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

A/N: HEY ALL! Here is chapter 8! Holidays are in a week so I'm hopefully going to be releasing chapters more often! Please review, follow or favourite if you like my story! There will be more Jessa in the next chapter, and I think I'll bump up the rating a bit, but don't worry nothing hardcore lol. THANKS ALL and enjoy! :)

Black. Everything went black.

Venimus. We are coming.

"Tessa? It's alright, you're safe, I'm here," a voice spoke. It was low, smooth, with a London accent.

Venimus.

"Tessa, please."

The blackness started fading, and the voice that was pleading to me started to sound more and more familiar. I became alert to my surroundings, and realized I was on a soft bed, with strong hands cupping my neck.

"Tessa."

My eyes shot open, and I was met with the brown ones of Jem, but his looked tired. Jem never looked tired. He was sitting beside me on the bed, leaning over me with a look of pain on his face. Small bags were formed under his eyes, and his eyebrows were furrowed.

"James," the way his name came out of my mouth sounded like I was whispering a prayer.

His face relaxed and he bent down and pressed our foreheads together.

"Thank the angel. You passed out in the library, Tess, I had to carry you back here," I glanced around the room, and I felt safe as I recognized it was ours.

"I vaguely remember," I sighed. My head was aching still, and I could feel my hands trembling by my sides. I suddenly remembered what had made me faint, "Jem, the note..."

"We cannot tell anyone," his bluntness was striking. He stood up from the bed and started pacing. I sat up, resting my head on the bed head.

"Why is that? We have to tell, this could be another clue-"

"When I said anyone, I meant the kids," he was still pacing, and rubbing his jaw absentmindedly.

"They're not kids!" I argued. I couldn't believe he said something like that. I shook my head, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Jem, we were just as young! You, Will and I – "

"Stop Tessa – "

"—We did extraordinary things, and so have they – "

"Tessa."

I shut my mouth at the sternness in his voice. He had stopped pacing, crossed his arms, and was staring at me hard. The tiredness on his beautiful face was more evident now than ever.

"We can't say anything. I will inform Luke and Jocelyn, but not the kids," I scoffed when he said kids, "If Sebastian has built up an army than that is not something Jace and the others should worry about. They should focus on finding their friend and training Clary. They are too young to get involved in war."

I knew he was right. He was always right. I closed my eyes momentarily, and exhaled and inhaled deeply. We are coming. Who was 'we'? Sebastian's first warning was singular, so the change to plural was worrying me.

I stared at Jem, and bit my lip hard, "Who do you think has joined him, James?"

He blinked up at me, as if wondering whom I meant then shook his head. He came and sat down beside me again.

"Honestly? I have no bloody clue. All I can guess is that his numbers are building, and that is frightening considering how our numbers are dwindling. Something needs to be done soon. I'm scared, Tessa," his voice was strained and filled with a sense of helplessness. He was facing away from me, his body turned towards the window, and his hair falling slightly forward with the bow of his head. He looked striking, but so vulnerable. I moved myself so I sat cross-legged beside him on the bed, then I hesitantly put my head on his shoulder. I breathed in his scent of spices and felt such strong comfort from our simple contact.

"Jem, it's normal. I feel the same as you-"

"Tessa-"

"Just listen," I lifted my head off his shoulder and he turned so our eyes could meet, "We will get through this, it'll be OK, I'm never going to leave you. I'll always be by your side; I'll do anything to keep you safe. Things will be better soon, we can get through this together. As long as we have our love, everything will turn out right, and we'll get out of this alive. Our love has lasted the greatest of obstacles, and can achieve the most wonderful thing; I know it can," I looked at him with as much intensity as I could. I said every comforting thing I could think of, and even if it came out in a ramble, I have never meant those words as fiercely as I do now. His mouth gave away the smallest sign of a smile, but I could still see the sadness etched on his face.

"As kind as your words are, Tessa, it makes me sad that they cannot fix the problem straight away," he sighed and looked down at my hands, then took them in his. He rubbed circles over my palm, and squeezed them reassuringly. I felt so calm by his careful touch. I wished I knew how to receive the same reaction from him.

