Nico

What?

Before I can sit-up two muscular arms are pinning me down. I reflexively try to battle for superiority but I'm startled by how weak I find my arms. I'm not physically strong, but I don't remember being that weak. All I can do is glare up at the blonde holding me, radiating as much fear, threat and hatred as I could muster. I am weapon-less, there are no shadows to shadow-travel in and I doubt I can raise an army of zombies indoors. I am left to use my natural charm.

"Let go of me," I hiss slowly. My throat is sore for some reason and it makes me sound like I'm growling. The blonde's golden eyes' focus falters for a few seconds but his determination soon re-establishes itself. His whole face said you're not going anywhere.

The one time people do not run away from me.

"Jace, seem less like you are about to murder the boy and relax a bit. He will not listen to us if feels threatened," a tired and flustered female voice nearby says. I flick my head to the side to try to have a look at another one of my captors. My eyes lock on the face next to her.

In a torrential burst memories flood through my mind - the black-haired boy - his surprised shout - I had shadow-travelled in front of him - why? I couldn't breathe - or I couldn't stop breathing - the crew were there - they helped - but they were there - they saw. Jason - I was hugging him and crying - I was also crying before, after the dream. The dream with Bianca, accusing me of betraying and hurting her - her dying all over again…

I feel sick.

I take a deep breath.

"Did I..." I begin, but stop to compose myself - my voice is too wobbly. "Did I black out?" I ask the black-haired boy. It took a while for him to realise that I had spoken to him. He clears his throat nervously.

"Yes - you hit your head on a lamppost. I brought you home." His cheeks redden as he thrusts his hands into his pockets. A girl that I hadn't noticed before crouches next to the bed and places her hand on arm of the boy called Jace. They share a look and Jace lets go of me and rises. My body shudders at the release of tension. I sit up cautiously, eyeing every one of them.

"Thank you," I say to the one that brought me here. He looks up from his shoes in a start. His blue eyes are deep, but bright. I have never seen that kind of blue before.

Sheepishly he replies "Oh, um, you're welcome. We also healed you too…"

I wait for him to continue further, but it seems like he doesn't want to elaborate. I turn to the annoying blonde.

"Why were you holding me down?" He looks back at me warily.

Something isn't right.

I clear my throat. "Well, thank you for, um, for healing me, but I shan't take advantage of your hospitality any longer. Um, can someone escort me to the exit please?" I ask no one in particular.

I realise I'm in my pyjamas.

A tad embarrassing.

"Oh, and don't worry, I have proper clothes nearby," I lie.

Silence.

I look around at everyone, their faces all seem to be completely blank, apart from the blue-eyed boy, who just seemed pained. Why on earth would he be pained?

I'm getting angry now.

"Okay, I'll let myself out," I jump off the bed. "Again, thank you... "

"We need to talk," interrupts the woman.

I don't really know what to make of that.

She sits down at the edge of the bed and pats the space next to her. I awkwardly slide back on.

"I'm Maryse, this is Jace, as you probably figured out," she points at the blonde. He gives a smile and a little wave. "This is Clary," she says, now pointing at the girl who placed her hand on Jace's arm. She reminded me a bit of Rachel, but only through the hair and green eyes. She gives a slight nod. "And these are my children, Isabelle and Alec," she points at the only two who aren't sitting down next to me. Isabelle had the same raven hair as the blue-eyed boy, now Alec, though she only had black eyes, like me. Alec's eyes were unique.

Isabelle doesn't seem in the mood to muster up a smile and Alec mumbles a "Hello again."

Why is this necessary?

"Uh-huh," I smile up at Maryse, trying to make it seem like I really appreciate her pointless introduction.

"Now," she begins again, but with a much sterner tone. "What is your name?"

This has gone from weirdly friendly to kind of creepy.

"Nico,"

"YES!" Jace cheers, making the whole room jump.

I stare at him incredulously.

"Oh, we trying to guess your name while you were unconscious. You are Italian, right?"

I blink a few times.

"You played guess the knocked out Italian?"

"Yep - and I won."

"Jace," Maryse snaps. His cocky smile wavers and stops talking.

"Nico," she says to me in a softer tone.

