A/N: This is my first Infernal Devices fanfic so please don't be to harsh on me. If you have tips advice or suggestions let me know. I am also going to make a playlist for this story. The main overall song is: Shattered ~ Trading Yesterday.
WARNING: This story may contain violence, abuse, and sexual references. If any of those things offend you I suggest you don't read.
Shattered Prologue
Stranger you've followed me so far
Until the roads converged, as did the stars
Stranger the moon looks blue tonight
Your photo framed, raw within my mind, but not tonight
~ Stranger, Katie Costello
William Herondale
It was my last night in New York and I had just finished dinner with my host family at Taki's. Izzy (my host sister), declared us boring and implied she was going off to attend a scandalous downworlder party much to her brother, Alec's dismay. Her adopted brother Jace had smirked and made a rude comment that earned a scowl from Izzy and a disappointed head shake from Alec. Jace reminded me a lot of myself, sarcastic and rude, yet I could see he was pushing everyone away for what he assumed to be their own good. Just like me.
Alec, Jace and I were walking back to the institute when I heard two people arguing from around the corner. That didn't surprise me. New York, like London, is a big city full of people and you know what they say, cities never sleep. I'm not entirely sure why I started paying attention, perhaps it was so I could be prepared. Although I don't think anything could have prepared me for her.
"What's your problem?" A female voice yelled. "My 'problem' is that you are a slut!" An angry male voice replied. "How can you say that? All he did was ask me to dance." She sounded sad and frustrated. I figured it was a woman and her overprotective boyfriend. "Sureee." He slurred. "Let me drive. You've obviously had too much to drink." She sounded disgusted. I was about to round the corner when I heard a thud. I don't think Alec and Jace did as they were chatting amongst themselves. Suddenly I felt as if I couldn't get around the corner fast enough. I quickened my pace in time to see a car speeding off. I froze.
It wasn't the fact that the driver had sped off dangerously cutting off traffic, but in front of the now empty car space was a girl. She was lying motionless on the ground, curled in a ball. Jace and Alec stopped when they saw her. "Should we see if she is ok?" Alec asked. Slowly I began to walk towards her. I can't explain why, but I was anxious. I knelt down beside her, her eyes were squeezed closed tight and her arms were wrapped around her stomach as if she was hugging herself. "Excuse me Miss, are you ok?" I asked. Relief filled when she opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at me curiously, "I'm ok." She replied softly in a beautiful and almost musical voice. "What happened?" I asked, remembering the argument. "I was running after someone and tripped in these." She said gesturing towards her heels. I took the time to take in her appearance. She was wearing minimal makeup along with a fitted black dress that ended above her knees, with black stockings and a thin cardigan. Around her neck hung a beautiful clockwork angel. I smiled at her, "Ah, heels... I swear they'll be the death of women." She smiled shyly back at me and allowed me to help her up. "A bit of advice," I smirked and leaned in closer to her, "Loose the heels." "You can loose the dress too." Jace added. I elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up." I whispered as she looked away uncomfortably.
"The names Will," I said holding my hand out, "This is Jace and Alec." I said gesturing to the boys behind me. She shook my hand quickly, "I'm Tessa." She said before dropping my hand like it burned her. She swept her light brown hair away from her face and I found myself staring into a pair of stormy grey eyes that reminded me of Wales and the happier times of my childhood. This unsettled me.
"Well, thank-you." She said before turning around and walking away. "Wait!" I called and grabbed her arm. She flinched and jerked her arm away, eyes wide with fear. I put my hands up, "Sorry, I'm not going to hurt you." After a minute she relaxed, "What do you want?" She asked. "I just wanted to know how you were getting home." "Walking." She replied simply. "In that?" I pointed at her dress, "Alone, in New York?" I asked. "Umm... Yes." She replied quietly. "That's just asking for trouble." I smirked and looked at Jace. "You know what that means?" "Yep, we must walk you home." he replied. At this Tessa's eyes widened, "That won't be necessary." She said quickly. "It would be wrong for us to let you walk alone, unless you wish for us to call you a cab." "I-I'll be fine." She said and began to back away. "Ok then." I replied. She released a breath of relief and walked away. We waited a couple of minutes before we started following her. After walking a block she turned around and glared at us. "I said I can walk myself home!" She snapped. Jace and I looked at each other and smirked.
