I know I just posted chapter 4 like yesterday but due to popular demand, I spent the day making this! Please enjoy!

Jace could feel Alec's resolve crumbling. He could feel his pain, though it wasn't so much physical as it was emotional, and it was getting stronger. Something was happening to Izzy or Max, that was the only explanation. They had to get back to the Institute, fast.

"Jace, you're crying."

He wiped his face at Clary's words. "He still won't let me track him," he said. "But I can feel it getting worse. We have to go back, Clary."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Don't you understand? He's my parabatai and something's wrong. I should be there for him."

"But Jace, think about this. There's a reason he won't let you track him. If he did, he could be leading us into a trap."

"It doesn't matter. Look, you can come or stay, I really don't care. But I need to go. If you would be so kind, I need a portal back to the Institute."

Clary looked hesitant but nodded anyway, bringing her stele up to create the portal. Jace was about to go through before turning back to her.

"Are you coming?"

She answered by stepping through the portal with him.

Izzy found Magnus's phone in Alec's room when she went in search of something that belonged to her brother. Luckily, he didn't keep it locked, to Izzy's surprise.

After she got the item belonging to Alec (his toothbrush), she left the building, not wanting to be there around her mother. She scrolled through Magnus's contacts until she found what she was looking for. She dialed the number.

She picked up on the third ring.

"Magnus, you'd better be calling about that two hundred you owe me."

"Catarina? Catarina Loss?"

There was silence. "Who is this?"

"My name is Isabelle Lightwood. I'm a friend of Magnus."

"Ah, Lightwood. You wouldn't happen to be his boyfriend's sister, would you?"

"That's me."

"Why are you calling me? And from Magnus's phone? Don't you have your own?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but this is an emergency. Alec and Magnus have been taken by Valentine. I have reason to believe that your friend is being tortured as we speak."

Catarina let out a long breath and was silent.

"Are you there, Catarina?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm here. I'm sorry, it's just… Magnus..."

"I know. But you can help me find and save them."

"I'll do anything."

"I need you to help me track Alec. If we find him, we find Magnus. Warlock tracking is the strongest, right?"

"Yes. I will help you. Where are you? I'll come to you and portal us to mine."

"I'm just outside the Institute."

Within seconds, there was a glowing portal spiraling in front of Isabelle, and Catarina stepped through.

"Come with me," she said and held out a hand. Isabelle took it and stepped through to Catarina's lovely apartment. It was clean and organized and smelled like a mixture of cinnamon and vanilla.

"How do you know it was Valentine who took them?" Catarina asked.

"Because he took me too… but then he let me go."

"Why would he do that?"

"He made Alec choose between me and Magnus. I'm sorry, Catarina. I tried to get him to let Magnus go, but he didn't listen to me. If I had tried harder, maybe Magnus wouldn't be in this situation."

Catarina grabbed her shoulder and squeezed comfortingly. "Then you would be suffering in his place. Do not apologize for your brother's decision. You are the most important to him. He was right to pick you to go free."

Izzy showed a small smile at Catarina's gesture to make her feel better. "Let's just bring them home," she said.

"Right. I will need something of Alec's."

"Here," she pulled out the toothbrush and handed it to the Warlock.

"Perfect." Catarina grasped it and closed her eyes, trying to focus. Isabelle was becoming impatient when she finally took in a breath and opened her eyes.

"I have good news and bad news. The good news is, I know where they are. The bad news it, I cannot portal you to the exact location because I have never been there. But I can get you close."

"Where are they?"

"In a run down house just outside Denver."

"You can portal me to Denver, then?"

"Yes."

"Great, let's go."
"Isabelle Lightwood, I am not about to portal us into Valentine's hands without backup. Let us go back to the Institute to get help."

"No. My mother made it perfectly clear that she want's nothing to do with this. She doesn't even believe me."

"Then we'll get help from others. Your brother needs you, Isabelle. Help him."

She couldn't argue with that.

"Okay. Let's go save our friends."

"Magnus, please, talk to me. I'm here for you, you don't have to suffer alone."

But Magnus wasn't listening. He just sat there, naked, on the ground, hunched over in defeat. Alec could only imagine what kind of pain he was in.

It was a good two hours before Patrick came back. Alec's arms were killing him from being held above his head for so long and he was becoming very tired. He wondered how long they had been trapped there. It felt like forever.

Patrick waltzed into the room carrying a bucket that seemed to be full of water. Alec was about to ask what it was before Patrick lifted it over Magnus's still form (he didn't seem to even realize the man had entered the room) and poured it over him.

Magnus arched back and screamed as the water hit the lashes on his back.

Alec pulled at his chains. His wrists had started bleeding long ago from doing so.

