Tessa drifted in and out of sleep, her dreams were filled with the brightest blue and the most vivid silver. Everything was magnified while she slept, like the nightmares; her brothers anger and the three men in the alley way.
Sometimes she'd open her heavy eyelids and see a golden ceiling before falling to sleep again, or the ceiling could be black. But it never varied between the two.
She eventually regained full consciousness and when she sat up she found herself in a large room, laying in a double bed, surrounded by heavy oak panels, a dresser, a desk and a fireplace.
She was confused, but then remembered the events of the previous night and whimpered in horror. The small sound triggered pain in her cheek, she wondered what on earth from. She got up and raced to the dresser that included a mirror. Her soft slender feet padding on the dark wooden floor that was surprisingly warm.
She gasped at her reflection.
There was a large hand shaped bruise on her left cheek. It looked several days old.
Which is odd, because I was only beaten last night.
She observed her face, her eyes were rimmed with darkness, and face looked shallow, her hair framed her pale face as it hang lankly. She wasn't surprised. Tessa in her relatively short life had looked much different; there was a time that Nate had beaten her so savagely that the black eye hadn't vanished completely until a few weeks later, rendering her constantly inside, while the few nice days London actually got, flew by.
Over the past few years Nate had been getting steadily worse, it wasn't that severity of the beating that had her fleeing last night, and it was the second that day. She'd had enough.
But Tessa felt, even though she was doing the right thing, felt like she'd betrayed Nate. He couldn't help being drunk, it's all he had, with the death of their parents and aunt, and having her thrust upon his responsibility. She felt guilty and knew she'd be in trouble when she returned to the mangy apartment they called home, but also knew it was her fault.
Turning away from the mirror she headed toward the large wardrobe and hoping there was something in it, she flung open the heavy doors.
She gasped, they were not the sort of dresses she was used to; second hand and tattered, these were fine and expensive, and they had bustles and silky materials and brilliant colours. She felt like she was invading someone's personal closet and hastily shut the doors.
Tessa jumped as a boy was standing in the doorway, she hadn't seen him as the closet doors had been blocking her view.
He was an odd and strangely beautiful boy. His hair was silver, his eyes were the same magnificent shade and his tall figure fitted his angled face. He was lovely to look at.
Tessa however realised she was only in her nightgown and was panic stricken.
"Do relax Ms Gray," Said the boy.
His voice was oddly calming. And despite the lack of propriety in the current situation she relaxed.
"My name is James Cairstairs, but everyone here calls me Jem." His voice was as smooth as honey, she listened to it as she studied his mesmerising face.
"Theresa," she replied "but I prefer Tessa."
He nodded, then said.
"You know that you can use these dresses," gesturing to the cupboard, "because I'm afraid to announce to you that my dear companion William Herondale will be very inappropriate, unlike myself, if you turn up to lunch wearing a night gown."
"But Mr Cairstairs," he frowned, "I can't stay for lunch, I must get back to my brother, he will be dreadfully worried you see I've not left him for a night alone before."
Jem raised his eyebrows and sat in the armchair by the fireplace, "I'm afraid Miss Tessa, you've been unconscious for longer than a day."
She stiffened at his words, how could it be longer than a day? That terrible alley scene was still so fresh. She thought of her brother, he would be furious.
She stood up straight and rushed to the cupboard, throwing it open she chose the simplest dress and threw it over her nightgown she buttoned it up in frenzy. Not bothering to look in the mirror she hastily tied her hair up.
Tessa seemed unaware of the boy who was watching her. He was smiling a little sadly.
She turned to Jem and said, "Thank you for your generous hospitality and the fresh garments but I really must be off."
She flew out the door and started down the high-ceilinged corridor, but within minutes she was lost. Another quarter of an hour later, exhausted, fed up and annoyed, she slid down a cold stone wall. It reminded her of the alley way of the men, and the situation she was not so long ago in. Tessa stood staring at the wall with terror, frozen as the memories of that night came flooding in.
She didn't see Jem approach her and screamed when his hand rested with her shoulder. He instantly drew it back and began to hastily apologise.
Great Tessa now you've screamed at the only nice person in the world.
Her exhaustion and frustration consuming her, she fell into his arms and closed her eyes, all she wanted was a hug, someone else to bear the weight on her shoulders with her. Jem did just that and pulled her into a warm and comfortable hug. A sobbed racked through her lean body, and Jem drew away. Holding her by the shoulders he held her so he could look into her face.
Tears streamed down it.
"Tessa, what's wrong?" He said kindly.
"You don't understand, he'll beat me for this. I'm seven feet under already."
"Tessa, you are safe here, no one here will hurt you or anything, and we'll protect you, always." Jem said this with so much sincerity that for once in her life she believed she was actually safe.
Then the door across the corridor opened, "What's going on out here, it sounds like someone's being murdered," and Tessa's grey eyes met the stunning blue ones again.
Please don't hate me, William will defiantly be in the next chapter! I ship wessa so much, but I absolutely love Jem. Tell me what you think, love it? Hate it? Ideas? Anything's welcome I'd love to hear from you guys!