Clockwork City (The Mortal Instruments / Infernal Devices Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven: Escape Route

When the black smoke cleared, Tessa looked around. They were in a large circular room filled with fine furniture and decoration. There were three windows in the room and a door at the far end which must lead to the rest of the house. Outside the east window, there was a river - it shimmered in the moon light and rippled as a boat cut its way through.

Looking around the room again, Tessa realised that this must be all the house there was and that the door lead to bedrooms. Next to the door was a kitchen that created a corner in the room. There were a few cupboards and a breakfast bar with chairs around it. Next to Tessa was a solid oak dining table with eight chairs around the sides and two at either end, seating ten in total.

There was a fireplace in the centre and a love seat on one side with a coffee table in front. The sofa faced the fire and though it to the other side where the kitchen was. There was a rug under Tessa’s feet and she looked down to see the dark swirling patterns of lines.

Magnus had picked up a carrier bag from the floor and Tessa heard the clang of bottles within it as he placed it on the counter. Alec was talking to Jace in fast whispers as Jace carried Clary onto the sofa. Jem was stood behind Tessa looking lost and confused - He’s just watched his old friend die in front of him, the man who saved Jem’s life is dead - The thought ran through Tessa’s head and she put her arms around him to comfort him. Jem’s arms went around her but he seemed distracted.

“Alec, will you go away!” Jace was saying as he put Clary down. Alec shook his head and spun Jace around to face him.

“No. I understand Clary is hurt and you need to look after her, but will you just listen to me for a moment.” Alec said, folding his arms across his chest. Tessa came over to help.

“I’ll look after Clary,” she said, Jace shot her a venomous look, “just whilst you’re gone.”

“Go, Jace.” Clary said, allowing Tessa to look at her arm.

“She can’t apply runes,” Jace said, trying to find an excuse to stay.

"No, neither can you. Not until I get the bullet out of her arm.” Tessa said, her voice dripping with a false hatred. It worked and Jace was dragged away.

“How deep is it?” Clary asked when they’d gone.

“Magnus, I need something to pull the bullet out.” Tessa said and Magnus set to work rummaging through another bag. “Not very,” she said to Clary, taking a pair of tweezers from Magnus, “these clean?”

“Yeah,” Magnus said, offering his hand to Clary. “It’s going to hurt.”

“I know,” Clary said, taking Magnus’ hand and bracing herself against the pillows of the sofa, “But it needs taking out and the sooner the better.”

Tessa put one arm on the back of the sofa to steady herself as she held the tweezers in her right hand and her left held Clary’s arm in place. Clary’s forehead was lined with sweat from the pain and her knuckles were white where she gripped Magnus’ hand.

Jace and Alec were just coming around the corner as Tessa put the tweezers into Clary’s arm. Tessa could see the bullet sat next to the bone and knew that if anyone was to jerk her or Clary, the bullet would go further in her upper arm. Clary bit though her lip trying to keep in her scream.

"Nearly got it,” Tessa said, aware of Alec holding Jace back. “Jem, don’t let him near us, I’m not convinced Alec’s strong enough,”

She heard Jem get up from the chair at the breakfast bar and move over to help Alec. Jace swore fluently and Jem reprimanded him in Mandarin. Tessa understood Jem to be saying something that Charlotte would have been embarrassed to hear. Smiling to herself as Jace demanded a translation; Tessa pushed the tweezers slowly further into Clary’s arm. This time, Clary did scream and Jace shouted even louder.