When The Devil Comes Knocking

Summary:

With the belief he may well die sooner rather than later, Jem reveals to Tessa that he has a list of things to do before he dies and she sets about making his dreams reality. Jem/Tessa

Well this takes place after Clockwork Prince. Jem and Tessa are engaged and us fangirls are sobbing over the whole Will/Tessa/Jem situation. Because it's a heart-wrenching one, truly. Anyway! My first ever attempt at a The Infernal Devices fic, so… feedback would be much loved! Thank you! x

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to the lovely Cassandra Clare. If I did own Will and Jem, I'm afraid they'd be chained to my bed for eternity. Maybe a sock in Wills mouth to stem the swearing he'd no doubt be uttering. Rude boy.

x

"And what is that?"

"Which?"

"The… blue fruit. The one that looks like a periwinkle tomato."

"Oh-! That is a tomato."

Tessa allowed her eyes to widen in wonder as she stared at the Downworld market stall. It was such an amazing spectacle. There was a vampire giving a werewolf who was selling fangs the most filthy of looks. Maybe he recognized the fangs? Tessa wondered, watching the vampire next to slink off.

She had been woken early by Sophie; the sun had barely risen over damp London when the curtains had been drawn back. It had been raining the night before, and the air was fresh and crisp. A joy to breathe in. All the girl had said was "Master Jem has asked for your presence." Tessa blinked in confusement- why was Jem calling on her so early in the morning? So she got dressed, pulling on a thick warm coat to protect her from the chill and allowed Sophie to escort her down to the foyer where Jem, looking pale and almost ghostly in the dawn, was waiting for her.

"I apologize for rousing you so early Tessa, but I was overcome with boyish excitement and had to call on you." He laughed out almost nervously, as if waiting for the bleary eyed young woman before him to be annoyed or even angry at being dragged out of her bed. But she was more intrigued as she took his outstretched hand, a smile playing about her lips as he bought it to his own for the briefest of seconds before adding "Are you dressed warmly enough?"

"Might I ask what for?"

His smile was infectious as he replied "A little place next to the Clock Tower. You will find it enchanting, I am sure."

You will be there, gleaming in the dawn- of course it will be enchanting Tessa wanted to say, but held her tongue, finding it maybe just a little too bold. Instead she asked "Yes. I am dressed warm enough. May I have a clue?"

"Well… it happens once a year."

Tessa frowned. "What kind? Is it like Christmas?"

"No." Jem smiled, raising a hand to brush the hair from her eyes, causing her to blush lightly. She was still getting used to the idea that she was engaged. Engaged. And to Jem no less. Her Jem.

They'd gotten into the carriage waiting outside, Tessa intrigued the entire way. When they had rolled to a stop a short while later, she found herself next to the Thames, the water a deep dark grey as the sun started to rise. Jem had offered her his arm and she had taken it without a moment's hesitation, leading her down a dingy alleyway until they'd come to a little place next to the water of the Thames, a market directly ahead. But, Tessa soon noticed, not a normal one. They were all creatures, Downworlders.

Tessa stared at the small pile of periwinkle blue tomatoes, genuinely intrigued. She looked up to Jem who told her "Faerie fruit." At his words, she frowned. "A tomato is a… fruit?"

"Not commonly known, but yes, a fruit. Ah-" he snagged the plump blue fruit from Tessa's hand as she picked it up, saying in a light voice "Faerie fruit can be a little unpredictable. Even dangerous. A bite could send you insane, or you could have a day from Heaven."

Tessa looked startled, watching him set it back down, eyes flickering up to the more than gorgeous faerie woman at the stall. Her shoulders were bare, something that made Tessa shiver more than anything else- the morning air was freezing cold.

"How long have you been coming here?" she asked as they walked slowly through the aisles; there were stalls on each side. Some were set upon the floor, others on tables. It was relatively small, but an atmosphere that made her feel like jumping around, or maybe even dance. It was… electrifying.

"I found this place by chance with Will when we were fourteen. It's perfectly legal, this market."

"Does this market have a name?"

"They simply name this place Devils Marketplace. Stay close."

Tessa stared at the massive pile of books one stall had. Ones bound in white leather, some in blue. There was even one in gold that looked incredibly heavy. Jem followed her gaze when she didn't reply telling her quietly "Warlock books. Spells, enchantments. Quite the variety. Will once picked up a volume that was devoted to turning people into frogs, bats… all the unpleasant creatures."

"I am hazarding a guess that he loved his discovery and wished he could try it out himself. But look Jem-" Tessa smiled, breaking away from Jem to snag a book from the top. It was a small, battered copy of Jane Eyre. "A normal book in a pile of spell books!"

Jem stepped forwards and took the book into his slim hands, turning it over and flicking through the pages. He nodded. "Ah, the great Mr. Rochester."

"You have read it?"

"Once or twice." He handed her it back, then paused. "Would you like it? I hardly doubt we have a copy back at the Institute."

Tessa felt yet another smile spread across her face "Oh I would love it." She watched Jem pull out a few coins, setting them down into the warlock behind the stalls hand with a short nod, and she clutched the book close to her heart- it was like a piece of Jem himself had suddenly inhabited the book. It was tatty, frail in places, but still so beautiful. She wanted to keep it close and safe.

"Thank you so much." Tessa beamed, the last of her fatigue draining away as a scent wafted by, and she added. "What is that most beautiful smell?"

Jem smiled secretly and led her over to what looked like a wide stone plate. Underneath, there were hot coals making the plate glow faintly. There were slabs of meat sizzling away, the source of the beautiful smell.

"Now this, is breakfast." Jem told her, dipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out yet more coins. Tessa watched curiously as the meat was cooked then roughly cut apart. Two slices of bread were cut too and the meat put on, making a sandwich.

