Alright, so this is the last one. :( How sad. I've had a lot of fun writing this and I want to thank you guys for reading it:) Hope you like it although I know the end may earn me some yells.
Tessa slowly turned around, facing Mortmain who was clutching Jessamine tightly against him, her eyes searching frantically for an escape route. Tessa saw panic seize the girl when their gazes locked, Jessamine's broken voice whispering, "Tessa," in surprise.
Mortmain was here for Tessa and now this would end. Tonight. No more running.
She caught her breath as she met Mortmain's gaze, a knife held under Jessamine's chin. It glittered an evil grin in the small amount of light that sliced across the metal. Fear gripped the inside of her stomach as she cautiously stepped forward, wary of every tiny movement, every emotion etched onto Mortmain's face.
"Ah, Theresa," he appraised her, his grip on the knife staying firm and unyielding. "How nice of you to join us."
"Release her, Mortmain," Tessa demanded, yet her tone was frail and contradicted the strength the demand she intended it to have.
"It's unfortunate that it took you this long to come to your senses. To think all of what could have been if you had only listened," he said, voice taunting with an edge of humor to it. "To think...James might have still been here, but that your stubbornness and selfishness was the cause of his death."
"Stop!" Tessa yelled, clamping her hands over her ears. Tears pooled in her eyes but she refused to have them fall. "Just let her go! I'll..." she began, but didn't know what to say. Would she agree to go with Mortmain again just to save the life of a girl who was ultimately a fake? A person who betrayed her and everyone else she cared for?
Mortmain was right. Tessa was selfish.
"You'll what? Comply to my wishes? You'd give up everything for someone who wanted to turn you over to me?"
"No, Tessa, I-" Jessamine began, but Mortmain's wrist tightened, cutting off her words.
"She worked against you with your own brother. Her assistance can no longer be trusted and the ones who cared for her have disowned her. I see no reason for keeping her any longer."
And with that, the blade crossed over Jessamine, silencing her forever.
"TESSA!" Will shouted, throwing his shoulder against the wooden doors over and over again, but he knew it was of no use. His heart thrummed in his chest as he looked helplessly at the doors, wishing that they would just open.
"Will!" He heard Henry call from somewhere down the long corridor and he knew he couldn't just abandon the people who had taken him in and raised him. It took every amount of control Will had to peel himself away from the two doors and run towards the sound of Henry's frantic voice that echoed down the hall near the stairs. Will was a blur as he sped down, meeting Henry's eyes across a small cluster of automatons rushing at him and Charlotte. Immediately, Will commanded his blade again and began with the first machine in sight, slicing it down the base until it fell forward in a heap of collapsed metal.
"Will!" Henry shouted again and he turned to the inventor in exasperation. But then he saw Henry motioning to something in the kitchen and before Will had even allowed himself to move he already was, slicing through the automatons until he came into the library. His breath halted in his throat as he saw flames dancing up the long drapes that hung from the window where he had found Tessa countlessly reading beside, watching in horror as the fire crawled upon the bookshelves and began devouring the pages whole.
Already, the wood was beginning to cripple, turning the ceiling of the library a horrible black color. "Henry!" he shouted just as the ceiling collapsed, plumes of dust and shunks of rock cascading down on him. Will lifted his arm to shield him from the pieces of rubble, running back to where Henry was. "They're blocking both exits!" he yelled, sword aloft and pointed directly at an automaton's chest which he instantly pierced. Will leapt back into action, swinging his blade that concluded in multiple attacks, using combos to get through the throng of machines. He felt something slice his cheek and his back, but he ignored the pain as he dug his way deeper and deeper into the metal group.
A sudden groan that appeared overhead momentarily stopped Will, but he quickly shook it off, concentrating on every small detail that surrounded him, his vision tunneling in on the automatons he decided to take out next. "Get Charlotte out, Henry!" He yelled, throwing automatons aside as Henry and Charlotte came through, the front exit now partially cleared. "Where's Tessa?" Charlotte shouted as Henry shielded her until they had emptied out of the Institute, the smoke now visible from where they stood.
