3
Institute
je_tatica Translated by Edited by
Love, hope, faith ... these make humanity
Here are their symbol and note and character
- Robert Browning, Paracelsus
Tessa In the dream lay a again closely tied to the brass bed in the Dark House. The sisters bent over her, clicking long pairs of knitting needles and laughing out loud shrilly. While Tessa watched, his features changed, her eyes sunk in his head, his hair fell out, and stitches on her lips appeared, sewing and closing them. Tessa screamed without a voice, but did not seem to listen.
Sisters vanished completely below, and Aunt Harriet was standing in front of Tessa, her face flushed with fever as he had been during the terrible disease that had killed her. Tessa looked very sad. "I tried," said. "I tried to love you. But it is not easy to love a child that is not human at all ..."
"Do not human? said an unknown female voice. "Well, if she is not human, Enoch, what is?" The voice was edged with impatience. "What do you mean you do not know? Everyone is something. This girl can not be anything at all ... ".
Tessa awoke with a scream, her eyes flew open, and found himself staring into the shadows. The darkness around densely grouped. I could barely hear the murmur of their voices through a panic, and struggled to sit up, kicking blankets and pillows. Vaguely, he recognized that the blanket was thick and heavy, not thin, braided that belonged to the Dark House.
was in bed, as she had dreamed, in a large stone room, and there was little light. He heard the rustle of her breath as she turned, and a cry forced his exit from the throat. The face of his nightmare in the darkness loomed before her, a big white moon of a face, white shaved head, smooth as marble. Where the eyes should have been there were only indentations in the flesh, not as if the eyes had been torn, but as if they had never developed there at all. Lips were marked with black stitches, face scrawled with black markings as they were in the shoes of Will, but these looked as if there had been cut with knives.
She screamed again and crawl back, half falling out of bed. Hit the cold stone floor, and white cloth gown that I had (someone had to putting it on while she was unconscious), ripped the hem when she stood up.
"Miss Gray." Someone was saying to his name, but in their panic, I just knew that the voice was unfamiliar. He was not the monster stared at her from the side of the bed, his face impassive checked, had not moved when she did, and although it showed signs of chase, it began to recede, with care, feeling behind a door.
The room was so dark, he could only see that it was more or less rectangular, the walls and floor all made of stone. The ceiling was high enough to be in dark shadow, and had long windows across the front wall, the type of arched windows that could have belonged to a church. Very little light filtered through them, it seemed as if the sky was dark outside. "Theresa Gray ..."
found the door, metal handle, turned, grabbed it gratefully and pulled. Nothing happened. A sob rose in her throat.
"Miss Gray!" Said the voice again, and suddenly the room filled with light, bright light, white-silver she said. "Miss Gray, sorry. We did not mean to scare you. "The voice was a woman still unknown, but young and worried." Ms. Gray, please. "
Tessa turned slowly and put his back against the door. I could see clearly now. I was in a room stone whose main objective was a large canopy bed, velvet bedspread was now wrinkled and hanging to the side where he had dragged out the mattress. There tapestry curtains thrown back behind, and an elegant tapestry of carpet in the other hand, bare soil. In fact, the room itself was quite bare. There were no images or photographs on the wall, no ornaments saturate the surfaces of dark wood furniture. Two chairs were facing each other near the bed, a small tea table between them. China screen in a corner of the room you were probably hiding a bathtub and a sink.
Beside the bed was a tall man who was dressed as a monk, a long thick material, the color of parchment. Runes red-brown surrounded the cuffs and hem. He carried a silver staff with the head carved in the shape of an angel and runes decorating their length. The hood of her robe fell, exposing her white face, blind and scarred.
Next to him was a woman very small, almost child-sized, with thick brown hair knotted at the neck, and a little face clean, clever, bright and dark eyes like a bird. It was not exactly pretty, but there was a quiet, an expression of kindness in his face the pain of panic eased Tessa stomach easily, but could not say exactly why. In his hand he held a shiny white stone as Will had sustained in the Dark House. His light shone through his fingers, illuminating the room.
