Disclaimer: SOME of the dialogue in this chapter, all characters (but Grace and Philip), the main story line and settings belong to the amazing Cassandra Clare. Grace, Philip and my own story plot belong to me. The Infernal Devices do not belong to me.

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'Sea of lovers losing time,
And lovers losing hope.'

 – Sea of Lovers, Christina Perri

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-*-*-*-*- Jem -*-*-*-*-

"It's been a while since we've gone on a mission without Grace," Will murmured, looking out the window at the English countryside zipping past them. Jem looked up from his hands to study Will's face. Tessa had left their train compartment for a moment to walk up the small corridors. She said she was feeling dizzy but secretly, Jem thought she wanted a break from Will's depressing mood.

"It was generally always me that had to stay home," Jem replied, not meeting Will's eyes. "But, to say aloud what you were implying, I agree. It doesn't feel right to do this without her."

"We'll get her back," Will said, his tone determined. "We always have."

"This time is different, Will," Jem said, looking away and his voice hardening. "Brother Enoch said so. He knows Grace's condition better than any of us, perhaps even better than Grace herself. If he can't find a way to wake her up-"

"But no one knows Grace like we do," Will said, catching Jem's eye. "I know she's fighting to get back to us."

"But what if she can't? What if she's stuck like that for the rest of her life? Or even worse, what if Yanluo escapes? She'd be dead. Will, there's a good chance she won't come back."

"She will," Will said. "She promised she would. If there's one thing I know about Grace, it's that she never breaks her promises."

Tessa suddenly opened the door and came back into the compartment. Her intelligent eyes narrowed as soon as she entered, as if she was sensing the atmosphere.

"If you're talking about Grace," she said. "You don't need to stop because of me."

"It doesn't matter," Jem said, dismissing the topic. "So, what's our strategy to be once we reach York? Starkweather will know Tessa isn't a Shadowhunter. We'll have to explain her presence somehow."

"Perhaps we can say Tessa is a mad aunt of ours that insists on chaperoning us every where we go?" Will said.

"My aunt or yours?" Jem inquired.

"No, you're right, that wouldn't work," Will said. Even when he was trying to act like he didn't care, Jem could practically see the gears turning in his head. "I know! She's a petty girl who has fallen madly in love with me and persists in following me where ever I go."

"My talent is shape shifting, not acting, Will," Tessa said bluntly. Jem laughed aloud but shut up as Will sent him a stone cold glare.

"Tessa could be my fiancée," Jem suggested. "She could be a candidate for Ascension." Will shrugged but there was a certain light in his eyes that suggested that he agreed.

"So, it's settled," Jem said. He reached into his pocket and brought out the silver ring of the Carstairs family. "Here, this should seal the deal, so to speak." Tessa looked unsure but allowed Jem to slip the ring onto her finger.

"Grace doesn't wear one of these," she said. "At least, I never see her wearing one." Will glanced at Jem but turned away again, biting his lip.

"No," Jem said bitterly. "The Clave took hers away the moment they knew she was part demon."

***

They arrived at the station and Starkweather's servant greeted them. Jem distracted himself by pointing out different buildings and sites of interest for Tessa. She seemed extremely interested in everything that surrounded her, her grey eyes alight with a curious energy.

The carriage drew up to the York Institute and they had their first encounter with it's head. Jem was sure Aloysius was going to send them away but then he saw Tessa and everything seemed to change. Starkweather showed them to their rooms and instructed them to come to dinner at eight o'clock.

Jem sat in his dark bedroom and pulled out a small drawing from his jacket pocket. Even before they moved to London, Grace had always had a talent for art. The sketch showed his entire family, sitting under a tree in Shanghai. They were all laughing and smiling. Even in a drawing, his mother looked beautiful. His father looked amused, looking at his two children proudly. Grace had included herself in the drawing too. Jem remembered that day so clearly. The breeze had been cool and the day a happy one. If he knew what was going to happen, he wouldn't have taken any one of those days for granted. Jem sighed and folded the paper in two, placing it back into his pocket.

There was a knock at his door. "Jem? I think it's time for dinner," came Will's voice. "Let's hope that the chef can cook or I fear I may not survive until tomorrow." Jem smiled faintly. Back to work.

-*-*-*-*- Grace -*-*-*-*-

"You look gorgeous, Grace," Jessamine said, clapping her hands together as Grace step out from behind the Chinese screen. "I think that's the one." She motioned for Grace to twirl which Grace did reluctantly. The golden wedding dress sparkled in the light.

There was a knock on Grace's door. "Grace?" It was Philip.

"Oh no, Mr Blackthorn," Jessamine called. "I know you're eager to see your lovely fiancé in her wedding dress but you're just going to have to wait for tomorrow."

"Oh, I didn't realise she-," Philip said. "I'll...I'll just go."

"We shall see you at dinner, Philip," Jessamine laughed. "Phew, that could have put a curse on the whole thing."

Grace smiled but then pretended to yawn. "I'm going to rest a little before dinner," she lied. "Why don't you too? You've had a long journey, after all."

"I will," Jessamine said. "I positively cannot wait for tomorrow. You're going to be beautiful, Grace dear." She left the room, humming to herself all the way. Grace shook her head. Maybe the real Jessamine was better than this one.

***

Later that night, Grace was in the training room, throwing knives at the wall. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Jian asked as he walked in. "It's a big day for you tomorrow."

"I couldn't sleep," Grace said, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"Too excited?" Jian said. More like too nervous, Grace thought silently but she forced a smile. Jian narrowed his eyes.

