Ok guys, Sorry it took me so long to get this second chapter out. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue the story or leave it as a oneshot. But I've gotten pretty good feedback so... onwards!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS AND DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN ANY OTHER CREATIONS OF CLASSANDRA CLARE'S GENIUS.
Also, if you didn't read the description there is explicit boy-love, yaoi, homosexuality, and whatever else you want to call it. Of course, if that offends you, don't read. Common sense :)!
"Finally you join us." Jessamine drummed her delicate fingers across the table, "We've been waiting long enough..."
"Jessamine, please." Jem sighed, "No fighting before breakfast alright?"
Jessamine pouted and turned away.
"Thanks, James. I don't think I could have fought my own battles with that one." Will said sarcastically and plopped into the chair next to his friend. He winced and held his head in a death grip.
"Suffering for last night's fun, William?" Jem touched his shoulder lightly
"Oh just a bit." Will growled through gritted teeth. He hadn't been this hung over in months. His head felt as though it was starting to crack open and his stomach and throat burned from his session with the toilet this morning. But what was the most painful was the black-out. He couldn't remember any sort of solid memory. Only dark shadows and scenes in slow-motion. Thoughts moving through mud. A flash of a familiar townhouse by the Thames, of clothing being tossed carelessly to the floor. But who's? He couldn't remember, but he felt as though he had done something he really shouldn't have done. Will's attention snapped back to the present as Sophie shoved a plate of eggs, ham and a buttered biscuit in front of him.
"Our daily gruel." He muttered half-heartedly. He was too hung over to pretend to be vile. Jem firmly, yet quietly, slapped him on the back of the head.
About halfway through breakfast, a pensive-looking Tessa appeared, dressed in her favorite yellow dress. Sophie, who had been alternating between nibbling on her eggs and glaring at Will, jumped up and helped her into a chair.
"I'm afraid it is a little cold," Sophie smiled, setting a plate down in front of Tessa that looked a hundred times more edible then Will's, "I could make you a new batch if you'd like."
Tessa smiled and waved her off, "No, no that's quite alright." As Sophie returned to her seat,Tessa glanced around the table, taking special care to avoid Will's own questioning eyes. He knew he had kissed her last night. He hadn't been drunk then. Tessa's gaze landed happily on Jem. She smiled at him and he beamed back. Will could see his friend's love in the glow of his skin and the shine of his eyes. Will suddenly realized that he had kissed the object of that love, that he had broken such deep trust and had been so busy getting drunk off his ass to care. His gut-wretched and he felt the need to be sick again. Pushing his plate across the table, he jumped up, head down, and stalked out of the room.
Tessa found Will, shirtless, laying on his bed. A discarded book lay open at his side and his left harm was flung over his eyes, keeping them safe from the mid-morning sun. But the light danced on every other visible inch of his skin, so bright Tessa found herself needed to turn away, but so beautiful she was afraid she couldn't.
"I know you're there, Tess." Will whispered, a tone Tessa heard only when she saw his soul open to reveal its true, timid self. He sounded heartbroken. Standing speechless for a few moments longer, she realized she couldn't face him this way; not if she intended to keep her promise to Jem. She couldn't help herself around this Will. She covered her mouth and ran from the room.
'She ran from me', Will hissed at himself. 'She actually... ran.', even he could hear his mind's voice crack and crumble into near tears.
"Will?" he heard Jem call into the bathroom, "Are you alright? You're room is a mess."
Running a trembling hand through his black hair, Will tried to regain his composure. He heard Jem rummaging through the wreckage that was his room just outside the bathroom door.
"Will, is this... blood?"
Will glanced down at his bleeding knuckles from where he had punched the wall. Why did she have such an effect on him? To make him go ballistic on inanimate objects...this woman will be the death of him.
"Will!" Jem's voice sounded panicked, "Will are you alright in there?"
Will flung the door open and cast a wicked smile onto Jem, "Quite fine, thanks for asking." He rested a hand on his friend's shoulder, gently moving him out of the way and slipping past him.
"Will, what happened, Sophie said she heard-"
"I'm going out."
"W-what? But Will you just destroyed your room!"
"Exactly", Will pulled on a shirt, lazily giving up on buttoning the top, letting skin show four inches below his collarbone. "That way, when Sophie comes to clean up, I won't be here to receive her cold glares. It does unnerve me so." Will faked a snicker and bent down to tie up his shoes.
"William, your head is not in the right place." Jem face darkened, "Stay home."