"Mortmain has her," he said, a bitter and vile taste stinging his tongue. How many times could he bear to let her down? Every promise he made had been broken. He couldn't let Mortmain win again.
Before he could say anything else, Will re-entered the Institute, back towards the door that was the only thing standing between him and Tessa.
Tessa squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look or to even breathe at the sight that lay before her.
"I apologize that you had to witness that, Theresa," Mortmain said, but his voice held no sympathy or truth. "It is time for us to go."
"I'm not going with you!" Tessa shrieked, backing away from him. "You're a monster. You're just as cold and hard as the machines you make."
Mortmain gave her a pitying look. "That is false, Theresa. For one, I care for you. I helped change you. It would be a shame to see all that effort go to waste."
"I do not belong to you," Tessa said. "I am not one of your experiments."
"Theresa, I am giving you an alternative to the fate you face. Come with me and I shall be lenient."
Tessa said nothing, just stared until he understood.
"If you won't be my wife, then you shall be no ones," he added and stepped forth, the knife lifting until it was pointing directly at Tessa. "Either come or fall.
"Will slammed against the doors, making them shudder just slightly beneath his fingertips. Just get in there, he mentally chided to himself. All I have to do is get in there.
But how? The doors couldn't be breached. They were locked on the opposite side with a steel bar. He couldn't scale the outside of the Institute; for it was too steep and part of it was steadily crumbling. Will suddenly felt vulnerable as he stared at the set of doors, hope draining out of him.
But the feeling of loss dissipated as that whir chur whirring noise suddenly sounded behind him and he moved quickly, slicing the place where he had just been with his blade.
But there was nothing there.
Will shook hid head to clear it. Hurry, he chided to himself as he faced the doors again. Maybe he could somehow reach the Weapon Room before the fire blocked the entrance. There had to be something there that could-
The same sound interrupted him again and Will found himself turning about, trying to locate the source of the noise. He stopped abruptly at the sight that hovered before him; it was Tessa's Angel.
Tessa kept her gaze steady with Mortmain, insuring her expression revealed nothing to him.
"You don't have much time to decide, Theresa. You belong to me and no one else."
"No one owns me," she spat back, locking her jaw and refusing to look away.
"As I recall, this conversation has been held before. So shall I just move onto the point of saying that either you come with me or dear William will be-?"
Suddenly, a small stuttering noise interrupted Mortmain, followed by the sound of straining metal and splintering wood. Tessa remained still as the two doors that led to the roof creaked open, revealing Will who appeared very angered and slightly frantic.
Mortmain however, simply smiled. "will be killed."
Tessa watched, something lodged in her throat as Will sauntered over, lightly tapping his blade against his shoulder. "You certainly think highly and capable of yourself, Mortmain," he teased. "I'm sure you could take the entire Institute with nothing more than your severed pinky."
"It does me great displeasure to be the one who has to make you fall, William. But some sacrifices just have to be made."
"Would you call your own death a sacrifice?" Will asked.
Tessa bit her lip impatiently. She'd seen the smoke, she knew the fire was coming. They did not have time for games, but she stayed still nonetheless.
Mortmain took a step towards Will, holding his gaze. "I'd call it a loss, actually. My knowledge is superior than anyone of this century. It dies with me and I cannot allow that to happen."
"Life is unfair that way," Will said, slowly lifting his sword. "There are times when we get no say in our own fate."
Then Will charged Mortmain, just a blur of black as the two of them collided.
I'm not going to end it here. This is a long chapter. Hope it makes up for the long wait.
Will's breath was held as he plowed into Mortmain, blade held forward as he planned to plunge it into the man when...Mortmain disappeared.
"I'm not an easy man to catch, William," he said from a few feet away, standing closer to Tessa than Will ever wanted to allow.
