Forever Jessa [A Jessa Fanfic]

Chapter 4: Gary Ashdale

[Tessa's POV]

We gathered up our bags and took them out into the living room where Magnus was beginning to open up the portal. The fact that portals had stayed around so long still blew my mind. Henry was a truly brilliant man, how he ever began to fathom the inner workings of portals is beyond my understanding. I wasn'ty there the day he and Magnus finally perfected it, at that time I was still being held hostage by Mortmain, but I did hear the story many times from Charlotte afterwards. Mortmain, how glad I am that he is long gone and much in the past.

Magnus: "Are you ready?"

Tessa: "Yes! Let's get going!"

Magnus glanced Jem's was as though waiting for an answer from him as well.

Jem: "Whatever she says." he responded quickly.

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Paris is so beautiful, this time of year. That may sound cliché, but it's true. French culture is brilliant, magnifique! Hearing their language, seeing their monuments, j'adore tout de la France! Being here with Jem was the best feeling in the world, if only we were here on vacation and not to work. I turned around to see Magnus waiting for me.

Magnus: "Ready?"

Tessa: "Where are we headed exactly?" I questioned.

Jem set our luggage down and walked over to me putting his hands around my waist as though he was trying to protect me. Though we were glamoured, safe from the sights of the mundanes wandering by, he still felt the need to keep me as safe as he possibly could. It was instinctive of him, part of why I loved him as much as I did.

Magnus: "Just wait a few moments, I have arranged a special ride for us that I hope you two will enjoy."

A few moments later a horse drawn carriage arrived at a stop beside us. I could tell it was glamoured too by the fact that not one pedestrian had glanced our way. Though they were not unheard of, especially in such a romantic city as France, horse and buggy's are obviously not as common as they were 150 years ago when Jem and I were children. We gathered up our things and stepped into the carriage. Of course Jem, being the gentleman he is, couldn't pass up the opportunity to help me up and into my seat. James and I were sitting together on one side whilst Magnus took the other side of the carriage.

Tessa: "Thank you Magnus, this is amazing," I said glancing up and Jem who was smiling down at me, "but might I ask why we didn't just take the portal directly to where we are headed?"

Magnus: "My customer has aversions towards portals in his home. Don't ask me why, but it was at his request that we portal elsewhere and come to him from there."

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*15 Minutes Later*

The carriage began to slow down as we approached our destination. We were in a quiet part of the town, a small cul-de-sac that ended at a large brick-built house. The carriage finally came to a stop and we gathered what we had brought along and stepped onto the front porch. As we knocked on the door a man dressed up in a tailored suit opened it up for us. He then continued to lead us down the hallway until we reached a large room where we were told to wait.

Tessa: "Your clients are always so wealthy," I whispered to Magnus.

Magnus: "If they can afford to pay me, they need to be wealthy!" he said smugly.

[Jem's POV]

I could see Tessa and Magnus whispering to each other as we stood here waiting. There was something about this entire situation that made me suspicious. Why would someone specifically request not to portal into their home? That was strange, as was the glamoured ride over here. It almost seemed as though he had something to hide, a secret he was trying to keep. Maybe it was just my overprotective-ness coming out again. It usually did whenever Tessa was involved. Should I ignore it?

[Tessa's POV]

I glanced over at Jem, he looked to be deep in thought, I wonder what he was thinking about. Just as I was about to ask Jem a rather intimidating man walked into the room from a door I hadn't noticed before. How many other hidden doors were there in this room?

Gary: "Hello," he said walking gracefully over to our small group, "I am Gary. Gary Ashdale." he then proceeded to do some strange two-handed wave I didn't quite understand.

Ashdale? Had I heard of that shadowhunter name before? I'm not sure if I ever have, but I guess there are many nephilim families in the world that I have not met.

Gary: "You must be the infamous Tessa Herondale they talk about!"

Tessa: "I prefer to go by Gray now-a-days," I responded looking up at Jem. I know there had never once been a time when Jem didn't want me to be happy with Will, but how it must make him feel? People still calling me 'Herondale' now that Jem and I are together. I felt sorry for him at times, never married, never a parent, whereas I had had all that and much more.

Magnus: "Now would be a good time to explain why you called us here." Magnus said, feeling the tension beginning to build.

Gary: "Right! Please follow me."

Gary Ashdale led us across the room to a set of couches and chairs situated around a short round table. As we sat down I saw a set of photographs and other seemingly random trinkets laid out orderly on the wooden table.

Gary: "I am in search of someone, and I have tried all I can think of to search for this person. Either he has done an exceptionally well job of hiding or he is dead. Either way, I need to find him, he has something of mine I need returned as immediately as possible. If you use your specialties and shift into him will you be able to tell me where he is?"

Tessa: "If he himself knows where he is, I will be able to tell you. However, if he has become lost I can tell you no more than he personally knows. If he is indeed dead, the same rules apply, if he knows I can tell you, if he doesn't there is nothing more I can do for you."

Shifting is not as amazing as some tend to think. It is not as if I can locate them on a map because I am now in their form. I have had requests like this before, they do not always turn out as the customers hopes.

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I stood up and gathered some of the trinkets I believed would be more helpful and began to shift. Remembering the techniques I had mastered long ago, I imagined myself being dragged inside the items and finally let the light engulf me. Taking a few moments to gather myself I blinked a couple of times before the world took focus before my new eyes.

[Jem's POV]

Seeing Tessa shift was still as disconcerting as it has been when we were teenagers. I do not enjoy seeing my Tessa disappear before my eyes, even though I knew she would always come back, I still worried that something might go wrong and my Tessa would be gone forever. The new form she took was horrid. The man she had now become was filthy, covered in dried blood and dirt. There was no doubt that he was indeed on the run. He had dark brown hair as well as dark hazel eyes and was probably around 5ft 10inches. He looked to be quite young, no more than 17 years old.

[Tessa's POV]

The man I had become was a stranger to me and at first I struggled to find his voice. I could see Gary staring at me with a look of impatience, he was waiting for me to say something. As I searched for my voice I found new body taking control and begin to stare Gary Ashdale square in the eyes. I could feel myself filling with hatred.

Tessa: "My name is Winston Ashdale, and you," I said pointing at Gary, "get away from me. Now."

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Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I have so many ideas of where I can go from here! Please comment and vote! Until next time, Ave Atque Vale . . .

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