Hi guys! You continue to amaze me with your super nice reviews . It's tough with the Will/Tessa/Jem situation now, because some of you prefer Wessa and some are Jessa all the way, so hopefully you'll all be happy with how things turn out (not going to spoil anything, though :P ). So, this chapter you'll see what happens with Jem and Cecily. Tell me what you think about it- out of character for Jem, or spot on? Also, Mortmain's being a bit of a silent assassin. Something biiggg is about to happen. Muahahaa…. Enjoy
Now, just a reply to the guest accounts who've reviewed the last chapter:
Genelia: aww, thank you so much! Ily too & no problem with the Will pov. Sadly, this chapter is a bit lacking in the Will department…next chapter tho
FloridaGirl: hmmm….you may be right about Jem ;) haha and yes, Magnus is right about Chenry. He is Magnus Bane, after all.
Monica: hehehe wow thank youu! That's such a big compliment- really hope I can live up to it now :P. This chapter may (or may not :P) answer your Cecily x Jem question
Shadows: Jessa fan? Hehee I'm really glad you liked the Jem x Tessa. I want to write this fairly realistically, so don't worry, there's going to be a lot of Jessa still to come :P. There's also going to be a lot of Wessa though. Tessa does love both of them, so we'll see…
Charlotte was tapping her foot and facing away from Henry into the fireplace when an unexpected guest arrived. Consul Wayland entered the room from the back, pale-blue eyes flickering from the light of the fire. He did not return Charlotte's forced smile.
"Consul," Henry stepped forward and shook his hand. "We were expecting to see you at the meeting later." Charlotte struggled to keep her composure at that.
"To what do we owe your visit, Consul?" she put in sharply with a glance at Henry, as if it was his fault. She knew it wasn't; deep down, that is. She knew she should try to be compassionate. But nobody could afford to be compassionate right now.
"The others, unfortunately, have business elsewhere. It would be unwise for us all to gather under one roof these days Charlotte, I'm sure you can understand that- given recent events. I have come here to inform you as such- the meeting at Westminister has been cancelled until further notice."
"These events you are referring to," Charlotte said icily, "would you care to elaborate? As far as I was aware, we were to meet a small gathering of people tonight."
"Indeed, we were under that impression," Henry put in quickly- and Charlotte was sure he was doing so just to let her know that he wasn't hiding anything else from her- or at least, to give that impression. Consul Wayland scratched his head, eyeing them thoughtfully.
"I suppose I would not expect you to be aware that only hours ago, our own George Penhallow was assassinated in his home. Automatons," he added by way of explanation.
"Oh, my," Henry gasped. "What of his family? His wife?"
"His wife and their unborn child," there was real grief in the Consuls' voice now, "are nowhere to be found. Members of the Enclave are there now, searching for the body."
"She was carrying a child?" Charlotte's hands flew automatically to her own swollen stomach protectively.
"I'm afraid so. And that is not all. You will recall Lilian Highsmith, of course, as one of the three we are currently questioning for their support of Benedict in taking the Institute," the Consul reminded them. Charlotte responded with a curt nod of her head. "She was reported missing- not an hour after the slaughter of the Penhallows'. I thought it in the best interests of the Council to warn the others to stay away. It would be unwise for every one of us to gather under one roof, should an attack strike again. Mortmain is powerful, Charlotte, Henry."
"We are aware of his power, Michael," Charlotte said stiffly. "But in regards to postponing the meeting…" she hesitated, looking over at Henry for a moment as though for support. Her husband merely blinked at her, oblivious as to what she may need help with. "I am not sure that it is in the best interest of the Enclave to delay deliberation. We must unite if we are to establish our next move. We are aware now of his recent whereabouts, at least. Should we not try to intercept him while we can? Find him before he can get too far away?"
"I'm surprised of you, Charlotte," Michael Wayland said; he was still standing towards the room's entrance, making it clear that he did not assume this to be a long discussion. "I would have thought that you would prioritize your safety before immediate action- especially given your condition." Charlotte drew her hands in around her stomach.
"And I am surprised of you, Consul," she said tightly. "The mandate of the Shadowhunters-"
"Do not assume I have forgotten," he said curtly. "It is merely too risky to meet now, when the Magister is-"
"Is what? Regrouping? He killed George Penhallow, he knew we were going to meet today, he is anything but unprepared, and I have reason to suspect that he made his move in order to prevent us from meeting, to keep us stumbling around in the dark without a clue."
