Chapter Text
Alec grimaces as cold metal digs into his wrists, tightly bound by Madzie’s magic.
“That’s good,” valentine says satisfied. “Now string him up, time for some fun,” he ends with a sadistic smile.
Alec’s face hardens as he musters up a glare. If looks could kill, valentine would be splattered on the wall. His henchmen roughly pull Alec from his knees and attach his locked up hands to a hook dangling from the ceiling. The hook slowly begins to rise and stretch out his body until he is barely standing on his toes.
Valentine slowly walks around Alec. “It’s simple really; all I want is my family. Where are Clarissa and Johnathan?” He stops behind him so Alec can’t see him. His senses on high alert, mentally preparing his body for any blows. He would not give this asshole the satisfaction of breaking him.
“I already told you,” Alec sneered, “they’re not here.”
“Well that’s just unfortunate. How do you propose we solve this little problem then?” he asks as he slowly makes his way in front of Alec.
Alec’s eyes follow him, like a predator hunting his prey, and valentine was circling him like a shark ready to attack. Alec needed to remain strong. At least he got everyone out of the institute so they could reconvene and make up a plan to end the Circle.
Alec smirked. “Maybe if you were a better father and weren’t planning on destroying the downworld you would understand how to properly talk to your children.”
A slow smile spread on valentine’s lips. “You see, the thing is,” he began as he started to circle him again, “I may not be the father of the year, but I certainly know how to get my children’s attention. I was asking you to see if you had any other plan that didn’t cause an infliction of pain, or rather, the cleanest way to go about this.”
Alec’s eyes widened in shock at what valentine was getting at. He quickly turned his face stone cold, brows furrowed together and his breath coming a little quicker in preparation.
“Torture me all you want, I won’t give in,” he said gravely.
“Who said anything about me torturing you? Oh no,” he shook his head and looked at Madzie who was standing off to the side, “little Madzie here will take over, won’t you sweet heart?” he said as he crouched down in front of her.
Confusing crossed her face as she looked at valentine then back at Alec.
“Don’t you want to find your Nana so you can go home?”
Madzie looked back at valentine and nodded her head.
“Then be a good little girl and help me get this man to talk. He’s a very bad man, you see, and I need him to help me track down some people. Think you can help me with that?” he tilted his head, asking in a soft voice.
Madzie looked back at Alec, hesitant to hurt the innocent man who was pleading with her through his glossy hazel eyes, but she wanted to go home.
“Madzie, don’t listen to him. He’s just using you. You’re Nana is fine and I know where she is,” Alec pleaded, hoping he could connect with the little girl like he had when he first met her at the manor.
Alec looked at valentine venomously. “Let her go, she doesn’t need to be a part of this.”
Valentine smiled and stood up, hands behind his back. “Madzie, make the man talk.”
Madzie held up her hand, not knowing any better, and let her power surge toward Alec.
As the red magic flew from her fingers, she saw a look of desperation from Alec. She paused, hands still raised, aimed at the poor man. Her brows knit in concern and confusion. Why would valentine want to hurt Alec? He was a nice man who complimented her gills. No, she wouldn’t do this to him. She let out an uneasy breath, mind made up, and lowered her hands.
Valentine hummed in amusement, then nodded to one of his henchmen behind Alec.
The blow that came to his ribs was a sudden shock, his body wanted to curl in and grab the shattered ribs in protest, but the chains held his body straight and tight. He heard Madzie shout in surprise at the sudden brutality. Alec tried to hold in his pain, but his throat protested as a brief shout of agony echoed through the halls of the institute. He clamped his mouth shut and held back another whimper as he received another blow to the gut that had him wanting to crumble into himself.
He was a Shadowhunter, this pain wouldn’t last long. He can escape and give himself an iratze to heal everything. He would be fine. He needed to get Madzie and the soul sword away from the Circle.
Valentine crouched down in front of the little girl again. “You see sweet heart, if you don’t fully cooperate or help me get what I want, then I can’t take you back to your Nana and this man will only suffer more than he needs to.”
Tears slowly fell from Madzie’s eyes as she looked at Alec, slouched, only standing tall because of the chains she put on him. She liked Alec and it pained her to see him hurt. Mind made up, she slowly shook her head, refusing to dig through his brain.