"I'm afraid 'home' is not the right place for my head to be either. Don't worry James," Will stood up and slid on his overcoat. "I'll go in search of the right place to rest my head for tonight."
"This place is a breeding ground for demon pox..." Will whispered to himself as he entered a crowded tavern, previously hidden as a boarded up old building by glamour. He found himself a secluded seat at the bar and ordered up the strongest drink they had. Taking a sip of the foul, sour liquid, Will couldn't help but gag and cough. He deserved this though didn't he? Hurting Tessa... Hurting Jem... what he really needed was-
He felt a pair of cool, long-nailed hands grate roughly against his chest. Spinning around, he saw a woman, deep purple skin and two twirling horns jutting from the sides of her head. Without that, she may have been decently attractive. And of course if she weren't a demon. Her eyes held a strange look, somewhere between lust and hunger – which for her might have been the same thing. Yes, what he really needed was a bad case of demon pox.
"Well, well, little nephilim." the demon woman circled him like pray, "A little lost are we?"
"Aren't we all a little lost?" Will smirked, feeling the effect of the near-toxic drink already dragging down his senses.
"I don't suppose you would be interested in a little...entertainment. Would you?" the woman pushed her breat against him, slowly tracing his frame with her black, nearly four-inch long nails. His smirk growing wider, Will allowed himself to loosen and leaned back against the bar. He was greeted with something cold and sharp at the base of his neck. The woman laughed and slid away towards a group of male demons, smiling wickedly. The leader of the pack was huge, nearly eight-feet tall, and his eyes were almond-shaped slits of black with tiny white pupils, one of which was making their way up and down the woman, the other trained on Will.
"He's all yours, Lokiloe"
"What makes you think you could come here, shadowhunter?" Lokiloe's voice boomed, the tavern erupted in snickers and silence.
"My kind was in this dimension first. Finders, keepers." Will cocked his head to the side, eliciting a sharp pain on his neck. He wished he could turn to see what it that was biting into his skin.
The wicked smile dropped from the leader's face like a dime and in two long strides, Will could feel his hot, foul breathe on blowing back his hair ever so slightly.
"You think you own the world don't you? Filthy little angel boy." Lokiloe grabbed Will's forehead and pushed it back slowly, tilting his head so that the sharp object behind him dragged a shallow cut trailing up his neck. Will winced as the man towering above him pushed his head back further, nearly tipping the barstool. An inch or two deeper and-
There was a loud screech and Lokiloe lost his grip on Will's head. He shook and wobbled and finally collapsed, followed by another screech, having belonged to the horned woman. Following her wide eyes, Will saw the small tip of an arrow sticking out from the huge demon's chest. Looking behind, he saw the feathered shaft of the arrow, jutting out from between Lokiloe's shoulder blades. The arrow possessed a strange, familiar glow.
"Tsk. It really is a wonder, Mr. Herondale." Magnus Bane, hands glowing with bright blue rage, stepped out from behind a red velvet curtain that hid one of the smaller rooms that lined the main bar. "You ought to have died years ago, with how careless you are."
Will offered a humble smile and a slight shrug that sent pain through his spine. He grabbed the back of his neck and found it warm and slick with blood.
A piercing scream broke the calm and the demon woman ran at Magnus, full speed, claws extended to full length. Magnus moved, just in time to only receive a small scratch on his left arm.
"Woman...this is my favorite shirt." A surge of blue flame erupted from Magnus right hand, trapping the woman in a net that seared her skin. She fell to her knees and Will could see her skin bubbling beneath the fiery rope. He could smell it too. The smell of burning flesh made him dizzy and he made his way towards the door. Stumbling down the stairs, he fell onto the cobblestone outside, tearing up his pants and no doubt adding a few scrapes to the night's battle wounds. Someone grabbed him by the back of the collar and started dragging him, cutting up his knees, until he managed to get his footing and keep up on his own. His suddenly vision blurred and he became defensive. He was ready to kill whoever or whatever had hold of him until he caught the eye-gold cat eyes staring down at him in concern.
"Damn it, Magnus. I thought you were one of them!"
Magnus scowled back towards the tavern, "No, no. I'm only half putrid scum." he smirked, "But I see where you could get confused."
"Well, that's not really what I meant."
"I am aware."
Magnus, adorned with a traveler's cloak, threw up the hood and began walking at a pace at which Will had to jog to catch up.
"Why were you there anyway?"
