Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and the Infernal Devices series!

A/N: HEY ALL! I think I've finally fought my writer's block and I am back on track with my writing. YAY! I'm still super busy with school work though but that'll never slow down. Thanks for all the favs, follows, and reviews I have received! I'd like to give a shoutout to MEEC7 for always reviewing and to my wonderful beta, LittleDrummerGirl2010 :) I'm sorry if this story has been going really slow, but the filler chapters are now over, and the action (and romance) will heat up. Hope you're well and ENJOY! :)

"The Clave is corrupt."

"There's no way we can infiltrate Sebastian's plans."

"He's on the move."

"There will be war."

"But there is so few of us left."

"Let him come to us first then."

"I'm hungry, who wants lunch?"

I glanced up at the last sentence to see Isabelle standing in the Institute library doorway, with her hands on her hips. It was a cold day. and we had all gathered in the library to discuss the current situation and fate of our world.

"I'm good," Clary said. She tried a smile but I could see how weary she looked. She was sitting on a desk, with her feet dangling, and kept unknowingly rubbing her eyes. She looked like she had been losing sleep. Alec just shook his head silently. He was too busy scowling down at his phone. Could he be texting Magnus?

"I'm hungry but not for anything made by you," Jace quipped to Isabelle who sighed in exasperation, "We have bigger things to worry about than lunch anyway." He was leaning on the desk Clary was sitting on, and he too looked just as weary. I knew he was worried about what was to come, whether he'd live or not, whether he could be with Clary. I too had similar feelings, but I was quite hungry.

"That'd be lovely Isabelle, do you need some help?"

"No it's fine, I'll wake up Simon and he can help," she giggled then, with a flick of her hair, hurried out of the library. I was thinking I should do the same, since Jem was still in bed. Which worried me. It's past midday, and he is normally an early riser. I had also left him a note, saying I was in the library. Wouldn't he have met me by now?

I excused myself from our small meeting, and trotted down the hallways and up a few small staircases. I was still getting used to staying in the Institute. It's winding stairs, never-ending corridors, various, lavish rooms, all the artworks hung on the walls, it was like an art gallery or a museum. I learnt different things about it everyday. It had been a couple of days since Jem and I had arrived, and rumours were already spreading amongst Shadowhunters that a battle would be taking place against Sebastian. Maryse and Robert were in Idris, so Jem and I were left in charge of the kids, who spent most of their time discussing how to take down Sebastian and training Clary.

'Erchomai', Sebastian had said. I am coming.

As I sharply turned the corner, the thought of those words made my head spin. It may not be me he was exactly coming for, but it still unsettled me.

"Jem?" I knocked on the door to our room, and pressed my ear to it, "Are you there?"

My patience exceeded me, and I carefully opened the door. The red curtains were open, sunlight was spilling into the room, and I could tell by the way the lump of sheets shifted from my entrance that Jem was still in bed. I walked over to the bed and sat down on my side. My note was still on my pillow, seemingly untouched. I could only see Jem's feet at the bottom of the bed, as the rest of him was wrapped in the white sheets. I poked him.

"James, you have to wake up."

He shifted a bit, and I could hear him groan. This wasn't like him. If anything, I'd be the one still sleeping at midday, being prodded by him.

"James really-"

I shut my mouth as he threw the sheets off of him, and revealed his face and naked torso. I blushed at the vulnerable sight of him. His hair was in a morning scruff, his eyes still held the trace of sleep, and his abdomen was clenched; and looking very touchable. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair and sat up.

"Tess, I'm so tired, ten more minutes? "

I laughed at this, and he grinned. I playfully flicked his arm, and his dark eyes lit up at the contact.

"You have to fight it, Jem. Now get up."

He flopped back onto his pillow and shut his eyes again, but his boyish grin stuck to its place.

"James-"

"Shh."

I again shut my mouth. My breath hitched at the sight of him, so peaceful and calm. I wished I had the control he did. His breathing was even, and his eyelids lay so still. The impulse to touch him rose, to glide my fingers across his jaw, over his lips, and to his cheekbones. I acted on this impulse almost immediately. His grin widened, but his eyes were still shut, as a touched his smooth face.

"Now I think you definitely should get up," I whispered to him. I was edging closer and closer to his face. He opened his eyes, and I met the dark pools of brown I loved so much.

"Why should I do that, Tessa?" His voice was husky, like it always was in the morning.

"Before I do something like this," I cupped his face and claimed his lips with mine. His grin melted, and his lips molded mine. His hands gripped my neck, deepening the kiss. Everything was so electric. He was so electric. He made me feel like I was burning, but he made no scars and all I felt was desire. His lips, oh those lips-

"Simon is gone!" Jem and I snapped apart and we both turned to face a wide eyed Isabelle.

"Isabelle!" I exclaimed, and immediately hopped off the bed. My cheeks warmed up and I avoided Jem's eyes. Isabelle just giggled.

"It's kinda weird to see you two kiss because you're both over 100 years old, but I'll let that slip," her smile dropped and her playful face turned serious, "I came here though, because Simon's missing, and he didn't answer his phone, some girl did."

