The day was upon us. And here I was trying to convince Jessamine to get into the coach.
"For Christ's sake woman, we're not expecting you to fight! If it comes to anything, I'll just use my magic. I just can't be loitering around outside by myself," I tried to reason with her. She didn't seem appeased.
"There's going to be fighting and bloodshed and I refuse to ruin my dress," she snapped, taking a step back from the carriage. With a growl I created an invisible force field that shoved her back towards the coach. She fell head first into it with a squeal. Using all my strength, I pushed the rest of her in and slammed the door, tapping the wall to tell the driver we were ready. Jessamine was in a pile of brightly colored satin on the floor, calling me every name under the sun.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're acting like a Shadowhunter," I said. That shut her up quick. I sighed as she hoisted herself into the seat opposite me, trying to fix herself into what she thought was a dignified young lady.
"How dare you use your magic on me," she muttered, looking out the window. I gave her a weary glance.
"If you had gotten in the carriage like I asked, I wouldn't have had to," I snipped back. She looked like she wanted to reply, but thought better of it, and instead just pouted. I looked at her.
"Jessie, I don't want you to hate me," I said. "I just want you to understand the lifestyle you deem so unsavory, because right now you don't. You don't even try to. All I ask is for you to consider it." She gave me a look of distaste.
"Why should I do that for the people who have ruined everything for me?" she asked cooly.
"Because they care about you," I answered forcefully, fighting to stay calm. If there was one thing that made me angry, it was people not giving other people a chance. I had learned that lesson the hard way. She gave me an incredulous look.
"And you honestly believe that?" she hissed. I nodded.
"Charlotte loves you, Jessamine, more than you know. You just can't see it through your hatred of all things Shadowhunter," I said. But from the look on her face, she remained unconvinced.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped. Jessamine looked confused. An emotion I shared in that moment. I opened the door and stuck my head out to call to the driver-a Shadowhunter appointed by the Clave who's name I was entirely unfamiliar with.
"What's wrong?" I said. He peered around the carriage down at me.
"There seems to be some sort of commotion in the street. I cannot pass," he replied. I groaned and moved to unlatch the door, but Jessamine's hand on mine kept me from doing so.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" she asked, her brown eyes wide. I arched an eyebrow.
"Seeing what's keeping us from our job," I answered shortly.
"Leave that for the driver. A young lady should never step out of a carriage to see what is keeping her. That is for her underlings to tell her," she said with dignity. I bristled at her explanation. I had always disliked my mother telling me to act like a lady. I detested the very word.
"Do you believe it within your abilities to keep me from doing so?" I replied with a thin veil of sarcasm. She let go of me abruptly, looking offended. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm not mundane enough for you, Jessamine," I muttered quietly. "In another time we might have been friends." I then proceeded to exit the carriage so I could assess the situation. The man who had been driving the carriage hopped from his post in order to offer me assistance.
There, in the middle of the road, two drunken men were attempting to brawl. I rolled my eyes, unimpressed, and looked at the driver.
"You mean to tell me you couldn't have bypassed this?" He looked affronted by the way I addressed him. Probably because I was a Downworlder, speaking to him as if he were the imbecile. Or possibly because I was a child. Either way, he didn't say anything. I stepped forward, pushing the crowd of people away from me. I liked this dress. I did not intend to have it ruined. I walked right up to the drunks and hit one of them lightly upside the head. He whirled around, anger and challenge written all over his features. Until he saw that I was a woman, and his gaze softened. I smiled a wide smile.
"Excuse me, sir, but I do believe that this altercation is blocking the street, and I am running late for a rather important event. Would you be so kind as to move it, perhaps, onto the sidewalk? I would be ever so pleased," I said sweetly. He grinned in response, his eyes struggling to focus on my features through the alcohol. He nodded, and then the other man punched him abruptly in the temple. My breath left my chest in an irritated whoosh as I looked to the heavens, as if they held the answer for my terrible luck. For all I knew, they probably did. Then I fixed the offender with a glare that would have caused the seas to light with flame. He took a step back, his drunken senses tasting danger.
