DISCLAIMER ~ I don't own anything Infernal Devices or Mortal Instruments-wise. That is all down to the incredibleness of Cassandra Clare – who is, it has to be said, a pretty damn good writer xD
NOTES ~ Thank you again to my reviewers (: I do love to create awkwardness ... poor characters ;) No problem oOo KitKat oOo, i'm seventeen so i've have a bit more teaching and all, and i think you're writing's real good (:
Just a general note...I'm listening to Eminem ... because i love his music, but it doesn't really suit what i'm writing, so i'm sorry if the chapter is a bit blah or sounds distracted...oh and i originally had no idea what i was gonna do with this story, but i had a brainwave, and so it may be a little random for this chapter and such...but hey, randomness is good right? ;) R&R please ... because i love hearing what you guys think (:
Right, enough yabba - On with the chapter...
CHAPTER THREE ~
Jace's eyes flickered back and forth between the three faces of the Victorians before him, gaze drawn particularly to the one named Will in what he could only describe as surprise. This William was a Herondale? That meant he was his ancestor right? His great great or however many greats where needed ... grandfather? It seemed impossible, especially due to the fact that Jace's great gr- ... ancestor ... appeared to have the dark hair and blue eyes of Alec. How did that work? Coincidence?
What about the other two? James Carstairs – the name sounded vaguely familiar but Jace didn't know anyone by that surname, nor it appeared did Izzy, Alec or Clary. And this Theresa Grey. She wasn't even a Shadowhunter...nor mundane it seemed. But none of the other's knew her either, even if she had come from America by the identification of her accent. Trying to get over the fact that he was standing in front of his ancestor, Alec spoke before he could.
"Who's Gabriel?" Both him and Isabelle looked half intrigued, half timid. It seemed daunting to meet an ancestor, just as Jace was discovering. He was watched Will warily, as Will was doing right back, and when Clary looked at them, it was hard to hold back a laugh. They both looked as if they were seeing their reflection for the first time.
"And we already told you who we are, have you a hearing problem?" Jace finally spoke up, eyes still wide, but his attitude making a full recovery. Will narrowed his ice blue eyes and raised an eyebrow.
"No, my ears are working perfectly fine, but it just so happens that there is an irritating noise disturbing them...which appears to stop every time you manage to shut your mouth." There were a few seconds of silence while the two Herondales watched each other, before Jem gave a hearty laugh, grinning between Will and Jace, before sharing a look at Tessa.
"Oh my, there are two of them! However shall we manage them both?" The silver-eyed Jem raised his eyebrows, and Tessa shook her head with a small smile. Clary watched the events, beginning to feel overwhelmed.
"I think we, uh, owe you an explanation." Clary indicated to her, Izzy, Alec and Jace, biting her lip. She went to take Jace's hand, and he finally stopped glowering at Will to look down at her, an odd look in the depths of his eyes.
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Isabelle asked, looking more hesitant than Clary had ever seen her. Tessa, Will and Jem glanced between themselves, before Will crossed his arms across his chest and smirked lightly.
"At the Institute. Follow us... if you dare." Will rolled his eyes in an almost lazy fashion and turned on his heels, striding ahead already. Jem seemed to have eternal patience, for he simply shook his head, both him and Tessa moving to catch up with him.
"No reason why not." Jace said quietly as the four shared glances, before turning to follow. Alec and Isabelle hurried to catch up with the others, but Jace hung back, and so did Clary. She could see him frowning at Will in front, and she smiled.
"So...how weird is this?" She tried for a grin, but one look at his face caused it to fade. He looked distracted, and when she squeezed his hand, he glanced down at her and rolled his golden eyes.
"You could say that again! I cannot be related to him. He's such an ass!" Jace frowned again at William's back, and Clary was unable to hold back a grin.
"Really? I can see the resemblance." She teased, and Jace nudged her lightly in return. Ahead, they could see Alec and Isabelle with their heads inclined to each other, evidently talking in low murmurs about the whole situation. Right now, all Clary could do was look around herself and marvel. Her eyes drifted occasionally to the three leading them toward their Institute, curious as to what they thought of all of this.