"What was that?" he demanded. "What did you do to him?"
"Salt water," Patrick smiled.

"I'm going to kill you," Alec growled. Patrick didn't seem to realize it was a promise.

Patrick laughed as he walked closer to Alec. "Are you? How do you plan on doing that?"

Patrick was close enough, so Alec went for it. His legs weren't chained or bound to anything, which was a mistake because Alec took it as a opportunity to kick Patrick right between the legs.

Patrick nearly fell to his knees but managed to stay upright as he groaned in pain. Good. He deserved that and more. And Alec couldn't wait for the day he got to deliver.

Alec was surprised when Patrick chuckled. "You know," he said, "I was going to give you another chance to talk, but now I'm just gonna move on to the fin part. But first…"

Patrick punched him once. Twice. Three times. Four. Alec felt the blood drip from his nose and knew he would have a black eye but he was still happy he got that kick in and that at least Patrick was focused on him rather than Magnus for once.

But that didn't last very long, because Patrick went right up to Magnus when he was done with Alec and forced him onto his back, wounds meeting the cold floor, and Magnus whimpered in pain. He straddled Magnus's hips and kept him steady.

Patrick pulled out a box cutter and brought it to Magnus's chest.

All Alec knew was that Patrick was about to hurt his boyfriend again, and he didn't think he or Magnus could take any more of that.

It was time. They both had enough.

"Stop!" Alec shouted. "I'll tell you everything, I'll let Jace track me, just stop hurting him!"

Magnus caught Alec's eye and he saw the relief there. Alec knew he was doing the right thing. If Jace and Clary came, they would have to handle Valentine themselves. Alec couldn't do this to Magnus anymore.

"Ah," Patrick said. "Good. But, you'll have to forgive me for this. You did kick me, after all. Ask yourself, was it worth it?"

Patrick turned back to Magnus and dragged the cutter across his chest, writing something Alec couldn't make out.

"No!" he called. "I said I would help you, stop hurting him!"

"You were a little too late, Lightwood."

Magnus tried to thrash and throw Patrick off of him, but Patrick was much bigger and Magnus was in his weakened state.

He carved letter after letter until he was finally satisfied enough that he stood up to admire his work Alec could see what was written now.

PROPERTY OF V.M.

The letters oozed blood, and Alec knew it would scar. He supposed that was the point, that it was meant for them to remember this. Magnus just laid on the ground, exhausted and in so much pain. He did this to him. Alec did this to him, and he knew he would never forgive himself.

Alec opened up. He let everything he was feeling out, channeling it with the bond he had with Jace, sending every emotion he felt, the heartache, the pain, the guilt. He sent it all, and knew that Jace would come.

Maryse jumped when the portal opened up in front of her and Jace and Clary stepped through. Her first reaction was to be angry.

"What are you doing here? You two should be in hiding. Under the order of the Clave-"

"I don't care about the Clave," said Jace. "Where is Alec? And Izzy and Max?'

Maryse sighed. "Alec is with Magnus. Max is in his room, and Izzy left the Institute not long ago."

Jace was confused. If everyone was safe, why was he feeling the way he did?

"Izzy and Max are fine?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't they be?"

"Maryse," Clary stepped in, "Jace's parabatai bond with Alec is telling us something is wrong with him. Do you know exactly where Alec is?"

Maryse looked between the two of them as though she still didn't understand why they were there. "Last I heard from Alec, he said he was at Magnus's place. He sent me the message himself. I don't see why you are so worried."

"Something's wrong," Jace said. "I can feel-" but he didn't get to finish that thought as he let out a loud groan and sank to the floor in pain. Not his pain, but Alec's.

"Jace," Clary was saying. "Jace, what's wrong?" Even Maryse was looking concerned.

"I can feel him. His anguish, his hurt. If Izzy and Max are okay…."

"There's something wrong with Magnus."

They all looked up at who spoke. It was Izzy, standing in the doorway with Catarina Loss.

It wasn't Izzy or Max, and Jace felt so stupid. Of course it was Magnus, how could he forget how important the Warlock was to his parabatai?

"I told you, mother. I wasn't lying. The three of us were taken by Circle members. Alec and Magnus are both suffering while we sit here and do nothing."

"So let's do something!" Clary said. "Izzy, you were there?"

She nodded.

"Can you help us find our way back to them?"

"I'm already ahead of you. Meet Catarina Loss, Warlock and Magnus's friend. She tracked Alec to just outside of Denver."

"She's right," Jace said. "It's so clear to me now. I can feel Alec, he wants us to know where they are. Alec isn't in much physical pain, but Magnus… we better get there before it's too late."