14/12/14— I edited the second half of this paragraph (in which Marabas appears) and added a lot more on from that chapter. Enjoy!
Her heart was going to burst out of her ribcage. Her lungs screamed in agony form the torture thrust upon them by the relentless sprint Jem was forcing her through. Her laboured breathing was whipped away by the wind, her shoes splattered with mud from the rain-soaked ground, as lightning crashed around them, briefly illuminating the looming and terrifying abyss of sky, and the night that stretched around them.
Finally, Jem slowed, skidding to a halt on the pavement. Tessa stopped also (albeit due to the fact Jem had been the one towing her along), unable to breathe due to the fact she was too breathless to do so.
Jem didn't spare her a glance, hurrying towards the closed, unlit doors of…
Tessa glanced up.
Holy shit, she thought, as Jem slid out a thin blade. Are we going to Westminster Abbey?
The thought quickly changed to—
"ARE WE BREAKING INTO WESTMINSTER ABBEY?" Tessa shrieked.
She looked up at the grand edifice that rose before them— with its great gothic towers piercing the hazy London fog.
"Tessa!" Jem said, somewhat sharply, as he stood in weak light that was pouring from the now-open doors of the ancient building.
She hurried inside. "Did you just break into one of the most sacred places in Britain with a knife?" She asked in disbelief.
Jem raised an eyebrow. "After all that has happened and you're still curious," he said, with a somewhat laugh.
"Only those with the purest of hearts and the most unselfish of intentions can call upon the brothers of the abbey to open their doors, with a single drop of their own blood." An eerie voice said from the shadows.
Jem gave a cough.
Will emerged from the shadows. "Okay, maybe not, but it's still a nice thought."
"Indeed." Jem replied.
"Wait. Will, weren't you at training? And… why the hell are we in Westminster?" Tessa asked, stating the obvious.
Will smirked. "I'm faster than Jem anyway, especially when there isn't someone slowing me down." He said with an eye roll. "And Westminster is… how can I put this… stocked for our purposes."
Tessa cocked an eyebrow.
"Police, the brotherhood, the overall security of this place, it makes a pretty good bunker." Will elaborated.
"Then how'd we get in?" Tessa asked.
"Are you always this nosy or did I just never notice before?" Will snapped.
"James Carstairs. What brings you back to our dwelling, we have no recollection of a council meeting today, nor is it within your rights to enter this building." A monotonous voice said from the shadows, as a group of people emerged into the light.
Will seemed to take a step back from the group, but Tessa couldn't help but notice the protective stance he took in front of her.
"Brother Enoch," Jem acknowledged. "I— that is to say, the Clave— need access to the archives."
"You lost that right when you left the brotherhood." Another spoke up in the same tone, his face— like all the others— masked by a parchment hood.
Soooo not a first-aid course, Tessa thought with a sigh.
"Brother Tobias, I am aware of that, but I was sent because the Consul knew I had knowledge of the archives and—"
"Our archives are not something we like to show the unwelcome eyes."
"Look," Will snapped. "We need information on the Starkweather family tree. Can you get it us, or not?"
Silence.
"Although your hostility is not appreciated, William Herondale, we can confirm that we have some knowledge of the family, though your best chance is to check the families own wards in York." Another robed figure said.
The two boys' breathed sighs of relief.
"May we—?" Jem began.
"Yes, we will bring them out to you. Though not with those without our blood present." The original robed man said.
Will and Jem exchanged a glance, a silent communication.
"Tessa," Jem said softly. "Are you aware of poets corner here in Westminster?"
"No!" Tessa breathed in shock. "I… I had no idea."
"Well then, I'll have to show you," Jem told her earnestly, leading her to the eastern side of the church.
Why do all of you always shut me out? Tessa thought to herself. I'm human.
"-and Robert Burns, oh! And Shakespeare!"
"He isn't really buried here," Jem told her quickly. "It's a monument. Like Milton's."
