8
CAMILLE
fall fruits and love dies and the time is extended;
You are fed with perpetual breath, And
live after infinite changes,
And sweet kisses of death;
of languor revived and joined,
In arid and unclean pleasures,
Things monstrous and fruitless, a pallid
And poisonous queen.
-Charles Algernon Swinburne, "Dolores"
Tessa was halfway down the hall when reached Will and Jem, walking on either side of it. "I do not really think that we would not come, right?" Will asked, raising his hand and letting the magic light is lit between his fingers, illuminating the corridor with the brightness of the light of day. Charlotte, running ahead of them, turned and frowned but said nothing.
"I knew you could not leave well enough alone," said Tessa, looking forward. "But I thought better of Jem."
"When Will go I'm going, "said Jem in a good mood." And again, I'm as curious as he. "
" That does not seem an issue for show. Where are we going? "Said Tessa, surprised, then came down the hall and turned left. The next room lay a great distance behind them in a few attractive shades. "Have we turned in the wrong direction?"
"Patience is a virtue, Miss Gray," said Will. They had come a long corridor hung down precipitously. The walls were bare of carpets or torches, and the darkness did Tessa see why Will had taken his magic light stone.
"This corridor leads to our sanctuary," said Charlotte. "It's the only part of the Institute is holy ground. This is where we find those who, for whatever reason, can not enter the sacred ground: those who are cursed, vampires, etc. It is also often a place we choose as a home for underworld that are in danger of hell or other inhabitants of the Shadow World. For that reason, there are many protections placed on doors, making it difficult to enter or leave the room without holding a wake or the key. "
" Is it a curse? Is being a vampire? "Asked Tessa.
Charlotte shook her head." No. We believe it is a kind of demonic disease. Most diseases affecting the demons are not transmissible to humans, but in some cases, usually through a bite or scratch, the disease can be transmitted. Vampirism. Lycanthropy ... "
" Pox Demon, "said Will.
" Will, there's no such thing as smallpox demon, and you know, "said Charlotte. "Now, where was I?"
"Being a vampire is not a curse. It is a disease," Tessa filled. "But we still can not enter the sacred ground, then? Does that mean we are doomed?"
"That depends on what you think," said Jem. "And even if you believe the doom for all."
"But you hunt demons. They must believe in the damnation!"
"I believe in right and wrong," said Jem. "And I think the soul is eternal. I do not believe in a pit of fire, hanging, or endless torment. Do not think you can threaten people's goodness."
Tessa looked at Will. "And you? How do you think?"
"Pulvis et umbra sumus," Will said, without looking at her as she spoke. "I think we are dust and shadow. What else is there?"
"Whatever you think, please do not suggest a Lady Belcourt you think this damned," said Charlotte. Had reached the end of the gallery that had a high set of iron gates, each engraved with a curious symbol that looked like two pairs of Cs back to back. He turned and looked at his three companions. "She very graciously offered to help us, and we have no intention of offering such insults. This applies especially to you, Will. If you can not be kind, I will send out the Sanctuary. Jem, I trust you to use your own charm. Tessa ... " Charlotte turned, his eyes on Tessa. "Try not to be afraid." Saco
an iron key from his pocket of her dress, and introduced into the lock of the door. The key head was shaped like an angel with wings spread, the wings shone once, briefly, while Charlotte turned the key and the door opened.
The room was more like a treasure vault. There were no windows, and no doors except through which they entered. Massive stone columns supported the ceiling dark, lit by a row of burning candles. The pillars were carved all over with loops and rolls of runes, forming intricate patterns that bother the eyes. Large tapestries hung on the walls, each cut with the figure of a single rune. There was a large gilt-framed mirror, too, so the place looked twice as big. A stone fountain stood in the middle of the room. Had a circular base, and the center was the statue of an angel with folded wings. Rivers of tears pouring from his eyes and splashed in the fountain below.