In a frustrated rage, he shot back up, trying to anticipate and read Mortmain's next move, giving him nothing more than a tear in his robes.
"I hope those were new," Will said in a teasing tone, ignoring the rising panic that the floor may soon crumble.
Mortmain didn't answer as he flung sideways, deflecting Will's blow just in time before it speared the rock wall. Will glanced over to where Tessa stood, frozen in place, unsure of what she could do. He imperceptibly shook his head. If she got hurt he would no longer have reason to fight.
"Will, watch out!" Tessa screamed and he turned his head just in time to catch sight of the gleaming sword in Mortmain's hands. Where had that come from?
He didn't have time to think of an answer, could barely duck and roll just as Mortmain sliced the air where he had been just seconds ago.
"One of us shall fall tonight," Mortmain stated, conviction ringing in his tone.
"I hope you're prepared for death," Will said, "I have a feeling it won't think too able of you."
Mortmain snarled and dove for Will who sidestepped him easily, lashing the blade across the man's back. Will took in a breath as a small victory before facing the man again, blade held near Mortmain's throat. But with a flick of the wrist, Mortmain's blade clashed with Will's and a horrible hissing noise rang from the metal and metal as they streaked and clanked together, diving for the other's masters. Will controlled himself like a shadow; quick and swift, clever and lithe.
Will knocked Mortmain's knees under him, the man crashing to the floor at his feet. Will was just about to give some small remark; perhaps something along the lines that Mortmain shant be missed, but then a sound resonated beneath them, a dreaded sound that sent chills to Will's stomach.
The wood underfoot began to heave.
Will's gaze locked with Tessa's just as Mortmain regained his footing. Tessa saw that he was too late to realize he had been distracted when Mortmain lifted his sword, cutting a clear swift down his shoulder. She heard Will groan in pain but otherwise remained standing, breaking his gaze away from Tessa's and facing off with the man again. Sweat beaded down both of their sodded faces, along with blood due to small cuts and dirt. Tessa thought frantically of what to do...how she could help Will. She was responsible for all this. It was her fault. She deserved to be the one fighting Mortmain to the death. If only she had strength like Will...Tessa's breath caught with an idea. She knew Will like the back of her hand. Tessa didn't need a piece of clothing; something that was his. All she had to do was think of it...and she could feel the Change coming.
She reopened her eyes, watching as both of them lifted their blade and prepared to fight.
Then the Change completed, just as Tessa watched the wood sink in and heave as part of the ground gave way.
Will stood before Mortmain, blades held aloft, just as he was knocked off his feet, rolling to the opposite end of the roof. Mortmain stood up at the other end, crawling over to...him? What?
Will momentarily could not believe it. He was staring at himself, dangling from the corner of splintered wood still intact as Mortmain approached, sword held by his neck.
It only took a second for the horror to set in as Will realized that it wasn't him, but Tessa. Will didn't think as he leapt to his feet and charged towards Mortmain, the man barely shifting his gaze before...before the blade dug into his backside. Mortmain let out a breath as he fell to his knees at the opening of the jagged hole, a pit of fire that burned brightly in his eyes.
Tessa was already beginning to shift back to herself, her irises turning from blue to grey, staring up at him. He could see her fingers straining to hold on and Will was about to dive for her if Mortmain hadn't somehow managed to stand and block his way. Blood dribbled down the corner of his lips as he locked his gaze with Will, holding the sole of his foot over Tessa's hand-her only anchor that kept her from falling to her death. "If I fall, she falls with me."
And Will could barely manage to flinch before Tessa mouthed the words "I love you," just as the heel of Mortmain's foot slammed against Tessa's hand. Will dove for her just as Mortmain succumbed to his last breath, slipping into the fiery pit. "TESSA!" William shrieked, but the girl he loved had already slipped through his fingers.
Alright. Please don't get super mad at me for doing this. But I still have to upload the epilogue. So this isn't quite the end.