The alley is cloaked in darkness, the only illumination coming from the witchlight held in my trembling hand. I stare at nothing but the witchlight, which I should not be able to use. It smells like death and acid. I shove away the desire to backtrack, go back to the Institute, and lock myself up in my borrowed room.

"Why are you so fearful, Child?"

I whirl around, bringing my dagger up, "Where are you?"

"Put that play-thing away, I am dead you blubbering idiot, I have no solid form!" The voice rasps.

I frown, "No need to insult the living, now is there? You gave me quite an awful fright. Now, where am I to look when I am speaking to you, then?"

"Just look at the witchlight, Child," there's a sound that resembles breathless laughing that comes from directly in front of me. I stand my ground and look at the witchlight.

"You told me you could tell me what I am, or did you lie?"

A cold wind almost knocks me to the slippery cobblestones beneath me, "Do not insult my integrity, Child, or you will leave here missing your head!"

"A-alright. My apologies…may we please proceed?"

"Ah, yes. But did you bring what I asked for?"

I pull out the pair of wedding rings in their velvet pouch, "You were quite specific, so it was a little difficult, but, here they are. Forbidden lover's rings."

"Alright, now, pass them over, Child."

I clench my hand around the velvet bag, "Not until you tell me what I came here to learn. Come on, now, you can trust me."

"Very well," the entity sighs, "You're parentage is what you wish to know of, yes?"

"Yes, and also if there is a cure for my friend, you see he's been cursed by a demon."

"Two rings, you say?"

I frown, "Of course."

"Very well, I suppose two pieces of information for two artifacts. Now, can I have the name of this friend? By any chance do you have anything of his? A lock of hair, perhaps?"

"James Carstairs. And, her," I pull out a single silvery hair from my pocket, "A stand of hair."

"Alright. Put the hair on the witchlight, Child, hurry, hurry, for it is almost dawn."

I do as it asks and stare at the sky, and true to her word, it is almost dawn. Perfect, "Who are my parents?"

"Hush, Child, let Esmeralda work on this James Carstairs for a moment, yes?"

"Alright."

I don't know how long I wait but it feels like an eternity. An eternity of waiting for the two answers to the questions that have been plaguing me for some time now, so I wait and stare at the witchlight.

"Child, listen carefully to this, for it must be memorized and exact or it will kill this James Carstairs, are you ready?"

Adrenaline pulses in my ears, "Of course."

"On the eve of his birth it can be undone,

With blood from his beloved sacrificed to the mighty demon who had it done,

Then he will decide be forced to undo what he did,

For the love in the blood will be more powerful,

Then all the rage he may have within,

But if this fails,

There is still hope,

For if she slay the demon himself,

And make the cursed drink the slayed blood,

With the crushed root of a mandrake,

And the lock of a faeries's hair,

Then,

And only then,

Will the done be undone."

I frown, "Alright, alright. Is there some form on incantation, or spell of sorts?"

"You must say the demon's name as he drinks, Child, now your parents-"

"Who is the demon?"

"That, I am afraid, is for you to decipher. You parents, do you still wish to know who they were?"

"Yes," my palms feel sweaty, "Yes."

"Child, your mother was a Nephilim, from the purest blood, it is said she had more angel inside her than any other. Your father was a warlock, who, just as your mother, is said to have had more demon in him than human. He stole her away and had his way with her, until she escaped, with child. She expected a beast so vile and cruel, just like her father, but, because of the entire angel inside your mother, you were more Nephilim. Or so it seemed."

My blood runs cold as I drop the velvet bag and pocket my witchlight.

"You should not have asked questions if you weren't prepared for the worst, Child!" The voice follows me outside of the alley, and into the empty streets of London. I feel dirty, like a contaminate that was sent to ruin and cause despair. I somehow remember how to get to the Institute and heave the doors open. It is then that I realize that my skirt is brimmed with dirt and soot, and my shoes look o better than old beggars. I take them off and place them neatly on the floor before walking up the staircase to the rooms.

"Tessa! Tess!" Will grabs my arm and I shove him away.

"Please, leave me be, Mr. Herondale." I say, trying to keep my voice even.

"What? Tess-"

"If you did not hear me, Mr. Herondale, I shall repeat myself, leave me be. I have had a most stress filled night and wish to be on my own. Perhaps we may speak on the 'morrow," I say, hearing my vice teeter towards unsteadiness.

"Will? Have you seen-"

"She's here," Will calls down the stairs to Jem, "But apparently she would like to be on her own, until the 'morrow."

"What? Tess! You had me worried sick, why would you run off like that?"

I look away from Jem and Will, not wanting them to see the tears gathering, "Like Mr. Herondale has said, I have had a most stress filled night and wish to be left alone. Perhaps we will speak on the 'morrow!"

Jem reaches for my arm but I dodge him and run up the stairs, and to my room, locking the door behind me.

"Madam? Oh, madam, we were so worried, where have you been?" Sophie's face looks as if she's been crying. I stare at her for a moment before a sob bubbles up from inside my chest.

"Oh…Sophie," I sob into my hands, "Oh, Dear, Dear Sophie, I do not believe I am worthy of your company!"

Sophie leads me to my bed and settles down beside me, holding one of my hands in both of here, "What madness is this that you speak, Tessa?"

I look up at her, seeing only a blur, "Sophie, I am what happens when a warlock takes interest in a poor, poor Nephilim woman…Oh, Sophie, I wish to be alone, but not completely, for I also have joyous news to share, would you mind terribly keeping me silent company?"

Sophie's eyes soften and she nods, "It would be my pleasure, but would you like to undress, and get tucked into bed?"

I frown, looking down at my tattered dress, "Oh, look at me, making such big mess! Sophie, I will clean it on the 'morrow, understood?"

Sophie smiles sadly at me, "Of course, Tessa, now up you get so that we can take off that rag that was once a dress."

I stand up and with Sophie's help, I'm curled up underneath the luxurious covers of my bed with a cup of tea in a matter of minutes. When I've finished my tea, and I don't feel so cold, I call Sophie to my bed and tell he to lay down beside me. That I know it's improper but that I need her friendship more than her services right now. So Sophie lies down beside me and pays with my hair, sending off to sleep with her sweet voice singing a sweet lullaby about birds and the sky.