Upload date: 12/17/11

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns The Infernal Devices


Henry and Charlotte met them at the front of the Institute. Jem gave them a wan smile and said, "Don't worry. We've got her."

"Oh, thank God," Charlotte cried out. She and Henry began walking toward them.

Will leapt down from his seat and opened the carriage door. Jessamine got down by herself (with a glare at Will), then Gabriel and Anna. "Charlotte, Henry, this is Crawford's sister, Anna," Will introduced. "Anna, Charlotte, head of the London Institute, and her husband Henry."

"Very nice to meet you," Charlotte said.

"Thank you," Anna said quietly, not meeting their eyes. "I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Not trouble," Henry said. "It's what we do."

"Yes, it is," Charlotte agreed. "Now—where's Tessa?"

Will pushed the door of the carriage further a little more. Even with the darkness, it was easy to make out the white of the tablecloth. Charlotte blanched. "Is she dead?"

"Of course not," Will said. "We had to get her unconscious or she would have killed us."

"Why would she want to do that?"

"Crawford turned her into something," Jem explained. "A demon, I guess. You'll see."

He, Will, and Gabriel pulled on Tessa's legs and she slid out of the compartment and onto the ground. Charlotte gasped and reached forward.

"Don't," Jem warned. "She has some sort of reaction from touch; it shocks you." Charlotte nodded and withdrew her hand.

"Let's get her inside," Jem said. "We can put her in Henry's lab, if that's all right."

"Certainly," Henry said, looking almost excited at the prospect.

The boys hoisted Tessa up on their shoulders and maneuvered her down into Henry's workspace. They cleared a table and laid her down on it. Henry tied three leather belts around her, fastening her to the surface.

"Oi, Lightwood." Gabriel turned his head slightly to indicate he was listening.

"What."

"How long does that liquid last, you reckon?"

"It should be at least a good ten to twelve hours. It's extremely strong."

"You're sure?" This time it was Henry who asked.

Gabriel nodded.

"Let's leave her down here, then, for the time being," Henry decided. "I'm tired; I'd like to be fully awake before I start examining her."

No one raised any objections, as they all felt the same way.

Back in the foyer of the Institute, Charlotte said, "Anna, come with me. I'll find you a room and something warm to sleep in. I'll have our maid help you dress."

"Thank you, ma'am, that's very kind of you," Anna said. She followed Charlotte up the stairs, with Jessamine sleepily behind her.

Will yawned widely.

"Well, if that's all, then I'm going to turn in as well. 'Night, all." He clapped Jem on the shoulder and also went up the staircase.

In his room, he changed into his nightclothes. His hand reached for the lamp and he lay low under the blanket. It wasn't until the onset of dreams that he realized that he had forgotten to read a chapter of one of his books, like he always did.


"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together."

– Vesta Kelly


Henry wasn't at breakfast the next morning. He was too busy working on Tessa. It wasn't until they had started to clear the dishes that Henry came up, his face haggard. Charlotte set took the last piece of bread and set it on a spare plate. Henry sat down and took a bite.

"Well?" Will asked. "What'd you get?"

Henry rubbed his eyes, confused. "It's…strange. She hasn't woken up yet, but I've been looking at some of the demonic features she's grown. Other than the fact that she has them, there isn't anything out of the ordinary that I can see. We'll probably have to wait until she's awake before we can start getting some information that we can use."

"Right. We'll all go down once she wakes up," Charlotte decided.

The rest of the morning, the Institute was very tense. Henry returned to his lab immediately after he finished his quick snack. Will hid himself in the depths of the library, pacing back and forth between the shelves. He finally settled himself in one of the alcoves and looked out the window, his arm resting on his knee. The sky was hazy, almost dusty looking. Raindrops dotted the glass, streaming down the surface in tiny rivulets. Will watched the drops grow heavier and heavier until they finally succumbed to the weight and slide down.

"Will? Will?"

