And the next chapter of my first ever attempt at writing a TID fic ^-^ thank you for the lovely reviews on my first chapter, so viola! The next! Yes, this takes place after Clockwork Prince for those wondering. Thank you again and I hope you like this and maybe drop a review ^-^ x
Will had spent the day more or less sulking in his bedroom with the large dark oak wardrobe set in front of the door to prevent anyone from coming in. He knew he was being immature, but he truly didn't care.
"Stop sulking William and come out." Charlotte had called in annoyance, the doorknob rattling as she tried to open it. With a scoff, he'd merely shot back that she should leave. She'd given up a little while later and let him sit in his hell hole.
He was angry at Jem. The fact that he'd gone down to Devils Marketplace with Tessa and forgotten about him… Will knew deep down that Jem hadn't forgotten him, that he was merely showing his… fiancée the hidden sights of old London town. It had been his own fault for not getting up early. But then, did he really want to spend the day with the pair?
Will swung his legs over the side of the bed now, pulling on shoes and socks, making his way over to the wardrobe that was set before the door and pausing; did he really want to hang his head in shame and walk past them all? Nope.
Instead, he made his way over to the window and peered outside, or specifically, downwards. It was too much of a drop. With a growl of annoyance, he put his shoulder to the wardrobe and pushed until he could slip through the narrow crack of the door.
Silently he made his way through the witchlight lit corridors until he reached the front door of the Institute, thankful that he'd met no one along the way. As he opened the door, his mind full of thoughts on where to go for a while to clear his head, a voice suddenly spoke up
"Master Will where are you going?"
It took him by surprise, not expecting it at all. Will missed the top step, his knee buckling underneath his weight, the roughness of the ground shearing through his trousers at the knee, a sudden, agonizing shoot of pain shot through his leg. After a stream of loud and inventive curse words that would have made most young ladies faint, he sat up and clutched at his knee.
"Are you hurt?" Sophie asked with widening eyes, and Will literally snarled, eyes the color of a storm at midnight as he snapped out "Does it look like I'm about to do a jig or something?!Give me your arm!"
In silence, Sophie held out her arm and Will grabbed it, trying and failing to get to his feet. "My leg is broken." He growled, next to glaring up at Sophie. "Well, why are you just standing there like a doorstop?! Go get Charlotte."
As she vanished, Will sighed and gingerly poked his leg with a finger, wincing as it felt like he'd tripped again. He knew he shouldn't have been so rude to Sophie, it wasn't her fault. It had been his with his thoughts so full and engaged about Jem, the marketplace, Tessa and some more Tessa.
Will just lay back and let his eyes closed, listening to the hurried footsteps coming down the hall-
He just had no luck of late.
-WhenTheDevilComesKnocking-
It was evening when the pair returned to the Institute, Tessa in such a good mood she felt like laughing for no reason. Jem found it amusing, sat opposite her in the carriage next to staring, for her eyes were sparkling like stars, her smile infectious. As they rolled to a stop, the sky had turned to an extremely dark grey and snow was falling softly, covering London in a light blanket of white that was tinged with grey from the soot and smoke.
He climbed out first and cocked a brow, offering Tessa his hand that she took with yet another smile. She looked up towards the sky and blinked hard as a solitary snowflake drifted into her eye.
The door was shut hurriedly behind them as they stepped inside to keep the warm in, ushered into a room where a cup of tea was waiting for both of them.
"I love the snow." Jem said conversationally as he sipped at his drink, pale eyes flickering up towards Tessa who went "What else do you love?"
A secret smile later and he simply said "Well, one of them seems to be sat before me right now."
She blushed and Jem trailed his little finger around the edge of the China cup inlaid with blue. "I also enjoy a good cup of tea."
"Are we all bonding over cups of tea now?"
Tessa allowed her eyes to wander upwards at that, staring at Will as he walked in. Or rather, limped. "What have you done to your leg?" she asked, frowning lightly. Will waved a hand and more or less threw himself into the nearest armchair, sighing out "I was ambushed by an army of rather angry trolls. Every single one of them I slaughtered, but one snuck past my guard and caught my leg."
