I have realized, after writing this, that I'm a pretty sadistic person. Haaa. But I'm sure you all realized that already! X3

And Jexyna! I thought "poor Jace" was a nice hint. X3 Glad that I'm able to instill disturbing feeling. Ke ke ke ke. And Noverael Parabati, let me just say there's a reason I write what I write. ;D And so glad you caught that angel part! Subtle as it was with it's -ahem- italicized font.

Now! Enjoy, everyone, after the disclaimer!

Disclaimer: Gah. I'd feel sorry for the characters if I owned them.

5

Summoning

Alec shuffled around the room with his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his pants, his shoes scraping the marble floor in the Hall of Magnus's abode. He pulled his head up to look at Magnus, who was busily drawing a diagram in the middle of the room, his concentration full focused. Alec's eyes trailed the outline of the circular diagram – its complex form nearly carved into the marble with lines scribbled every so often through shapes. He brought his attention to the large, arc-shaped windows; the moon was large in the sky and trees could still be seen swaying violently. He felt a sharp jab in his chest and shook his head, pulling his attention back to Magnus who finally released a breath of air and sat back on his heels, staring at the complete diagram.

"That should be about right," Magnus said, standing up and dusting his hands off on his pants; specks of silver glitter fell to the floor and he stepped back, nodding his head in satisfaction. He moved a white crystal into place at the corner he stood at, it being the fourth one he had since laid down, evenly spaced between three others. He looked to Alec, who was staring at the diagram with blank eyes, mind obviously drifting. "Alec?" he asked, but the young Shadowhunter was unresponsive. He furrowed his eyebrows and walked around the diagram to stand next to his partner. He set his hand on Alec's shoulder before saying again, "Alec." Alec shook his head, jerking out of his thoughts and looked at Magnus. "It's gonna work." Alec only nodded, eyes trailing back to the shape in front of him; Magnus gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "You trust me, right?" Alec nodded. "You know I wouldn't do anything that would risk harm to you or Jace, so relax. This will work."

Alec turned his head to face Magnus, his eyebrows furrowed upwards, creasing his brow line as his eyes glazed over. "Then why do I have such a horrible feeling?"

Magnus sighed. "It's probably just your nerves. You've never done anything like this before; and you still don't have to if you don't want to."

He watched as Alec's jaw tensed and he looked back to the diagram, obviously contemplating. They waiting in silence for a few moments before Alec shook his head, pulling his gaze back to the warlock before him.

"I have to know."'

Magnus nodded at the response. He released a breath of air and patted Alec on the back. "All right." Alec's heart seemed to pound violently in his chest, he could swear that Magnus could hear it, as well. "Well, go ahead and stand in the center." Alec nodded an okay and took a step into the diagram, his body tensing when he felt Magnus's hand leave his shoulder. "And don't worry. I won't let anything happen."

Alec inhaled deeply before looking over his shoulder to Magnus, a nervous smile on his face. "I know you won't. There'd be too many people lined up to kill you if you did." Magnus laughed, which caused a legit smile to make it to Alec's face as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't remind me."

Alec shook his head and walked to the middle of the drawn diagram. Magnus took another white crystal from his pocket before looking back to Alec, making eye contact and nodding. Alec shut his eyes and took in a deep breath as Magnus bent down to set the fifth crystal into place, causing a silvery-white shield to enclose the diagram around the Shadowhunter. All five crystals radiated a soft white glow. Alec felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and chill bumps raise on his arms.

Suddenly, Alec released a gasp as he felt his body jerk, landing himself in a long hallway full of closed doors towards an open door at the end, light shining from the cracked door. His breath was quick from the unexpected jerk and he looked behind him; no longer was he in sight of Magnus's Hall. He brought his eyes back to the front and inhaled, taking a step forward. His fingers trailed along the wall as he cocked his head. He felt something brush against his back, but when he jumped and spun around, the only thing he saw was the blackened hallway. He furrowed his eyebrows and turned back, calling out, trying to get a response, but there was no reply. He called out again, this time for Jace, but, still, there was nothing. Finally, he stood outside of the door. Taking a deep breath, he put his palm on the crack door and pushed it open. The moment the door was open, he was engulfed in bright, white light. He gasped from surprise – now standing in a solid white room with nothing but light around him. He heard voices echo around him and he spun around, only to see nothing but light that trailed forever onwards.

"Jace?"

Alec, please, he heard whisper and he jerked around again.

Still, he stood alone. His heart jumped to his throat and he swallowed hard as he began walking around in the white light. Another voice echoed around him, this time, though familiar, he could not place it.

You are my angel; and only I can protect you.

Alec stopped when he saw a white feather float down. Holding out his hand, landed in his palm and he could only stare at it, inspecting it: Its soft features, the purity of it. He looked up when he saw another feather fall to the ground from his peripheral vision and watched as more feathers began falling from an unknown source, surrounding him and falling around him. As he continued to stare up, he felt a drop of wetness land on his cheek. He flinched slightly when it hit, but then brought up his hand to wipe the liquid away with his index finger. Out of reflex, he went to look at the water droplet he had just wiped away, only to find that it was not a clear droplet, but a droplet of dark red.

