A/N: And we're back! With the first chapter, since the one before was more of a prologue. Thank you all for the encouraging reviews! Not much to say now, but read!

Disclaimer: We own nothing :D It all belongs to the amazing Cassandra Clare.

Chapter 1 - A Sea of Shadows

Charlotte looked down at her hands in shock. She was holding a neatly folded piece of cream-colored paper. She had read over the note inscribed on it twice now, and gave it to Henry, who had just read it and handed it back to her. Everyone was gathered around the dining room table: Jem, Tessa, Gideon, and Cecily. Even Sophie and Cyril, who were busy serving food and coming in and out of the kitchen, seemed intent to see what was going on, and stopped in their tracks. Bridget's depressing ballads could be faintly heard from the kitchen.

Everyone was looking at Charlotte intensely as she held the paper up in her shaking hands. None of them had seen or heard from Will; he hadn't showed up for dinner the night before, nor had he met them in the morning for breakfast.

They all were seated and had begun to dig into their breakfast food, but all eyes were on Charlotte. Tessa herself wasn't feeling very hungry. She felt her stomach flip in response to Will's absence, but brushed away the thought as she constantly repeated to herself I love Jem. I am marrying Jem.

Charlotte cleared her throat, breaking Tessa's thoughts. Everyone looked up at Charlotte, as she began reading the note aloud:

I'm sure you all are wondering if I am passed out in some ungodly establishment, such as a ditch or brothel, but not to worry; I am only off to Paris for a few days. A friend of mine has invited me to see the sights and sounds, and perhaps visit the Paris Institute. I am in her capable hands. Never you fear!
Will

"Her?" exclaimed Tessa. The wave of jealousy that crashed over her surprised Tessa. Who could Will possibly know in Paris? Of course, why would she care? He rarely opened up on his past, except for that afternoon in the drawing room, which she was trying hard to forget. Tessa trained her thoughts back to the present: how young was this "friend"? Was she a Shadowhunter? She is probably a better fighter than I am, Tessa thought. Will would like that. She shook her head, clearing her mind of such notions. Why should she care? There was only one man that mattered to her now: Jem.

She quickly cast a sidelong glance at Jem to see if he had noticed her outburst. Jem just wore an amused look on his face.

"I wonder what Will could possibly want to see in Paris?" Tessa said quickly, partly as an attempt to cover up her jealousy, but also out of sheer curiosity. Tessa would have expected some snide comment from Jessamine, but the girl still remained in the Silent City. No one had any idea when she would be released, but the members of the Institute could care less. Tessa silently hoped it would be a while before she would see the girl again.

"I honestly don't know," Tessa looked up to see that Cecily Herondale had spoken, a hint of disappointment underlying her voice. Cecily had only been at the Institute for two days now since the night of her untimely arrival. Tessa met Cecily's eyes and couldn't help but feel herself pulled into those blue orbs of hers that resembled so much of Will. In short, Cecily was a female version of her brother, with her jet black hair, dark blue eyes, elegant curve of her neck, high cheekbones, and full lips. Tessa hoped the memory of Will would fade away, but Cecily's unexpected arrival did not help.

"Well," said Henry absentmindedly, as he grabbed his knife and started spooning through his porridge, "I am sure Will is fine." Seeing the worried look on his wife's face, Henry tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, Charlotte, he sent us a note. And we can always dispatch a message to the Paris Institute if something should happen."

"I know," said Charlotte, "and Henry dear, that's a knife, not a spoon." Realizing his error, Henry blushed and set the knife down and picked up the spoon.

"Besides," added Jem with a wry smile towards Henry, "This note sounds exactly like Will. Whatever he wants to do, he intends to be left alone. I know him better than anyone else, and if he seeks solitude, so be it."

Tessa couldn't bring herself to stop worrying about Will though. The note did sound exactly like him and Will did like to be left alone, but Tessa couldn't shake the feeling that something more was going on. Who was her? What could he possibly be doing with a Parisian girl? Moreover, Will was hardly one to go to Paris to see "the sights and sounds" or to visit an Institute. This has nothing to do with you Tessa chided to herself. She needed to stop worrying. She was with Jem now, and Will was now a memory of the past that she needed to start forgetting about. Tessa then abruptly dismissed herself from breakfast and headed to her room.

