Angels Twice Descending

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Sinric's talisman gripped tightly in his hand, George steps through the door from Milliways onto a London street. Only his feet don't touch the pavement. He hovers just above it, and when he looks down at himself, he sees through himself. When he holds his hand in front of his face, he sees his hand, but he also sees the Institute behind it, wavering through the image of his hand.

He moves toward the Institute, not so much walking as gliding. At the gate is another shimmering figure, a girl about his age, but dressed in what looks to George like Victorian era clothing. She's quite beautiful, and she smiles as George approaches.

"Mr. Lovelace, I presume," she says, holding out her hand more like she wants George to kiss it than shake it. He goes for an awkward gesture somewhere between the two.

"Yes? Ehm…George Lovelace, that is."

"Cousin George." She tugs back her hand, but her smile is gentle, if a bit stiff. "My name is Jessamine, come with me, if you will. They're waiting for you."

She turns and glides along a path toward a garden to the side of the towering Institute. George hurries after her. "I'm sorry but…who's waiting?"

"Well, they're not really waiting. No one would expect you to show up to your own funeral, of course, but you ought to be there all the same, don't you think?"

They round the corner and George pulls up short, though Jessamine continues on a bit further before she realizes he's stopped.

In front of him is a small gathering of people, huddled around an open grave. Simon is there, Izzy and Clary on either side of him. And his mum and his dad, and… oh, his gran.

His classmates are there as well: Beatriz and Julie and Marisol. Even Jon Cartwright, who, rather than looking like he's annoyed to be at a mundane funeral, actually seems to be crying.

"George?" He feels a hand on his shoulder and turns his head to see Jessamine standing beside him.

"I…I don't understand," he says. "Why am I being buried here? I didn't Ascend."

"A Lovelace is always welcome at the London Institute. Even after death, at least for you and I."

"You're a Lovelace?" George asks as a dozen questions spring to mind.

Jessamine waves off the question. "Hush now. You're missing everything. How many people get to hear what's said about them after they die?"

#

George watches them all, greedily, drinking in the sight of them. He watches his gran drinking tea with Julie, telling her about a lamb that had followed George around all summer when he was twelve. He watches Marisol enthralling and horrifying members of the London Enclave with stories of mundane embalming practices.

And he sees Simon wander away from the rest of the group, to sit on the front steps. George moves to sit by him, though he hovers a few inches off the stone as well, making Simon feel even smaller beside him.

"Simon?" He knows Simon won't be able to hear him, but it feels strange not to acknowledge him. "I wish I could talk to you. I wish I could tell you I'm all right." He laughs softly. "I really wish I could tell you about Milliways. You would think it was so cool. And it is."

He tries to touch Simon's shoulder, but his hand slides straight through and his smile slips.

"It takes practice." George looks up to see Jessamine standing at the foot of the steps. "Even then, actually touching something is exhausting. But you may be able to show yourself to him."

"Could I talk to him?" Simon looks so…wrecked. If George could just tell him he's okay, he'd feel better.

"In time, perhaps."

Izzy is coming up the path toward them, and George doesn't want to eavesdrop on them, so he gets up and moves away, following Jessamine into the Institute.

#

In time, George learns a lot of things. He learns that Jessamine is from the branch of Lovelaces that didn't quit Shadowhunting until the 19th century. They're both the last of their lines, though Jessamine is properly Nephilim, even if she doesn't like to fight.

Jessamine has been lonely at the Institute for a long while now, and she shows George all around, to all the places only ghosts can reach. (He suspects she keeps some places for herself, but that's all right. He keeps Milliways to himself too.)

He learns about the history of the Institute and the history of the Lovelaces, and he gradually learns to show himself, occasionally startling Bridget, the centenarian maid.

George is in the belltower trying to startle pigeons when Jessamine appears. "George, come quick!"

"What? Where?" Jessamine has a habit of popping off to distant locations without telling George first where she's going.

"The garden. Your grave, you dolt. Come on!"

It's easier to transport himself to his grave than anywhere else. It calls to him sometimes, a lodestone he can never escape. It keeps him tied to the Institute's grounds. When he gets there, he sees Simon standing by his gravestone, Izzy on one side, Clary on the other. They're saying something about the stone, but Simon doesn't seem to be listening.

"This is your chance, George," Jessamine says. "Who knows if you'll get another?"

"I know," George says, nodding. He looks at Simon, concentrates on making himself visible, letting his brother know he's okay. He tries and tries, and he can't quite seem to manage.

Then he feels Jessamine's hand on his shoulder. She smiles encouragingly at him, and he nods and tries again, feeling Jessamine's presence as a boost.

Simon gasps, and Clary says, "Simon? What is it?" George grins at Simon. It's only a moment before George slips away again, but it's enough.

"George," Simon says.

"Simon," Izzy says carefully, "what are you staring at?"

"Nothing." Simon blinks.

"Simon—" Izzy kisses his cheek. "I know how much you…I know he was like your brother. I wish I could have known him better."

"Me too," Clary says, squeezing Simon's hand, and George feels lighter, seeing for certain that Simon is taken care of, that someone is watching his back.

"I think I know what I want my Shadowhunter name to be," Simon says, and George feels Jessamine's hand tightening on his shoulder.

"Simon Lovelace," Clary says for him. "It has a certain ring to it."

"A sexy ring," Izzy adds. Jessamine gives a shocked gasp, and George laughs.

Simon laughs along with him, and for a beat, George catches his eye, and then it's gone again.

"I'm ready," Simon says to Izzy and Clary. "Let's go home."


[ooc: Dialogue of the final conversation comes from Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare.]