Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare

Warning: Character Deaths

Chapter 23: Passing

The whole street was dead. Will lurked in the darkness of the black market with his hand steady on the holster, ready to shoot anything showed up. The air was thick with blood fumes but he couldn't see any trail. Jonathan said he was on his way and had demanded Will to stay put.

If he listened to an order, he would not be a Herondale.

There were couple of others with him. There was no one else, not even droids. Will didn't know where all those residents had gone. They were not that far into the black market and Will heard rapid and messy steps coming from behind. He turned his heels in a smooth motion and put out his gun – it was Jordan Kyle. Will relaxed and stored the gun back. "Agent Kyle."

He greeted, yet Jordan seemed to be in deep worry and his face greenish, as if he was going to vomit the next second. The brown hairs were long enough to block the hazel eyes which were gleaming fear. Jordan pushed them away with his shoulder and ignored their warnings, sprinting to the bottomless end of the single street.

"Kids." Will mumbled and chased after the fast frame, finally caught the wrist when they were standing in front of a shop with door left open. "Jordan, you don't rush into scene like this."

The Agent angrily extracted himself and roared. "Luke is right there! If the Institute is here he isn't safe." As the last vowel dropped, he dashed for the narrow road on their left. Will tsked, linking the possible connections of this Luke and the Institute. He had not heard of that name; many were called that in Vikram. It didn't raise any memory inside his head.

As they reached deeper, the scent of iron and rotten metals basically fogged the whole area. Jordan dry-heaved a bit when the first wave hit them, while Will had enough experience to handle his physical reaction towards atrocious scenes.

Being an Aristo, there were good things and bad things. Before Jordan, a mundane, could see in the complete darkness at the end of the street, Will spotted the two bodies on the ground, distorted in many ways.

"Jordan!" He said in a commanding tone, at the same time pulled slightly at the young man's elbow, tugging him farther away from the bloody scene. "Detective Herondale, don't – "

For one second Jordan was distracted by the approaching footsteps of their colleagues. Will watched the timing and stabbed Jordan in the neck with his index and middle fingers. Instantly the young Agent was out cold and collapsed without hitting his head; one of the colleagues had come to support the unconscious body.

Will then ran to the two bodies without checking if there was potential danger. There wasn't time for it. He crouched next to a body bathed in blood which were still leaking from the gigantic wound in the middle of his chest. There were multiple stabbing at the sides and they were bleeding too.

The man was dead – Will could not find his pulse.

A skewwhiff pair of glasses revealed the dilated pupils under. His eyes were light shade of blue, similar to Will's. Said man gently took off the pair of glasses and closed the opening eyelids. How despaired one wanted to live that he could not close his eyes after death?

Folding the glasses and put down on the ground next to the body, he turned to the one without many obvious wounds.

The man's heart was barely beating. Will shouted. "Call an ambulance." He kept on checking his pulse to make sure the kid was still alive. He took the weak but still ongoing pulse as a good sign. Anything was better than finding another dead body.

The kid was too wearing glasses, but it was smashed into pieces and the metal frame was compressed into a wire-like ball. Will slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around the cold torso, giving the remaining warmth to the kid. Blood from his ear and head stained the collar of the thin T-shirt. Will wasn't dare move him because he was afraid the movement would worsen the injuries. He cried when his request was unreciprocated. "I said ambulance!"

He didn't realize he had walked in the deepest pit of the black market and in front of him was a screen of black. Someone was moving, he sensed, but he could not tell why they were hiding in the shadow and not came forward.

Will stood up and he reached for the intercom. "Anyone has reported back to the center?"

The other end was a buzz of electronic noises and Will's ears were nearly blasted. One unfamiliar muffled voice answered from a distance. "The signal is jammed!"

At that Will gave up and tried to recall the few medical lessons ten years back. He lifted the T-shirt up a little and saw the bellybutton. A mundane – he had to be extra careful then. In the best circumstance he should have put on the protective gels as it formed a layer between him and the wounds. However in the very beginning the blue-eyed man was left in a hurry; he only brought the intercom with him, which had no use right now.