Next to the source, between two massive pillars, was a group of black velvet-covered chairs. The woman sitting at the top of the chairs was thin and stately. A hat was leaning his head forward, swinging a huge black plume on top. Her dress was bright red velvet, polar white skin on the bodice fitted smoothly, though his chest never rose or fell with her breathing. A ruby \u200b\u200bnecklace her throat hurt like a scar. His hair was thick and pale yellow, clustered in frozen delicate curls around her neck, her eyes were glowing bright green like a cat.
Tessa gasped. So beautiful could be the Underworld.
"Will Turn your magical light," said Charlotte softly, before rushing forward to greet his guest. "So good to wait for us, Baroness. Do I trust you have found the Shrine comfortable enough for your taste? "
" As always, Charlotte. " Belcourt Lady sounded boring, had a slight accent that Tessa could not identify.
"Lady Belcourt. Please let me introduce you to Miss Theresa Gray." Charlotte said Tessa, who, not knowing what else to do, bowed his head politely. She was trying to remember how to address the baroness. Rather thought he had something to do with the fact that the barons had married or not, but could not remember exactly. "At his side is Mr. James Carstairs, one of our young Hunters Shadow, and he is,"
But Lady's green eyes were resting in Belcourt and Will. "William Herondale," she said, and smiled. Tessa tightened, but the vampire's teeth seemed perfectly normal, no trace of sharp incisors. "Fancy you coming to greet me."
"You guys know?" Charlotte looked amazed.
"William gained twenty pounds of me at the Lighthouse," said Lady Belcourt, with Will persistent green eyes in a way that did bite the neck of Tessa. "A few weeks ago, in a gambling house run by the Club Underworld Pandemonium."
"Did he?" Charlotte looked at Will, who shrugged.
"It was part of the investigation. He was disguised as a worldly fool who had come to the site to participate in the service," said Will. "It would have aroused suspicion if I refused to play."
Charlotte put his chin. "However, Will, the money you earned is evidence. You should have given the key."
"I've spent on gin."
"Will" Will shrugged
shoulders. "The spoils of vice is a heavy responsibility."
"However, you seem able to bear a stranger," said Jem, with a fun flash of his silver eyes. Charlotte
raised his hands. "I'll try you later, William." Belcourt Lady, I understood that it is also a member of Club Pandemonium? " Belcourt Lady
grimaced horrible. "Of course not. I was at the gambling house that night because a warlock friend of mine who hoped to earn some easy money on the cards. The club events are open to most underworld. To members like we appear there, impressing the mundane and opens pockets. I know there's underworld that managed the company, but I never become one. The whole enterprise seems with so little class. "
" De Quincey is a member, "said Charlotte, and behind his big brown eyes, Tessa could see the light of his fierce intelligence." I was told that he is the boss of the organization, in fact. Did you know? "
Belcourt Lady shook her head, clearly interested in that piece of information." De Quincey and I were close for years, but no longer, and have been directly with him about my lack of interest in the club. I suppose I could be the head of the club, is a ridiculous organization, if you ask me but certainly very lucrative. "She leaned forward, bending her slim gloved hands in her lap. There was something strangely fascinating about their movements, even in children. They had the grace of a strange animal. It was like watching a cat slinking through the shadows. "The first thing to understand about De Quincey," he said, "is that he is the most dangerous vampire in London. He has made his way to the top of the most powerful clan in the city. Any vampire who lives in London is subject to its will. "Her scarlet lips thinned." The second thing you must understand is that De Quincey is old age, even for a Child of the Night. He lived most of his life before the Agreements, and he despises them, despises and living under the yoke of the law. And above all, he hates the Nephilim. "
Tessa saw Jem leaned over and whispered something to Will, whose lips arched into a corner in a smile." Indeed, "said Will." How could anyone despise so much when we so charming? "
" I'm sure you know that you are not loved by most of the Underworld ".
" But we think that De Quincey was an ally. "Charlotte placed her slender hands nerve in the back of one of velvet chairs. "He has always cooperated with the Key".
"Form. It is their interest to cooperate with you, so that it does. But fortunately could see all of kilometers deep under the sea ".
