Old Friends

Watching them all from afar, seeing them interact with one another, reminded her of the days in the London Institute, with Charlotte and her charges--her friends. Tessa leaned against the great oak tree that overshadowed part of the pavilion, waiting for Magnus to spot her. The festivities would continue on into the night, and why shouldn't they? A great threat had been vanquished and the Shadowhunters and Downworlders in Idris had reason to celebrate.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders, working in tandem and dancing together...

She sighed, brushing off a few leaves from the skirt of her dress. Though it was by no means as modern as some of the dresses other girls wore tonight--and showed little skin--it would have been risque to have worn back in her time.

"And what a lovely night for a celebration to be had," she mumbled to herself, smiling as two fairies skipped past her, singing a soft melody. She closed her eyes, embracing the quiet and slightly haunting sound.

Everyone really would have loved this.

Immortality was a hard thing to handle alone. There was, of course, the dear warlock friend she waited for beneath the shade of the tree. But he too had the privilege of remaining while others faded away. Friends...family...no one ever stayed for long. Some considered finding a way, but in the end, she always talked them out of it. She reminded them that immortality came with a price, and it was a heavy one.

I would stay with you if you asked me to. Shall I stay with you, Tessa?

The rich and smooth voice laced with a newfound love of life sailed to the front of her mind, and she nearly looked around, the memory of his words having been so clear.

"May I say that you look beautiful," said a voice filled with amusement. She opened her eyes, smiling up at a face she knew very well. "It compliments your face, you know. Reminds me of times...long forgotten by the world."

"Ah...there you are, Magnus." Tessa wound her hair around her finger and let it drop onto her shoulder. "Well, don't you look handsome tonight?" She studied his outfit--though the vest was a bit colorful for casual dress--and another memory of foggy Victorian London and its inhabitants coming to life in her mind.

Hot tea by the fire. A violin played in the room across from hers. A boy with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes...

"So you came after all," he continued, shifting his weight onto the other foot. "Not that I'm surprised, but some here may even recognize you. After all, there are only so many of us around anymore, and the few who lived in our times remember each other." He paused. "And some of them really didn't pick up on modern-day customs."

Tessa glanced down at her dress. "But it is so lovely," she whispered, a shadow of her old accent breaking through. She looked up again, her eyes falling on the group of teenagers gathered some distance away. Several Shadowhunters, a werewolf, and the infamous Daylighter. "Such a strange group of friends she has..."

"They have their endearing moments," Magnus admitted, watching one in particular with a small smile on his face.

She caught it as he began to turn towards her. "So you're in love with the young Lightwood boy, hmm?"

"Do I make it obvious?"

"As someone who was once deeply in love, that's hard to respond to without bias." She smiled. "He does look remarkably like Will. The eyes, the hair...though we know why that is." They exchanged a knowing glance, but then she looked back at the group of friends. "Yet, he is nothing like Will. Alexander--is that his name?--is his own person, and there is a beauty in that. I'm so glad you found love again, Magnus. No one deserves to be alone for eternity."

He raised an eyebrow, staring down at her. "And you?"

Her answering smile could have stopped the hearts of men everywhere, yet she chose to keep to herself. "I'm never really alone."

Tessa's eyes slid over his shoulder and met a pair of green eyes that shone with curiosity and intelligence. Clarissa Morgenstern. No. Clarissa Fairchild. She and her mother want no connections to Valentine, and I should respect that.

"Disappearing again?" Magnus asked, just starting to turn towards the teenagers--the group of heroes he considered friends.

"For now." She did not want to break away from Clary's gaze but tonight was not the right time for their meeting. She met Magnus' eyes and gave him one last grin. "You'll be seeing me again, Magnus Bane. The matter of when isn't known, though, even to people like us."

With a gentle sigh, she turned and melted back into the shadows, her mind spinning rapidly as she walked back towards the town and the Portal that awaited her.

Will would have loved it here. She bit down on her lip, aware of people looking and not wanting to come off as crazy for laughing to herself. I would have loved to dance with him one more time.