Cradled the thin body in his arms, he hissed at himself when the kid grimaced. This somehow reminded him of that time which Jem was hurt. Will had found him in a wrecked state, so was this young man. He needed to save him. Bloods were wetting his sleeves; he watched his steps, keeping his sways under control.

He couldn't be more careful. His boots tapped on the damp stones under his feet and it was the only sounds accompanied them. The scent of blood was still lingering in his nasal cavity and he coughed lightly when the air around them thickened.

Will halted.

There were pools of blood on the ground, where his colleagues should be. They seemed to vanish except the small circle and drops of crimson decorated nearby indicated their preexistent presences. Will was startled by his own heavy breathing, blue eyes darted in terror –

Something touched his shoulder blade. Will jumped and swirled, but found no one. This is real. Someone is here. The deadly still street was awoken by the bellows of winds. The jacket that covered the kid was blown away. He heard a voice. Will wasn't being paranoid.

"Detective Herondale."

Will didn't move, for the knife against his lower back. The voice was one that he would always remember. "Verlac."

"Don't be a stranger. You can call me Sebastian." The knife was firm, one light push and it would penetrate his skin. Sebastian and he were absolutely not friends, not in any way near it. "I don't have time for chitchat."

When Will lifted his foot up, the knife followed and a hand crept to the back of his neck. It was cold and sticky with fluids, making his hairs stood on their ends. Sebastian hummed. "Yes you do. Leave little Simon in peace."

"No." He said with courage and tightened his grips on Simon, whose inaudible whimpers caused his body vibrated. Will comforted despite of the situation. "Rest, but don't fall asleep."

He didn't know what he had said to make Sebastian roared out laughter like he just heard the funniest joke in the world. He did not expect an answer either, knowing full well the dark-eyed man was crazy enough to do things without logical intention. To a maniac, logic was merely a tool for them to play tricks on you: letting you enjoy the illusion of deduction and prediction, while nothing was predictable about them.

"You are wasting your effort. He is dying. You like having a man die in your arms?" Sebastian asked and imposed pressure on the knife. Will took a step forward, maintaining the same unsafe distance from the weapon.

Where were his colleagues? Where was Jonathan? He said he was coming, yet minutes slipped away he still hadn't appeared. This was going downhill real quick.

Will calmed himself down with the realization that most likely he wouldn't get out from this. Sebastian had many reasons to hate him and vice versa. Their ending was inexplicably predictable. They would fight until the other one died, and winner would piss on the corpse claiming victory. This one lowered the curtain, another was lifted.

"He still has a chance if I get him to the hospital." Will said, body relaxed and let the point cut through his clothes, brushed dangerously on his lower back. Sebastian was a capricious creature, he violated all the rules. Will could do that. In fact, he was good at it. His behavior surprised Sebastian; he could hear it from his raising vigilant voice.

Sebastian lowered his hand on the pale neck and fingers moved along the spine through layers of clothes. He stopped at the bottom. "He is a dead man. No one can help him – at least not you, I suppose. Look at Alec." Will gulped when the name was mentioned. Alec was always a spot that he did not wish to be touched: not only because of the Branding, but also the regrets and shames that could engulf his soul.

"Don't you have enough?"

The man behind one smirked, knowing his tactic worked. Will gritted his teeth and adjusted the body in his arms. Sebastian said. "I should have killed him, you know. But back then I just wanted you to stay out from this. How is it that you keep crawling back to me? I would say you have it yourself."

Anger welled up when Sebastian talked about the incident with Jem. Will turned around to face him regardless and Sebastian didn't move at all, letting the blue-eyed man got away from the knife. He must think Will already fell into his trap. Nothing that he did would get him back up.

