Hello, everyone! This is the big moment!...And by big, I mean monstrous. And by monstrous I mean a whopping 26 pages long on Word. I am very sorry for the length. I HOPE I wrapped everything up. I probably missed a couple things, but hey, I'm only human. So anyway, thank you for making loyal returns to this story and keeping it alive. Thank you also for supporting me, especially when I needed it the most. You are all magnificent. I won't keep you much long because there's A LOT to read. Love you all! Happy reading!
Alec
"Come on, Alexander."
I struggled against the hands holding me down. Two, belonging to the younger man, were pinning my wrists to the floor. The older man had one hand on my hip, gripping me in place as he thrust into me. His other hand was wrapped around my genitals, pumping. Though I willed myself to resist, willed my mind to restrain my body, I could shamefully feel my growing arousal. He was holding himself back this time, using a slow rhythm to reduce the pain and lure my body toward orgasm. Degradingly, the manipulation was working. The falsified pleasure was building. I turned my head away and closed my eyes, sobbing quietly. I bit down on my lip, refusing to make a sound as my body climaxed. The man came shortly after, stiffening and releasing inside me. They let me go and I curled onto my side, naked and humiliated.
"You never fail to please me, Alexander," the older man whispered. I felt his fingers trail from my shoulder down to the small of my back. The gesture was gentle, almost sensual, and I flinched away from him.
"My turn?" the younger man asked.
"Have fun," was the response.
Rough hands pushed me onto my stomach. My hips were yanked upward and my wrists were brought around to be twisted behind my back. I cringed as my already bloody skin was pinched and wrenched some more. Even though I braced myself, the sudden onslaught of pain as he slammed into me was indescribable and unforgiving. I cried out, which only encouraged him. He began thrusting, pushing my chest to the floor or lifting my hips when I moved out of position.
I endured the raw, relentless pain, but I did not know how much longer I could take. These men had a hunger that was insatiable and an energy that was unwavering, and Magnus had not yet come to save me.
Magnus
Minutes passed like hours. Minutes where I couldn't move, couldn't rip my eyes from the massacre on the couch or the sickening vandalism on the wall. They had Alec. They killed Church and they took Alec. I knew I should call for backup and start searching the city, but I was frozen in shock and guilt. Because I had let this happen. I'd promised Alec I would protect him, and I'd failed. I did not know where he was, but I knew he was suffering.
You have to find him, I told myself.
But where to start looking? The criminals had jumped between states undetected. Hell, they'd even kidnapped all their victims a second time without attracting attention to themselves.
Until now.
The phone in my hand grew heavier. I lifted it and stared at the screen. The recording had stopped playing while I'd let the phone drop to my side. A heaviness sat in my chest as I contemplated the criticalness of this piece of evidence. The last hope I had of finding Alec alive literally fit in the palm of my hand. With a shaky breath, I pressed the play button and held the phone to my ear.
At first I heard nothing, but when I strained my ears I picked up faint thumps in the background. Footsteps? They steadily grew louder, approaching.
Then, a voice, one I did not recognize, "You sure he's here?"
It was quiet for a moment until a different voice answered, "Positive."
My blood chilled. I couldn't be positive, but that voice. . . I shook my head. I had to be mistaken. It couldn't be. . .
More footsteps, louder now, and then, "Alexander, where are you?"
Shoes against the floor, unmistakeable now, thumped in the phone's speaker. There were a couple quiet, confusing noises before a screech filled my ear, startling me. Hissing followed quickly.
Church.
Next I heard Alec's voice: "No!" Audible banging and thumping indicated a struggle. I visualized Alec being dragged out from under the bed and brought my hand to my mouth to stifle my ragged breaths so I could continue to listen.
"My, my, Alexander. You've become quite the fighter."
My hand trembled, distorting the sound. I crossed the border of uncertainty and entered denial. I knew that voice, but the man it belonged to was alien to me. The man I knew would never hurt a child, or even another human being for that matter.
The younger strange voice: "Where's that cat of yours, Alexander? We need to have a little chat."
Alec again: "No! Leave him alone!"
A growl resounded in my ear. I recognized it. Ragnor had made that same noise the first (and last) time we had had sex. "Bossy and a fighter. I can't wait to have some fun with you, Alexander."
"Don't touch me!" Alec shouted, which was followed by wrestling and whimpering.
"I've missed you," the familiar voice went on. I fought the urge to double over and vomit. "Bottle."
I stiffened, fearing the bottle was referring to lubricant and I was about to hear Alec being sexually assaulted. But next I heard more scuffling and choking noises, mixed in with the splatter of liquid on the floor.
The familiar voice: "Kill the cat."
Alec: "No! Leave him alone! Please! I'll do what you want!"
"Drink the water and your kitty lives." More gagging and coughing. "That's my boy. God, Alexander. . ."
My fingers tightened around the phone. I seethed as I pictured filthy hands groping Alec's body. A yowl and paws scurrying across the floor snapped me out of my fury, but the familiar voice interrupted before I could think much of it. "I'll take him out to the car. Come on, Alexander. Let's take you home."
"What do you want me to do?" the unfamiliar voice asked.
"Leave a nice message for our friend Magnus."
A shiver crawled up my spine as a sing-song voice called out. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty." A door banged open and shut. There was nothing but silence for a while before a cat's hissing and spitting rang in my ears. A man's voice grunted and swore several times over. Suddenly Church howled, screaming his pain into my ear. But just as quickly as it had started, the howling stopped, cut off by a stomach-turning choking noise. More footsteps. Next there was a rhythmic thudding and sliding that I guessed to be the man's fingers writing on the wall. Finally, the man spat, "Enjoy the mess, fucker," and walked out of the house, closing the door behind him. I waited patiently for anything more, but there was only a large gap of silence before the recording was cut short.
My initial reaction was to lower myself to the floor, curl into a ball, and pray that this was all a nightmare. But there was no time for guilt. Or self-pity. Or fright. Instead, I pocketed my phone and stormed down the hall to my bedroom. There I found my gun and tucked it into the back of my jeans. From there I bolted out to my car, threw the vehicle into reverse, and tore off down the road. I didn't have much to go on, but I had a location to start my search: One of the men had said he was going to take Alec home. Currently I was speeding toward the house the three boys had been found. It was a rookie mistake, an offender returning to an area where he or she had committed earlier crimes. But the two abductors were smart; they'd kept their identities hidden for over fifteen years. Wasn't it plausible to think the abductors knew we would not expect them to make such a mistake? It was a long shot, but I was stumbling blind in the dark. Even the tiniest flicker of light was a flicker of hope. I had no choice but to follow it.
Like the rest of the houses on the block, the home of interest was dark and still. Parking in front of the property, I approached the house with my hand resting on my gun. The crime scene tape had been removed long ago, but there was still postage alerting passersby that the property had been foreclosed and seized. Unfazed, I tried the door. It was locked, but after a little aggressive persuasion, it allowed me to pass through.
