A/N: The awesome cover above by EllieRose011!!!! Thank you so so much! I love it!!!! Go check out her book 'Hidden Secrets'. It really is cool! This one is dedicated to you!! Enjoy!

And I know that I said there wouldn't be another chapter until the New Year but I was bored so here you are!

-*-*-*-*- Will -*-*-*-*-

"Have you decided to give up yet?" The deep voice asked. Will lifted his head slowly, his dark locks plastered to his forehead with sweat. Blood was running down his wrists from the shackles that were clamped around them. They burned but he refused to show weakness.

"No, I won't give up!" Will spat, the chains that raised his arms above his head rattling. "Not to a coward who won't show his face." The man, who stood behind the bars to Will's cell, made no move to remove the shining bronze mask of a wolf from his face.

"I will not be tempted to reveal my identity to you, William Herondale," he said, his voice monotone. "Now, tell me where it is, and I will let you go. It's as simple as that."

"When the Shadowhunters find me," Will growled. "And they will find me, you'll wish you were never born." The man laughed.

"The Clave does not know where you are, Mr Herondale," he chuckled. "Nor do they care for one useless Shadowhunter brat. As for your friends at the Institute...well, I could bring one of them here. Perhaps your patabatai? Maybe then you'll be you will be a bit more forthcoming." Will yanked on the chains, making them rattle but ignoring the burning in his wrists.

"If you touch him," he hissed, "There won't be a place on Heaven or Earth where you can hide from me."

"Then Hell will be my friend," the masked man smirked. "Do not worry, Mr Herondale. I will have what I need from you soon enough." He gave a slight nod. Will's wrists were yanked further up towards the ceiling, his feet dangling. He cried out in agony as the burning in his wrists increased, searing his skin.

The bronze masked man stood and watched, waiting for a confession that Will would never make.

***

"Will," Jem said urgently, shaking him. "Will!" Will blinked out of his daze and for a moment, felt panicked as he tried to remember where he was, his hands gripping the stone step.

"I..."

"It's all right," Jem said. "You went off somewhere...in there." Jem pointed to his head. "You were saying something about a man with a bronze wolf mask?"

"Yes," Will said. "I...I think he was the one who took me. But I don't remember where he took me, or why."

"You said he wanted something from you," Jem said. "So if we can find out what that is, then we can be a step closer to getting your memory back." Will nodded but looked down at his scarred hands. The memory wasn't a lot, he knew that. Jem was just trying to be kind. It just felt so hopeless, like trying to catch something that he knew was too far away.

Jem seemed to sense this and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've done enough for tonight, Will," he said gently. "We can start looking for clues on this bronze wolf masked person tomorrow. But don't try and push your memories. They'll come when you're ready." Jem stood and held open the Institute door for Will.

"Come on," he said with a kind smile. "I'll rebandage your wrists before you go to bed. You need your rest." Will hesitated but followed him back inside the Institute, hoping that they would find something tomorrow.

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

"Jem? What are you doing still awake?" It was Tessa, walking into the library. Jem looked up from the book he was reading tiredly.

"I was just doing some light reading," he replied. Tessa stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders and peering over at the book on the table.

"'The Weapons of Demons,'" she read out. "This is light reading? What are you doing reading a book like this at this time of night?"

"I'm trying to figure out what was used on Will's wrists," Jem said, running a hand through his hair. "We can't seem to heal them with runes, so I think something demonic was used on them. Perhaps a poison. Anyhow, they are bothering him, so I just wanted to find a way to lessen the pain...to make things easier."

"Perhaps you should stop for tonight," Tessa suggested. "It's been a tiring day." Jem sighed and closed the book.

"Maybe you're right," he said. He stood to his feet and took Tessa's elbow. "But we could have a midnight stroll first, couldn't we?" Tessa smiled and together they left the library, just walking the length the of the corridors in the Institute.

"Was Will all right when you left him?" Tessa asked. "He didn't look very well at dinner." Jem closed his eyes and sighed.

"I think what Cecily said shook him slightly," he said. "He can't remember anything clearly, but he remembers feelings, emotions. I think he was reminded of some of those emtions by what Cecily said, but he couldn't think of the reasons why."

"Well, it is good that he is remembering, isn't it?" Tessa said. "At least you have something to work on." She hesitated. "Jem, you are much closer to Will than any of us are. I do not want you to feel as if you have to work everything out on your own. We are all here for you as well as him." Jem smiled sadly.

"I know." They reached Tessa's door and he kissed her cheek. "Try to get some sleep," he said softly, hugging her and stroking her hair.

"I'll try," she whispered. "But Jem...I'm scared. I'm scared that we're going to lose him." Jem raised her chin, kissing her lips gently.

"We won't lose him," he murmured. "I will do everything I can to make sure of that. I promise." She nodded and looked down. He kissed the top of her head and bid her goodnight.

Once he was sure she was gone, Jem turned and headed back down the corridor. He reached the foot of the stairs and climbed to Will's room, opening the door slowly.

Will was fast asleep inside, curled up into a tight ball. He was muttering and murmuring things that Jem couldn't understand, but nonetheless he sank down into the armchair by the bed.

For the rest of the night, Jem watched over his brother, fearing that if he went to sleep, he would lose Will forever.

-*-*-*-*- Will -*-*-*-*-

Waking up early the next morning, Will found Jem asleep in the armchair by his bed. Part of him felt confused to why Jem cared about him so much, but a small part was glad that Jem had stayed.

