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T A L I S M A N S A N D S P E L L S
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Willa watched Thomas quietly, her grey-blue eyes flickering over his figure as he sat atop his bed with his head in his hands. The Herondale girl gulped slightly, her heavy heart due to Barbara's death feeling ten times heavier from her best friend's pain. She had to take a deep breath in order to calm herself down, knowing that she was the one that had to be strong for the both of them. She had to be there for Thomas in a way she never thought she would have to be, but that she knew she would do without hesitation.
"Tom," Willa spoke softly, walking into the spare room of the Institute that they had made up for Thomas. "I've got some more blankets for you."
Thomas was quick to sit up, desperately trying to act as if he hadn't just been drowning in his own misery. He didn't speak and merely nodded his head, something that made Willa frown. The girl was silent as she moved across the room, carefully setting the extra blankets on a chair before sitting down beside Thomas who had shifted his gaze to the floor.
His face was stained with tears, his eyes so red that Willa wouldn't be surprised if they had been rubbed raw. His face held a haunted sadness, an emotion Willa wished she never had to see upon her friend's face. He didn't speak and Willa watched as a stray tear rolled down his cheek. She was quick to wipe it away, her loving gesture making Thomas squeeze his eyes shut as a shaky breath escaped his lips.
Willa let her hand fall back down and she placed it atop Thomas' hand, the boy flipping his hand around to lace their fingers together. He gripped onto her hand tight, his eyes still shut while he began to lean against her for support.
It took a minute for Thomas to open his eyes and he sniffled before glancing over at Willa and then back down at her hand which he continued to grip onto like his life depended on it. "I hope—" Thomas' voice cracked and he had to collect himself before trying to speak again. "I hope it's okay that I asked to stay here instead of. . .instead of going to Idris with my parents."
"Of course, Tom," Willa said, her eyes still flickering over his face. "You're always welcome here, you know that. I just can't help but wonder if you might be more comfortable staying with Christopher?"
Thomas was quick to shake his head, his hand now gripping onto hers so tight that the girl had to hold back a wince. "No," he said. "No. I want to stay with you, if that's alright. You're my best friend, Willy. I feel better when I'm with you."
Willa softened a bit at that and she couldn't help but feel a little guilty that her heart warmed at his words. "Alright, then," she whispered, the two falling into a silence as they sat shoulder to shoulder with their hands still intertwined.
It was only a moment of Willa just sitting by his side and holding his hand before Thomas broke and let out a soft sob. His face contorted with pain, tears freely falling as he brought their intertwined hands up to his face and leaned against it.
The Herondale girl's heart broke at the sight and she was just about to wrap her arms around him when he said something that made her freeze.
"It's all my fault."
"What?" Willa questioned, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked towards Thomas as if he had grown two heads.
"It's all my fault," Thomas repeated. "Barbara—" His voice cracked and he has to take in a shaky breath as more tears fell. "Barbara's dead because of me."
"Tom, what are you talking about? This isn't your fault," Willa insisted, but he merely shook his head and let go of her hand in order to let bury his face into his hands.
"But it is. I wasn't there when she needed me. I wasn't fast enough with finding a cure. Instead, I was too busy fighting demons and chasing James around London. I should've been looking for a cure. I should've been by her side," Thomas muttered.
He let his tear filled eyes glance in her direction and Willa had never seen him look as pained as he did in that moment as he whispered, "I should've been there, Willy."
"Tom," Willa said, but Thomas was already looking away.
"There's no use trying to tell me it's not my fault. You can't convince me otherwise. Barbara was my sister and I didn't even do anything to help," Thomas muttered, wincing as soon as he realized he had said 'was' instead of 'is.'
"Thomas Lightwood!" Willa exclaimed, pushing herself up off the bed so that she now stood before her friend. Thomas couldn't help but blink in surprise at her sudden outburst, his eyes staring up at her while she looked at him with a mixture of anger and sadness.
"Don't you dare say those words ever again!" Willa yelled, tears of her own filling her eyes as she looked at the boy. "I will not sit here and listen to you put the blame upon yourself when none of this is your fault!"
Thomas' gaze flickered to the floor and Willa softened a bit and was quick to fall onto her knees in front of the boy, her hands reaching out to grab ahold of his own as she looked up at him. "You weren't the one who sent those demons and you weren't the one who was in charge of healing your sister. You are the most selfless and caring person I know, so don't talk as if you are not," Willa said.