He didn't look like the one Will had in mind. When they met in Afra, Sebastian was a black-haired man with a pair of dark dead eyes. Now the man in front of him was blond, irises gray. Both of Sebastian's hands were colored by blood. His face painted half, shirt too dark to see the body fluids on it. The dead man back there…

"You have no heart." Will stated. The man opposite him disagreed though. "Inaccurate observation. If I indeed don't have a heart, I would have taken your lover's life. Yet I didn't – I know where the bottom line lays. The more I take from you the more hatred you have for me, and I don't want that."

Why wouldn't Sebastian want Will to hate him?

Simon let out a short moan in agony. The bloods were steaming from the sleeves of Will's arm. They could hear them dropping on the ground. "Is that a confession of love? I would love to have you under my spell but it is hardly the time." Will teased, taking steps away from Sebastian and towards the entrance of the black market.

Click. Will stared at Sebastian, whose face turned cold and cruel. Those hollow eyes focused on something behind him and he turned slightly, a frame in casual clothing invaded his vision.

Jonathan was holding up a handgun, pointing it right at Sebastian. Will exhaled deeply and stepped aside from the possible bullet track. The Commissioner spoke calmly. "Sebastian Verlac."

Chuckled, Sebastian held his hands into a surrender gesture, shaking his head. "Commissioner Fairchild, I am just passing by, visiting old friends. Am I wrong doing that?"

As if to confirm, Jonathan opened fire; the bullet was pushed in an unimaginable speed from the barrel. However, against Will's earnest wish, none of them hit Sebastian.

They were bounced off inches before they could reach him. Sebastian snickered.

A protective shield.

"Go!" Jonathan shouted to him and pulled the trigger non-stop, hoping to gain him some time. Will took off without nodding, aware that it was not the right moment for courtesy. As he was running, the gunfire became weaker and weaker. When Will was back into the main street, patrolling droids were rushing towards them along with some police officers.

Suddenly his knees went feeble and Will knelt heavily, taking the weight of Simon with him. One officer called the ambulance for him and the others entered the black market. The sirens were loud; people in military uniforms were delivered by trucks and the whole street was blockaded.

The ambulance was not there yet. A female voice screamed in the crowd and plumped in front of Will, cupping Simon's face. Will had not seen Isabelle Lightwood cried before. Today, tears were trembling in her brown eyes as she dropped the gun, too shocked to say anything.

"Izzy, he will be fine." Will comforted and with her chin lifted up, he immediately understood. The pain in one's eyes when their love one was hurt was something Will got used to in many years. It was extraordinary evident for Isabelle who always wore the façade like her second nature.

His words couldn't prevent the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She whispered. "Simon…"

Tropes were passing them; the leader of Isabelle's unit didn't ask her to return to her post and she stayed with Simon the whole time. Will looked at her getting into the ambulance, trying to remain calm when Simon's fate was yet determined.

Will abandoned himself and sat against the damp wall. His gun was poking his side. Distantly officers were talking.

Sebastian was gone. Like he always did.

When they were gathered by the order, Isabelle had heard about the attack in black market. Raphael's words were echoing in her ears. She restlessly played with her whip, whooshing past buildings under the cloudy night.

Please let Simon be alright. She prayed, even though she knew it would be unattended. It was the same nightmare all over. Just like that time with Alec.

She nearly fainted right then when she saw the bloody form in Will's arms. At that moment she left her post and rushed to Simon's side, shocked by how red Will's sleeve was, and the paleness that resembled feathers of a swan.

Simon was barely breathing. Quivered, Isabelle cupped his face and realized his skin was cold like Sebastian's heart. Will said something she didn't caught; the tears that fell on their own wills blocked everything out. Simon was all she saw. Nothing else mattered to her.

The nurses lifted him into the ambulance and Isabelle followed. When they arrived at the hospital, she waited there, alone. She never felt so desolated before: no one was there to hold her, telling her things would turn out okay. The light above the door was on for ages. She just sat on one of the bench, cleaned the blood on her palm and thinking nothing at all. Tears couldn't find their ways to moisten the dry brown eyes. It wasn't an option after an hour of weeping.