Jem's look was skeptical. "And were you rescued, perhaps, by some scantily dressed woman?"
"I could have stared all day at those great big-"
"William, you slipped on the top step of the Institute. Don't make up ridiculous claims."
Charlotte had arrived, looking flustered for some reason. Will cocked a brow and asked, making her reply with "A few are coming up from the New York Institute to speak with us, and I've been neglected on what the subject is."
"Maybe they are looking for some dashing British poster boy to-"
"Shut up." Charlotte snapped, making Will scowl at her with his expression grumpy. It had been one of them days. There was silence in which the woman stalked back out.
Tessa yawned, rising to her feet- it had been a long day with Jem, but a pleasant one. "I think I'll turn in for bed" she announced, deliberately not looking at Will as she walked out of the room.
She could feel his eyes, so very blue and enchanting following her the entire way across the room.
-WhenTheDevilComesKnocking-
Tessa woke abruptly that night from nightmares of faceless clockwork creatures and blood, endless blood. She sat up with no moonlight at all filtering into the room. It was pitch black. Silently she padded over to the window and sneaked a look through the curtains, finding herself staring-
The snow had come heavy, settling over London in a thick white blanket. It made Tessa smile lightly for some reason. The beauty of the snow was breathtaking, a perfect picture.
She climbed back into bed and lay her head down upon the pillow eyes open though. It was half an hour later that she decided she'd never get back to sleep. Sighing lightly, she pulled on a thick dressing gown and started towards the door, slipping out of it and into the hallway.
Tessa found her feet leading her down until she faced the familiar door with her hand raised, not knowing whether or not she should knock. She crouched down and saw the flicker of light coming from underneath- he was awake anyway.
Before she could react, the door opened. Tessa gazed upwards before hurrying to straighten up, saying quietly "I did not… wake you did I?"
Jem was dressed in a loose white shirt and black trousers. His pale hair was sleep mussed but his eyes weren't tired in the least. "I couldn't sleep" he replied, opening the door a little further to let her inside. Tessa knew she should have refused entrance and stood there, but she walked inside and turned to face him. "I could not either" She sighed out, perching at the edge of his bed and gazing up at him. Jem stepped forwards until he was directly before her, raising a hand to cup her delicate cheek and lean down, asking gently "Did you enjoy earlier today?"
Tessa never let her eyes leave his almost luminous silvery own as she raised her hand, setting it gently atop his own, answering quietly with "I did. Immensely. But… can I ask of you one more thing?"
"Of course you may."
"Can you kiss me again?"
Jem actually laughed at that as he raised his other hand, shifting them both so he could cup her face into them, tilting her head up to capture her soft lips to his own for a moment, thumb tracing across her gentle features. "You are rather adorable when you're sleepy, Tessa. Did you know that?"
"I know now." She laughed out quietly, resting her forehead against his own with her eyes fluttering shut. It was… strange. This time last year, she'd never even been kissed. And now, she'd kissed two boys, fallen in love with both of them, broke one of theirs hearts and was engaged to the other. And Tessa realized with an internal jolt that Jem had no idea of the situation he was in. Stuck between his parabatai and his fiancée.
What a great big damn mess.
"I know this is highly improper" Jem breathed, gazing steadily into her eyes "but would you like to spend the night with me? I think we would both get some sleep that way."
Tessa smiled gently and nodded a moment later "I'd like that very much." She kept her dressing gown on as she scooted backwards and slipping under the covers. They were thicker than her own, with extra pillows too. It felt like they were stuffed with duck feathers. Will would hate that Tessa thought with an internal giggle, glancing up as Jem blew out the candle and got in next to her. She willingly snuggled up to him, letting her eyes close as she buried her face into his chest. It was calming, listening to the steady pounding of his heart. But Tessa refused to think about how many beats it had left before it went still forever. That mere thought made her swallow hard and snake an arm around his slim waist, making him jolt a little and chuckle out "Yes?"
"Nothing." Tessa smiled, allowing him to tuck the covers around her. There was silence, then Jem muttered "Can I... tell you something Tessa?"
