Chapter One: Problems of the Heart
Will stood with his back facing the doorway, he was staring at the portrait of Magnus Bane hanging over the fireplace, he wondered how long ago it was painted and thought he hadn't changed one bit since. The mansion he had come to visit Magnus in was owned by Camille Belcourt, The Head of the Vampire clan for New York City and who was also Magnus' ex-on-and-off-lover, but she was currently out of town, so Magnus had taken up temporary residence here.
Magnus locked the door to the parlour and walked towards Will, "So do you want to tell me what your problem is, or do I have to do a truth spell? They are very tiring and I cannot read your thoughts William"
Will clenched and unclenched his fists, he was shaking with anger, and it was visible to Magnus.
"William, are you ok?"
Magnus was wearing a silky kimono, bright purple with lime green dragons on it, and underneath he was still exquisitely dressed in a Hugo Boss suit, black pinstripes, with a white shirt and a hot pink tie; no one could've pulled that look off but Magnus Bane. His hair was shorter than last time, or maybe it looked that way because there was so much glitter and hair gel in his hair. Will tore his eyes away from Magnus' colours and looked up at him and cleared his throat.
"I think Tessa is in love with Jem, or he is in love with her, or they are both in love with each other, I don't know, can you do something about it?"
Magnus sighed and slapped his forehead lightly with the palm of his hand.
"I am not a love doctor or a therapist William, I don't see how this concerns me or what you want me to do about it"
"I don't want Tessa living at the Institute, could she live with you? You could teach her how to be a warlock"
"Is this a favour from the Clave? If it is you know what my condition is"
"No, consider this a personal favour for me"
"Ok, so you are asking me to take Miss Theresa under my colourful Warlock wings so you don't have to deal with this problem yourself? Because you are jealous?"
"That's exactly right" crossing his arms
Magnus folded his arms against his chest, matching Will's pose.
"No"
"Oh please! What do you expect me to say to them? Jem is so…sensitive, and Tessa… Tessa…" Will paused, in deep thought, and then he spoke again, "Actually you're right, I can fix this problem myself, if Tessa wants to be with Jem I should let her, Jem deserves some happiness in his life"
"So wait, you're just giving up a chance at true love for your dying best friend? That's…" Magnus couldn't think of a word for that
"That's what Parabatai do" Will told him, as he unlocked the parlour door and left.
Magnus just let him go, there was no use in stopping him, Will Herondale did whatever he wanted once he set his heart to it.
Tessa sat on her bed and stared out the window, her hand held onto her little clockwork Angel, she thought she had lost it for good, and now it was safely back with her, of course the chain it once hung on was broken, she would have to find something else to hang it on, some twine maybe… a soft knocking at her bedroom door shook her out of her thoughts.
"Come in" she told the person on the other side. Her room was dark, she hadn't lit a candle to read yet, somehow, she thought, she was too distracted by thoughts of Will's behaviour and by what Jem had told her about the 'right man', to read tonight.
The door opened and in stepped the visitor. Tessa could only see their silhouette in the doorway.
"Who's there? Will?" she asked, and suddenly the room was lit up by witchlight, and she saw that her visitor was Jem.
"Only me" he smiled softly and shut the door behind him.
"Jem? Where's Will?"
"I don't know he isn't back yet"
"Where did he go? I haven't seen him since dinner"
"I'm not sure he didn't tell me, but that's normal behaviour for Will" he told her as he came to sit down beside her on the bed. Tessa sat up and moved closer to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Is everything ok Jem?"
"Yeah, I've been wanting to say something to you, but I can't"
"Why not?" her answer came out in almost a whisper.
"Will"
"Will's behaviour is confusing; he's been very distant from me lately" she told him
"Same" his voice was breathless as he moved his face closer to Tessa's; their mouths were centimetres apart now. Tessa's stomach did a little flip and she sucked in a breath, as much as she loved Will, his behaviour made her mad, it was so self torturing, and Jem soothed her, and if he was dying, she wanted to give him a little bit of love before he left this life. She leaned forward and pressed her lips on his and he immediately reciprocated.