I stepped silently and cautiously through the house, flicking on lights as I went. What little furniture there had been in each room had been removed, stockpiled and tested for traces of evidence. Even the basement had been cleared of the ragged mattress, towers of duct tape, and bottles of lubricant. It seemed more haunting empty, as if the ghosts of the boys and inanimate objects remained. I realized they did; those ghosts haunted my memories.
My search continued up to the room where I'd found Alec, but there was no trace of anyone setting foot in the house recently. Frustrated, I kicked at one of the walls. My forehead made a loud thunk as I let it fall against the wall's surface.
What was I supposed to do now? I suspected the abductors hadn't spent too much time in one place in the months after the boys had been rescued, definitely not following the murders of Jordan and Simon. That meant they could have established a number of safe houses.
Unless. . .
I turned abruptly and began making my way back to the car, not bothering with turning off the lights. My last guess had been a long shot, but this one spanned farther than a million football fields. The odds weren't just against me, they were sticking up their noses and pointing and laughing at me. But there was the slightest possibility that the voice in the recording hadn't been talking about his home. He was talking about Alec's home, the unsold, practically abandoned, mansion on the outskirts of the city. No neighbors were near enough to notice any suspicious activity, and, even more disturbingly, the house was within a distance that the abductors could quickly make without having to pull over to sate their urges.
The car's engine thundered under the hood as I slammed my foot on the gas pedal. I could shave fifteen minutes off the half hour drive if I drove fast enough. If I pushed my luck further, I could make the drive in ten.
Luck, indeed, was on my side and I managed to make the trip in record time. I parked the car on the side of the road without turning into the long driveway. The last thing I needed was to alert anyone of my presence with the tires crunching over the gravel. Of course, I wasn't entirely sure there was anyone to alert inside the house, but I wasn't going to take any chances. Pulling my gun, I raced up the driveway, keeping to the shadows. An unfamiliar car was parked out front. I slowed as I drew nearer to the building. A gush of adrenaline sent my heart into a flutter when an interior light blazed to life. Ducking low, I watched for any signs of movement, but there was only stillness inside.
My fingers were oddly steady as I reached into my pocket and withdrew my phone. I scrolled through my contacts until I found Luke's name. My eyes remained on the window as I made the call and pressed the phone to my ear.
"Hello?" Luke answered groggily.
"Luke, it's Magnus. Listen very carefully: I need you to get to the Lightwood house right now. Bring backup with you."
My partner's voice was now alert. "What's going on? Why are you whispering?"
"They have Alec, and they're inside the Lightwood house. I'm there now and I'm going inside."
"Magnus, don't you dare set foot inside the house. Wait until—"
Interrupting Luke, I whispered off the address and hung up, switching my phone to vibrate. In an awkward crouch-run, I made my way up to the front door. I held my breath as I reached out and tried the doorknob. It turned freely and silently. With one last inhale and exhale, I pushed the door open a fraction and peered inside. Upon seeing no one, I pushed the door open further and set one foot inside the house. My gun was steady in my hand as I craned my neck to peer behind the door. No one waited for me on the other side.
The foyer was huge, the design simple yet sophisticated. A living room opened off to my left, which was the source of light in the window. Someone had flicked on a nearby light switch. I wondered if someone from Wolf Reality had gone out of his or her way to decorate and furnish the place in order to attract buyers, or if these possessions had belonged to the Lightwoods and someone had made an attempt to polish and dust the tragedies of the household away.
A voice drew my attention to the hallway ahead of me. There were two staircases on the right; one led up and the other went down. The upstairs appeared to be dark, but I could see a faint light from the other set. Switching the safety off on my gun, I proceeded forward. My feet and the stairs were silent as I began my descent. Every so often I cast I glance over my shoulder, but no one followed. At the base of the stairs, I turned to my right. There, at the end of a small hallway, was a tall man with his back to me. He was muscular and broad-shouldered, with short blonde hair. The strands were slicked back but messy, as if he'd been running his hands through them frequently.
I took a step forward and called out, "Turn around slowly and put your hands behind your head."
The man tensed, his shoulders tightening. He turned slowly but did not raise his hands. There was no hint of surprise on his face, only a cocky grin. "Magnus Bane," he said calmly.
"Valen Morgenstern," I said, my lip curling.
Valen chuckled. "Surprised to see me?"
Silence hovered thickly between us. In truth, I was surprised to see him. Disappointed, even. I never suspected him. We'd worked together. He'd even shown up at the hospital when Alec had been admitted. Of course, that was a sickening thought now that I'd found him here. He was the crime cliché: The person you least suspect.
"I didn't expect you to find us so quickly," Valen went on.
"Shut up," I snapped. "Where's Alec?"
Valen clasped his hands behind his back and looked pointedly at the wall at the end of the hall, the one hidden from my sight. Guardedly, I moved forward. Valen remained in place as I approached, but I kept my gun trained on him anyway. Carefully, I stepped out of the hallway and into the open space of the basement.
Hidden behind the wall was Alec and a young man I did not recognize. His hair, though a lighter shade, resembled Valen's. His dark eyes, matching Valen's as well, were less warm and more empty, like a starless and moonless night sky. The stranger held Alec tightly, one hand over Alec's mouth while the other held a knife to Alec's throat.
I moved my eyes to meet Alec's. His were wide and pleading. The exhaustion from his sleepless nights still remained, but there was something underlying the pale and ill-looking skin. Terror? Humiliation? He was clad only in a pair of loose sweatpants, but I could see his knees shaking. There were marks and faint discolorations across his torso, but what I noticed most were the finger-shaped patterns of bruises on his wrists and hips.
I aimed my gun at the stranger. He moved, hiding more of himself behind Alec. He was slightly taller and more muscular than Alec, but I couldn't get a clear shot of him. I wouldn't put a bullet through Alec just to take the son of a bitch down.
"Magnus, why don't you give me the gun?" Through the corner of my eye I saw Valen extend his hand, palm upturned. "None of us want Alec to get hurt."
My gun remained trained on the kid holding Alec. The one visible dark eye narrowed and he shifted the knife against Alec's throat. Alec sucked in a pained, panicked breath through his nose, and a thin stream of blood snaked down the side of his neck. My focus wavered for a fraction of a second, but that was all Valen needed to reach forward and snatch the gun from my hands. He studied the weapon curiously before casting it aside. The gun made loud clunking noises as it bounced against the floor.
"That's better," Valen said. "Now we can all relax a little."
"Let Alec go and I'll give you a head start in getting away," I offered.
Valen grinned. "Magnus, have you forgotten that I'm an officer of the law, too? I know you wouldn't have set foot inside this house without calling for backup. It's too late to run now."
"Then you know it'll be better for you if you let Alec and I go, unharmed, and turn yourself in. Tell him—" I broke off as I turned to the nameless guy holding Alec, ransacking my brain for a name I did not know.
