Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare

Chapter 26: Unanswered Prayers

Magnus held the head of the eldest Lightwood carefully on his lap, caressing the line of hard jaw and sweaty forehead. His wound had been taken care of and Jem had checked on Alec after that. Nothing could be said for sure but they presumed the fatigue got him down.

Back in the Mansion the keeper Seelie – which hadn't turned against their backs – had brought them delicious food. Magnus and Jem had had some while Alec's plate was left untouched. Now his belly was grumbling, stomach whined for something solid.

Jem and Isabelle had been out to get some food but fruits were all they could manage then at the first hunting trip. Isabelle took some to herself as his gray-haired friend mashed those colorful looking balls into paste.

"Lift him up." Jem said and in his hand a bowl of yellowish fruit fleshes. Alec let out a short whimper at the action; instantly Magnus stopped dead.

Slowly he did it again and under Jem's firm glance, he continued the lifting even when Alec mumbled to tell him no. Alec was sitting between his spread legs and was leaning onto his shoulder, hot breaths landed on Magnus's collarbone. He felt like he was hugging a heater. Took out a spoon from nowhere, Jem began to feed Alec little by little. However, the blue-eyed man wouldn't loosen up his jaw at all.

Isabelle frowned by the side. She was chewing some peels.

"Come on, Alec," She coaxed and he returned an inaudible nasal noise, but his mouth stayed close. The food smelled exotic and sweet. Magnus couldn't understand how Alec could resist the desire to taste a small spoon of it.

A fist clutched his shirt. Magnus followed the place where he felt he was gripped to see Alec's pale fingers were rustling his clothing. His fine eyebrows furrowed in discomfort and sweat was shining lightly in the dimly-lit room. Jem's hands slipped to his forehead and sighed. "He is having a fever. It is worse than I thought."

Cradling the thin body, Magnus swayed a little as to smooth a sick kid.

"Give me a hand." Jem waved Isabelle over and she automatically knew her role in this. Without hesitation she forced her brother's lips to part, even Alec protested weakly. As soon as an opening was there Jem shoved a huge spoon down his throat and more coming on their way. On the other hand, Magnus trapped the flying hands and kicking feet.

After a fight Alec gave up and let whoever feed him the rest of the meal. While some was spilled during the process, most were wasted due to Alec's inability to swallow. But at least the stomach got something to digest.

The sounds of bird tweeting and rays of sunlight reached them through the holes, telling them the morning was near. Jem glanced at the door for a split second; and Isabelle and Magnus both noticed the tiny twitch of his left hand, where the tattoo was inked.

"Do you think – "

"He will make it." Jem stated, interrupted Magnus's question. The black-haired woman's brown eyes darted between them, face ashen. He didn't know what the couple had agreed on but he truly hoped that Will survived the attack and arrived here at no time. The sight of him would be extremely cheerful.

Throughout the next two days Magnus had Alec in his arms. The man was yelping, being chased by demon of nightmare. While they were out hunting for food Magnus planted kisses on the temples, on the nose bridge and edges of lips. It seemed to calm him a bit; not enough to get the dreams away but it was the best he could offer.

Even deep in unconsciousness, the appeal remained. Magnus's heart tightened when Alec shivered; he tugged him closer and tried to pass his warmth. If the circumstance was different, he could have believed if people told him Alec descended from heaven because that's how he imagine an angel would be.

Alec still fit his description of one, maybe with one or two stains attached. However, Magnus didn't care. He was petrified by the honesty and the heart on the sleeve. Proudly the former fashion designer could say he had seen many things, and Alec was the most extraordinary of all for his strong will and resilience.

They had worked out a plan that if Will did not come to them after three days of their arrival, they would leave and sneak back into Vikram anyway. Jem took some time to accept it but he seconded the motion because he knew plain waiting did nothing good to the group, especially with Alec being sick. The fruits they had collected were running short so Isabelle and Jem offered to pick some more. Magnus stayed inside the small house with the feverish Alec.