"I know you are hurting and even when you are wanting to put the blame on someone, you still put it upon yourself rather than someone else because that's just the type of person you are. To be honest with you, Tom, you and I both know that Barbara wouldn't want this. She wouldn't want you moping around and blaming yourself over something you could not prevent," Willa whispered.
Thomas was silent for a long while before his body began to shake, tears falling down his cheeks as he whispered out, "It hurts, Willy."
Willa was there to catch him as he broke down, his hands holding onto her tightly as if he would fall apart without her and his face burying itself against her shoulder as sobs racked his body.
Willa held him close, her head leaning against his own while one hand held onto the back of his head and the other stroked up and down his back. Thomas became a broken mess under her touch, but she would be the one to help him put himself back together again just like he had been the one to help her all those years ago at the Academy.
For a moment she distantly remembered a situation similar to this, although the roles had been reversed and Thomas had been the one holding onto her as she cried. He had whispered words to her back then that she knew she would never forget and they were exactly what Thomas needed to hear at that very moment.
"You won't face the pain alone," Willa whispered, her words making Thomas sob a bit harder as he hugged her close.
Those words had never been more true for Willa never would let Thomas walk alone. It would take time to heal over such a loss, but he would get there. And just like Thomas had when she had first been heartbroken over her brother becoming parabatai with Matthew, Willa would stay by his side every step of the way.
- - -
Thomas eventually wore himself out and fell asleep, but Willa never left his side. Instead she had thrown a blanket over him before pulling up a chair and sitting by his side, her hand resting gently atop his own while she took the moment of silence to mourn herself.
She hadn't been close to Barbara, but seeing as she was Thomas' sister, Willa had encountered her quite often. Barbara had always been a part of Willa's life, being a few years older than herself meaning that she literally had never gone a day without the Lightwood girl.
Barbara had always been so kind, a smile constantly dawning her face as she taught Willa to always look for the best in people. There had been a moment in time when Willa had admired the girl, especially when she had heard the countless tales from Thomas about how amazing his sisters were.
Willa could barely even begin to comprehend that Barbara was gone. After all, it didn't seem real. But Thomas' pain was real. The heartbroken expressions on Gideon and Sophie Lightwood's faces as they had come to pick up their deceased daughter was real. And the fact that the world seemed a bit darker without Barbara Lightwood in it was real.
A soft knock on the door was enough to pull Willa from her thoughts and it was only as she turned to look at who was there that she realized she had been crying. At the door stood her father, a grim look upon his face as his eyes softened as he looked at her.
Will gestured for her to come out into the hallway and the Herondale girl glanced once more at her friend before gently squeezing his hand and walking out of the room. She carefully closed the door behind her before looking up, her eyes locking on her father who took in her tear stained face and whispered, "Oh, cariad."
Her father was there in an instant, his arms wrapping around the young girl as her hands balled into fists around his coat and soft sobs escaped her lips. Will held onto his daughter tightly and Willa could practically feel his love wrapping her up in a tighter embrace that slowly began to heal her aching heart.
"He's in so much pain, Papa," Willa whimpered, not letting go of her father who continued to keep her in his warm embrace. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help him."
"I'm afraid there isn't much you can do, Willy," Will sighed, his hand gently stroking her hair while she nuzzled more into her father's hold. "But you can be there for him. You can hold him when he's at his lowest, keep him standing when he feels like giving up. You can't protect him from the pain, but you can show him your love. It'll get easier, but he must get through the hard parts first and he will need you for that more than he has ever needed you before."
Willa was silent as she let her father's words sink in and after a couple of moments, she had finally managed to calm down enough to pull away. Will smiled down at the girl and gently brought his hands up to wipe away the remaining tears.
"Thank you, Papa," she whispered, offering a small smile at her father who smiled back at her. She hadn't noticed before, but his blue eyes were deeply shadowed and Willa couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt for she knew he must be tired from the events of that night as well. However, there was a small gleam in his eyes that made the girl still. "What is it?"
"There is someone here to see you," Will said causing Willa to furrow her eyebrows. "To see you and your brother actually." Willa opened her mouth to question her father, but thought it best to remain quiet if someone was here to see her and James.