"Now, was that really necessary?" I asked calmly, but his look of unease told me he heard the threat behind each word. "Move his body. Now," I ordered. With the help of several others, they dragged the unconsious man off the street, and I returned to the carriage. I was about to climb back in when the Shadowhunter stopped me with a hiss.
"Miss Grace, your eyes!" he said. I blinked at him, confused, before it sunk in. I looked in the window, which reflected me back like a mirror, and saw that my glamour had slipped and my eyes no longer looked simply green. I hurriedly slipped into the safety of the carriage, where Jessamine was staring pointedly out the window. I breathed heavily. Ever since the altercation with Gabriel, it seemed as if my magic was spiraling more and more out of control. The fact that I hadn't been able to hold a simple glamour through an irritating situation scared me. The carriage lurched forward, and before long we had arrived at our destination.
After telling Jessamine to stay in the carriage, I quietly left it behind, quickly finding the group of Shadowhunters I was supposed to report to. Much to my displeasure, Benedict Lightwood was the head of the group. He looked at me with barely concealed disgust.
"Where were you?" he snapped. I let the authoritarian tone in his voice roll off my back.
"There was a hold up in the street, and I had a bit of trouble getting my companion into the coach," I answered calmly. His eyes bore into mine, looking for the lie that wasn't there. All he found was a challenge to go against me. A challenge that-if he chose to take-he would lose.
"Take the coach around to the back. We're just waiting for the signal before-" Suddenly, the windows of the manor exploded, and everyone saw flames roar into the night air. Everyone was shouting and running for the manor, while I swore under my breath. I was later than I'd thought. I ran for the coach, yelling at the driver to drive me around the back. It was the only place I could think would work. I flung myself inside, slamming the door just as we shot forward. Jessamine yelped out in surprise, flinging an arm out to keep herself seated.
"Happy now?" I found myself muttering under my breath in anger. "If he gets away, it'll be on you, Jessie." She gave me a wide-eyed look.
"If you dislike me so much, why do you insist on using my nickname?" she asked. I looked at her with shock. That's the only thing she found offense to in that statement?
"For the same reason Charlotte does. For the same reason Jem does. Because I care about you." And then I leapt from the carriage.
I guess it was a tad overdramatic, but I wasn't really in the mood for having a touchy-feely conversation with Jessamine. Not when I was in charge of making sure de Quincey didn't get away. The carriage kept going, and I could see Jessamine's surprised white face through the window, watching me until it turned the corner. I dusted myself off, moving to the shadows of the bushes. If de Quincey were going to try and escape, he would use this exit. It was the only one that made sense.
As if response to my thoughts, the door flung open, revealing a tall, pale man clutching at his arm, where blood was flowing fast. Alexei de Quincey. I grinned to myself, feeling the frustration that had been building within me for the past several days reach a peak. I stood up fast, making him snap his head towards me, fangs bared.
"Trying to run?" I asked in a falsely sweet voice. "I'm afraid that won't be happening tonight." He hissed, looking like a feral cat.
"And do you think it within your power to keep me from doing so?" he replied, standing upright. I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, let me think," I said, raising a hand and making a fist. He went rigid, his legs locked together and his arms trapped by his sides. I raised my other hand and any noise of protest he might have tried died in his throat. But I wouldn't be able to hold this for long. Already I could feel my energy beginning to drain. I focused on my anger towards Benedict Lightwood, for being a disgusting excuse for a Shadowhunter. I focused on my frustration about losing control of my magic. I focused on my irritation that Jessamine couldn't simply try. I focused on the heartache that had been growing the longer I was here. It fueled my magic, giving me a huge surge of strength, that held until I heard shouts coming around the corner.