Magnus dropped his head and straightened his arms, Will could have sworn he even picked up his pace.
"Magnus?" Will, nearly tripping as he fought to keep up, peaked underneath the hood into a shadowy face. Through his blurred vision, Will caught a look upon Magnus' face he had never seen before and couldn't quite place. Magnus' eyes trailed over to his own and he quickly jerked his head away.
"I could ask you the same question."
"But I asked first."
Magnus sighed and looked up. Will's eyes followed and saw that they had reached the townhouse. He had been there many times in the past few months, but this time, it seemed different. Almost as if he ought to remember something important, the memories tickled at the back of his mind.
"Come in, Mr. Herondale." Magnus called from the top of the stairs (when had he gotten up there?) and turned to unlock the door, "I'll get you patched up."
Will followed.
Once inside, he found it very... empty.
"Where's Camille's brat?" Will slurred
"With Camille, of course" Magnus shrugged off his coat and removed his shoes. He gestured for Will to do the same. As he handed Magnus his coat, he finally noticed how much blood coated the back and shot a hand to the back of his neck. Magnus eyed him curiously and grabbed his elbow, leading him into through the palor and into the kitchen.
"Now just," Magnus paused and pulled up a chair for Will, "Sit still." He turned and rummaged through a tall cabinet, pushing aside jars full of sloshy, liquids and chunky jellies; although Will was sure they weren't made from any sort of fruit.
"Ah, here we are." Magnus spun around gracefully, almost as if he were giddy. In his hand he held a a small vial, no bigger than his thumb, that contained a peach colored liquid. "The knife they cut you with had a poisoned-tip." He moved around to Will's back, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He bent down to Will's ear. "This will sting."
With just a pinch of the peach liquid, Magnus lightly brushed the cut of the back of his neck where the knife had cut. Will felt the liquid harden into a stiff sheet. In no less than a minute, Will was writhing in pain. He gripped at the table but found even that couldn't steady him and slid onto the floor.
"Will!" Magnus collapsed onto the floor beside him.
Will coughed and sputtered through the pain, "Will? When did I give you permission to be on-" he coughed again, "on first name basis?"
There was no answer but if Will hadn't become disillusion with pain, he would've sworn he saw a blush creep across Magnus' face.
"Just lay still, Will."
Will did as he was told and fought hard to stifle his cry when Magnus pulled the hardened peach-colored sheet off his skin. It stuck like glue and had no intention of letting go. Will arched off the floor to ease the pain. Finally, it popped off with a snap and Will fell back onto the floor. The pain was suddenly gone and Will panted from exhaustion. To his side, Magnus lay propped up again a cabinet, breathing deeply and looking relieved.
Will managed a smirk, "I didn't know you cared about me so much, warlock."
Magnus gazed at him for a while and a lazy smile crept across his face. "You've got a debt to me. I wouldn't want to lose such a large investment."
Magnus lay across a plush arm chair, bare-feet dangling over the edge, lost in his thoughts. That is, until Woolsey puffed a cloud of smoke from his pipe right into his face. The smoke sent him into a coughing fit.
"Mr. Scott!" Magnus coughed, "Must you really?"
Woolsey ignored him, "You know that boy you're so fond of?"
Magnus stared at him, pretending not to know who he was referring to.
Woolsey laughed, "You know, black hair. Blue eyes?" Woolsey batted his eyelashes dramatically, "oh, and his manners are truly horrid."
"Might you be referring to William Herondale?"
"I knew it! You do have eyes from him don't you?"
Magnus sighed, "He's the only one I know with that description. Thats all."
"Well, yes but," Woolsey paused and seemed to rethink what he had been about to say. Instead he started anew; "Do you think he would like to come to one of my parties?"
"No." Magnus knew exactly what kind of parties Woolsey was known for having. Will probably would have jumped at the chance for promiscuous behavior and drinking, but something inside Magnus wanted to keep him away from all that. When he had seen the boy in the tavern a few days back, he had been ready to murder each and every one of those demons to keep him safe and untainted by the whores. And that had been before the attack. Even recalling it now, seeing them gang up on Will, made his blood boil.
"Well," Woolsey continued. "Perhaps, I should go ask him."
Magnus shook his head, "He won't want to go."
"You never know. In fact, I'll head over this afternoon."
"No!" Magnus shouted a little louder then needed. Embarrassed, he stood up quickly and went for the door. "There's no need. I was meant to be at the Institute soon anyway for Tessa's lesson. I'll ask him."
