You can listen to Evanescence- Going Under.
Sweet Turned Sour
Will Herondale stood on the roof, the deep blue of his eyes correctly matching the dark autumn hue of the twilight sky. He was thinking about one girl; Miss Gray, Tessa and then Tess; how attached he had become to her in such a short period of time. What a grave mistake? It was wrong of him to talk to her, to laugh with her, to be so much at peace, to be so at bliss. Slowly, he had begun to forget the terrible secret he caged within himself. There had been times he had nearly confessed to her and it had taken great constraint to hold back. He could not taint her with the curse that only he should bear. His lips pursed tight, he nodded to himself, finally making the decision that had tormented him for so long. The winds around him danced and whispered, tousling his tempest of raven black hair. He often wished he could be like the wind; wild and free, travelling across the lands, so untamed and without a care in the world. But he was not. His life and his decisions centred around one tragic secret that he could not speak of, even with the woman he loved, especially with the woman he loved.
Tessa stared at the pages in front of her. She had gripped the sides of the book hard and her intelligent eyes were fiery. Her posture as usual was perfect, back straight and shoulders pulled back. She pouted now and then, as though what she read gave her great displeasure. Her eyebrows were squeezed together and there was grimness to her eyes. She looked as if she might throw the book in to the fireplace in front of her once her curiosity as to what happened next was quenched. And, like often, the source of her anger was one boy. For the past few days Will had been strange and distant. He avoided her mostly and the rare times they were together he ignored her. Their conversations at meals or when among others lasted a few seconds and was formal as though they were merely acquaintances and nothing more. Tessa had tried enquiring as to what the matter was but he pretended she did not exist or made some excuse to leave her presence. And as for Tessa the remedy for her anger was books which incidentally she did not enjoy reading for the past few days. Suddenly, sensing a presence she snapped the book shut and looked up behind her. Will was staring down at her.
"What is the matter? You look angry" he enquired.
Tessa sat the book on the loveseat and stood up to her full height facing Will. She was a tall girl but Will was at least two heads taller. He always looked down on her when speaking and for unknown reasons it irritated Tessa.
"You finally noticed" she asked tilting her head slightly to the left. "Why do you think I am angry Will?"
"Unfortunately, I do not read minds. But whatever the reason anger is easily gotten rid of"
"And how is that?" Tessa asked folding her arms below her chest.
"Well, when you are angry count four and when very angry swear and my guess is you should do the latter."
"Will, I am serious. You have been ignoring me for the past few days and…" she trailed off. She wanted him to speak to, to explain.
"And what? It is only normal to get tired of people sometimes so stop getting worked up over such trivial matters" he said coolly and walked away from her towards the book shelve.
Tessa felt a wave of anger rise in her chest. They had been courting for the past month in secret. It had been Charlotte's suggestion to hide the matter until the Enclave established what Tessa really was and stopped seeing her as a potential threat. She was a downworlder after all and any shadow hunter dating them was frowned upon.
"So you are tired of me now? You do not wish to court me any longer? Is that it, will?" she asked bitterly.
"I never said that. I was tired of spending all my time with you, that is all. However,
I am pleased to know that you have missed my company so much" he said turning towards her with a smirk on his face.
"Well, I suppose I should get used to it then. Perhaps you might prefer the company of some other woman for a while and then come back to me when you are tired of her. How wonderful, is it not." She remarked with heavy sarcasm and hurt.
"You look like you are about to cry. I better go get Jem; he is good in dealing with such matters"
"There is no need for that. I know better than to waste my tears on you. You are heartless as usual"
"If that were true then you are saying that I do not love you"
"You tell me, Will. It is strange I think that I am a downworlder and you are a Nephilim. I thought angels would be more capable of kindness and warmth."
"You may be right. You cannot even swear. Quite good-hearted for being the devils spawn."
Tessa gasped. It was true but hearing it from Will stung. She was the devil's spawn. Did that mean she was not human at all? Then how was she capable of feeling love and happiness. She shut her eyes as if to clear her head. Her lips were set in a thin line as she turned on her heel only wanting to get away from him.
"You seem very angry, Tessa"
"Yes, which is why I would prefer if you left me alone for a while or maybe you would do that anyway" she said though clenched teeth quickly walking away from him out of the library.
Will stared after her conscious of a small flush tainting his cheek bones. He leaned against the bookshelf resting one arm on the ladder beside him that lead to the higher bookshelves. He looked up at the high ceiling observing the intricate woodwork when he heard footsteps. His attention disrupted he saw Tessa enter the library and walk towards him. Her face was flushed and her gray eyes were almost flaming and so intense. He thought her eyes were like the gray moon, tinted with silver. They were cloudy when she was sad, fiery when enthused, sparkled when happy, dull when lonely. She lived in her eyes. And presently they were furious. She was beautiful nonetheless. In a matter of moments, she stood in front of him boring her eyes into his.
"Will Herondale, you are a beastly little bastard" she whispered furiously.
He stared at her for a moment with something resembling surprise on his face. That was something since nothing much surprised or impressed Will. Immediately, Tessa covered her mouth with her hand. A hectic spot of red formed on her cheeks and she averted her eyes in shame. A profanity escaping her mouth was something she had never imagined she could possibly do. Will seemed somewhat impressed and confirmed it with a "Very good. I must admit that I am quite surprised."
Tessa did not reply but turned and walked out again torn between feeling ashamed or feeling a sense of triumph. She walked towards her room to find Jessamine waiting outside.
"Tessa! You are so late. I reminded you earlier that we had to go shopping to pick out some wonderful dresses for the ball tomorrow. Punctuality is a habit I wish you would pick up" she remarked with authority.
Tessa mumbled an apology and hurried to get dressed. Tomorrow the institute held a ball and Tessa was required to be present. Somehow, she wondered if she could see Will in the face again.