She eventually found her way to her room. After being in the Institute for nearly six weeks now, she had pretty much familiarized herself with the large structure and it no longer felt like an enigmatic labyrinth. She thought of her tiny apartment in New York, where there was barely enough space for her, Aunt Harriet, and Nate.

Nate. His name rang in her mind as she remembered her last moment with him. Not the betrayal, his marriage to Jessamine, or his allegiance with the Magister, but when she had held his dying body him in her arms. Just like how she had done on the ride back from de Quincey's party. But this time, she knew she would never see Nate again.

Tessa reached for the door knob, shaking the thought of Nate out of her head. After opening it, she swung the door shut behind her. She sat on her bed as her hand absentmindedly started playing with her clockwork angel around her neck. She then felt for the jade pendant that Jem had given her when he proposed. She had started to get acquainted with the burden of two necklaces around her neck.

She scanned the room and instantly her eyes settled on a book at her bedside table. Tessa picked it up and looked at the bolded gold lettering across the green cover: Vathek by William Beckford. Without even thinking, she flipped it open to the title page and read Will's poem to her. Frustrated, Tessa threw the book across the room, trying to scratch the memory of Will out of her mind.

A small knock at the door cleared Tessa's anger towards Will. "Come in," she said quietly. The door opened to reveal Jem, who wore a bright smile across his lips. Tessa couldn't help but return his smile; it was very infectious. Casually, he leaned against the doorway.

"How are you feeling, qin ai de?" he asked, his smile still lighting his pale face. Then quickly he added, "that means my darling."

Tessa laughed happily, delighted to hear the flow of breathy vowels coming from his mouth and touched by his concern for her. "I'm fine, Jem. How are you?" she asked in a more worried tone. Jem had been growing stronger as of late, but Tessa was not a fool; she knew what Jem's illness would eventually do to him.

He grinned. "Alright. But," he added with certainty, "something is bothering you. And if that's the case, I won't feel better until I know what is wrong."

Tessa bit her lip nervously, but she had gotten used to Jem's ability to read her. "Well..." she begun, "It's Will," she said, without thinking twice.

Tessa saw a look of confusion flicker across Jem's face.

"I know you think he's fine," she continued, "but since when has Will left notes concerning his whereabouts? This is certainly not like the Will we know." But more like the new Will, she thought to herself. She knew something had definitely changed in Will since he had declared his love for her and told her about the terrible curse inflicted on him, which no longer existed. But that was a Will that she would never get to know now, and she remembered silently agreeing not to tell anyone about his curse, especially Jem; Will would tell them at his own time.

Jem thought carefully for a moment before responding. "Will has been acting differently these past few days." He glanced at Tessa, a look of unbridled affection in his eyes. In a softer tone he added, "If Will isn't back in a week maybe we can convince Charlotte to let us go search for him."
Tessa was relieved by his suggestion, but her mind quickly flew to the thought of her and Jem travelling together. The fact that she would soon be married to him seemed so surreal. Unconsciously, she stepped towards him and wrapped her arms around his lithe frame, seeking comfort from his warmth. Jem returned the embrace, but not without lifting one of his hands and cupping her face with it. Slowly and gently, he tilted her face up to his and brought his mouth down on hers. Tessa returned his kiss gently. His mouth tasted tantalizingly sweet from the drug. He moved ever so slowly with her, as if drinking in every part of her and committing her to his memory. And for once, Tessa did not think of Will.

Sophie quietly closed the door of the drawing room. She had just been in there with Mrs. Branwell. The elder Shadowhunter had called Sophie over to deliver afternoon tea, as Mrs. Branwell seemed to be occupied with affairs with the Enclave. Sophie knew it best to not ask, nor was it proper for a servant to do so.

Sophie turned around suddenly and bumped right into someone. She looked up and met the softened, sea green gaze of Gideon Lightwood.

"Oh!" Sophie let out a surprised gasp.

Gideon smiled at her. "I beg your pardon, Miss Collins."

Sophie took the opportunity to observe Gideon. Her eyes roamed over the planes of his jaw, his broad shoulders, and his exuberant grin. She could see him doing the same to her, scanning her body as no man had done before.

Blushing deeply, she murmured a good afternoon to him and scuttled off down the corridor, leaving a confused and startled Gideon alone at the drawing room entrance.

A/N: We're sorry if this was a little slow, but we promise, we're just building things up for later. More to come shortly! Please review!