Cursed (Infernal Devices Fanfiction)

Chapter 5- A Bad Law Is No Law

Disclaimer: SOME of the dialogue in this chapter, all characters (but Grace and Philip), the main story line and settings belong to the magnificent Cassie Clare. Grace, Philip and my own story plot belong to me. The Infernal Devices do not belong to me.

Hi guys, just so you know this: -*-*-*-*- means new characters p.o.v. ;););) And this is a early Christmas prezzie for you, hope you all have a merry Christmas (if you celebrate it, of course).

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'When love's a battle
And life's a war
When I just can't go on fighting anymore.'

- Army of Angels, The Script
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-*-*-*- Jem -*-*-*-

Jem sat on the edge of his bed, stroking Grace's thick dark hair gently. He had been like this since Will had brought her in from Miss Gray's room across the hall. He didn't know what had happened but he knew it was certainly something.

Her face, for the moment, was peaceful but Jem knew that it could change any minute. It was times like these that he wondered what Grace would have been like if Yanluo had left her alone. When they were young, he remembered the sweet girl Grace was. Their mother would often have to drag her away when she stopped in the street to talk to a beggar, or sat by a small homeless child, offering her own shawl to keep the poor thing warm.

She was still like that, of course but at the same time...not. Her kindness was more quiet. She had become more isolated and remote. Worst of all, it was getting harder and harder for Jem to reach her.

Grace's breathing suddenly quickened and she tossed and turned against the pillow, her hair tangling. Her chest was moving up and down so rapidly that he thought she was going to explode. Jem took hold of her wrist and jerked back, surprised about how hot she was. Now Grace was writhing off the bed, screaming out his name and for him to help her.

"Grace, Gracey," Jem said, panicking. He hated seeing her like this. "It's only a nightmare. It's not real. Please Grace. I'm here, Gracey. I'm right here." He tried to shake her awake but it was no use. It  had got hold of her. "Come on, Grace," Jem said, his voice trembling. "Fight back! You can do it. Fight it!"

Grace sat bolt right up, her eyes wide and pupils unfocussed and more terrifying, bright red. As soon as she saw Jem she screamed, tumbling off the bed and scrambling into the corner, curling up her knees to her chest. Jem approached her carefully, his hands out. This had happened before so he had to be careful. Last time she had almost strangled him. If Will hadn't been there...Jem didn't want to think about what could have happened.

"Grace?" He said softly. "Gracey, it's me." Her eyes was wide with fear. They glowed like the embers of a fire, a sign that it  was on the surface of her mind. If he mistook that, he wouldn't mistake the colour his necklace was turning:

Black with a wisp of red.

"Get out of my head!" she screamed. "Get out! You're not Jem! You're not my brother! Please just leave me alone!"

"Gracey, it is me," Jem said again. "Your brother. You fought it off. You're safe with me." He was on his knees now, crouching in front of her. She flinched away. "Grace," he whispered, slowly reaching out to take her hand. "I'm not going to hurt you. It's me."

"Jem?" Her voice was shaking.

"Yeah it's me," he said gently. "You need to calm down and go back to hazel. Can you do that for me?"