A/N: Hey everyone! CP2 is literally just three weeks again, so my good friend and fellow fanfiction writer PrimadonnaGurl13 decided to write this mini-story leading up to the release. Enjoy!

Prologue

Rain poured down heavily onto the cobblestone roads of London. April was just beginning, which meant more overcast weather and rain. Horses trotted along the slippery streets, carrying carriages behind them, stopping in front of a looming church. The church was situated in the center of a square, standing tall and unhindered. Instead of normal mundanes, Shadowhunters stepped out of the carriages and entered the church for the special occasion: the wedding of Theresa Gray and James Carstairs.

Tessa was in a room towards the back of the church alone so she could get ready for her wedding. It was not like everyone just isolated Tessa; she had personally asked to be alone, especially after everything that had happened in the past six months. Charlotte and Sophie had been the only ones to come and go from the room, Charlotte only checking on her and Sophie getting her ready.

In fact, Sophie had spent the last three hours preparing Tessa, dressing her in an elaborate gold dress that balled around the waist and trailed elegantly behind her. The sleeves fell modestly off her shoulders, revealing her pale skin, and the upper bodice of the dress covered up most of her chest, dipping low enough to reveal the betrothal necklace that Jem had given to her months before. Tessa's chocolate brown hair was bunned up in the back, tendrils of silky hair falling out, outlining her face. Sophie had intricately woven in golden ribbons into Tessa's hair to give it a more dazzling appeal. Now, Tessa was seated in front of a mirror attached to a dressing stand and she took a deep breath in. She looked beautiful... no she looked breathtaking.

Tessa was still breathing heavily, her right hand curled up into a fist resting on her lap. She was still recovering from her encounter with the last person she would have wanted to see, just moments ago. William Herondale. Tessa was in this very room, waiting for Henry to take her out into the actual church, when there was a soft knock that was barely audible.

"Come in," Tessa said, expecting it to be Henry. Instead, Will stood in the door frame, staring directly at Tessa. He looked nervous, and Tessa could imagine exactly why. Not only was Will still in love with Tessa, but Jem had asked Will to be his best man for the wedding.

"May I come in?" Will asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Tessa said, giving him a small smile for encouragement. This was the last time she would have to talk to Will, and she would have to savour every moment of it. She had gotten so accustomed to having either Jem or Will by her side for the last six months that the thought of not having one of them there was nearly unbearable.

Will walked over to her, across the tiny room that had been hers for the past few hours. It was filled with white furniture, which starkly contrasted with the gold dress of Tessa's and Will's black suit. Will stopped in front of her and held out a box in his hands.

"Is this for me?" Tessa asked curiously. Will nodded in response. Gingerly, Tessa took the box from his hands and removed the lid. In it was a silver pendant attached to a silver chain. Tessa picked the necklace up to closely examined the pendant; it was in the shape of a book and had various titles written across it. Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Boadicea, Vathek. All books that she and Will both loved.

"So, do you like it?" Will asked.

"I love it," Tessa said truthfully, smiling up at him, "thank you Will."

"I'm glad you do," he said in a small voice. Disappointment layered his voice, but from what? Tessa couldn't understand. "Well, I best be going. They probably need me out there." Will made for the door but Tessa stopped him.

"Will?"

"Yes, Tessa," Will turned around.

"Thank you. For everything." And with that, he gave a small nod and left her to be as she was, still seated in front of the mirror, holding the necklace in her hand. At any time now, Henry would come in and lead her down the aisle to Jem. She wasn't even sure who had been invited to this wedding. All of her family was dead and gone now, so it would just be lots of Shadowhunters who knew her but she didn't know them.

How could she go through this? Was she ready? She was still so tied in her feelings but at the same time, knew in her heart of hearts, that marrying Jem was something she had to do.

A knock came again at the door, and Tessa's head snapped up. Both Henry and Charlotte stood in the doorway, shadows surrounded their feet. There were mixed emotions coming from them and Tessa felt the urgency. She stood quickly.

Henry smiled, admiring her dress. "You look wonderful," he said.

She blushed. "Thank you," she said. "So do you." Henry wore a suit much like Will's, but it appeared to have flare, as though the clothes themselves were blending with his personality.

Charlotte bustled forward, hands outstretched to take Tessa's. "My darling, I am so sorry to interrupt your big day," she said. Tessa watched the two whom she thought of like parents, share a worried exchange.

"What? What is it?" Tessa asked, feeling sweat bead up at the nape of her neck.

"I'm afraid we've lost Will," she answered solemnly. Panic filled Tessa, making it hard to breathe. She should be more worried about Jem; concentrating on her impending nuptials. If Will had decided to wander off, to sulk away his miseries, then that was his business. Nothing to do with her. And yet, she couldn't stop the ache of loneliness that threatened to overwhelm her heart when she considered life without him.

She quickly snapped back to the moment. Sounds of movement could be heard just outside her room and she was too aware she could not delay much longer.

"Whatever do you mean?"

Charlotte smiled sadly, "He walked out."

Tessa laughed, forced and full of anxiety she hadn't realised she'd been holding back. "He probably went for some fresh air. You know how Will likes his-"

"Theresa!" said a female voice from behind the closed door. All eyes travelled to where shadowing feet could be seen. "Is everything alright in there?"

Heart pounding, Tessa tried a deep breath. It caught in her throat and she coughed. "Yes," she managed. Henry ran his hands over invisible creases of his shirt and went to check on the guests. To Charlotte, Tessa said, "What do we do? He must be here,"

"And he will be,"

Music floated to her from the live band Magnus had managed to arrange, and all too quickly she found herself with a dilemma.

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