Charlotte had turned white, but recovered." And you know nothing about his relationship with two women called the Sisters Dark? Nothing of interest in automata mechanical creatures? "
" Ugh, the Dark Sisters. "Belcourt Lady shuddered." Those ugly, disgusting creatures. Bruges, I think. Avoid them. Is known to provide club members with lower interest ... tasty. Demonic drugs, prostitutes from the underworld, that sort of thing. "
" And the robots? Lady
Belcourt waved her delicate hands of a boring way. "If De Quincey has a fascination with timepieces, I know nothing about that. In fact, when I first contacted me about De Quincey, Charlotte, I had no intention of going as far forward with information. One thing is share some secrets of the underworld with the key, and something else is to betray the most powerful vampires in London. That was, until I heard about your little shifter. " Her green eyes rested on Tessa. Her red lips smiled. "I can see the family resemblance." Tessa looked
. "Similar to whom?"
"Well, Nathaniel, of course. To your brother." Tessa
felt like ice water had been thrown into the back of his neck, surprising in its full alert. "Have you seen my brother?" Belcourt
Lady smiled the smile of a woman who knew she had a room in the palm of your hand. "I saw him several times on several occasions in the Club Pandemonium" he said. "He had a look unhappy, poor creature, a low-worldly charm. Probably played everything I had. They always do. Charlotte told me that the Dark Sisters took him, I'm not surprised. I love driving a mundane ground with a trap and collect in the most shocking
...." "But alive? "said Tessa." Have you seen him alive? "
" It was some time ago, but yes. "Belcourt Lady gestured with his hand. His gloves were scarlet, her hands looked as if they had been stained in blood. "To return to the subject matter," he said. "We were talking about De Quincey. Tell me, Charlotte, you know that hosts parties at his home in the city in Carleton Square? "Charlotte
remove your hands from the chair back." I've heard of. "
" Unfortunately, "said Will," it seems he forgot to invite. Perhaps our invitations got lost in the mail. "
"At these parties," Belcourt Lady continued, "humans are tortured and killed. I think their bodies are thrown into the River Thames for mudlarks choose. Now, would you know that?" Even
Will looked puzzled. Charlotte said: "But the killing of humans by Children of the Night is prohibited by law"
"And De Quincey despises the law. It does as much as for making fun of the Nephilim and because he enjoyed the killing. Despite that does not enjoy that, make no mistake about it. "
Charlotte's lips were bloodless. "How long has this been going on, Camille?"
So that was his name, Tessa thought. Camille. Was a French sounding name, maybe that explained his accent.
"At least one year. Maybe more." Vampire's tone was cold, indifferent.
"And you're telling me this just now, because ..." Charlotte sounded hurt.
"The price for revealing the secrets of the Lord of London is death," said Camille, dark green eyes. "And I would have done nothing, although he had said. De Quincey is one of your allies. You have no reason and no excuse to burst into your house like a common criminal. Not without evidence of misconduct by part. I understand that, under these new agreements, "a vampire actually be damage seen a human before the Nephilim can take action? "
" Yes "Charlotte said reluctantly," but if we had been able to attend one of the parties, "
Camille gave a short laugh. "De Quincey never let this happen! At first sight of a Shadow Hunter, would have blocked the site sealed. You would never have been allowed to enter."
"But you can," said Charlotte. "You could have led one of us with you "
The feather in the hat Camille trembling, shaking his head." And my own risk life? "
" Well, you're just not alive, right? "said Will.
"I value my life as much as you do, Shadow Hunter," said Lady Belcourt, narrowing his eyes. "One lesson you'd do well to learn. It could hardly hurt the Nephilim help thinking that all those who do not live just like them, therefore not really live at all."
Jem was speaking then for what seemed the first time since they had entered the room. "Lady Belcourt, pardon my question, what is exactly what you want to Tessa?" Camille
Tessa looked right at that time, her green eyes as bright as jewels. "'You can disguise yourself as anyone, is that correct? A perfect disguise," look, voice and manner, that's what I've heard. " His lip is curved. "I have my sources."