When the sun came up, the light was off. She stood up too quickly that the dizziness hit her. However, it was all gone when a bed emerged from the closed door. Inside the bed tube her lover drifted inside. Robots were delivering it to the ward. A doctor stopped her as she intended to accompany. She hissed. "It's my boyfriend."

The woman with snow white hairs looked at her with sympathy. "You can after he is in the ward. It will takes some time for the transportation. He should be at floor 78."

Dr. Catarina Loss and Floor 78. How familiar. Two years ago she had spent her whole summer there with Jace. It was the mundane ICU ward.

Isabelle stuttered. "Can I, do you know where I can make free calls?" She didn't have anything on her except for her whip and military uniform. Catarina smiled and caught her elbow lightly as if she was Isabelle's friend. "You can use the phone in general office. It's just down the hall. I think the transportation is done then."

"Thank you." She dialed the number which she had memorized, branded on her heart. The other end came a robotic voice. "Collins."

"Ragnor," Isabelle called. After the conversation with Simon she already knew what had happened within the household. "Is Alec there?" Ragnor's voice softened and answered in a human tone. "He is still sleeping. Yesterday was a bit rough for him."

She was a strong independent woman and she shouldn't bother him. However, she wanted Alec to be there with her. Isabelle didn't know if she could support herself seeing Simon inside one of the beds closely. Back then there was Jace – but now no one knew whether he was alive or dead. In addition she wasn't completely sure if Alec could be here, a place full of humans. There wasn't any comfort for her to seek.

"Isabelle, are you okay?" Ragnor asked in concern. After understanding their natures, she had nothing but respect for the three robots. She was somehow glad for the fact that they were not simple robots. At least Alec wouldn't be so lonely.

"Yes. I am just calling to check on Alec."

"Isabelle," Ragnor sighed. It wasn't disappointment; he sounded he was sick of her lame excuses. "I am a robot, remember? Your caller ID is from the Easton hospital. Don't tell me you are fine. Alec would want to know if anything happens to you. You are his family."

Her spare hand rubbed the pants and Catarina was typing something in her tablet. Isabelle turned around as if by doing so she wouldn't be heard. "It is Simon. He is hurt. I don't know what I am supposed to do – "

She stopped speaking when she choked a bit. Cleaned her throat, she sniffed. "I don't know what to do."

Visiting hours, rules of ICU wards, everything about the hospital was familiar to her. It was from day-to-day practices and Isabelle swore she couldn't forget them even if she begged them to disappear. She didn't want to go through this all by herself. However, Isabelle would rather pretending her ignorance and frustration than admitting the infinite desolation.

"We'll be there. Where are you?" Ragnor's breaths were slightly messed up.

It was a bad thing to say: Isabelle felt better hearing the worried voice of Ragnor. It made her believe there were still someone cared about her. She said with a calmer tone. "The general office."

"Okay, stay right there and we are going to get you." Then the call was ended and she put the phone back on the table. Turned to Catarina, she asked. "It is okay if I wait here for my brother?"

Catarina nodded. "Sure, that won't be a problem. But you have to check in first in the receptionist – "

" – to visit the ICU ward. I know." Isabelle mumbled. The doctor smiled briefly at her and patted motherly on her shoulder.

"You do, sadly." Catarina pursed her lips. After a deep exhale of compassion, she waved a robot over and ordered it to serve Isabelle a glass of water. "I can be here if you want. You don't want to be alone." Isabelle tilted her head away for the spot-on description. "If you are not busy." She said. And Catarina sat next to her, took one of her scarred hands in hers.

During the two months she had slept in the common room in order to see her brother daily. For those two months, Jace would bring books from the Mansion and they read them to him, trying to keep him company. It was an experience worse than the time she was learnt about Max's illness and his inevitable passing. Isabelle didn't find the courage to face the sight of Simon being there.

