Chapter twelve: Decisions

Everyone stared blank-faced and wide-eyed at Alec. He had just attacked Simon. Would he be dangerous again if he felt Magnus was in danger or if they couldn't find Jace? Alec looked ashamed as he surveyed their faces. This was going to be so difficult gaining control of himself and he could see now that he had lost trust with them in his angry desperation. He sat down cross-legged on the floor. He then waved them all over to him. "Come on everyone. Join me. We have to figure this out and I cannot have you afraid of me. I need all of you to be here with me like Simon was. He knew what was happening to me in a way you couldn't possibly know and he knew I would not hurt him. I am asking you to have that same bravery and trust in me. Have I not been a good leader for the Clave and Institute?"

Everyone started to move in closer and join him. Magnus quickly walked over and sat cross-legged next to him in one swift and graceful motion. Izzy lingered for a moment glancing back towards Simon's room anxiously. Alec simply nodded and Izzy went to sit on the bed next to Simon. Alec knew he had hurt her by attacking Simon. How would he have felt if she went after Magnus. This was a betrayal that he would have to make up for. She would make him work for it. Alec returned his attention to the group of them as they gathered and slowly sat next to him in a circle. He glanced around at them. Ezekiel was the last to sit down. He was slow and sore from being slammed down. A bruise was already forming around his throat from Alec's tight grip. Alec looked absolutely sullen as he saw the damage he had inflicted in a second. Fear and determination welled up inside of him. He will master this. Lives depended on it, not to mention the fate of the entire world.

"Show them your value, my son." Samael once again entered his mind. "Why didn't you stop me?" Alec spoke back in his mind. "You needed to learn, they needed to learn what you are capable of, and how to manage the strength you have. You need to save lives and not take them. We are God's Hand of Justice. This is not a pleasant role and it is not glorified, but painfully cruel at times. We need to lead with our power, but respect it; own it." Alec felt Samael's presence leave his mind again. Manage my strength, own it. He knew he must do this and soon. He looked toward them all. They were restless, fidgeting, and looking toward each other in quick glances. "I clearly have some abilities that I can just tap into with instinct. Unfortunately, I appear to have some similar instincts to the Downworlder vampires when put into a heightened emotional state. Simon, of course, saw this immediately having been one himself. This has been very taxing on him. Watching me go through this change, but I think it is clear that he is going to take the lead on getting me through this. His experience is at the forefront of what I need right now. We owe him a great deal tonight, but we all learned a valuable lesson. I am a danger. I am powerful. We know this has a purpose, but it is not easy, nor will it be pretty. This will not be like our previous battles full of righteousness. We will be fighting on a whole new playing field, and it is full of painful choices."

"I am sorry for what I have put you through tonight. However, it has proven useful to us. I know now that even in my altered state I can subconsciously determine who is friend from foe. I did not hurt Simon, despite how it looked. However, I can still lash out at innocents I am unattached to." Alec sent a quick and somber glance towards Ezekiel. "You need not apologize for what you have become. This is new for us all." Ezekiel spoke softly, yet hoarsely. "We have a crisis right now." Alec spoke again. "Jace is under threat from the Leviathans. He has not been found by them yet, but it is only a matter of time. We have to get to him first, but you all run the risk of succumbing to the same fate. We need to collectively brainstorm how to pinpoint him, rescue him without confronting them, and without any of you falling victim to the same thing he did." The group was quiet as they thought. "Clary, you said you knew where they were, that is a start and I know what it looks like in his immediate vicinity. The Leviathan's abilities, however, are obscuring my reach any further." Alec prompted.

Clary fiddled with her fingers as her lips quivered. "I-I knew he had left. He didn't say anything about where he was going, but I didn't push it. I should have said something." "Shhhh don't you worry about that, luv. There is no need to blame yourself for anything Jace chooses to do." Magnus said as he reached out and patted her arm to comfort her. "Just focus on what we can do now to help. Alec is right and you said you have some information that can help us, I think." Clary sat up a little straighter and reminded herself. Deal with what you can do. Move forward. Work the problem.