Will guided her to James' room and Willa froze at the sight of Jem standing outside her brother's door. She knew for a fact that she hadn't called upon him which meant James had and silently thanked the angels for having not questioned her father about it. If James has called Jem, then it must be serious.
Willa.
"Uncle Jem," Willa greeted softly, moving over to the man and hugging him instantly. Jem was stiff and cold like Silent Brothers always were, but his arms wrapping around her for a quick hug was still enough to give her the same warmth she felt when hugging her parents.
She released Jem and glanced back at her father who was watching the two with a warm smile. Will didn't say anything as he knocked upon James' door.
"Come in," James called out and Will gently opens up the door before holding it open for Jem and Willa to walk in. Willa's eyes instantly landed on her brother who seemed a bit surprised to see them all.
"Someone's here to see you two," Will said while Willa walked over to stand beside her brother. She gave James a questioning look but he ignored it, instead looking to Will who ruffled the twins' hair and said something about being needed elsewhere before he disappeared out of the room.
It was only when Will was gone that James sat down at his desk, Willa standing behind the chair as they looked to Jem.
You sent for me?
"Yes," James said and Willa knew her suspicions about her brother being the one to summon Jem was correct. "I need to tell you something. Or perhaps ask you something. I am not sure which, but Willa might be able to help."
Is this about Barbara? Or the others? We do not know why she died, James. We think the poison reached her heart. Piers and Ariadne remain in a stable condition, but the Brothers' need to find a cure has become even more desperate.
"I sent the message to you before I knew about Barbara," James said. "I feel foolish now. Our problems do not measure up to those—"
Tell me why you sent for me. I will be the judge of whether or not it was important, Jem insisted.
James hesitated and Willa glanced to her brother, silently wondering what was on his mind. "We can not tell you all of it," he said, "for reasons we cannot explain entirely. Only know that we have encountered a demon, who told us that our grandfather was a Prince of Hell. Did you know that?"
Willa was quick to look towards Jem, now understanding why her brother had asked for her to be there as well. After all, they were the only two that had heard everything the demons said.
As I've been searching for your grandfather's name, I've heard a great many stories from different sources. There was one, a warlock woman, who told me he was a Prince of Hell. But there were also others who named different demons. Since I did not know who to trust, I thought it better not to burden your family until I was sure of the truth.
"Perhaps a clue can be found with James' powers?" Willa suggested, making sure to keep out the part she desperately wanted to ask about if she had powers of her own she didn't know about. "They come from our mother who got her powers from our grandfather, so logically they have to connect to him somehow."
"Willa's right. I'm seeing the shadow realm more and more, just as there seem to be more demons in London. If there's some connection—" James began.
Did the demons at the lake speak to you? Mention your grandfather?
The twins shook their head and Jem stood for a moment without saying anything.
I assume the demon who identified your grandfather was the Cerberus demon in the greenhouse in Chiswick. It could be that this demon, having been bound to Benedict and Tatiana, had heard your name and said to you whatever it felt could hurt you most. Demons are deceptive. It might not be the truth.
Willa wasn't sure that was the case. The way the demon had looked at her and her brother, the words it had spoken, and the fact that it was a Cerberus demon that hadn't been around Benedict and Tatiana only proved it couldn't have thought of it on the spot.
"But what does it mean if it is true?" James questioned, his voice a whisper. "If we are descended from a Prince of Hell?"
It means nothing about who you are. Look at your mother, your sister, each other. Would you claim some flaw in them?
Willa glanced towards James, the boy doing the same to her. Never had they ever seen a flaw in each other nor the rest of their family.
You are your mother and father's children, James and Willa. That is what matters. What had always mattered.
"You are being kind," James insisted. "Kinder than the Clave would be, if it turns out to be true."
Willa gulped at that, not wanting to think about what the Clave would do if they were proven to be descendants of a Prince of Hell. Jem saw their worry and before the twins could blink, he had put a hand on each of their cheeks. His touch was cool, his face young and old at the same time.
If you saw humanity as I can see it, Jem said. There is very little brightness and warmth in the world for me. There are only five flames, in the whole world, that burn fiercely enough for me to feel something like the person I was. Your mother, your father, Lucie, and the two of you. You love, and tremble, and burn. Do not let those who cannot see the truth tell you who you are. You are the flame that cannot be put out. You are the star that cannot be lost. You are who you have always been, and that is enough and more than enough. Anyone who looks at you and sees darkness is blind.