Woolsey smiled, propping his feet up on the couch, and seemed to have no intention of leaving. "Alright, if you insist."
Magnus tied up his shoesl, pulled on his coat, and headed out the door.
Magnus reached the Institute just as the sun was starting to fade behind the buildings surrounding him. During the walk, he had thought a lot about whether or not he would actually extend Woolsey's invitation to Will. Finally, he laughed it off. Of course not. What on earth would a nephilim have to do at a Downworlder party anyway?
He knocked on the giant wooden door and rang the bell, still shaking his head from the notion of the invitation, as he stood waiting for an answer. Slowly the door peaked open and behind it was the small figure of the maid-girl. She smiled brightly and opened the door wide, giving a small curtsy as Magnus entered.
"Ms. Gray has been waiting, sir."
Magnus gave a small smile and saw the girl blush, "Thank you, Sophie."
Sophie lead him down the twists and turns of dark hallways that made the old church such a maze. Sometimes, he envied the Night Children, never having to deal with such ridiculousness as these places called Institute. The small girl pushed open a grand oak door and revealed a library that seemed to contain every book ever printed. At a neat little table, Tessa Gray sat reading a very earmarked copy of A Tale of Two Cities. When she saw Magnus she stood and grinned brightly.
"Magnus!" she walked over hurriedly, "I thought you'd never show."
"My apologies," Magnus gave a curt bow, "I had an unexpected visitor who seems content to move in." he rolled his eyes dramatically.
Tessa and Sophie giggled softly.
"Alright now." Magnus shrugged off his coat, which Sophie gladly collected and ran off to store somewhere. "Let's go to work."
After hours of training, Tessa collasped in an arm-chair, sweat rolling down her brow.
"You look exhausted." Jem came down from the second floor of stacks. He pulled a handkerchief from his shirt pocket and dabbed Tessa's head.
Magnus had heard that the two were engaged but hadn't seen real proof until now. It was obvious from the way Jem handled her so delicately that he was in love with her and the look that Tessa returned showed the same. Only, there was something in her eyes that told Magnus she was holding back. Magnus wondered fleetingly what that something might be until Will burst into the room, twice as sweaty and exhausted-looking then Tessa, only, he didn't act it. The blue-eyed boy walked briskly to Jem's side with fierce determination.
"Jem!" He called, "Where on earth did you run off to?"
Jem turned from Tessa, obviously surprised.
"I thought we were training? Then suddenly you up and disappear!" Will exhaled loudly and threw himself into the chair at Magnus' side, sending it to bump him slightly. Will didn't seem to notice.
"I'm sorry, Will." Jem sighed, "But I told you when we started that I was going to leave early to check on Tessa."
"You could said goodbye at least." Will muttered.. He turned towards Tessa with a look of jealously and contempt, but Magnus knew enough to see the sadness as well. And to know that it wasn't just Jem leaving he was upset about.
Sophie peaked her head in the library, "We've made some refreshments if you're in need. They're set out on the table in the dining hall. Together, they all headed to find the promised food, Magnus found that, even when Tessa or Jem addressed him, he found it hard to keep his eyes off of Will. As he watched the boy, he saw the way he looked at Jem and Tessa when they were together. He saw every cringe as Jem touched Tessa's shoulder or when Tessa laughed at his dry jokes. Seeing the want in Will's eyes, made Magnus want to push Jem out of the way and hand Tessa to him, to give Will anything he wanted. But most of all it made him want Will to look at him the same way. The way he had that night when he was drunk. Suddenly, his mind was made up. As Jem ushered Tessa into the brightly light dining hall, Magnus pulled Will back into the dark hallway.
"What do you think you're doing? I happen to be starving." Will shifted his weight to his right foot impatiently.
Magnus felt heat rise in his chest, wondering if he should just let things be, "You looked stressed." he started, and fumbled around in his shirt pocket, "I thought this might help you unwind a little." He smiled slightly, handing Will his own invitation to Woolsey's party. The werewolf was no doubt still lounging on his couch, so he could always get another. "This way, I'll be nearby so you won't get in as much trouble as last time." Will smirked, cockily.
"I was doing just fine on my own."
"You were poisoned and probably about to get eaten."
"That was my strategy. Caught them off-gaurd."
"From inside their stomachs?" Magnus laughed at his own joke.
Will smiled, and glanced down at the paper. After no less than a moments thought, Will smiled even wider. "I'll wear my evening best."
There we go! Please let me know what you think!