DISCLAIMER ~ I don't own anything Infernal Devices or Mortal Instruments-wise. That is all down to the incredibleness of Cassandra Clare – who is, it has to be said, a pretty damn good writer xD
NOTES ~ Thank you KitKat for being my first Reviewer to this story xD I read your fanfic and i thought it was real good – so don't be mean to it :P Don't worry, i refuse to quit this story until it has finished, and your review certainly did make me happier (: So i dedicate this chapter to you.
By the way, just so everyone knows how this is going to goe, each chapter is going to switch back and forth between focusing on the IF characters, and then the MI characters – you'll get what i mean hopefully after this chapter (i suck at explaining things) .. and i think that's all i have to say so...R&R please?
On with the chapter...
CHAPTER TWO ~
"Will, please desist with that, will you." Jem sighed, putting the book down and interlocking his fingers over his chest as he watched his Parabati beat a ball impatiently against the wall, his silver eyes following its progress as Will threw it lightly, watched it hit the solid surface of the wall, and opened his hands at the perfect angle to recieve it. He paused with the ball in hand and turned his head to glance at Jem with a raised eyebrow.
"There's little else to do around here, what other annoying habit would you prefer me to take up?" He rolled his ice blue eyes and let the ball drop from his clasped hands, nudging it with a toe toward the corner of the room.
"I'd rather you didn't take up any annoying habit." Jem half smiled and shook his head, picking the book back up, eyes returning to it within his hands. It was worn, the binding fragile, but he held it was gentle care.
"What are you reading?" Will's voice came now from over his shoulder, head peeping over the back on the chair to see what was within his hands. Jem sighed and shut the book so that Will could see the cover.
"Oh. 'A Tale of Two Cities'." Will raised his eyebrows and moved away from Jem's chair to sit across from him with lazy movements. He was bored, and everything about him showed it. Jem nodded, and smiled, putting the book aside after marking his place.
"Tessa kindly allowed me to borrow it." Will nodded once and then lent back in the chair, blowing out a sigh.
"Where is Tessa?" He asked, glancing about vaguely as if he expected her to jump out from behind a chair. Jem raised an eyebrow slightly, gazing at Will with an unreadable expression.
"She was planning on taking a walk." He replied, and Will's eyes snapped back to Jem, something flickering within the depths that Jem couldn't understand.
"You let her leave...alone?" Will's voice was incredulous and verging on irritated. Jem watched him warily, calmly, and shook his head.
"No. I said i would accompany her." He said quietly, and Will went still, posture stiffening for a second, before he nodded his head. Jem sighed quietly. This was the one problem between them – Tessa. It was not that she was a bad person, not at all, but the fact that both boys had begun to feel affectionate toward her, and as she could only choose one of them...well...it was a wedge between them both.
Before Jem could open his mouth to reply, the door opened slowly, and Tessa entered, gathering her skirts to avoid tripping over them. Her eyes flickered toward Jem first, and then she noted that he was not alone, and she ducked her head slightly.
"Will." She acknowledged him politely, and then pulled her gaze away from him to look at Jem. "Are you ready? Or have you changed your mind?" She asked, looking slightly uncomfortable. Jem nodded and stood up, taking up his cane from its perch against his chair. He glanced back to Will who sat watching them with a darkened gaze.
"Do you wish to join us?" Will gave a low chuckle, though it sounded forced. He drew his arms across his chest and crossed them.
"Wouldn't wish to interrupt anything." He said, raising one eyebrow. Tessa shook her head, a few strands of her hair escaping from its knot.
"Oh please come, Will. It will be fun with the three of us." She smiled, and Jem looked back and forth between them, knowing that he could not refuse with such a smile inviting him. Jem watched Will sigh but stand with a small shrug and a noncommittal jerk of his head.
"Okay then." Jem frowned slightly, but made no comment; surprised by Will's lack of a sarcastic response. It had been a while since the three of them had spent any length of time together so perhaps this would be a time to recollect the friendship properly between them...then again, perhaps it would just be an opportunity to create an awkwardness between them.
It wasn't long before the three of them were strolling along the street, leaving the Institute behind them. At first they said little, Will with his hands shoved into his pockets and Jem swinging his cane as Tessa walked between them with her eyes tracing the crooked pavement. Then they began to converse – casually, about nothing in particular, and the awkwardness between them slowly faded.