She wondered why her loved ones were all taken away from her.

Alec was fidgeting in the backseat, taking deep breaths to ease his nerves. But could anyone when their friends were hurt, when their sisters were crying?

The sun was rising. In the winter that was what he looked forward to for its warmth and the meaning of a new day. Now, through the car window Alec felt nothing but chills. He shuddered and hugged his knees, curling up into a ball. His heart jumped too loudly.

Ragnor spared a quick glanced at him and turned up the temperature.

He hadn't visited the hospital ever since his discharge. The pale whiteness of its wall meant death and suffering. He vividly remembered how Max struggled to breathe with the help of machine, how he had cried and pleaded for not having tubes sticking into his small body.

Not to mention Alec had a bad time staying in the bed, drowning in fluids and locked up in a small room for recovery.

Biting his bottom lip, he looked out to the scenery. The streets that were devoid of people changed into avenues packed with life. The neon signs were flashing even it was about daytime. For people who sought adventure and excitement, parties were always there regardless of day or night.

They were wearing colorful and fashionable clothes that Isabelle would have put them on if she wasn't enlisted. Alec thought of how different her life would be, and how his too.

Eventually they parked. Led by Ragnor, they rushed to the general office. Inside were two women sipping their own drinks: Isabelle in a clean military uniform and her whip curled by her belt, and Dr. Loss with a white coat. They both stood up from the seats when Alec peeked his head behind the frame of the door. "Alec!"

Alec watched his sister ran to him, but stopped promptly as she reached an arm-length away. A pain spread from his chest.

No one is trying to hurt you, Alec thought. Not Isabelle, not Magnus. Not every human. His brain was playing with him, telling him as long as Alec had contact with a human he should have an obscene response. However, he could touch the human template of Magnus and not having an involuntary reaction toward it because he believed he was a robot – it was all about his mind. Isabelle was someone he could trust, who would never harm him. She wasn't one of them who took advantage of him.

Without thinking further, Alec took the steps and embraced Isabelle.

The room was still. The following seconds ticked slower than ever. Alec could feel the shock of everyone in the same room; Isabelle was in a stunned state that she only wrapped her hands on his back after a while and buried her face into his neck. Her breaths were tickling the sensitive skin and Alec shivered. Isabelle must have noticed his uncontrollable shaking, therefore she pushed him lightly on his chest.

"It's fine." Alec held her tighter. He was shaking, yes, but not because of fear. It was due to the joy and delight that Isabelle was alright, that he was there when she needed him the most. Added to that, his body didn't respond like it always did.

The breaths on his neck did make him excited a little, but not enough to cause a sexual erection. He couldn't be more grateful for that and when he heard her muffled sobs, Alec too wanted to spill his share of tears but he contained himself. Taking in the scent of his lovely sister healed him, it reminded him why he had to try for everyone's sake. How a simple hug could save one's low spirit.

Isabelle again pushed him but not for the same reason she did the first time. Alec released his deadly grips and held Isabelle's hands. He was still wearing the leather gloves, yet it was already better. In the past he couldn't even be near them.

This was only his first step.

The brown eyes were filled with water. Alec spoke softly. "Where is Simon?"

As Isabelle was still managing her subtle weeping, Dr. Loss answered his question. "Floor 78. I shall register your names myself; the visiting hour is not yet there but I can grant you access. Please come with me – your robot can be there too." Dr. Loss remarked and smiled to Ragnor, who returned one rigidly. Alec intertwined his fingers with Isabelle's.

"Let's go." He whispered. She nodded and both followed the white coat and hairs, taking the elevator with their hands tightly clutched to each other. Alec was never good at comforting. He hoped what he did was enough.

Alec shivered as the elevator's door opened. The ward was lit dimly. Unlike a normal ward, ICU had separate rooms for each patient due to the complexity of their injuries. Usually they would be immersed in the bed and machines attached to it for oxygen and adding medicines through the fluids.