Willa didn't know why her eyes filled with tears at that, but she couldn't stop herself from letting a stray tear roll down her cheek—a tear not of sadness but of love. She knew it had landed upon her uncle's finger for he seemed to snap out of whatever trance he had been in and was quick to let go of the twins and pull away.
The Herondale girl blinked out of whatever emotions had been consuming her and quickly wiped away her tears, her hand searching beside her for her brother's until she felt James grab ahold of her hand and give it a small squeeze of comfort.
It is not enough, is it? Jem asked. The uncertainty has been planted. You feel you must know.
"Wouldn't you?" Willa questioned, her voice barely above a whisper. "After hearing all you have heard, seeing all that you have seen. Wouldn't you want to know your past?"
Jem didn't reply and James held onto Willa's hand before saying, "We are sorry."
Very well, Jem finally said. I will call on an old friend, on one condition. You do not mention this again, to anyone, until we hear from him.
Willa stilled at that, her eyes flickering to James in a silent question. She would follow him wherever he went just as she always had.
However, before James could reply, there was a crash and they heard the front doors of the Institute fly open. Willa's eyes widened and she released her brother's hand, instead rushing towards the window with James and Jem behind her.
There were carriages drawn up in the courtyard and Willa was barely able to make out the coats of arms of the Baybrooks and Greenmantles. There was shouting and then Will and Gabriel were racing down the front steps. The Greenmantle carriage flew open and two women got out, supporting the body of a man between them. Willa inhaled sharply at the sight of the blood on the man's shirt and the way his head hung at an angle.
Behind the twins, Jem had gone rigid. There was a faraway look on his face and Willa knew he had to be communicating with the other Silent Brothers.
It's happened, Jem whispered. There's been another attack.
- - -
Willa did not get much sleep that night, instead dozing off every once in a while in the chair by Thomas' bedside and jolting awake every time he woke up in a nightmare with more sobs wracking through his body. She had known the first night would be the hardest, so she did what her father suggested and was there for Thomas in a way she never had to have been before.
It was obvious Thomas felt guilty for Willa's lack of sleep, so he tried to silently thank her by helping Bridget make breakfast and serving it to the girl. Willa had insisted it wasn't necessary, but Thomas had just ignored her and ate breakfast before announcing that he would be at Christopher's for the day, helping him with the antidote.
He hadn't allowed Willa to protest and merely gave her a quick hug and a weak, yet warm, smile before disappearing in a carriage to spend the day with Christopher. Now Willa found herself accompanying Matthew and Lucie to Emmanuel Gast's flat while James was busy picking up Cordelia.
Willa was currently trying to keep herself awake, her body swaying a bit as if she were drunk when really she was just drained from the events of the past couple of days. In front of her was Lucie who was looking around and muttering about how she could incorporate some new details into her writing and beside her was Matthew who was watching her with steady and curious eyes.
For some reason his gaze was making her skin feel so hot that she was beginning to flush, so Willa glanced at the boy, furrowing her eyebrows as she asked, "What is it, Matthew?"
"Are you alright?" Matthew questioned, taking a moment to brush back his golden locks with his hand while his green eyes flickered over her face.
"Of course. Why do you ask?" Willa inquired.
"You look awful," he said quite bluntly, his words making Willa scowl at him. Matthew was quick to shake his head, his cheeks flushing as he muttered, "Not like that. You know you're beautiful, mon coeur. I simply mean that you look drained—tired. Did you even sleep last night?"
Willa softened a bit and glanced away. "Not much," she admitted. "Tom had a rough night last night and I didn't want to leave him alone."
"So you sacrificed your sleep to make sure he was okay?" Matthew questioned, not in a rude way but in an almost clarifying way. Willa nodded and the blonde watched her silently, his concern for her well known.
"You're a good friend," Matthew finally concluded, gently placing his hand upon Willa's arm to keep her from tripping before letting it drop back down to his side. "Although, seeing as I'm a good friend as well, I must insist you get some rest."
"Who says you're a good friend?" Willa mused, smirking are Matthew who feigned shock. "I'm just pulling your leg, Matthew. You're a great friend, but I don't know if I'll be able to find it in myself to sleep. I, much like Thomas, need to keep myself busy during times like these."