Something stirred against his chest. Looking down, Alec was struggling in his sleep. Magnus cooed. "It's alright," He hugged him tighter as he spoke. "Nothing can hurt you. Not when we are here."

"Magnus…" His name was muttered. Long eyelashes vibrated and the blue eyes revealed themselves. They were hazy and unfocused.

It wasn't him that Alec was calling but he answered nonetheless. He hoped this would bring the man some solace. "Rest, my darling." Then he bent lightly to kiss on the eye, making Alec close them for a second. Through the black pupils Magnus saw his own reflection – and it terrified him. He drew himself back and looked at the wall instead, not wishing to have contact with those soul-sucking blueness.

"Where, are we?" Alec asked, stiffly he turned his head around and he sat up in a quick motion before Magnus could catch. "Where are we?" This time with more panic in his voice, Magnus met the face of a frightened as Alec snapped. Said man got up to his feet and was swinging. His heart jumped when Alec was about to trip over an invisible object.

"Hey – "

His reaching hand was hit by a smash on his back of palm and Magnus hissed at the sore pain. Alec had his back on the wall, looking at him alerted. "You are not Magnus."

"Well," Left speechless, he had no idea how to answer that question because he at the same time was and wasn't Magnus. "Not the Magnus you're talking about."

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Alec's mind was rid of blots. The man was avoiding his eyes and looking down at his bare toes.

"Sorry." Alec said and he sat down against the wall, seemed to prefer to be away from Magnus. He didn't protest and crossed his legs. Both were waiting for their friends' return to break the tension.

Alec was massaging his temples and randomly he let out a small noise. Magnus stood and walked to the tiny first aid box on the shelf. "Some embrocation might help with that."

As he was rummaging about, Alec stopped him by saying he was better. "It's not that worse. I can take it." At that Magnus wanted to question whether he was telling the truth; just a moment ago he was having a fever and that might affect his judgment. Therefore he went to inspect him himself.

Alec flinched and stared at him with terror when Magnus extended a hand.

"I simply want to check if your fever is still here." He explained. Alec pursed his lips into a hard line and nodded. His blue eyes averted.

Went under the bang, indeed the heat had gone down. He figured it was a good sign and Alec no longer required intensive care. A crooked smiled appeared on his face. "You are healing and that's good. While you are sleeping we have decided to be back into the city by tomorrow. You will need your strength."

"Alright." Alec replied and he curled into a ball, chin buried between his knees. "Where are they?"

"They go for a food hunt. I am to take care of you but I suppose the role is not needed anymore." A couple of minutes passed. Alec spoke again with a firmer voice, unlike the way he was mumbling before. "Is it safe to go back to Vikram?"

"We are not exactly safe here either." Magnus confessed and out of nowhere Chairman leaped out to his hip. Adoringly he picked him up and set him on the laps, patting the mix-colored furs.

The words weighted on Alec's shoulders as they dropped in defeat. Alec closed his eyes. "Do you think…" He paused and shivered despite the mud house was warm. "Will is still alive?"

Magnus raised his eyebrows. He had attempted to ask the same question not long before Jem and Isabelle took off finding them food. Of course, Will was the strongest of them all physically – he was a damn brilliant detective for heaven's sake. "I haven't thought about that."

"If he couldn't, how could we?" Alec said.

Gulped, Magnus earned himself a groan from Chairman due to his sudden halt of scratching. The tail was hitting his wrist, urging him to go on.

"We will have to see."

"How long have I been out?"

"Almost two days." Alec gasped at the number and he rubbed his forehead, pouting lightly. "Where are they?"

Magnus did a double take. "Who?"

"Jem and Izzy. Why they are not here?" The other man said and shut his eyes tight. Magnus was thinking about what was wrong with Alec. "I've told you, they are out for a hunt."

"Have you? I don't remember." Alec scowled and he stared into the round wall that caged them in.

Oh great, now he has memory loss. Magnus pondered. "It's like seconds ago. Do you feel right, Alec?" Adding to his worry, Alec did nothing but shook his head in slowest speed as if the simple movement hurt. Chairmen meowed louder and got off his laps, went to sprawl on the ground nearby the door.