Valentine’s smile turned down, eyes becoming hard. “I thought I could trust you sweet heart. But you’ve done well,” he said with a timid smile. He looked up at two of his Shadowhunters and gave them a nod. “These men will take you back to your Nana.”
They moved on either side of her and set a hand on each shoulder, steering her away to be locked up.
“Let her go valentine, she has nothing to do with this!” Alec panted, fighting against his restraints.
Madzie turned to face Alec and stopped. The henchmen grew impatient and grabbed her by her arms and lifted her.
“No! Alec!” she screamed as she reached out her arms towards him, tears streaming down her face. She lost sight of him struggling against his restraints as they turned a corner and she was led down a hallway. She heard the men’s fists meet his body as he shouted for Madzie.
--
“The institute is under attack, we need to get there now!” Jace shouted to Luke as he rounded the police vehicle to the passenger’s side.
“They must have found a way to take down Magnus’s wards,” Luke explains as he straps in and starts the car, headed down the highway at dangerous speeds.
“I think they used Madzie,” Jace breathes out as he takes a moment to let it soak in, the lengths valentine was willing to go to. “We can’t let him get Clary-“
He breaks off with a hiss of pain and grabs at his parabatai rune, a flash of pain running through his body, making him grit his teeth in protest.
Luke looks over at him suddenly, “What is it?”
Jace takes a moment to get his breath under control, but the pain keeps coming in waves, leaving him breathless and aching for his parabatai.
“Alec,” he whispers through a ragged breath. “Alec’s hurt, drive faster Luke!” he demands the alpha.
Luke flexes his jaw and pushes down on the gas pedal.
--
Tears streamed down Madzie’s face as she kicked and pushed at the man who held her tightly in his arms, but he wouldn’t give. She let out a frustrated cry and energy surged through her and directly into the man. He let out a stunned gasp and released Madzie before he dropped to the floor.
“What the hell?” was all the other shadowhunter could shout before Madzie, face hard and furious, released her magic upon him as he too slouched to the ground in silence.
She was breathing heavily as her tears began to dry on her face when she sensed someone coming around the corner.
--
Magnus had been frantically trying to knock down the new wards of the institute that kept him locked out. Other shadowhunters gathered around him, posed and ready to strike when he could finally get the doors open.
He released a breath of frustration as sweat began to trickle down his face, feeling the depletion of his magic when suddenly the wards went down.
Magnus knew he was strong, but not enough to break the wards. Something must have happened. Alexander was in there and he needed to get to him right away, and now the door was open.
Frantically, he pushed through all of the shadowhunters and burst through the front doors of the institute. Paintings were slouched on the walls, barely hanging on. Tables had been knocked over and equipment scattered the floor.
He sensed a warlock’s magic nearby and heard a scream.
“What the hell?” someone shouted, voice laced with panic before it went silent.
Magnus dashed through the halls and rounded a corner, coming face to face with a little girl and two men on the floor.
She looked petrified, tears streaming down her face as she huffed out each breath.
Magnus cautiously stepped forward. “Hello sweet pea. I’m Magnus,” he spoke softly.
She took a step back from him.
“There’s no reason to be afraid,” he said as he crouched to her level. “I’m a warlock, just like you.” He released his glamour and showed her his true cat eyes. He reached his hand out to her, “are you okay?”
She burst into tears and ran forward, wrapping her little arms around his neck. Magnus was shocked but quickly embraced the poor girl, transferring magic to help calm her stress. He stroked her hair softly, “Oh my dear, what happened?” he whispered.
She looked back into his eyes, but kept her hands tight on his lapels.
“T-the man wanted me to hurt him,” she began shaking her head vigorously, tears streaming, “but-but I didn’t, I couldn’t. And n-now they are hurting him because I couldn’t.”
Magnus brought a hand up to delicately wipe away each tear as it fell, listening intently to every word.
“What man? Can you take me to them?” he asked softly.
She tightened her hands on him, nervous for what was to come and nodded her head.
Magnus nodded and pulled her into a hug. “Okay, everything’s fine. I’m going to put a glamour on you so none of the men can see you okay?” he asked as he dug his face in her hair.
She nodded as more tears fell down her face, and Magnus lifted her into his arms, hushing her quietly.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay. We are going to be brave okay? You’ve done so well my dear, now let’s go take down the bad men, hmm?” Magnus asked softly.
She leaned back to look at him, her face now full of determination, and pointed down the hallway she came, leading them to Alec.