Clary understood that she was only working with a small set of information but she passed it along to everyone. She knew that the Laviathans were staying close to the Institute and that a couple blocks away from it had the highest number of disappearances. They all listened and nodded. Ezekiel spoke up. "We are going to need to just send you and Magnus."Alec agreed with a nod. Clary looked angrily at Ezekiel as she spoke up. "Why can't the rest of us go? Wouldn't it be better to go in a group? Wouldn't we stand a better chance in higher numbers?" Alec answered, "No Clary, because it has already been made clear that you are all easily taken down by their power before you can even get close enough to do any damage. That power will not work on me. I believe I can protect Magnus with the help of his magic, however I am not strong enough yet to protect more of you from their draining ability."

Clary looked like she wanted to protest more but Magnus smiled at her as he said, "It's okay luv, you will get your chance just not this time. What happened to Jace is not your fault. We will get him back for you. Clary looked down at her shoes ashamed. She just wanted to fix what she felt she had led them to but she did understand. She couldn't just walk up to these creatures and just take him back. They did have to be clever about this and plan it right. "I may not be able to go with you into the exact areas where they are but we can all come close enough and be prepared to help in your exit. As you said Alec, you are not strong enough yet so this should be a stealth in and out mission. Recover and flee." Alec looked at Clary as he considered it. "Maybe, but my hope is to grab him and fly out of there. I don't even need Magnus to be too close. I just need him close enough to help me pinpoint Jace."

Magnus looked to Ezekiel. "What do you think Zeeks? Should we all go together to the edge of their territory and wait for Alec or should we just stick to the two of us. Ezekiel looked down as he contemplated the best course of action. If they went together they would have more numbers, however with the Leviathan's power that may not matter. If just Alec and Magnus went then it would be a stealthier mission, but less people to call on if things went sideways. Less chances for success. Ezekiel finally looked up at Alec and Clary. "I think it would be the wiser course to have everyone go together to a meet point just outside of the Leviathan's territory and have Alec and Magnus proceed from there. Once Magnus and Alec have Jace's location pin-pointed, Magnus can portal back to our location. When Alec rescues Jace he can fly him back to us, then we can all portal back here. If anything goes wrong we are close by to help and the numbers may overwhelm in that event." Alec, Magnus, and Clary all nodded in agreement. That's when Simon walked out of the bedroom with Izzy close behind.

Alec arose immediately. Simon had a glazed look in his eyes for a moment as if he were coming out of a long deep sleep. Alec approached him slowly. "I am so sorry Simon. Thank you for what you did for me. You stopped me from making a horrible choice that would have haunted me forever. You have shown a lot of strength. I think we have all underestimated that strength many times. No one more than I." Alec looked down at his feet ashamed. In a quiet whisper so soft you could barely hear it he spoke, "I almost killed someone and you saved me from that." Simon, now more aware of his surroundings, looked toward Alec with a sorrow that came from his own demons. "I owed Jace something. But I would have done it anyway because I know that feeling. I know that fierce control we…well you, have to maintain. I knew it because I had felt it. I had been there. I think we both learned something about one-another through this." In true Simon fashion he had to make a joke of it. "Plus I would be happy to do that again any day. It wasn't a half bad experience." He said with a creepy smirk that had Izzy rolling her eyes and Alec turning three shades of pink.