Magnus got to his knees and crawled a bit closer to the eldest Lightwood. Said man's eyes were hollow and pitch-black circles shaded darker than anyone could have imagined. He asked cautiously. "How about you lay down? The fever must have lingered."

Again, Alec barely shook his head before he abruptly puked. The parabolic vomit launched and by luck Magnus dodged them which he had no spare energy to care about the disgusting milky mucus. He hurried to Alec's side and wiped his mouth with his sleeves. "I'll get you some water."

The water they collected from the river was rare but Magnus didn't care at that moment. Filled a cup half-full he knelt next to the curling body on the floor. Put down the water by his feet, he hauled Alec to sit up and he fed the pale lips the liquid. Two small spoons were all Alec could take. Said man tilted his head quickly to the other side when another wave of nausea hit him.

"Do you want to lay down?" Magnus asked and Alec muttered a yes. He watched the pale man lowered himself down and hands wrapped around his middle. His knowledge about medics was limited; he prayed Jem and Isabelle would return in no time.

"You'll be fine," He whispered to the man and combed the inky hairs, trying to give emotional support. "You can get through this."

It was then the irritating odor attacked him. Magnus wrinkled his nose and Chairman was gazing at the pool of vomit with his wide cat eyes. The feline moved to sit by the shelf, farther away from the fresh discharge.

Sighing, Magnus waited until the furrowed brows of Alec relaxed and he began to clean with simplest tool.

Isabelle adjusted the two rabbits over her shoulder despite of the blood streaming down her thin clothing. Not far behind Jem's eyes were flying around, looking for potential dangers while they were on their way back to the mud house. Both of their pockets were filled with eggs and on Jem's back was the fresh body of a young deer. The hunt was fruitful.

They stalked in silence. Even though it was daytime, they would rather not draw any unwanted attention to themselves. Leaves crushed under their careful feet and marked their tracks.

It was amazing that Jem and she worked so perfectly together. She guessed that Jem changed himself in order to fit with her way of hunting. She could see it from his eyes that he felt extremely bad about killing the animals; originally when the two rabbits were down, she wanted to let him carry them. However, the grimace on his face clearly told Isabelle, who had the two bloody corpses in her hands, to back off.

She didn't push it. And they hadn't talked at all.

They had travelled far from the house. Isabelle began to wonder if Alec had woken up or not and if he was in good hands. Magnus was a great person, she knew that – simply she wasn't so sure about leaving him with her brother alone in the small space. Would it scare Alec that she wasn't around when he woke from slumber?

"Izzy." Jem called from behind. She whirled and found the uneasiness on the Asiatic face. She mouthed. "What?"

Jem reached his spare hand to his ear and brushed it, signaling her to listen. Concentrating on her hearing, she heard the whispers of foreign languages and the heavy clomping on the ground. Quickly both ducked lowly, hiding within the walls of grasses.

They held their breaths, wouldn't dare to exhale too loudly and let the non-known acknowledge their presence. The thrills in the battlefields were back into her veins, making the eagerness to jump out and attack whatever that was more tempting. Yet the past fights had taught and provided training to prolong her patience and Isabelle waited for the emergence.

Through the layers of grasses they saw dark smudges coming from their front. Isabelle and Jem dropped their prey right on the spot and lurked to the side. It could be the blood that attracted them. The small dots becoming larger and larger towards them and the sight was the apocalypse.

It was a group of Transformed.

The curse was contained. Isabelle had not seen this kind before; their slim bodies were armored, the black noses on the wolf-like faces were twitching in searching. In their hands were guns in unrecognized shapes. Swallowed hard, she met Jem's wide, pupils-dilated gray eyes.

In fact, having Transformed in this land was out of their imagination. Now that Isabelle thought about the attack in the middle of the night and how it affected the machines in the city, it wasn't hard to deduce their protective shield would have been taken down too and allowed access for those animals to get in.

Suddenly the hideous heads perked. Their ears standing and turning in different angles. Jem and she were nervously praying that this wasn't actually happening. They were alone out in the wild, easily marked by their weapons. Running would not even be an option if their scents were identified. Once was deadly enough.

