Chapter 11: A Most Motley Company
"Theresa Gray, member of the Pandemonium Club since March of 1878. Most recently the victor in the highly anticipated match between herself and Anila the Defiler."
Tessa tried not to snort at the ridiculous nom de guerre they'd assigned the dead jinn while she paused at the top of the stairs and let the Magister's room full of guests get a good look at her. Below her was one of the most elaborate parties the Magister had thrown since her arrival. The grand ballroom was swathed in just enough darkness that it had an air of the macabre about it-an effect for the mundanes in the room to be sure. Black and red seemed to be the theme for the evening and the guests had all dressed accordingly. The crowd below was a sea of scarlet and crimson gowns, threaded with veins of night dark suit jackets.
Conversations dropped as they took in her billowing grey-black silk dress and fierce face, the blood red of the paint on her lips the only color she wore. She formed her too-red lips into a snarl, baring her teeth ever so slightly before she let her face fall into the carefully constructed blankness that was her trademark. They would interpret it as a sign of how vicious she was, when, in reality, it was an expression compounded of loathing and disgust. Whether that loathing was for herself or for them was something she didn't allow herself to dwell on.
She was dressed as the Titaness Metis, who was apparently known in ancient Greek legend for her shape shifting abilities. The Magister had thought himself awfully clever when he told her what she would be wearing to his Halloween masque. Though, to be honest, if she hadn't hated that it came from him and was for one of his parties, the girl she had once been probably would've loved the dress she wore. She'd pulled it from the box and wondering if it'd been enchanted to be the same color of her eyes. Will had taken one look at her after she'd donned it and declared that she looked like the sea before a storm.
She blushed at the thought of the way he'd looked into her eyes when he'd said it. The words had been sarcastic, but there had been something in those eyes that had made her heart flutter. Now though, in the red cast of the light though, she was sure she looked more like a wraith than a goddess. She scanned the room for her Nephilim as she made her way down the elegant marble staircase. They had been taken from the room they all now shared before she had been, but she didn't see them in the crowd. It should have been easy. Aside from the fact that none of the fighters had been given masks to wear tonight, the two of them were a striking pair and would stand out in any room. But the ballroom was large and stuffed with Downworlders and mundanes and in the darkness, their black faux gear allowed them to blend in.
She hadn't wanted to go to this party. There had been other parties, before the boys had arrived, and all they were was an elaborate excuse for the Magister to showcase the strength of his fighters. They reminded her of slave auctions that she'd read about and served as a reminder to her and the others that they were little more than the Magister's slaves. They were dressed in ridiculous costumes and put on pedestals or in small cages while the esteemed members of the Pandemonium Club strolled past them, evaluating them up close to determine how much money they would bet on each one when the next fight came. Once a woman had gone as far as to pinch Tessa's arm to see how much muscle lay beneath her skin.
She cringed a little at the memory. It had happened soon after her arrival and had been the moment she'd realized that she was no longer going to be considered a person, but a thing. Her hand drifted to her throat to reach for the comfort of her clockwork angel, only to grasp at bare skin. She'd left the necklace in the caves because there was no place to hide it in this dress and she didn't want the reason she lost it to be one of the Magister's ridiculous parties. His guests were usually genteel, but something about the combination of faerie powders and liquor turned them into shells of the people they were in polite society.
Being forced to attend was humiliating and annoying, especially when the Magister demanded that she to give a demonstration of her ability. She hated every minute of it, but she was afraid of what he'd do to Nate if she disobeyed him. It was a fear that the Magister had brandished like a weapon for the last seven months and there was nothing she could do to resist it, no matter what form she took on. She let herself feel that hatred now and wrapped it around her like a blanket. If someone pinched her arm tonight, they would regret it.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Mrs. Black was waiting to lead her to one of the pedestals set up along the perimeter of the room. Both of the spots next to her were already occupied and her heart sank. She'd been hoping that she'd at least be able to pass this awful evening in the same proximity as the boys. Even though they wouldn't be able to talk, she'd at least have been able to draw on their strength if she needed it.
She ironed the disappointment from her face and extended her foot so that Mrs. Black could wrap the end of the enchanted chain anchored to her pedestal around her ankle. She knew how incredibly stupid it was to let herself become so close to them. At first, it had just been a way to get back at the Magister, a small rebellion. But that hadn't lasted for very long, especially not after the way they'd treated her the night she'd killed Anila.
They hadn't looked at her like she was a monster, even though they'd seen what she'd done. She'd wept for the first time since her arrival in front of them, yet neither one had treated her like she was weak. When the Magister's footman delivered the bed, she was shocked to discover that they had chosen that to be their prize for winning the fight against Anik. While she collected herself, they cleared out her dressing room and moved the small bed into the far corner, hiding it behind the Chinese screens so that she would have privacy.