Will's eyes opened slowly. He must have fallen asleep.

"Will? Where are you?"

Someone was calling him. It was Jem.

"Will, Henry says Tessa's up."

Tessa.

"William Herondale, get out here this instant or I'm leaving without you."

Tessa.

Will bolted upright. "Jem? I'm here!" He scrambled out of the recess in the wall and headed for the library door, where Jem was.

"Where were you?" Jem demanded.

Will shrugged. "Here. There. Everywhere."

Jem sighed. "You and your elusive answers."

Running a hand through his rumpled hair, Will said, "Let's just go, shall we?"

They could hear snarling and growling as they approached the lab. Charlotte and Henry were speaking in calm, smooth tones, apparently trying to relax her, but it clearly was proving futile so far. When they heard Will and Jem come in, they looked around.

"Will, Jem, there you are. Thank goodness. We're trying to talk to her, but I don't think she knows who we are," Charlotte said anxiously. "Perhaps if you two tried—"

"Say her name a lot," Henry suggested. "That might trigger some memories."

Together, Will and Jem drew nearer to the table Tessa was strapped down on. She kept on biting the air viciously, and she still had that same look in her eyes that Will so hated. When she remembered them, she snapped at them.

"Still have the attitude, I see," Will smirked.

"How about you introduce yourself," Jem muttered.

"Fine. Tessa, I'm Will Herondale. Seventeen years old and devilishly handsome, as you can see."

"All I see is an arrogant ass," Tessa spat back.

Will burst out laughing. "That's certainly refreshing, I must say, dear Tessa."

"That's enough," Charlotte said crossly. "Jem, you go. "

"I'm seventeen as well, Tessa," Jem began. "I play the violin. Actually, that's how I first met you; you walked into my room one night when I was practicing. What else...I suppose the fact that I'm dying a slow death is rather important," he added.

Tessa just growled again.

"This isn't working," Charlotte said. "Henry, do you have any other ideas?"

"I might..." he replied slowly. "Jem, get your violin. Will, a book. Something Tessa would have read before."

They returned a few minutes later. "Jem, start playing."

The others fell silent as the instrument began to sound, the delicate notes lingering in the air every time there was a pause in the music. Jem's bow drew across the string with expertise, with a gentle legato* tone.

Will watched Tessa carefully as Jem played. "Look—" he said suddenly, pointing. Everyone moved closer for a view.

Tessa's face was visibly more relaxed than it had been when they first saw her. It looked more peaceful, serene, and soft, almost like a child's.

"That's it!" Will said. "Jem, stop for a second."

At once, Tessa's featured became tense and on edge.

"Brilliant!" Henry cried. "Jem, keep on playing. Don't stop unless your arms are going to fall off."

Charlotte sighed. "I'm glad we've made some progress."

"Absolutely. Charlotte and Will, you can go upstairs now if you want. I'll call you back down if something happens."

"Right. I've got some papers to sort," Charlotte said. "Jem, do you want me to bring you some more music?"

"That would be nice."

Charlotte left, but instead of following her, Will stayed. "I'd rather watch."

For the next two hours, Will turned pages for Jem when he asked for it while Henry sat in a corner and scribbled down notes feverishly. At three o'clock, Jem finally lowered his arms. "I'm too tired to go on much longer," he said, and started rolling his shoulder.

Henry stood. "Nice work, Jem. You have a rest. Will, now it's your turn. Read from that book you've got. I figure if she hears a book she enjoyed, that'll work too. What'd you get?"

"Dickens." Will plopped down and opened to the first page. " 'There once lived a in sequestered part of the county of Devonshire, one Mr. Godfrey Nickleby, a worthy gentleman, who taking it into his head rather late in life that he must get married, and not being young enough or rich enough to aspire to the hand of a lady of fortune, had wedded an old flame out of mere attachment…' "

Jem seated himself as well, and listened. Will was well into the book by the time Charlotte came back down. "It's time to eat," she told them.