"Oh, I know, but…" She broke off, spotting the silhouette standing in the light from the hall. "Jem…"
Jem whipped around, his mouth forming into a slight 'o'. One hand instinctively went to grasp the small blade he'd used earlier, his eyes mixing with unreadable, but countless, emotions. His other arm reached out in front of Tessa, ensuring she didn't move forwards.
"Go on, then," a raspy voice said. "Throw it. Kill me. Take a life."
"If I ever blood on my hands, Marabas, it would not be yours." Jem said, eerily clam. "Your life is Will's to claim, and I would never take that from him."
A malice-filled grin flickered slightly upon the man's demon-like face. "How is he?" He asked. "Will."
Jem's grip on the blade tightened, but his features were schooled into calmness. Always calmness.
"Oh, you couldn't bring yourself to throw that, even if I were Yanluo."
Jem's eyes flashed.
"Tell me, how's your mummy and daddy?" The man said poisonously.
Jem threw the blade with alarming accuracy, straight into the man's chest. Tessa screamed, alarmed, as the man crumpled to the floor like a tin can being knocked from a shelf with a ball.
"It wasn't him," Jem said softly, in efforts to console her, as another figure walked forwards, the same height as the other man.
"Shame," an identical, raspy voice said. "I do forget you're the smarter one."
"Please," Jem said quietly, the rage still burning in his eyes. "Leave him alone. What did he ever do to you? His father, yes, but Will knew nothing of you. He released you, you should have been more thankful than—"
The man cocked his head. "The boy didn't close the door properly. He didn't intentionally free me. He didn't escort me from the grounds. I could have hurt his father, but it was more fun to see his heart shatter with the death of his children, whether physically or mentally." He broke off into laughter, which was followed by chesty coughing as the man stepped into the light, igniting a cigarette as he did.
Tears sprung to Tessa's eyes as she gave a silent scream. It was the man from her dream, wearing the same, blue suit with the yellow stripe. The same bloodshot eyes and snout-like nose. "I'm the villain of Will's life-story, James. Mr bad-guy. And doesn't the bad-guy always return?" The eyes skimmed to Tessa, and he laughed again, exhaling smoke. "He broke up with you because of me, you know."
Tessa's eyes widened.
"Yes, I know who you are. I know everything about you. He's told me. The Magister. The Clockwork Prince." The man continued. "Did he ever tell you why he's afraid of fire?" He dropped the cigarette on the floor. "Human lives. Like a fire, really. Need oxygen to survive, and," he crushed the paper beneath his foot, "so easy to snuff out." He gave a grin, revealing yellowed teeth. "Unless, of course, the fire rages out of control," He lit a match, "and then other lives are ruined, as they are burnt."
"Jem? Jessie called, we can go back to the dorms now. I got the documents." A voice sounded from the hall.
"Oh, one more thing." The man said snidely. "Don't trust those you hold close to heart. Vengeance is a cruel thing— believe me," he gave a laugh, "I'll know. He threw the stick onto the wooden beam, which immediately flared up, before the man, quite simply, vanished.
Tessa looked to Jem.
"The moment before dawn is always darkest," Jem said with a grimace, just as Will walked in.
Will gave one glance to the wood and shrugged his jacket off, smothering the flame immediately, his eyes the most terrified Tessa had ever seen them, tears springing to his eyes.
That's why ducks wasn't listed on his fears, Tessa realised. It has to be something to make you die inside. "
You ready?" He asked, giving a shaky breath.
Jem closed his eyes momentarily. "Give us a minute."
Translation— we'll give you a minute, Tessa thought.
Will left, and Jem glanced to Tessa. "Tessa…" He trailed off. "We'd best be going."
"Oh." Tessa said, her world crumbling once more. "Right."
YOU'LL NEVER GUESS HOW MANY CHAPTERS WE HAVE UNTIL THIS ENDS, GUYS.
TWO.
TWO! (and then a prologue!) BUT TWO!
WHO'S EXCITED?! (Me. Jeez, I've got so much more to give, this was never my favourite fanfiction)