"Katsa? Katsa, is that you?" I heard Jem calling just before his head of fair hair rounded into sight. Just then my resolve snapped, causing me to collapse to the ground, spots dancing across my vision. I saw de Quincey fall to the ground as well, surprised at his sudden freedom. But before he could attempt to run, a hord of Shadowhunters descended upon him, trapping him to the ground. Black started creeping from the corners of my vision, and I tried blinking it away. I realized it was becoming very hard for me to breath, the ground spinning fast. And just before the world went dark, all I saw was silver.
"Katsa! Miss Katsa!" someone called. It sounded like they were very far away. And like my head was underwater. My eyelids felt glued shut, and my head felt like it was encased in cement. I heard a groan, and was surprised when I realized it came from me. Something soft and wet landed gently on my forehead, bringing me closer to consciousness. Another groan forced its way out of my throat, though I still didn't make the command for it to do so.
"Sophie, why don't you leave her with me? You've been watching her all night," another voice said softly, still sounding rather far away. The first voice conceded and I heard the sound of someone exiting the room. Someone took my hand.
"Katsa, I know you probably can't hear me, but it's Jessie." If I had been more awake I would have jumped in surprise. As it was, all I could do was twitch my hand and groan quietly.
"Maybe you can hear me," she continued softly. "Anyways, I just wanted to tell you how much what you said in the carriage affected me. I guess I never truly understood how the way I treat everybody here actually hurts them. Except for Will, of course. I don't believe he really cares if I'm nice to him or not." If I could have, I would have laughed in agreement. Then I remembered something. Shouldn't Jessamine be busy fawning over Nathan? That's how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to believe herself madly in love with him. So why was she with me on my sickbed?
"Nathaniel is very handsome. But Charlotte told us he isn't to be trusted. She said that based off of the information you gave her, he could very well cause the Institute to become compromised. Those are her words, not mine. She's locked him in the attic and put Thomas in charge of watching him. It's a shame, such a handsome face being so blind. These past couple of days I've been doing what you asked. I've been considering this life. I still can't see anything that would draw me to it, but I can see that it's a good life for those who are meant for it. I might even think about marrying a Shadowhunter, as long as I'm not expected to do the fighting. But I won't let myself be Marked. I still have my principles. I simply have too fine of a complexion to allow those ugly black Marks to ruin it." I felt the corners of my mouth twitch, and my wrist jerked. Jessamine's hand squeezed mine.
"Are you waking up? Come on Katsa, I know you want to. You're not the kind of girl who advocates lying in bed for days on end," she said. Well, that wasn't technically true. In my old life lying in bed for days sounded like my idea of paradise. But no, not anymore. Not when people like William Herondale and Magnus Bane were apart of my everyday life. In one quick motion, I wrenched my eyes open, groaning when the sunlight filtering through the window burned my retinas. I hissed and my hands shot up to block my eyes, my head snapping to the side. I heard tinkling laughter, and peeked past my own limbs to see Jessamine holding a hand in front of her mouth, hiding her smile as she giggled at me. But the smile was shining from her brown eyes. Somehow, it made her prettier. I sat up, finding someone had undone my hair from its usual braid when the long brown locks spilled down my torso, and smiled back.
"How long was I out?" I asked. Jessamine dropped her hand.
"About twenty four hours. It's just past ten," I jumped up quickly.
"Ten? At night?" Jessamine nodded, looking concerned.
"Are Tessa and Jem still here? In the Institute?" She shook her and I swore loudly.
"Katsa!" she exclaimed, looking scandalized, but I was ignoring her, instead throwing open the doors of my wardrobe and hastily pulling out a pair of black trousers and a white button up shirt. Then I tugged put a pair of simple black riding boots and a large black overcoat. Though, I might not be needing it.
"Jessie, you have to help me. Warn Will to hide the Pyxis. Even with Nathaniel detained, the Institute is in danger if Jem is out there tonight," I said, throwing off the dressing gown someone must have put on me and yanking on the trousers. I slid the shirt on easily and buttoned it quickly, tucking it into the pants and tucking those onto the boots. I turned to see a frozen Jessamine staring at me with wide, worried eyes.