"You don't seem awfully keen on this wedding," he said, picking up a knife and flipping it in his hand. "At least, not like you were a few weeks ago. In fact, you've been acting like...well, strangely to say the least over the last couple of days."

"It's just the nerves, like you said before," Grace replied. Jian didn't seem convinced.

"Just promise me that if you are going to say no, you say no now," he said. "Don't break his heart when we get to the Silent City. I don't think he'd be able to take the rejection." Grace pursed her lips and didn't give an answer.

"Don't stay up too late," Jian continued as he walked out of the training room. "Mother wants you up early tomorrow."

Grace sat on the floor and put her head in her hands. She couldn't marry Philip but she couldn't cruelly abandon him last minute. But none of this was real. Anything she did wasn't real. Philip wasn't real. This was all just Yanluo torturing her.

But despite all this, her family, Jessamine, Philip, they all seemed too real. And if they were real, then they could be hurt.

Stop it Grace, she thought. This was exactly what Yanluo wanted. She had to get out of here. She had to get back to Jem and Will. She couldn't stand being here any longer. If she didn't break free before the wedding tomorrow, she'd never be able to leave.

-*-*-*-*- Will -*-*-*-*- 

"That absolute wicked bas-"

"Stop it, Will!" Jem cut in. "Yes, I agree that Starkweather was a fool to think we would be impressed by his...collection, but there's no need to swear the whole Institute down."

"Didn't you see Tessa's face?" Will demanded, pacing up and down in Jem's small guest room.

"I did," Jem said quietly. "She was horrified."

"Aloysius could be the bloody reason Mortmain wants to destroy all Shadowhunters!" Will carried on ranting. "He could be the reason we're all going to die!"

"No one ever said anything about dying, William," Jem said harshly. "Let's not be over dramatic. Anyway, whether he admits it or not, I think Starkweather may realise it may be his fault which is why he gave us what we needed. We can go to Ravenscar Manor tomorrow."

"A trip into the countryside," Will muttered. "Just perfect."

"You've been in an awful mood since we got onto the train, Will," Jem said but not unkindly. "What's bothering you?"

"It's nothing," Will said. "I- I'm just finding it hard to- It's nothing, I'm fine." Jem gave him a look but didn't reply. "We should head to bed. It'll be a long day tomorrow."

***

The carriage rattled along the rocky road on the way to Ravenscar Manor. Will kept his gaze firmly on the view out the window. Tessa and Jem spoke politely to each other, but without Grace, the carriage just didn't feel full. At this point, she'd probably be cracking some wise jokes if she was in a good mood. Or she'd be grumbling how everything that stood in her way should fear her if she was in a bad mood.

The driver stopped and Will jumped out, helping Tessa down after him. She caught his eye for a moment before looking away, silently agreeing with him not to talk about last night. Jem climbed down and grinned at Will. "Shall we go then?" he asked. Will nodded and together, they climbed a hill and lay down just below it's crest, looking over at the huge manor below.

"It's rather grand, isn't it?" Tessa said quietly.

"And massive," Jem replied. He craned his neck. "It looks like someone's arriving." The three of them ducked down as the person riding in the carriage that had just arrived stepped out, her black hair whipping about her face.

Will felt like he had been punched. He was robbed of all breath as the girl made her way towards the door.

"Will?" Jem asked, looking very worried. "Will- what on Earth?"

Will staggered to his feet, his heart thudding painfully against his ribcage. Please, God, no, he thought. Punish me for my sins in anyway but this.

"Cecily," he gasped.

"Cecily?" Tessa said. "But Will-"

"Oh God. Christ, she was only nine when I left," Will said, his voice breathless.

"Your sister?" Jem asked.

"My family," Will said. "They have to be down there. They have to be. They've been dragged into this bloody mess. I have to warn them!" Will started down the hill but Jem caught his sleeve.

"Will, you can't," Jem said. "You'll be breaking the law."

"Don't try and stop me, James," Will said, trying to pry Jem's finger's off his coat.

"Will-" Jem cried as Will started running like a mad man. Jem ran after him, grabbing him again. Will slipped and they both went tumbling. Somehow, Jem managed to gain control and pinned Will up against a nearby boulder, his elbow to his throat.

"Get off me!" Will shouted. "You don't understand! Your family's dead-"

"Yes, my family is dead," Jem said harshly. "But yours won't be much better if you carry on like this."

"Please Jem," Will cried. "Mortmain's using them to get to me. You have to let me go. I have to warn them! He'll kill them!"

"Will, you've stayed away for so many years now, don't waste all that now," Jem said.

"But-"

"Will, if you charge down there, Mortmain is sure to kill your family," Jem said. "And then he'll come for Charlotte and Henry, and then Tessa, and then me, and then Grace. It won't ever stop, Will. But we have a chance to stop him."

"Jem-"

"Look, over there," Jem said. Will squinted his eyes but saw the evil glint of metal. An automaton. "It's been following us."

"It's been watching my family too," Will replied.

"Please, Will," Jem said softly. "For the sake of my sister, don't force Mortmain's hand. For the sake of your family, don't make him strike." Will stared into Jem's unwavering eyes.

"Let me up Jem," he said. "I swear by the angel Raziel that I won't go near the house." Jem hesitated but rolled off Will and to his feet. Will stood slowly, but then burst into action, pushing past Jem and sprinting as fast as he could towards the automaton. He heard Jem swear then chase after him across the Yorkshire hills.

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So next chapter there will be a little more on Grace before I'll get to the part where they'll start to figure out a way to free her...hopefully...

Vote, comment and let me know what you think!

Love y'all!