"Yes" Tessa said hesitantly. "I mean, I'm told that the costume is identical."
Camille looked at her narrowly. "It would be perfect. If you're going to dress like me"
"How do you?" Said Charlotte. "Lady Belcourt, I do not see,"
"I see," said Will immediately. "If it were disguised as Lady Tessa Belcourt, could break into one of the De Quincey parties. I could see breaking the law. So the key could attack without breaking the agreements. "
" Good for the small strategist you are. "Camille smiled, showing his white teeth again.
" And it would also provide a perfect opportunity to search the residence of De Quincey, "said Jem." Seeing the we can find out about their interest in these automata. If you really have killed mundane, there is reason to believe that it was not more propositito than mere sport. "He gave Charlotte a meaningful look, and Tessa knew he was thinking, what she, the bodies in the basement of Dark House.
"We should find some way to signal to the key from inside the residence of De Quincey," Will mused, his eyes already turned blue. "Maybe Henry can come up with something. It would be helpful to have a plan to build the house"
"Will," Tessa protested. "Not me"
"And of course would not go alone," said Will eagerly. "I would go with you. I will not let anything happen to you. "
" Will not, "said Charlotte. "You and Tessa alone in a house full of vampires? You forbid it."
"So, who do you send with it, if not me?" Will defendant. "You know that I can protect it, and you know that I have the right to choose,"
"I could go. O Henry"
Camille, who had been watching all this with a look of boredom opponents and entertainment, said: "I'm afraid I agree with William. The only persons present at these parties are close friends of De Quincey, vampires, and vampires human subjugation. De Quincey Will has seen before, posing as a mundane fascinated by the occult will not be surprised to learn that he graduated from vampiric servitude. " Human
subdued. Tessa had read of them in the Codex: The subdued, or Darklings were mundane had sworn to serve a vampire. For the vampire, they provided food company, and in return received little vampire blood transfusions at intervals. This blood is kept together with their master vampire, and would ensure that when they died, they would become vampires.
"But Will is only seventeen years," protested Charlotte.
"Most humans are subjugated youth," said Will. "Vampires acquire their subdued when they are younger, more beautiful to the eye, and less likely sick blood. And they will live a little longer, but not much. "He looked pleased with himself same. "Most of the rest of the Enclave will not be able to pass convincingly as a handsome young man subdued"
"Because the rest of us are horrible, right?" Jem asked, looking funny. "Is what I can not do?"
"No" said Will. "You know why you can not." He said without any inflection, and Jem, after watching him a moment, shrugged and looked away.
"I'm not really sure about this," said Charlotte. "When is the next of these events, Camille?
" On Saturday night ".
Charlotte took a deep breath. "I have to talk to the Enclave, before it can agree. And Tessa would have to agree too."
Everyone looked at Tessa.
She licked her dry lips nervously. "You think," said Lady Belcourt, "there is a possibility that my brother can be there?"
"I can not promise to be there. Maybe. But somebody there probably know what happened to him. The Dark Sisters are usually in the festivities of De Quincey, no doubt they or their cohorts, if captured and interrogated, it gives you some answers. "
Tessa's stomach lurched. "I will!" said. "But I want you to promise me that if Nate is there, we will remove it, and if not, we'll find out where he is. I want to be sure that all this is about capturing a De Quincey. It should be about saving Nate as well. "
"Of course," said Charlotte. "But I do not know, Tessa. This is going to be very dangerous,"
"Have you become an underworld?" Asked Will. "Do you even know if it's something that would be possible?" Tessa shook
his head. "I've never done anything like that. But ... could try. "She turned to Lady Belcourt." Could I have something of yours? A ring, or maybe a scarf. " Camille
took his hands behind his head, leaving aside the thick curls of his silver-blond hair was against his neck and broke his collar. Leaving it hanging on her slender fingers, handed it to Tessa. "Here. Take this."
