So, since I am in school postings will be longer. Maybe three weeks to a month? But I WILL POST! Cause I love u guys. And this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
"Oh hell," Will groaned, rolling his eyes heavenward.
"What is he doing here?" Tessa asked. "At this time of night."
"It's probably something to do about the hearing," Jem pointed out, calm as ever.
"What are we going to do?" Clary asked, her freckles glowing bright against her paler skin. "He can't know where here."
"And we won't let him." Charlotte promised, rushing into the room. She ran past the children to the library case and quickly sought after a book bound in blue leather. When she pulled it out there was a loud grinding noise and the entire bookcase moved two feet away revealing a set of winding stairs illuminated by witchlight.
Will swore under his breath. "Why haven't I noticed that before?"
"A lot of things seem to go unnoticed by you," Tessa mumbled under her breath but by the look Will gave her she was sure he'd heard.
"We don't have time for this." Charlotte said exasperatedly. Her brown eyes were tired yet she stood tall. "Clary, Jace and Isabelle you need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"What about me?" Simon asked. He was flickering now, like a candle's dancing flame.
Charlotte blinked at the vampire's hazy form and shook her head. "You need to disappear too. I'm not sure what you're doing but Benedict would go insane if he knew about a vampire as...powerful as you are."
Jace snorted and Clary elbowed him in the ribs before he could speak. "Where do we go Charlotte?"
"Upstairs, the attic, a spare bedroom?" Exclaimed Charlotte raising her arms. "I don't care! Anywhere as long as Benedict doesn't find you."
The future dwellers nodded and Clary and Jace started up the stairs. Isabelle followed suit, but paused when her necklace gave a quick and sudden pulse.
"Isabelle?" Jem asked, his silvery eyes concerned.
The raven haired girl shrugged and tossed her hair. "I'm fine." Then she disappeared up the stairs. Once everyone had gone Charlotte pushed the book back to its standing position and the case slid closed.
Will smiled wickedly. "That's going to be convenient."
Charlotte sighed and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "You are not to use that passage unless it's an emergency."
Will opened his mouth. "What-"
"A real emergency, William." Charlotte snapped and stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her with a loud clang that made the trio of teenagers wince.
"Poor Charlotte," Tessa whispered, staring at the door with an apologetic expression.
"You shouldn't bait her, Will." Jem told his friend. "Especially now. You know how the Clave is with her, because she isn't a man and this business with Mortmain is making things even worse."
"Fine," Will shrugged and sauntered over to the bookshelf where his friends disappeared behind and grabbed a black covered book. He tossed it behind him to Tessa without looking to see if she was ready and she barely caught it.
Tessa held the book out in front of her and read the title. Jane Eyre. "But-"
"Make yourself look busy, Tessa." Will commanded. He had moved to one of the reading chairs with Jem next to him, each holding a book of their own. "Benedict will be here soon."
"How do you know?" Tessa clutched the book close to her chest protectively.
"Because," Will smiled pleasantly. "Gabriel lives to bait me and would never pass up the chance to do so."
"I doubt you could pass up the chance to bother him as well." Jem pointed out, smilingly fondly at his best friend.
"Of course." Will laughed. "Bothering Gabriel is one of my favorite pass times, along with knife throwing, charming the ladies of our fair city and-"
A loud pair of footsteps echoed from the hall and Tessa's eyes widened. She barely had sat down on the window seat when the library's door swung open and Benedict Lightwood's stern frame strutted in with his son Gabriel at his side and Charlotte on his heels.
"-researching for several days." Charlotte was explaining quickly, her tiny hands white on her skirt. "And we've-"
"Found nothing of any true relevance." Interrupted Benedict, with a sideways glance at his son. "Honestly Charlotte, we could-"
"What is he doing here?" Gabriel demanded, his green eyes narrowing on Will who sat casually on a high backed chair with an arm draped along the back flipping leisurely through a large leather bound book with Jem watching next to him.
"Will is reading, Gabriel." Charlotte said calmly. "This is a library."
"Do not." Benedict snapped, turning on Charlotte. "Treat my son as if he is a child. He is of age and is viewed as an adult in the eyes of the Enclave. If you wish to speak to children," His eyes lingered on the two boys in the chairs in front of the fireplace. "I suggest you start with these two and..." His gaze shifted towards Tessa and he shook his head. "Her."
Tessa felt her face grow hot but she kept silent.
"Excuse me," A timid voice whispered and all eye turned to Sophie with a tray of tea clasped in her hands and her head turned low it as impossible to see her scar.
"Sophie," Charlotte sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Sophie nodded quickly. "Yes miss. It's no trouble."
"Pfft." Gabriel shook his head at the maid who sat the tray down on a small table between the head of the institute and the Lightwoods. "Honestly. Our servants would never-"
"Sophie isn't your typical servant." Tessa snapped and Gabriel flinched at the sound of her voice. "She's much more than that. She's our friend."
Gabriel's green eyes roamed over Tessa slowly and he smirked at her, which seemed much worse than a glare. "I believe that she isn't the only one who is much more then she appears."
The sound of skin on skin contact was deafening, like a loud clap of thunder in a sky that was once clear and blue. Will stared down at Gabriel beneath him, shaking his still throbbing hand angrily.
"Will." Tessa breathed at the same time Charlotte and Jem sighed saying the same thing.
"He was interrupting my reading." Will explained coolly then just as suddenly turned on his heel and strutted back to his seat as if nothing had happened while Gabriel knelt down on the floor with his hand on his cheek. A moment which seemed like forever past and Gabriel scrambled to his feet glaring at Will.
"Mrs. Brandwell." Benedict said calmly, though the venom in his words had enough poison to kill. "As the head of the institute do you implore the assault of your fellow warrior? And in front of ladies no less."
"I do not." Charlotte snarled, crimson patches on her cheeks. "Implore such assaults, nor do I implore them in the face of women. But I remind you that your son had walked disrespected out guest and my servant in my own home."
This only seemed to infuriate the Lightwoods more and Tessa swore that she heard Gabriel mutter, not for long.
"Now," Charlotte clasped her hands in front of her, her small bones straining against her pale skin. "Jem, Will and Tessa? If you will please excuse us. We have business to discuss."
"And none of you are of age." Gabriel added smugly, even though he was barely eighteen himself.
Will smirked at Jem who shook his head slightly. Tessa bit her lip. As if that would stop him and watched as the two boys stood and she stood with them then followed them out of the room. Gabriel had started to follow but Benedict has grabbed him by the shoulder and kept him in place.
He isn't the only one with a temper, Tessa smiled despite the situation as they exited the library but just as the doors shut she heard Benedict say something that made Tessa freeze.
"There's been a magic disturbance here in London."
Yeah, I'm leaving you on a cliff hanger. I like cliffhangers; they leave me with something to pick back up on.