The blonde studied her for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Fine, but you must promise me that you will get a little more sleep tonight than you did last night," Matthew said.
Willa sent the boy a warm smile and a nod. "Promise," she whispered and the boy replied with a smile before they found themselves passing Friday Street.
"There used to be a pub up that street called the Mermaid Tavern, where Shakespeare used to drink," Matthew commented.
Willa glanced down the street, her eye taking in the dingy brown buildings with narrow leaded windows and grubby Dutch gables. "I don't think much of Shakespeare's taste," Lucie muttered, wrinkling her nose.
"The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," Willa replied, earning a roll of the eyes from Lucie and a smile from Matthew who recognized the Oscar Wilde quote instantly.
"Mon coeur," Matthew said, gently grabbing ahold of her elbow and drawing her back so that she was forced to stop in front of him. "There is something rather odd I wanted to talk to you about. Charles—well, Charles is always odd, but Charles and Grace—"
"James! Cordelia!" Lucie suddenly explained, rising up on her toes and waving through the crowds. This drew the attention of the two and Willa gave Matthew an apologetic smile which he waved off before they looked to see James and Cordelia making their way towards them. They were deep in conversation, their heads bent together as if they were discussing something they didn't want anyone else knowing.
Lucie frowned and sunk back down onto her feels before glancing back at Willa. The Herondale girl was quick to turn her gaze to Matthew who sighed and muttered, "Interesting." He raised a hand and waved, and this time James seemed to notice them.
James and Cordelia darted their way over to them and Willa couldn't help but take note that the red head wasn't wearing one of her mother's awful gowns. Instead she was in her gear with her hair pulled into a braid. She looked younger and prettier than she had at the ball and Willa found her adorable.
"It's a boardinghouse," Matthew said once Cordelia and James had reached them. "We've already been inside. The landlady said our friend Emmanuel Gast was 'away from home for an indefinite period.'"
"Matthew was unable to charm her," Lucie said and the blonde pouted while Willa patted his shoulder. "The woman is a block of concrete in human form. We did manage to find out the flat's the one on the third floor, though."
"And we all know what that means," Willa said, smirking as her eyes flickered over to her twin. James had the same mischievous look upon his face as the girl.
"Then we go up the side of the building," James said causing Willa to smile widely while Matthew let out a small groan.
"I was afraid of this," Matthew grumbled as they all began to follow James into a narrow, rubbish-choked alley. "My boots are new."
"I shall buy you new boots," Willa said. "Where's your sense of adventure, Matthew?"
She glanced back at the way, brushing her dark locks out of her face and smiling at the boy. Matthew only blinked, his eyes wide as he stared at her and his cheeks growing a bit red which Willa found odd.
"Stiffen your sinews, Matthew," James said and the blonde quickly looked away from Willa at that. "And cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George!"
"Shakespeare," Cordelia said. "Henry V."
"Well spotted," said James before he produced a grappling hook. He threaded the end of the rope through and stood back to throw it. The grappling hook found its target easily in the third-floor window, the rope unfurling down the side of the building. "Once more unto the breach."
James was the first up the rope, followed by Cordelia, then Lucie, then Willa, and finally Matthew who was still grumbling angrily about his boots. Willa had almost reached the window when she heard a yell from down below and she was quick to glance back, her expression instantly filling with concern at the sight of Matthew on his hands and knees in the alley.
"Matthew, are you okay?" Willa questioned, having figured out by now that the blonde had to have fallen off the rope.
Matthew's gaze flickered up to her and she watched as he stood up with his hands shaking. He was quick to look away, purposely keeping his gaze away from hers as he said, "I told you. New boots."
Willa didn't have the heart to argue with him at the moment, nor point out that she knew he was drunk and that the shoes he was wearing weren't actually new because he had worn them proudly a couple weeks prior and shown them off to her.
The girl made sure Matthew was climbing back up the rope before looking away, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she just wished that he would be honest with her.
By the time Willa reached the top, James, Cordelia, and Lucie were already inside. To her surprise, however, James was waiting by the window and he offered her a small smile before helping her in.
It was only then that he walked away and Willa blinked in shock before turning and holding a hand out to Matthew who took ahold of it and pulled himself inside as well. He stumbled a bit, but Willa was quick to steady him. Matthew sent her a smile, but she merely looked away, ignoring the confused look upon the blonde's face as he walked into the room by by her side.