"Miss Gray," he said. "I am Charlotte Branwell, director of the Institute of London, and this is my side, is the brother Enoch ..."
"What kind of monster is he?" Tessa whispered. Brother Enoch said nothing. I was totally blank. "I know there are monsters in this world," Tessa said. "You can not tell me otherwise. I have seen."
"I would not say otherwise," said Mrs. Branwell. "If the world were not filled with monsters, we would not need Shadow Hunters" .
Shadow Hunter. What the sisters had called Will dark Herondale.
Will. "I was ... Will was with me," Tessa said, her voice trembling. "In the basement. Will said ... "He stopped and shrugged inside. There should be called Will by his first name, because it implied an intimacy between them that did not exist. "Where is Mr. Herondale? "
" He is here, "said Mrs. Branwell in stride." In the Institute. "
" brought me here too? "Tessa whispered.
"Yes, but there is no need to be betrayed, Miss Gray. You had been beaten so hard on the head, and Will was worried about you.'s brother Enoch, although its appearance can be scary, is an expert practitioner in medicine. Determined that his head injury is mild, and that the main thing suffers a state of shock and nervous anxiety. In fact, it might be better if you sit now. flutter bare feet the door in this way will only make you cool, and that makes him little good. "
" You mean because I can not run, "Tessa said, licking his dry lips." I can not escape. "
"If demand escape, as he says, after we have spoken, let go," said Mrs. Branwell. "The Nephilim Underworld caught not under duress. The agreements forbid it."
"Agreements?"
Mrs. Branwell hesitated, then turned to his brother Enoch and said something quietly . To the great relief of Tessa, got the hood of parchment-colored robe, hiding his face. A moment later, he moved to Tessa, she stepped back in a hurry and he opened the door, stopping only for a moment on the threshold.
At that time, spoke to Tessa. Or maybe "talk" was not the word for it: He heard her voice inside his head, rather than outside it. You Eidolon, Theresa Gray. A shifter. But not of a type that is familiar to me. No demon mark on you.
shifter. He knew what it was. She stared at him, her heart pounding, as he passed through the door and closed it behind him. Somehow knew Tessa that if he ran to the door and tried the handle, once again find it closed, but the urge to escape had left. Her knees felt as if they had turned to water. He sat in one of the chairs beside the bed.
"What is it?" Asked Mrs. Branwell, going to sit in the chair in front of Tessa. Her dress hung so loosely on her small body, it was impossible to say whether she wore a corset under it, and small bones in his wrists were like a child. "What did he say?" Tessa shook her head, pressing his hands on his lap so that Mrs. Branwell could not see their trembling fingers. Mrs. Branwell
looked at her piercingly. "First," she said, "please call me Charlotte, Miss Gray. All they do at the Institute. Shadow Hunters are not as formal as most. "Tessa nodded, feeling a sense of shame on their cheeks. It was difficult to know how old Charlotte had was so small that it looked very young indeed, but its air authority made her look older, old enough for the idea of \u200b\u200bcalling her by her first name seems very strange. However, as Aunt Harriet would have said, when in Rome ...
"Charlotte" Tessa said experimentally.
With a smile, Ms. Branwell, Charlotte, leaned back slightly in his chair, and Tessa was with some surprise that I had dark tattoos. A woman with tattoos! His marks were like those of Will: visible on the wrists for clenched fists under her dress, one as an eye in the back of his left hand. "Secondly, let me tell you what I know about you, Theresa Gray." He spoke in the same calm tone that he had done before, but his eyes, although friendly, were sharp as pins. "You are American. He came here from New York, as he was following his brother had sent a steamship ticket. His name is Nathaniel.
Tessa sat petrified. "How do you know all this?"