"I'm sorry! Where are my manners? Magnus, I'd like you to meet my son. Nathan, allow me to introduce Magnus Bane."
Nathan shifted to peer over Alec's shoulder. His lips stretched into a vile smirk. "So this is the infamous Magnus Bane."
"I've told Nathan so much about you," Valen raved.
"I didn't know you had a son," I said, my eyes locked with Nathan's.
"No one knew about little Jonathan Christopher. I worked very hard to keep him a secret."
"So you could rape him, too?"
Valen's lip twitched. "I would never do that to my own child. I'm not a monster."
I couldn't help it. I laughed. "You wouldn't dream of raping your own child, just someone else's."
"I showed nothing but love and affection towards those boys, especially Alec."
"You brutalized them! You kidnapped them, beat them, starved them, tortured them, and molested them. You're a monstrous son of a bitch."
Valen smiled again, aggravating my rage like poking a stick at a rattlesnake. "You sound just like Nathan's mother."
"Where is she?" I asked, stalling.
"She ran off after Nathan was born. That woman was a drug-addicted whore. She knew about my. . . temptations. . . but I gave her enough money to keep happiness in her veins for years. I told everyone at the precinct that she and the baby died. Tragic medical circumstances. No one missed her."
"So why keep your son a secret and not your wife?"
"I never cared about that woman. She was a convenience to keep up appearances," Valen grumbled. "But Nathan. . . I wanted to watch him grow. He had such a young and beautiful body. I wondered if I could shape him, make him into a mould of me. As fate would have it, there was not much shaping to be had. Nathan was born just like me. My urges were his urges, my impulses were his impulses. We shared a common interest, one we could bond over. But no one would understand our interests, and I was not going to subject my child to ridicule."
"Do you realize how twisted that sounds?" I questioned.
Valen looked pointedly at his son. "See, Nathan? No one understands."
Nathan nuzzled his cheek against Alec's hair. "I pity the narrow-minded."
I pushed down my anger and asked Nathan, "It was you who lured Alec from the grocery store?"
"He was predictably easy to sway. All little boys like police cars, what with the flashing lights and cool sirens."
I thought back to the pictures Alec had drawn, the ones filled with red and blue. I'd thought when he'd mentioned seeing the lights that he'd been remembering the flashing lights reflecting on the floor the night I had rescued him. But his face had been buried in my neck. The lights he'd been seeing were the ones that lured him into Valen's hands when Alec was four years old.
"Rather ingenious, isn't it?" Valen boasted. "Parents warn their children of strangers, but not even a child would think twice about trusting another child or a police officer."
"And police cars sure come in handy when trying to get past road blocks. Put the kid to sleep, put him in the trunk with me, and let dad cruise through traffic blockades and inspections without a second glance. We were invisible in the midst of dozens of eyes," Nathan added.
"Being a police officer does have its perks," Valen agreed. "I had access to the drugs I needed, and if they weren't locked up in evidence, I knew which thugs to contact to get some. It was a shame when little Simon slipped free of his gag and got the three of them rescued. Still, I always had access to the case files. I was aware of all updates and leads, I knew whose custody the boys were in after they were released from the hospital, I knew who the suspects were. I imagine the DNA you found was inconclusive, not matching any criminals or suspects?"
"But we were never looking for a criminal," I finished.
"No. You were looking for a wolf amongst the other wolves."
"It doesn't matter," I declared. "You're a hyena amongst the wolves now. You'll be exposed as a criminal. We have more than enough evidence to convict you, and you two will be incarcerated for life. I hope you know what inmates do to pedophiles in prison."
Valen cocked his head. "Convict us?"
"You messed up. The evidence you left at my house will be used against you. You won't get away."
To my shock, both Valen and Nathan began to laugh. Their guffaws went on and on, shaking me to the bone. I began to feel uneasy. Where the hell was Luke?
"Magnus Bane," Valen chuckled, theatrically wiping a tear from his eye, "I thought you were smarter than this."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded.
"Think about it," Valen pressed. "We went about undetected for fifteen years, more than fifteen years, actually, since none of you had any clue who was behind this. We were meticulous about remaining in the wind. There wasn't an eighth of a fingerprint that would lead you in our direction. You really think we would throw all our hard work away in a single night? I'm offended that you think we'd be that sloppy."
My mind circled his words so quickly it made me dizzy. "You left evidence on purpose. You wanted to be found."
Valen pointed his finger. "Bingo. The plan was to snatch Alec, come back here for a little fun, then turn out the lights."
"You were going to kill Alec, then kill yourselves," I clarified.
"You want to know the best part?" Nathan piped up. "Dad and I will never die."
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Valen spread his arms wide. "Nathan and I will live forever. The memories of Alexander Lightwood, Jordan Kyle, and Simon Lewis will fade as quickly as the color of the skin on their dead bodies. The names Valen and Nathan Morgenstern will carry through the centuries, because that's how it works, doesn't it? The victims are forgotten and the perpetrators are remembered. My name and my son's name will be used in case studies, in memoirs, in movies. We will live forever."
Alec was sobbing into Nathan's hand. Valen intended to kill him, but I wasn't going to let that happen. "I've heard enough," I snapped.
Valen nodded, as if he agreed with me. "Sadly, I'm afraid you will meet the same fate, Magnus. You will be forgotten."
"I have no intention of being mourned tonight."
Valen nodded at his son. Nathan pulled his hand from Alec's mouth and began wrestling him to the floor. Alec screamed my name. Distracted, I barely braced myself in time for Valen's hard body slamming into me. We grappled each other, both of us trying to get the upper hand. Valen and I were matched in technique for fighting off attackers, but his stature and frame gave him the advantage. He tried to twist my arm behind my back but I slipped free and managed to catch with chin with my elbow. His teeth made a clacking sound and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. Angry, he knocked my arms aside and wrapped his hand around my throat, lifting me from the ground. A well-aimed kick to his shin and a slam of my forearm against the inside of his elbow were all that saved me.
I had a few seconds for a respite as Valen hopped on his uninjured leg. The gun was several feet away. I knew the only way Alec and I were getting out alive was if I killed Valen and Nathan.
Kill them. Kill them. Kill them, my mind chanted.
I turned and dove for the gun.
Alec
Nathan was on top of me. Both of his hands were pushing down on my back, trapping me against the floor. His knees were pushing my thighs apart. He was grinding his hips against me, and I could feel him growing hard. I knew if Nathan raped me right now, Magnus would see and it would mortify him enough that Valen would have the opportunity to kill him. I couldn't let that happen.
I struggled against Nathan's weight. He shifted at first, caught off guard, but he quickly regained his balance and forced me against the floor. I thrashed, using my final reserves of strength. When I arched off the floor and managed to budge Nathan again, he laughed and drove his hips into my backside. I gasped at the feel of his growing erection. The harder I fought, the harder Nathan became. That was why he'd liked Jordan so much. Jordan was a fighter, an exciting challenge for Nathan to break.