"I think Ragnor was right," James said from beside a bookcase. "There's a real concentration on the study of dimensional magic here."
"No stealing the books and bringing them back to Devil Tavern. That goes for both of you," Matthew said as he pointed towards each of the twins. "It would not be the first time your book kleptomania has gotten us in trouble.
"That was James' fault!" Willa insisted while her brother's mouth fell open in disbelief.
"It was your idea!" James argued.
"It doesn't matter whose fault it was because both of you were the reason we got in trouble," Matthew said and the twins both frowned at that before they all began to split up and look around.
James and Cordelia broke off in one direction and seeing as Willa wasn't exactly happy with Matthew at the moment because of his drinking and lying, she wandered off with Lucie who seemed happy enough to have her sister with her.
"Look at these," James muttered from the other side of the room, drawing the attention of Cordelia and Matthew while Lucie began to drag her sister towards a door. "I wonder if they're some kind of weapon."
"They're awfully dusty. As if no one's touched them in ages," Cordelia said and Willa couldn't help but notice that the whole place seemed to be like that. There was a layer of dust upon everything they walked by.
"James, look here," Matthew called out, holding up some messy sketches.
"It's a box. Surrounded by scrawls," James replied, unamused.
"It's not a box," Matthew told him helpfully. "It's a drawing of a box."
Willa chuckled softly at that and James frowned at his parabatai. "Thank you, Matthew," he muttered. "There's something familiar about it."
"Does it remind you of boxes you have been acquainted with before?" Matthew offered. "Look at the scrawls a bit more closely. Don't they remind you of runes?"
"Yes, very much so—not runes that we use, but still awfully close—" James said.
"These do have runes carved into them—" Cordelia began, gesturing towards some shards of wood on the ground, "—our kind of runes—but they also look as if they've been part-eaten by a sort of acid."
"And look at those scratches on the wood. It's as if—" James began, but Willa didn't get a chance to hear the rest of it because Lucie was suddenly dragging her into the flat's small bedroom.
Willa was instantly met with a smell that made her feel as if she were about to be met face to face with her breakfast again. Her hand flew over her nose and mouth, Lucie doing the same as the younger girl bit down on her thumb.
The room was nearly empty except for an iron-posted bed, a single window, and the remains of what had to be Emmanuel Gast lying on the bare floorboards. His flesh and bone had been carved apart, his ribs cracked open to show a collapsed red cavern. Blood stained the floor and the most human-looking part of him left were his hands. It was obvious he had been dead for a while, if the sight of his remains wasn't enough to prove that then the stench was.
"By the Angel," Willa muttered in disgust, an arm wrapping around Lucie who had turned to hide her face in her sister's side in an attempt to lessen the smell.
The door behind them slammed shut before either of them could blink and the remains on the floor heaved and a black shadow moved upwards. Willa felt the sudden urge to puke once again and her hand went down to her seraph blade which was at her side.
However, she paused when she got a good look at the shadow which wasn't actually a shadow at all but a ghost. This ghost wasn't a ghost like Jessamine who looked solid and human, but an awful shimmer in the air as if he was torn between worlds. He was ragged at the edges, his face skull-pale in a nest of straggling brown hair and his body so transparent Willa could see right through him.
"Emmanuel Gast," Willa whispered in surprise, not quite understanding what was so different about this ghost and why it seemed to have come from no where.
"Why have you summoned me, fool?" Gast questioned, his voice extremely irritated while his watery blue eyes glared at Lucie. His beady eyes then flickered to Willa who was watching him with her eyebrows furrowed as she wondered why he had assumed they had summoned him.
"We did not summon you," Lucie insisted. "We had no idea you were even dead, until this very disgusting moment." She glared at the ghost while Willa grimaced at the remains on the floor once again.
"Got to say, I do not love what you have done with the place. The blood does not match your floorboards at all," Willa commented, earning a glare from Gast.
"Why have you dragged me back to this place of agony?" Gast inquired. "What do you want, Shadowhunters?"
Willa grimaced again and took a protective stance in front of Lucie who was trying to pull on the doorknob that wouldn't move. They could faintly hear the sound of the others calling for them from the parlor and Willa felt as if she were growing a bit light headed from the putrid stench that had absolutely no air flow to alleviate its power.