"It's really unfortunate, but you have accidentally ended up somewhere where you shouldn't be. It's alright though, because you'll be allowed to carry on your way once we meet you up with a few people. For the time being, you have to stay here for a while. Are there any questions?"

All I can reply is "What?"

"Well, you'll be staying here until you meet up with a few of my friends.."

"But why?" I interrupt.

"You've ended up somewhere where you shouldn't be."

"But he brought me here!" I exclaim, pointing at Alec.

He bows his head.

Any other time I would have felt sorry for him, but oh my gods I was getting angry.

"Yes, but..."

"Where even is this place?" I ask, standing up. Jace and Clary back away and re-posture themselves, as if preparing for a fight.

Maryse doesn't answer.

"I'm sorry, but I'm leaving,"

I stride towards the door.

Alec and Isabelle go to block it but Clary and Jace gets there first.

Jace is glaring down at me, Clary focused.

I can't believe this is happening.

Then something surprises me.

I start laughing.

Once I start laughing I can't stop and I just stand there...laughing.

And it wasn't a malicious laugh. It wasn't sneaky, confident or devious. I think it was bundle of giggles. I mean, I just couldn't believe it.

I got through Tarturus but can't get through a bunch of doors? I got through Hell itself...only to be held captive by a bunch of teenagers and a stressy mother?

I could tell that my laughter was making them nervous, but they should be. My uncontrollable hilarity was insane. I mean, this isn't funny. This is unfair, this is stupid...

The anger was setting in now.

My pulse is raising, heart thumping. I'm shaking.

No, I can't escape if I'm shaking, stop it.

Stop it.

Someone touches my arm.

It's Alec.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," I say, but my voice is heightened. It was more like a scream than a statement.

"I know you don't want to stay here, Nico, but you have to, just for a little while," says Clary in a calming tone, walking towards me away from the door.

Away from the door.

I charge at the side of the door and slide behind Jace to grab at the doorknob. As Jace twists round to try and catch me I open the door and the side of it catches his jaw, jarring his neck sideways. I hear him smash to the ground while I run out to the hallway. I only have time to look both ways to decide where most likely the exit will be, position myself to run towards the elevator until arms lift me in the air from under my armpits. It's Isabelle. In an instant Jace joins her and lifts up my legs - not caring about the blood trickling down his neck from the fresh cut on his jaw - and with Isabelle starts carrying me towards a room.

"No! Don't you dare!" I scream, arching my back upwards and down again, trying to bend my legs too in the process. It's like some nightmarish backwards roller coaster, but all the while I'm still shackled by Isabelle and Jace's grip.

I stretch my aching neck backwards and am struck by the sight of Maryse holding a door open to a room. And that was it. Just a concrete room, nothing was in it. No bed, no carpet, no windows, nothing.

They hastily lower me down into it, hurting my back in the process. Isabelle mutters "Sorry," and then leaves the room. Jace is holding me down, again and then suddenly pounces out the doorway. I launch upwards, but it's too late.

The door, with momentum, slams in my face.

And I am plunged into the dark.

Alec

Once the door is bolted, Isabelle leaves to her room. I don't blame her. I don't necessarily like Nico's screaming, either.

"Go to Tartarus!" I hear him through the door.

Clary tries to hold back tears.

"Don't you feel bad?" she whispers. Jace, who was wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand, stops and embraces her.

"I know," he whispers in her ear. "He'll calm down soon, though. Don't worry."

They stand there, hugging.

Only Nico's slamming on the door and incoherent screams can be heard.

"Can we go to bed again now?" she asks.

Jace chuckles.

"Yeah, come on." He takes her hand and they leave to their room.

I am left standing there, alone; Maryse had left to her spare room as soon as she locked the door.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

More shouting.

"I hope you get eaten by a Cyclops!"

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Please stop," I utter.

A tear rolls down my cheek. My heart aches. God, it aches so badly.

He releases another scream. It reminds me too much of the one Arson conflicted.

Then he stops.

Silence.

I hold my breath and wait for him to start punching and throwing himself at the door again. But he doesn't.

Instead, through the thick door, I hear muffled crying. It wasn't loud and uncontrollable like his screams of anger. It was small little keening sobs. He sounded weak. He sounded like a little child. I guess he was a child. How old did he look? What, 13, 14? I had forgotten that.