"A little full of yourself. Who said we were following you?" Jace questioned. "Oh, yeah? And I suppose you just happen to be walking in the same direction?" She replied, voice thick with sarcasm. "As a matter of fact, yes." I grinned at her and she spun around angrily while letting out a frustrated sigh. She went to storm off but wobbled in her heels, almost falling over. I caught her just in time. She stared into my eyes looking surprised, a light blush spread across her face and I couldn't help, but think it made her look more beautiful. "Ooh, Will, she's falling for you already." Jace teased. Tessa blushed deeper and moved away from me. She bent down and jerked her shoes off. She threw them angrily at the wall beside us, cutting off whatever sarcastic remark Jace was about to make. We all stood there staring at her in shock for a moment.
Tessa turned away from us and stormed across the road. I grabbed her shoes and followed her. "Aren't you forgetting something?" I asked holding up her shoes. I don't know why, but I couldn't just let her walk away. She stopped, but didn't turn around. "Not really." She replied wearily, "They were a waste of money anyway." I noticed her tense when she said that, her fists were clenched by her side. She wasn't carefree like most other teenage girls, like Izzy. It was as if the weight of the world was hovering above her waiting to crush her at any moment. I tried to lighten the mood. "Why? Got too many at home?" I joked. "What will it take to get you to leave me alone?" She asked in a strained voice. I thought about it for a moment. I was reluctant to let her go yet I knew nothing positive could come from getting close to her and it wasn't just the fact I was leaving the next day. "Let me call you a cab." I said seriously. "Ok." She replied softly, "But I'll pay for it." I moved closer to her, but she kept her back to me. "With what money?" I asked. She had no purse and no pockets so unless she was hiding money in her bra I couldn't see a way she could pay for it. "My brother will pay for me when I get home." She reassured me. "Ok." I replied and moved towards the curb to hail a cab. Alec and Jace came over to help me. I think Alec was relieved that we would finally be heading home. Once we managed to get a cab we said our goodbyes to Tessa and walked in the opposite direction. Once we rounded the corner I realised I was still holding her shoes. "You guys go ahead; I'll catch up with you." I told the boys as I ran around the corner hoping the cab hadn't taken off yet.
As soon as I made it around the corner I froze for the second time that night. The cab was driving off in the distance, but that wasn't it. It was the fact that Tessa was walking down the street. She left me completely puzzled. I couldn't comprehend why she would lie and not take the cab ride. Did she really enjoy walking alone through the night or was it more than that? I remembered her lying on the ground and the way she flinched when I grabbed her arms, the look of terror in her eyes. I was curious at what was hidden behind that pretty face of hers. Pulling out my stele I marked myself with glamour to keep hidden from mundane eyes and followed her.
It started to rain and yet she still walked liked it didn't affect her. The longer and further we walked the worse the neighbourhood got. It had been an hour and I started to wonder whether she was heading home or just walking around aimlessly. Suddenly she stopped in front of a rundown apartment building. It was covered with graffiti and a majority of the windows were boarded up. The stairwell and apartment entrances were an outside one. She sagged against the railing as if all the strength had left her. I consider going over and helping her even if she couldn't see me, but she started pulling herself up the stairs. After walking up four flights of stairs she walked over to an apartment door. 435 was scrawled across in what looked to be permanent marker. She lifted her hand as if to knock then hesitated. She chewed on her lip nervously before turning and sliding down the wall beside the door. She wrapped her arms around her knees and laid her head on top, so she was facing me.
"Didn't I say I could walk myself home?" She asked tiredly. I looked around to see if she was talking to anyone else, but I was the only one there. "Are you talking to me?" I asked in disbelief. "Who else?" She asked. I looked down at my arm, the glamour was still in place. She shouldn't have been able to see me. I sat down next to her. "Are you apart of the shadow world?" I asked confused. She looked back at me equally confused. "The what?" She asked. "Nothing." I replied quietly, feeling suddenly tired. She shivered, we were both soaking wet. "Why don't you go in?" I asked her. Tessa looked up at me, her big grey eyes filled with fear, pain and terror. "My brother doesn't like to be woken." She whispered. I could feel panic growing in the pit of my stomach. "Is he the one you were arguing with earlier?" I asked. She nodded in return grimacing as she remembered. "What about your parents?" I'd already guessed the answer. "They're gone." She whispered. After a few moments of silenced I couldn't hold back the question that was burning at the end of my tongue. "Tessa?" I said softly, she looked into my eyes. "Yes?" She whispered. "Does your brother hurt you?" I held my breath praying she would answer with a shocked, of course not! Instead she squeezed her eyes shut, a pained expression spreading across her face. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her to my chest. Silently she wept into my shirt as I stroked her hair, wishing desperately there was something, anything I could do for her.
A/N: Let me know if you liked it or if there are any recommendations you have. I apologise for any spelling or grammar mistakes, I am typing this on my iPad.