✓ | Hushed Whispers ⋆ Will Herondale [2]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: EMBARRASSING

◤Oh, and Herondale? If you keep rolling your eyes like that, you might even find a brain somewhere in there.◢

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: EMBARRASSING

THE Sun hadn't yet risen when Marie Wayland woke up. Her nightgown was dripped in cold sweat, tiny droplets of shiny liquid still noticeable on the side of Marie's forehead.

Another nightmare had taunted the girl's sleep, making her relieve some of the worst scenes her her eyes had ever gazed upon. As always, it began with darkness enveloping her vision. Then, when she tried looking at her hands, darkness distorted into crimson red droplets of blood.

Her fingers were stained with Will's blood.

You're just dreaming.

Marie often had to remind herself of that. She often had to open her eyes and wish the same plain wish - please, let this day be different. But hours poured into days and no change came.

Nightmares still plagued Marie's resting time and none of the residents of the Institute was lucky enough to find a lead on Mortmain. Their mornings were filled with countless failures, loud bickering and lost time. The imaginary clock reminded them that their deadline was slowly expiring; it had sternly brought to their minds that everything would be over if they didn't make a progress.

If only they were lucky with their attempt of searching through Reparations.

Truly, Jem deserved all the credits for such an idea. In the midst of a terrible quarrel that was threatening to rise between Will, Jessamine and Tessa, he had managed to think of Reparations. Maybe it was one of Tessa's comments that reminded him of Consul's words in the first place, but it was ultimately Jem's sharp mind that worked out the idea of searching through Reparations for additional information.

"Please let us find something," Marie whispered to no one in particular as her bare feet soundlessly touched the floor of the Sanctuary, absorbing the pleasant coolness.

The girl didn't know how she found herself there, she just remembered thinking that taking a walk might help her sleep better. So, without a final destination in mind, Marie wandered through empty hallways of the London Institute, finally reaching the Sanctuary room and sitting on the brink of the fountain, careful not to stain the ends of her nightgown with water.

There were waves of coldness radiating from the fountain, taking turns in making the brunette Shadowhunter shiver. She wrapped her arms around her chest, rubbing her upper arms in order to bring more heat to her body.

And as if the atmosphere hadn't been chilly enough, the door that gave access to the Sanctuary opened, letting London's air enter alongside Will Herondale. The boy wore a pair of black dress trousers and a simple white shirt, his curls unruly.

Although he was dressed like any other common man out there, there was nothing common about Will. He was one of those people that managed to leave one breathless upon entering a room. At least, that's what he did to Marie.

"Why are you awake?" Will's voice was quiet as he walked up to the girl, his hands tucked in his pockets as his dark-blue orbs examined Marie.

"I could ask you the same question," Marie took a moment before replying. The tips of her fingers danced across the transparent surface of water, drawing abstract shapes. "You are the one who enters the Institute at ungodly hours."