"I know that Will found it in the house of the Sisters Dark," said Charlotte. "I know you said that someone called the Master was going for you. I know he has no idea of \u200b\u200bwho is the master. And I know that in a battle with the Dark Sister, was knocked unconscious and brought up here. "
Charlotte's words were like a key unlocking a door. Suddenly Tessa said. Recalled Will run down the hall, reminded metal doors and a room full of blood on the other hand, reminded Ms. Dark, with the severed head, reminded his knife throwing ... Will
"Mrs. Black," he whispered.
"Dead," said Charlotte. "Very." He supported his shoulders against the back of the chair, was so slight that the chair is raised above it, like a child sitting on the throne of his father.
"And Mrs. Dark?"
"He left. We searched the house and the surrounding area but found no trace of her. "
"The whole house?" Tessa's voice was shaking slightly. "And no one was there? Is not anyone else alive, o. .. or dead? "
" We have not found his brother, Miss Gray, "said Charlotte. His tone was soft." Not at home, or in any of the surrounding buildings. "
" You ... I look? "Tessa was puzzled.
" I do not find, "said Charlotte again." But we found her letters. "
" My letters? "
"The letters he wrote to his brother and never sent," said Charlotte. "Curled up under your mattress."
"Do you read?"
"We had to read them," said Charlotte in the same mild tone. "I apologize for that. No Underworld bring the Institute or any person other than a Shadow Hunter, often. It represents a big risk for us. We know that you were not a danger."
turned his head to one side. There was a terrible violation of this strange reading about his innermost thoughts, all dreams and hopes and fears that had spilled, never thinking anyone would see. The back of her eyes were burning, tears threatening her, and she wanted them back, furious with herself, though.
"He's trying not to mourn," said Charlotte. "I know when I do, it sometimes helps to look directly into bright light. Try the magic light."
Tessa moved his gaze to the stone in the hand of Charlotte and stared. The brightness of it swelled before his eyes as an expanding sun. "So," he said, struggling to pass the tightness in her throat, "decided that I am not a danger, then?"
"Maybe just for yourself," said Charlotte. "A power like his, the power to change shape, it is not surprising that the Dark Sisters would like to have it in their hands. Others will too."
"How are you?" Tessa said. "Or going to pretend that I have let her precious just Institute for charity?"
A look of pain crossed the face of Charlotte. Had been brief, but it was real, and did more to convince that Tessa may have been wrong about Charlotte, that anything that the other woman might have said. "It's not charity," he said. "It's my vocation. Our vocation." Tessa just looked at her blankly. "Maybe," said Charlotte, "would be better if I explain what we are ... and what we do."
"Nephilim," said Tessa. "That's what the sisters called Mr. Herondale Dark." He noted the dark markings in the hand of Charlotte. "You are one too, right? Is that why you have those ... those marks? "
Charlotte nodded." I'm one of the Nephilim, the Shadow Hunters. We are ... a race, if you will, people, people with special abilities. We are stronger and faster that most human beings. We are able to hide with magic called glamor. And we are uniquely qualified to kill demons. "
" Damn. You mean, like Satan? "
" Demons are evil creatures. Travel great distances to come to this world and feed on it. Can reduce it to ashes and destroy its inhabitants if not avoid. "His voice was intense." As the human police work to protect the citizens of this city one another, it is our job to protect them from demons and other supernatural dangers. When there are crimes that affect the Shadow World, when the law of our world is broken, needs to be investigated. We are required by law, in fact, doing research, even a rumor of a violation of the Law of the Covenant. Will told him about the girl found dead in an alley, was the only body, but there have been other disappearances, dark rumors of children disappearing from the earthly city, the poorest streets. Use magic to kill humans is against the law, and therefore, a matter of our jurisdiction. "
" Mr. Herondale seems too young to be a kind of police. "
" Shadow Hunters are growing rapidly, and Will did not investigate alone. "Charlotte did not sound as if to go into details." That's not all we do. Act protect and defend the Alliance Agreements, legislation governing the Underworld peace. "
Will had used that word too." Underworld? Is that a place? "
" An Underworld is a being, a person who is part of supernatural origin. Vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches, they are all Underworld. "
Tessa stared. The tale was a story for children, and vampire novels matters very little class." Are these creatures exist? "
"You are an underworld," said Charlotte. "Brother Enoch confirmed. Just do not know what kind. You see, the kind of magic you can do, their ability, not something that an ordinary human being could do. Nor is it something that one of us, a hunter Shadow could do. Will thought it was more appropriate a witch, which is what I would have imagined, but all witches have some attribute that marks them as witches. Alas, or hooves, or webbed fingers or, as seen in the case of Ms. Black, clawed hands. But you, you are entirely human in appearance. And it is clear from his letters that you know or believe that both parents are human. "
"Human?" Tessa looked. "Why not have been human?
