Chapter 26

'Arrète! C'est ici L'empire de la Mort.' (Stop! This is the empire of the dead.)

The sign above their heads read.

Magnus had portaled them directly in front of the Catacombs' entry way, bypassing the museum, pillard corridors and long lines of tourist filling the streets above.

"This is as far as we can portal," said Magnus as he looked around him, taking in the well lit tunnel, the lamps placed intermittently along the walls casting a beautiful yellow glow over the thousands of human skulls neatly lining the walls. "We'll have to travel the rest of the way on foot."

It was well known that one needed to be familiar with the place that they were portaling to. And despite having attended a few crazy parties in the Catacombs himself many many years ago, Magnus didn't want to risk running into any problems by attempting to portal them further in. He figured that starting from the beginning with a map in hand would be their safest bet. Navigating Duduael's Inbetween was already going to be troublesome enough, starting their treacherous journey by getting lost in the Catacombs, would definitely not be a reassuring sign.

Pausing, they all watched quietly as a small group of tourist, chatting lively, walked pass them, completely ignorant of the presence.

"Are we all set?" Asked Magnus as Jace and the others checked their gears and weapons one last time, just wanting to make sure that they had everything that they needed.

The sun had already been high in the sky by the time they'd left his apartment, having spent a few hours after Jace had woken up to prepare themselves, drawing the necessary runes and even brewing a few potions. And so Magnus was itching to get moving, his fingers twitching somewhat impatiently at his sides.

"We're all set," Jace confirmed, the others voicing their eagerness to get going as well.

"Good..." Magnus gave them one final look. "Then let's go get my mate back."

And with that, the group started forward through the tunnels, the ominous statement passing over their heads and disappearing behind them. Magnus was leading the way, a look of determination etched in his face. The plan was simply. They would make their way through the Catacombs until they got to the border of the mortal realm, crossing into the Inbetween. From there, they would be able to track Alec's exact location, killing anything that got in their way.

As Magnus quietly made his way through the tunnels, still passing a few tourist here and there, his best friend, Ragnor and Alec's little band of misfits, as his mate liked to call them, following closely at his back, he couldn't help but think about everything that Jace had told them that morning.

The morning had indeed been very emotional one for the warlock. The information Jace had given them, though some of it expected, had been a slap in the face for Magnus. And once again, he'd found himself unable to contain his anger. Though to be fair, most of it was aimed at himself...

-------

Clary was still sitting on the chaise lounge, gently combing her fingers through Jace's hair, when his eyes slowly began to flutter open.

"Alec..." Jace's voice sounded, his face twisting in confusion. "Hold on. I'm here. I'll..." It was obvious that he'd been dreaming and didn't know where he was, his eyes shifting around the room before finally focusing on Clary. Realizing that he was still in Magnus' London apartment, he moved urgently to get up off the couch. "We have to..."

"Shhh. Calm down," Clary soothed, pushing at his chest to keep him from getting up. "Take it easy. Guys," she called out, looking around the room franticly for the others. "He's awake." The relief in her voice was palpable.

The others were by the couch in an instant. Jace was bursting at the seams.

"You're ok. Take it easy," Clary told him, gripping one of his hands.

Jace took several calming breathes. "I'm fine," he assured her after a moment, managing to calm himself down a bit. He then slowly sat up, bringing his free hand up to rub at his forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Ragnor as he allowed his magic to scan Jace, just to be sure that he was indeed alright.

"I'm fine," Jace rasped. "Just...my head.."

Ragnor allowed his magic to heal Jace's headache before conjuring him a glass of water. "Here."

Jace accepted the water, drinking the entire glass in one go before Clary took the now empty glass from him and placed it on the side table.

Magnus' voice was like a calming force a sea of chaos. "Where is he?" He asked simply, prompting Jace and the others to quickly turn their attentions to him. His voice seemed to stop time itself. Everyone was holding their breathes.

Jace didn't hesitate. "Duduael," said the still visibly shaken shadowhunter, causing the room to breathe once again, all of them gasping at the revelation. Even Magnus himself.