It was cold. Dr. Loss walked straight to one of the rooms and scanned herself in, holding the door for them. Alec slipped past and muttered a small thank you.

The bed with Simon in was in the center of the room. Under the blurred glasses Simon was floating like a fetus in his mother's womb. Sometimes his feet would kick and hands jerked. Seeing Simon like this, Alec was light-headed; the memory was miserable.

Isabelle sat down on the floor and was wiping away her re-emergent tears. Alec immediately crouched next to her and held her hunched shoulders. It tore his heart to see her like this. "Izzy, he will be fine." However, she shrugged off his hand and stood back up, striding to the bed and stared at the figure inside with great intensity. He reached out again but was intervened by Dr. Loss. "Let's talk outside."

Alec looked at Ragnor who gave him a nod before leaving with the doctor. They had met a few times when Alec was not in his best state. Dr. Loss and Jeremiah were his case handlers. She stretched her arm out to invite him to stay a bit away from the room and they were leaning against the railings. Alec stared down into the tunnel; the darkness brought back the time he was in one of those beds. By instinct he closed his eyes.

"He is not going to make it." The directness of the doctor made Alec stumbled. He gained his balance back with his gloved hands grasped on the railings. His blue eyes widened, big enough to scare children at night. He spluttered. "What are you talking about?"

Dr. Loss cast her eyes down on the floor, seemed extremely uneasy to break the news. "He is given some drugs that we've never seen before. The infected cells are attacking his body and brings the immune system down. He will die in the estimated time of two days, maximum."

Alec was speechless. It had been a long time since he lost one of his family member for good. Hearing Simon dying didn't hurt less compared to the announcement of Max's death. It crushed him like a train. Isabelle, his mind wandered. This is going to end her.

"There, there must be a way!" He unconsciously backed up. Dr. Loss shook her head. "I am sorry, Alec. We are trying but at the current rate Simon would be long gone before we can find a cure. I promise you – "

"Promise is not enough!" Alec shouted like a spoiled child and he bit on his abused bottom lip. "It is not enough… it's not…"

Suddenly there were series of urgent beeps from the room where Simon was located. A group of robot nurses rushed from an entrance few blocks away and Dr. Loss looked at him with panic. "Stay here." She said and joined the group, running towards Ragnor who had Isabelle yelling in his arms, staggering out from the slide door. He was attempting to keep her calm. "Isabelle!"

The door of Simon's room was closed once Dr. Loss slipped past. Isabelle was struggling to get out from Ragnor but she was too weak for the butler robot. Her vicious thrashes tripped them on the floor and Ragnor made a quick turn, landing first with his back. She fell on his chest.

The tail of Alec's black cloak flying due to the speed.

"I have to be there with him!" Isabelle screamed and her hands were grabbing air. Alec took them firmly and cried out. "Izzy! He is going to be okay! He will."

"No no no! Simon!" Isabelle lost it. Black inky hairs were a mess and strands fell on her face like she was a mad woman. While Alec was thinking if he should knock her out, Ragnor already did the work. The green fingers clasped her temples and within a second, the brown eyes rolled to the back. The lean and strong limps went flabby and Ragnor took all her weight, which actually wasn't much.

Alec met Ragnor's sad eyes. A nurse robot approached them and offered a spare bed for Isabelle. He let Ragnor cradle her, putting his sister on the hospital bed the nurse had given them. Alec remained sitting on the floor while Ragnor took care of her, a job that he should be doing.

They sat there for hours. Finally about noon Dr. Loss came out with a blank expression, nurse robots exited behind her – their clothes were wet. Alec could spot the bloody smudges on the uniforms, especially on Dr. Loss's white coat.

He didn't have the strength to get up. Ragnor soothed his arm lightly and greeted the doctor while Alec staring at his own boots.

"I am sorry." She said.

Ragnor whispered, "Oh my god." Alec swallowed and his eyes concentrated on the form on the bed, resting so peacefully without the disturbance of real world. All he could think about, was Isabelle.