Before Charlotte could answer, the door opened and a slender dark-haired girl in a white cap and apron, came in carrying a tray of tea and put it on the table between them. "Sophie," Charlotte said, sounding relieved to see the girl. "Thanks. This is Miss Gray. She will be a our guest tonight. "
Sophie stood up, turned to Tessa, and bowed." Senorita, "he said, but the novelty of being revered Tessa was lost when Sophie up head and his face was fully visible. Should have been very pretty, her eyes were a bright dark hazel, smooth skin, her lips soft and delicately formed, but a thick scar, corrugated silver cut from the left corner of his mouth to his temple, pulling his face towards sides and distorting his features twisted into a mask. Tessa tried to hide the shock on his face, but as you saw in Sophie's eyes darkened, it did not work.
"Sophie," said Charlotte, "brought the dark red dress that I asked earlier?" You can have brushes and sponges for Tessa? " He turned to Tessa when The maid nodded and went to the closet. "I took the liberty of having one of our Jessamine old clothes for you. The outfit she wore was in ruins."
"Thank you," Tessa said coldly. I hated having to be grateful. The Sisters had pretended they were doing favors, and look how he had come.
"Miss Gray." Charlotte looked at seriously. "Shadow Hunters and the underworld are not enemies. Our agreement can never be easy, but it is my belief that the underworld can be confident that, in fact, are the key to our ultimate success against the kingdoms of demons. Is there anything I can do to show we do not plan to take advantage of you? "
" I ... "Tessa breathed deeply." Dark Sisters When first I spoke of my power, I thought we were crazy , "he said." I told them those things do not exist. Then I thought that had been trapped in a nightmare in which they were. But then Mr. Herondale wine, and he knew about magic, and that stone was brilliant, and I thought: Here is someone who could help me. "He looked at Charlotte." But you do not seem to know why I am like I am, or even what am. And even if you do not ... "
"It can be ... difficult to learn how the world really see it in its true form and condition," said Charlotte. "Most human beings never do. Most could not stand it. But I've read his letters. And I know that is strong, Miss Gray. That has endured what might have killed another young man, underworld or not."
"I had no other choice. I did it for my brother. They have murdered."
"Some people," said Charlotte, "would have allowed that to happen. I know from reading your own words you did not even consider that." He leaned ahead. "Do you have any idea where is your brother? Do you think most likely is dead?"
Tessa gasped.
"Ms. Branwell! "Sophie, who had been attending the hem of a red dress came with a brush, he looked up and spoke in a tone of reproach that surprised Tessa. It was not the correct place for officials from their employers, the books I had read had made it very clear.
But Charlotte just looked rueful. "Sophie is my good angel," he said. "I tend to be a little too blunt. I it might be something that you know, something that was not in his letters, which perhaps can give us knowledge of his whereabouts. "
Tessa shook her head." The Dark Sister told me I was imprisoned in a safety. I guess it's still there. But I have no idea how to find it. "
" Then you should be here at the Institute until he can be reached. "
" I do not want charity. "Tessa said stubbornly." I can find another accommodation. "
" It would be charitable. We are bound by our own laws to help and assist to the Underworld. Send you away without having to go break the agreements, which are important rules that must be met. "
" And you do not ask me anything in return? " Tessa's voice was bitter. "I will not ask me ... use my skills? Do not force me to change?"