Blood?

He felt another drop on his face, this time it ran down his cheek. He brought his hand down and jerked his head around, watching as more blood began to fall, falling like rain. The red started mixing in with the white of the feathers, drenching them – coating their purity. He opened his palm, bringing his gaze back to the feather he held and watching as the raining blood made it thickly coated. He gripped the feather tightly, wanting to protect it from the tainting rain.

That was when he heard his name again and he pulled his eyes away, trying to find the speaker. They called for him again, only this time, they yelled his name. His heart pounded violently in his chest and he found himself clutching the feather close to his chest, not wanting anyone to take it away.

o-o-o-o-o-o

"ALEC!"

His eyes shot open and he found himself on the marble floor in Magnus's Hall with Magnus leaning over him, his hands on his shoulders and terrified eyes staring down at him. Magnus's shoulders relaxed and he leaned back as Alec sat up. The young Shadowhunter groaned as he held his head. "What happened?" he asked, voice groggy.

"I don't know. You started seizing, so I…cut it short." He glanced over at the edge of the diagram. One of the crystals had been kicked out of the way, breaking the barrier to allow him access. He sighed. "What did you see?" he asked, looking at Alec with strange sympathy.

Alec shook his head as he pulled his knees up to set his forearms upon them. "I – I'm not really sure." Magnus tilted his head. "It was just…white." Alec let his head fall back so he was able to stare at the high ceiling above. "I kept hearing Jace's voice and…someone else."

"Someone else?"

Alec shrugged. "They sounded familiar, but I couldn't tell you why. And then there were feathers: White feathers, falling."

At this, Magnus stared at him intently, as though contemplating what it meant. "In the light?"

Alec nodded, bringing his head back down to stare at the floor in front of him. "And blood." That was when he looked to Magnus's face and saw a near-horrified expression; an expression he never thought he would ever see on his partner's face. "So much blood – like rain, almost." He watched as Magnus broke their eye contact, his eyes now searching the floor in front of him, absorbing the information. "I heard someone say "angel" and Jace…crying? No." He shook his head. "Jace doesn't cry. But then…what—" He stopped short when he saw a look mixed with fear and sorrow flooding Magnus's features. Alec's face overcame with concern. "Magnus?"

"Alec…." Magnus's eyes began to glaze over, which only received a deeper look from the Shadowhunter. "You said feathers. Pure. White. Feathers," he spoke in nearly a whisper, his voice sounding as though it was quivering. "Like…angel feathers?"

Alec nodded slowly, keeping their eyes locked, trying to read what Magnus's was trying to tell him. "Why?" he asked, eyeing him.

"Alec," he started again. "What are you holding?" he asked, still keeping their eyes together. Alec looked at him curiously, but finally broke his gaze away to look at his hand; bloodstains were on the outside of his clenched fist and he turned his hand over, slowly opening his palm to reveal a blood-drenched, white feather lying in his palm.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"How dare you call out for him!" Jonathan shouted as he brought his leg back and gave another harsh kick to Jace's abdomen.

Jace could not hold back and released a shout when he felt his already-cracked-ribs break under the pressure. He collapsed, body shaking and quivering from the pain. Jonathan leaned down and grabbed a fistful of Jace's hair, pulling his head up; he stood, dragging the Nephilim with him and forcing Jace to his feet. From reflex, Jace's left hand latched on to Jonathan's forearm while his other hand grabbed onto the other's shoulder. Jonathan's eyes were narrowed as he watched the other struggle to put up a meager fight. His eyes darted when Jace's newly-released wings stretched up and folded back in, twitching with the rest of his body. He brought his gaze back to Jace's face.

"Tell me, Jace. Do they hurt?" he asked, a strange smirk on his face. When all he got in response was a drowned, gargled groan, the smirk fell from his face and he tossed back Jace's head, making the younger male stumbled backwards, trying to keep inside the still-drawn pentacle. His arms wrapped around his stomach and he dropped to his knees, face contorted in agony; which was why he failed to notice Jonathan standing over him, his face flooded with anger. He grabbed a fistful of feathers from Jace's wings and pulled them across the threshold, jerking Jace and forcing them to burn. Jace's eyes flew open and he could only stare up, wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the pain that ensued – pain that he had never even imagined possible. They were far more sensitive than he could ever think and he finally released a scream from his throat as he watched the wing – his own wing – being burned outside of the pentacle. The feathers singed, Jonathan released his grip and the wing shot back into the pentagram, both wings wrapping themselves around Jace, shielding him from Jonathan's view as he tried to bite back broken cries. Jace touched the now-burnt wing, flinching as his fingers ran down the feathers – his feathers.

He found it strange: It was as though the wings had a mind of their own. They sensed everything he did and would heed his subconscious commands, even when he was unaware of what they were. He set his face against it, hugging it as water splashed onto it, thankful for the soft touch pressed against his cheek. He shut his eyes, savoring every moment of comfort before he would be dragged back into the harsh reality.

