Five months. That's how long it's been since the warlock Magnus Bane broke Alec Lightwood's heart. Shadowhunters were trained to be strong, to be prepared for anything. But no amount of training could have prepared Alec for this. The pain of heartbreak was nearly unbearable, but Alec was managing. If locking yourself in your room for days at a time was managing.

Alec could not remember the last time he even spoke to anyone. He didn't like being the center of attention and knew all anyone would do if they saw him was ask him questions. 'Are you okay?' or 'How are you holding up?' were some questions he wasn't ready to answer yet.

Alec was planning on spending another day locked away in his own misery when someone knocked at his door. Not feeling up for company, he rolled over, buried his head under his pillow, and tried to block out the noise.

The knocking stopped and Alec thought whoever was bothering him walked away. But he was disappointed when he heard the distinct sound of stele against wood. Someone, probably Jace, was drawing an opening rune on his door. No pillow could protect him from his parabatai when he wanted something.

He heard his door opening and prepared himself to be hit by snide comments bashing Magnus. He was surprised when he felt his bed sink near his feet, indicating that someone sat. A few minutes passed before his guest spoke. "Alexander," said a female voice. "I'm worried about you."

Alec jerked upright, confused because he was expecting Jace. Although he didn't necessarily need to see his mother's face to know it was her who spoke. He'd recognize her voice anywhere, and she was the only woman to call him Alexander.

"Mom?" Alec asked, still surprised she was here. "What do you want?" Her face dropped, and Alec felt instantly guilty. He didn't mean to snap but he's been so miserable he couldn't help it.

"It's been days since I've seen you," she whispered, placing a hand lightly on his leg. "I know the only reason you're locked up in here," she gestured with her hand, indicating his room. "Is because of him. Because of Magnus."

Alec flinched, not used to the pain hearing his ex boyfrieds name caused. His mother never acknowledged that Alec was gay. He knew she was ashamed of him but the fact she was here now making Alec face the truth about Magnus proved that she at least accepted his sexuality.

She moved closer, placing her hand against his black hair. "You need to move on, Alexander. He wouldn't want this for you."

Alec rolled his eyes and laughed. "I don't really care much for what he'd want for me," Alec said, sitting up and feeling his muscles slowly stretch with relief after being curled up for so long. "I care what I want. And what I want is him." Alec refused to say his name, knowing he'd break down.

"I know sweetie, I know," Mayrse said, throwing her hands up with a sigh. "But sitting in your room isn't going to solve anything. While you're sitting in here moping there's innocent people out there who need our help. You're a Shadowhunter before a boyfriend. Remember that." Mayrse stood up and made her way to the door. "I'll see you in a half hour in the training room." And with that she walked out and closed the door, leaving Alec staring after her.

After showering and getting his gear on, Alec walked down slowly to the training room. He wasn't in the mood to train but knew if he didn't get there his mother would send Jace or his father to get him. And they weren't going to be as kind to him as his mother was.

Jace was already there, walking along a beam to work on his balance. He was so focused on his task he seemed oblivious to Alec's entrance. His golden eyes were staring straight ahead and his blonde curls were sticking to his forehead with sweat. Alec leaned against the wall and watched, debating on ways to get out of training. Jace reached the end and jumped off the beam, grinning from his accomplishment when he turned around and noticed Alec.

For a moment they simply stared at each other. It startled Alec to realize he actually missed Jace. He was so caught up in his own little world he forgot for a moment how much Jace meant to him. They were parabati, closer than brothers, closer than best friends.

"I'm sorry," Jace mumbled, looking down at the ground.

Alec stared in confusion. "Sorry?" he asked, his brows furrowing together. "For what?"

"For not coming to see if you were okay," Jace said, walking towards Alec and wiping the sweat off his face with a towel. "For not going over to Magnus's house and punching him in his glittery face. He upset you, Alec. And as your parabatai I should've defended you."

Alec's lips lifted up into a smirk. "I wouldn't have wanted you to punch him, Jace. I actually needed some time to myself. To think things over."
"Well now that you got that part out of the way," said Jace, walking over to a pile of weapons he took from the weapons room. "Let's say you release some of that anger?"

Jace tossed a dagger to Alec and they began to spar.

"Okay, okay! I'm done!" shouted Jace, a smile breaking across his face. "Alec, it's been two hours. I'm exhausted."

Alec shot the last arrow in his quiver and turned to his parabatai, sweat dripping down his back. "Aw c'mon Jace!" Alec whined. "I don't want to train by myself."

"But I was here a half hour before you, so really it's been two and a half hours for me," said Jace, grabbing his gear and walking towards the exit. "Besides, I promised Clary I'd take her out tonight." Jace exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Alec froze, remembering the whole reason he was in the training room. Jace was lucky. His life hasn't changed at all. He still has Clary. Someone to call his. Someone to love. Alec began to feel a pain slowly making its way to his heart.