"Yes," said Charlotte, "if you want to use your power, then no, do not force you. But I think may benefit you to learn how it can be controlled and used ... "
" No! " Tessa's scream was so loud that Sophie jumped and dropped the brush. Charlotte looked at her and then back to Tessa. She said, "Whatever you say, Miss Gray. There are other ways you could help us. I'm sure there are many things that you know is not included in his letters. And in return, we can help find his brother. "
Tessa's head stood up." Would you do? "
" You have my word. "Charlotte stood. Neither had played the tea tray." Sophie , if you could help Ms. Gray, her dress, and then take her to dinner? "
" Dinner? "After hearing that agreement on the Nephilim, and the underworld, and fairies, and vampires and demons, the prospect of dinner was almost shocking in its coarseness.
"Of course. It's almost seven. Will has already met, you can meet everyone else. Maybe you'll see that we are trustworthy. "
And with a strong signal, Charlotte left the room. As the door closed behind her, Tessa shook her head in silence. Aunt Harriet had been bossy, but I had nothing to Charlotte Branwell.
"has a strict behavior, but it really is very nice," said Sophie, lying in bed the dress that Tessa had intended to use. "I've never met anyone with a better heart. "
Tessa touched the sleeve of her dress with the tip of your finger. It was dark red satin, as Charlotte had said, with a tight black moire ribbon around the waist and hem. I've never worn something so beautiful.
"Do you want to help you dress for dinner, miss?" Sophie asked. Tessa remembered something that Aunt Harriet had always said, you could meet a man not by what his friends said of him, but by how he treated his servants. If Sophie thought Charlotte had a good heart, then maybe it did.
lifted his head. "Thank you, Sophie. I think so. "
Tessa had never had anyone to assist her in dressing before, with the exception of his aunt. Although Tessa was thin, the dress was clearly made for a smaller girl, and Sophie had to tie with string tightly Tessa's corset to be adjusted. clucked softly, as he did. "Mrs. Branwell not believe tighten belt" he said. "He says that causes headaches and nervous debility, and a Shadow Hunter can not afford to be weak. But Miss Jessamine likes his waist dressed very small, and insists it ".
" Well, "said Tessa, a little breathless," I'm not a Shadow Hunter, anyway. "
" Yes, "Sophie agreed, clasping the back of the dress with a clever, small brooch. "There. What do you think? "
Tessa looked in the mirror, and looked puzzled. The dress was too small on her, and was clearly designed to be tight to the body, as it was. Scandalously She clung to her figure almost to the hips where bulged gathering in the back, hanging by a modest movement. The sleeves were turned, showing champagne lace ruffle cuffs. ... He looked older, he thought, not the scarecrow had been tragic in the Dark House, but not someone completely familiar. What if one of the times that I changed when I came back to me, I did not quite right? What if it's not even my real face? The idea sent a beam through her panic she felt as if he would faint.
"It's a little pale," Sophie said, looking at the reflection of Tessa with a judicious eye. It did not seem particularly impressed by the tight dress at least. "You could try pinching the cheeks a little color to it. That's what makes Miss Jessamine."
"It was nice of your part, Miss Jessamine, I mean, borrow this dress."
Sophie contained a chuckle in his throat. "Miss Jessamine never used it. Mrs. Branwell gave it as a gift, but Miss Jessamine said it made her look sallow and threw it to the back of your closet. Ingrata, if you ask me. Now go, and pellÃzquese cheeks a little.'s pale as milk. "
Having done this, and after thanking Sophie, Tessa left the room to a long stone corridor. Charlotte was there, waiting. She left immediately, Tessa behind, limping slightly, black silk shoes did not fit, they were friendly with bruised foot.
Being in the Institute was a bit like being inside a house, the roof disappeared into the darkness, the curtains hung on the walls. Or at least that was how they imagined Tessa inside a house could look. The curtains were repeated motifs of stars, swords, and the same type of designs that had been inked on Will and Charlotte. There was one image repeated also an angel out of a lake, carrying a sword in one hand and a cup in the other. "This place used to be a church," said Charlotte, responding to the unanswered question of Tessa. "The Church of All Saints, the Less. It burned in the Great Fire of London. We take the land after that and built the Institute on the ruins of the old church. It is useful for our purpose to remain in consecrated ground. "
"People do not think it's strange, that built on the site of an old church like this?" Tessa asked, hurrying to keep pace.