Though the warlock didn't really know why. This was just a confirmation of what he'd already suspected. Many question ran through Magnus' mind: Was Azazel helping them? And what exactly did Jace mean when he said Duduael? Did he mean in the realm itself? Because that wasn't possible, they had already checked.

Magnus' brows knitted together for a moment before smoothing out again in realization. It didn't matter. Whether in Dudueal or within the it's gates, they now knew where to begin their search.

"Magnus..." It was Jace, calling back the warlock's attention. He paused for a moment as if to make sure that Magnus would not miss his next words. "He also said that Camille is involved. She's working with Jonathan."

A sharp breath left Magnus at that. Camille?

The fires of Edom ignited in his eyes. She's dead. His hands were white knuckled at his sides and his jaw ticked as he gritted his teeth, no doubt shaving off a layer of the enamel. He was personally going to drive a stake through that bitch's hate filled heart with his bare hands.

Magnus moved away from the couch, the others watching him as he began pacing back and forth, furiously. He practically had steam coming out from his ears. How could he not have seen this coming? This was what he got for being too soft with his enemies. He knew better than to leave people who've crossed him alive. Well, not anymore.

Still, the more Magnus thought about it, the more something wasn't adding up. Even with how crazy she was, Camille had always been one for self preservation first before anything else. Why would she risk it all by going after what was his, even after all of his warnings? Why would she dare touch his mate? She must have known that she would be signing her death warrant by doing this. Unless...

Magnus suddenly stopped pacing.

Turning back to Jace, "Did he say anything else?" Asked Magnus, his voice eerily quiet.

"Not much," said Jace. "The connection got cut off before he could explain things further. But, he did say that this wasn't just about him, that it was also about you. He said that you were in danger. He wanted me to warn you." As Jace spoke, he was starting to look better and better with every second that ticked by, the color slowly coming back into his face. "What's going on, Magnus?"

Did this mean that Camille was working with Lilith? That would make sense. She wouldn't have made such a play unless she was certain that she had a winning hand.

Magnus was once again pulled into his thoughts, completely ignoring Jace's question. Everything really was connected to him. Everything that was happening to Alec was because of him. It was all his fault. Perhaps even Jonathan wouldn't have gone this far if it wasn't for him? If Alec hadden met him then... No. The selfish side of Magnus would not allow him to think like that; to wallow in self pity. Alec belonged with him. Alec was his...was always meant to be his, and nothing or no one one was going to change that. Jonathan was already messed up way before he came along.

"Magnus?" This time it was Izzy, cutting into the warlock's thoughts. "What's going on? What are you thinking?" They all knew that Camille was Magnus' ex. It was customary for Institutes to keep files on the Down worlders in their city, least of all someone as powerful as Magnus Bane. Plus, they would have been stupid not to investigate the man who was to be their brother's mate...beyond the whole prince of hell situation of course.

Izzy took a few steps towards Magnus. "What did my brother mean that this isn't just about him? What aren't you telling us?" Her brows drew together as she searched Magnus' face for answers. "Why do I get the feeling that Camille's involvement in all of this isn't just a case of a disgruntled ex out for revenge?"

They were all starring at him now, waiting for his explanation. When Magnus' eyes met Ragnor's, his friend simply nodded in encouragement, giving him a look that told him that it was up to him what he wanted to tell the others, and that he had his support either way.

Magnus sighed tiredly, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "It's not important right now."

"Magnus..." Izzy started, but Magnus was quick to cut her off.

"Look, Isabelle. I promise you that if there was something that I thought you needed to know, I would've told you." It really wasn't the he didn't trust them, but now was not the time to bring up the situation with Lilith. It would only create further panic and complicate the situation even more. Which they did not need right now. "Let's just focus on getting Alexander back first. Camille being in the picture doesn't change anything."