Jem looked so peaceful just curled up on the chair. His silver hair was ruffled and sticking up from sleep. For some reason, Will thought that it was rare to see Jem so vulnerable like this. He got the feeling that Jem didn't let someone else take a burden often.

Suddenly feeling protective, Will drew one of the blankets from the bed and tucked it around Jem. He stirred and murmured something but stayed asleep. Will straightened up and crept out of the room.

Just letting his feet wonder, he travelled his thoughts as he walked. His dreams last night were as confusing as ever, but there were some images that flashed by that Will just managed to hold onto.

He saw Cecily and himself climbing trees with another girl, all laughing with each other. The land around them was green, but he had no idea where they were.

He saw Tessa just sitting on a window seat, a book in her hand as he watched her read. She had looked up and smiled at him, asking him for his opinion on a quote she had just read.

The last image that he caught was the one that confused and scared him the most.

It was of Jem, a younger Jem, perhaps thirteen, but something was wrong. Will was holding him by the shoulders as he coughed, his whole body spasming. Will could see blood splattering on the covelet and trickling down from the corners of his mouth. Will hardly knew what was happening but he knew it was bad.

Finally, the coughing stopped and Jem went limp, leaning heavily on Will and breathing hard.

"It's all right," Will had whispered gently although he didn't remember the words he was saying. "It's all right. It's over. It's over."

"I can't do this anymore, Will," Jem whimpered, bury his face into Will's shoulder. "Please, make it stop. Make it stop. Please. I can't-I can't..." Will was aware that Jem wasn't well and so didn't know what he was saying, but the words still hurt. He gently laid Jem down and drew the covers over his heaving chest.

"I know it hurts," he said, knotting his fingers in Jem's sleeve. "I know that it hurts more than anything. But I'm here, and I promise I always will be. We can get through this together." He gripped Will's wrist.

"Don't leave me," Jem begged. Will didn't have to ask to know that Jem was afraid of the dark, afraid of what the dark brings.

"Never," Will whispered.

That dream was the scariest of all. Will wasn't sure if it was just anxiety because he didn't want to lose the only person who understood what he was going through, or if the memory was real and Jem really was very ill indeed.

He was afraid to ask for the truth.

Will looked up and suddenly found himself in a library. The beauty of it took his breath away as he went forward, running a hand along the spines of books. A familiar feeling returned to him and realised that this had to be his favourite room in the Institute...at least, it was when he could remember.

He stopped at one book on the shelf and pulled it out, reading the title: The Shadowhunter Codex. If Jem said they were Shadowhunters, then he would need to find out more about them. Will took the book to the table, settling down and beginning to read.

He went through the sections on werewolves, vampires, warlocks and faeries. He soaked up information on Shadowhunter culture and history. Finally, he read about the runes that Shadowhunters drew upon their skin. One rune fascinated Will: the parabatai rune. Jem had mentioned how they were parabatai, but he couldn't remember what it meant. So Will read up on everything he could about parabatai. It seemed that reading was the only thing he was good at right now.

"Will?" He lifted his head and was surprised to see Tessa in the doorway. He stood abruptly, almost tripping over his chair.

"Oh, Miss Gray, I...erm...would you like the library? I can leave you if you'd like," Will stammered. Tessa walked quickly across the room towards him.

"Oh no, please, stay," she said. "You need not leave."

"I-I just thought that you would find it awkward for me to be here," Will said. Tessa shook her head.

"You mustn't push us away, Will," she said gently. "Let us help you." Will looked down.

"I'm trying," he said. "It's just that...I feel bad for all of you having to tell me everything again. I feel like a infant in a man's body. I just don't want to be a burden."

"You are not a burden, Will," she said, shaking her head. "Please don't think you are."

"I just don't know what to do," Will said, turning away and facing the window. "I feel as if I should act in a certain way, but I don't know how or why. I feel as if I should be doing something, but what that something is, I don't know. I just don't know."

"Then ask," Tessa said softly. "Ask us and we will give you the answers." Will hesitated, feeling the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her. He clamped down hard on his lip with his teeth. What on Earth was he thinking? This was Jem's fiancé! He couldn't be having thoughts like that.

"I don't know where to start," he said.

"Start from what you do know," she replied, sitting down gracefully into a seat.

"Jem," Will said. "I had a dream last night. He-he wasn't well...is he still ill? Or am I making it up?" Tessa looked slightly taken aback.

"I-I don't think I am in a position to tell you that," she stammered. "Only Jem can tell you for it is his decision. You must ask him."

"Oh." Tessa looked up at him, looking slightly guilty.

"I am sorry, but there are some things that are best told by the right person, at the right time," she said.

"I understand," Will replied. "It's just...I used to know these things. It's frustrating."

"I know," she said gently. "But we will work it out. I promise." Will glanced away and at the window.

"Many promises are hard to keep," he murmured.

"But this one will be kept." Will closed his eyes, the image of Jem flashing before his eyes. He had promised that he'd wouldn't leave him, and yet he had. Maybe the promises he made couldn't be trusted.

Maybe he couldn't be trusted.

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here you are, a little New Year present ;) Yeah so if anyone wants to make anything for this chapter or any of my fanfics then go for it! I'll always promote any of your work or books in return ;)

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Love y'all! Thank you so much for reading!!!

CricketCat