A burst of anger exploded inside me like a firework. I rolled to the side. Nathan, not expecting the movement, teetered to the side with me. On my back, I threw out my fist and punched Nathan in the face. That made him livid. Just like his father did, he pushed both my wrists to the floor and shifted them into one of his hands. He then used his free hand to grab the waistband of my pants. I wrenched my hips away from his touch.
"I'm going to show you what fucking feels like," he growled at me.
I stretched my fingers and felt something hard. The knife. I twisted my wrists. Nathan lost his grip and I broke free, immediately reaching out to snatch the knife. It passed into my hand with surprising ease. Nathan stared down at me, genuinely surprised. But the fuming madness returned to his dark eyes. My reaction was instant and driven by fear. I swung my arm and plunged the knife into the side of his neck. I immediately pulled it out and a burst of blood splashed against my hand. But it didn't stop or slowly trickle out. It sprayed and spurted. I watched in horror as Nathan's eyes went wide, his face paled, and he fell onto his back. The knife fell from my hand as I squirmed out from under him and sat up. Nathan stared up at the ceiling, his body trembling. Blood continued to spray from his throat. He started to choke and blood gushed from his mouth, leaving startling red rivers against his too-white skin. And then, suddenly, Nathan went very still. His head lolled to the side and his eyes stared at the far wall. The floor darkened around him with his own blood.
I held up my hand and gaped at the blood staining my skin. Magnus was still fighting with Valen behind me, I could hear them. My instinct told me to help him, but my body would not move. I was too afraid. Afraid of the blood. Afraid of Nathan. Afraid of what I had just become.
Magnus
My hand was inches from the gun when I was suddenly yanked in the opposite direction. Valen clenched my ankle, dragging me toward him. As I tried to kick free, he stepped over my leg, straddling me at the knee. I felt him shift his hands to take hold of my heel and toes. The moment I realized what he was about to do was the same moment he gave a sharp twist. A loud snap echoed through the basement and pain shot from my toes all the way to my spine. I screamed in agony, writhing on the floor. Valen continued twisting my ankle until black dots swam in front of my eyes. Sweat broke out on my forehead. I clawed at the floor, frantic to get away. When Valen had had enough, he let my leg drop to the floor. The contact sent a tsunami of suffering crashing over me. I glanced over my shoulder. My clothed leg appeared normal, but I visualized the skin swiftly flooding with black and dark purple swelling. My shoe already felt constricting.
Valen's hand suddenly wrapped around my throat and he hauled me to my feet. Using the force of his entire body, he slammed me against the nearest wall. My head cracked against the hard surface and my vision flashed from white to black. Colors blurred and swirled in front of my eyes as Valen's hand released me. My useless leg crumpled beneath my weight and I collapsed to the floor. I knew I needed to move, but the floor was rolling, tilting this way and that, making me dizzy. My hands pressed against the floor, propping me up against the wall. Both my head and my leg pulsed with pain.
Valen's obscure figure appeared in my hazy vision as he crouched in front of me. He drifted in and out of focus, but I could clearly see the smile on his face.
"You want to know why I transferred to a different precinct, Magnus?" he asked. "It was because of you."
I felt a hand touch the knee of my uninjured leg. Valen's thumb traced lazy circles there before he started to slide his hand upward. My eyes searched the floor for the gun. The room was still spinning, making it difficult to judge just how far away the weapon was when I finally spotted it.
"You were older than the taste I was accustomed to, but your dark hair and light gold-green eyes reeled me in like a fish on a hook. There was something about you that was so pure and innocent, not like most boys your age. I wanted you, wanted your body. Every day was a battle; I could barely keep myself from touching you. It got worse every shift we spent together. I wanted to fuck you with or without your consent. I left to protect you."
I pushed my hand against his shoulder, weakly trying to push him away as he leaned closer. His fingers were meandering up my thigh, slowly drawing closer to my groin.
"As fate would have it," Valen whispered, "you came to me." He reached and began to unbuckle my belt.
Alec
At first I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of blood in my ears. It was a light clinking that cut through the thundering of my pulse like a flash of lightning. I'd heard that distinctive noise far too many times: A belt coming undone. Next to follow would be the hiss of a zipper.
I looked over my shoulder. Magnus was propped against the wall, Valen crouched in front of him. Valen was trying to undo Magnus's pants, but Magnus wasn't fighting back. Something was wrong with him. He was pushing against Valen's shoulder, but his eyes were weird. Unfocused. He was hurt, and Valen was going to hurt him even more.
No one will ever hurt Magnus again.
I scrambled to my feet and charged across the floor. I pounced on Valen's back, screaming and clawing and punching at every inch of his flesh I could reach. The man roared and lurched away from Magnus, swinging his body to try and dislodge me. I held on tightly, ducking away from his swinging arms and clutching his hair. My fingernails sliced through the skin on his face, mirroring the scratches Church had left on Nathan's face.
Unexpectedly, Valen dropped onto his back. His weight crushed the air from my lungs and I immediately let go of him. He rolled and hovered over me, his grotesque features twisted into a snarl of rage. He raised his fist, aiming it for my face, when something caught his eye. He turned and his rage melted to disbelief. I followed his gaze to his son's body.
"Nathan?" He leaned over, shaking the boy's foot.
I sucked in ragged breaths of air. Magnus was still slouched against the wall. Our eyes met briefly before Valen's cry of anguish drew my gaze away.
"You killed my son, you fucker!" he roared. The man forced my hands over my head and held them down. He raised his other hand and I caught the glint of the knife right before he plunged it into me. The breath I'd caught rushed back out of me. Valen heaved the knife out and stabbed me again, over and over. I could not feel the pain, only the pressure and jarring force of metal hitting bone and flesh. A metallic taste filled my mouth. The burst of energy I'd used to save Magnus dissipated. All I could do was count as Valen continued killing me.
Five. . . Six. . . Seven. . . Eight. . . Nine. . . Ten. . .
Magnus
Panic chased away the throbbing in my head and leg. Valen was stabbing Alec to death. Ignoring my light-headedness, I maneuvered onto my belly and began crawling toward the gun. The cold metal bit into my fingertips. I snatched it up and shifted into a sitting position. I swayed, unbalanced, as I lifted the gun. Fear pierced me, making me hesitate. My vision was compromised, which raised the odds of me accidentally shooting Alec.
You promised to protect him, my mind shouted.
I took aim again and, all of a sudden, miraculously, a spurt of adrenaline sharpened my vision to a clear, crisp image. I let out my breath and pulled the trigger. A deafening bang reverberated around us and Valen's head exploded, spewing blood like a volcano. The momentum of the bullet knocked him sideways off of Alec. Valen remained on the floor, unmoving.
I let the gun slip from my hands and began crawling toward Alec. His chest rose and fell faintly, but I could hear the gurgling of his lungs alongside the ringing in my ears. My eyes scanned him from head to foot. Even though he was on his back, the wounds in his torso were gushing blood.
