First Impressions
"Well goodnight everyone." Charlotte smiled at everyone gathered at the dinner table, Will, Henry, Tessa, Jem, and Jessamine. "Oh! Two new Shadowhunters will soon be joining us. Possibly tonight or tomorrow morning." She smiled and left the room.
Will, Tessa, and Jem left together planning to head for the library. As they passed a staircase they saw a hooded figure descending them. They stopped and stared for a moment, undecided. They heard a bright, smiling voice, and then running feet. Then the sound suddenly stopped and a red streaked zipped passed the mysterious figure, on the banister.
"-What they're like? I hope they are our age." The redhead said casually in an Irish accent, as she flew down the railing. The cloaked person made no effort to answer. The girl looked back at the maroon cloaked figure, as she reached the end of the banister. She went flying with a surprised yelp.
Jem looked up into the face centimeters from his own. She had flown into him and knocked him to the ground, landing in a push-up position almost nose to nose with him. She blinked a couple of times and then grinned and the next thing he knew she was standing on her feet facing Will. Tessa hurried to his side and helped him up, looking a little appalled.
The short-ish girl pulled her hand from behind her head in an over dramatic manner.
"Hi." She said simply before Will's pants leg was attacked by a small dog. He yelled and shook his leg trying to dislodge the little Welsh corgi. The redhead laughed and just stood there with her hand still extended almost as if she'd forgotten about it.
"Carrots." A monotonous voice called. 'Carrots' whipped her head around and took off leaving the bemused trio staring at the spot she'd been only seconds before. Will turned to see where she had gone but could not see head or tail of her.
"Where'd she go? And what kind of a name is 'Carrots'?" Jem shrugged.
"And where did the other one go?" They stood there for a moment then shook their heads and left for the library.
The next morning everyone was excited and curious to meet the new arrivals.
Once everyone had sat down and began eating Will looked at Charlotte.
"So where are they?" He asked unable to keep quiet any longer.
"Who?" She looked confused for a moment then her expression cleared. "Oh. They already ate. They're in the training room now."
"What are their names?" Jem asked. Charlotte sighed.
"For some reason, I think they'd like to tell you that in their own time." She told them in a slightly sarcastic voice.
After breakfast Will and Jem went to the training room. When they entered the room was empty. Will went and leaned against a dummy while Jem looked over the weapons in the corner. Suddenly a sliver blur whirled past Will's eye and buried its self in the dummy immediately next to his face. He sidestepped, shock written clearly on his face. He heard suppressed laughter as twin seraph swords came around his neck from behind.
"What's this? A Shadowhunter caught off his guard?" (If anyone can get that mini-reference I'll give you a cookie!) He recognized the voice of 'Carrots'.
"Most Shadowhunters don't have to be on guard in their own home, Carrots." He said mockingly, but was only rewarded by full-blown laughter, though the swords never wavered. He glanced at Jem, only to find his friend had disappeared. He frowned.
A cloaked figure materialized from the shadows holding a hand over Jem's mouth and a knife to his throat. Jem though didn't look the least bit worried and even winked at Will.
The swords where withdrawn letting Will whirl around to see the grinning redhead, her dog at her feet. The thing growled slightly at Will.
"Hush, Samgee. He's a friend." The dog yapped in response. Will turned to see the stranger taking his knife away from Jem's throat and releasing his mouth. Jem took a step away and turned.
"So what's your name, miss?" Jem asked politely, like the newcomer hadn't just held Jem's already delicate life in his hands.
"Uh, Jem He's a he, not a she." Will said pointedly. The stranger pulled back his cloak reveling their face. Jem laughed at Will's shocked face.
A smirk on full lips greeted him sarcastically.
"I am no man." (Anyone get that one?) Violet eyes sparkled, laughing at him. She ran a hand through her dark brown hair, which reached the middle of her ribcage. She was a little shorter than Will, at about 5'8'' he guessed. 'Carrots' had fallen down she was laughing so hard.
"That was… That was good." She said in between breaths. Will rolled his eyes at her.
"So, what's your name again? Oh wait you never told us." Will said slightly annoyed.
"I'm Karen Flynn." He glanced down at the ground where Karen stared up at him innocently.
"Where does the 'Carrots' come in?" He asked. Karen twirled a piece of red hair in between her fingers and looked at the other girl who scoffed and leaned against the wall.
"And you think you're sharp…" She said and shook her head. Will turned to Jem who shook his head and snorted in laughter.
"Will, her hair is orange. What color are carrots again?" Will didn't respond but instead turned to the only "unnamed" one in their numbers.
"And you are…?" She looked at him from under her eyelashes.
"Why should I tell you?" He raised a brow.
"Because we're going to be living together."
"I am Scath." Will nodded, noting her Irish/British accent. "Who are you two again?" Jem smiled.
"I'm Jem, and this William."
"You can call me Will if you like." He said flirtingly. She glared at him.
"I shall see you at dinner, Jem. William." She said Jem's name friendly enough, but said his name coldly. She swept out of the room, calling over her shoulder.
"See you later Carrots." Karen looked at the two others in the room.
"You can still call me Carrots if you like." Will sighed. What had Charlotte gotten them into?