And then suddenly, as the three turned the corner of one alleyway into a longer, wider cobbled street, a great blinding light streaked the sky, and four figures dropped from above, tangling in a heap on the hard ground. Will, Tessa and Jem stopped short, squinting against the flash of light before staring at the heap of people in shock and surprise.
However, as Shadowhunters, of course Will and Jem did not take a second to watch the odd events unfold, but were already sprinting forward. Tessa told hold of her skirts firmly and attempted to race after them, watching with wide eyes as Will reached the group of ... whatever they happened to be ... first, Jem not close after. Will withdrew a Seraph blade from the pocket of his coat as he ran, holding it with a steady hand, sharp point facing out at the odd gathering of people in front of him. Jem stood in much the same position as him, though a little wearier from the run.
By the time Tessa had reached them, the four were standing in an opposing line, facing Will and Jem. Two girls and two boys, she noticed, though the clothes they wore where most confusion. Blue coloured trousers...even on one of the girls. One of the boys – the dark haired one – had on a plain tee-shirt, the other – who was golden haired – wore some sort of jumper with a hood. Tessa had never seen such clothes, and neither, it appeared, had Will or Jem; both of whom looked suspicious, wary and defensive as their eyes flickered between each face. There was several seconds of silence as both groups stared back at each other, and then finally, the girl wearing the odd trousers spoke.
"Please don't be alarmed. We're not a danger, or a threat or anything. We're Shadowhunters too." Tessa's eyes snapped to the girl in surprise, only then noting the ink black, swirling marks upon her skin...and indeed the other three's also. Jem nodded slowly and lowered his blade, however Will did not. If anything, he looked warier still, eyes hardening to ice.
"Will." Tessa gazed at him imploringly, lightly placing her small hand upon his arm and causing him to look at her. Whoever these people were, they were no enemy...not now they happened to be as the same kind as Will and Jem. His gaze locked with hers for a second, before he nodded and slowly lowered his Seraph blade too, eyes still wary.
"You're not a Shadowhunter...what are you?" The golden haired boy was frowning at Tessa, eyes narrowed. He was standing protectively beside the girl who'd first spoken, and now Will and Jem drew closer to Tessa in response.
"Excuse me," Tessa raised her chin. "But there is no need to be rude." She saw Will smirk from the corner of her eye, and Jem's grin. "What i am has very little to do with you." She frowned.
"At least tell us who you are, and where we are." The dark haired, blue eyed boy spoke up, and Tessa glanced at him, and then had to look a second time. The dark hair and blue eyes were familiar to her, and her eyes flickered to Will. What an odd coincidence. Will however was too busy smirking.
"How can you be so foolish as to not know where you are?" He asked, raising both eyebrows. The golden haired boy narrowed his eyes, but it was the black haired girl who answered, stepping forward with a roll of her eyes. She was the only one who hadn't spoken, but she had an almost arrogance to her face that reminded Will, Tessa and Jem primarily of Jessamine.
"Just answer the question." She said impatiently, and Jem stepped forward with the answer.
"London, April 1878. I am James Carstairs, but everybody calls me Jem." He gave them a kindly smile, and Tessa watched them glance at each other at the mention of where and when, before they made some acknowledgment of Jem's name.
"Theresa Grey." Tessa said simply. "Though i prefer Tessa." She followed Jem's lead as he mentioned the name he preferred. Then the gazes turned to Will.
"William Herondale. And it's Will – don't ever call me William." He said, tone sharp still. The four Shadowhunters in front of Will, Tessa and Jem shared a surprised look, and the golden haired boy actually took a step back, mouth opening before shutting unhappily.
"I'm Clarissa Fairchild..." The girl with burning red hair introduced herself, and then the others, "This is Alec and Isabelle Lightwood-" Will interrupted with a bold laugh.
"Lightwood! You're related to Gabriel?" He shared an amused look with Jem, before Clary was able to continue.
"and i am Jace...Jace Herondale..." Jace spoke up, looking uncomfortable, and Will, Tessa and Jem turned their gaze to him in surprise.
"Who are you." Will narrowed his eyes, speaking through gritted teeth and waiting for them to explain themselves.