Once again, I thank everyone who is reading this story. We were all upset that SarahHeartsCatz couldn't continue it so I'm really happy I adopted this story and get to share my love of these fictional people. Anyway….
Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
The carriage ride home was a quiet one. Clary held a damp piece of fabric to her forehead which was slowly healing from the itraze that Isabelle had given her and Izzy played with the golden whip wrapped around her wrist. Jessie didn't look at any of them, instead gazing out the window of the carriage with an expression heavily laid with disgust.
Finally, because Tessa couldn't stand the silence anymore, she turned to the red haired girl. "Clary, your surname is Fairchild, isn't it?"
Her green eyes widened at Tessa's sudden outburst but she nodded.
"That's Charlotte's maiden name," Tessa explained, on hand moving to her clockwork angel to steady her. She always found peace in its ticking and she felt inexplicably tense at this moment.
"It is?" Clary's coppery eyebrows knit together. "Do you think I could be one of their great grandchildren?"
"Charlotte's married to Henry," Jessamine pointed out, not looking up from the window. "She's Charlotte Branwell. Even if you are one of their descents they'd probably be your great aunt and uncle, not your great grandparents."
Tessa pursed her lips, looking at Clary's bright hair and small stature. She had qualities from both of the heads of the Institute but she kept her mouth closed. Jessamine was already put out, she didn't want to make it worse. Jessie had a temper.
"What do we tell them?" Clary asked, taking the rag away from her forehead and holding it in her lap. "Charlotte and Henry, I mean."
"We have to be honest with them," Tessa said softly.
Isabelle smiled, her black eyes shining. "The boys are going to be mad. I know Jace loves a good fight."
"So does Will," Tessa said automatically then corrected herself. Yes, they'd kissed on the attic and in the institute but his words still burned fresh in her mind. She should call him by his full Christian name bat least, not his nickname for that typically held a sort of fondness between two people. A fondness that Tessa and Will surely did not have.
Clary gave Tessa an encouraging yet secretive smile. "What about Jem?"
Despite herself, Tessa's cheeks grew warm. "I'm sure he wants to go where ever William does."
The carriage pulled to a rickety stop in front of the Institute and Jessamine heaved a long sigh. "Honestly,"
"Jessamine?" Isabelle asked, and Clary knew that something bad was about to occur.
"You're going to find out at some point," Jessamine explained, as the door swung open. "Tessa loves Will but he rejected her. I think it's because she's a warlock of some kind, and a Shadowhunter shouldn't dally with Warlocks. No offense," Jessamine looked at Isabelle empathetically. "To your brother, though I'm sure he's used to breaking many codes already. I believe she is quite bitter about it if you ask me." And with that Jessamine was helped down and then strutted up to the Institute doors without a second glance and left Isabelle, shocked, Clary, stunned, and Tessa, furious, in her wake.
"Tessa," Isabelle started in her most calm voice but Tessa ignored the Lightwood girl and climbed form the carriage quickly with the assistance of their driver. With every step she seemed to grow more and more livid.
Jessamine couldn't be more wrong, she thought hotly. I have no such intentions for Will at all. At once I had but not anymore, for will is a selfish cruel- she couldn't even convince herself that she hated will, try as she might. It was just impossible.
"Tessa!" She turned and watched as Clary and Isabelle caught up with her, quite fast in their heavy skirts. Clary's face was flushed and Isabelle looked as angry as Tessa felt. "Jessamine was way out of line."
Tessa paused slightly. "Excuse me?"
"She shouldn't have said that about my brother." Isabelle was practically vibrating with outrage as they walked. "Or about dallying with Warlocks. In our time things are changing, and we have a lot more freedom. But that does not mean she can-"
The front doors opened and two boys walked out of it looking as different as the sun and the moon, one gold and one silver.
"Jace, Jem!" Clary's face broke out into a grin as Jace, faster than the average Shadowhunter moved Tessa noticed, appeared in front of Clary and gave her a quick peck on the lips, making Tessa flush. It seemed so odd that people could be so public about their affections, even if they were form the future. "What did you find out from Magnus?"
"More then we bargained for," Jace explained, slipping his hand into hers. "Our own magnificent Warlock."
Isabelle snorted. "You've got to be kidding me."
"We're not," Jem admitted ruefully, but he was smiling. Jem looked paler then he had this morning, patches of red looking dark on his cheeks which made Tessa wondered if he'd taken enough of his yin-fey. "He sent you six here because he thought you could help us, that we needed protecting."
Tessa remembered the automatons that had attacked her in the dress store and how Clary and Isabelle had been the one to protect her. Maybe, Magnus was right and they needed the protection these future Shadowhunters and vampire could give them.
James' silver eyes fixated on Tessa. "He also said that you were having a very interesting day of shopping."
"How did that go?" Jace asked, a playful smile on his lips. "Do you need any more help with your corset?"
Clary elbowed Jace in the ribs playfully. "Not from you, mister. I like my organs inside my body."
"Clary?" Jem's silvery eyes narrowed at the redheaded girl's freckled hand and saw that is was spotted with dried blood. "What happened?"
It was Isabelle who told the story, not leaving anything out from their adventure and doing it quickly. When she was over James eyes were wide and Jace's hand had tightened in Clary's.
"You fought automatons?" He asked, his gold eyes raking over her body for any injury worriedly.
"Only one," Clary admitted, wiping her bloody hand on her dress. Tessa wasn't sure who'd be more upset with the action, her aunt Harriet or Jessamine. "Isabelle took out the other two."
"She was very quick," Tessa added quickly. "And Clary saved me with Jessamine's parasol."
Jem moved next to Tessa and placed a soft hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?
Tessa nodded, her pale cheeks flushing while Jace explained what happened with the Warlock's to Isabelle and Clary. Why are you flushing? She asked herself. It's just Jem. He's worried about you. "I'm alright."
He stared at her intently while he moved his hand to the base of her neck where he pressed it gently with two fingers. Every being in Tessa stood in attention at his fingers at her collarbone, sure that color was blooming down her neck. "Your neck is bruising,"
Tessa blinked. "Oh-yes. The automaton had grabbed me…" She didn't mention how the bruises hadn't entirely healed from the last time she'd faced the metal monsters. "I'll be fine,"
"I'll ask Sophie to bring you some ice after dinner," Jem promised her with a soft sincere smile.
Tessa mumbled a quick thank you and turned around, staring up at the sky. Already the sun had started to set and twilight was following on London. Where had all the time gone? She wondered. Today seemed to go by much too quick for her.
"Tessa, Jem?" They both turned towards Clary who was watching them with a curious light in her green eyes at the front door of the Institute. "Are you coming?"
"Yes, of course." Jem turned towards Tessa and let his hand stay on her shoulder a moment longer before letting it fall and held out his arm for her to take and escort her to dinner.
Tessa took his arm and smiled, practically floating to the dining room, bitter thoughts of Jessamine, automatons, and Will seeming miles away while she held onto Jem and tried to contain the rapid beating of her heart.
I have so many mixed feelings about this chapter, but I feel like I wrote everyone pretty well. Jessamine still infuriates me to no end at times and I LOVE Jem's awkward sweetness. What do you think? I patiently await your responses!