Hey everyone! How are you? Hope everything is well. Thanks for reading this far- you're the best! This is my first fanfic, so I would truly appreciate it if you could leave some love and review! ;)
I just want to acknowledge my readers from across the world; it's so so lovely that the same stories can bring us all together! Hello to everyone in the US, China, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, and India! LOVE YOU ALL.
ALSO UPDATE: I'm thinking of writing an AU fanfic featuring most of the characters in the Shadowhunters novels (yes, that means Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, Dark Artifices) about their life stuck at home during Covid-19. If you think that would be fun to read, leave a comment and favorite! ◕ヮ◕
As usual, there will be a few quotes from Cassandra Clare's books or the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. Happy reading!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in TID or Beauty and the Beast, nor their stories.
Tale as Old as Time...
CHAPTER 6: CHANGE OF HEART
1885, London, England
"GET AWAY FROM THERE." She felt a rush of hot breath as Will roared at her. She gaped up at him in fear. He stood hunched above her, fangs bared and blue eyes storming. She tore her wrist away from the glass, and took a step back. The shy bibliophile had been replaced with a daunting beast in a matter of seconds. He seemed to loom even more, covering the little light from the window with his body, plunging the room into darkness.
"Will-"
"Get out."
"I didn't mean to intrude-"
"GET OUT."
"Please-"
"Your grandfather's a fool, and so are you," Will spat. His body was shaking, but his heart was aching. "Now get out. And don't come back."
Tessa fled the room.
Her feet flew down the stairs as she bolted, far away from the West Wing towards the foyer. If Will Herondale told her to get out, she would. And she wasn't coming back.
Tessa's breathing became more labored as she finally reached the bottom floor. She hadn't stopped by her room to collect her belongings, but she was too consumed in her anger to care. She didn't know why she was so upset, but her face was red and her heart beating too quickly.
Maybe she was crazy, but Will's intense violet gaze still seared into her mind.
With a grunt, Tessa pried the great doors open just until she could squeeze through, and hurried out of the Institute.
The crisp London air hit her all at once; it had stopped snowing for now, but cold winds whipped around her, and an icy layer of sleet covered the Institute's front steps.
Tessa reached the bottom of the steps, just to realize that Philippe was gone. Oh, Cyril, she thought despairingly as she called out. "Philippe? Philippe, boy, where are you?"
She heard a whinny in response, and quickly turned in the direction it came from. "Philippe?"
A tall, lanky boy who strikingly resembled Cyril emerged from behind the edge of the steps. "Ah, so Philippe is his name?" His mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. "You have a beautiful horse, Miss."
She smiled in relief. "Thank you. You must be Thomas."
As a look of alarm passed his face, and she stifled a laugh. "I'm Tessa Gray, from the York Institute. Philippe is really Cyril's horse. Speaking of who, Cyril says hello."
Thomas chuckled. "It's been a while since I've seen that chum." He raked his hand through his thick brown hair. "Miss Gray, might I ask why you are looking for your horse right now, in nothing but an evening gown?"
She felt herself blush despite the cold. "Oh, I- I was just about to go on my way."
Thomas shook his head. "No, Miss, there's news that the storm will get worse tonight. At least spend the night here, at the Institute." He gestured back to the front door, which was still cracked open. "Sophie and Gideon will get you some dinner."
And with a heavy sigh, her feet and hands already frozen in the few minutes she'd been standing there, Tessa groaned inwardly and stomped back into the Institute.
When she shook out her snow-covered boots and looked up, Sophie was descending the stairs, her eyes wild and frantic until they landed on Tessa.
"Oh, thank the Angel you're not gone yet," Sophie gasped through panted breaths.
Tessa frowned. "Why? Is something wrong?"
The girl paused a beat too long, then shook her head and plastered a smile onto her face. "No, no problem," she said a bit too cheerily. "It's just that, um, you're supposed to stay for dinner!" She exclaimed.
As if on cue, Tessa's stomach rumbled. She let out a shaky laugh. "I guess so."
"Then follow me, Miss Gray." Sophie said jokingly, emphasizing her British accent to the point that it sounded fake. Tessa chuckled in response.