"Are you sure about that?" Izzy raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. It was clear what she was implying. Magnus had no doubt that the others were all thinking the same thing as well. Would Camille's involvement cloud his judgment? Moreover, whereas Jonathan was not after Alec's life, the same couldn't exactly be said about Camille. This was no longer just about stopping a forced mating for the shadowhunters, which of course would be no less devastating, but this was also now about Alec's life. The threat had increased.

"If she hurts Alec..."

"She won't," Magnus assured, not allowing Izzy to finish her statement.

The look in Magnus' eyes left no room for dispute, his killing intent clear. Izzy could only press her lips together, deciding not to bother pressing the issue any further. Whatever Magnus was hiding, they would deal with later. What mattered right now was getting to Alec.

"So what's our next move?" Asked Simon, already knowing that it was a stupid question. Of course they were...

"We're going to Paris," said Izzy. "It's time to get my brother back."

~ooOoo~

Alec couldn't stop the tears as they continued to spill down his cheeks. And inbetween those tears, came sporadic bursts of laughter.

He'd made contact with Jace. They were trying to rescue him.

Alec scolded himself at that thought. Why was he surprised? Of course they were trying to rescue him. But then, Jace's nose was bleeding. He was hurt. And he couldn't make contact with him again. How was Jace even able to make contact with him like that in the first place? And was he alright? He knew Jace was still alive, but still...

It was all too overwhelming.

Alec couldn't help but to once again bemoan how useless he was. He wanted to rip everything apart. Grabbing one of the pillows on the bed, he squeezed it as if it was Jonathan's neck. He then ripped the pillow apart, sending the cotton filling flying everywhere, repeating the action two more times before finally managing to calm himself back down.

It was a while later when Jonathan came back carrying a tray of food. The alpha paused inside of the doorway, glancing around the room at the new mess. However, he didn't say anything about it, moving instead to arrange the food on the small dinning table still set up at one side of the room.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as he bent to pick up the chair Alec must have knocked over, making his way over to the bed when he was finished. "I brought a few of your favorites."

Alec didn't respond, completely ignoring him as he buried himself even further into the blankets, not caring at all about the cotton filling from the pillows flying everywhere.

"Still mad at me I see," Jonathan sighed as he sat down next to him on the bed. He raised one of his hands, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to remove a few pieces of cotton stuck in Alec's hair. Alec tensed for a moment but allowed him.

"Come eat something," Jonathan beseeched. "You'll feel better."

Alec wanted to say that he would 'feel better' if he left him the hell alone. But, for some reason, he just couldn't find it himself to lash out anymore. He suddenly felt drained, both physically and emotionally. Since his abduction, he'd never felt more hopeless and afraid. There was really nothing he could do. This realization made him truly physically ill. He didn't know which was worse, having no hope, or having it only for it to be snatched away from you. That feeling of dread when he'd realized that he'd been going around in circles... then that burst of relief when he felt Jace through their bond... He wanted to hold on to that feeling so bad; the promise that Jace, that Magnus, the promise that they would find him. It was all he could do to keep it together and not fall apart.

In the end, he decided to allow Jonathan help him get out of the bed, guiding him to the table, his survival instincts pushing him to eat something, to at least keep his strength up so that when the time came he would be able to help fight his way out of there.

"Don't worry," said Jonathan as he sat beside Alec, pouring him a glass of juice. "Just a little while longer. It's almost over. Then, we'll go wherever you want. I know how much you hate being cooped up like this. Believe me, I hate it too. After we complete our mating bond, we'll travel the world. Promise. How does that sound, hmm?"

Jonathan smiled as if he could see everything in his mind's eye. And perhaps he could. "We won't have to hide anymore. Your family, the Clave, they won't have any choice but to accept us. Everything will work out. You'll see."

Alec could only think that this person was crazy. He prayed to the Angel Raziel that whatever Jace and the others were planning to do, that they worked fast.

"Just a few more days," Jonathan lamented, still smiling at Alec.

Little did he know that his time was already running out.

