Responses to Reviews:

Sapphire131: I'm really glad you liked the Wessa! Thank you! :)

thedarkwhiteangel: Thank you! It was no problem at all. Glad you liked it from Will's perspective! Hope you like this chapter too, since it's from his as well.

Midnightstone1118: Hehe yeah. ;) Thank you, and sorry it wasn't sooner.

Guest 1: Thank you, and she will… next chapter. There will be some more Wessa, don't worry. :) I'm not sure whether I'll add Tatiana or not, to be honest.

IC3D T3A: Wow, thanks! I'm happy my writing has improved and that the ending was deep and meaningful. Thanks for your honesty too, about the start. :)

laurenathalasa: I'm really happy you think the chapters represented their personalities! I'm also glad you learnt a bit about the medicine. Thank you!

Anonymous: Thanks! Sorry for the delay.

Guest 2: Sorry I took so long. :( But here's the update!

Jillessa Heronstairs: Yay, thank you! And you got the computer too! I agree with you about kissing Will. I would probably pass out too. ;) There's always a chance for Jessa. And Wessa. It could be either. ;)

Somehow Will must have known. In the early hours of the morning, he'd been wandering the halls, unable to find any solace in sleep. It had been days since those horrific events, and he'd been avoiding everyone, especially Tessa.

As he now aimlessly roamed the manor, it seemed like fate when he bumped into Gideon, the elder of the two Lightworms.

Remembering Gideon was on guard duty that night and morning, Will asked, "What's happening?" There was only one reason a guard would run into the manor at this time of morning. There must be some sort of news. Could it be the news Will had been hoping for?

It didn't look like Gideon was going to tell him. Will couldn't blame him after how he'd treated his brother. But something desperate in Will's eyes must have made him speak up, and break his silence.

"Marbas is reported to be seen in the nearby village with a small army," Gideon stated, rather reluctantly.

Time seemed to slow, and Will couldn't concentrate on the rest of Gideon's words. Marbas echoed through his mind, to the beat of his heart.

Marbas… Marbas…Marbas. Now was his chance for revenge.

His hearing returned, just as he heard Gideon say, "I'm waking everyone for a war council. You should wait until we're all ready."

Not wanting to be delayed, Will raced off to grab his sword and armour from his room. He could faintly hear Gideon yell from a distance, "You can't do it alone!"

Will merely laughed, feeling exhilarated. Like he could take down an army on his own. It may have been foolish, but in that moment he didn't care. All he could see was Ella's face, her eyes unseeing, and her body cold to the touch. He pictured her crimson blood spreading into the cracks in the cobblestones.

Once he had retrieved his fighting gear, he ran towards the stairs, thrusting anyone out of his way as they emerged from their rooms, rubbing their eyes tiredly. News spread fast throughout the walls of the manor, like wildflowers growing in the fields.

However, before he could reach the door, Jem blocked his way. Will barely had time to register Jem carrying his own gear, before he tried to push pass him. However, Jem would not budge.

Before Jem could say anything, Will bristled impatiently, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "I have to go, Jem. He could get away by the time everyone here gets moving. This may be my only-"

Surprisingly, Jem calmly interrupted his passionate outburst. "I wasn't going to stop you. I was going to come with you. You're like a brother to me, Will. Where you go, I go."

Will just stood there for a bit, staring at Jem in a mixture of shock and gratitude. He then bowed, bending at the waist with his hand over his heart, in a gesture of deep respect. "I would be honoured if you'd accompany me."

Turning and throwing open the front doors, the sunlight blinded him. As his eyes adjusted, they found two horses, then galloped off to the village, not wasting any more time.

As they approached the village, Will realised he hadn't found out exactly where Marbas was meant to be. Although he probably would have moved anyway, Will thought with a shrug. Peasants started emerging from their homes, since they had to get up to tend to their fields at this time. Will felt apprehension build up inside him, as if it got too crowded, Marbas might be able to slip away.

However, he needn't have worried, as Marbas and his men proudly rode through town on their warhorses, trampling anyone who dared to stand in their way. Will felt his anger build, as they went around like they owned the town. Counting the men, he thought there was around twelve of them, including Marbas himself. It wasn't exactly the best odds for him and Jem.