It was smart on several counts. Anik would want to avenge his sister's death and his loss. Stupid as he was, he wouldn't dare to attack all three of them at once. She would safe with them. Safer than she'd been in months. But that wasn't the reason that she cared about the two Nephilim. If she were honest with herself, it wasn't even the beginning of it all.
The affection she felt towards both of them surprised and terrified her. Surprised because she had been so certain that she'd never let herself feel anything for anyone in the Pandemonium Club. Terrified because she couldn't begin to imagine what the Magister would do to them if he found out.
Mortmain was smart enough to separate them.
Whether it was because this was the first time he'd allowed the Shadowhunters outside of the of caves or because he thought more of his guests could view his newest attractions if they were separated, Will couldn't tell. In any case, he was alone in a cage in the corner of a ballroom that wasn't quite as grand as the one at the Institute, but was close, especially as it was decked from floor to ceiling in shades of black and white and he was angry that Jem wasn't with him. In fact, Jem wasn't anywhere to be seen amongst throng of people. Neither was Tessa.
He tried not to think about where they might be or what might be happening to them. Tessa had been dressed and painted for the ball, but he and Jem were both told to wear the ridiculous version of gear they'd been given for the ring. Even now, Jem could be in a pit fighting demons while wealthy spectators bet on his life and Will wouldn't know. Absently, he rubbed at his parabatai rune.
If Jem had been here, there was a chance that Will would have bothered to try to formulate an escape plan. Even though he had no idea where he was, thanks to the magical travel of Mortmain's ring, and even though he was locked in an iron cage. But Jem wasn't with him and he didn't know where Jem was and those weren't odds he liked, so he slumped against the bars of his little cage and fastidiously ignored the Halloween party going on before him.
Until he heard his sister's voice.
At first he thought he was imagining it. He'd nearly convinced himself that he was imagining when he thought about how he'd heard her shout his name at the last match. He had dreamed of her often when he still thought he was cursed. He'd heard her calling his name in his sleep and had ran to her, but was never able to reach her. It hadn't occurred to him before, but now he began to wonder if being stuck in those caves was slowly driving him mad.
This notion became more solid when Magnus Bane appeared in front of his cage dressed head to toe in white, including the mask in the shape of a cat's face. But there was no questioning that it was Magnus, especially not with all the sparkling gold jewelry he wore. Magnus peered at him from behind his mask with his glittering cat's eyes and stared until Will met and held his gaze. Only then did he shift his gaze pointedly across the room. And then he was gone, melted into the crowd of people like smoke.
Will pushed off the bars of the back of his cage and moved to the front, angling his body in the direction that Magnus had looked without making it seem obvious that that was what he was doing. He saw her immediately. Even behind her mask, there was no mistaking her dark hair or the way she tilted her head as she pretended to be listening and scanned the room at the same time.
Cecily.
She was here. She was here and her hand was wrapped around what appeared to be Gabriel Lightworm's arm. Anxiety and relief battled for dominance in Will's chest. He'd never let on that he was afraid that the Clave wouldn't find him and Jem in the Pandemonium Club, but a voice in the back of his head had spent nights whispering about how perhaps Charlotte, Henry and his family at the Institute had finally had enough and were happy to be rid of him. The cursed boy that still lived inside him was incredibly grateful that this wasn't the case.
But Cecily was not one of the people who should be doing reconnaissance in order to save them. Cecily was barely more than a child. That Charlotte had let her participate in this madness made him want to break things. He watched her without watching her, willing her to make eye contact so that he could somehow convey to her that she had to leave immediately. If Mortmain got his hands on her and forced her to become like Tessa, Will didn't know what he would do. Something unpleasant for all parties involved, that was definitely certain.
She finished her conversation and she and Gabriel moved out of Will's line of sight. Will ground his teeth and punched at the bars of his cage, making them ring so loudly that he startled one of the guests and earned a nasty look from one of the god awful Dark Sisters. He tried to smile pleasantly as he retreated back into the corner of his cage. It wouldn't do to draw attention to himself. Not with his sister in the room.
Magnus was beginning to enjoy himself, in spite of the fact that he was on a ridiculously dangerous mission that was just as likely to end up getting him killed as it was to getting him the name of de Quincey's decorator. Metal cages with kidnapped gladiators aside, the masque was one of the mostly beautifully designed affairs Magnus had attended this year. The company he kept didn't hurt either.
Not that Gabriel Lightwood was the least bit charming or interesting. Not at all. But much of Magnus' enjoyment came from seeing how suggestive he could get away with being about his relationship to the newly married and very adventurous "Hopkins" couple without young Lightwood turning red and threatening him under his breath. As far as Magnus was concerned, it was a valid cover for why he'd chosen to bring two mundanes to a Downworlder party. After all, it was well known that Magnus Bane had an affinity for dark hair and blue eyes.