I looked to Jem who was frowning. He had thrown on a t-shirt and was now standing up, looking alert, "Who's the acquaintance?"

Isabelle shook her head, "I don't know, but I'm heading to find the rest of the team. I'll meet you both in the library," she turned to leave and yelled back at us, "and hurry."

Jem walked into the bathroom and I stared after him. I could hear the tap running, and I knew he would be splashing water on his face. He did that when he was anxious. I moved to the doorway of the bedroom, and stood there waiting for him. I could feel panic arising in me now too. How many people did Sebastian have on his side? Jem walked out of the bathroom, and rubbed his eyes.

"James?" He gazed at me for a bit when I said his name. Then he walked over, took my hand, and pressed my knuckles to his lips. That same burning sensation ran through me. Without another word, he led me out of the room and through the magnificent Institute hallways. He was so beautiful, and I know I say that so much, but I worry that I won't have many more chances too.

"I thought you were making lunch, Izzy?" Jace lifted his eyebrows expectantly at Isabelle who was frantically trying to call Simon.

Isabelle ignored him and looked worryingly at me, "His phone is going straight to voicemail."

We were all back in the library together, in our original positions, and everything just felt like we were back at square one.

"How young did the girl sound?" Alec spoke up, and walked over to Isabelle, looking down at her phone.

"Like five years old."

Alec snorted. We were getting nowhere.

"What did the girl say?" Jem was still holding my hand tightly and he squeezed it every now and then to comfort me. Gosh, was I thankful for him or what.

"She said, 'Simon is too busy right now, don't bother calling again though'," Isabelle tapped her chin impatiently.

"Huh, weird," Clary was looking down at her own phone, "it says his phone is disconnected now."

"Oh no."

"Great."

I looked from Isabelle to Jace, then my gaze fell on Alec. His expression suddenly changed from stoic to ecstatic, and his blue eyes lit up. The light in them almost gleaned at me, and I was happily reminded of a similar pair of blue eyes.

"Maureen!"

All 5 of us frowned at him.

"She is the vampire who killed Camille..." He trailed off, nodding his head to prove his point, "Now rules all of New York's vampires."

Oh no.

Isabelle almost growled, "I think Maia told me about her. She's really preppy, in love with Simon? Jordan said to Maia that Simon had a, uh, run in with her at a gig."

I quickly gathered what Isabelle meant by "run in", and by the look on Jem's face and the squeeze of my hand, he did too.

"He turned her?"

"Not on purpose, I don't think."

Jem rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, "It is only natural that Simon would want to re group with other vampires..."

"He knows how bad Maureen is though," Clary protested.

"Does he?"

We all sat there in silence for a while. I could tell that Jem was thinking of a plan, of the best plight of action, because everyone else shared the same expression.

It was nighttime, and none of us were any closer to figuring out what had happened to Simon, and what will happen if he is, in fact, with Maureen. Jem and I stayed in the library as everyone else filed out. Jocelyn and Luke would be arriving in the morning, so maybe they could shed some light on the situation. I just am not very good with problem solving. Will used to say my impulse always got the better of me. I would never think, just do.

Jem was sitting in an arm chair, and I was sitting on his lap with my head on his chest, and my legs dangling off the arm rest. He had his arms wrapped around me, and was playing silently with my hair. The library was now dim, and was only lit by the glow of the fireplace. Soon, Jem's breath evened and I could feel his heartbeat become steady. I was closing my eyes now too, willing for sleep. If only we could have stayed like this forever.

Then, there was a movement out of the corner of my eye.

I jumped slightly, my eyes shot wide, and my heart was bashing against my ribcage.

Crash.

I got off Jem's lap, and was surprised when he didn't awaken from the noise and my motion. I couldn't see properly in the lighting here, but I could see the darkness moving behind the stairwell. Someone must be here.

"James," I hissed quietly, but he answered with only a stir. My mind was racing and I kept looking around me in case someone jumped me.

Crash, and the movement stopped.

With one last glance at the stairwell, I shook Jem awake. He blinked in surprise, and looked at me with panic.

"Tessa? Tessa, what's wrong?"

He came to stand in front of me, and he placed his hands on my shoulders. His eyes were round with fear.

"There was something in here," my voice didn't sound like my own. It was filled with fear. What was in the shadows?

"Where?" With Jem beside me, I felt more secure. I always did with him. I took his hand and led him across the library, and over to the meandering staircase.

"There was movement here and-"

A piece of paper was floating down from the top of the staircase, which cut off my sentence. It swayed from side to side until it reached the floor in front of Jem and I. I squeezed his hand reassuringly and he bent down to pick it up.

"It's in Latin. It says..." He furrowed his eyebrows, then his eyes widened like they'd just seen a ghost. His hand holding the note was slightly shaking. His face dropped. I bent down next to him, and placed my hand over his trembling one. The note was written in curly print, with ink smudges surrounding the words. My heart thumped louder.

I read out the note: "Venimus."

Jem translated, "We are coming."