*Based loosely off of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, just as it is planned to be*
I remember the night clearly.
It was the day of Christmas Eve when I was only twelve. All the Shadowhunters of the London Enclave had come to celebrate. I returned on break from the Idris Academy with my new parabatai, Matthew, whose family also lived in London. Both of us were in the drawing room with the other children: my crazy age-defying sister Lucie, the obnoxious and wealthy Christopher with his humble yet odd sister Anna, the British-French scarlet-haired siblings Alistair and Cordelia whose dad died four years earlier, and the more auspicious Lightwoods; Barbara, Eugenia, and Thomas, who were the oldest of us all.
I was sitting at a sofa, reading the book my father had told me to read, called Tale of Two Cities. I found it in the library, and the first page was a letter my father wrote to my mother. Lucie and Cordelia were fooling around, giggling about Raziel knows what; both Lightwood families sat at the other end playing cards; Alistair and Matthew were racing and making as much of a fuss as my sister and Cordelia.
Cordelia. That night her curly scarlet hair was put up in an elegant bun; she wore a black dress which radiated her vampire-like skin. I looked up from my book to see that she was already glancing at me, giggling as she turned back to Lucie. I blushed and raised my book higher in an attempt to hide my flushing face. I wasn't even focusing on the book, I just had to hide myself. Cordelia was a year older than me, and also the parabatai of Lucie. If she knew I'd feelings for her, Lucie would most likely kill me.
Later that night, after the presents were opened and we had a big feast, it was time for everyone to leave. The Lightwoods went back to their manors, as did the Carstairs and Fairchilds. That night in bed, I grinned. I had to sneak out and give 'her' my present. I could not wait until the next morning, as her father also asked for a certain book from the Institute's library, and he told me that they were traveling to Idris the next morning.
I got out of bed, grabbed the ancient book (which I could not make out its purpose with the chthonic language) and her present. I closed my eyes and my veins tingled. My skin felt as if it were peeling, but at least it did not hurt as the first time I Changed. Changing was different for my mother; she could transform into whomever she had a possession of. It was also different for my sister; she could Change her age. Contrary to the Council's belief, Lucie is actually older than me. In fact, she is as old as Charles, Matthew's cousin. Apparently, my parents had an early affair before they wedded and had to hide the child, raising her in secret. When it turned out her ability was to Change age, we faked her birth a few years after mine. Her primary age, however, is a year above me, so that she could easily be Cordelia's parabatai and annoy me.
As for me, I faded into nothingness. Well, not exactly. I guess you could say I could travel within the shadows of objects. You could call me... Prince of Shadows. Yes, I am quite fond of that title.
As I crept through the staircase and out the main doors, I was stopped by the Institute's guardian, who claimed her dwelling to be in the beautiful yards of our home.
Jessamine Lovelace.
"Why, it is late for you to be out and about, Jamie. If anything, I'd assume it was your mischievous sister."
I cursed. "Shouldn't you be... somewhere else, Aunt Jessie?"
"Why, don't tell me you're off to see the Cartwrights again. It is much too early in the morning for that."
"I've been to their manor prior to this night, Aunt Jessie; you of all people... er, Shadowhunter... ghosts, should know that."
Jessamine floated from the arched gates that opened up to the streets of London. She eyed me carefully, and then saw the items in my hand.
"What are these objects?" she asked me.
There's no tricking a ghost. They have the most keen Sight out of all of us that are Downworlder or Shadowhunter, so she had obviously seen through my shadow cloak, including anything that was with me.
"A present for her," I said.
Jessamine laughed. "Why, not that, silly child. I meant... that." She gestured to the book I had clutched under my arm.
"Oh, this old book? I don't know, her father Cedric told me he was fond of books like these. Consider it a present for him, too." So he'll accept my love for her, I thought, but don't say.
Jessamine looked uneasy. "I'll be expecting your return soon, Jamie."
I nodded, and ran within the shadows of London.
Street by street, I finally made my way to the Cartwright Manor. It was rather small compared to the other manors. Compared to the wealthy Lightwoods' manor, this was only a fraction. I hurry down the cobblestone path and knocked on the door. A sweet scent filled the air as the door opened.