"I do not know. The mundane, that is what we call ordinary people are not aware of what we do, "said Charlotte." For them, from the outside, the place looks like an empty patch of land. Beyond that, the mundane are not really interested in what does not affect them directly. "He turned to Tessa by passing through a door and a large well-lit room. "Here we are."
Tessa was blinking in the sudden illumination. The room was huge, big enough for a table could have seated twenty people. A huge gas chandelier hung from the ceiling, filling the room with a yellow glow. On a sideboard loaded with expensive-looking porcelain, gold-framed mirror stretched over the room. A low glass bowl with white flowers decorated the center of the table. Everything was tasteful, and very common. There was nothing unusual in the room, anything that might suggest the nature of the occupants of the house.
Although the long dining table was covered with white tablecloths, only one end was placed seats for five people. Only two people were already seated, Will and a girl with blond hair over the age of Tessa in a low cut dress bright. Seemed to ignore each other studiously; Will looked up with apparent relief when Charlotte and Tessa went "Will," said Charlotte. "You remember Miss Gray?
" My memory of it, "said Will," is actually more vivid. "I was not wearing a strange black clothes she had worn the previous day, but a couple of ordinary pants and a gray jacket with black velvet collar. Gray made his eyes look more blue than ever. He smiled at Tessa, who felt blush and looked away quickly.
"And Jessamine, Jessie , looks up. Jessie, this is Ms. Theresa Gray, Miss Gray, Miss Jessamine this is the Lovelace. "
"Pleased to meet you," murmured Jessamine. Tessa could not help her. It was almost ridiculously pretty, so one of Tessa's novels have been called an English Rose, all silvery blond hair, soft brown eyes, creamy complexion. She wore a bright blue, and rings on each finger. If I had the same black marks on the skin that had Will and Charlotte, were not visible.
Will threw an obvious look of hatred, and turned to Charlotte. "Where is your husband unenlightened, then?"
Charlotte, sitting down, told Tessa to sit with her in the chair next to Will. "Henry is in his workroom. I sent Thomas to look. It will come in a moment."
"And Jem?"
Charlotte's eyes was a warning, but "no Jem it feels good, "was all he said." He's having one of his days. "
" He always has one of his days. "Jessamine sounded upset.
Tessa was about to ask who could be Jem, when Sophie entered followed by a plump middle-aged woman whose gray hair escaping from a bun in the back of his head. The two began to serve food from the buffet. There was roast pork, potatoes, soup, tasty food and fluffy rolls with creamy butter. Tessa suddenly felt dizzy, had forgotten how hungry he was. He bit into a roll, just to check herself when she saw Jessamine looking.
"You know," Jessamine said cheerfully: "I do not think I've ever seen a witch before eating. I guess not even need to hold back, right? You can only use magic to get thin."
"We do not know if she is a witch, Jessie," said Will.
ignored him. "Is it terrible to be so evil? Are you worried that you will go to hell?" moved closer to Tessa. "How do you think is the Devil?"
Tessa put her fork down. "Would you like to know? Could summon in an instant, if you wish. Being a witch, and all that.
Will let out a laugh. Jessamine's eyes narrowed." There is no need to be rude ... " began, then stopped when Charlotte joined suddenly with a gasp.
"Henry!"
A man was standing in the arched door of the dining room, a familiar-looking tall man with a shock of red hair and hazel eyes. He wore a tweed Norfolk jacket over a surprisingly bright striped vest, his pants were covered in what looked peculiarly like coal dust. But none of that was what he did yell at Charlotte, was the fact that his left arm seemed to be on fire. Small flames licked at one point his arm above his elbow, releasing tendrils of black smoke.