~ooOoo~

"I still can't believe you brought that thing with you," said Jace, watching as the small feline followed closely behind Magnus, walking with it's head held high and it's tail waving from side to side. "Such an arrogant little thing, isn't he?" He'd never seen anyone look more proud just walking, not even Magnus. And the warlock was one of the most arrogant persons he'd ever met. He hadn't even notice the small ball of fur following them through the portal, or even when they'd first arrived at the Catacomb's entrance. The thing just popped up out of nowhere.

Magnus glanced behind him down at his 'little friend', a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Don't worry about him," he smirked. "The Chairman can take care of himself." He went silent for a moment, then, "Oh, and I wouldn't refer to him as a thing again if I were you."

"And why's that?" Jace scoffed, rolling his eyes. Then using a high pitched baby voice to talk, "Are you going to get mad and scratch my eyes out little kitty?" He chuckled as he looked down at Chairman.

Magnus only gave him an indecipherable look in response.

They'd been walking for a while now, having already spent well over a day navigating the Catacombs, stopping to eat and rest a few times along the way, gradually leaving all signs of tourists and the mundane world behind. Even the garish arrangements of human bones had now disappeared, leaving nothing but the bare dirt tunnels for them traverse. Both Jace and Izzy had taken out their witch lights after passing the last of the mundane lights, using the luminescent stones to light their way.

"What do you think's happening back at the Institute?" Asked Izzy as she quickened her steps, moving away from Simon and Clary to walk next to Jace, who was walking ahead of them alongside Magnus.

"Who knows," said Jace, giving her a sidelong glance. "But I doubt their making things easy for the Clave. You know how stubborn your parents can be."

"That's true," Izzy admitted, thinking about how stubborn her parents have been with the whole Magnus situation, or any other situation for that matter, especially her mother. Still, she couldn't help but worry about them. She wished that she could send them a message to let them know that they were doing alright and that they had a lead on Alec. She knew that they would be beyond worried, especially now that she and the others were missing as well. Unfortunately, she couldn't risk it, not with the Clave in charge. If they used the Soul Sword on her parents, then they would definitely be screwed.

"How much longer do you think?" Simon asked, the question directed at Clary. "I think it's time for another rest break. My feet are killing me," the beta whined, almost squeaking when a few mice flittered out of their way.

Clary, who had been studying one of the runes in the book she'd found back in Alacante's Armory, not able to put the thing down even for moment, excitedly sharing her discoveries with the others every now and then, looked up from the book at Simon.

"How can you even walk without falling on your face?" Simon asked. But Clary simply shrugged, her gaze shifting towards Magnus.

"Magnus..." Clary started.

"Soon," Magnus replied, cutting her off, having already heard Simon's question. "Just..." The warlock suddenly paused, stopping abruptly in his tracks, the action causing the others to stop as well.

"What... What is it?" Simon whispered as they all looked around suspiciously.

"Shhh," Magnus held up one of his hands, the rings on his fingers catching the light from Jace and Izzy's witch lights. He then exchanged a cryptic look with Ragnor before shifting his gaze back to the others. "Be on your guard. Looks like we'll be having some company soon." He could sense that there was a small nest of demons not too far ahead of them, and unfortunately there wasn't another path that they could take.

The shadowhunters' hands immediately went to their weapons.

Jace and Izzy put away their witch lights, dousing the tunnel in darkness. They then, along with Simon and Clary, activated the night vision runes that they'd drawn on ahead of time for the mission.

Ragnor quickly mumbled a few words. The warlock obviously casting a spell that would allow him see in the dark as well. While Magnus on the other hand, only needed to drop his glamour, his cat like eyes already possessing the ability.

Magnus knew that they were going to be facing off against demons on this mission, but, he'd honestly hoped that they'd at least get across the border first. Nevertheless, still leading the group, he stalked forward with the others following closely behind him, Ragnor bringing up the rear. The other warlock walked with his back turned, ready, in case they were attacked from behind. Everyone moved more cautiously now, their eyes scanning in every direction, all conversations now halted.

"Get ready," Magnus whispered a while later, the shadowhunters' sensors going off as well, vibrating lightly inside their pockets.