The Infernal Devices Rewritten

Chapter 6 - To Hide from Death

Chapter 6

To Hide from Death

It was the biggest breakfast Evan's ever seen - dishes she's never even dreamed about. Bridget must have been up all night, Evan thought as she passed Jem's chair, she tapped his shoulder, grinning even more widely (as everyone had) as her blue eyes met with dark brown - not a speck of silver evident on his features. They shared a brief smile before Evan sat in her seat next to Will, catching his smile, too. Cecily was reading a book on her other side... it was an oddly familiar book...

It was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

"Evan," Cecily said over the chatter. "How many times have you read this?"

Hesitating, Evan said "A lot...."

"Yes, obviously a lot but how many times?" Cecily looked up at her, the book still poised.

Under her breath, she muttered "Forty six."

"Sorry?"

"Forty six," Evan said slightly louder.

"I don't think I've even heard of someone reading a book that many times," Tessa said across from them, smiling. "It's good then?"

"Good?" Evan repeated, grinning, "There are seven books in the series - not the mention the script for the play of the eighth installment and the prequel movie. Harry Potter is practically the future!"

"Ah," Jem said, "So it is good."

"To put it mildly," Evan said. Her grin turned into a smile, "You know Jem, I think the dark hair suits you better."

"I second that," Tessa smiled over at him.

"I agree!" Will said, buttering his toast.

"It's very strange," Jem said, "Looking in the mirror and not recognizing the face staring back at you - like out of a dream."

"A very good dream, I hope," Will said easily, "Not a nightmare?"

"Not at all," Jem's smile never wavered. "I really should thank you Will - and you, Evan."

Will and Evan both hurriedly assured him that he shouldn't than him. WIll had even gone to the extent of reminding him (so that everyone could hear) that he was completely worth it.

The rest of the morning was a celebration, as was most of that afternoon until Charlotte reminded everyone that they had to come to a conclusion about what to tell the Clave. So, once more, the inhabitants of the London Institute met in the drawing room. Will, Evan and Cecily all sat on the couch, Gabriel sat in the wooden chair by the window, Jem and Tessa occupied the armchairs in front of the fire while Henry stood behind Charlotte's chair behind the desk. Sophie coaxed the fire to grow while deliberately not meeting Gabriel's eye.

Jem spoke first, hesitant but still calm. "I do not think we should tell the Clave just yet, Charlotte." His statement surprised everyone but he continued quickly, "We are unsure if Mortmain has been able to infiltrate the Clave deeper than Benedict Lightwood -"

"I agree with James," Gabriel spoke up. "If the yin fen is the only thing Mortmain believes we need and goes to all the trouble to keep us from it, we must use that to our advantage."

Charlotte nodded, "I have to agree - but we cannot keep you locked in the Institute until Mortmain has been stopped."

"Magnus mentioned a way to dye my hair," Jem said. "Yesterday before..."

"You want to revert back to...." Will trailed off, his jaw locking.

"It would only be for a few months, not even," Jem said, sharing a look with Tessa.

"And you are certain," Henry frowned, "That you are alright with this, Jem?"

"It is only my hair," Jem said lightly. "Nothing that will not grow back or that Magnus cannot undo."

Charlotte sighed, taking in Jem's healthy complexion. "I shall write to Magnus now, then?"

Jem nodded solemnly, raising his and Tessa's joined hands to brush his lips across her knuckles, despite the audience. She smiled lightly back and the Londoners dispersed, Charlotte to write to Magnus Bane, Henry to his crypt, Evan and Cecily to the training room with Gabriel, Jem and Will to the training room as well, while Tessa went to the Library.

"Okay, Jem - no! Hold still!" Evan yelped as Jem shook the water and dye out of his hair. It splattered on her and Tessa and Will - who watched as Evan dyed Jem's hair - a complicated combination of safe chemicals and safe warlock powders.

"The water's cold!" Jem protested. Tessa covered her mouth while she giggled but Will was openly amused. Evan was the only one who effectively knew how to dye hair, seeing as her mother hated gray roots and was constantly (with Evan's help) dying her roots the same silver her children had.

"It would have been warmer if you'd stop squirming," Evan muttered, her lips fighting the smile threatening to appear on her face. "No - I mean it Jem you're getting it all over!"

"It's cold!" Jem said again. He was laying on the floor of the attic, his head over a wash bowl and towels spread out under them. "How do women in the twenty first century do this regularly?"

"Beauty is pain, haven't you heard?" Evan flicked water at him. "Now hold still, the roots are the hardest part."

"You need to cut your nails," Jem muttered.

"I'm ignoring you now," Evan said. Then she looked up at the grinning onlookers, "Unless your fiancée wants to do it!"

"Oh," Tessa said, hiding her laugh, "No, please - Evan, you're doing a terrific job. Isn't she, Will?"

"Oh yes, you can't even tell that you're cured!" Will laughed obnoxiously.

Evan flicked the dye at him, too. "Shut up, Will, you try."

"I would but this is so much more amusing from afar."

"Are you sure this isn't part of that oath..." Evan said, "You know, helping keep his health a secret to save his life...?"

"Yes, Will, I believe she's right," Tessa said. "Jem?"

"I don't want Will anywhere near my head with dye." Jem announced.

Three painful hours, two stained shirts and one silver head later, Jem's hair was silver. He looked kind of strange, though, his eyes were dark and his skin was healthier but his hair was more silver than two days ago - after some convincing and a few brushes of makeup, he looked sickly again.

"That's actually very well done, Evan," Charlotte said as they passed each other in the halls. Jem and Tessa had just come back from Hyde Park, again.

"You doubted me!" Evan said, offended.

Charlotte waved it off and patted her shoulder in a motherly way, "Of course not, but I am pleasantly surprised."

"And I am too," Jem said. "I do look rather naturally sickly. Thank you Evan."

"I should skip anesthesiology and become a cosmetologist." Evan said brightly.

"Or not," Cecily threw over her shoulder. "Hurry up, Evan!"

Evan said something that sounded like "Hashtag rude," Before excusing herself to follow Cecily. Will's eyes followed her until she and her sister disappeared around a corner.

"Do you even know what she's talking about half the time?" Jem asked as he and Will continued walking. Charlotte was on her way to the crypt but Jem and Will were on their way into the city.

"No, of course not." Will snorted, looking after her as she and his sister disappeared up the stairs and around the corner.