Frowning Jem stepped forward to take the collar, and then handed it to Tessa. She felt the weight of this while taking it. It was heavy, and square rubies pendants the size of a bird egg felt cold to the touch, as cold as if they had been lying in the snow. Close your hand around it was like closing your fingers around a piece of ice. She breathed hard, and closed his eyes.
was strange, different this time, as the transformation took hold. The dark rose rapidly, in line around it, and the light he saw in the distance was a cold glow of silver. The cold light flowing was boiling. Tessa brought light to it, surrounding herself with burning light frost, pushing herself up the core of this. The light up in bright white walls around her
felt a sharp pain then in the middle of his chest, and for a moment his vision was scarlet, the color of blood. Everything was blood red and began to fall prey to the panic, fighting their way to freedom, his eyelids flew open-
And she was there again, in the Shrine Room, with everyone else watching. Camille was smiling slightly, the others looked surprised, not shocked, as they had been when he had become Jessamine.
But something was terribly wrong. There was a big emptiness inside "No pain, but a hollow feeling that something was missing. Tessa choked, and a fiery crash happened for her. He sank into a chair, his hands pressed against his chest. Whole body trembled.
"Tessa?" Jem was on his heels together to the chair, taking one of his hands. She saw herself in the mirror hanging on the wall in front-or more precisely, she could see the image of Camille. The bright light hair Camille, detached, rained down on his shoulders, and white skin swelled and spilled over the bodice that Tessa wore far too tight so that Tessa would have made if he could blush, blush. But blushing now required blood running in his veins, and she recalled with terror at dawn, that vampires do not breathe, do not put hot or cold and they had hearts that were beating on their chests.
So that was the void, I felt strange. His heart was still, in his chest like a dead thing. She turned to sobbing breath. It hurt, and realized that while I could breathe, his new body would not or did not need.
"Oh, God," he said in a soft whisper to Jem. "I-my heart is not beating. I feel like I've died. Jem"
He patted her hand, gently, gently, and looked at her with his silver eyes.
its expression had not changed with the change in her, watched her as she had done before, as if she were still Tessa Gray. "You're alive," she said with a voice so soft that only she could hear him. "You are using a different skin, but you're Tessa, and you're alive. You know how I know?"
She shook her head.
"Because you said the word 'God' for me right now. No vampire can say. "He squeezed her hand." Your soul is still the same. "
She closed her eyes and stood still for a moment, focusing on the pressure of his hand on hers, his warm skin against hers who was very cold. Gradually the tremor that shook her body began to fade, she opened her eyes and gave a slight smile Jem, trembling.
"Tessa" said Charlotte. "Are-You everything okay? "Tessa retirement
your eyes away from Jem's face and looked at Charlotte, who was watching with eager eyes. Will, along with Charlotte, he wore an unreadable expression.
" You have to practice a bit, moving and staying to yourself, if you want to convince De Quincey you are me, "said Lady Belcourt." I never collapse in a chair like this. "She threw her head aside." However, in general, a impressive demonstration. You are a well-trained. "Tessa
thought the darker brother." She had trained well? "They had done a favor by releasing this latent power within it, despite how much I hated that? Or would have been better if he never knew she was different?
Slowly I let go, let slip the skin off her Camille. He felt like he was lifting out of water ice. His hand tightened on the Jem as the cold ran down from head to toe, a very cold waterfall. Some jumped into his chest then. Like a bird that has been stunned and motionless after flying into a window, only to gather their strength and jumping from the ground to rise into the air, his heart began beating again suddenly. The air filled his lungs, and she freed Jem, her hands flew to her chest, his fingers pressed against the skin to feel the steady rhythm underneath.
She looked in the mirror in the room. She was the same again: Tessa Gray, not a miraculously beautiful vampire. He felt an overwhelming relief.
"My necklace?" Lady Belcourt said coldly, and held out his thin hand. Jem took the jewels of Tessa Pendant to fetch it the vampire, as he stood, he saw Tessa had words engraved on the silver frame pendant: LOVE NUMQUAM morituro Verus.