The comfort was shorter than he had hoped.

His wings shifted and folded back behind him, as though they were cowering from the demon-child before them. Jonathan stepped back into the diagram and grabbed Jace's chin, forcing him to stare into his eyes. "Tell me what it's like," he started, digging his nails into the other's cheek. "Tell me what it's like to be completely worthless and pathetic." Jace released a grunt. "What was that?" he asked, a dark smirk twisted onto his face.

Jace tensed up, glowering eyes staring back. "I said: You talk too much."

Jonathan's eyes flashed and he brought up his knee, shoving it into Jace's ribcage. He stepped back, allowing Jace to fall, face contorted in agony. "I was going to let you enjoy these a little longer," he said, grabbing the middle of the wing bone and pulling it, forcing it to stretch out. Jace extended his arm grabbing onto Jonathan's pant leg, trying to pull himself up and make the other release him. "But since you're so ungrateful," he continued, voice laced with fury and annoyance as he gripped the wing bone with both hands, "you don't deserve to."

He brought up a bent knee and, in one fowl move, pulled it down, forcing the bone to snap in half over his upper leg.

Jace's eyes shot wide and his mouth fell open as he stared in front of him, pain searing through the wing and radiating down his back. A moment of a silent scream passed before his throat gave way and the silent scream was replaced with one that was ear-shattering. He fell onto his stomach as the now-broken wing hung loosely and fell next to him; tears poured down his face as he tried to inhale and get a breath in, which, in turn, resulted with him hyper-ventilating. The broken wing twitched, trying to move.

Jonathan brought up his foot and set it on the base of the wing where it was attached to Jace's back and stepped on it, making it bend down, flush against the other's back. Jace began clawing at the cement floor, nails scraping and breaking off as he tried to get away from the pain. Jonathan took his foot back and Jace released hollow cries from the pit of his throat as his hand reached out to grab Jonathan's leg.

"I'm s – sorry. I'm sorry," he whispered, breaths hitching in his throat. He pulled himself forward enough to set his forehead on the other's lower leg. "I won't…anymore. Just stop."

Jonathan's face softened as he peered down at the pleading male. "Don't worry, Jace. It'll all be over soon enough."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"I fail to see how this is a good idea," Alec said, his arms crossed as he looked at Magnus.

"It's simple, really. What better way to find him than to get the best thing for the job?"

Alec frowned, clearly not amused. The feather from early sat on a table next to Magnus, its purpose stated earlier. The same diagram from early was still drawn on the marble, now with only few modifications to create it for a different purpose. Magnus turned away from Alec, opening a book that sat on the table and turning to a particular page – a page with a familiarly sketched creature on it. Alec clicked his tongue and turned away, wishing to not be a part of what was about to happen; but if it would find Jace, he would try anything. He nodded his head at his own thoughts and looked back at Magnus, who was reading over the page.

"This should work," he muttered to himself. He brought up his hand and snapped his fingers, lighting the three candles that had taken place of the crystals from earlier. Alec uncrossed his arms, glancing from the warlock to the diagram. "Granted, I've never summoned one of these things before," he said, again muttering to himself. Alec stared at him in disbelief. "But it should be fine." He turned to face the diagram and clapped his hands, rubbing them together, as though he were a child getting ready to do something devious. He cleared his throat and began reciting from the book:

"'Demon of the fortnight, I claim "your Master". Enter this realm to heed my word.'"

The diagram released a soft blue glow. The floor in the center seemed to fall away, falling into another dimension. Alec watched as a loud screech was heard from the now-gaping-hole and Magnus began speaking in another tongue. As he continued to say the same thing over and over, a creature began clawing its way out. Alec took a step back as the ravener demon crawled its way out of the hole. As it came out, the floor returned back to its original state as the demon began clicking its way, trying to exit the diagram. It hit an invisible barrier and began opening and closing its jagged-toothed mouth. Alec swallowed hard, eyes not breaking away.

Magnus grabbed the feather off of the table and tossed it into the diagram. Almost in an instant, the ravener demon attacked it.

"You've had your taste," he said, standing straight. "Find the one it came from and I can promise you more."

Alec made a quick glance from Magnus to the demon. With another wave of his hand, the candles blew out, emitting gray streams of smoke. The demon bent its insect-like legs and jumped onto the wall from where it had been; now being able to exit the diagram. It scurried across the wall, heading to the Hall doors and exiting through them. Magnus turned to Alec and flashed a toothy smile.

"I suggest we follow it before it's out of sight."

Alec watched Magnus pass him and walk towards the doors. He shook his head, still disbelieving what they were resorting to. "You're mad, Magnus – completely mad." He walked up to him as the other just nodded.

"Fully aware of that aspect, my dear boy! Now, let's get going, or that thing's gonna eat your best friend when it finds him." Alec stared at him in shock as Magnus just laughed and left the Hall, following the path the demon had gone with Alec cursing at him as he followed suit.

I don't know why, but I love making Magnus and Alec act like a playful couple: Mainly because I could picture them actually acting that way. Or I'm completely wrong with my interpretation. .