"You're...from the future?" The four of them had been offered a seat on one side of a long table within one of the rooms in the Institute. The three English had sat opposite, joined after a few moments by a short, thick haired woman named Charlotte, and her husband Henry. Clary found herself awed by this great building, finding it both similar and opposing to the one in New York from where they'd come from, but she could not stop herself from staring at everything.
Clary, Jace, Isabelle and Alec exchanged glances, and after a long, awkward moment Clary decided it was best to explain things from the beginning. That was the only way that the others would understand, and, hopefully, trust them. She took a deep breath, and explained things right from the start. Of course, the first thing the boy, William, picked up on was her ability.
"You can draw new runes." His tone was disbelieving, with an underlining of arrogance that Clary immediately disliked. She narrowed her eyes, but avoided getting annoyed and simply nodded.
"Yeah, she once drew a rune for Fearlessness on me." Alec spoke up, and then remembered what came of that rune and his eyes widened, a blush appearing on his cheeks. Will raised an eyebrow and Jem looked curious.
"Which is something none of us will ever forget – watching you kiss Magnus Bane in front of-" Isabelle began, pulling a face and then being cut off by both Alec's sharp look and Jem's surprised voice and Will's bold laugh.
"You know Magnus Bane?" Isabelle turned to raise an eyebrow at Jem, obviously surprised that that was the question he asked...not about the whole 'Alec kissing Magnus' part.
"Of course. Who doesn't?" She rolled her eyes and gazed between the others, who were trying to process everything. Clary watched Tessa, who appeared to be most unsure by the news and was staring hard at the table. Clary frowned, sure she could recognise her face slightly, but unsure as to how. Aside from that, however, she could tell the girl was troubled.
"And you're many, many years in the future...?" Tessa glanced up, eyes searching Clary's for a hint of any lie, and she saw none as Clary nodded slowly, still trying to understand why Tessa looked quite upset over this news. "All those years..." She mumbled sadly, and Clary saw Will catch her words and turn to glance at her with a small frown.
"So, why exactly are you here?" Charlotte finally spoke up, and this time it was Jace who answered, shrugging slightly and ignoring Will completely, possibly in the hope that it would cause him to disappear.
"Clary decided it would be fun to draw out a new rune that would apparently transform a Portal into a time-machine." Jace rolled his eyes and nudged Clary, who nudged him back and grinned.
"Well it worked, didn't it?" She teased, and smiled, then they returned their attention at the others as Will rolled his eyes, raising one eyebrow at Jace, then Clary.
"What did you expect would happen when you came? You're surely not expecting to save the whole of London or something as ridiculous as that, are you?" Jace turned his head and smirked slightly.
"And it needs saving because you are too incompetent to save it yourselves?" He shot back, and Will's bright, ice blue eyes narrowed.
"Hardly. We beat you to it. London's already been saved – by the most handsome fellow, i might add." Will's sarcasm and arrogance made Jace pull a face, but before he could make another comment back, cool headed Jem intercepted.
"And we all know you're refering to me, William." He grinned, but there was a slight caution in his eyes toward Will, telling him to cool it. Will just rolled his eyes. Clary sighed and shook her head at the boys antics, exchanging a look with Isabelle.
"Actually, i was rather hoping you guys would allow us to stay a few days? Perhaps show us around...? After all, it's not everyday someone gets to see a different century..." She asked, chewing her lip. Those across the table deliberated, before Charlotte nodded slowly with a kindly smile.
"Excellent. I've always wanted to see London." Jace grinned at Clary and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Oh great. Visitors." Will mumbled, frowning at the future Shadowhunters, before rising from his chair and exiting the room, shoulders stiff. Isabelle, Alec and Clary looked after him in expressions ranging from surprise to guilt.
"Did we upset him?" Clary asked gently, eyes on Tessa and Jem who seemed to know him best. Jem shook his head.
"You'll come to understand that he's always like that." He said with a gentle smile, and Alec grinned and raised an eyebrow at Jace.
"Now we know where you get it from." Jace shot him a glare and an awkward silence pressed down upon the table. Alec's grin dropped, and his eyes returned to the table. After a few moments, Charlotte cast a glance at the other Shadowhunters.
"So, what did you have in mind?"