Cedric Cartwright opened the door. "Ah, James Herondale. A fortunate time it is for you to be here. Please, come in."
I walked in and entered their drawing room, where a cozy fireplace lit up the corners. At a sofa next to a Christmas tree, nothing compared to the size of the Institute's, mind you, sat the Cartwright triplets. I paid no attention to any of their names, but one of them had always caught my eye.
She looked like the oldest of the three, but still, was about my age. Although I was fond of Cordelia, my full love went to this girl. I knew not her name, as I was always too shy to ask. Cedric had never made anything of my affections, so he never told me her name either. Her skin was a slight pink that radiated her very snow-like appearance. Golden ivory hair was put up for the occasion, as Cordelia's had. I was so enchanted by her, I forgot about where I was and everyone else in the room. None of her siblings had an effect such as this.
"The book, James?" Cedric cut through my trance and held out his hand for the book.
"Y-Yes, Merry Christmas, Mr. Cartwright." I handed him the book.
His face was greedy with yearning at this point, and didn't even thank me as he ran down the basement and told his children to keep me company.
I sat across from the three, eyes still locked with the oldest, which were a serene gray. Words would not pour out of my mouth, I most likely looked like a bloody duck.
Then suddenly, a random crash came from the door.
"Open up, Cedric! You may not use the book!"
Oh no, I thought. I knew that voice all too well: my father, William Herondale.
The door kept thudding, and the Cartwright children screamed. I had no idea what was going on, and why my father was here.
Then it hit me: Jessamine must have told him. That little...
CRASH! The door broke open and the children ran away from the drawing room.
"Father, why are you here?!" I screamed at him.
Father shook his head from the wet snow outside and locked his blue eyes on me. "I could ask you the same thing, son. Where did Cedric go?"
Before I could say anything, the door to the basement opened. "Right here, William."
I was speechless. A crimson rune was drawn on his face, and radiated an evil pulse. His children stood behind him, cowering in fear.
Father cursed. "I should have sent you to the Clave the first moment I knew what your plan was. Sparing your life was a mistake."
"And I would have gone to the Clave, Will. I would have let them kill be so I could rejoin with my beloved." Cedric gestured to the children. "But what would become of my children? I will not abandon them. They're more dangerous than anyone in the Council could think."
"They are just children!" Father roared. I have never seen him like this. I cowered in fear just as the other children did.
Cedric's demeanor dropped to an icy evil. His crimson rune looked as if it were fighting himself. "Argh... I... No. I must revive my love. We will be once more a happy family."
"You consort yourself with dark magic, Cedric. Do you not see why you are not anymore a part of the London Enclave? Why you are secluded to this small manor the Clave had to replace your family in? And now you are resorting to the most evil magic of all, necromancy! That book had no right to even be in the Institute's library. Give me the book, and in the name of the London Enclave, give yourself in, Cedric."
"No..." Cedric's voice sounded hoarse. Different. The crimson rune seared with energy, and I could hear something crisp. "My love... Eliza..."
He screamed in agony. Cedric still looked like Cedric, but his runes all glowed scarlet. Even the regular ones, such as Clairvoyance. He grabbed his stele and drew a Mark on his palm. I recognized it: it was a fire-rune. One of the few offensive runes, and very hard to master.
"Heavenly fire!" he shouted. The house blew up in flames very quick. Father cursed and said something about children. I was slowly passing out, sure I was going to die that night.
"Now you know what you've done, Jamie." Jessamine's figure glowed within the heavenly fires. "If it weren't for me, you would all be dead. The Shadowhunters would be in danger. Now, come with me to safety."
She picked me up as I knocked unconscious.
AN: So what do you all think? Please comment on your opinions and questions, I will answer them in the next chapter! The adventures of the Edwardian Shadowhunters has just begun.
And yes, this is based on what we know of TLH from the teaser of the Midnight Heir. Things in this story are non-canon to the actual TLH series, coming in the years to come.