***Magnus's POV***

As it would turn out, Magnus found their destination not as annoying as he'd originally imagined. The caves were cold as could be with the sound of dripping coming from some indeterminable location. Stalagmites hung from the ceiling. They were more than sharp enough to pierce through human flesh and bone. He considered trying to snag one as a makeshift weapon, but changed his mind a few seconds later. They were ineffective at breaking through the dragon scales apparently. Jace went and rubbed up against a few to alleviate an itch. His golden scales were much like the scales of the rare fish Alicante would haul in from fisherman out of town.

"What is this place?" Clary asked.

He ran a hand over the cone of one stalagmite. Magnus looked around, wondering the same thing. This place was hollowed out much like a gutted fish. Moss grew on the edges and the walls, draped over with lichen purposefully hung. There was a strange light coming from glowing stones jutted into the wall. Why do they have adamas stones here? They were discarded years ago. . .

"This is where you'll all be staying while we wait for the king to decide what to do with you." Maryse explained in a curt tone.

"Oh. He's not going to do anything bad, is he?" Simon asked warily.

Jace gave the glasses wearing guy a looking grin of sharp teeth. "I don't know. He might decide he likes the taste of nerdy blood."

Simon went pale white, like a terrified ghost. Izzy swatted Jace on the arm. "Don't be mean to him." She hissed. "Jace is just kidding."

Magnus had felt coldness all over at the mere mention of blood. A vision flashed in his mind. A body torn apart lay in the grass, chest cavity opened up to the world like some ghastly gift. He had been so young when she died. He had been the one to find her body. Despite the many years of hunting, his stomach still churned at the memory.

"Though he isn't wrong about the king not feeling well about humans." Alec murmured gruffly.

"That's enough from both of you. The King will be back tomorrow from his meeting, you will await here until he returns." Maryse enforced yet again.

"Yes, we will follow your rules," Catarina said respectfully.

"Uh . . .but what about food? I don't know about you guys but I'm pretty hungry." Simon asked. As if on cue Clary's stomach growled in a high pitch whine.

"I see. Jace, go fetch them some human food before coming back. Isabelle, you're coming back home with me this instant." Maryse was curt.

Jace looked reluctant. "Are you sure?"

"We want to stay with the humans." Izzy protested. The red dragon sounded pretty mad to be forced to leave. "And what about Alec?"

Magnus stared at the dark dragon a little ways off. Alec had remained mostly silent during the exchange, the stripes along his neck oddly lackluster. He had hoped to see them light up in the darkness. Why he was so fascinated with what they would look like in the abyss was beyond him. It was like he was a moth attracted to a great shining beam of light.

"Alec will stay here with our guests," Maryse said.

"Aww, but that's no fair! Why does he get to have all the fun?" Izzy huffed.

"Because I'm the only one who doesn't find hanging out with humans to be any fun," Alec said wryly. "Go on Izzy. And you too Jace. Listen to Mom. You'll be in less trouble that way."

Both of the siblings still looked reluctant. Jace sighed, a pitiful sound in the back of his throat. Magnus imagined in his shifted form Jace would be pretty annoying though he couldn't say why. I guess because he'd be someone to have petty arguments with.

"Fine. I'll go."

"Me too." Izzy sulked off with her mother. Maryse gave a nod of approval to Alec before leaving the cave. Jace cast one more wistful glance in a certain redhead's direction before taking off.

Only once they were completely gone did Alec speak again. "Let's keep going. We're not at the end yet."

"Oh, so there's more walking?" Clary sounded resigned.

"Yes." Alec responded.

"And you're sure we can't just ride on your back?" Simon asked, still foolishly hopeful. Magnus wanted to whack them both over the head. Riding on a monster's back wouldn't do them any good. It would just make them dependent on him. Which is already becoming a problem. He imagined their stay here would involve a lot of dependency already. The hunter wasn't about to add more onto the metaphorical list.

A growl rose up in the back of Alec's throat. "Yes, I'm sure. Now let's get going."

The cave dipped downward much like a staircase would. Magnus found their surroundings to get vastly darker the further down they went. The chill in the air left goosebumps on the back of his neck, sweat frozen in his dark hair. Catarina was a silhouette of shadow in front of him, as were his other companions. Alec's hulking form took up much more of the tunnel as it became smaller. Magnus wondered if they would stop once Alec could no longer fit through the passageway. His wings currently brushed up against the sides of the cave walls, dragging across stiff moss and jagged rock.

Eventually the cave did come to an end, just not in the way he thought. They had been traveling in the darkness for what felt like an hour. No matter how hard he tried there was no way to see. But maybe this was the dragons' intention, to put them in a place they could not get out on their own. Despite being an established hunter, even Magnus was left at a loss.

"Are we finally here?" He asked.

"Yes," Alec said.

Moss surrounded the cave on all sides. If there was any sunlight coming in the cave it would probably look like a mosaic of green. As it was, a stream of moonlight cut through overhead, a weird sky light up above. Magnus examined it as best he could. It was much too small for a human or dragon to fit through.

"How is Jace supposed to bring us food down here?" Clary asked.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that."

"Why not?" Catarina asked.

Alec nudged something on the ground with one claw. "He dropped this off about an hour ago. Hope you humans like deer meat."

Ah, so that explains the smell of blood. The deer carcass was covered in fur and bits of grizzle, antlers poking out from what he could see. The idea of eating it uncooked left him feeling queasy.

"You don't expect us to eat it like that, do you?" Simon asked, his face turning green.

Alec shook his head. "I thought you humans liked eating meat. Oh well, I guess you can starve."

"Alec." The four humans stressed his name.

The dragon let out what Magnus thought to be an amused rumble. "I'm just kidding. I'll get it cooked. Just stand back."

Without waiting for them to step away, a blue plume of fire shot from the dark dragon's mouth. Simon and Clary let out yelps of alarm. They staggered back while Magnus and Catarina watched in silence. The antlers and fur were effectively burned off, left to smolder in a pile of dusty ashes. Meat smell filled the air, making his mouth water.

"You all get eating and then get some rest. You all have a long day tomorrow." Alec told them with indifference before marching away. The dragon curled up by the only way out of the tunnel, staring off towards what Magnus imagined had to be the entrance somewhere off in the difference.