The week went by quickly for Alec. He was making more and more friends, and even found himself getting closer to Jace. While he was still so emotionally cut off most of the time, Alec knew his friend was warming up to him. Alec recognized the second he met him that Jace had some kind of hold on him… It was strange, but Alec felt like he'd known Jace forever.

However, some of the other Asher boys weren't quite so welcoming. Most of them avoided Alec, with the exception of Craig, Matt, and Justin, who were slightly obligated to hang out with him because they were best friends with Jace. Alec was kind of put off by this, since he didn't understand their hesitance, but tried not to think about it. It just made him feel insecure.

He'd also, however unintentionally, became closer to Ben. He knew the Asher guys hated him, but to Alec, he seemed perfectly nice. Even if he wasn't as interesting or captivating as Jace.

Despite his ease with fitting in at Raziel, Alec had gone to bed on Friday with a sick feeling of premonition in his stomach. He couldn't figure out why or how, but he knew something was going to happen that night. Maybe it was the wind whipping against the building. Or maybe it was the way Jace smiled sympathetically at him before he went to sleep.

Needless to say, Alec was only half surprised when, at midnight, he was pulled violently out of his bed, a gag shoved in his mouth and a bag pulled over his head.

X.X.X.X

Soon, Alec was entirely aware of his surroundings. Quickly, he thanked the Angel for his heightened senses.

He was in a car, possibly a limo, surrounded by six or seven people. He guessed men, by the strong scent of cologne in the air. However, his kidnappers were entirely silent, giving him no clues as to their age. Still, it did make Alec almost certain they were Nephilim.

After a few minutes, Alec felt a shirt being pulled over him, and he struggled against his bindings. They somehow grew tighter, and he groaned, feeling even hotter. He knew he had to be sweating like a pig, since it was his nervous habit, and he could taste the blood that was a result of him biting his lip. Soon, he felt pants being pulled on him as well, and this time he didn't struggle. He guessed he could do worse than kidnappers giving him clothes. But what would happen when they arrived to their destination? Would they rape him? Kill him? Starve him? Torture him?

Horrible scenarios rolled around in his brain until the car came to a stop. There was a shuffling of feet and the sound of a door opening. He knew some had gotten out of the car, and counted the sound. One, two, three, four, five, six… So there had to be one or two people in the car with him still. The door shut, and he felt the bag being pulled off his head. Alec's eyes stayed squeezed shut for a moment before he opened them, finding himself looking at a grinning Jace. Alec felt a strong surge of relief, then anger. His eyes narrowed.

"I told them you'd probably be less mad if you had something nice to look at," he explained, and Alec wanted to scream at him. Jace noticed this and frowned. "Or maybe I was wrong. That'd be a first." Alec's heart was beating double time as he glanced down at his bindings. Jace's eyes brightened, though there was an emotion in them that Alec didn't recognize.

"Right, sorry," Jace apologized, taking out a knife and slashing at the ropes. "I told them not to, I really did. Some guys can't handle the initiation. Matt beat Justin with a bat when we did it to him." Jace grinned, remembering. After a moment, he looked at Alec, impressed. "You put up a good fight. If it had only been three of us, like it usually is, you probably would have gotten away. I'm proud of you."

Jace removed the gag from Alec's mouth, and Alec coughed, still glaring at Jace. "That doesn't make up for this. You're an asshole! I almost had a heart attack!"

Jace smiled apologetically. "Sorry," he repeated, "but the guys wouldn't treat you the same if you didn't go through initiation. They all had to, and you really wouldn't be an Asher boy if you didn't, too."

Alec sighed, but he knew Jace was right. He'd been wondering why the boys hadn't been welcoming… Well, now he knew. "Fine. Where are we?"

Jace grinned. "Now that you've been nice and scared, we're going to make it up to you. Come on."

Alec raised his eyebrows but followed Jace out of the limo to what looked like an abandoned building. That is, until Jace nodded to a guy who was smoking outside. He opened the door, and suddenly, dance music filled Alec's ears. Jace looked back and grinned, beckoning him inside. Alec followed hesitantly.

The place was huge, and packed with people. However, Alec could barely see their faces on account of the strobe lights. The music (upbeat, kind of sounded like Ke$ha) was way too loud, just the way teenagers liked it, and all he could smell was smoke and alcohol. He looked at Jace, who was still grinning. Well, he couldn't be sure it was Jace. He couldn't see anything in this crazy lighting. But he guess that was the point.

"Welcome to Avalon, Lightwood. It's time to party."

Jace ran to the center of the dance floor and began to dance with random people. Alec watched, amused, but feeling kind of awkward. Clubs weren't really his scene, and he'd never tasted a drop of alcohol before. However, Jace noticed this, and was determined to see Alec let loose. He walked to a server, grabbed a drink, and brought it over to Alec.

"Drink it," he ordered. When Alec hesitated, Jace added, "It's part of initiation."

After another moment of hesitation, Alec gulped it down. His head swam, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the crowd, to forget about everything and everyone. Except for Jace.

"Come on." His confidence at an all-time high, he grabbed Jace's hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. They began to dance, and it was like nothing Alec had ever felt before. It was like, suddenly, time was a arguable concept; he could have been dancing for hours and he wouldn't know it. All he was aware of was his body pressed against Jace's as they danced. Maybe it wasn't Jace. Maybe they just smelled like Jace. Either way, for the first time in his life, Alec became shameless. He became free.

And, the next morning, he would hardly remember that cheeky-looking faerie he saw holding a tray of drinks the same color as the one Jace had given him.