The dining hall struck Tessa speechless as Sophie pulled her by the arm towards the long, rectangular wooden dining table. A fireplace roared on the right-side of the room, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and golden satin curtains draped over large windows, letting the candlelight dimly light the atmosphere.
Tessa marveled at the number of seats; there had to be at least twenty, and from who she had seen so far, there were only three others living in the Institute.
"Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test!" A distant voice sang out.
"Gabriel..." Sophie sighed, and to Tessa's surprise, the pendulum clock she had seen earlier waltzed onto the dining table.
Tessa had been surprised today, but this? She couldn't take it. She shrieked, lifting up the nearest chair, ready to smash...it.
"By the Angel, what in Raziel's name is that?" Tessa cried out. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she turned to see Sophie and Gideon stifling silent laughter.
"What, so you've never seen a talking clock before?" The clock challenged.
"I-no- of course not!" Tessa spluttered, slowly setting the chair down.
"I'm Gabriel Lightwood. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Miss Gray."
"You're-" she sputtered bewilderingly. "Gideon's brother?"
Sophie and Gideon could no longer contain their laughter; the two burst into a fit of raucous giggles as heat rose to Tessa's face.
"Is he a warlock?" Tessa asked. She had to shout above the laughter bouncing off the walls, filling the room.
After Sophie quickly filled Tessa in with a brief synopsis of the curse, including details about the shadowhunters' transformations but excluding, of course, how to break the spell, Thomas went to fetch the remaining residents of the Institute who had been hiding in the kitchen.
Tessa had been through a lot of strange moments, but this one topped them all. She raised her eyebrow in amusement as a parade of household items pranced along the length of the dining table, stopping to arrange themselves right in front of her. Sophie pointed out each of the shadowhunters, grinning at Tessa's baffled expression.
She could hardly believe that Charlotte Branwell had been a teapot for the past ten years, and Henry a harpsichord. But before she could properly introduce herself, Gabriel burst into that song again, his voice belting out, "Tessa Gray, be...our...GUEST!"
-O-o-O-
"I can't believe I'm talking to a candlestick."
"Please, candelabra!"
Tessa had grown slightly accustomed to the talking objects as the evening wore on; she was now seated in a plush armchair by the fire, speaking with Jem, a boy she learned had moved from the Shanghai Institute to the one in London when he was younger. But now he was a candelabra...?
She heard a clacking sound, and looked down to see Ms. Branwell bouncing precariously on her saucer to catch Tessa's attention. "Tessa, dear, how lovely to meet your acquaintance. Might I ask what brings you to our Institute? Is everything alright with Aloysius?"
The kindness in her tone struck Tessa by surprise, reminding her of her own mother's gentle voice. Her throat tightened as she pursed her lips and smiled down at the teapot.
"I apologize for intruding, Ms. Branwell." She faltered, turning her gaze towards the roaring flames. It was easier to concentrate on than the pot's shining brown eyes. "My grandfather is well, thank you, but it is his position that is not. Consul Wayland has threatened to replace him several times, and I fear this is the last warning."
Charlotte nodded her spout. "Please, call me Charlotte." She daintily leaped onto the coffee table, then Tessa's armrest with practiced grace. "If it is any consolation, dear, the Consul has tried to remove me from my position as well."
Tessa furrowed her brows startlingly. "Oh, I am sorry to hear that, Ms.- I mean, Charlotte." How rigorous was this Consul? Did her grandfather have no hope at retaining his position?
Charlotte sighed. "Ever since the curse, Sophie, Gideon, Thomas, and the Silent Brothers have been bearing the brunt of my work for me, with letters and glamours and all." She let out a puff of steam, which Tessa figured was out of frustration. "It's just difficult. But I will do my best. It might take a long time-"
Tessa fiddled with her hands in her lap. "I must return tomorrow to York."
"Tomorrow? Dear, it will take at least a month."
Tessa squeezed her eyes shut. "You know my grandfather, Charlotte- he is...well, to put it simply, old. I am the only who can take care of him."
Charlotte nodded, but looked Tessa straight in the eyes. "Yes, he will miss you, but if saving his profession matters most to you, it might be in your best interests to stay." She leaped back down onto the floor, narrowly missing Tessa's foot. "I will start at once. We will work as quickly as possible. In the meantime, Tessa, please do enjoy the company of our Institute."