"I have been losing sleep because I want to always make sure you're safe. While you're sleeping I stay watch so no harm comes to you, Tessa. I want to always be aware. In the library, when you heard those noises and I didn't wake up, I felt so ashamed. If anything had happened to you, I would not be able to live," he leaned over to me and pressed his lips to my forehead. As he held them there, I closed my eyes and let his touch linger. I swear his lips could leave burn marks whenever they touched me.

"I wish you didn't feel that way James." I didn't want him losing sleep over me; we were in the safety of the Institute. No harm would come to me, but then again, the fact that whoever sent that note has gotten in… My train of thought evaporated as I felt Jem move his lips away, and I opened my eyes to see him let go of my hands and stand up, "You should sleep Tessa. I think I might go for a walk, might visit an old friend," he winked at me then swiftly kissed my cheek and walked towards the door.

"Wo ai ni," I called to him, before settling back down under the warm white sheets of the bed. I caught Jem's scent among them and wrapped the covers tighter around my body. Though I would prefer his arms, the sheets made excellent substitutes.

"Zǒng shì Tessa."

'Always Tessa.'

I stood in a field with tall grass and clear, blue skies. I was wearing my flimsy, white nightgown, with thin straps that slipped off my shoulder and a plunging v-neck. My hair was tumbling past my shoulders, and blowing slightly in the hot breeze. There was a large tree in the middle of the field, and I hadn't realised I was walking towards it. Underneath, was a man. He had dark hair, tanned skin, full lips, a sharp jaw line and striking blue eyes. He was dressed loosely in a plain dress shirt and black pants. He was bare footed, and holding a book with the title 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

Will.

"Ah, Tess. I was wondering when you would join me," his voice was silky and young, and his smile flashed white teeth, "I had to submerge myself in a good book to keep me from worrying about where you were."

Joy spread through me as I took in his youthful looks. The wrinkles that had formed near his eyes and on his forehead were gone, and he looked exactly like the day I first met him. I ran over to him as he stood up from his spot under the tree, and flung my arms around his neck. He was warm, just like how I remember, and for a second I nearly forgot this was a dream. Everything felt real, the way his arms neatly curled around me, it was so familiar.

"Tess."

I pulled my arms away from him, and cupped his face with my hands. His arms stayed firmly around me. I opened my mouth to speak and-

Nothing came out.

I tried again, almost gagging on my own tongue, but no sound escaped my lips.

"Venimus, Tess."

I pulled away from Will and stumbled backwards. The sky had turned grey, and wind picked up making the tall grass hit my legs like whips. I tried to speak again, but it was no use. I touched my throat with my hands in complete shock; my mouth was gaped wide open.

"We are coming, Tess, you're not safe."

I was still clutching my throat when I met Will's eyes. Only, they were no longer blue. They were a scorching red. I tried and tried to scream, as I took in the rest of his new appearance. His lips were painted red by blood, and he had sharp, white fangs. He looked like porcelain and as I went to try scream again, the noise hitched in my throat as I realised a limp, body had appeared in his arms.

Jem's body. And it was covered in blood, so much blood. It was mangled, like all the bones had been snapped, and there were two neat puncture marks on his neck.

This time, when I tried to scream, I succeeded.

I jolted awake. My heart felt like it had temporarily stopped beating, and the room around me was spinning. What did I just dream about?

"Tessa!"

The sound of a familiar, feminine voice turned my blurred vision clear, and brought me out of my deep sleep. I pushed the white sheets away from me, and wriggled around in my jeans that I had been wearing the night before. Sitting at the end of my bed was a slim, woman with stunning red hair that was in loose ringlets. She had sharp, well-defined features, and green eyes that resembled Clary's. Ah, of course.

"Jocelyn."

She smiled and I scooted over on the bed to hug her. I remembered her as a child, from vague family reunions, and the colour of her hair has never dulled since. She reminded me of Henry and Charlotte, and that always caused an ache in my chest. We held the hug for a while, and then parted. I sat down next to her and ran my fingers through my hair, in hopes of making it look presentable.

"I'm sorry I didn't come greet you, Jem and I had a rough night and-"

She raised a hand and simply nodded, "Jem has filled me in, Tessa, no need to worry."

I sighed thankfully, "Good, good. Is Luke here too? I was thinking you, Jem, Luke and I should discuss our plans and-"

I abruptly stopped as Jocelyn shook her head, "I have already talked to Jem, and we believe it best for you to stay here with Clary and the others. They need a motherly figure around while we're all in Idris, and Jem wants you well away from harm."

