This story is for those who have read Clockwork Angel! Well, maybe you don't need to have read it, but it helps you understand the characters better. You need to know about Shadowhunters and Downworlders, at least. OK, so this is a take on Clockwork Angel, different plot but same characters (except Tessa. No Tessa.) Please review, even if you hate it!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the Shadow World, all credit to Cassandra Clare!
Chapter: Jem
Jem stepped outside in the rapidly fading sunlight, calling to Charlotte that he'd be right back. He lifted his pale face to the sun, closing his eyes and breathing in the air. It felt good to just relax, take in the beauty of the city, let go of the Shadowhunter part of him, if only temporarily. The angry beep beep of a car horn brought him back to reality. He wouldn't like to be out too late.
He started down the steps until something caught his eye- a young woman, lying on the pavement. Jem rushed to her side and saw she couldn't have been much different in age from him, maybe sixteen or seventeen. She wore a black dress, her skin white where it was not stained with blood and dirt. Her long black hair was spread behind her, and her eyes were closed. He put a hand to her neck- she had a pulse, though it was shallow and weak. She needed help, and soon. "Will! Charlotte, Henry! Need some help out here!" He was unable to keep the worry out of his voice.
Two people materialized at the door to the Institute, brought running from Jem's shout. The shorter of the pair was a woman in her early twenties, slim and brown-haired, wearing a blue dress and a worried expression. The other was tall and slender but muscular, dressed in black. This only emphasized his light skin, black hair and beautiful blue eyes. He didn't appear to see the girl- he was concerned that something had happened to Jem, his best friend. Jem addressed the woman first. "Charlotte, where's Henry?" She seemed not to hear him for a moment before snapping back to reality. "Oh- in his workshop, I expect, you know how he is."
The boy, meanwhile, had finally noticed the girl. He came down the steps to kneel at Jem's side. "Jem… we can't take her into the Institute. You know that, right?" His voice was firm, but not without compassion. Jem just stared. "What do you mean, can't take her in? She's dying, Will, we have to help her! Our duty as Shadowhunters is to protect mundanes!" Will shook his head. "Our duty as Shadowhunters is to kill demons, not save random mundanes. Unless, of course, the two intertwine, as they do sometimes. There is nothing you can do for her, Jem, just accept it."
Jem tried appealing to Charlotte. "We can't leave her, Charlotte. She may not be a Shadowhunter, but look-" he indicated a particularly nasty scratch on the girl's leg- "this looks like the work of a demon. She obviously is important enough to attract the attention of demons, and even if she wasn't, no mundane hospital can treat demon poison. She needs us, Charlotte." As he finished speaking, the girl gave a quiet, rasping breath. She shuddered and moaned a little in pain, though she was still unconscious. Jem stopped talking and looked at her, concern etched on the fine features of his face. Charlotte sighed. "Jem's right, we can't leave her here to die. Take her inside please."
Jem stood and went to pick up the girl. Will shook his head. "Jem… let me." Jem protested. "I found her, I saved her, I can carry her in. I'm fine, truly. You don't care, you would have left her here to die." Will was hurt that his friend thought so little of him, even though what he said was true. It surprised him to see Jem worked up about something- he was normally so calm and even-tempered. Charlotte was quick to speak up. "Jem, please. Just let Will." He didn't like it, but finally agreed.
Will stood up and lifted the girl in his arms- she was light as a feather, though sticky with dry blood. As he carried her up the steps, she opened her eyes, which were large and green as a cat's. She opened her mouth, which was disconcertingly red with blood, and whispered to Will "Thank you… Shadowhunter…" before she lost consciousness once again.
Next chapter is from the girl's point of view. Please review!