"Magnus," Alec whispered shakily.
He reached for my hand and I took it, clenching his fingers tightly. I knew I had to apply pressure to the wounds before he bled out, but there were too many for my hands to cover. There was only one option.
"Alec, this might hurt a little," I said. Positioning myself carefully, I slowly lowered myself on top of him. My torso aligned with his and I let my full weight push down on him.
Alec cried out, begging me to get off. I squeezed his hand and cupped the side of his face, stroking my thumb over his cheek. His cries of pain quieted as I whispered reassuringly to him. He blinked drowsily. I rested my forehead against his, studying the slivers of assorted blues in his irises.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Alec whispered.
It should have been a relief to hear him say that, but the comment was actually more cause for concern. Alec was going into shock. I knew I was, too. The pain was barely noticeable and my body was cold and tired. All I wanted was to close my eyes.
"Magnus, I'm going to sleep," Alec murmured.
No, you have to stay awake! The words never left my mouth. I watched helplessly as he closed his eyes. My lips found his and pressed against their softness, but they did not push back. "I'm sorry," I said softly, right before my own eyes closed and everything went dark.
Alec
The nurse finished poking and prodding at my arm and I pretended to go back to sleep. She flicked off the room's light and the sound of her shoes disappeared down the hall. I opened my eyes and sat up. Pain flickered in different spots across my chest, but, ignoring the twinge, I slipped out of the covers and tip-toed to the door. Before I could make it two steps, something pulled against my hand, introducing a new pain. I looked down and saw the IV sticking out of me. Carefully and quietly, I removed the bag of fluid from the stand beside the bed and headed for the door.
There were no nurses in sight. Even the one sitting at the desk had vanished. Clutching the bag to my stomach, I padded into the hall and stealthily began searching nearby rooms for Magnus. Most of the rooms were dark, making my hunt tricky. But I found him. He was in a room by himself. His right foot was peeking out from under the covers. Propped up on a pillow, his ankle was encased in a weird, puffy, toe-less white sock. I touched the material gingerly and found rigidity instead of softness. Poor Magnus. It had to be uncomfortable.
I stepped around to the side of the bed and peered through the darkness at Magnus's face. His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes dark against his skin. Occasionally they fluttered, but he remained asleep. I'd asked to see him too many times to count, but no one would let me leave my room. I was supposed to stay in bed and rest, but I couldn't sleep, not until I knew Magnus was all right. He looked peaceful to me, not at all like the way he looked when he was having a nightmare. His brow was smooth and his lips were not pulled into a frown. In fact, I thought I could see the smallest hint of a smile.
Footsteps drew toward the door. I ducked down beside Magnus's bed and watched a nurse walk past, thankfully without glancing inside. The squeaking of her shoes grew distant and I straightened. Tentatively, I reached my fingers to touch Magnus's hair. The dark strands were soft. I ruffled them slightly, selfishly hoping to wake him up. But Magnus slept on, unaware of my presence.
Voices suddenly picked up outside the room. Someone mentioned my name and there was an urgent scurrying of sneakers. I lowered myself to my knees and wriggled my way into the small space under Magnus's bed. There was less room here than under the bed at Magnus's house, and the pressure of the floor made my chest sting. But I remained quiet and still, determined not to leave Magnus. The light to the room flicked on but no one entered. More and more feet rushed by, voices carrying in exaggerated whispers. After a few minutes, the hospital's overhead paging system turned on and a woman's voice announced a Code Yellow. I was not sure what that meant, but I guessed it had something to do with me.
After a few minutes, the pain from laying on the floor began to escalate. I slid out from under the bed and sat on the floor, breathing away the ache. As I calmed myself, a man entered the room. He leaned over and spotted me on the floor.
"I've got him," he called over his shoulder.
I pushed myself to my feet and backed away as the man approached. He was burly, dressed in a navy blue uniform. A radio hung from his belt and white letters were stitched on his left chest pocket.
Se-cur-it-y, I read mentally.
The man reached his hand to me. "Alexander? I need you to come with me, please."
I flinched away from him. "Don't call me that."
He dauntingly took another step forward. "You can't be in here. I'm going to take you back to your room."
I grabbed the railing of Magnus's bed with my free hand. "No, no. Please, I want to stay here."
"You need to go back to your room."
Another man squeezed his way past the nurse in the doorway and approached me. He wore the same uniform as the other nurses. His eyes were warm as he advanced with his hands up, but I knew he was going to grab me. I cringed as his hand wrapped gently around my arm and gave a slight tug. My hand clamped tighter around Magnus's bedrail.
"Let go, Alec," the male nurse said softly. "I'll take you back to your room."
I wrenched away. "Please stop touching me."
"I'm not going to hurt you—"
"You're trying to take me away!" I shouted, and everyone in the room flinched.
"Calm down, Alec."
"Get away from me!"
The nurse grabbed my arm again, less gently this time. My IV bag dropped to the floor as I tried to fight him off. He tried to get his arms around me and I struggled harder, twisting in his grip. The security man stepped forward to help. I swung at both of them, screaming and shouting.
"Everyone stop! Get your hands off my patient!"
Everyone froze, including me. A woman shoved into the room, her long white coat billowing behind her. I instantly recognized the bright blue eyes and blonde hair knotted at the back of her head. Catarina Loss strode into the room and pulled the security guard and nurse away from me. She stood at my side and gave me a thorough once-over before rounding on the other staff.
"I don't ever want to see you manhandling my patient again. You probably ripped open his stitches, if you didn't cause any other internal damage," she reprimanded.
The male nurse started to object, "But he was—"
Dr. Loss raised her hand, cutting him off. "I don't want to hear it. Get out of my sight before I send you home." The others filed out of the room, leaving me, Catarina, and Magnus behind. When we were alone, she turned to me and asked, "Are you all right?"
"Please don't take me away," I whispered. "I just want to be with Magnus."
Dr. Loss nodded and touched my shoulder. "I'll see about getting another bed wheeled in. Stay here. I'll be right back."
Catarina took care of everything, just like she'd promised. Even though the room was small, I was permitted to sleep in a bed beside Magnus's. New nurses came in to check on me, none of them the ones who had seen my outburst. I had accidentally ripped open several of my stitches, but Catarina did not yell at me. She fixed my injuries and checked me for any internal damage. Finding nothing, she tucked me comfortably into bed and replaced the bag of fluids on the stand next to me.
"Thank you," I said politely. She was Magnus's friend after all. I didn't want her upset or angry with me, because that would make Magnus unhappy.
"You're welcome." She smiled. "Get some rest. I'll be back to check on you in a little while."
I was about to protest but my eyelids suddenly felt very heavy. My mouth stretched wide in a yawn. I wanted to stay awake in case Magnus woke up, but I now felt unexpectedly tired.