"Ah, at last," Henry sighed happily. He set his pencil down and opened and closed his hand several times, stretching his fingers. "I think Tessa's coming along."

Charlotte leaned forward. "Oh, what a relief. We'll eat quickly, so we can minimize the amount of time we lose."

Henry and Jem got up and began to climb the stairs with Charlotte, but when Will didn't leave with them, Jem stopped.

"Will? Aren't you coming?"

"I'm not feeling hungry," Will said. "I'll stay down here. It's probably best if I keep on reading. If I want something, I'll get it myself."

Jem seemed reluctant, but relented. "All right."

Jem did return later after he had eaten his fill, as did Henry. The three sat in the lab for many more hours. Dimly, Will heard a clock striking eleven. Taking a pause, Will rubbed his eyes.

"You can stop if you'd like," Henry said. "I've got enough data now; I'm going up."

"Good night," Jem said. With a sidelong glance at his friend, he said, "Aren't you sleepy?"

"Not much," Will said, fighting off the urge to yawn. "Don't wait up for me, you can go. I'm almost done anyway."

"Will, you look like a dead man. I mean it. You probably got six hours last night; why don't you take a rest?"

"Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine," Will insisted mulishly. "Really," he added after seeing Jem's half-doubtful, half-exasperated expression. "I'll just finish this book, and then I'll go sleep. I swear."

"For your sake, I hope you do," Jem said. As he went up, he heard Will beginning to read again.

The minutes passed by. Twice more, Will heard the clock strike the hour. He got up, still reading, and lit a few more candles and pulled on a coat; it got cold in Henry's lab at night. He repositioned his seat so he could rest his arm on the table and lean his head on his hand while he read.

Will counted the pages to the end of the novel: less than a hundred pages, said a voice in his head. He plowed on, bur he was feeling more and more tired. No! Can't stop now...almost there...less than forty pages now...thirty...twenty...ten...

Nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one...

With a great effort, Will raised his eyes to the final page. A quick glance told him that it wasn't even a complete page, only a few paragraphs long...but Will already knew that...how many times had he read this book?

Done.

Will let his arm fall to his side and closed his eyes.

When Jem came down the next morning with Henry, he found Will with his head forward, his thumb marking the last page in his book.


A/N: I noticed I used a lot of semicolons in this chapter.

Ewww, blucky transitions! :P Blame Clockwork Prince, which I'm sure you've all finished now. Here are my thoughts, if you are interested (all spoilers are censored, though if you haven't read the book yet, beware. Some of the bleeps can be worked out pretty easily, if you squint)-

Will's secret was so heartbreaking, I almost cried when I was reading it, but I didn't because I was in orchestra (sneakily reading it behind my cello while my teacher went on). It satisfying to learn about, though. I was hoping so bad that *BLEEEP* would meet up with them and Tessa/Will would get to talk to her. When the book ended and THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, I was like: AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Cassie, you said that it wouldn't be a terrible cliffhanger! Now I have to wait a whole eleven months before I can read a conversation between Will and his *BLEEEP*. Can't wait to see how she and Tessa will get along.

Tessa, whyyyyy? (Referencing the pendant and such) When she was talking to Will about it, I wanted her so bad to take it back. T_T Felt so sorry for Will, he never gets a break, does he? Even the DSBS...

Charlotte and Henry were totally adorbs in the end. So happy for them. As for Nate...you still suck, especially when you manipulated *BLEEEEP*, who wasn't too horrible in CA. (I actually pitied her a little when she was getting tortured.)

Sophie and *BLEEEP*? Don't know how I like it, but I guess it's all right. Not who I wanted her with, but it's still cute.

Possibly my favorite new character other than *BLEEP* (see the paragraph about Will and his you know who. Yes, I know we hardly know anything about her, but I know I'll love her) was Scott Woolsey. He was hilarious. I think he ships Tessiam.