Wow, sorry it's taken so long to update; I've had a lot going on at school…typical fan fiction writer excuse ;) Well, without further ado!
When Judas turned the corner onto another street, I sprung into action. Gathering up my skirts, I ran up the stairs of the Institute and slammed into the doors, shoving it open before I ran through the sanctuary and up the stairs. I headed straight to the library once I reached the top of the staircase, nearly running Sophie over in the process.
When I arrived at the library, surrounded by thousands of books, it occurred to me that I had no idea where to start looking for I didn't use the library often. Had I ever needed to know something, I'd ask Magnus and he'd tell me, but something in the pit of my stomach told me it would be unwise to tell Magnus of the encounter I had with Judas. Not yet at least.
Out of frustration, I slammed a fist on the study table in front of me and swore under my breath. I heard laughing from behind me and whirled around to find Will standing in the doorway, staring at me with a look of amusement on his breath taking face. "Tsk Tsk, Annabeth. That's not very proper, speaking like that." He chastised. I raised a brow at him as though to say "Does it look like I really care?"
He took a bite of the apple he was holding and walked into the Library, hopping on top of the study table I was standing next to. "So where's Gabriel?" he asked politely. I groaned and sat next to him on the table, pulling my knees up to my chest, careful to keep my dress covering me. "I left him at the party. He was speaking ill of you, Larten, and Magnus." I huffed. Will raised a brow. "How did Magnus and Larten come up? Though I must say, it gives me much delight hearing that I am such a pain in his royal ass that he just can't help but talk about me so much. I think I shall write about this in my diary." He said thoughtfully.
I laughed at this and gave him a playful push in the shoulder. "Well, I'm glad to hear that, Will. But the rumors, they're true. The Lightwoods party with Downworlders." I told him. William burst into a fit of laughter. "Stupid fools! Just watch, they're going to catch Demon Pox! The whole lot of them!" He sniggered. I rolled my eyes. "Yes Will, and then Consul Wayland shall give you a grand reward for being right this whole time!" I said. We both grinned at this and started laughing.
"What's so funny? What did I miss?" a warm, familiar voice asked. Will and I looked up, smiles on our faces and cheeks flushed, to find Jem dressed in Gear. "Demon Pox." We both said matter-of-factly. Jem rolled his eyes, smiling. "So, how was your evening, Anna?" he asked kindly, unlike Will who had asked it mockingly. I frowned. "It was…interesting. Why are you in Gear?" I asked, trying to push the subject towards something else. Unlike Will, when Jem saw that I was hiding something, he'd ask about it and I couldn't bear lying to Jem about Judas, anyone but Jem.
"Obviously, he was demon hunting." Will said. I glared at him. "Well, I can see that! I'm not blind you bloody idiot." I hissed. He smirked at that. I turned back to Jem, ignoring Will's sense of accomplishment at annoying me. "Wasn't late night demon hunting canceled? I though Charlotte wanted us to stay at the Institute so we cans search for clues as to who, or where, the Magister is." I said, throwing another glare at Will.
Jem scratched the back of his head. "Well, We've received an anonymous tip regarding a powerful Demon and Charlotte asked that Will and I check it out." He said in that soft manner of his. Will grinned at this. "Finally, I've been dying to stab something." He said gleefully, jumping off the table. I raised a brow at this. "William, you just stabbed Gabriel in the foot this morning during training." I pointed out. He shrugged. "Ah, yes. But I can't kill Gabriel, now can I? I mean, however will I live without that bastard?" He said dramatically, as though he were quoting Shakespeare.
I rolled my eyes and slid off the table, walking towards the contrasting Parabatai. "Mind if I tag along? I need to blow off steam." I said with a sigh. Jem shrugged. "I don't see why not. The more the merrier, right?" He said with a smile. I grinned in response and nodded. Will scoffed. I stared at him and gave him an extremely obscene gesture at him. Jem's eyes widened as Will laughed loudly. "Annabeth!" A feminine voice shouted from the doorway. I turned to see Tessa staring at me in shock. I stared at her. "Tessa." I replied. "That's…that isn't proper!" she squeaked. Will and I laughed at this.
I walked towards the door and took her by the elbow, pulling her along behind me. "Oh, Tessa. Will you ever learn?" I teased. She giggled at this and followed me. "We'll be waiting downstairs!" Jem called after us. I waved my hand at him, letting him know that I had been listening. "So, what did you need Tessa?" I asked her. She bit her lip, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Well, I-I had wanted to speak with Will, but it seems that you three are going out." She said hastily. I stared at her as we reached my room. I shook my head, pushing the door open.
She followed me in and shut the door behind her. "What? Why are you shaking your head?" she demanded. I stripped from my dress in front of her and walked to my dresser, pulling out my Gear. "Well, Sophie and I have been talking…" I trailed off. She seemed put out by that. "I know, I know! I shouldn't like Will! There's something wrong with him. He's a pretty boy who will just break my heart. He—"
"Is my best friend." I said, cutting her off short. She stared at me, slightly surprised. I smiled softly as I pulled on my shirt. "Yes, shocking, I know. Not many people know this but my mother, Adriana Wayland, had been close to Will's father when they were Shadowhunters." I said. she stared at me. "Really? But, I thought that once a Shadowhunter left, they couldn't speak with anyone." She said quietly. I nodded.
