Clary's hair flared out behind her as she bounded down the corridors of the institute in search of the eldest Lightwood. She clung to her phone as if it were her life force, blinking back the tears that stung her eyes.

Finally spotting him speaking to another Nephilim, she stopped so abruptly Alec expected there to be skid marks where she stood. He went to smile and greet her, but saw the look on her face and thought better of it.

"Clary what's wrong? What's happened?" He demanded now feeling second hand panic as the man he was talking to slowly slipped away, not wanting to intrude. Clary's words were caught in her throat, everytime she opened her mouth choked sobs were the only sounds that reached the air.

"Clary." Alec shouted, shaking her shoulders. The red head thrusted her phone into his hands and Alec's eyebrows furrowed as he swiped the home screen, unlocking the phone - the Lightwood boy had been telling her for weeks to put a password on it.

Alec wasn't sure what he expected, but nothing he had imagined compared to the horror that was depicted on the phone screen before him. His love stood in the picture, hanging from chains attached to the ceiling. The left side of his face had been completely burned away, revealing the bone and teeth beneath the flesh.

He was shirtless, whip marks covering the faded runes upon his abdomen, and Alec felt sick to his stomach in seeing what had become of his boyfriend, what they had let happen. The boy stumbled, a sob escaping his lips. Clary steadied him, wrapping her tiny arms around his broad chest as she allowed the tears to roll down her face.

Regaining his composure, Alec swallowed hard and looked at Clary. "We have to help him. Come with me." And grabbing Clary's arm he led her through the windy corridors until they reached the corridor in which Aldertree resided.

Alec practically kicked the door down in his urgency, barging in on the head of the institute who looked less than pleased.

"Mister Lightwood." Aldertree sighed, repositioning himself on his chair. "Ah and Miss Fairchild." He added, spotting Clary lurking behind Alec. "Please, sit. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ignoring his invitation to be seated, Alec stormed to Aldertree's desk and slammed the phone in front of him, not speaking. Arching an eyebrow at the boys slight dramatics, Aldertree glanced down at the phone unable to hide his surprise as he saw the photo.

"Well it seems Mister Morgenstern had got himself in quite the um... pickle?" He snorted.

"The is not amusing in an way." Alec growled, slamming his fist against the desk, baring his teeth. "We need to help him."

"I understand your distress, but please calm down." Aldertree sighed so nonchalantly that Alec wanted to punch him square in the face. "Look, I can't do anything. The Morgenstern boy has sided with his father. If this is how Valentine treats him, it's not my problem. Casey chose the wrong side and now he's paying the price for it."

"Are you saying this is Casey's fault?" Alec demanded, his voice quiet and threatening. Aldertree looked up at the boy and smiled. "Yes I am."

Unable to contain his fury, Alec drew back his fist and punched him square in the jaw. "Alec." Clary snapped as she saw him prepare to go for round two, not wanting the boy to get in any more trouble.

Aldertree barked out a laugh as he stretched his jaw. "You are incredibly lucky I'm in a good mood today and am willing to let this one slide. Now get out."

"Listen here you-" Alec snarled, a colourful list of profanities at the ready to hurl at the man, but Clary jumped in and tugged at Alec's arm.

"Thank you Sir, we will leave now. Won't we Alec?"

"Fine." He spat and stormed out of the room, Clary sighing as she followed him.

"Alec slow down please I have little legs." Clary mumbled, her frustration increasing. The Lightwood boy halted and whirled on his heel. "So what do we do Clary?" He spoke through clenched teeth as tears stung his eyes, threatening to spill. "How do we help him?" His voice broke.

Clary stepped forward and hugged him, hoping to offer him some sort of comfort as she understood what he was going through. "I don't know Alec, but we'll figure it out. I promise."

--
"Rise and shine." Valentine cooed, pouring a bucket of ice water over Casey's head. The raven haired boy gasped in shock as the water made contact with his skin and Valentine made a sound that resembled almost a giggle.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." He whistled, snatching a mirror from the table. "You healed quite well if I do say so myself." Casey slowly raised his eyes, his chest swelling with disgust as he saw his reflection. The flesh upon the left side of his face had healed but it had left burns behind, running the whole way from his hairline to his jugular, only around his eye area remained unburned for Valentine didn't want to taint his sons eyesight.

A high pitched squeal cut through the air as Casey reached up and touched his face, shaking in fear of his own reflection. How could anyone ever love him now? How would anyone be able go burn the sight of him.

"What have you done?" He sobbed, his fingertips brushing against the gnarled flesh.

"Oh Casey don't be such a crybaby." Valentine huffed, removing the mirror from his sons line of view. "Your real power is within, it doesn't matter how pretty you are on the outaide. Besides, maybe people will fear you even more now." He grinned.

"I don't want to be feared." Casey roared, saliva falling from his mouth, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Valentine sighed and rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall. "You don't want to be feared, you want to be loved. Blah blah blah. I've heard it all before my son. But when are you going to get it?" Casey's father pushed himself off the wall and positioned close to his son's face. "Are you ever going to get it my dear son? People already fear you." He roared and Casey flinched.

"Your friends, your sister, your little boytoy they all fear you because of the blood that runs through your veins. You are and always will be part demon Casey. You can't run from it, and you can't hide it. Soon they will all leave you, and that's if the Clave don't lock you up first. And then all you will have left is me. Me Casey. I know who you are, and I will always love you."

"This isn't love Valentine." Casey snarled. "You don't know how to love, not anymore. This -" He hissed, gesturing to his face as the chains rattled. "this is anything but love. Clary, Simon, Jace, Isabelle - all my friends they know who I am. And as for my boytoy." He spat. "Alec loves me for me, and even if they all leave, even if the Clave lock me up, well I'd rather be alone or dead than with you."

Valentine screamed in frustration, punching the wall. His breathing turned heavy as the blood dripped from his knuckles, each drop hitting the floor with an echo. "I've had enough. If you won't cooperate willingly then I'll just have to try . . . alternative methods." A sly smile formed on Valentine's lips but Casey's scowl didn't falter.

"Edward." Valentine called out and the bolted door unbolted and in entered a boy no more than twelve with a long feline like tail. His face was battered, his clothese tattered and it was clear he was another of Valentine's prisoners.

"You know what to do." He spoke gruffly and the warlock looked sad as his eyes fell to the floor. "Now." Valentine roared and the warlock flinched.

"Hey Edward." Casey spoke softly and the boy met his eye. "It's okay, you do what you have to."

"I- I don't want to hurt you." Edward hiccuped.

"I know I know, but it's okay Edward. It's okay." Casey comforted the boy.

"Dear good god hurry the hell up or I'll slit your throat and find another warlock to do the job."

Quivering, Edward raised his hands and placed them against the young man's temples. "I'm sorry." He sobbed and the pain started again.

The pain was only concentrated in Casey's mind, he couldn't quite tell whether it was really or not. He was quite sure how long it lasted but when it subsided his mind felt foggy, almost as though he wasn't concious, but rather automated - a machine.

His eyes focused, but his brain still wasn't sharp as he saw the sobbing boy leaving the room and a clean shaven man remained in the room. This man was his father he thought and a bit of the fog cleared. His father, yes.

"Ready to help your father out Casey?"

"Of course father." He replied.