"Jessie, now!" I said forcefully, startling her into action. She jumped from the chair and hurried to the door, and I followed.
"Tell Will I went to Blackfriars Bridge, and if I don't return in twenty minutes with Jem and Tessa, to send help. Otherwise he must stay here, otherwise we'll all be in danger." I said forcefully. She nodded and I ran to the stairs. I had to get to that bridge. There was too much at stake. I ran out to the stables, seeing one of the horses- I didn't know which- already saddled and bridled. I hadn't ridden a horse in years, and never at a full run, but this was a Shadowhunter horse. They were smarter, faster, and smoother than mundane horses. He would be able to keep me on his back. I mounted and dug my heels in, and we were off.
It was far more exhilarating than I would have thought. I realized I hadn't taken the time to pin my hair up, and it flew behind me like a sail, snapping in the wind. I looked at the bridle in my hands and saw the name Balios stamped into the leather. So that's who I was riding. I smiled and snapped the reins, urging him faster. We practically flew across the pavement, Balios' hooves clacking loudly against the cobblestone. Up ahead I saw my destination, Jem and Tessa both staring off at something that was moving slowly towards them. My heart flew to my throat and I urges Balios faster.
"Jem! Tessa! Run!" I called, making their attention snap to me. I was still far away, but they heard and Jem's Shadowhunter instincts made him grab Tessa's hand sprint towards me. I charged at them, yanking the reins harshly when we met halfway between. I slid off the horse and handed the reins to Jem.
"Go. Take Tessa and get to the Institute as fast as you can. I'll be right behind you," I said, breathlessly. Jem shook his head.
"No, take Tessa. I will-" I cut him off.
"No, you have to go. You haven't taken enough to fight them off or outrun them, and it's you that they want. Take Balios and go!" I ordered, not waiting for his response before throwing the reins at his chest. He caught them automatically and mounted, grabbing Tessa's hand and pulling her up behind him.
"Katsa, you can't use too much magic. You nearly died last night," he called down to me as I turned to face the army of automatons. I looked back at him.
"I'll be fine, Jem, just get back to the Institute!" I yelled, staring him down until he finally spurred Balios in that direction. I turned back to the mass of metal making its way towards me, and closed my eyes, feeling a thrum of energy flow through my veins. I held my hand in front of me, palms out, and pictured a wall between me and them. I felt rather than saw the force field grow and expand. It was simple magic, something I had mastered from the very start. It barely took any of my magical energy and I knew it would hold for hours.
When I deemed my work satisfactory, I turned and ran as fast as I could. By the time I reached the Institute, my breath felt like a jackknife everytime I inhaled. I found Jem and Will both waiting for me. I collapsed onto the steps, feeling like I was close to passing out. I put my head between my knees, sucking air into my lungs greedily. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and looked up to see Will staring with concern.
"Katsa, why didn't you come get me?" he asked quietly, kneeling beside me.
"I needed you to hide the Pyxis," I gasped out between pants.
"I could have helped. You could have been hurt," he said.
"But I didn't. I'm fine. Everything's good," I said, putting my head back between my knees when the world started spinning. I heard Will chuckle, and then the world fell away. I looked around wildly, seeing that Will had picked me from the ground. I blushed and kicked my legs.
"Will, put me down! I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own!" I said sternly, fixing him with a glare. He just smiled wider and shook his head. I squirmed and kicked some more, but he only tightened his hold. I fought until he dumped me rather unceromoniously onto my bed.
"Now, you are to remain here and rest until you're completely healed. You shouldn't have used any magic tonight," he said, sitting on the bed beside me. I frowned at him.
"Says who?" I challenged.
"Says me," a voice called from the doorway. I turned, and my breathing stopped. There, leaning against the doorframe, was the ever magnificent Magnus Bane.
/
Author's Note: Sorry about the wait! This was a monster to write. Anyways, I hope everyone likes the interactions between Jessie and Katsa (you know who you are) and don't get mad for the slight attitude change. R&R, love you all!