I opened my mouth to protest, but shut it against my better judgement. I knew there was no point being snappy with Jocelyn, for I knew Jem was the one who would have put this unjust idea forward.

"I completely understand," I tried my biggest smile, but ended up biting down hard on my lower lip. I felt like I was going to be under house arrest, like I was a prisoner, and how was I supposed to get by if Jem is off fighting in a war? I needed to be with him.

Jocelyn and I sat there talking for a while. She told me about the Clave's manhunt for Sebastian, the recurring disappearances, and the loss of many downworlder allies. I watched as the folds on her forehead creased then uncreased, and the way her green eyes darkened every time she mentioned her son. I could tell she did not want Sebastian do die, but that seemed the only way to stop him. He was too much like his father.

It was about midday by the time I actually cleaned myself up and left my bedroom. Jocelyn had left to talk to Luke and Clary, and, according to Jocelyn, Jem was still out. I felt distant and left out, and still utterly angry at being dislocated from fighting in the war. I may not be a Shadowhunter, but I have my uses, and I could help with strategies as such.

I made my way to the library, since it seemed to be the only place I could find comfort, and as I opened the doors, it still took my breath away. Not only because of its looks, but the shelves with plentiful books, that I have yet to discover. The thought brought me peace, and I smiled of the thought of all the stories in this place, unread and untouched. Though I felt nervous because of last night's events, I made my way through the many shelves, blowing dust and plucking books off them. I missed the solitary feel of a library. Almost nothing is more comforting than being surrounded by books, except maybe Jem, but I didn't have him now so books were a perfect resort.

I sat down on the floor between one of the rows of shelves, and started to read the blurbs of the books I'd picked up, when I heard the sound of the library doors open and close. I jumped to my feet, and clutched the book I was holding to my chest. My breathing shallowed.

Venimus.

I carefully walked to the end of the row, and peered over the steel railing, down to the large space below. Thank the angel; it was just Isabelle, Jace and Alec.

Isabelle was pacing, and her ponytail was whipping back and forth at a rapid speed, Jace was leaning against a desk with a scowl, and Alec was slumped in an armchair with his nose in his phone. Texting Magnus, perhaps? And as always, they were all dressed in Shadowhunter black.

"We shouldn't, Jace," protested Isabelle, throwing her hands in the air. "The Clave has a plan."

"The Clave has the collective intelligence of a pineapple," said Jace.

I tried my hardest to repress a laugh. Jace was right, the Clave were clueless about Sebastian, Jace had been the one out there with him. He'd know Sebastian's every move.

Alec blinked up at them. "Jace is right."

Isabelle turned on her brother. "What do you know? You weren't even paying attention."

"I was," Alec said, looking rather injured. "I said Jace was right."

"Yeah, but there's like a 90% chance of me being right most of the time, so that's not proof you were listening," said Jace, giving a signature smirk. "That's just a good guess."

I was still silently watching from the railing above as the three bickered, when an idea formed in my head. Maybe this could be my chance to fight, and to help give Jace and the others a voice. Jace is the only one who can defeat Sebastian, and from what I have heard, he is more than capable. Jem wouldn't be happy, but he knows me too well to think I'd sit around doing nothing while the people I love are in danger. I needed to play my part, so maybe Jem and I could get out of this alive, and build a life together. I needed and could not wait to see the world with him. My Jem. Maybe I could become Mrs Carstairs, and we could finally get married.

I started to walk down the spiral staircase to where Jace, Isabelle and Alec were, and I fingered the jade pendant on my throat. I needed to get out of this war alive, Jem and I both did. I came to a stop beside where Isabelle was standing, and all their attentions turned on me. They all looked guilty, like they'd been caught plotting against the Clave; which I guess they sort of were.

"Tessa, we were just talking about the Clave-" I raised my hand to stop Isabelle mid-sentence. I smiled reassuringly at the embarrassed teenagers, though Jace was absentmindedly looking at the floor.

"I would like for you to train me," I was looking at Jace and he glanced up, his amber eyes full of surprise and a little bit of respect I thought, "Because I'd like to help all of you to find Sebastian."