DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and the Infernal Devices series!

A/N: HEY ALL! Here is chapter 10! and um CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE IN 9 DAYS! Everyone excited? I'm hoping to fit another update in before then! Please follow/review, it would mean a lot! ENJOY :)

It was mid morning, and I walked out of the changing room, and into the open space of the training room. It was in the attic of the institute, and had wooden scaffolding all around the ceiling. Targets were set up around the walls, and high, wooden beams hung from the roof. Various training weapons were laid out on tables, and crash mats were spread all along the concrete floors. I was excited. Today would be my first training session, and I could not wait to begin.

I pulled my hair back in a loose bun, and pulled up the waistband of my black tights, then held my head eye as I made my way to where Jace was tying up his runners. He briefly glanced up; his tawny eyes shimmered with confidence, and nodded to acknowledge my presence.

"We'll be starting with easy defence techniques, so stand opposite me."

I did as he said, and as I turned to face him, I saw second too late his arm swing back and felt a sharp pain as it collided into my shoulder. I stumbled back on the crash mat, and held my shoulder.

"Lesson one in defence basics," Jace smirked and started stretching his arms nonchalantly, "Always keep your eye on your opponent. Do you really think a demon or forsaken will wait for you to get into position?"

I shook my head, "No," I straightened myself up again, this time with a scowl. I, of course, expected Jace to be a tough teacher.

"Good, let's start then."

Needless to say, I was aching a lot. After my first training with Jace, I had immediately retreated to the solitude of the library to sit by the warm fire and to feel the comfort of the surrounding books.

For a while, I sat and watched the snow fall out of the large library window. The snowflakes looked like feathers floating in the wind, and I felt peace watching them sway back and forth. Christmas was coming soon, and New York was gradually becoming covered in mid December snow. I hugged the book I was holding tightly to my chest and momentarily closed my eyes. The library was completely silent, besides the crackling sound of the fire, and I imagined the sound of laughter and voices. Not just any laughter and voices, the sound of people from a lifetime ago. Memories and ghosts filled the empty library, with chatter and joy and the turning of old book pages. The sound of melancholy songs were being sung in the distance, and the sound of violin gently echoing.

'Henry, for the Angel's sake, have you been listening to me at all?'

'Pardon, love?'

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter as I replayed the sound of their bickering, and the laughter of Will that followed, then Jem's scolding of Will's laughter, then my laughter at Jem's scolding.

As I opened my eyes, the laughter, voices and music faded away, and I was once again alone in the library. The snow had stopped falling, and the fire had died down. I then noticed the tears that had escaped my eyes, and let them roll down my face and onto my neck freely. Immortality, I thought, was the cruellest gift anyone could ever receive. I had learnt though, with years and years of practice, to repress my memories and to live in the present as much as possible. This was a rare moment of remembering.

The sound of the library door click made me snap out of the moment, and I vigorously wiped the tears off my face. "Tessa?"

I sighed in relief.

"Jem? I'm here."

I watched as Jem closed the library door, and trotted down the steps towards me. He was wearing a thick trench coat, with flecks of snow on his shoulders and his hair. As he reached where I was sitting, and intently looked me in the eye, I hoped dearly he would not notice I had been crying. He swiftly leant down and kissed my cheek, then sat in another armchair opposite me, rubbing his hands together for warmth.

"How was your training with Jace?"

I grinned, "Brilliant. My shoulder is aching though, he likes to shove a lot."

Jem laughed, a laugh I knew off by heart, and ran his hand through his dark hair, making it stand up and look more ruffled than usual. I cocked my head to the side, and watched him closely. He looked less tired, and even had a hint of red hue in his cheeks. He looked more alive, and I was thankful.

"What were you doing out?" I put the book I was holding down, and stood up and walked over to Jem. He formed his mouth into a lopsided grin as I approached him.

"I was with Jocelyn and Luke. We were investigating the Hotel Dumont, to see if it was still inhabited with vampires," he sighed and shook his head, "they're gone."

I frowned. The New York vampires were gone? Surely not. I remembered my dream, where Will had grown fangs, and thought maybe it was a sign. Could the vampires have joined Sebastian?

I sat down in Jem's lap, laying my legs over the side of the armrest and hugging his torso tightly. He leant back and gently rubbed my lower back reassuringly.

I kissed his temple, and kept my lips there as I whispered, "Do you think it's a sign?"

He let out another exasperated sigh, "Yes, by the Angel, yes. If the New York vampire's have banded with Sebastian, there's no doubt other clans will too," his voice was fogged with desperation, "And no sign of the boy, Simon. Luke was following his scent, it was all over the Hotel Dumont, but no sign of any vampires, so we have lost him."

I ran my fingers along his jaw and nodded at his words. It was awful about Simon, but my thoughts were on Jem and the way his skin felt against my fingertips, and how it caused shooting stars in my veins. He slowly closed his eyes, and I traced my lips down from his temple, to his cheekbone and smiled against the warmth of his skin. His hand cupped the small of my back tightly, and tugged me closer to him. My lips managed to find his, and I was about to press down when the clatter of books snapped me out of my trance.

"SIMON IS GONE?" Clary was standing a few metres behind Jem and I, and I whipped my head around at her shriek. She looked wild. Her red hair was spilling out of its ponytail, and her green eyes were widened with anger.

I stood up and shook my head, "Clary, he isn't gone-"

"That's what it sure sounded like he was saying!" Clary accusingly pointed at Jem who was still seated and had his face in his hands.

"I'm sure Simon is fine, Clarissa-"

"No, no I need to find Jace," she spun on her heel and started to run away.

With one last glance at Jem, I hopped off his lap and hurried after Clary.

She ran to the library door and flung it open. "Clary wait!"

She disappeared through the door in a wave of red hair, and I followed her through. She had stopped running, but was walking with haste down the hallway. I caught up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder as I caught my breath.

"Clary," I turned her around and placed both my hands on her shoulder. I looked closely into her worried, green eyes and gently squeezed her shoulders, "Clary, Simon is ok, he will be ok-"

She shook her head. "You don't understand! What if he's joined? What if they've forced him to join? He's gone. I'm his best friend, I'd know if something was wrong," her voice was filled with desperation, and I noticed her eyes form tears. I exhaled and carefully drew her into a hug. She began to sob almost silently, with only shaking shoulders and the faint wetness of tears on my shoulder. I tightened my grip on her, and I felt an ache in my throat.

Venimus. We are coming.

A shiver ran down my spine, and as I held Clary in the corridor, I felt my hope start to crumble.