The Mortal Instruments: City of Tainted Blood (Book 2) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3: Blackfriar's Bridge

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, therefore is winged Cupid painted blind"

—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

______________

Glamoured, some of the gathered crowd of Shadowhunters and Downworlders looked like ordinary citizens as their lavish and inappropriate-for-daytime-stroll dresses and suits were hidden from mundane eyes. Most were completely invisible from the looks mundanes didn't give them as they passed.

Only the invited guests to the wedding could see what was truly going on on the bridge. There weren't many people that had been invited as Tessa and Jem had settled for a small private affair. Magnus sighed, stretching as if creating that Portal had required him to be in a cramped position for a long time.

"I can't remember the last time I was back in London. How many decades has it been since I've laid eyes on this fair city?" Magnus said theatrically, earning several stares from the wedding guests. Alec blushed when the stares shifted to Magnus's arm that was around his waist but he didn't move to step away from Magnus.

"He's going to start serenading the London Eye, soon." Jace murmured to Clary as he watched Magnus. She laughed and leaned her head against his side.

"Its when he pulls out his lyre is when you should be scared, Jace." a soft amused voice said from behind them. Clary spun around and smiled at the sight of Jem. He was wearing what Shadowhunter grooms wore to their weddings though his leather shirt was black and only lined with gold instead of the other way around.

The runes for binding and marriage were drawn across his front black leather shirt in gold. He wore a gold rayon shirt underneath the black shirt, the collars upturned. His usually mussed hair, for the first time Clary had ever seen it, was tidy and tamed.

"I'm glad all of you came," Jem said, smiling. There was an ecstatic light in his dark eyes that was barely controlled. He was practically glowing.

Clary couldn't help but smile at him and feel genuinely happy for him. The light in his eyes were bright and Clary could only imagine the same light being mirrored in Tessa's grey eyes. There was something about looking at people who were this happy and find a little bit of their happiness being shared with yourself.

"Wouldn't miss it," Magnus cut in, looking around Jem. "Where's the lovely bride?"

"Hiding." Jem said, slowly shaking his head affectionately as he rolled his eyes. "She has been doing that since this morning. Claiming it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding and such. If she keeps ducking behind the guests every time I'm near, we're going to have none before I can say 'I do'."

"I'll make sure she doesn't," Magnus said, his tone sour. He leaned down and planted a kiss on Alec's forehead, murmuring something in his ear before he dissappeared into the crowd though it was easy to spot his glittering crown of hair towering over most of the guests.

"Emma has been looking for you, Jace," Jem said, a smile that implied he was trying to keep a laugh in playing upon his lips. "She's been ecstatic when she found out you were coming today."

"Of course she is," Isabelle mused.

Jace smiled graciously at Isabelle and Jem, the smile of a mischievous angel behind an innocent façade. "I'm sure she has. Who wouldn't?" was Jace's not so gracious reply.

The fact that Emma idolized Jace was no secret though everyone had different thoughts about it. Isabelle had thought it was ridiculous to idolize Jace as Isabelle had claimed that Jace had the redeeming qualities of a sitting duck (Jace had gasped at this and had jumped into a half hour speech on the difference of him and a duck).