And with that, the head of the London Institute slipped away on her saucer.
-O-o-O-
Tessa, content with her belly fullest as it's ever been with delicious food, collapsed onto her bed. She could still taste the creamy ginger ice cream the Institute's chef, Bridget, had served up. It was the honestly the most divine thing she'd ever eaten.
She was aware of the late hour as Gabriel sauntered up beside her. Jem hopped up too, followed by Jessamine.
Tessa reached over to the bedside table, her graceful fingers skimming the surface. "Is everything here alive?" She grabbed the bristly hairbrush that sat atop it. "Hello, what's your name?"
A beat of silence.
And then, laughter. She heard the metal clank of Jem face-palming, while Jessamine burst into a fit of giggles.
"That is a hairbrush."
Tessa groaned; it was like the dining room all over again. "What, how am I supposed to know which objects can speak?"
"If they can talk, they won't ever shut up," Jessamine scowled at Gabriel, flitting over to the desk to dust off the antique lamp.
"Jessie's one to talk." Gabriel muttered while Jem chuckled softly.
"So...," Tessa began, pulling her knees up into a sitting position. She had quickly torn off the uncomfortable gown and corset, trading it for her original patchwork dress. It wasn't the most beautiful, but at least it didn't cut off her circulation. "How can the curse be broken?"
The previous laughter died down, only the faint ticking of Gabriel's second hand.
"I mean, it must be awful having to hide every day. Don't you have something you miss in the world, badly enough to want to try to break the curse?" Tessa asked, her voice passionate and sympathetic.
Jem felt a twang of sorrow as he watched the beautiful, gray-eyed girl pour out her concern for people (or objects, rather) that she'd just met. If she could love Will, he thought, then he would be the luckiest man alive.
"Music," Jem murmured softly. He sighed and lay down at Tessa's feet. "My violin."
"Ugh, boutique shopping," Jessamine replied. Even as a feather duster she lay sprawled atop the bed with glamorous ease.
"Fighting." Gabriel answered firmly, his voice sounding rough and tired.
Tessa craned her head to look at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Gabriel sighed with a melancholy air. "Training as a shadowhunter was my life. Hunting demons, engaging in combat...and now I'm a blasted clock, which gives me no advantages whatsoever if we were to be attacked!"
Tessa could feel Gabriel's frustration, but she couldn't help but laugh. He shot her a glare. She hopped up from the bed and began to pace the room more seriously.
"If that is what you miss, then there must be a way to break the spell. Does it have to do with Will? Is that it?"
Jem almost set the duvet covers on fire as he scrambled upright. He watched as this curious girl, curls falling from her messy bun and fabric hanging of her dress, walked as though in deep concentration. "Tessa, don't tell me you've already met Will."
Tessa stopped momentarily, her eyes locking with Jem's. "As a matter of fact, yes, I did."
Jem felt his heart, if he even had one, stutter. He inhaled deeply.
"He was...well, he has it worst out of all of you, to be stuck in a form that hideous."
Both Jem and Gabriel cringed inwardly at Tessa's last word. She has to be the one, Gabriel mouthed to Jem. The candelabra nodded slightly in return. There was no more time.
"Yet..." Tessa resumed her walking. "There is something trapped inside him. Pain, suffering, something dark. And I intend to help him."
Gabriel audibly squeaked, which Jessamine would have made fun of normally, but the three were too shocked to respond. Jem let out the air he'd been holding, flashing a grin at Gabriel.
"So if I'll help him, and you seem to be his friends, won't you help me? We must set to work. I will not be here for long, but when I was with Will, I-" She faltered and buried her head in her hands. "I saw a glimmer of who he could be besides a scary beast," she whispered. "And if we do some research, maybe we can fix him."
Thank you again SO SO MUCH for your support. Please favorite and follow for chapter updates!
ONCE AGAIN, MY UPDATE: I'm thinking of writing an AU fanfic featuring most of the characters in the Shadowhunters novels (yes, that means Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, Dark Artifices) about their life stuck at home during Covid-19. If you think that would be fun to read, leave a comment and favorite! ◕ヮ◕
xoxo