Alec was in too much pain to speak, or move, or do hardly anything at all. At this point, he was in so much paint that he wasn't really registering the physical pain anymore. The true pain was the pain he was feeling in his heart. He knew Jace was there, but he couldn't seem to concentrate on anything that was going on around him. All he could think of was Magnus and how betrayed he felt, how broken hearted he was, how right Jace had been.
When he had woken up, Magnus was standing in front of him, but he was with Jonathan, and Alec had quickly realized he was tied up. When he looked to Magnus for answers, Jonathan simply began laughing. "You stupid Nephilim," he had said, his voice full of malice. "He doesn't love you. He could never love someone like you. He was simply helping his one true love."
At that, Alec couldn't contain himself, he chuckled, a dark, cold sound. "You mean you?" He could hear the hatred in his voice but he didn't care. Alec became slightly confused when he looked back at Magnus. He couldn't seem to read the expression on Magnus's face, he couldn't seem to figure out how Magnus was feeling. His face was set, as though he was regretting what he had done, but that he was going to march ahead with his plans no matter the consequences.
When Alec spoke again, he directed it directly at Magnus. "I've never been so disappointed in anyone. I've never thought of Downworlders as monsters, but I'm currently rethinking that opinion." He was satisfied when Magnus flinched at his words, but things quickly went black as Jonathan knocked him out again.
Right that second, he was listening to Jace, trying to focus on how to get out of the situation, trying to keep him mind off the fact that every cell in his body was screaming out in pain.
"You, you-" Jace was having trouble deciding what to say once he had seen Magnus. "He trusted you, he loved you. How could you do this?"
Magnus chuckled, and Alec began to feel sick, his heart dropping even further. "It was terribly easy actually, tricking all of you, I mean. You're all so naive, Alec more than anyone else."
Alec didn't think it was possible, but his heart dropped even further when Jace spoke again. "I hope you realize that I am going to kill you for this." Magnus had chuckled at that, but Alec began to try to move despite every bone in his body screaming in protestation.
"Jace, no. Please." Alec knew his voice wasn't very strong, but it was obvious he had been heard because everyone turned to look down at him once more. This time, Magnus seemed speechless.
"Look at that," Jace said, voice colder than Alec had heard it in years. "You never deserved him, Magnus. You're plotting to kill him, and yet he still loves you. He still wants to protect you. Don't think for a second that you're safe with Jonathan here or that he loves you. He'll stab you in the back and go out for tea afterwards if it suits him. But Alec, he's far too good for you."
"Enough of this." Alec flinched as Valentine's voice rang out across the room. "It's tedious and highly unnecessary. You have a decision to make, Jace, and I would rather like to go ahead and get it over with."
Alec tried to move as he heard Valentine approaching him, but it took everything he had to keep from screaming in pain, and he knew that his efforts were in vain. Valentine's face appeared above him, and he immediately relaxed, feeling hopeless already, almost knowing that there would be no way out.
"Magnus, please come help me with this," was all that he said, and suddenly his face was replaced by Magnus's. Alec's heart skipped a beat as Magnus entered his field of vision, but this time, it was not out of love. This time, it was out of fear.
Bending down, Magnus lifted Alec up off the floor, and this time, Alec made no effort to keep himself from gasping in pain. He saw Jace's eyes darken with hatred as he did so, and he couldn't help but shut his own eyes, wishing for the pain to end soon.
"You have a simple decision to make, Jace." Valentine was speaking again, but Alec barely registered it, he was too busy trying to focus on anything other than the feeling of Magnus's body against his. Anything but the feeling of his heart slowly shattering.
"Either you join with me and I'll let Alec go clear and free, or you continue to refuse me and you watch your parabatai die at the hands of the person he loves most in this world." Valentine shrugged in a very relaxed way, and Alec was sure he was going to be sick. "The choice is yours, Jace. Choose swiftly and wisely."
All Alec could see was Jace's eyes locked on him. He could see Jace turning both options over and over in his mind. It was easy to see that the longer he thought, the more pain he began to feel. Alec shook his head ever so slightly, just enough for Jace to register it, and Jace's eyes immediately widened. He opened his mouth, then immediately shut it again, as though he was trying to process the situation.
Before Jace had the chance to respond, Magnus surprised everyone in the room by speaking up. "Before you decide, Jace, I have something I wish to say." Alec's heart picked up pace at that, and he had the sudden feeling that this was going to be the end. Until Magnus spoke again.
"You're right," was all he said at first, and Alec's heart stopped as he said this. After a moment's pause, Magnus began again. "You're terribly, painfully right. Alexander is far too good for me. Hell, I think Alexander is far too good for this world."
Alec happened to glance over at Valentine in time to see a look of confusion on his face as well. This look would have greatly satisfied Alec if he had not been utterly confused himself. He was surprised as Magnus began to slowly lower him to the ground, pulling him gently toward the wall. Suddenly, Alec released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He also realized that Magnus was being terribly careful to not hurt him anymore, and although he had only a vague idea of what was going on, this touched him immensely.
When Magnus had leaned Alec against the wall, he stepped in front of him, holding up a warning hand. "I've decided that Jace is a little too right about the both of you." He was speaking to both Valentine and Jonathan, but he was looking pointedly at Jace. "Make one move to hurt either Alec or Jace and I will make you wish you hadn't been born."
Alec smiled slightly when he realized that Jace looked as though he was about to pass out from surprise. When Valentine laughed, Alec flinched and pain immediately flared up throughout his entire body.
"You don't scare me, Bane. You're just a warlock."
At that, it was Magnus's turn to laugh. "'Just a warlock,'" he repeated. "You obviously have no idea what that means exactly because I can do things you can hardly imagine. And trust me, you threaten either of them, and I will not be merciful. Lord knows you never have been."
Valentine raised an eyebrow, but suddenly, Alec felt as though he couldn't sit upright much longer. His vision became blurry and his was suddenly dizzy. It was then that he finally realized he had been bleeding the entire time, and he had done nothing to stop it.
"What prompted this, Magnus?" Valentine's voice was cold and calculating.
"The only thing that prompted this, was the most gentle, loving, fierce man I have ever met." Alec would have reveled in the love that filled Magnus's voice. He would have smiled at the thought that Magnus was describing him. But before he had time to register what Magnus had said, the world went dark and he hit the ground before anyone had time to realize what was going on.