Clockwork City (The Mortal Instruments / Infernal Devices Fanfiction)

Chapter Eight: Little Sisters

3 hours later the apartment was deemed safe to re-enter. Jace and Clary hadn't returned by the time Tessa and Isabelle had lunch on the table after seeking out a German camp of vampires. The sun was starting to settle low in the sky and the bustle from the chair lift next to the apartment was starting to die down.

Tessa couldn’t help but glance over at Jem, half to check he was still there, and half to remember what he looked like when he was healthy, but already that was slipping away.  His face had paled horribly but his hands hadn't started shaking. Tessa could see grey flecks in his hair.

No one had really said anything about the problem they were in, and truth be told, no one really understood why they were suddenly thrown into this. But Tessa couldn’t help but look around the table and wonder who was holding back information. It was too random - too quick - for it to be just a scare tactic. Jace had said about how the vampires had been moaning for a while that their clan was disappearing and the Shadowhunters weren’t taking them seriously. But for them to attack the institute, something must have pushed them over the edge. Something big.

She longed for Will. If Will was here he’d know what to do. He’d also freak out a lot of people and Tessa had no idea how she would explain, but that wouldn’t be a problem if she was granted her wish to see him.

“Nice sandwiches,” Simon said, trying to break the awkward silence.

“Thanks,” Tessa and Isabelle said together. They turned and smiled at each other across the table.

“So,” Alec said, putting down a bottle, “anyone know any good songs?”

It was Jem who moved first. He tapped his finger on the table in front of him and started to hum the chorus to get everyone on the same lines as him. Tessa recognised the song almost immediately. Simon ginned and started to say the words when Jem nodded and repeated the first verse;

On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives

They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint, a touch of sable in their eyes

(All your life) all your life all you've asked when's your daddy gonna talk to you

But you were living in another world tryin' to get your message through.

Soon, everyone had joined in. Isabelle had taken up her own backing vocals and occasionally repeated words that Simon sang. Tessa joined in when they got to the chorus;

Ooh, she's a little runaway,

Daddy's girl learned fast

All those things he couldn't say.

Ooh, she's a little runaway.

It was the most fun Tessa had experienced in a while. They all sat around the table sing Bon Jovi’s song ‘Runaway’ which seemed strangely appropriate given their circumstances.

When the final chorus finished everyone laughed. Magnus recovered first and said, “You know, I met Bon Jovi and I’m sure we sung that better than he did!” This renewed the laughter. Everyone knew it was possibly the worst singing in the history of all singing, but no one cared. It was the sort of laugh that Tessa put with people who had nothing to worry about. It was a carefree laugh that made her side sting and her eyes water.

Tessa glanced over at Jem and she saw his hands shaking again. She swallowed and got up from the table. She could tell everyone had seen her but she was grateful that they were ignoring her as she took out a little box and sprinkled some of the yin fen into it before putting it in the fridge under the counter for in case Jem needed it later.