"That's true. After I was born, my mother left the Clave and we went to Wales, since she had already known that that was where the Herondales were. So, Will and I grew up together." I explained. By now, I had my shirt on and tucked into my pants, my stele tucked into my belt. I walked over to the chest at the end of my bed and took my boots off of it and plopped down on the floor, pulling them on.
"So…you two are very close then?" She asked, and sat down next to me, her chin resting on her knees. I looked up into her curious eyes and smiled slightly. "Yes, we are. Though he probably would not admit it." I chuckled. Tessa smiled softly at this. "But I came to the Clave far before Will did." I said quietly, my throat constricting. Tessa noticed my odd reaction and tilted her head to the side.
"What happened?" She asked softly. I stared at her before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Before I could say anything, there was a knock at my door. "By the Angel, Annabeth. How long does it take for you to change?" Will's annoyed voice came from the other side of the door, saving me from explaining. I opened my eyes and looked at Tessa. "Sorry, Tessa. I guess it's a story for another time." I said. she nodded slowly, no doubt with the knowledge that I wasn't going to tell her. I stood and gave her my hand, pulling her up as Will threw the door open, seemingly annoyed.
Tessa flushed and looked down, shoving a strand of hair behind her ear. I grinned and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. She looked up at me, confused, as I leaned in towards her. "Don't worry, Tessa. As much as Sophie may think it is, it isn't a lost cause." I whispered in her ear. She flushed darker and smiled at me, squeezing my hand, before she walked out, pausing in the doorway once to look up at Will.
I watched as Will stared after her, a wistful look on his face. I jumped onto his back and giggled. "By the Angel, William, why don't you just tell her how you feel?" I giggled. He grunted at this and carried me down to the entryway of the Institute where Jem was waiting with my weapons. Will dropped me and walked over to Jem, mumbling under his breath. I rolled my eyes and graciously took my weapons from Jem. "Don't worry about Will, he's just being his moody self." I told Jem, who was eyeing his Parabatai warily. He shrugged in response.
"Are we ready?" Will asked us. Jem and I nodded in response. That's when we heard a thud against the door. Cautiously, I pulled it open to find Darren lying flat on his back on the front steps wheezing, sweaty, bruised, and covered with dirt and small amounts of blood from scrapes. I crouched down and pushed his brown hair out of his eyes.
"Darren, are you okay?" I asked him uneasily. He nodded wordlessly, still trying to catch his breath. I heard laughing and looked up to see Larten, glistening in a light sheet of sweat, wearing a white shirt that was rolled up to his elbows, the top three buttons undone, showing off his collar bone and the top of his sculpted chest, and black pants that were rolled up to his knees. Also, for reasons I could not fathom considering that it was winter, the man was barefoot.
Larten shoved his drenched orange locks out of his emerald eyes that seemed to be on fire. "Darren is fine, he is just training." He said. I heard snickers from Jem and Will as my face and chest grew warmer and warmer. Larten looked concerned and took a few steps towards me, and then pressed his hand against my forehead. "Annabeth, are you well? Your face is rather hot." He said worriedly. Jem smiled and tried not to laugh, unlike Will who was roaring with laughter along with Darren. My face grew even warmer.
Will straightened up and walked towards Larten, still laughing to himself. He patted Larten on the back. "Oh she's quite well my dear man. I think the sight of you all hot and sweaty has merely—" I tackled Will to the ground and covered his mouth with my hand. "I swear to God, Will, if you don't shut up I shall Mark you with a Rune of Silence!" I hissed, causing him to shake with laughter. "Hey, don't we have a Demon to kill? Let's get going." Jem said, trying to help me out of an awkward situation. Larten stared at me. "You are hunting a Demon?" he asked curiously. I nodded. He smiled a little. "Ah, I guess that would explain the pants." He mused, staring at the lower half of my body. I flushed a beet red.
"Well, let's go, shall we?" Jem said, walking through the gate. I nodded and rolled off of Will, who had a devilish smirk plastered to his face. I glared at him. Hearing Larten clear his throat behind me, I turned my attention to him as Will followed Jem out the gates. Larten stared at me for a few moments and then pulled me into an embrace. I froze, shocked with surprise,before melting into him and wrapping my arms around his waist. He kissed the top of my head, "Be safe, Annabeth." He whispered into my ear, sending delicious shivers down my spine before letting me go and walking through the Institute doors, letting them close behind him.
I blushed fiercely and met up with Will and Jem. "Ready." I said, smiling. They rolled their eyes at me and we left to find the Demon. But, with every step I took, the more uneasy I started to feel, like something was weighing down my stomach. As though second nature, my had flew to my neck where I was still wearing the necklace that Judas had giving me for protection. Am I in danger? Is a Demon coming to kill me? Or could it be that the feeling I'm getting is just because I'm facing a Demon while wearing this marking of protection? I thought.
"Annabeth? Are you even listening?" Will asked, extremely annoyed. I shook my head slowly. "Um, no, not really." I admitted. Jem looked at me curiously. "Annabeth, are you okay?" he asked me. I nodded. "Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind. I'm fine, I promise." I smiled. He hesitated before smiling and nodding, returning to whatever detailed plan Will was trying to conjure up.