the elevator.
''You have to choose young Shadowhunter. Who is it gonna be!'' he laughed. Alec now had to choose between Magnus and Clary. Who is he gonna safe. What option is left. From that point on everything felt as if it was played in slow-motion. Alec looked at Clary. He saw the fear in her eyes. His eyes then switched to Magnus who looked with trust and hopefulness at him. Trust yourself. He thought to himself. He stretched his bow and arrow to the maximum amount. What he was about to do next was going to be regretted. He aimed his arrow at Magnus, who looked back at him in absolute shock and shot his arrow.