Alec stepped a bit closer to Simon and put a hand on his shoulder. You have become a true friend to me and I won't ever forget this and what you have done for me since the beginning of this crazy adventure. If there is anything you ever need of me just ask." Simon lightly touched the spot on his neck where Alec had bit and Alec felt something stir deep in his belly. Like a calling, a mark had been made on Simon when he put his blood on the wounds to heal it. He could have just used the healing rune alone and that would have healed his bite. He wasn't sure why he had done that but something instinctual had come over him. "I think you will always know when I am in trouble now. I am not sure why, but I know it. Did you do something other than bite me?" Alec turned another shade of pink as Izzy moved forward concerned. "I bit my finger and placed some of my blood on your neck wounds to heal them before using your healing rune. I am not sure why but I think it formed a connection." Izzy was looking rather pissed at the moment so he slowly backed away from Simon. Simon shot her a look. "It's okay Iz, I think it is a good thing. He will be able to come to my rescue when no one else can. So, what's the plan to get Jace back?"

Magnus got up from the floor along with Clary and Ezekiel and he told Simon of their plan. Once everyone was agreed they decided that they best portal to a block to the west of the deadzone, they decided to call it, and stay away from the Institute as best they can so that Alec doesn't get exposed on this mission. Magnus created the portal and they all stepped through it. Once everyone was standing in the street of the alleyway they immediately could feel the cold chill of the Leviathans nearby. Ezekiel told everyone that they should step back another hundred feet away from the chill. It wasn't too bad there but it was best to play it safe. Only Alec and Magnus moved forward. Alec could feel the cold but it did not feel like he was losing any energy nor did he feel sleepy. Magnus, however, was instantly shivering as they moved further into the alleyway. He complained to Alec that he also felt very drowsy. He put up a protection bubble but could feel that the energy used for that would be sucked up as well. It did protect him from it temporarily but he knew once he was drained of the magic projecting it he would go down. They were on a time limit.

Alec stopped as they came into a cross-street. There was a hotel further down another block but he felt his Parabatai Mark pulse and he knew that he was close to Jace. Magnus stumbled a bit, getting very tired. "Babe I may need an assist, give me some of your blood just a little this time. I think it will help fortify me against these creatures' powers or at least boost mine to fight them." Alec quickly turned to him, biting into his wrist and offering it. "I think you are right plus I can feel Jace nearby and I am going to need your help to pin-point him." As Magnus began to drink from Alec's wrist his protection bubble got brighter and bigger. His cat eyes burned like fire. He let go and instantly cast a finding spell for Jace. His fingers danced in the air as purple sparks flew from the tips spiraled out into the air in different directions. Slowly one by one they all came to a certain point in the sky and disappeared. "Damn it! They have some form of forcefield over their area to stop magic of any kind. I am not sure if it is to keep magic out or in." Alec could feel his Parabatai mark sparking as moved forward. "It's okay my love I think I have a way of locating him on my own. The mark is giving me cues. Magnus had an idea to help. "If your mark is still working through the field then maybe I can channel my magic through it to help find him faster."

Magnus quickly put a hand on Alec's forehead and the other at his waist where the Parabatai mark was. His eyes glowed ever brighter as he whispered an incantation. Alec's own power responded to it. His wings once again made their presence known, appearing and spanning out to their full width. He sent out that pulse once more from his chest and when it came back a purple trail appeared between Alec and Magnus and a house just down the street. "Okay, Magnus I know where he is, portal yourself back to the others. I will meet you soon." Alec waited for Magnus to create the portal and disappear through it before he took off for the house. He only meant to run but with a single thought he was in front of the door. He wasn't sure if he ran, flew or portaled. He opened the door and walked through and as he did his mark burned fiercely. He walked into the hallway and saw a stairway he remembered the dark around Jace from his vision. He looked closer and saw the cupboard door. Yes! That's got to be where he is! Alec thought. He opened the door and there Jace lay. He was turning blue. He was so cold the relief of finding him was met with the terror of seeing the state of him. No wonder his mark burned so hot. Jace was dying! Alec quickly scooped him up. And with a flash of his wings he and everyone else was back in Simon's house. Everyone stood in a circle in the living room shocked that Alec had just portaled them all like the Angel Samael had before. But the looks of shock turned to terror as they saw Jace's unconscious and deathlike state in Alec's arms.