Author's note: Hello again, everyone! First of all, I want to thank the two anonymous reviewers for taking the time to review the last chapter! I would thank you properly, but since you either don't have an account or weren't signed in, I can't. Whether anonymous or not, reviews are always very much loved and appreciated, so please keep it up!
Disclaimer: If I have an account on this site, I think it's safe to assume I don't own Infernal Devices.
Explode
"What do you think, dear?" Henry's eyes anxiously searched Charlotte's face.
She paused delicately. "Well, it would certainly be convenient in the right situation. But most of our fighting is close range and it may injure the user more than it injures the opponent."
His eager face fell a bit. "That's why I developed it to be thrown…I thought it may be practical for use against those demons that tend to run away from us."
Charlotte paused again, but this time out of surprise. She hadn't thought of that. A smile slowly spread over her face. "Henry, that's brilliant!"
An answering grin split his face, making his hazel eyes sparkle and momentarily taking her breath away. "Would you like a demonstration?" he asked excitedly. "It's perfectly safe as long as you throw it far enough."
She felt the blood drain out of her face. "A-are you sure?"
"Yes, yes, absolutely positive, dear!"
Before she could stop him, he spun around and grabbed the latest invention from his work table. He spun the top half of the circular object in one direction while simultaneously twisting the bottom in the opposite direction, and then proceeded to throw it to a far corner of the crypt. Charlotte, too shocked to move, watched his actions mutely. Sometimes I swear he's trying to kill me.
She was only vaguely aware of Henry taking her arm and directing her away further away from the object across the room, which was starting to smoke. Charlotte turned to follow her husband—
Henry suddenly swore. He jerked her toward him and pushed her to the floor, covering her body with his just as a powerful explosion tore through the crypt.
When the dust eventually settled, Charlotte lied still for a moment and stared up at Henry.
He gave her a sheepish smile. She only barely heard what he said through the ringing in her ears.
"Perhaps I put too much gunpowder in that one?"
Entrap
"Where is he?" Tessa demanded.
Will shrugged and tried to look innocent. He felt like he failed miserably. "I swear Jem was here a minute ago."
"And he asked to see me?"
"Well…"
She whirled on him, eyes flashing. "I knew it! You tricked me—"
"Yes, I did."
His unabashed matter-of-fact answer seemed to make her pause. Her gray eyes narrowed at him. "Why? Why would you possibly want to trick me into joining you on the roof?" her voice trembled only slightly.
Unspoken words hovered before him like an accusation: Are you trying to rub salt in the wound?
Will smiled at her, though even he could sense the sorrow in his expression. He only hoped it stayed out of his voice. "I thought you might want a moment or two of peace and I knew you would never come up here of your own free will."
After saying that, he spun on his heel and quickly walked back to the stairs that led to the attic. He didn't look back, not even when she called his name—but he did pause on the steps when he heard her next words. They were so quiet they almost got lost on the wind.
"Thank you."
I hope everyone has a Happy/Merry Christmas! Please review!