The Equal Shadowhunter : A Rainheart Tale The Infernal Devices Fanfiction [PG]

Chapter 1 : The Arrival

London, England
1878

The carriage stopped in front of the old, wrecked building.

I focused my sight a little bit, seeing through the hard curtain of water pouring on the other side of the glass window.

The glamour faded, and there it was. The London Institute. The big, old, glorious former All-Hallows-The-Less, with its cathedral hanging over me.

The carman pulled open the door beside me, and my luggage was already out beside my ride. He helped me carry my three huge case to the front step.

"Sorry, missus. I have to ask for my payment." 

I cuss at my stupidity, then handed the kind carman -though his unfortunate lack of manner in treating a young lady, in the middle of the rain no less!- the payment he and I had agreed upon.

I waited until he rode out of sight, and put my palm upon the gate's lock.

"I, Lulu Rainheart, in the name of the Clave and in the angel Raziel, request entrance."

The gate swung open, and as soon as I step across the threshold between the gate and the crosswalk, I felt the glamour covering me, shading me from the mundanes just a few inches behind me.

I'm now soaked completely as I try pulling my cases to the front door. My God it was a mistake bringing so much things. I feel the impact of my long journey hits me, along with the jet-lag and the heavy rain. I knocked on the door once, twice. I checked how I must look briefly. The hemline of my dress, once the vibrant blue, is now muddy and brown. My shoes, under the dress,  got soaked in water and sand, yet strangely no mud. My gray hood may be the only thing that makes me look the tiniest bit presentable, seeing as even though its soaked in rain water, the color is the same as it was before. It covered all of my upper body, from my head to my hips.

I raise my hand to knock the third time before a man appeared from behind my right side, running across the rain to get to me. When he's finally standing by my side, also all wet now, I can see the sharp features of his handsome face.

He shakes my hand, "You must be our guest. I'm Thomas Tanner, the carriage driver." He spoke with a thick English accent, but the dialect was unlike mine, whereas his was pure English, and I have lots of influence from Idris.

He has no Marks on him, then he must be a Sighted. It's not unheard of for Intitutes all around the globe to have mundanes working at their Institute, for the leading families.

I smile back at his handsome face and shook his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Thomas. I'm Lulu Rainheart."

Thomas, who I decide I will call Tom, brought up my cases, all three in two hands. Without me asking. I smile at his kindness, and my heart beats just a little harder as he opens the decorated gate. I haven't been in another Institute before Idris. Not since a long time ago. I push the thought away.

The door showed a dark hallway, only fluorescent by the witchlight not far in front of me. Thomas gestured for me to go inside,and so I do.

"Keep going, Miss Rainheart." he tells me from behind.

So we kept walking, Thomas beside me in the barely fluorescent hallway. Then we reached the witchlight, which shows a room, very regal looking with the big seats and dark wooden tables. Thomas gestured his hand for me to keep going. The second witchlight is in front of what appears to be a space for door, yet naught its actual door. Inside, a room was shining bright, the chandelier above hanging beautifully. It appears to be a dining room, big enough to fit the whole Enclave of London, but only about 10 chairs surrounds the long dining table.