Magnus sat by Alec, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. He was beautiful, with black hair and blue eyes and a toned muscular body. He was also tall, maybe an two or three inches shorter than his own six four. He couldn't stop himself of thinking of him, a bloody mess. He looked slightly better now, a little cleaner, his wounds bandaged. Magnus was to get the General if Alec woke. Alec was a Lightwood, but there was also something else about him. He had let Simon go. He acted like he cared about the resistance. He had basically let Clary chop him into pieces by the side of the road. They had only been about a mile from the camp, which was good, considering how Alec's condition had been. Magnus, Simon and Clary had talked to the General, and now he knew Alec was a Lightwood, how he had hadn't killed Simon, how he had willingly let Clary attack him. He had never met a society member like Alec before. He had only ever seen the members bow down to Robert like he was a god, never questioning a thing he said. But Robert had given them food, and water and homes. But he also hadn't given them freedom, or showed any kindness towards them. Magnus knew the society would have rejected him if he went to them. Robert believed people like Magnus were unnatural, and would kill them. He would kill Magnus just because of his sexuality. He wondered if Alec believed these things. Robert was his father. He knew Alec had two brother and sisters, from what the General had told them. The General also said not to trust the boy, not to give any useful information away. He said he was glad Alec had been unconscious when they had entered the camp, so Alec had no idea where they were. He hoped Alec wouldn't turn out to be a replica of his father, or anything even close. He knew this was highly unlikely, considering the way he had acted through that day. Alec had been out for 3 days, but he was healthy. His cuts had been bad though. Clary he knew, had felt bad about what she did to Alec, she had said she was taking out her anger on Alec, and it wasn't his fault he was Robert's son. But her words had bothered him. How many people do you think he killed? She had said. Magnus had spent alot of his time thinking about that. The boy had to have killed people, because that was how the society worked. If you broke simple laws, if you disobeyed, if you weren't good enough for the society. Robert had wanted to cleanse the world in a way. He was tired of lawbreakers, of people like Magnus. The thought made his stomach turn. If he asked Alec, what would he say?
He was snapped out of his thoughts, when he heard a groan. Alec sat up, hugging his knees. He was still wearing what he had three days ago. An all black uniform, and combat boots.
"Where am I?" He said in a clear voice.
"The infirmary." Answered Magnus.
"Why?" Alec inquired.
"You really don't remember?" If Alec didn't remember, he really didn't feel like telling the story.
"I remember what happened, But I don't know why you took me here, to the infirmary. Why not leave me?" He asked. He remembered how Alec had seemed to welcome death, how he had let Simon go.
"I don't know." Magnus said. He saw the pain in Alec's eyes.
He remembered again, what Clary had told him.
how many people do you think he killed?
"Alec?" Magnus said urgently.
Alec's gaze focused on him, the intense blue of his eyes darkening.
"Yeah?" He said
"Do you kill people?" He said bluntly.
Alec flinched. If Alec said only because it was for the cause, Magnus was going to punch him.
"Yeah. I try not to, but your not interested." He said, closing his eyes.
So he had.
"Why? Because they weren't good enough for the society? Because they were different?" Alec's eyes widened, then his expression was sad.
"Honestly, I should be dead already." Alec said. What was that supposed to mean?
"What?" Magnus said.
"Your not going to believe me." He said, with sincerity.
"Try me." Magnus said.
Alec sighed.
"All of us, born into this mess. My dad and his close followers. Once your 14, your considered a solider in his book. When I was fourteen, that first time was hell."
The first what?
"There was a woman, who had broken into the store, and stolen things. I was the newest, so it had to be me. She had her partner with her too, a nice girl, with brown hair and eyes." A tear fell down his cheek, then he continued.
"My dad was there, holding a gun to my head. He said "son, If you can't do it, then your no more to me than them. I had a gun too. I should have shot him, the bastard. But I was scared, and so I pulled the trigger." He said, his voice cracking. Tears were falling down his face now, staining his cheeks. Magnus was angry, but not at Alec, at his father. Just then, Clary and Simon barged in, followed by the General. Alec wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, and regained his composure.
"You should have gotten us the moment he woke." General said to Magnus.
"It was like a minute ago."Alec said, his voice strong.
"hmph." General said, then smiled sourly at Alec.
"Lightwood." He sneered.
"Yeah." Alec said.
"You even look like him, you scoundrel. " General said. Alec appeared unfazed.
"Now, we have a use for you. We are going to trade you to your father, in exchange for something." General said, looking at Alec for a reaction.
"I doubt he'll take you up on that." Alec said, quietly.
"Your his son." General said.
"I know. people keep pointing that little bit out to me." Alec said. Magnus felt a pang of sympathy for Alec.
"Well. These three have been assigned your guards. It is now time for lunch, which you will accompany them to." With that, He left the room, leaving the four of them.
Magnus was starving. He hadn't eaten much in the past few days,with everything going on. He sat at a table, with Simon, Clary and Alec with them. People were staring at Alec, and whispering, but he didn't seem to mind. Just then, Ragnor, and his boyfriend Daniel, walked over, both sitting on Magnus's side. Ragnor was one of Magnus's good friends since he had come here. Ragnor just studied Alec for a moment, before his eyes widened. Daniel hit him in the arm, and whispered don't be rude, under his breath. It was hard not to stare at Alec.
Ragnor kissed Daniel on the cheek, and Daniel flushed. Ragnor then looked at Alec, who was smiling at them. A genuine smile.
"Glad to see some people are happy." Alec said, then looked down at his uneaten food. Ragnor's brow furrowed. Maybe he had expected Alec to say something else.
"I like you." Ragnor said.
"Uh, Thanks." Alec said.
Daniel elbowed him on the arm then, and Ragnor smiled.
"I mean, you don't seem so bad." Ragnor said, and Alec's blush deepened.
"Thanks." Alec said.
After Lunch was training, but Magnus wasn't sure if Alec should come with them. The General ended up agreeing anyways. He stated that Alec might know some useful fighting techniques, he had beaten Simon. The training room was very large, with weapons hanging on the walls, mats covering the space. Simon, Magnus and Clary were picking out their weapons, Alec just sitting on the bench in the sidelines. He was looking down at his hands, like he was remembering something.
"Hey, are you just going to sit there?" Simon asked.
Alec looked up, his blues eyes watery. Maybe he had a bad experience in a place like this? Alec got up from his chair and walked over to Simon.
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked.
"Well, me and Clary are partners. Magnus could use a punching bag." Simon answered. Alec looked mildly irritated.
"Punching bag?" He repeated.
"Oh yeah. He's the best of the three of us. Try beating him." Simon said, matter-of-factly. Oh no.
"Really?" Alec said, looking over at Magnus. It made Magnus nervous, the way he looked at him. Alec probably spent most of his time training, or fighting. The muscles were visible under his shirt, though he'd lost weight. In truth, he wasn't really sure he could beat him in a went over to the wall, and grabbed two identical swords, and approached Magnus. Gulping, Magnus took the bow over to the wall, and hung it up, and accepted the sword from Alec.
This, was going to be fun.