Of course, now that he'd pulled his companions into a secluded corner and informed his dark haired, blue eyed companion that her dark haired, blue eyed brother was at this party, he was beginning to remember why he hadn't been particularly excited about this fete. Herondales, while beautiful and interesting, had one hell of a hero complex which came to head especially when the people they loved were in danger.
He had warned her that there was a chance that the lost Nephilim would be here. They had determined in the carriage that there would be absolutely no idiotic acts of heroism. The Lightwood boy had readily agreed and had managed to persuade Cecily to as well. But as soon as she'd laid eyes on her brother locked in a cage, Magnus had seen that agreement unravel before his very eyes.
He knew it was unraveling, but couldn't quite see how things would play out. Cecily eyes were flashing, and her grip on Gabriel's arm was so tight his coat sleeve would likely be irreparably wrinkled. Yet the only thing she said after she saw her brother was a comment about how she wanted a strawberry ice.
"I don't think there are any strawberry ices to be had here, Cecy," said Gabriel, a muscle in his neck pulsing.
"What a shame," she replied airily, "I do believe that a strawberry ice is the only thing that would have made this party worthwhile."
"We've been here for less than an hour," Gabriel tried again. "We might still learn something useful without a strawberry ice."
"Gabriel Lightwood," she hissed, "If we do not...get a strawberry ice, I will never speak to you again."
Magnus narrowed his eyes at the pair of them. "Miss Herondale, if 'strawberry ice' is some kind of code word for 'rescue my brother,' I will be sorely disappointed in the both of you. I did not agree to a suicide attempt tonight."
Cecily gave him a long look that told him he'd been fairly close to guessing what a strawberry ice meant. "I am going to get a strawberry ice if it kills me. Do you understand? There is nothing I wouldn't risk for a strawberry ice. If you don't want to help me obtain one, that is your decision."
With that, she turned on her heel and marched away. Gabriel shot Magnus a helpless look and ran after her. Magnus watched them get swallowed in a sea of black and white silks and brocades, trying not to groan. If he left now, he could likely avoid the mess that was soon to follow. If he left now, he would still have time for a brandy at White's. If he stayed here, there was a good chance that his lovely white frock coat would get stained with something red that would not be easy to clean. It would be a much better idea for him to leave now and forget able Herondales altogether.
Even as he consider these things, he was scanning the room for exits as he pushed through the crowd in the direction of Will Herondale's cage. Like it or not, he felt responsible for the raven haired idiot. Distracted by the large window only feet from Will's cage, his customary grace failed him and he ran right into the glass of wine held in a mundane woman's outstretched hand.
He didn't even have time to see how bad the stain was going to be before every light in the room snuffed out at once.
The room when from brightly lit and sparkling to pitch black in the span of a moment. There were screams and shouts of surprise, but Will couldn't dwell on those because someone had opened his cage and was pulling him from it.
"Don't dwaddle, Herondale," hissed Gabriel Lightwood's voice in his ear. "It's a bloody miracle that gizmo of Henry's worked and I don't want to wait around for it to backfire."
"I can't leave without Jem," Will hissed back, withdrawing his arm. There was a sting of pain on his other hand and, a moment later, he could make out his sister tucking her stele back in her bodice.
"Jem's not here," Cecily whispered fiercely in his ear, "and I'm not leaving without you. But we have to go now or we're all going to be caught up in this mess."
"You are not going to waste this opportunity and make me rescue all four of you," said a third voice from behind him, carrying over the noise of the party guests. "Rescuing one Herondale has proved to be trying enough," A moment later, Magnus Bane appeared in their little corner, grabbed his arm and, in a blinding flash of blue light, had magicked all of them into the courtyard outside the house.
Will immediately pushed himself away from them, trying to shake off the effects of the magical transportation. He didn't know who to be more angry with: Cecily for deciding to rescue him or Gabriel for helping her do so. He decided quickly not to be angry with Magnus, given that he'd just saved all their lives and he knew firsthand how foolhardy Cecily could be.
"Argue about it later," Magnus said, gesturing to the manor house, where lights were slowly being to blaze through the window. "You're going to be missed shortly."
He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. He hadn't been separated from Jem for more than a day since they'd become parabatai. But his sister was still in danger and Magnus was right, someone would notice that he was gone soon and there was nothing he could do to help Jem at the moment. So he allowed himself to be rescued and followed the others through the night to Magnus' carriage and away from the Pandemonium Club.
Author's Note: Hello there! I do understand that it's been months and months since I updated, and I just wanted to let you know that your reviews asking me to update made me incredibly happy, even if I did ignore them. Thanks to everyone who cared enough about this story to pester me to update, and I'm sorry you had to wait so long. And I'm sorry. I'll try very hard not to let that happen again.