Maybe just a few minutes of sleep, I thought. Just a few. . .
Magnus
My stomach roiled. I felt my throat tighten, warning me what was about to come. My eyes flew open and I jackknifed into a sitting position. A basin found its way in front of me just in time to catch a puddle of my vomit. Gentle fingers rubbed my back as I heaved. When I finished and leaned back against the pillows, panting and sweating, my eyes glanced over and found Catarina. She took the basin into the private washroom, emptied the contents, and rinsed it out. She returned with a sympathetic smile and set the basin at the foot of the bed.
"Sorry you had to see that," I said, my voice groggy.
She patted my hand. "Don't be. I'm just glad to see you awake."
"Alec—"
Cat raised her finger to her lips. She flicked her head and I looked to the bed beside me. A familiar mop of black hair rested against the pillows. Alec slept soundly, a soft snore drifting from his parted lips. I relaxed into the pillows.
"You saved his life," Cat whispered, twining her fingers with mine.
I tried to remember what had happened and vaguely recalled the final moments in Alec's basement. Scarlet filled my memories, spreading like the blood that had been on the floor. There had been so much blood. . . I'd lain on top of Alec. . .
"Is he okay?" I asked.
"Miraculously, there were no severe injuries to his internal organs. His ribs are scratched up and he has a lot of stitches, but, physically, he'll make a full recovery." Cat pulled a small flashlight from the pocket of her lab coat and gently lifted each of my eyelids, waving the light in front of my eyes. Satisfied, she pocketed the flashlight and seated herself in the hair beside me. "You lucked out, too, mister. You suffered a rather serious concussion and your ankle required surgery for realignment. Crutches and a cast are going to be your friends for the next seven weeks. You'll require some physiotherapy after that. It's going to be a long, arduous recovery, but it could have been a lot worse."
I swallowed. "Was there. . . brain damage?"
Cat squeezed my hand. "Your scans came back negative for brain damage. You might have a little amnesia, but your memories will return. The dizziness, nausea, and vomiting should also fade."
My eyes found my casted foot at the end of the bed. I wiggled my toes and sighed. It was going to be much harder to take care of Alec when I was stuck in a cast.
Catarina released my hand and stood. "There's someone who wants to see you. I'll stop by later."
I watched her leave. As I squirmed for a more comfortable position, another figure walked into the room. I broke into a grin when I recognized Luke. Two helium balloons floated beside his head. He tip-toed over to Alec's bed a tied the bigger of the two, a giant yellow smiley face, to his bedrail. He gently mussed Alec's hair and whispered, "Hey there, kiddo." Next he turned to me. His eyes narrowed though his smile remained. He tied the small 'get well soon' balloon to my bedrail and sat down. His fingers interlaced over his belly as he slouched. "You get the smaller one because you're a dumbass and went into that house without any backup."
I laughed. "Fair enough."
"So how are you doing, kid?"
I shrugged. "I feel great."
"They're keeping you nice and doped up, huh?"
"It's fantastic," I drawled.
Luke chuckled, then sobered. "You're a real hero, you know?"
"I don't remember much."
"We found you in the basement. You covered Alec's body with your own and staunched the blood flow of his wounds. Alec would have died if you hadn't."
I shook my head. "It's strange, not being able to remember what happened yesterday."
Luke's brow quirked. "Yesterday?" Understanding softened his features and he smirked. "Dr. Loss didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"You've been out for three days. Sleeping like a baby. An overgrown, drugged up baby."
My eyes widened, but I was too mellowed out to feel much concern. "I guess there's a lot I need to catch up on, huh?"
Luke shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Magnus, there's something important I need to talk to you about."
My partner's tone put me on edge. I guessed I wasn't going to like what he was about to say. He never used my full name instead of calling me 'B' if it wasn't serious.
"We found Alec's brother," he said.
I misjudged Luke's tone. "He's not. . ."
"Oh, he's alive," Luke clarified hastily. "He's actually in the city, staying at one of the hotels."
The beeping on the monitor next to me quickened. I hadn't thought they'd ever be able to contact Jace Lightwood. He'd just disappeared, and I never imagined him making a reappearance. But now he was back in the picture, and surely he expected to return home with Alec.
"Dr. Loss said you'll probably be discharged tomorrow. You and Alec. I asked Jace to give Alec some time. He was very adamant on coming to hospital to see his brother, but I told him it was better to not spring everything on Alec at once. You and Alec can have the day together tomorrow, then Alec will have to meet with Jace and decide if he wants to stay or go with his brother."
I looked down at the blankets. "Thank you. For telling me. And for giving us an extra day together."
"I, uh," Luke cleared his throat, "cleaned up at your place."
More crimson memories flashed in my head. "Thank you."
Luke rose and patted my left knee. "I'll take off so you can rest. If you need anything, give me a call."
I nodded and offered a half-hearted wave as he left. If it hadn't been for the heavy lull of drugs in my veins, I wouldn't have slept at all.
"Magnus?"
The whisper beckoned to me in the darkness. My eyes peeled open. The overhead light had been turned off and night time shadows peered in through the window. I turned my head and saw Alec standing beside my bed. One hand was wrapped around the portable IV stand next to him, the other was clenched in the front of his gown.
"Alec? What are you doing out of bed?"
His smile was relieved. "I just needed to hear your voice."
I was about to send him back to his own bed when I remembered the limited time we had together. I inched over and patted the mattress beside me. "Come here."
Alec clenched his gown tighter and glanced at my casted ankle. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You'll never hurt me."
Wheeling his IV stand next to mine, Alec nimbly climbed over the bedrail and settled carefully beside me. I drew the blankets over his legs and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, hugging him against me. I reached across and touched the right side of his jawbone. He let me angle his face toward mine and sighed when I leaned over and kissed him. When I pulled away, he nestled his head against my shoulder and drifted to sleep. I stayed awake, cherishing every moment.
Catarina and another nurse wheeled Alec and I out to the curb in front of the hospital where a lemon yellow taxi was waiting for us. A pair of crutches were draped across the wheelchair's armrests. I glared at them sullenly. I could already feel the uncomfortable padding digging into my armpits. Alec got out of his chair first, holding our two helium balloons firmly. Catarina handed him the bag carrying our pain medications and rounded the chair to help me up. She held my arm steadily as I rose to one foot and hopped the few steps to the open taxi door. My friend hugged me before helping settle me into the backseat.
"Thank you," I said to her.
"I'll see you soon," she promised. She then gave Alec a hug and watched him circle the taxi to climb into the backseat next to me. The cabby closed our doors and climbed into the driver's seat. Catarina had already courteously given him my address and enough money to cover the fare and tip. We waved as he pulled away from the hospital and into traffic.
My pulse quickened when my house entered my view. The cabby pulled into the driveway and got out to open my door. I took his extended hand and got out. Crutches firmly under my arms, I hobbled up to the front door. My keys jangled in my trembling hand as I unlocked the knob. The faint scent of fresh paint puffed in front of my nose when I pushed the door open. Alec closed the door behind him when we stepped inside.
