Golden Days - an Infernal Devices Fanfic

Will took a deep breath every some minutes in hope it’ll calm him down just a little. It didn’t work, though. He couldn’t bring himself to serenity, nor slow the rhythm of his heart biting hard against his chest. For a second he even felt ill and needed to lie down so the hideous headache will temporarily pass – it felt like the room around him will close on him and he’ll be buried alive under the heavy stone of it. Maybe it would be the best for that to happen.

There were thick smell of flowers all around the Institute those days and though it was lovely, Will couldn’t find it comfort at all. It just reminded him what is going to happen soon and make the hollowness in what has left of his heart deeper.

I’m selfish. He thought and shook himself from the feelings. He got up on his feet from the bed he lied on and took a step toward the mirror so he could see his reflection. It looked like everything was painted in black and white – his ash-dark hair, and white skin which looked even whiter than usual under the moon-light, and eventually, his blue eyes, staring at him, looking sickly like two shining jewels. He fought himself not to grab the nearest object his hand will find and throw it at the mirror, shatter the unfamiliar character that stood there.

Instead, Will stood still and made himself give the best, brilliant smile he can bring up to his lips. But the smile that touched his lips looked fake and sad.

There was a soft click and the door to the room opened silently. Jem stood at the door’s foot and looked inside. He never looked Happier to Will more than that exact moment, and that made Will feel both grate comfort and killing pain.

  “Why are you standing like that in the dark, Will?” Jem slide into the room and shot the door close behind him.

Will shook his head; he tried to return Jem his most successful smile “No reason. Can’t man stand in the dark while he wishes to?”

Jem laugh quietly. It was one of Will’s favorite sounds in the entire world, like precious music. Jem looked healthy as much as happy, his eyes were dark silver and he had some color in his cheeks. Jem was like that for quite long time now, so much that there were days he didn’t even took his drugs. Who knows, maybe if everything will stay and be well as it was those days, Will hoped, Jem will slowly recover from his illness and live his life lengthily and happily until the age will take him.

The two of them stood silently for a minute, staring hard one in the other’s eyes.

  “A big day coming tomorrow, my brother,” Will said “Get some rest.”

  “I hope that my best man will hear his own advice.” Jem smiled and left the room. And as the door closed, Will crushed to his knees.

*     *     *

The dress Sophie brought was amazingly beautiful. It wasn’t all that grandiose, just simple, but still beautiful. With long golden skirt, and golden little flowers woven around the waist. It also had half-transparent, light sleeves and left most of Tessa’s back bare. Tessa stared at herself in the mirror as Sophie finished with her thick brown hair and placed more of the little golden flowers matched those she had on her dress.

Sophie also looked at Tessa through the mirror and their eyes met.

  “You look beautiful, Miss Tessa.” Sophie said. All Tessa can do was to nod, she haven’t been able to speak since this morning when Sophie came in with that dress.

Tessa set her eyes on the other girl’s scared face. She also was unbelievably pretty, even though she had this scar over her face. Sophie was dressed in flattering blue dress that showed the color of her eyes, and her hair was pulled up with shiny golden pin curved as stately bird. Charlotte was the one to decide Sophie needed to dress-up as much as everyone else despite the servant’s protest.

  “That’s it.” Sophie said. And Tessa really felt like that was it. “I’ll give you some time to yourself now, miss.”

Tessa gave her another nod.

Before Sophie got out of Tessa’s room she said “You have all my best wishes, Miss Tessa. Jem is a kind, loving man.” And then she vanished.

  “I know.” Tessa whispered and a tear slid down her cheek.

*     *     *

The wedding took place in the Institute’s yard that was now organized and decorated with millions of flowers and golden strips hanging from everywhere – making magical flying forms. There were three rows of chairs divided to two lumps by long trail of golden material which lead to a low stage that also was shimmering with gold and tiny lights.

This wasn’t a regular wedding. Not for shadowhunters, or mundanes. No one of those kind was fit to the situation. Mundane wedding will bind them with law and religion that none of them really believed in, but Shadowhunter’s wedding wouldn’t fit to a shadowhunter marring a downworlder, they cannot exchange runes like two shadowhunters did in weddings. So this was more for formality than anything else.

Tessa took a step forward on the golden trail, and stopped for a second as time seemed to slow down and stop. She looked at the standing people watching her, the chairs rows wasn’t nearly half full, but it still felt like a lot of pressure to have all those pairs of eyes on her. There was Charlotte, with her big pregnant belly which made her small body look more breakable than usual, smiling at Tessa, and next to her stood henry, also seemed exited. Beside them stood Cyril and Bridget and for Tessa’s surprise, one row behind them, stood Magnus, wearing the weirdest glamour jacket, and, though something looked sad in his cat eyes, he smiled warmly too. From the over side of her, stood Cecily Herondale – Will’s sister – looking at Tessa with big puppy-like eyes, and Sophie, standing beside Gideon Lightwood. Tessa could swear that she saw their hands brushing one each other’s, what made the strong feel she had lately that something was going on between those two rush again. But she was happy for Sophie, if that was the truth. Gideon seemed to like her very much, and he always treated her kindly and gently.

And for last – she swear she won’t meet his eyes. She swear it, but couldn’t help it – Will, Standing in the corner, shadows hugging him. His blue eyes locked with hers for long time, and she wanted to cry all over again. She felt the horror floating inside of her. The fear that once she’ll be on the stage, seeing Will standing there looking at her as his – or maybe hers? – Worst nightmare coming true, she’ll leave Jem behind and run away.

And then he did something that shocked her. He nodded to her. Without even notice she began walking again down the path, cutting her look away from Will and facing her future husband, one of her most beloved dears.

Jem looked like a drop of silver in the middle of the gold sea around them. And he was happy. So happy it slashed through Tessa’s body. He was smiling at her, and his silver eyes were full of light.

As Tessa reached to the end of the golden trail Jem stepped down from the stage and offered her his arm. She took it and smiled up at him. He leaded her up on the stage.

Brother Enoch stood there, wearing no different from his regular robe, his hood covering his face. Tessa wasn’t sure why, but the decision was that brother Enoch will be the one to perform the ceremony, even though she knew the Silent Brothers made nervous quite lot of people. And preforming wedding ceremony wasn’t something she ever imagined one of the Silent Brothers would do, and of course when it wasn’t even a shadowhunters’ wedding.

  We gathered here today to celebrate the love of two… started brother Enoch and Tessa turned to face him, so did Jem. But after this very first sentence she couldn’t make sensible meaning out of his words which traveled in her mind. She was so nerves she thought that she going to pass out.

But then her eyes met Jem’s and everything looked a lot simpler. He took her hand in his. His touch was warm and comforting and everything was fine. Everything was simply fine…

  “Yes, I do.” Jem said and brought Tessa back to reality. Tessa was confused, but Jem smiled and she could feel his rising heart beats under the skin of his palm.

  Theresa Gray, do you take this Nephilim to be your husband in formal, and stand beside him in either healthiness or illness? Brother Enoch’s voice ringed in her mind.

Tessa now understood why Will nodded at her earlier, she looked after her back, looking for him back in the spot he stood at only minutes ago. But Will was nowhere to be seen.

  “I do.”