A/N: And we're back! A lot quicker than waiting six months! We apologize again for that inconvenience. Anyways, we'd like to give a shoutout to squirrelLOVA for being such a faithful reviewer! We appreciate your reviews every single time and they brighten up our day :D Now here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: No, no we're not the amazing Cassandra Clare. But we do wish we were her!

Chapter 4 - Hidden in the Shadows

Tessa looked at the mirror in her room with disdain. Worry was etched in lines on her face, and her brow was furrowed. She tried to relax, but she could not pretend that Juliet's words had not bothered her.

They're coming for you. For all of you.

Tessa remembered the chill she felt when Juliet's sharp, emerald gave met Tessa's own. There was a flash of something in Juliet's eyes when she looked at Tessa, but Tessa could not understand what it was.

And especially for you.

Mortmain had been quiet for months. Surely things would work themselves out. As it was, Tessa had no time to worry about her unfounded suspicions and worries. She had to meet with Jem soon to plan the wedding.

Tessa sunk down into her bed with pure exhaustion. She tried closing her eyes and focusing her thoughts elsewhere, but her mind was a jumbled mess. Just thinking about the wedding made Tessa feel faint.

She loved Jem, truly she did, but things were... messy.

Tessa let out a great sigh, finding that sleep was not coming so easily to her. Needing an escape from her own world, Tessa tiredly got out of bed and headed to the library, the one place she could seek refuge from her chaotic, messed up world.

Tessa quietly shut the door to her room, before looking across the hall towards Jem's quarters. His door was slightly ajar, and she could hear the faint yet haunting sound of his violin streaming across the gap between them. Tessa wished that she could just stand there and enjoy the music, but decided that it best she should go to the library. She made her way through the dimly-lit corridor before stopping at Juliet's door. Juliet was at the other end of the hall, in a room that was much like her own. Tessa was not sure if she could trust the girl just yet, but she knew she could not judge people right away. Tessa had to give her time before she could decide for herself, and since Will did seem to know Juliet, Tessa figured she may as well give her a chance.

Shaking her head of her thoughts, Tessa made her way to the library. As she set foot inside, she felt a familiar feeling of comfort sinking in. Towering bookcases enclosed her on each side of her, but she was far from feeling claustrophobic, and more towards feeling at home. Tessa skimmed the various authors that encompassed her: Austen, Bronte, Blake, Chaucer, and of course the familiar Dickens.

Tessa leaned forward to pick up Sense and Sensibility, when she heard a rustle behind her. Startled, Tessa turned around to see where the noise was coming from, but the library was completely deserted. Of course, who would be there at nearly three in the morning, Tessa wondered to herself.

CRASH

With a thud, her book hit the ground and Tessa whirled around to find herself face to face with Will.

"Will," Tessa managed to breath out. Will narrowed his eyes at her, eyeing her suspiciously. In an attempt to get her eyes off him, Tessa looked behind him, where there was a pile of books scattered about the floor. "Let me help you with that," she said, while brushing past him to put the books back where they belonged on the shelf.

"You needn't have to do that," Will said bluntly, crouching down and helping her shelve the books. Tessa ignored him and continued to put away the books, sneaking a glimpse at the titles: Shadowhunter Burials, Nephilim in Rome, The Encyclopedia of Downworlders, Fifty Shades of Shadowhunters. These titles piqued Tessa's curiosity, and without thinking, she decided to ask Will about the books he happened to be looking at:

"Why all these books?"

"Come again?" Will asked back, a puzzled look crossing his face.

Tessa cleared her throat, before speaking again, "I mean, why all these sort of books? I thought you would be browsing the Dickens section."

"Just because I read fiction does not mean I have to devote myself entirely to that genre, Tessa," Will stated, sounding exasperated. They had finished putting all the books away; Tessa saw this as an opportunity to leave. As she began to walk away, Will cleared his throat.

"Are you forgetting something Tess?" Tessa whirled around and saw that Will was holding out Sense and Sensibility to her. Tessa silently took it in her hands, but for some reason, found her feet glued to the floor, resisting to leave this moment with Will. It was the first time since that day in the drawing room that they had found each other alone together.

"Will," Tessa took a deep breathe. The first thing she looked at were his eyes. They were stony and unwelcoming, and ever blue. Tessa wished more than anything for him to look at her the way he used to - with gentle admiration and interest.

