"So…you did fancy him?" I looked at Will, sniffling, and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. I nodded. "Yes…I did. I know I shouldn't have since he's not a Shadowhunter nor a mundane but…I couldn't help it." I looked at him. "You know what I mean?" He shook his head no, but we both knew it was a lie.
I'd seen how he looked at Tessa; it was like she was the most precious thing in the world…though I am fairly certain I'm the only one who had noticed by then. Of course Jem knew that Will thought Tessa to be beautiful, but Jem was too blind of Will's love for Tessa due to his own love for the girl. I sighed.
"If you fancy him, why did you agree to Gabriel's request to court you? You could have rejected him like the sick vermin he is." He muttered. I stared at Will, dumbfounded. "I did not agree to court him! It is simply a night out in Hyde Park! The higher ups of society are all going tonight for a lovely ball and Gabriel asked me to go with him." I snapped.
Will laughed at me and then sighed. "Well, it's nearly eight, that's when you two are meeting down in the gates, right?" He asked quietly. I walked into him and nuzzled my head into his shoulder, grabbing the front of his shirt. His muscles tensed but I ignored it. "Will…I don't want to go. I'm too emotional right now." I said into his chest. He sighed and patted my curls.
"Don't be silly, Anna. Go out and have fun, it'll take your mind off things." He said. I pulled away and looked up at him. Furrowing my eyebrows, I gave him my signature pout. "I hate it when you're right, you know that?" I complained. He rolled his eyes, giving me his signature smile. I laughed at him.
I looked over Will's shoulder and stopped abruptly. Larten…or rather Mr. Crepsley was standing at the entrance of the hall that led to the sanctuary with Darren, his arms crossed over his chest, at his side. I bit my lip. Will turned and locked eyes with Mr. Crepsley. He awkwardly cleared his throat and looked at Darren. Darren gave him a stiff nod and jerked his head to the right, signaling Will to follow. Will looked at me. I gave him a tacit nod and he left, purposefully giving Mr. Crepsley a slight shove with his shoulder.
Then, we were alone.
"Annabeth I…I am truly sorry." He said quietly. I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned. "Really? So am I." I said, overwhelmed by my damaged pride. He stared back at me confused and took a few steps closer. "For what, might I ask?" he questioned. I felt my eyes stinging again. "For…for having feelings for you." I said quietly, my face heating up as I made my confession. His whole body tensed up. "What..?" he whispered, shock and disbelief evident in his voice.
I looked down so he couldn't see the tears spilling over my eyes. "If I didn't have feelings for you, I wouldn't have gotten hurt, and we…we could have…we could have kissed because it wouldn't have meant anything to either of us." I rushed out, my voice cracking.
Suddenly he was standing before me, mere centimeters between our bodies. He took my face in his hands and pulled it up so he could look in my eyes. I stared into his emerald ones. He carefully wiped my tears away with his thumb and stared at me for a long time before he spoke.
"You think that kiss would have meant nothing to me?" he asked quietly. I looked down. "Obviously, or else I would not be crying right now." I said angrily. He slightly tightened his grasp on my face. "Annabeth….Annabeth, look at me." He begged. I hesitantly raised my eyes to his now happy ones once more. He had a smile dancing on his lips. "I do care for you, Annabeth. But…" Sadness seeped into his eyes and he let go of my face. "But you are a shadowhunter and I am a vampire…and there is so much you do not know about me, and I wish to not bring you into situations that will put you in danger." He said softly. I chuckled at this.
"Oh, Larten, you said it yourself. I am a shadowhunter, danger is my middle name." I winked at him. He sighed in response. "Annabeth, I am serious. There are other forces in the world besides Angels, Demons, Nephilim, and Downworlders. I know of these forces, or this force I should say. It is not something to be messed with and I do not want you getting mixed up in it." He said sternly, taking a step away from me. I ground my teeth together and took a step forward. "Well, maybe I want to get mixed up in it." I said defiantly.
"Get mixed up in what?" a familiar, smooth and haughty voice asked. Larten and I involuntarily took a step away from each other and looked at the source of the voice. There, at the main foyer that branched off into the sanctuary and the upper floors of the Institute, stood an annoyed Gabriel Lightwood. "Nothing you should be concerned with." Larten said cooly.
Larten POV
Gabriel's brow twitched in annoyance he took a deep breath and walked towards Annabeth, a charming smile dancing on his face. He laced his arm around hers and pulled her close to him. He looked down at her shocked face. "Well, you are looking quite stunning my dear." He said kindly. She flushed slightly and looked away guiltily. Gabriel smirked and looked at me, a triumphant look on his face. I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. It seemed that I could very possibly have competition for this girl.
"I trust that you had concluded your business with Miss Annabeth? The two of us must get going." He said, still smirking. I looked at Annabeth. She was looking at me worriedly. I looked back to Gabriel. "Annabeth, there is a chill outside. You should go get your coat." I told her. She hesitated and nodded, pulling her arm from Gabriel and going off into the Institute to retrieve her coat.
Gabriel stared at me, annoyed. "It isn't very polite or proper to speak to her in that manner." He said. I raised a brow. "In what manner?" I asked him. I found pleasure in the aggravated look on his face. "In a familiar manner, as though you know her, especially since you're a Downworlder." He sneered. I smirked at him and scratched the scar on my face.
"Ah, but you see my dear boy," I began, emphasizing the word boy, "I do know her. Furthermore, who are you to decide if you are closer to her than I? Do not give me that look; I know that that is what you are implying." I said.
He frowned at me. "Are you saying that you know her better? It doesn't matter, really." Gabriel said with a shrug. I ground my teeth together. "Why does it not matter?" I pressed. He smirked and examined the rings on his fingers. "Oh, it's nothing dramatic or anything. It just doesn't matter whether Annabeth and I know each other. All that matters in the end is the continuation of the Shadowhunters." He said simply. I stared at him, dumbfounded. He continued. "You see, shadowhunters stick with shadowhunters. Annabeth is a beautiful girl, and I am a handsome young man, it's quite inevitable." He said, smirking at the shocked and raw anger that must have been apparent on my face.
I walked right up to him until we were standing toe to toe. He was slightly shorter than I, but we still were at eye level. My hands were shaking in rage as I glared at him, too angry to even speak. How could he speak of Annabeth as if she were…as if she were a piece of property!
"She is much more than that, and she deserves better than the likes of you and I will make sure that she gets that." I snarled. He snorted. "And just who might you have in mind? Carstairs? Herondale? Because I can guarantee that they are no better." He spat.
I heard Annabeth's light tread and backed off. "If you do not show her a good time or treat her right, you will regret it." I said menacingly. He narrowed his eyes as Annabeth stepped into the room wearing a black overcoat. She looked between the two of us and looked at me. "Larten…" she trailed off. I smiled tightly.
"Enjoy your evening, Annabeth. I look forward to hearing about your evening." I said, throwing a glare to Lightwood. He ground his teeth together. I walked towards Annabeth and smiled taking her hand. "Have a good evening." I whispered, pressing my lips to her hand. She flushed and nodded.
I was still smirking when the carriage left. The look on that Gabriel's face when I kissed her hand was priceless.