"And what genius idea would you suggest then, Mrs Branwell?" the Consul's tone was suddenly very cold. "That is, if you have one."
"Michael," Henry said imploringly, but he might as well not have been there at all, for all the attention the other man paid him. Charlotte kept her chin raised as he spoke to her, much like a parent speaks to a child who does not understand something.
"I can appreciate that you would like to take action, Charlotte. You show true initiative in that. But my duty as Consul is to ensure that there are Shadowhunters to make up the Enclave so that we can make decisions in the future, and I saw no point, and still see no point, in gathering together the group of colourfully opinionated people to bicker about what not to accomplish. You and I know perfectly well that as it stands, nobody has any new leads on Mortmain, much less on what to do about him. We will wait until a more appropriate time to deliberate. For now, I will leave you both to your evening." Having given his speech, he inclined his head, making for the exit. Charlotte, numb in a curious combination of frustration and fear, made no move to show him to the door in a most unladylike way. If she were human, she knew that would not have been simply taken. If she were a young lady, she would show guests to the door and invite them inside with warm smiles and bright gowns. She would hear nothing of murders, and she would not stay awake at night thinking of such dark matters either, formulating strategies and fearing consequences. There were times when she thought of that and felt wistful. That this world was not for her to admire, but for her to earn through blood and sweat. She looked at Henry then, almost not able to help herself for it. He wasn't looking after the Consul, but at her, eyes wide with concern. Here was a man who still treated her like a lady. Here was a man who had tried to shield her from the ugly of the world. A smile slipped onto her face, betraying her, marking her out as a woman in love. Hesitantly, almost confused, Henry smiled back, and she took his hand in hers, leaning her body against him where they stood.
"What are we going to do?" she whispered to him, a question she daren't have ever asked anybody but Henry.
"We're not going to give up," Henry said. "I cannot say that we can search London for Mortmain manually, but I have been thinking recently... the Downworld is a dangerous place these times, but if Gideon goes with Will and Jem, I am certain that they will come across someone who knows something more specific. It's how we managed to unveil a great deal about the Dark Sisters, is it not? Before Will retrieved Tessa from that dreadful house."
"Henry," Charlotte said, smiling. "That's a good idea."
"Why the tone of surprise, darling?" Henry said reproachfully, but he was smiling when he turned her around to face him.
"You always surprise me," she said. "That's a good thing." One of the things that Charlotte wished she could change was how tiny she was. Henry was not a very tall man, and yet, she had to stand on the very tips of her toes to meet him at eye-level. Leaning in, she kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Oh, god, the lovebirds!"
Shocked, Charlotte and Henry flew apart, looking around to see Magnus Bane, returned from his mission and shielding his eyes dramatically with his hand.
"Magnus," Charlotte said. "Your business here is complete, I do suppose?"
"Complete?" Magnus shook his head. "I would have thought so when I came in, but now I see that everything is well and thoroughly incomplete. No, I have merely decided that my involvement ceases here. Not that I expect it to hold up for long, of course. Why I am so charitable to the unfortunate, I will never know." Sweeping his ludicrously tall hat from the hat-stand, Magnus nodded to the couple by the door.
"Until such time. Charlotte, Henry."
Charlotte blinked. One moment, the warlock had been standing not a few feet away from them. The next, he had vanished in a cloud of blue haze.
"Magic," Henry said. "Would that not come in handy at times?"
"Perhaps. I was just thinking…"
"Thinking what, dear?"
"Well, let's not forget, Mortmain can vanish into thin air too."
For a moment, Jem was so shocked that he stood completely still, intensely aware of everything that was happening as if it was occuring in slow motion. He felt the unexpectedly cold skin of her hands, curled around either side of his neck, sending goose-bumps across the skin there. He felt the soft fabric of her training clothes crushed against him, the hint of a teardrop making her lashes damp. He felt her lips, almost rough as she kissed him, not stopping for air. It was as though she didn't need it- as though he was her air, and she was breathing him in.
And then Jem remembered where they were and who she was, and turned away with a jolt.
"Cecily."
He looked at her, eyes wide, mouth ajar. His silver hair was tussled from her fingers running through it. Cecily looked determinedly back, blue eyes meeting silver ones.
"What's the matter?" she said.