Lucie took in a deep breath from behind her before moving to stand beside Willa, her eyes still narrowed as she held herself at full height. "Did you summon the demons? The ones that have been attacking Nephilim in broad daylight?" she asked and for a moment Willa realized she hadn't even remembered the reason they had come due to the stench messing with her thoughts.
Gast was silent and Willa narrowed her eyes as well, not liking that the ghost was not cooperating with them. She watched the slash in the ghost's throat move a bit, its spine showing through the hole. Willa had to will herself not to puke.
"Answer me!" Lucie cried, obviously not having it.
Willa's eyes widened in surprise and she smirked before looking to Gast. "I would do as she says. She doesn't like when people don't cooperate," she said.
To their surprise, the warlock's outlines resolved into a more solid shape, its eyes practically red with anger. "I am the one who raised it. I, Emmanuel Gast, the most scorned of warlocks. Years ago the Spiral Labyrinth turned against me. They cast me out of warlocks society. My golden reward was taken from me. I have been forced to take the lowliest of hires to feed and clothe myself. Yet all this time I studied. I learned. I was wiser than they thought," Gast said.
"Yet not wise enough to keep yourself from being killed," Willa mused. "How wise are you feeling right now?"
Gast hissed at the girl, blood dripping from its wounds leaving black stains on the bare floor. "I see the way you look at me. You scorn me for raising such a demon—a death-dealer, the prisoner of life. But the gold. I needed it. And the demon will kill only Shadowhunters."
"Gold you weren't even able to use," Willa whispered under her breath, not being able to stop herself from finding the situation just a slight bit amusing.
"Someone paid you to do this," Lucie muttered. "Who? Who did it?"
Gast hissed. "What are you? You are a Shadowhunter, but not a Shadowhunter? Both of you are, but you," his pointed stare was directed towards Lucie, "you drag me back from the brink? What is this monstrous power. . .?"
"What are you going on about?" Willa asked, confused as to what the ghost was referring to, but Lucie wasn't concerned.
"Monstrous?" Lucie snapped. "What's monstrous is that you summoned these creatures into this world, knowing the damage they would do—"
"You know nothing of me," Gast said. "I went to the bridge to raise the demon. I brought it into this world and then I captured it, kept it where it would be safe, a gift for the one who gave me gold. But when I returned here, I was betrayed. I could not stop it. My blood and my life ran out over the floor as my killer tore the demon from its hiding place."
"Who killed you? Who hired you?" Willa asked, but the ghost merely frowned and looked away.
Lucie spat out angrily, "Answer her!"
Gast began to tremble, his icy gaze upon Lucie. "I will not tell—" he began.
"You will!" Lucie shouted and Willa's eyes widened as she watched her sister thrust her hand out. The ghost threw its head back and roared, revealing Gast's warlock mark—multiple rows of teeth, like a shark.
Willa blinked in surprise and looked to Lucie who seemed just as stunned as she was. The two sisters only had time to glance at one another before something hit the door behind them. Willa was quick to react and grabbed Lucie before pulling them out of the way as James came bursting into the room, the door flying to the ground. Cordelia came next and Matthew after her, both of them blinking in horror at the corpse while James caught sight of Gast.
All Herondales were able to see ghosts, so it was no surprise that James could see Gast as well. The boy looked towards his sisters and the three shared a glance.
"The one who hired me came to me masked, face wrapped around in cloth and wearing layers of cloaks," Gast finally answered, his tone more than reluctant. "I know not if they were man or woman, old or young."
"What more do you know?" James demanded. "Who is controlling the demons now?"
"Someone more powerful than you puny Nephilim," Gast spat. "Someone who tore down my wards, ripped my body apart—" His voice was a haunting wail that made a chill run through Willa's body. "I shall not think on it! I shall not relive my death, truly you are monsters, despite your angel blood."
"Go!" Lucie shouted. "Leave us!"
Gast winked out of existence in an instant and Willa stood there in shock. She couldn't even register Cordelia throwing a dirty coverlet over Gast's remains or Lucie running out of the room after muttering, "I have to get outside. I must breath."
James was hurrying after her, Cordelia as well, but Willa still couldn't comprehend what had just happened. It didn't help that the stench seemed to be growing stronger by the minute.
