Again, Jem scrunched up another wasted sheet of parchment and that of ink, and threw it out of his window, and watched it as it caught in the wind, and flew across the streets. Jem smiled softly, and shut his window, pulling the latch in the lock. He pulled a lock of his silvery fringe behind his eye, and sighed, scratching the back of his neck, thinking quietly. He glanced out of the window, grinning, to see a familiar brown head figure in a periwinkle gown, and bone coat, walking up the east/west side of the Institute. He felt the urge to rush outside, and to be with her, but he didn't. Jem kept his eyes locked on his fiancée' as she went through the institute gates, and the doorbell rang with a dull, rumbling sound, followed by the clacking of Sophie's shoes on the floor, running to get the door. Jem laughed softly, and sat on his bed, picking up book from his bedside table, and opened it to the marked page. It hadn't taken long for him, once he had arrived on the slow boat from china, to be familiarized with the little things that happen all the time around the Institute. The sound of the odd explosions that rocked the paintings on the institutes walls: Henry usually misjudging chemical measurements in his laboratory; The sound of, "WILLIAM HERONDALE! Oo, I ain't, just you wait till I get you on your own your piece of crap..." was the usual threats from Sophie, chasing Will down the corridors, a soaked mop in tow. Then, there were more special sounds, when Will played the piano, or the odd time that Jem caught Sophie softly singing carpenters, or, the extremely rare, time, when Will would talk or chant songs in welsh, making it sound like pure magic, with so many secrets, and past behind it.
Jem jumped when someone knocked on his door, shaking him away from his reminiscence. Jem opened the door, and wasn't surprised when a pair of angry blue eyes, under a mop of black hair stared back at him. Jem raised his eyebrows at Will's arched demeanor. "Well, don't stand on ceremony Will, come in." Jem gestured at his parabati, smiling. Will scowled at Jem darkly.
"You won't believe what I just heard these werewolf barstards saying about Tess down at the Devil's Tavern, and what I found out." Will growled, unclenching and clenching his fists.
Jem's expression darkened. Only then, he noticed Will's knuckles were bleeding, and looked faintly purple. "You should get a healing rune on that," Jem pointed out, picking up a stele delicately from his desk. It did little to improve Wills expression. Will slumped onto Jem's bed, and took the stele to his skin, anger radiating from his hunched figure. "I was going by the devils tavern, when I get hit with a rock on my shoulder. I turn around, and it's these werewolves, just been scum, drunk as the sun hasn't risen at all in the last forty years. One of them got right up in my face and said, "As you're Carstairs matey, maybe you could tell him what a whore his wife is, dancing around, and singing at Burlesque, and Miss Lace And Leather.""
"Will, he was lying. By the angel, why would Tessa be at two of the most notorious strip clubs in England?" Jem said hotly, glaring out the window.
"That's exactly what is said," Will said growled, cracking his neck. "He said whether I want some proof?" I said alright smartarse. I got led down Cable street-"
"Will, may I ask, how did you get all the way up the east end?"
"For me to know and for you to never find out Jem." Will said, now smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Jem sighed and sat down on his desk, and looked at Will, his expression unreadable. Will caught the worry and concern biting his silver irises. Jem continued looking at Will for a long time, and finally said softly, "And what did you find? My fiancée in a thong dancing around a pole, or being in service to some syphilitic docker?" Jem said, still in the same soft tone, his eyes baring Will down to his said mauve core. Will sensed the shake in his parabati's voice, and Will felt his anger burn out, instead regret feeling his veins. He just hoped that Jem couldn't see through. "No, she wasn't doing any of that, no...the club was packed, but there weren't any strippers of any of that Jem. There were men, and women, and children, all having supper, like any normal restaurant. They were mundane." Will said, staring deep into his parabati's silver eyes. "She looked beautiful Jem. She was just singing. You wouldn't think it was Tess, but it was. Perhaps you could imagine her sing. You wouldn't even come close Jem." Will smiled, and gave a small chuckle. "She was powerhouse. I must say, she looks really nice with short hair too." Will said, resting his head against the post on Jem's bed.
Jem grinned, obviously relieved. "She seemed to be genuinely enjoying it too. She seemed really happy, most happy that I have ever seen her I think Jem," Will finished quietly.
"Will, so why did you punch the werewolves?"
Will shrugged with an air of nonchalance. "They still called Tess a whore."
Jem laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners like an old mans. "Will, why on earth have you gone so red?" Will rolled his eyes, gave the stele back to Jem, and walked out of his bedroom, closing the door carefully behind him.
Jem smiled at Will's retreating back and smiled inwardly. With all the things will said, it could take his emotions to an ecstatic high, then drop to a sub zero or in between, in a matter of seconds. Jem silently slipped out of his door, and saw Tessa coming up the corridor, her face lighting up when she saw him, but a sadness filled her aurora, like a jewel, that had been twisted and warped through time, or another incredible power that could build a person, and destroy one.