They sat and waited for their fate. As the Transformed approached their location, Jem reached out and took her hands. Locking eyes, the implication of being through this together was obvious in the soft man and she returned it.

Twenty feet away and Isabelle grasped at her whip by the belt. It was humming in the thirst of killing. A hand gripped her wrist and Jem shook his head, telling her not to do it. Instead of answering, she did what her brain controlled her to.

Tessa glanced at the cameras up above her head then back down on the robots. Her hands were still steady after hours of continuous work, but just barely. The roars of pain of the golden-blond man kept coming from a corner of the room, who was guarded by two armed Aristos. Whenever her hands slowed down, the man received a kick. It had been days and nights for her to change the physical parts of those robots and her brain was freezing up. It was only a matter of time her body would shut down on her.

"You are playing tricks."

A new voice joined in the subtle sobs of background and Tessa turned in her chair. It was a girl with blue-green eyes. The medium long blond hairs were pulled into a pony tail, wavering as she approached. She was wearing black, a typical choice of color for the members of the Institute.

"I am the expert." Tessa retorted to the accusation. The sharp eyes were clean enough to see through her slight different modification and the act of confidence often scared people off. Yet it didn't work like Tessa had thought it would.

"Oh I believe that," The blond woman said and grabbed the core operator on the workbench. "But I don't trust you, neither do my fellows. And I know you are not doing what we are asking of you."

Opened her palm the core operator plummeted down and bang on the workbench, bounced off to the floor. Tessa's sight followed the part and one of the boots stomped on it – and it was shattered into pieces beyond recovery.

Tessa compressed her surprise and fear; she asserted. "I am doing what – "

Her sentence was stopped by the heartbreaking screams. Gray eyes shot to the corner, the two Aristos were straining the trap on his ankle. She begged for the poor man. "Please, I am doing what you've demanded me to! He has nothing to do with this!"

"He has when you're not doing your work properly. It will be your responsibility if he dies from the drugs or the torture because of you. What a pity."

"Why would you do this?" Tessa asked despite of the obvious fact that the woman wouldn't reply to her anyway.

"Remember, no more tricks." The blond woman wiggled her index finger in front of Tessa's eyes. "I suggest you to take my advice or else both of you would find yourselves stuck in a dilemma."

A genuine smile crept to her lips and she hummed a tone as she retreated back behind the door. The two guards were staring at her, silently scolding her to get back to work. The curling body under their feet and the crushed ashes of the core operator snapped the reality into her sense.

Nothing escapes their eyes. Tessa thought gloomily. There was nothing she could do. Tessa had forgotten the Institute was made up of Aristos. Yes she was an expert on the field of robotics, but it didn't mean she was the top of the list. She was a fool to believe that she could outsmart any of them.

The blackness surrounding him was thinning out. Alec groaned at the ache from his throat and belly and slowly opened his eyes. What welcomed him was the empty mud house and a surge of panic rushed through; he straightened up from the ground and he nearly collapsed back due to the light-headedness.

The dark reminded him of the night in Mansion during which they were attacked. Alec cried out the name by instinct in the hoarse voice. "Magnus – "

It broke into a whimper as he supported himself by the wall and struggled to get up to his feet. No one answered but his stomach did. It flipped and let out a roar, weakening his limps every second passed. He was hungry and his vision was blurry.

"Please," He said to the air, like miraculously someone would come to him. His whole body was weighting him down and the sole thought occupied his mind was to find Magnus, who was always there when he needed him.

Then he withdrew his steps. His Magnus was gone. He didn't know his whereabouts, or Ragnor's and Aline's. The fact that he was trapped in a forest made him feel so powerless to the situation. He thought, if he was brave – something entire different from Alexander Lightwood – anything would have had a different ending.

But he was merely a Mundane. The blood didn't build to the construction of his personality. Maybe people were right: Jace was a better and more suitable son for the old fierce family.