Luke's assurance about cleaning up had been an understatement. The living room wall and floor had been scrubbed free of any specks of blood. I guessed my partner had applied a fresh coat of pain as a precaution. The biggest change, however, was the brand new set of leather furniture. My old sofa and couch had been removed. Luke had done way more than was necessary. The bastard.
"Where's Church?" Alec asked.
I struggled not to tense up. I'd gotten more and more pieces of my memory back since I'd woken up, including Church's fate and what Valen had been trying to do to me before Alec had saved me. Alec was putting on a brave face, but I knew the fragility that lurked beneath his skin. I hobbled over to the new leather sofa and sat down, silently marvelling in how comfortable it was.
"Luke said Church got out when he came over to check on him. I guess he hasn't come back yet."
Alec blinked sadly. "He ran away?"
I nodded. "I'm sorry, Alec."
He let the balloons float up to the ceiling and came to sit down beside me. His fingers knotted in his lap. "He'll come back."
I sighed and set my crutches aside. There was no use prolonging the conversation I needed to have with him. "Alec, I need to tell you something." He turned to me, his eyes both expectant and patient. I exhaled. "Jace is here. In the city."
Alec's eyes searched mine, uncomprehending. "I don't understand."
"My friends at the police station got in contact with him, and now he's here. He's staying at one of the hotels. He wants to see you. Tomorrow."
"Is he—" Alec breathed in and out through his nose, fending off the impending panic attack. "Is he going to take me away from you?"
I grasped Alec's hand. "You're legally an adult, Alec. That means you get to decide whether you want to go home with him or stay here. I just need you to know now that I will support whatever decision you make."
"I want to stay with you."
I smiled sadly. "You can't make that decision now. We have reservations at the restaurant of the hotel Jace is staying at. We'll have lunch with him, you two can talk, and then you can decide what you want to do. Just give him a chance, Alec. He already bought tickets for a flight in the afternoon. You might change your mind about wanting to stay here."
Alec dropped his face, hiding behind his hair. "What if he's mean?"
I lifted his chin with my finger. "He searched for you for a long time, Alec. He loves you. I don't think he'll be mean to you."
Alec nodded. He asked no further questions, thus ending the conversation. Instead, he cuddled into my side and we turned on the TV. We watched endless cartoons and ordered pizza for supper. Alec dished us out some ice cream for dessert. We remained on the sofa, bellies full, for a long time. It was dark out, well past midnight, by the time we decided to turn in for the night. Alec asked to sleep in my bed, which I agreed to without hesitation. We curled against each other under the blankets. My cast sat on top of the covers since it was too uncomfortable with the weight pressing down on my toes. Alec and I each swallowed a pain-killer before switching off the lights.
Alec was on his back beside me. Catarina had discouraged him from sleeping on his side for a week or so, so his stitches wouldn't get irritated or tugged. But he rolled over and sealed his mouth over mine. I kissed him back, tasting between his lips with my tongue. He pulled away first, gave me a quick feather-light kiss, and then rolled onto his back.
"Alec," I said, before he could fall asleep.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for protecting me," I whispered. "Thank you for saving me." I didn't just mean the night in the basement. He'd saved me long ago; I just hadn't known I'd been drowning at the time.
His fingers nudged between the ones I'd draped over his shoulders. "I love you."
He fell asleep before I could respond.
Alec was as nervous as a boy on his first date. We sat at a table in the restaurant, patiently awaiting Jace's arrival. I sat calmly in my chair, my crutches leaning against the table on one side of me and my foot propped up in an extra chair on the other. I watched as Alec shifted in his seat, aligning and realigning his shining utensils. He wore a gray t-shirt and a pair of jeans. The scarf I'd picked out for him was tied loosely around his neck. It revealed a few bumps of scar tissues at the front of his throat, but bared no more. He'd told me he didn't want to startle Jace.
The restaurant, itself, was very classy. There was a water fountain near the entryway, which was a wooden archway threaded with lights and vines budding with small flowers. A polished piano sat near the curtained windows. Long tables draped with white cloth made up a buffet at the rear of the grand room. The majority of the diners were seniors, which calmed the room's atmosphere. A few younger couples, all men and women, sat at scattered tables. The men beamed and the women covered their giggles with slim-fingered hands.
I saw him first. A young man stepped through the archway and scanned the nearby tables. He had a halo of golden hair and bright eyes that were noticeable from a distance. I could see the nervousness carved into his chiseled features, but he held himself tall: back straight, shoulders relaxed. I lifted my hand to draw his attention, but his gaze caught Alec first. Jace did not even look at me as he approached, wide-eyed. Alec, still toying with his cutlery, was oblivious.
"Alec?" Jace said, his voice strong and deep.
Alec's hand stilled. He slowly lifted his eyes and gaped at his adoptive brother. I nudged his knee, a silent reminder of what I'd told him in the cab: "You should stand up and shake his hand. He might try to hug you, but you only have to do so if you're comfortable with it." Alec rose from his chair and stepped around the table on wobbly legs. He clenched and unclenched his fingers at his sides, ducking his face to shield his eyes with his hair. "Hi, Jace."
Jace tensed from head to toe. He chewed on the inside of his cheek. The whites of his eyes darkened to pink. Glimmering pools filled the bottom lids, threatening to spill over. All of a sudden, he stepped forward and threw his arms around Alec. His hand cradled Alec's head, holding him in place. Alec was stiff in his arms, unmoving, until he hesitantly embraced Jace back. They stayed together for a long time, neither one daring to be the first to let go. When they finally broke apart, Jace's eyes shifted to me.
I held out my hand to shake. "Sorry, I'd get up—" Suddenly he was hugging me, too. His body was bent awkwardly around the back of the chair. I patted his shoulder.
He pulled away and said, "I can't thank you enough for taking care of my brother. You saved his life. I owe you so much, Mr. Bane."
"Please, call me Magnus," I replied.
Alec returned to his seat beside me and Jace seated himself opposite his brother. "My God," Jace uttered wondrously. "You've grown so much."
"I'm just about as tall as Magnus," Alec pointed out.
Jace nodded. "Officer Garroway told me you've been learning to read and do math."
Alec perked up. "I like math."
Jace smiled with the patience and kindness of one talking to a child. "Me, too."
Quiet chatter and the clanging of utensils settled between us. I was about to ask Jace how his flight was when Alec cut in, "Where did you run away to?" The question was asked innocently, but even I felt the sting of the words.