She looked around the room Will was not sure why, only to find myself looking back on it. Both looked quickly toward elsewhere. "Lady Belcourt," Will said, "because none of us has ever been in the house of De Quincey, do you think it would be possible to provide a floor plan or even a sketch of the floor and the rooms?"
"I will offer something better." Lady Belcourt raised his arms to clasp the necklace around her throat. "Magnus Bane."
"The witch?" Charlotte's eyebrows rose.
"In fact," said Lady Belcourt. "He knows the town house as well as I do and is often invited to social events of De Quincey. Although, like me, has put aside once the parties in which murders are committed."
"Noble him," Will muttered.
"He will meet you there, and guide them through the house. No one here will be surprised to see us together. Magnus Bane is my lover, you see."
Tessa's mouth opened slightly. This was not the sort of thing that the ladies said in polite company, or any other company. But this time was different for vampires? Everyone else seemed as surprised as she was, with the exception of Will, as usual, seemed like he was trying not to laugh.
"Good," said Charlotte finally, after a pause.
"Indeed it is," said Camille, and stood up. "And now, if someone comes to the exit. It's getting late, and I still have not fed. "
Charlotte, who was worried about Tessa said:" Will, Jem, are you going? "
Tessa watched as the two guys flanking and Camille soldiers, which, it believed, was what they were, and followed from the floor. Through the last door, the vampire paused and looked back over his shoulder. His pale blond curls brushed her cheeks as smile was so beautiful that Tessa felt a kind of pang, looking, nullifying his instinctive feeling of dislike.
"If you do this," said Camille, "and you're successful or not, if you find your brother" I can promise you, small change, however, you will not regret. "
Tessa frowned, but Camille gone. It was moving so fast it was as if he had disappeared in a breath and the next. Tessa turned to Charlotte. "What do you think he meant? What could I be sorry? "
Charlotte shook her head." Do not know "he sighed." I would think he meant that knowledge of good work within you comfort, but Camille, so ... "
" Are all vampires that way? "asked Tessa." So the cold? "
" Many of them have lived a long time, "Charlotte said diplomatically." They do not see things as we do. "Tessa
took his fingers to his temple painful." In fact, do not. "
Of all the things that bothered about vampires Will-how to move without making noise, ringing in and inhuman treatment of their voices, "was the way they smelled what bothered him most. Or rather, how not smell. All human beings smelled something, sweat, soap, perfume, but the vampires had no odor, as wax dummies.
front of him, Jem was holding the last of the doors leading from the lobby outside the sanctuary of the Institute. All these spaces have been desacralized and vampires and their ilk could use them, but Camille could never go further in that Institute. Her to the exit was only a courtesy. They made sure she did not want to walk on consecrated ground, which would be dangerous for all involved. Camille
Jem brushed, just watching, and Will followed, pausing only long enough to mutter, "She did not smell anything," whispered Jem.
Jem looked alarmed. "You've been smelling?"
Camille, who was waiting at the door beside them, turned his head to them and smiled. "I can hear everything you say, you know," he said. "It's true, vampires have no smell. It makes us better predators."
"That, and excellent hearing," said Jem, and let the door close behind Will. They were now standing in the small entrance square with Camille, his hand on the knob of the front door as if to leave in a hurry, but there was nothing hurried in her expression as she watched.
"Look at them both," she said, "all black and silver. You could be a vampire," he Jem said, "with your pale skin and your appearance. And you," Will said, "Well, I do not doubt that anyone in the will of De Quincey doubted that you could be my human subdued."