She only came to when she felt two warm hands grabbing ahold of her, Matthew's breath fanning the side of her face as he whispered, "Mon coeur, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
Willa took in a shaky breath which she instantly regretted for she was hit with another wave of nausea. "I think I'm going to be sick," she muttered and Matthew's expression of concern didn't change as he kept his arms wrapped around her and began to guide her out of the room.
"It's probably the smell. Although the decor is enough alone to make me sick," Matthew said, hoping to lighten the mood. Willa managed a weak smile, but it wasn't until she was out in the fresh air that she felt herself relax.
Taking in a deep breath of cool air, Willa let her eyes close and her senses be filled with nothing but the feeling of Matthew's arms wrapped around her and the smell of his expensive cologne. It was enough to calm her down instantly and when she opened her eyes, she was met with those forest green eyes that had become one of her favorite things to see.
"Willa?" Matthew questioned, the sound of her name rolling of his tongue making the girl's heart skip a beat.
"I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm okay. Thank you." Matthew nodded and kept an arm around Willa for support as they walked over to where Lucie was talking to James and Cordelia.
"I'm all right," Willa heard Lucie mutter. "I've rarely seen a ghost in such—such a condition." Cordelia was holding onto Lucie's hand while James ruffled her hair.
"Gast did not die easily," James said, smiling over at Willa and Matthew as the two walked up. "Good work, Lucie, I know that can't have been pleasant."
Willa felt a pang in her chest as James skipped over the fact that she had been in there with Lucie as well, but she was quick to ignore it. Lucie had done most of the talking after all, Willa didn't deserve to be recognized anyways. Not that her brother would ever notice if she had been helpful.
"Did you find anything in the flat after Willa and I went into the bedroom?" Lucie asked.
James nodded, "We took a few things—sketches, and Cordelia has the wood shards in her satchel."
"That reminds me," Matthew said, letting go of Willa who was instantly met with a rush of cold that made her shiver and crave the warmth the boy gave her. The dark haired girl blinked at that thought, a flicker of realization going through her head as she watched Matthew walk away.
The blonde relieved Cordelia of her bag and approached a grubby-faced newsboy and engaged in a spirited discussion before offering him the satchel.
"Is Matthew selling my satchel to a newsboy?" Cordelia questioned, her eyes watching the interaction curiously.
Willa chuckled softly at that and James sent the red head a crooked smile. "I see we'd better explain the Irregulars to you, lest you think we spend our time leading London's children into depravity and crime," James said.
Matthew returned instantly, the wind tousling his golden hair that seemed to be glowing under the sun's rays. He was back by Willa's side, his arm brushing against her own and bringing back some of the warmth her body had been lacking even if his arms weren't wrapped around her. Willa couldn't stop herself from leaning into Matthew a bit, but the blonde didn't seem to mind and even moved his arm back a bit so that she could lean more into his side rather than just his arm.
"I told Neddy to take the bag to Christopher," he explained. "It may be that identifying what those shards are will help. I doubt Christopher has left Tom's side since he left this morning to see him—perhaps this will provide a distraction for them both."
"Perhaps," Lucie agreed. "If we can return to the Institute, I would like to write down what Gast said, that I might remember each detail."
"I hope you will exclude the part about the stench. I'm pretty sure that will be permanently trapped in my nose until the end of time," Willa grimaced, her comment seeming to make Lucie calm down a bit as a soft chuckle escaped her lips.
"I shall leave that part out just for you, Willa," Lucie said, smiling warmly at her sister who smiled back to her.
"Luce, this is why you are my favorite sibling," Willa grinned.
"Hey!" James complained, frowning towards his twin who laughed and fell against Matthew who snuck a glance down at the dark haired girl as a smile played on his lips.
"Don't worry, Jamie. I love you both equally," Willa insisted, winking towards Lucie who tried to hide her laughter.
"I saw that!"
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if you all have enjoyed my writing so far and love the shadowhunter chronicles as much as i do, i hope you will join me in my new book called gray ! it is a gabriel lightwood book where the main character is tessa's younger sister.
i have enjoyed planning out the book so far and really hope you all will give it a chance and read it as well. if not, no worries!
i do plan to write for the other shadowhunter chronicles books as well so be on the look out for those in the future! thank you for all your love and support!