A new pain was throbbing within his chest, something was tearing up the tissue inside. Alec gritted his teeth and took it like a Lightwood was supposed to. Before he made up his mind to go out for the reach of his sister and acquaintance, he was startled by the frame appeared at the exit.

The familiar figure showed up and blocked the lights of the sun. "Alec, you should be resting." The frustration frightened him.

"I feel better now." He insisted while trying his hardest to look into Magnus's eyes with certainty and brightness. "Where are they?"

Magnus said out of blue. "We have to go back to Vikram. This isn't safe for us anymore." Magnus's sullen sad eyes crashed into his and Alec immediately noticed the bloods on his shirt.

"Whose blood is that?" His focus was drawn to the stains covered most of his shirt. Under his glare Magnus stripped it off and ransacked the house for something. Items on the shelves were knocked over by his rapid slashes. Chairman hissed at his behavior and ran to Alec asking for comfort. He tucked the strings of his jeans.

Alec bent down lightly but he resumed position without picking up the small cat. The dizziness would bring him down and he wasn't weak. He was showing Magnus that a liability wasn't what he was.

The hesitation of Magnus shook Alec's core. His heart sunk and his mouth dry.

"We need to get out of here." Magnus said as he finally got a lighter and burnt his bloody clothes. There was no wounds present on his skin, not even a scratch. Therefore it couldn't be his blood. Who else could it be…?

"Are those Izzy's?" He spoke in terror. In his straying life from the family, Alec never really saw his sister getting hurt. Every time she was back from a deployment she was healed with only scars to indicate her injury. Their blood – Jace's and Isabelle's – had been spilling over battle grounds without him realizing.

"No," Magnus was shaking. "They are nobody's."

The absence of Jem and Isabelle told him the truth. His lips were trembling. "What – "

"The Transformed. They are here." Magnus then grabbed Alec's wrist and dragged him out of the house. It was cold outside; the sun barely gave them warmth. "We have to leave or we are going to die here."

"Where to?"

His voice was flat, the urgency and panic already left with part of his soul.

He couldn't feel anything except the chilling fact that he just lost another dear to the Institute, to the war that destroyed everything he had. He stared at the brown fingers around his wrist and pretended they were Magnus's. He would bring him peace.

Even in the open, Alec smelled the blood in the fog and he wondered if those belonged to people he knew about, or he had shared bonds with from the beginning to his life. He let Magnus take his hand and lead him into the forest. In the daze, he thought, it was a perfect way to die. Killed by the Tranformed in a new and exciting place that was rarely visited by anyone with Magnus by his side. It was tragically stupid and alluring.

After a whole day of walking mixed with nasty encounters of wild life, they stopped and rested under a tree upon a small hill on which outlook of Vikram stretched under. In his hollow eyes the scenario of a broken city was projected.

The grip on his hand tightened. Alec tilted to observe Magnus who hadn't spoken during their journey of escape. The golden cat-like irises were shining for the fire in the far distance. His stomach again groaned in annoyance, begging the Mundane to eat something.

Magnus heard the noise and pocketed out the last apple they had. He bent Alec's fist and dropped the fruit on his palm. "Eat it."

"How about you?"

"I am an Aristo. We last longer when there is a hunger and believe me, there was a time I only ate after a week of burying myself into work." He said it like suffering was normal to him. Alec took a bite without further humiliating himself.

"What are we doing next?" He was lost completely. Where else could they go? The Transformed was here and it basically meant death to anyone who refused to surrender. What was there for them to do?

"Shelters are built underground. Those are our shots."

"The Institute could have found them already." Alec said as Magnus was brushing the dirt off his bare torso.

"Let's hope they haven't and won't."

A/N:

Oh yeah it has been late for this chapter and this is shorter than the previous ones, I do apologize for that.

This might surprise all of you but the next chapter will be the epilogue, in which everyone's fate will be revealed. I know it is rushed but I think it is the point where the story marks its end. As I have said in the A/Ns before, it will be a tragedy for basically everyone in it so prepare yourself for it...

I have only proofread this chapter once and I am sorry for any grammatical mistakes. And please leave a review if you like:)

Hope you all have a wonderful day!