The Light That Marks The Way

Part 1: Day and Night

I looked up at the sky and frowned.  The air was crisp, almost burning the porcelain skin on her face as the wind passed through her. The world is not what it used to be, at least in the eyes of Tessa Herondale it wasn't.  I felt the cold wind hit my body forcefully and shivered.  I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, trying to warm myself up as much as possible.  It didn't help me at all, nor please me so I unwrapped my arms and let them hang by my sides.  I walked briskly forward, hoping the movement would warm me up more.
The buildings around me seemed so foreign compared to London. I had been in London for so long sometimes I felt like I had been born there. Well, I guess in a way, this version of Tessa was born in London. I chuckled as I thought of young Tessa. So curious for knowledge and yet so utterly stubborn and strong-willed. One of those personality traits never changed. I cursed as my hair flew in front of my face, blocking my view. I pushed it back forcefully and looked ahead of me. The Brooklyn Institute. It had been decades since I had been back to New York.
I finally got to where I wanted and stopped in horror.  Everything was so different, so modernized.  The building was even painted a light grey, which it was not supposed to be painted ever.  The gates around the Institute were the same though. Rod iron, rusted and in shambles to a stranger's eye. Suddenly, my heart stopped.  I felt the light fade from my eyes, and my head filled with so many questions. 

He had his back turned towards me but I could notice who he was in a heartbeat.  Of course I would. I wanted to just run up to him and hug him to death, but I held myself back.  As I stepped forward he turned around, showing his charming dark blue eyes and his black hair.  He looked at me, probably more stunned than I was.  His face softened and he dropped the book he was holding onto the freezing ground. 

"Tess."  He whispered softly, his voice shaky and surprised.  I smiled as a single tear went down my face.  I began to walk towards him, as he did too.  Then I began to run.  He began running towards me, his eyes full of tears.  As we met, we wrapped our arms around each other.  I buried my head in his shoulders and began to cry.  He held me tightly as we stood there for what seemed like seconds but was more like minutes.  I felt him stroke my hair softly, the way he used to years ago. Years. Decades.  I smiled and lifted my head from his shoulder. I stared in his eyes, while he looked at me too.  We both had tears in our eyes, and we began to laugh.  Then our lips found each other, and he wrapped his arms around me. 

"Oh Will! My darling Will!" I cried, his scent coursing  through my veins.

"I've been waiting for this moment Tess, and I thought it would never come."  He said, feeling my pale arms full of goose bumps. 

"I know Will.  I have b-been too."  I said, tears still running down my cheeks.  I shivered as rain began to fall. 

"Let's go inside." He suggested.  He put his black leather coat over us and we ran to the doors.  Before Will opened the doors, I stopped him.

"How do you know we won't be questioned?" I said, Will's hand barely on the door. Will looked at me and shrugged.

"Because my dear, they'll know and if they don't, well... they will know." Will smiled.  I smiled back and opened the door leading to a place I will never forget, because at one point in my life, this place was my home.

As we walked through the door, I felt the air get caught in the back of my throat.  Will noticed immediately and looked at me, reading my face silently.  As I opened my mouth to protest what he was going to say, I heard a gasp.  We both immediately looked in the long corridor to see a girl around the age of sixteen with bright red hair and freckles.  She was short and very skinny, like she hadn't eaten in two days.  Then I saw a boy who looked slightly like Will.  He had the same dark blue eyes and thin long body-type, but his hair was blonde and everything else was unfamiliar.