"Alec. Wake up."

"It's time?"

"It's time." Alec jumped out of bed to change into his armour. Today was the day. The day Raphael's hard work finally pays off. The day we get Jace back.

Raphael has been working his ass off figuring out Sebastian's letters. More came after the first one, each containing a clue that seemed irrelevant to the last. How wrong we were. He sent four letters in total. Which meant every four word. Together they all spelled out If come. Come here. His grammar made no sense, but it was something. The map showed his location. If you marked the places where he last struck, it made a pentagram with one point missing. The one placed must be where he's keeping Jace.

Isabelle and Alec have been worried sick. Especially Alec since Jace was his only friend growing up. As soon as Alec got dressed we left to meet up with the part of my army that was going. Raphael and many others are very much against me fighting with them, even though I very much capable. Living your life as an orphan on the streets, exposed to gangs, teaches you a thing or too. I'm just simply sending them off since the kingdom cannot live without me apparently. If I did die, I would be left my throne in the hands of Isabelle. Alec would be my first choice, but he wouldn't accept it, and I am not leaving my throne to Blondie. Plus, Isabelle is more responsible than Blondie, and second best Lightwood. Even though she is the only Lightwood by blood besides Alec. She'd still make a great queen.

Before we made it outside I brought Alec into hug. Since he wouldn't want me to hug him out there. "Stay safe. Make sure you come back."

"I will. I wouldn't leave you for the world. I already had to once, and I'm never doing it again." I tilted his chin up with a finger, and brought his lips to mine. Slow and sweet, but I was so worried. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Everyone who agreed to go on the mission is outside my castle. Raphael in the front. "Good luck, Raphael. May you return with everyone here."

"I plan on it. You'd kill me if Alec died." I gave out a dry chuckle. I only half meaned it. I already thought he was dead once, I don't want to feel like that ever again. "Good luck."

"I don't need luck."

"I'm hoping you're right."

"I am."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Bane. Don't worry about us. We'll return. Trust me."

"I do trust you."

"You really shouldn't. I make bad decisions a lot of the time."

"Shut up."

"I know. It's goodbye now." He told everyone to mound their horses and they left. All I could do is pray that they return.

~o~

"Did Magnus say goodbye to you?" Isabelle asked. She was mount on a horse beside me.

"Yeah. Before we went outside."

"Give me details."

"No, Isabelle."

"C'mon. Why not."

"Because it isn't any of your business." I just really didn't want to tell her we kiss and said sappy stuff to each other.

"Fine, fine." We rode in silence for a while. Sebastian was about two days away on horseback. Hopefully he'll still be there when we arrive. Isabelle and I have both been worried about Jace. We both grew up with him. And as much as I hate to admit it, I had a crush in him before Magnus. He was the only guy I got attention from, and that meant a lot to closeted Alec. But that's in the past, I don't like him anymore.

When we reached our stopping point for the night, Isabelle and I set up camp next to each other. We laid down to rest. When I was half-asleep Isabelle turned to me. "Are you scared? That Jace is dead?"

"I don't think he's dead. I don't know why, but I feel like he isn't dead."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Isabelle. Go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us."

"Night."

~o~

After our long journey, we finally reached the place where Sebastian should be. But why here? It's simply an old abandoned building that would fall apart if the wind blew too hard. This is no place to house troops. It's not even a place to house Sebastian. "It wouldn't be safe if all of us went inside," Raphael announced. "I'll go and search for Jace. Jordan, you come with me." Jordan was a young guy, but he was strong. Curly hair and tattoos all over his arms. He got off of his horse and followed Raphael into the house. We all trusted them to come out alive. Raphael was the head and he trusted Jordan enough to take him with him. We all had hope in them. So when their lifeless bodies come tumbling out the second story window, it came as a shock to all of us. Each had a stab wound in their chest. Oozing dark red blood. Just for a second, I swore I saw a whisp of white-blond hair from the second start window.

Everyone was in shock for a moment, so we had no idea what to do. Before I could register what was happening, Isabelle sped passed me. "Isabelle!" I screamed. No one was going after her, so I ran inside to go get her. Sebastian is still in there an He just killed two of our best. I ran after her, running up the rickety stairs. Only three people were on my mind. Jace, Isabelle, Sebastian. Jace, Isabelle, Sebastain. The door to the room where the window was, was thrown wide open. Inside was Isabelle looking ready to kill Sebastian. Sebastian stood nonchalant against the wall; Jace's unconscious body at his toes. Gagged and blindfolded. "Let him go!" Isabelle yelled full of spite.

"Such a stupid little girl. He's alright. He doesn't know what has happened to him. So information coming from him won't happen."

"What did you do to him!"

"Nothing at all. Don't worry, he was just bait to get you all here."

"We're here. What do you want!"

"A worthy opponent. If we're going to war, I want to know how much of a challenge Magnus Bane's army will be. Telling from those two fools I just killed, not much of a challenge."

"You. Are. Insane!"

"I know. I suggest you leave now or I might just have to kill you. Pity. You would've been a great addition to my army."

"You leave now or I'll kill you. I don't miss," I said. There was a sterling silver throwing knife in my hand; I haven't missed a target since I was eight.

"Ah. You're the one my father wanted. I don't see why the throne of Idris would be left to you. You're so... average. Nothing extraordinary about you, but somehow you manage to become heir to the throne with your parents consent and steal Magnus Bane's heart. Don't worry I have no interest in you, but I do want to burn Idris to the ground. And... why not let's take a stop at Magnus's castle. It'll be fun to see it on fire. Let's leave Magnus inside too."

"Don't even think about it."

"I already have. I think it's about time I leave." He kicked Jace's body forward. "You can take that, I have no use for it anymore." He then sprinted out the room. He was very fast. So fast that when Isabelle tried to catch his foot with her whip, she missed by an inch. Isabelle tried to catch up to him, but in the end she couldn't. "I'll kill him!" she yelled.

"He's gone, but we'll get him. And I won't let him live next time. I'll go get Jace, you search the house for anyone else." She disappeared into the house while I went to go get Jace.

He was sprawled across the floor, still unconscious. Buy his chest still rose and fell with each breath, so I knew he was still alive. I put his arm around my shoulder and tried to balance his weight on me. I took him outside. Everyone helped me with him, one even tried to wake him up. It didn't work though; he must just need rest.

A few minutes later Isabelle was coming down the stairs, and she sounded like she was struggling. "I caught one!" she yelled. There was a man in her arms. He was stocky, but clearly couldn't get away form Isabelle. Blood trailed on his dark skin, and I don't know if it was Isabelle who did that or not."He was tied to a chair in a room, so i thought he was another of Sebastian's captives. But once i let him go and ask him what hes doing, he tells me he was with Sebastian!"

"You have a lot to explain," I said. "But don't worry, you're coming with us. You'll have plenty of time to talk."