Chain of Iron

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lucie Herondale stood outside of the Bridgestock residence, wishing to be anywhere else then she already was. She had decided to come to see Grace about bringing back Jesse, as she had not spoken to Grace in awhile, but Lucie was now regretting coming. She did not particularly want to see the other girl, especially after how Cordelia had told her that she had caught her and James kissing. It was all felt incredibly awkward and Lucie herself didn't not wish James to be with Grace. It would have been different if Miss Blackthorn had made an effort to try to get know Lucie, but she looked as if she was not interested in anything Lucie had to say.

Lucie knocked on the grand doors of the Bridgestock house and it was opened by the Inquisitor himself. Lucie felt a sense of intimidation at the sight of the man before her; she had never spoken to the Inquisitor before although she had heard from Anna that was not the nicest of men.

"Miss Herondale." He spoke in surprise. "How may I help you?"

"I am here to see Miss Blackthorn." Lucie told him politely.

He nodded and let her inside of the grand house. The Inquisitor lead her to the parlour where she took a seat, feeling slightly awkward.

"I will go fetch Miss Blackthorn." He told her.

He then disappeared and Lucie was left to her own thoughts. She wondered how Grace fared being here in a house with people she did not know; Lucie thought that it had to have been much better than living with Tatiana. At least the house was not rotting. Grace entered the room a few moments later, looking as solemn as she usually did, and she took a seat across from Lucie. Any injuries or bruises from the demon attack had gone and Grace looked as put together as ever.

"How do you do, Miss Herondale?" Grace asked politely.

"I am well." Lucie nodded. "How are you feeling nowadays? My brother told me of your misfortune of getting bit by a demon."

The other girl flinched. "It was a traumatizing experience but I am doing well now. What is it that I can help you with?"

Lucie felt a tad confused. Did she not know why she had come? Had she forgotten all about their plan to resurrect Jesse?

"I am here to ask you if you have any ideas of how we can put our plan into action, regarding Jesse." Lucie spoke in a low voice.

"Oh, yes, that." Grace looked down at her hands. "I do not think we should continue with that, Miss Herondale."

Her eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Grace did not look Lucie in the eyes as she spoke. "I have thought about it immensely and it is not a good idea. Killing my mother would be murder and we also have no way to reach the Adamant Citadel."

Lucie blinked. Was this the same girl who had said she would kill her mother to save her brother, just a few weeks ago? She knew that what Grace was saying was all true but she could not help but feel disappointed.

"But - but what about your brother? Don't you wish him to come back to life?" Lucie stuttered, feeling a bit helpless.

Grace shook her head. "I must somehow make myself forget about Jesse. He would not wish for me to kill our mother to bring him back."

Lucie knew this to be true but still could not shake her shock and disappointment. All she could do was agree with Grace and then she found herself leaving the Bridgestock household, feeling lost. She walked aimlessly through the streets of London, not caring if it was not proper for a lady to walk about the streets by herself. How had Grace just given up so easily? Lucie understood that bringing back Jesse would be breaking the law, but was she not desperate to get her brother back? And why was Lucie herself so desperate have Jesse back when she had not even known him when he had been living? Lucie began to feel herself walk even faster through the streets, not caring where she was going. Well, she actually did know where she was going.

It was a long shot, Lucie knew. Tatiana had most likely moved Jesse's body from the Chiswick house but she could not help but find herself walking towards the house in order to check. As she walked, Lucie felt sadness pool within her. Jesse would never have the chance to have a normal life or get married and have children. He had never even been trained as a Shadowhunter and the thought hurt Lucie to her core. The sadness did not end when she reached the Chiswick house and entered the small shed that, to her relief, still held Jesse's body. She was not sure why Tatiana had kept him here when was at the Adamant Citadel but Lucie figured that maybe Tatiana had thought that no one would ever find him here.

On instinct, Lucie lifted the glass covering that separated her and Jesse and felt tears well in her eyes as she gazed upon him. His face was gently set and his eyes were closed; he looked so young and Lucie found it hard to believe that he had been dead like this for many years. She would never be able to help him. Lucie had broken her promise to Jesse, the boy who had sacrificed his own life to save her brother's. Lucie felt a tear escape her eye as she laid a hand upon his hand and bent her head to look at ground. She felt so guilty; she had failed Jesse and she knew that she would never get over the guilt that came with it. She wanted him alive so badly - she could almost feel it racing through her veins. Lucie wanted his green eyes to open and for him to stand up and to be living. She would do anything just to-

A hand then laid atop of her own and Lucie's eyes snapped upward. Jesse Blackthorn had moved his hand on top of hers, his magnificent green eyes looking up at her in complete and utter shock. Lucie gasped, not being able to believe the sight in front of her.

"Jesse?" Lucie whispered, still stunned.

He looked just as shocked as Lucie felt. "I--You did it, Lucie. You brought me back to life."

You are not even aware of true power yet, are you? It is much more powerful than your brother's and much more dangerous, Belial's words came back to Lucie as realization struck her hard. This was her power; she could raise the dead. Her vision went white for a moment. What would the Clave do if they ever found out? She would be thrown in the prisons of the Silent City and Aunt Charlotte would not be able to stop it. Oh no, she thought as she looked at Jesse, what am I to do with him now? She had never thought about what she would actually do when she raised Jesse and where he would go.

Lucie watched as he cautiously sat up on the table he laid upon and gingerly began to stand on his feet. He was so much taller in person than Lucie had thought he would be. Jesse was still looking at her with wide eyes.

"How did I do it?" She whispered, partly to her own self. "I was only thinking about how I wished for you to come back alive and -- and then you did."

"You have a powerful gift." Jesse told her in a soft voice.

He was still looking down at himself, seeming like he disbelieved that he was actually alive. Lucie could not even imagine the emotions that were swirling in him; how did one even begin to react when they were raised from the dead? Where would he go now? He could not be presented to the Clave - they would not stop until they found out who had brought him back and Lucie did not want Jesse to be hurt.

"Come back to the Institute with me." Lucie told him desperately. "I will explain everything to my mother and father and they will protect you, I swear on it."

Jesse looked up at her. "I will go anywhere you wish me to, Lucie. I owe you my life. What you have done for me is something that I can never repay."

Her heart softened at his words. "You do not owe me anything, Jesse. You saved my brother's life and sacrificed your own chance to live again. That is something that I will never be able to repay."

He then gave her the widest smile she had ever seen him give and then suddenly his arms were around Lucie and he was hugging her. She froze for a moment but then returned it, pleased to feel the beating of his heart against her own. They stayed like that for awhile until they decided to go back to the Institute; Jesse's new home.