Jem was looking at Camille, with that look that always thought I could cut glass. He said: "Why do you do this, Lady Belcourt? This plan of yours, De Quincey, all this, why? "
Camille smiled. She was beautiful, Will had to admit it, but then a bunch of vampires were beautiful. Her beauty had always seemed to him like beauty of pressed flowers, beautiful, but dead. "Because the knowledge of what he was oppressed by my conscience. "
Jem shook his head." Maybe you're the kind who sacrifices herself on the altar of principle, but I doubt it. Most of us do things for reasons that are purely personal. For love or hate. "
" O for revenge, "said Will." After all, you knew about what was going on for a year, and right now you come to us. "
" That was because Miss Gray. "
" Yes, but that's not all what it is, is not it, "said Jem." Tessa is your chance, but your reason, your reason is something else. "He cocked his head to side. "Why you hate both De Quincey?
"I do not see what business is yours, little silver Shadow Hunter," said Camille, and her lips had been removed from your teeth, leaving visible tusks as ivory pieces against the red of her lips. Will knew that vampires could show its fangs at will, but it was still unnerving. "Why does it matter what my motives?" Will
full response by Jem, already knowing what the other boy had been thinking. "Because otherwise we can not trust you. Maybe you're sending us into a trap. Charlotte did not want to believe, but that does not mean it is not possible."
"to behave into a trap? "Camille was the mocking tone." E incurring the terrible wrath of the Key? Just can! "
" Lady Belcourt, "said Jem," that Charlotte could've promised, if you want our help, will answer the question. "
" Okay, "he said." I can see you're not satisfied unless you give an explanation. To you, "he said, pointing at Will," you're right. And you seem to know an unusual amount of love and revenge for one so young, we have to talk about it one day, together. " She smiled again, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "I had a lover, you see," he said. "It was a shifter, a werewolf. It is forbidden for the Children of the Night love or sleep with the Sons of the Moon. We were careful, but De Quincey saw us. We found and killed him, largely as a poor man was killed mundane prisoner at your next party. "His eyes shone like green lights while looking at them." I loved him, and the murderer Quincey, and other my type is aiding and abetting. I will not forgive for that. Kill them all. "
Agreements, now ten years ago marked a historic moment both for the Nephilim to the Underworld. I do not have the two groups that seek to destroy each other. They united against an enemy common demons. There were fifty men in the signing of agreements on Idris: Ten of the Children of the Night, ten of the Children of Lilith, known as witches, ten of the people of the Fairies, ten of the Sons of the Moon, and ten Raziel's blood -
Tessa awoke with a start to hear a knock at her door, she had been half-asleep on the pillow, his finger holding a place in the Codex of the Shadow Hunters. After setting the book, barely had time to sit and draw the covers of herself before opening the door.
entered the lamplight, and Charlotte with this. Tessa felt a strange pang, almost disappointed, but who else had been waiting for? Despite the late hour, Charlotte was dressed as if she planned to leave. His face was very serious, and there were lines of fatigue under his eyes dark. "Are you awake?"
Tessa nodded, and picked up the book he was reading. "Reading".
Charlotte said nothing, but he crossed the room and sat at the foot of the bed of Tessa. She extended his hand. Something shining in his hand was hanging Tessa Angel. "You left this with Henry." Tessa
put his book aside and took the pendant. He put the chain on the head, and felt reassured while the relative weight rested back against the hollow of his throat. "Did you learn anything about him?"
"I'm not sure. He said that everything was locked inside with years of rust, no wonder he was working at all. Cleaned the mechanism, although it seems that has not worked. Maybe tick more regularly now? "
"Maybe." Tessa did not mind, she was happy to have the angel, the symbol of his mother and lives in New York, back in his possession. Charlotte
crossed her hands on her lap. "Tessa, there's something I said."
Tessa's heart started beating faster. "What is it?"
"Mortmain ..." Charlotte hesitated. "When I said that your brother Mortmain introduced Pandemonium club, it was true, but it was not the whole truth. Your brother knew about the Shadow World, before it is ever Mortmain said. Apparently he learned about it your father. "
Stunned, Tessa was silent.
"How old were you when your parents died?" Charlotte asked.
"It was an accident," said Tessa, a little stunned. "I was three. Nate was six."