However, summoning his courage, Will moved into the middle of the dirt path, with his sword outstretched, so that if Marbas didn't stop, his horse would be injured. Marbas brought his horse to a stop and looked down at Will with a smirk. Will felt his grip tighten on his sword, as he yearned to wipe the smug look off his face.

Marbas gestured to his men, and they all dismounted from their horses in synchrony. Each one drew their weapon and held it at the ready, waiting for a command from their General.

While Marbas was quite a short man, what he lacked for in height, he made up for in presence. He commanded attention, his aura one of a leader, and someone who was used to being followed without question. He had strong cheekbones, and long black hair tied back in a ponytail. What was most startling about his features however, was that if you looked close enough, which Will unfortunately had in the past, you could see scarlet coloured flecks in his brown eyes. A colour which was easily reminiscent of blood.

Marbas opened his mouth and spoke, his voice like gravel, just like Will remembered from his nightmares. "William Herondale, isn't it? How nice to make your acquaintance again after last time. You've certainly grown up since then. Although you are probably still the scared little coward inside that you were last time we met."

"And you are still a smug bastard that deserves to die," Will spat, his eyes never leaving Marbas's face. He felt Jem's presence beside him, offering reassurance and help.

Marbas's grin widened. "You know that will never happen. After all, I have the 'gift' of survival. It's what makes me such a good fighter."

He voiced Will's greatest fear. How could he kill someone who was made to survive? Will had heard the rumours about Marbas that had been circling around the villages. That his 'gift' enabled him to never tire or suffer from cold, hunger, illness or pain. That it made him excellent at hunting due to his advanced vision and hearing, as well as his infallible sense of direction. That he could kill anyone who posed a threat to his survival, no matter their skill. It was why he was such an invaluable resource to the King. If anyone disobeyed him, Marbas was the perfect executioner.

"Well I'll certainly give it my best shot," Will retorted, his stance tense.

"I should cut you down, right now where you stand, as punishment for your treacherous words. However, you're so fun to toy with." Marbas laughed, a sound which grated on Will's nerves.

Will glanced at Jem, giving him the signal, as they both surged forward at the same time, picking their first opponent. Luckily, being in the middle of the village, only three men could fit abreast on the path, almost shoulder to shoulder, with no room to move their swords. So they were able to fight the two men in the lead without worrying about interference.

Will's sword danced as he parried his opponent's first sword thrust. The man was skilled - Will would have expected no less from Marbas's men – but too slow, and obviously not used to fighting in such a restrictive space. Will soon finished him off with a deep slice to his stomach. There was no time to be hindered by mercy. He hoped Jem realised that too. In this life or death game, you couldn't afford to make a single mistake.

The man slid to the ground, clutching his stomach and another promptly took his place. Will let all the anger and fear he had ever felt towards Marbas build, and he harnessed it to enhance his fighting. Each sword thrust had a purpose and an aggression behind it, which gave his newest opponent pause. He guessed his eyes probably looked wild, like a savage, and his hair a mess. His opponents probably thought he was an animal, but he didn't care. All he cared about was defeating Marbas, and these men were standing in the way of that goal.

His thrusts grew more intense as he heard Jem cry out, and he tore his eyes away from his own battle, to see if Jem was alright. It seemed he was still up and fighting, but with a nasty gash on his forehead. Will worried about such a dangerous injury, but felt his stomach loosen a bit when he saw it start to heal, slowly but surely.

Hearing a swish of a blade nearby, he jumped back. However, he wasn't quite quick enough, and was rewarded with a small cut just below his ribs, but not one big enough to slow him down. That will teach me not to take my eyes off my opponent…

He snarled, a ferocious battle cry, and managed to back his attacker up against the wall. The boy's eyes widened, as he realised his predicament and the limited space available to swing his sword. He really was only a boy, a couple of years younger than Will himself. Was the King really desperate enough to use young boys to do his fighting? He stared into the brilliant blue-green of the boy's eyes, seeing himself reflected. This would have been him if his sister hadn't stood up for him. Could he really kill him?

Will heard Marbas laugh coldly, probably from where he was watching Will expend all his energy with great amusement. "I thought he might throw you off. After all, he is just like you."

Will's eyes darkened, and he almost felt as if his heart was turning black, rotten from the inside out, just like Marbas's. "He is not me," Will ground out between clenched teeth, before finishing him off.

He took in a few deep breaths, trying to reign in his raging emotions. He felt like he was a storm, about to explode at any moment. But if he was to defeat Marbas, he would have to be Marbas. He couldn't afford to show any mercy.