Shame gleamed in Jace's golden eyes, but he answered straight away. "I own a cabin on an island a few hours from here." Alec nodded, sat back in his seat, and returned to playing with the cutlery. Jace leaned forward and continued, "Alec, I want you to understand that I wasn't running away from finding you. I was running away from not finding you. I know that makes me sound like a coward, but I couldn't take the dead ends and false trails anymore. I searched everywhere for you, flying to countries across the world when someone thought they'd spotted you. I never stopped believing and praying that you were alive, but I couldn't search anymore. I moved out of our old house and bought a cabin. The neighbors are few, and there is a poor connection to the internet. There are no TVs or laptops or newspapers in my house. I dropped off the radar, moving to a place where no one knew who I was or what had happened to my family. I kept myself company for years. The only reason I found out about you was because a man at the market mentioned a boy named Alexander had been found and now police were looking for his brother."
Alec's shoulders slumped. "That must have been lonely." His voice was sincere.
"I kept busy reading books, composing music, and going on hikes."
Alec asked shyly, "Do you like to read?"
Jace nodded. "I have my own library."
"What kind of music do you play?"
"All kinds." Jace glanced over at the piano. "Want to hear?"
Alec peeked at me. I nodded in encouragement and watched the two amble over to the piano. They sat next to each other on the bench and Alec watched in interest as his brother began flitting his fingers across the polished keys. A sweet and soulful tune filled the restaurant. Even as he played Jace chatted with Alec, making his brother smile from time to time. I banished the hum of jealousy inside me and allowed the loneliness to sink in. I sat by myself, sipping water, as the adoptive siblings reunited. That was when I began to feel the fear: There was a chance that Alec was going to say goodbye to me today.
The next hour passed by in a blur. Alec and Jace conversed amongst themselves, both of them making an effort to include me on occasion. I kept my replies polite but brief, feeling more like an intruder than a participant. We ate and swapped stories until the final moment arrived. Jace excused himself to pay the bill and go back to his room to grab his bag and calls us cabs. Alec and I sat in silence until Jace was clear of the restaurant.
Offering my most convincing smile, I asked, "What do you think?"
Alec smiled bashfully. "He's not mean."
"No. He seems very nice," I agreed. "Have you made a decision?" When he stayed quiet I added, "You don't have to make a decision today if it's too overwhelming. I'm sure Jace could come back and visit or we could fly you out another time."
"It's not that." He looked at his lap. "I. . . I don't want you to be mad at me."
My heart sank. I knew what he was going to say, but I asked anyway, "Why do you think I'll get mad at you?"
When Alec's eyes met mine they started to water. His voice trembled. "Because I want to go with Jace."
The words were like a punch to my chest, but I kept my features calm and understanding. I had no right to feel hurt. This was what Alec wanted. I should feel happy for him and be supportive. "Alec," I touched my palm to his cheek, "I'm not angry with you. I told you I'd support whichever decision you made, and I do. I want what's best for you. I want you to be happy." I tear strayed from his eye and I wiped it away with my thumb. "Be happy, Alec."
He nodded and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I accepted his help in getting out of my chair and we slowly made our way out to the hotel lobby. Alec's duffle bag was slung over his shoulder. He'd packed up all his possessions that morning; it was hard to believe that he'd been convinced he was staying with me just hours ago. It had taken one interaction and the chords of a piano to change his mind.
Jace had respectably called two cabs; one for Alec and I, and one for him. He was giving us some last-minute alone time on the drive to the airport. We climbed into our appropriate cabs and drove off. I expected the journey to be filled with a rush of exchanged endearments or the spilling of tears, if not both. But Alec was quiet. So was I. He barely looked at me, just stared out the window. I did the same. But after a few minutes, I felt his fingers slide across the seat and into my hand. I tightened my grip and smiled, a gesture he returned. And that said more than words ever could.
All too quickly we were at the airport. We rendezvoused with Jace and headed inside the bustling building. Alec slowed his pace to walk beside me as I hobbled along on my crutches. I had to wait by myself while the two of them checked in their luggage. Alec kept sneaking glances at me as he waited in line, and I tried my best to keep smiling. The police had somehow managed to get Alec a temporary passport until he acquired a new one. The woman at the front desk checked both Alec and Jace's passports several times before sending them on their way. Their flight was in an hour, so the only thing left to do when they returned to my side was to head to the security check. I deliberately moved as slow as possible, knowing I wasn't allowed to go past that point. Inevitably, we came to the spot where I could go no further. Alec and Jace both turned to face me.
Careful not to tip over, I held out my hand to Jace. "It was nice to finally meet you. Have a safe flight."
Instead of taking my hand, Jace hugged me again. I couldn't let go of both my crutches, so I awkwardly patted him on the back. "Thank you for taking care of Alec," he whispered into my ear. "I'm indebted to you. If you ever want to see Alec, give me a call and I'll fly you out."
"Thank you," I said sincerely.
He backed away, leaving Alec and I to stare at each other. Finally Alec approached me, almost cautiously. He wrapped his arms around my neck, loosely at first, then tightly. I wanted to pick him up and spin him around, just to see him smile. More than that, I wanted to kiss him. But that wouldn't have been right. Not at that moment right in front of Jace. Most of all, I wanted to tell Alec that I loved him. I hadn't said it back the night before. Maybe Alec resented me for that, maybe that was why he'd decided to go with Jace after all. But I couldn't say it now. Not because I was worried about embarrassing myself or Alec in front of Jace. Because if I said those three words now, I'd be saying them selfishly. I'd be trying to get Alec to stay. I didn't want to confuse him. I did love him. From the very bottom of my heart. But I wanted to say those three words out of devotion, not out of desperation.
I wrapped my arm around Alec's neck and inhaled his scent one last time. "Take care of yourself, Alec. Your phone is in your bag. Call me whenever you like, okay?"
"Thank you, Magnus," he murmured against my shoulder.
I let go and Alec backed away. He gave me one last smile before turning and following Jace to security. I stayed where I was, watching, surprisingly dry-eyed, as they stood in line and went through the metal detectors. Both of them made it through without any trouble, then they continued deeper into the airport, heading toward their flight's waiting area. I waited for Alec to glance over his shoulder, his eyes searching for me, so he could wave goodbye. But he didn't. Just like that, he disappeared from my line of sight. Gone.
I stood in that same spot for an hour, expecting (a bit shamefully) to see Alec running back toward me, bolting through security as he declared to everyone within earshot that he had changed his mind. But he never did come back. One hour turned into two, then three. Both my legs were aching, but not as deeply as my heart. I knew letting him go would be painful, but that was not what had just occurred. I hadn't let Alec go; he'd left me behind. That was a whole other heartache I hadn't been expecting. It was rather humorous that I'd been willing to give my life for Alec, but I was not willing to give up my love. I wanted him back, but I was alone. And Alec was gone. Letting him go was the hardest sacrifice I was ever going to make.
Raise your hand if you're broken-hearted! I guess this is the opportune moment for me to tell you that this is not, in fact, the end of Sacrifice. :) I will be posting an epilogue. It won't be very long, but I think you'll all be less mad at me when this story comes to an actual close. Hope this didn't cause too much emotional damage! :) Cheers, all!