Charlotte frowned. "So young, so that your parents trust your brother, but I guess ... possible. "
" No, "said Tessa." No, you do not understand. I had the most ordinary, more human, education imaginable. Aunt Harriet, was the most practiced Women in the World. And she would know, right? She was the younger sister of my mother, they brought it with them from London when they came to America. "
" People kept secrets, Tessa, sometimes even their loved ones. "Charlotte brushed his fingers across the cover Codex, with its embossed seal. "And you must admit, it makes sense. "
" Sense? There is no kind of sense! "
" Tessa ... "sighed Charlotte. "We do not know why do you have the ability you have. But if one of your parents was somehow connected with the magical world, does not it make sense that this connection may have something to do with it? If your father was the Pandemonium Club member, do not you like De Quincey would have heard of you?
"I guess." Tessa spoke reluctantly. "It's just ... he believed so strongly when I first came to London that all I could think of was a dream. That my life before was real and it was a terrible nightmare. I thought if only I could find Nate, could come back to life I had before. " He looked up at Charlotte. "But now I can not help I wonder if maybe the life I had before was the dream and all this truth. If my parents knew the Pandemonium Club-if they were part of the world of shadows, too, then there is a world we can return that is clean of all this. "
Charlotte, his hands still in her lap, looked at Tessa constantly. "Did you ever wonder why Sophie's face is scarred?"
Caught by surprise, Tessa could only stammer. "Yo-Yo asked me, but I am fond of asking."
"Neither should "said Charlotte. His voice was cold and firm." When I first saw Sophie, was crouched in a doorway, dirty, with a bloody cloth pressed against his cheek. She saw me as I passed, though I wore glamorous at that time. That's what struck me about it. She has a touch of Vista, such as Thomas and Agatha. I offered him money, but she did not agree. The coax to accompany me to a tea shop, and she told me what had happened. It had been a servant in a beautiful home in St. John's Wood. The maids, of course, were chosen for their appearance, and Sophie was beautiful, what turned out to be both an advantage and a disadvantage for her. As you can imagine, the son of the house took interest in seducing her. She turned away from him repeatedly. In a rage, grabbed a knife and cut his face and said if he could not have, would ensure that nobody wanted again. "
" Oh yes, "Tessa whispered.
" She went to his wife, the boy's mother, but he claimed that she had tried to seduce him, and had taken the knife from her and fought to protect her virtue. Of course, took to the streets. At the time I found it, had the cheek infected. I brought it here and seeing the silent brothers, but while they cured the infection, could not heal the scar. "
Tessa put her hand to her own face in a gesture of sympathy unconscious. "Poor Sophie ".
Charlotte head cocked to one side and look for the bright brown eyes of Tessa. He had a strong presence, Tessa thought, it was sometimes hard to remember how it was physically small, small, like a bird." Sophie has a gift, "she said." She has the eye. She can see what the others do not. In his former life is often asked if I was crazy. Now she knows she is not crazy, but it is special. There she was just a maid, who probably would have lost its position once the issue is fading. Now she is a valued member of our family, a girl gifted with much to contribute. "Bent Charlotte forward. "You look back at the life you had, Tessa, and that you feel safe in comparison with this. But you and your aunt were very poor, if I remember correctly. If you had not come to London, where would come after she died? What would you have done? Are you'd find in an alley crying like our Sophie? "Charlotte shook her head." You have a power of incalculable value. You need to ask anything from anyone. You need to depend on anyone. You are free, and freedom is a gift. "
" It's hard to think of something as a gift when I was tortured and imprisoned for it. "
Charlotte shook her head." Sophie told me once he was glad it had been healed. She said that whoever wants now truly loved, and not his cute face. This is your true self, Tessa. This power is what you are. Who loves you now, and you should love yourself, truly love you. "Tessa picked
Codex and hugged to his chest." So you're saying I'm right. This is real, and the life I had before was a dream. "
" That's correct. "Gently patted the shoulder Charlotte Tessa, Tessa almost jumped at the contact. Had been a long time, thought, since any person had touched so maternal, thought Aunt Harriet, and it hurt his throat. "And now it's time to wake up."
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