"Charlotte, dear," Henry said his wife, who watched with his mouth open in horror. Jessamine, at his side, had eyes wide open. "Sorry I'm late. You know, I almost could have the sensor working ..."
Will interrupted. "Henry," he said, "you're on fire. You know that, right?"
"Oh, yes," Henry said with enthusiasm. The flames were now almost to the shoulder. "I've been working like crazy for all day. Charlotte, did you hear what I said about the sensor? "
Charlotte dropped his hand from his mouth. "Henry!" She cried. "Your arm!"
Henry looked at his arm, and gasped. "Bloody hell," was all he had time to say before the Will, displaying a startling presence of genius, he rose, took the vase of flowers on the table, and threw the contents on Henry. The flames were extinguished, with a faint crackling in protest, leaving Henry, soaked in the door sleeve of his jacket, and a dozen black wet white flowers planted at his feet.
Henry smiled and patted the sleeve of his coat burned with a look of satisfaction. "You know what this means?"
Will dropped the vase. "What you put yourself on fire and no not even notice?
"The mixture of flame retardants that developed last week works!" Henry said with pride. "This material must have been burning for at least ten minutes, and is not even half of Burning!" He looked at his arm. "Maybe I should put another hose on fire and see how long ..."
"Henry," said Charlotte, who seemed to have recovered from the shock, "if you turn on fire deliberately, I will initiate divorce proceedings . Now sit down and eat your dinner. And greet our guest. "
Henry sat down, looked through Tessa table and blinked in surprise. "I know," he said. "You bit me!" He seemed happy about it, as if recalling a pleasant memory that both had shared.
desperate Charlotte glanced to her husband.
"Was Ms. Gray asked the Pandemonium Club yet?" Will asked.
Pandemonium Club. "I know the words. They were written on the side of the carriage of Mrs. Dark," said Tessa.
"is an organization," said Charlotte. "Rather, an ancient organization of worldly who are interested in the magical arts. In their meetings and try to do spells to summon demons and spirits. "He sighed.
Jessamine snorted. "I can not imagine why bother," he said. "Wasting time with spells and wearing robes with hoods and lighting small fires. It's ridiculous."
"Oh, do more than that," said Will. "They are more powerful in the underworld than you might think. Many rich and important figures in secular society are members ..."
"That just makes it silly." Shook his Jessamine hair. "They have money and power. Why are they playing with magic?"
"A good question," said Charlotte. "Mundane who engage in things they know nothing probably know unpleasant end."
Will shrugged. "When I was trying to locate the source of the symbol on the knife that Jem and I found in the alley, I led the club Pandemonium. Members of the turn, I went to the darker brother. Is its symbol, the two snakes. oversee a number of gambling dens frequented by underworld. there to lure and trick them worldly lose all your money on magic games, then when the worldly fall into the trap, the Sisters Dark extort money back to ruinous rates. "Will looked at Charlotte." They ran some other businesses as well, the most unpleasant. The house where he kept Tessa, I had been told was a brothel underworld, which served mundane to unusual tastes. "
"Will, I'm not quite sure ..." Charlotte began, hesitantly.
"Hmph," said Jasmine. "No wonder you were so enthusiastic about going there, William."
If he had Hope to bother Will, did not work may not have spoken for all the attention he paid. Tessa looked across the table, slightly arched eyebrows. "Have I offended you, Miss Gray?" I figured that after all he has seen, it is not easy to astonish. "
"I'm not offended, Mr. Herondale." Despite his words, Tessa felt her cheeks flamed. Well-educated girls did not know what a brothel, and certainly would not say the word in mixed company. The murder was one thing, but this ... "I, ah, I see how it could have been a ... well," he said with such certainty as he could. "No one was coming or going, that was not the maid and the driver, never saw anyone else lived there."
