There was silence. Jem was sure that if he tried hard enough he could hit it with his stele and not dent the tension in the room. He was looking at Will, and Will, well Will was staring at Alec incredulously, as if he could not imagine that this feeble looking shadow hunter could actually be turning into an angel. Jem reprimanded himself. You don't know he's turning into an angel, it could be a mistake. And yet, even as he thought it, Jem could not extinguish his worry for the boy, and the deep dread inside that just wouldn't. Go. Away. It seemed to him like some sort of insanity, and yet perfectly plausible. He did however, amongst all of this, know that he was intruding. He always felt like this when he was around Magnus and Alec. Will however, did not.

"Look would you to stop mooning at each other we have more important things to be getting on with. Maybe we should talk to Henry, he may have an idea what happened, even if he is mad as a brush on legs."

"I haven't heard that expression before." Said Alec. Jem laughed.

"Bet you haven't heard of carnivorous ducks or demon pox before either." He said. A light seemed to appear above Alec's head.

"Yes. Yes I have. From my parabatai, Jace." Magnus seemed to be trying to tell Alec to stop, Jem noticed, but Alec either didn't see him or wasn't taking any notice.

"Jace Herondale. He was always talking about demon pox and about how he knew it existed. Carnivorous ducks too. I've no idea why. He always hated ducks. At least with the demon pox he had a genuine reason. He said there had been reports about it made by-"He stopped. Will had gone white as a sheet, and Jem was sure he didn't look much better. His brain was going Herondale Herondale Herondale Jace Herondale. Another herondale.

Magnus had long since explained to the parabatai how Alec had suddenly 'appeared' in his living room, but only now did Jem see Will understanding. The way Alec spoke, His name, his casual use of their first names, and more importantly the mention of another Herondale, meant only one thing. Alec was from the future. There was no denying it, he simply was.

"Alec. Stop now Darling." Said Magnus gently. Only then did Alec realise how badly the room had been affected. Jem had never known Will to stay completely still and silent for so long. Jem cleared his throat.

"Henry. Come on." He motioned out of the room. He told Magnus to hold Alec while he and Will lead them, a few feet in front. Far away that all sounds would be inaudible by the pair.

"Are you alright Will?" Jem asked quietly. But Jem knew the answer already. Will was not alright.

"A herondale James. A herondale. I kept kidding myself that maybe he's not…" He trailed off but the message was clear. That maybe he's not your descendant.

"But the ducks James? Demon pox? We both know where he would have got that from." Jem nodded but said nothing. There was nothing to say.

"Will why is this such a big deal? Sure it was a shock, to me too but it doesn't matter Will. Did you not expect to marry? To love? Ever? You can love Will. It's not as if you can never love William."

Will said nothing.

They had just reached Henry's workroom- a large basement under the institute- when Jem insisted that he help Alec, whilst apologising for his parabatai's behaviour. Magnus had seen it as a gracious gesture, but Alec knew that it wasn't. Sure Jem was kind but Jem and Alec were very similar in one respect. Their eyes revealed the truth. And Jem's… It was an emotion Alec had never seen before. He wish Magnus hadn't disappeared into the workroom with Will. Will who was still white as a sheet despite the calm persona he was putting on. Jem said very little the first few steps. Alec assumed he was waiting for Magnus and Will to disappear into the room. There was only a few seconds between the moment they had left before Alec was slammed back first into the nearest wall, Jem holding him up with one hand.

"Don't hurt my parabatai again. You may be shadow hunter but rest assured boy, that I will not be kind to you if you mess with Will again. He has been through too much." Jem's hand was on his throat now. Alec found it hard to breathe.

"Jem stop… You're not thinking straight put me down." He choked. Stars danced playfully in front of his eyes. By the Angel I need air… He thought. He was going to pass out he knew. In about a minute he would suffocate. But why was Jem doing this? Why threaten him and then take his life immediately? Jem was many things but he was not a killer. Or malicious. Or stupid, for that matter. Where Will was intelligent with numbers and books, in social matters and everything that mattered right in this moment Jem was far ahead. Alec knew then, that he had hit it on the dot. Jem was not in his right mind.

Jem hadn't known what happened. One minute he was carrying Alec trying to make conversation which the other shadowhunter clearly didn't want to have, and the next, he heard Will screaming his name.

"JEM! JEM CARSTAIRS WHAT IN THE ANGEL'S NAME ARE YOU DOING? JEM?" Then a sentence to… Who was that again? M… Michael? Max? No that was someone else…

"Magnus that's not Jem! I know him better than myself he wouldn't do this!" Jem felt detached. It was as if he were drifting in mud. It was filthy he knew, and it went against everything he held sacred to feel himself do to this boy what he had most feared he would do after what Yanluo did to him. Murder. Yet he couldn't stop himself. He commanded his muscles to move but they stayed in position.

"Forget justifying his actions and get him off of Alexander! He'll suffocate!" Magnus was worried now. That was his name now Jem remembered. He felt corrupted. Tainted. He wondered if this was how vampires felt, and then wondered if he were becoming one, ripped apart from all that was human and changed, so that even he could not identify himself. He didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. He felt hands on him then. He knew it was Will. Will. Will he remembered. How could it be anyone else? The hands held him in place though he did not struggle. He was aware of him and Will being alone then. Will looked scared.

"Jem why…? You wouldn't do this!" Jem could do nothing but laugh. He laughed so hard that the air ran out and he became unaware of what was happening around him. All he saw in everything. Everything. Was

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And again in the infirmary,

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In the hues of the blue of will and Alec's eyes,

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When had he noticed that they were almost the same colour?

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What was going on?

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Will?

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Sophie?

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