"Well, well, you have changed after all," Marbas called out, over the noise of clashing swords. "I can't wait to fight you."

Will ignored him, and focused on the next threat. He could feel fatigue start to wrap its fingers around him, and his movements grew slower and more sluggish. How could he and Jem fend off all of these men, let alone Marbas, when he decided to join in? It really was a hopeless fight.

As if summoned by his desperate thoughts, he heard shouts as two more men appeared at the other side of Marbas's men, so they were trapped between the two forces and the houses. There was no way Will could mistake the two Lightwood's mops of brown and sandy blonde hair. He couldn't hide his feeling of utter surprise. They had absolutely no reason to help him, especially after his confrontation with Gabriel the other day. Turning his attention back to his own battle, he felt a new sense of energy flowing through his veins, at the thought of the better odds. They could do it… he hoped.

Will ducked as his adversary swung his mace at his head. The man's muscles bulged again as he tensed and aimed again. This time, as Will ducked again, it hit the wall of a house and got lodged there, just as Will had hoped for, making it easy for Will to defeat him with a well-aimed strike.

He felt guilty for contributing towards wrecking the homes of the peasants who lived here in the village. However, he knew the Clave would help to pay to restore them, if the King didn't, which was unlikely at the best of times. He guessed the inhabitants were all currently hiding far away from here, which was a very smart choice, since none of them were fighters.

As Will had a brief respite, he glanced around to see how the rest of the battle was fairing. Gideon and Gabriel were handling themselves well, their fighting 'gift' obvious as they felled opposition after opposition. Their 'gift' gave them great skill at predicting moves and choosing their own wisely. Will would have been impressed, if he didn't dislike them so much in the first place.

Gideon nodded to Will when he saw him watching. "We couldn't let you have all the fun," he shouted over the battle sounds. Gabriel grinned at him as well, and Will got the feeling that he was trying to prove he was a suitable match for Cecily. Maybe Will would consider it again if he managed to live another day, which happened to be highly unlikely.

Jem was holding his own against his current opponent, the wound on his forehead having disappeared. He gestured to Will to continue on, when he saw him watching.

Will's eyes settled on Marbas, who was stalking towards him, having seen the number of his men dwindling. He's finally going to get his hands dirty. Now was the chance Will had been waiting years for. He could finally confront the man who had ruined his life and his family. Once Marbas was dead, Will might even be able to move on. He might have more time to spend with Tessa. But of course, he'd already ruined that chance. He shook his head, bringing his thoughts back to his present battle. Nothing else mattered compared to this.

Marbas circled him, like a hunter stalking his prey, holding his sword out lazily in front of him. However, Will knew he could move it at lightning speed whenever he was ready. Will was well aware of the fact that he couldn't underestimate him.

Marbas lashed out in a fake strike, to see if Will would react. Will stood still, watching him silently, and gripping his sword tightly.

"You know I could kill you right now. My 'gift' allows me to eliminate any threat to my survival. However, I shall fight you for a bit. It will be fun," Marbas said, with a ferocious grin full of teeth. "You will pay for defying me."

"I've already paid more than enough. Now it is time for me to avenge all your wrongdoings," Will growled, before lunging forward towards Marbas. His lunge was instantly parried, and he got ready for another strike. Going on the offensive seemed like his only chance at the moment. He didn't know how long Marbas would play around before getting serious.

They fought, back and forth, ignoring the battle around them. Will knew Marbas was just toying with him, which made him even angrier. He wished he could have a useful 'gift' too. It would make his life so much easier.

Will's number of injuries grew, as he sustained a cut on his arm and leg, both bleeding and a nuisance as he fought. Luckily though, it wasn't on his right sword arm. He hadn't yet managed to land even one strike on Marbas. It was as if Marbas could predict his every move.

Eventually, it dragged on long enough, and they were close enough that Marbas landed a blow on Will's right wrist, causing him to drop his sword. Before he could reach down and pick it up again, Marbas held his sword to Will's stomach. He could feel the tip of it digging into his stomach, hard enough to draw a thin line of blood. At the same time, Will grabbed a knife, concealed beneath his clothing, and held it near Marbas's throat. It was close, but not close enough.