"No, when I went there, was abandoned at all," Will agreed. "Clearly it had decided to suspend business, perhaps in the interests of maintaining isolation." He looked at Charlotte. " Do you think the brother of Miss Gray has the same capacity as they have? Is that perhaps why the Sisters dark captured him in the first place? "
Tessa stepped in, glad for the change of subject." My brother never showed any sign of such a thing ... but then I do not either until I found the Dark Sisters. "
" What is your capacity? "demanded Jessamine." Charlotte told me. "
" Jessamine! "Charlotte frowned.
"I do not think she has a" Jessamine continued. "I think it's just a little snitch who knows that if we believe it is an underworld, we will have to treat it well, by the Agreements."
Tessa
gritted teeth. She thought of her Aunt Harriet saying Do not lose your temper, Tessa, and do not fight with your brother, simply because it teases. But do not care. Everyone was looking at her with curious eyes hazel Henry, Charlotte, with a look as sharp as glass, Jessamine with thinly veiled contempt, and Will with fresh fun. What if everyone thinks that Jessamine think? What if everyone thought that love was fishing? Aunt Harriet would have hated to accept the charity even more than it would have disapproved the temperament of Tessa.
Will was speaking then leaning forward to stare at his face. "You can keep it secret," he said softly. "But secrets have their own weight, and this can be very heavy."
Tessa raised
head. "It need not be a secret. But it would be easier for me to show them to tell."
"Excellent!" Henry looked pleased. "I like to show me things. Is there anything you require, as a spirit lamp, or ..."
"Not a seance, Henry," Charlotte said wearily. "He turned to Tessa. "No need to do this if you want, Miss Gray."
Tessa ignored him. "The truth is that I require something." He turned to Jessamine. "Own thing, please. A ring, or a handkerchief ... "
Jessamine wrinkled her nose. "My God, to me sounds more like your special power be theft!"
Will looked exasperated. "Give him a ring, Jessie. You've been enough of them."
"You give something, then." Jessamine lifted her chin.
"No," Tessa said firmly. "It has to be yours." Because of everyone here, are the closest to me in size and shape. If I transformed into little Charlotte, is dressed simply fall, Tessa thought. I had considered trying to use the dress itself, but as he had never used Jessamine, Tessa was not sure the change worked and did not want to take any chances.
"Oh, very well then." Petulant, Jessamine off his little finger a ring with a red stone in it, and passed through the table to Tessa. "You better be worth it."
Oh, it will be worth. No smile, Tessa put the ring in the palm of his left hand and closed her fingers around it. Then he closed his eyes.
was always the same: nothing at first, then the spark of something in the back of his mind, like someone lit a candle in a dark room. He groped his way toward her, as the Dark Sisters had taught him. It was difficult to strip the fear and timidity, but had done enough times now to know what to expect, ranging up to touch the light in the heart of darkness, the feeling of warmth and light surround, as if pulling a blanket something thick and heavy around her, covering each layer of her skin, and then the light shone and around ... and she was inside. Within the skin of another person. Inside his mind.
Jessamine's mind.
was only on the edge of this, his thoughts skimming the surface of Jessamine and fingers touching the water surface. Still, her breath. Tessa had a sudden image, flashing a brilliant piece of candy with something dark at its center, like a worm in the center of an apple. Felt resentment, hatred, bitterness, anger, a fierce desire for something terrible ...
His eyes snapped open. He was still sitting at the table, Jessamine ring attached to his hand. His skin was protesting with pins and needles sharp always accompanied their transformation. I could feel the strangeness of it was a different weight of another body, not yours, I could feel the touch of blond hair over the shoulders of Jessamine. Too thick to be held by the pins that had held Tessa's hair, it was down around her pale neck like a waterfall.
"For the Angel," he breathed Charlotte. Tessa looked around the table. They were all looking at her, Charlotte and Henry with his mouth open; Will silent for once, a glass of water frozen halfway to his lips. Jessamine Jessamine ... And looking at her with abject horror, as someone who has seen a vision of his own ghost. For a moment, Tessa felt a twinge of guilt.
lasted only a moment, however. Jessamine slowly lowered his hand from his mouth, his face was still very pale. "My God, my nose is huge," he said. "Why did not anyone tell me?"
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