Not with, well, hatred and loathing.

"If you want to say something, just say it already," Will said harshly.

Tessa felt as if her heart was being pierced again, but ignored that feeling and took another deep breath.

"Can we speak about what has happened?" she asked quietly, her voice nearly a whisper.

Will's face remained marred with anger, but his shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension slowly wearing off. "Clearly Mortmain is plotting again, but we'll just have to deal with matters as they arise." Will frowned slightly, some unspoken worry on his mind.

"That wasn't what I was speaking of," Tessa said. She was surprised at how shaky her voice sounded. Tessa felt like an invisible weight was pressing on her chest. "I was speaking of... of us." Will tensed up again, his eyes not filled with anger, but with sadness and self-loathing.

Will said nothing and Tessa knew not how to respond to his silence.

After a few moments, Will cleared his voice. "There is nothing to discuss, Tessa," he said hoarsely.

"Yes there is!" Tessa exclaimed. At the sharp tone of her voice, Will raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes in surprise. "For months now you have been ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder. I know this is related to Jem and me, but I just cannot take it any more. I thought we could go back to being friends at the most and discuss novels just like we had in the old times. I feel so out of sorts sometimes and I just feel so... alone. One of my greatest friends looks at me with such hostility. I grow tired of having to always face his-"

"You don't understand Tessa," Will interrupted, his words growing stronger as time passed. "I cared for you. I care for Jem. You two are to be married. We can't go back to being what we were; I cannot have those feelings for you, any kind of feelings. Jem more than anyone deserves to be happy, and he's found that happiness with you. I've accepted that." Will paused. "I'm sorry you feel alone and abandoned, but think of what you're asking me." Though Will's voice was hard, there was almost a pleading note in it as well.

Tessa was beginning to feel tears prick the corners of her eyes. Why was everything so difficult?

"We cannot even be friends now?" Tessa managed to ask, tears brimming her eyes. I musn't cry, she chided to herself. Aunt Harriet will think I am such a mess if I start weeping in front of a man who is not my betrothed.
Will said his next words with absolute certainty. "No, Tessa. We can be... 's it. Nothing more. You need to understand that."

Will took note of her tears and all of her sorrow. He did not understand what was going on with Tessa. She had clearly made her decision to be with Jem. To not be with him, William Herondale. He did not understand what was so complicated. She had made her choice. He should've hated her. Will thought there was a part of him that actually did.

And still he felt the need to console her, to make everything better.

Will slowly reached out his hand to cup her cheek. "Tess," he said softly, his voice filled with a mix of adoration and concern.

Tessa looked up at him, her storm gray eyes meeting his sapphire blue ones. "Yes?"

Will suddenly heard a voice call out. "Tessa?"

Instantly his hand dropped, and he took two steps back in revulsion. What the hell was he doing? Tessa was to be married and not to him- to his parabatai. Will Herondale was a lot of things, but he was not dishonorable. He grew angry at the thought. He wouldn't do something like that to Jem.

Tessa couldn't help but let a few tears run down her cheeks at Will recoiling back from her like she was a leper. Will seemed so... right. It was as if his hand belonged there.

Will held her gaze a moment before turning around and storming out.

This made Tessa want to full out sob, but Jem was nearby somewhere. She had to compose herself. Tessa began to wipe her tears away and make herself appear as if nothing had shook her up.

Jem peaked his head from around the doorway. "There you are," he smiled at her, his face full of love and devotion as he made his way towards her. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before speaking again, "I saw Will storming out of here in a frenzy. Is everything alright?"

Tessa tried to laugh, in an attempt to ease the conversation, but it sounded like more of a wheeze. "Oh you know Will and his books."

Jem smiled warmly at her again. "Indeed I do. Shall we sit down?" he asked. "Try and narrow down our guest list perhaps?"

Tessa forced herself to return his grin. "Of course, Jem, that sounds lovely."

But Tessa was lying. It didn't sound lovely. All she wanted to do was lay in her bed and fall into a dreamless sleep for the next fortnight. No dreams about the wedding or Jem, and especially none of Will. She wished she could forget everything that had happened in the last six months; she only wanted to be back in her tiny apartment in New York with Aunt Harriet and Nate. But that would never happen.

A/N: So a little Will and Tessa tension in this chapter, but there's still more to come. We promise that the next chapter will be a little more climactic. Anyways, don't forget to review! We love feedback!