"Magnus," he groaned, sinking to the ground. It was the first time he spoke his name aloud since he left him, and the pain was too much for him. He began to sob, clutching his bow, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Alec wasn't sure how long he sat on the floor, but a loud noise caused him to sit up quickly. He thought he heard muffled shouts and made his way to the door. Opening it, he heard Isabelle shouting for him.

"Isabelle!" he shouted, grabbing a stele nearby and exiting the training room. Something was wrong, and whatever it was was inside the Institute. Alec raced down the hallway towards the sound of his sister's voice, panic filling his body. His sister never called for his help. Especially in battle.

When he reached the elevator, he was shocked to discover that it was missing. Where the elevator once was there was now a gaping hole. He saw Isabelle staring down, tears falling from her eyes.

"Isabelle!" he called again, relief in his voice as he laid a catious hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Instead of answering, Isabelle just pointed toward the hole. Alec took a few steps forward, suddenly afraid of what he'd find. And he had perfectly good reason to be. The creature below was clearly a Greater Demon. It stood about ten feet tall and was black but had a lanky build. Its long arms and legs led to misshapen hands and fingers, all bent and distorted and covered with bumps. Its entire body was covered in sores and some oozed with a strange silvery substance. Long sharp rotted teeth stuck out in different directions, causing its mouth to hang slightly open. Its eyes were a deep red, like dying embers in a fire. And they were staring right at Alec.

A deep low rumbling came from the demon which built up to a loud roar, causing the unsteady floor of the Institute to shake.

"Isabelle, get back!" Alec shouted, grabbing tightly onto his sisters arm and pulling her back. Alec never read or heard of a demon that looked like the one in their house and was unsure of how to approach it. He couldn't be like Jace and charge into a battle with no knowledge of his enemy. Not when he had Izzy to protect, as well as the rest of the Institute.

Alec and Isabelle ran down the hallway towards the kitchen. Alec cursed to himself quietly, wishing he would've brought more than a stele with him. He worked better with long distance weapons and looked frantically around the room for a knife. He wasn't sure how well a regular kitchen knife would work against a Greater Demon but it was better than nothing.

They barely had time to duck behind the counter before the Demon came into the kitchen. They could hear its heavy breathing while they held their own, afraid it would hear them.

"Hide all you want, Shadowhunters," it hissed, walking towards their hiding spot. "I can hear your hearts beating with fear."

Before they could react, the demon smashed the marble counter top with its massive hand, sending pieces of rock flying everywhere. Ducking under the demon, Alec managed to get behind it and cut it with his stele.

A vicious roar pierced the air, angering the demon further. It turned to swing at Alec, but Isabelle's reflexes were faster and she caught its wrist in her whip.

Smoke started rising from its wrist, her whip burning his skin. "Who are you?" Isabelle asked, tugging on her whip harder when the demon attempted to free itself. "What do you want with us?"

A sinister smile spread across the demons face. "My name is Yanluo. Not that you need to remember it since you'll both be dead soon enough." Grabbing onto Isabelle's whip, Yanluo yanked Isabelle forward and slammed her onto the floor. A yelp of pain escaped her lips and Alec reacted instantly.

Jumping onto Yanluo's back, Alec swiped again with his stele. Expecting this move the second time around, Yanluo used his now free hand to grip the back of Alec's neck. He tossed him easily onto the table, causing Alec to lose his grip on his stele as the table broke under Alec's weight.

Pain shot throughout his back but he ignored it, jumping to his feet quickly. If Alec could keep Yanluo distracted it would give Isabelle time to get out and find help.

A different sound caught Alec's attention, and he turned to see three Drevak demons walking towards him. They seemed to be growling and ready to fight. This alarmed Alec since Drevak demons usually weren't known for fighting, but for spying. However, a Greater Demon was the one to bring them here so they must have been under some sort of trance.

Not dwelling too much on the thought, Alec ran towards Isabelle. "Isabelle, you have to get out of here," he breathed, locking his blue eyes with her brown ones. "Go find Jace and Clary. Tell them what's happened."

Isabelle stared in shock at her brother. It wasn't like Alec to fight alone. Especially against such a powerful enemy. "No, I'm not leaving you!" she cried, feeling tears starting to sting her eyes.

"Isabelle, we haven't got time for this!" Alec insisted, running out of the kitchen, once again dragging Isabelle along behind him. He took her back to where the elevator used to be. "Go. Now."

Isabelle let the tears fall, not wanting to leave her brother alone with all of the demons. But Alec was quick. He'd be able to dodge most, if not all, of the attacks that came his way. Maybe that would buy him enough time until she could find help.

"Okay," she whispered, jumping the few feet to the bottom level. Without a glance behind her, she let her legs carry her out of the Institute.