He turned and buried his face into Ragnor's chest, hands clutched on the simple T-shirt. Alec shut his eyes tight and opened them again.

This was real. It indeed happened. Alec wasn't in his bedroom waking up from nightmare.

Magnus was pacing in the kitchen, trying to get in touch with Ragnor who hadn't responded their questions through the intercom. Aline was cleaning things that were already spotless.

"Magnus, you are making me nervous." Aline complained and dropped down on the barstool, throwing the wiping cloth on the island. The tall man leaned against the stove near the back door. "God, Aline…"

They had sent multiple messages to Ragnor asking for update. However, the butler appeared to be in a situation that he couldn't spare his mind for a second to reply. It terrified them.

"Ragnor would tell us right away if Alec has an accident. I am not afraid of Alec getting hurt – not physically anyway." Said Magnus. This morning Ragnor had rushed into Alec's bedroom and yanked the blue-eyed man off the bed before Magnus could get up from the floor.

It wasn't his right anymore to be in the same bed with Alec. He complied the order unwillingly as he understood it had to take time to fully gain his trust again. Magnus simply had no idea how long it was going to take.

He had been feeling sick since Alec and Ragnor's departure. It was like something was sticking in to his head. Maybe he was too worried.

"You are scared for Simon and Isabelle." Aline pointed out. Magnus nodded. "Simon has to be fine; he is going to have a wedding with Isabelle. He is building a family with her, having children, teaching them homework – "

His sentence was interjected by Aline. "Being teased and mocked by you and Ragnor."

Magnus gave a short smile at that. "Yes, and that."

None of them picked up the topic and they stayed in silence. In the middle of waiting there was a knock on the front door. Aline raised her eyebrows. "I don't remember Alec has guest today."

"He doesn't." Magnus confirmed while gathering his emotions, walking to the front door with Aline on his tail. While they were still in motion, something hit their heads. They both groaned in agony and lost their balance due to the pain and dizziness, dropped on their knees.

Magnus hugged his head and Aline was yelping, rolling on the floor as if something was attacking her. He scrabbled and caught her hands. It felt like there was a hand penetrated through his skull. It was reaching deep inside his brain and Magnus hissed when it grabbed a part of him.

His vision turned black and white, then nothing but blazing lines. It didn't help at all closing his eyes. Aline was having a severe spasm and she couldn't control her limps. "Mag – nus." Her tone broke and slurred into a raw robotic voice, one that was not polished.

"Aline!"

The keeper robot passed out. Turned off. Magnus heard the click of door opening and he pulled the female body into his arms, figuring out the right way to get to somewhere safe. He stroked when the air changed near him and he hit something hard.

"Stay away from me." He protested weakly and another blow of pain sent him cramped. In the middle of the fit, a hand went to the back of his ear. The great horror of realization woke him and he withdrew himself from the hand with extreme difficulties. He fumbled on the floor with Aline in his arms.

Yet his fight was proven useless when the person forced to turn his shoulder around. Magnus was panting; the pain in his head only increased and was spreading to other areas. He tried to send a message to anyone – Ragnor, the emergency center, droids – anything that could help them. However, his sentences would always smashed into meaningless units.

Aline's body slipped. Magnus dug his nails onto the floor planks when a person touched the spot. With one lone press of a small button, Magnus was deactivated.

A/N:

I hope Isabelle is not OOC and Alec's action is not too rushed.

Sorry that I write Luke and Simon die... Well, Sebastian hates Luke for killing many Institute's members and he has hatred and despise towards Mundanes. Mundane/Aristo/Transformed will have some serious issue and there might be some controversial scenes/conversations concerning different races in the AU. Just a heads up!

Also, with the war is about to break down in Vikram the end is near. I don't think the story will reach 30 chapters according the plots (excludes the epilogue).

And please don't mind my spelling mistakes; sometimes I overlook them.

A review is highly appreciated and I wish you all a good day!