"Cecily," he said again, stunned, lost for words. "I- Tessa."
"But she's not a Shadowhunter," Cecily said abruptly. "She doesn't even know who she is."
Jem just stared at her, her words sinking in. Not a Shadowhunter.
"That doesn't matter," he said. He could hardly believe that it was Cecily saying this- the sister of his parabatai. Will had never said such a thing about Tessa. But then, Will had never kissed Jem when he was engaged to her either- mores the pity. "Cecily, Tessa's not- a label does not define a person."
"I know that," Cecily said impatiently. "That's not what I meant. But I….she likes books. She likes poetry. You don't. You play violin. She plays nothing. You love animals. She stood on Church's tail in the hall accidentally and he let out a dreadful cry. She isn't right for you, Jem."
"I don't believe that's true," Jem said. "Cecily, I am going to marry Tessa."
"You are only marrying her because you don't want to die without being married." She was so blunt- so terribly honest, Jem couldn't meet her eye. "You shouldn't do that. You shouldn't…give up like that. There is a cure, you know."
"A cure?"
"I'm certain of it. And we will find it. You don't have to-"
"I don't have to do anything," Jem said. "I want to marry Tessa. I would want to regardless of my condition. I asked her to marry me, and it was the single happiest moment of my life when she agreed. I am sorry, Cecily, but I'm afraid that I don't quite understand you-"
"You don't know me yet," she said. "Jem, please, I…"
"You do not love me, Cecily," he said it as gently as he could. He had not seen any of this coming- indeed, he had trouble believing it now. "Do not say that you do, it will not be true. You are fifteen, Cecily-"
"Tessa is sixteen."
"-and you are not like me. You have a life ahead of you, and one day you will meet a gentleman deserving of your affections."
"I don't love you," Cecily said angrily. "I never said I did."
This confused Jem even more. He blinked at the fierce girl before him, trying to understand. Jem, who had always been the one who understood people better than most, was furrowing his brow and struggling to comprehend this one.
"Then…Cecily, why did you kiss me?"
"I kissed you because I could love you," she said. "One day, James, I think I could. You are a good person. You're funny. And you don't judge other people."
"Thank-you, Cecily. That is truly flattering. But I'm afraid that to me, you will always be Will's little sister. I would like to get to know you as such, do not presume otherwise. But I would like to get to know you as a friend- as family. It is too late to consider anything otherwise."
"It doesn't have to be too late," Cecily said.
"It doesn't have to be," said Jem, "but I want to marry Tessa. And so you will understand, I am sure, that I hope we can both forget that this ever happened."
There was silence for a moment, for the first time since Cecily had kissed him. Before then, no moment with Cecily had been uncomfortable. Now, Jem wished he was anywhere else but here.
"Well then," Cecily said at last. "I see your mind is set. Shall we return to my training?"
"I think we are finished for today," Jem said quickly. "In fact, I think I might go and find Thomas and see if he can't sharpen up a few of these practicing blades." He took a handful of them from where they hung on the training wall, rusty and dull as they were. Cecily watched him, leaning against the wooden wall with her arms crossed over her chest.
"So we can use them tomorrow?"
Jem hesitated, turning to face her. "I think perhaps it would be best if I did not train you. I'm sure Will would be more than happy to have you as his student again, and I am not well enough often enough besides. I do not wish to make things odd between us Cecily."
"Ignoring me won't make things odd?" her voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Ignoring? No. Merely refraining from creating a situation in which the two of us will be regularly alone together. Let us get to be friends, Cecily, but not in this manner."
Cecily grunted. "I don't want to be trained by Will. I meant what I said before. He trains like a feral cat."
Jem had to smile at that. "I'm sure Gideon will be more than happy to welcome you into his class then. I will see you at dinner, Cecily."
He turned around, taking his blunt blades with him, but not before he saw the hurt in Cecily's eyes and felt it as if it were his own. What have I done?
Me: yeah Jem, what have you done?
Jem: I feel really bad about that. I hate making people upset. But I love Tessa.
Me: Oh, I know, I know. 3 JEM AND TESSA SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-
Jem: what are you spelling? I- oh. Ohh…..
Me: Teehee!
R&R to tell me what you think about this Jem x Cecily drama. Thank you!
I know it's kinda short compared to some of the other chapters…depending on the reviews this chapter gets, I might update really soon though xD.