I walk cautiously over to the door through the dim corridor, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Keep it together, Alec, you're not the one found kidnapped.

I sit down next to the door; he had slid down to the foot of it.

"Nico?" I ask softly. The crying stops.

"I am sorry," I say as tears resurface.

There's no reply.

He must hate us. He must hate me.

"Look, I am really sorry, I am so sorry. I didn't..." I have to take a breath. "I didn't know this would happen."

There's still no reply.

"I promise they'll release you in the morning. But you have to try not to escape again, or they'll keep you in there."

He then speaks. It's a scratchy small voice, but he replies.

"Why are you crying?" he asks.

I touch my cheeks. There are no fresh tears.

"I'm not,"

"It sounds like it,"

I wryly smile.

"I guess I'm very emotional."

He scoffs.

"You call that emotional? After what you just witnessed?"

I think about what to say.

"You're entitled to be angry."

"Fuck yes."

I'm startled by his foul language, but let it be.

"I have questions," he states.

"Go on," I say, preparing myself to answer.

"Why do I need to see some 'friends'? And who are they?"

I sigh. Where to start?

"Well, there's this treaty between our two races, Shadowhunter and demigods.."

"You know I'm a demigod?" he cuts me off.

"Yes, and if you're wondering what Shadowhunters are we're just these half angel people meant to protect the world from demons. The 'friends' Maryse was talking about is The Clave - our parliament..." I'm cut off by Nico's laughter. It isn't like the scary laughing he had before...it's cute. I scald myself.

It continues for quite a while; he's in hysterics. I can't help but laugh along with him.

"Why are you laughing?" I ask in between chuckles.

He finally stops when he gets too breathless.

"Why are you laughing, Angel-boy?"

"Hey!" I mockingly shout back. "You can talk! God-boy."

"Ah, you see you can't do that. I am the son of Hades - who's a god, not God god. I'm not Jesus' brother or anything. You though, you must be good friends with Jesus, being related with Gabriel and that, gracing the world with your presence and fighting off sin."

"Demons," I correct.

We let our giggles die down.

"So you believe me?" I ask.

"Yes. Gods, I've known and seen weirder."

I clear my throat.

"You'll be questioned by The Clave, holding the mortal sword. You'll have to swear not to tell anyone about this place and what you have learned. You can only tell the truth."

Nico takes a while to reply back.

"What questions will they ask?"

"I don't know. Is that okay?"

It takes him even longer to reply this time.

"Nico?"

"Yes," he replies "It should be okay."

I stand up.

Nico must have heard because in a panic he asks "What did they do to me? I can't shadow-travel. It's not like I don't have enough shadows, its pitch black in here."

Well that made up my mind even more.

"A warlock depleted your energy," I say as I start to unbolt the door with great care so not to alert the rest of what I'm doing, in case of them being still awake. "So you must be very tired."

"Yes," he says meekly.

"A concrete floor must not be very comfortable." I'm on the second to last bolt now.

"Are you mocking me?" he asks, but not aggressively. He just sounded defeated.

I open the door.

"No. Not mocking- helping."

Nico is hunched on the floor, looking up at me in surprise inside my silhouette.

He goes to stand up but his legs give way. I catch him before he falls.

"You okay?" I ask, concerned.

Nico nods.

"Just tired. Very tired."

He's clutching onto my arms, relying on me to stand up. I pull him to my side with one arm around my waist, so he can lean on me easier. His face flushes scarlet and looks away from me.

I then blush too, feeling immensely embarrassed if I encroached his personal space. I go to take away my arm but he places his hand on top of mine to stop it from moving. He then gasps and looks up at me in surprise.

"Sorry,"

I look down in confusion.

"What for?"

"I don't know." He gazes at the floor.

"Come on, to my room." We start moving down the corridor, Nico leaning into me.

When I reach my room I place Nico upon my bed.

"Sorry, but we'll have to share,"

"That's okay," he says, eyes drooping.

"I'm just going to go in the bathroom to change into pyjamas,"

"Alright," Nico murmurs, eyes closed.

After I leave the bathroom I find him under the duvet, clutching the pillow, fast asleep.

I slide into the other side of the bed, leaving quite a lot of space for him.

I fall asleep to the sound of Nico's soft rhythmic breathing.