Marbas laughed, his eyes filled with a mad sort of glee. Will bristled at the thought that he was enjoying this. He deserved to die! "It seems we are at an impasse," Marbas said, stating the obvious. "Surrender now, and I won't kill you… yet." He put an emphasis on the latter word, drawing it out dramatically, as if the thought excited him.

Will's eyes widened slightly as a plan formed in his mind. The only way to kill someone with the gift of 'survival' would be to do something completely unexpected. Something which Marbas would never predict. It was human instinct not to do what he was thinking, after all. But if it was the only way, then he was willing to do it. And it wasn't only for revenge. The world would certainly be a much better place without Marbas around, and the Clave would have a greater chance of defeating the King without his loyal guard dog.

So Will did the unthinkable. He moved forward, letting Marbas's sword pierce his stomach further. Gritting his teeth, he continued, pressing the tip of his knife against Marbas's throat and quickly thrusting it forward, without any hesitation. For once, Marbas couldn't comment, although his look of astonishment was plain, as his eyes widened. Blood spurted from the deadly wound, and Will turned his head away, unable to watch any more. Marbas managed to thrust the sword a little further into Will, before Will felt the pressure on his stomach lessen as Marbas's grip on the sword finally relaxed. Marbas then collapsed to the ground, most likely dead before reaching it.

With shaking hands, Will slowly pulled the sword out of his stomach, inch by inch. When it was out, it fell to the ground with a clatter, and Will looked down at his stomach, feeling nauseous as he watched as a steady trickle of blood flowed from the wound.

Will laughed manically, as he coughed and sputtered up blood. He'd done it… Marbas was really dead. A life for a life wasn't such a bad deal. It had a certain irony to it, because it was fair, something which Marbas never was.

The victory was soon gone from his mind, however, as he struggled to breathe. Marbas must have pierced his lung. What did it matter, whether he died quickly or slowly? he suddenly thought, shrugging inwardly. At least now he'd have a quick death, rather than suffering for longer. Marbas's death had been quicker than he deserved. The rasping sound increased as his body fought for air in vain. His head drooped, and he waited for death with open arms.

Jem seemed to feel it before he saw it. He had just finished off his last adversary when he saw the ordeal unfold. He ran over towards Will as fast as he could, a wild desperation in his eyes. Will couldn't die, especially after finally achieving his goal. Jem had to heal him, or die trying. Images of Thomas's dead body rose unbidden in his mind, and the fact that he hadn't been able to save him. But this was Will, and he was still alive. He had to save him.

But he was too far away. Jem's heart beat faster with every step, and he counted each one, ignoring the searing pain from the recent cut on his leg.

Jem finally reached him, and he knelt down beside him. Will weakly tried to swat his hand away and scramble backwards before he could lay it on his injury. "No… Jem," Will managed to get out between his rasping breaths. "You'll… die too. It's my time now. Just…. take care of Tessa for me."

Jem lunged forward and forcibly grabbed Will's abdomen where the injury was. "It's not your time yet. Not if I have anything to say about it." He closed his eyes, seeing the multitude of injuries in his mind. Ignoring the other minor cuts, he focused on the worst injury. He felt his heart sink as he saw Will's left lung had been pierced. However, he wasn't shocked, as he could previously tell from the fact Will couldn't get any air in. The pressure in the sac around his lung had been pierced. But maybe, just maybe, if the gods smiled on him, he could bring the injury onto himself and save Will. Even if it meant he died himself.

Will still fought him, even with his limited strength. However, Jem pressed on, drawing the injury onto himself. He heard footsteps, and assuming it was one of the Lightwoods, he urged them to help restrain Will.

Opening his eyes, Jem saw it was Gabriel, who nodded at him. "Do what you can," he said, wishing Jem luck.

Jem closed his eyes again and concentrated, feeling a sharp pain as his lung was pierced and his abdomen cut. His breaths became short and desperate. He just couldn't draw in enough air. However, he calmed down a bit, when he heard Will's breathing returning to normal. Maybe Will would be alright. Maybe it worked after all.

As black spots appeared before Jem's eyes, he felt hands on his arms, before he lost his vision and surrendered completely to the darkness.

A/N: So, another action chapter! And I'm so sorry I took so long to update! I feel really terrible, but I have been really busy. I will try to update the next chapter a bit quicker. I also apologise for the cliffhanger...

Anyway, I hope you all had a great Christmas, and a happy New Year!

~ SilverJem5