Tessa was handed hers after Jem took her book, slipping it into his coat pocket, a frown upon her face as she looked at it- more than unappealing, but it smelt divine.

"Take a bite." Jem encouraged her, feeling slightly nervous. A pause and the girl took a hesitant bite, chewing slowly as if waiting to see if she might spit it out. But no, it was delicious.

"What is that?" she asked as she swallowed, eyes widening. Jem grinned, picking at the crust of his bread. "The meat is ostrich."

Tessa did a double take. "Ostrich? As in… the flightless bird from the depths of Africa? I- I have never seen one, let alone…" she looked down "eaten one. It is so… exotic."

Jem had been worried about her commenting on how they were eating with their fingers like Vikings, and in the middle of a marketplace like this. It felt… improper. But he had done this before, countless times with Will. This had been the first time Will hadn't woken him up at the crack of dawn, demanding they get moving. He smiled weakly and told her "Every year, a werewolf by the name of Edward Goddard brings ostrich meat here. He hails from Africa, you see. And connections with a warlock who allows him to access a Portal."

"An African werewolf?" Tessa mused, taking another bite from her breakfast. Jem nodded "Stranger combinations have been known."

"Oh I do not doubt that. I just have visions of a great wolf running alongside the wild beasts of the plains. A lion astride a wolf. How… unusual. Have you… ever been to Africa?"

Jem chewed carefully before answering with "No, Tessa. I have never been to Africa."

"Would you like to?"

"I would love to. Will also. He once had his heart set on taming a lion to have as some feline companion."

Tessa couldn't help but bite her bottom lip to stop the laugh escaping her- the image of Will sat atop some dirty great lion with its mane proud and majestic was stuck firmly in her head. Quite the amusing image.

"I do not think Church would take kindly to Will seating himself upon him. He would squash the poor thing."

That smile was back, the one Tessa found so distracting. The way the weak, watery sunlight streamed in from between the cotton-like clouds and hit his hair made it look like steel for a moment, but then white. A bright white gold. Dressed in his crisp outfit with the silvery scars of where Marks had once been upon his neck, he looked like some foreign prince.

I want to kiss him Tessa found herself suddenly thinking, taking herself aback. It had come from nowhere. But then another thought trickled into her mind as the cold jade of the pendant he'd given her at the proposal touched her skin. Yes she was getting married, and to this beautiful young man none the less. But her wedding night flashed through her train of thought, knocking all ones there already askew. The wedding night she thought, finishing off the rest of her ostrich sandwich. The wedding night is the night all married couples consummate their… Tessa found herself blushing furiously, knowing full well what happened.

She and Jem would be alone. He would take her hands into those perfect violinists hands of his own, press a soft, sweet kiss to her lips that would make her head spin. He would whisper things to her. Maybe how beautiful she was, or how lucky he felt by having her as his wife. Mrs. Theresa Carstairs. She realized. Tessa Carstairs. Mrs. Carstairs.

It hit her that she was going to be married, truly, and she wished there was a chair nearby to sit down upon and gather her thoughts, but there was none. Instead, she composed herself, but Jem had noticed.

"Your cheeks resemble that of a roses petal, Tessa." He mused and Tessa flushed even more- he had to notice, didn't he? "I- it is nothing." She told him, a smile twitching upon her lips, careful to avoid those eyes of his. She didn't want to make her predicament an even more obvious one.

"You are blushing, and now you cannot seem to look me in the eye." Jem noted, a frown creasing his delicate features "Have I said something improper?"

Tessa shook her head and took his arm, leading him over to the edge of the murky Thames where no one stood and staring down at their reflection. It shifted with the swell. "No." She told him. "You have said nothing wrong. Just my thoughts running away with me."

"Tell me?" Jem asked softly, silvery eyes flickering down as he saw the lone pale hand upon the railing, placing his own atop it. Tessa looked up, a small smile appearing on her face. This is Jem. She reminded herself. The man you are going to be marrying, Theresa. He loves you, you love him. That should mean you can talk to him about anything. He will sit and listen. He won't laugh. He would never do that.

"I just…" she started slowly, turning her palm to press against his own. Suddenly, she felt like one of her favorite book heroines as they tried to discover themselves and the romance, the mystery in the man before them. "The thought of our wedding… night came to mind." The blush returned and she internally scolded herself for telling him. Like he wanted to know of her jitters. She felt embarrassed.

"What kind of thoughts in regards to that evening?" Jem asked politely, causing Tessa to suddenly wish he was more like Will, to say something like You mean the fact I shall have you gloriously bare, naked all for myself for the evening? Something outright, not make her say "Consummating our marriage."

"Oh. Oh." He'd understood and Tessa saw a rare flush creep into his own pale cheeks. Was he as nervous as she felt? "I understand the color in your cheeks now." Jem mused, looking up towards the sky where a solitary duck was soaring down and skimming the Thames before settling on its watery surface. "I hadn't given that aspect any thought, I must admit. But now you mention it, the very same thought threatens to overcome my train of though."

Tessa found herself returning to her normal color in the face, feeling… relieved; he really hadn't thought of that until she'd mentioned it. But then she remembered that first kiss they'd shared, the exhilaration and wanting that had accompanied it. A tiny shiver went down her spine as she realized she would have done anything he'd asked her to do that night. He would have done anything too.

"Come." Tessa found herself saying, squeezing Jem's hand lightly in her own, not knowing nor caring if it was appropriate of engaged couples. "Show me the rest of this enchanting market that feels like it was crafted from a child's imagination?"

Jem paused, saying nothing for a start as he raised her hand in his own to his lips, pressing them so softly to her skin, it felt like a whisper. "It would be my pleasure, Miss. Gray."

"Lead the way Mr. Carstairs."

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