Alec barely had enough time to turn around before a Drevak demon tackled him to the groud. He instinctively reached for his stele and remembered he had lost it back in the kitchen. He instead found the knife he took earlier and swiped it across the Drevak's face. Ichor poured from the cut and splashed onto Alec's cheek. He let out a scream as the liquid burned his face.

Using his legs he wrapped them around the Drevak's body and flipped it until he was on top of it. The demon hissed, showing the spines inside its mouth, dripping with poison. Alec brought the knife down hard, stabbing it several times, silencing its cries.

He stepped off the carcass and made his way back to the kitchen. He peeked around the corner, wanting the advantage of surprise on his side. Alec gave a small gasp of shock when he found the kitchen empty. How could he lose such a huge Greater Demon? He spun around quickly, afraid it might sneak up on him, but once again saw nothing.

Walking slowly down the hallway, Alec's heart began to pound as panic set in. He heard something behind him, rubble breaking under someone's weight. He spun around as another Drevak demon attacked him. Alec ducked and rolled around the charging demon, bringing his arm down in a circular motion and felt the knife sink into its back. It roared and turned, trying to bite down on Alec's arm.

Yanking the knife out, Alec jumped out of the way and raced down the hallway towards the weapons room. He didn't know why he didn't think of going there earlier. He'd have a limitless supply of weapons at his disposal, making getting rid of the other two Drevak demons a breeze.

But when Alec reached the weapons room, he felt his stomah drop with disappointment. Inside the room was Yanluo, ripping and tearing all of the weapons to pieces. Alec knew he should've searched for him sooner, knowing he wouldn't have just left without bloodshed.

Sensing Alec's presence, Yanluo turned and smiled, making his way toward Alec. "You were foolish to take your eyes off of me, Lightwood," he spat, now towering above Alec. "It's over. You have only a small knife to protect yourself with."

Alec locked eyes with the demon, feeling courage take panic's place. "And I shall fight with it, if I must. This is my home. I refuse to stand by and allow you to destroy it."

Yanluo swiped at Alec with a long arm, moving quicker than Alec tought he could. He hit Alec on his side, knocking him over and causing him to slide along the ground. The wall stopped his movement, pain shooting up his shoulder.

Not having time to collect himself, Alec rolled out of the way of Yanluo's fist. It bashed into the ground, sending concrete and broken pieces of various weapons flying into the air. Alec ran up behind Yanluo and striked at the back of his knee. A silver substance leaked from the wound and ran down his leg. Yanluo shrieked and turned on Alec, raking its long nails along his chest. Alec staggered back, tripping over some of the weapons that were scattered around the floor. He looked around frantically for a stronger weapon to use, but everything was destroyed.
Blood began to drip down from the wounds in Alec's chest. He looked down with confusion but apparenty not even his tough Shadowhunter gear could protect him from the claws of a Greater Demon.

Alec went to make a dash for the door but was cut short by the two remaining Drevak demons. They were snarling and started making their way toward Alec. Alec began to run at full speed and used his momentum to jump up and over the first Drevak and landed onto the one behind it. Luckily it was the one he injured earlier and made quick work of its disposal. He stuck the knife into the cut from earlier and sliced upward, cutting it nearly in half. It crumpled to the ground and vanished, leaving a puddle of ichor behind.

Alec landed in the puddle, his gear getting splashed by the liquid. The last Drevak charged instantly, but Alec was ready. He braced himself for impact when he saw Yanluo strike the ceiling. It began to cave in, causing Alec to lose his focus on the Drevak demon. It took the opportunity and bit down on Alec's leg. Alec screamed, dropping the knife and falling to the ground. He yanked his leg back instinctively, causing some of the spines to rip out of the Drevak's mouth. They remained in his leg and Alec went to remove them, already feeling the poison kick in.

Before he could rip even one spine out, Yanluo was on top of him, wrapping his long fingers around his throat. Alec grappled with the Demon, trying to free himself from his grip to breathe. Yanluo lifted his other arm up, placing it above Alec's mouth. He loosened his grip around Alec's throat and when Alec opened his mouth to breathe, Yanluo stuck his arm in his mouth. Alec tasted something bitter that burned his tounge. Yanluo released Alec and vanished, leaving Alec coughing and gasping for air.

Alec ignored the burning in his mouth and reached once again for the poisonous spines in his leg. He managed to remove them this time as his vision began to blur. He attempted to stand only to fall immediately back down. He tried to crawl to the door but found he could no longer move.

He thought of Isabelle and was grateful he was able to get her out. He thought of Jace and hoped he wouldn't feel too much pain from his death. And finally, he thought of Magnus. He pictured his true love's face and felt his eyes slide close. The last thing he saw was Magnus's golden-green cat eyes before he was swallowed up by the blackness.