"Anything."
A rustle of sheets and Tessa leaned her head back to rest against Jem's chest, his lips at her ear "Very well. There is a number of things I would like to do before I pass over."
She opened her eyes, staring into the darkness "What do you mean?"
"A list if you will" he breathed, pressing a kiss to just below her ear. "Marrying you was on there." Tessa turned over in his arms, frowning lightly as she raised a hand, pressing a finger to his lips "Do not talk like this tonight. Hush now." She removed her finger and pressed her lips gently to his own. Jem tried to say something else in response but Tessa ignored him, letting a hand slide gently up his back to wind into his silvery hair, deepening her kiss and feeling his own lips soften as the seconds passed. They kissed gently under the covers until they were both out of breath and Tessa was trying hard not to giggle. She was warm and utterly content in his arms.
But then the door was shoved roughly open, a hurried voice calling "James! Get up! The infernal Institute is on fire and there's a hoard of those bloody clockwork abominations on the way!"
That was all they needed to hear to shove the covers roughly away, and Tessa met Will's eyes as he realized she was sharing the bed with Jem. It was a look of… he was angry and hurt at the same time, but it was gone in a flash as he added "Both of you. Stop fumbling around under the covers and get out of here! Come on!"
It was the suddenness of the moment that took Tessa aback, but Jem was up in a flash, pilling her to her feet and dragging her down the corridors. Tessa let her eyes widen as the flames licked its way up inside the dining room. The heat was overpowering, but the only thing she could feel other than that was the hand that was dragging her towards the door that was mercifully still about clear except for smoke.
The three dashed out, still in their night attire in Tessa and Jem's case. She gasped as the freezing snow under her bare feet strung. Will was in full dress, having been sat wide awake in his room with a book sat before him when he'd heard Charlotte yelling for everyone to get the hell out and away.
"Go go go-" Will growled, dashing forwards and Tessa spied him climbing onto the front of the carriage, snagging the reins while the horses whinnied uncomfortably. "Do you even know how to drive?!" she called, apprehensive. He simply laughed, which Tessa concluded wasn't a good sign. He was a madman with a carriage.
"Tessa-!" Will suddenly yelled, and before she could turn, she heard the whip of air as a blade was thrown, then a sickening crunch of metal it seemed. She stared at the clockwork creature that now had a blade speared through its face, courtesy of Will who was telling her in a growl to stop staring and get in already.
She clambered into the carriage in the most unladylike manner she imagined, tightening her dressing gown around her and shoving the curtains aside to watch with Jem as the Institute was engulfed in flames as they sped away as if Hell was chasing them.
"Where are we going-?" Tessa asked quietly and Jem shook his head "I don't know. Wait a moment-" he raised a hand and banged the front of the carriage that slid away, Will calling down "I need to take this up as another hobby James! It's rather bloody fun and-"
"Where are we going?!"
"Scarborough."
"What?"
"I heard Charlotte say the place when she was telling me to get out. I'm hazarding a guess that we shall meet up there."
Jem gave up and slid the slider shut, his face white- it had been a rude awakening, that was for sure. Tessa allowed her eyes to flicker to him, noticing straight away how pale he'd gone. "Jem?" she muttered, taking his face into her hands "What's wrong?"
"I didn't take-" he started but a wracking cough escaped him, placing a hand hurriedly over his mouth and recoiling from Tessa who understood in an instant and scrambled to the front, sliding it open and yelling "We need to turn back!"
"Are you insane?! Wait. Don't answer that."
"But Jem-! He doesn't-"
"Relax Tess, I'm not just a pretty face. I grabbed the box before we left. Tell him I'll pull over soon when we're out of the city."
Relief flooded Tessa as she closed it once more, turning to Jem and telling him "Will has it."
"Thank the Angel." He breathed out, letting himself fall forwards a little to rest his forehead against the hollow of her neck where she raised a hand and smoothed his hair that shone like moonlight back.
But all Tessa could stare at was the blood on his hand.
-Thank you for reading! Drop a review? ^-^-
