A Deeper Love is the fourth short story in Ghosts of the Shadow Market, co-written by Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson.
Description[]
It is only three years since Tessa Gray lost her beloved husband William Herondale, and she is searching for a reason to live, trying to find the path of being a warlock with the guidance of her friend Catarina Loss. World War 2 rains down destruction on their world, and Tessa and Catarina become nurses who make bargains at the Shadow Market for enchantments to help suffering mundanes. But can Brother Zachariah bear to see the woman he loves risk her life, or might he consider breaking sacred vows to save her from loneliness?[1][2][3]
Plot[]
London, December 1940
The second World War has broken out, and Tessa Gray and Catarina Loss are acting as nurses in St. Bart's Hospital. After the death of her husband, Will Herondale, Tessa refused to remain among the Shadowhunters and decided to work, in order to keep herself preoccupied. Catarina and Tessa are walking down the streets of London, discussing the war and mindlessly initiating a conversation, when suddenly their stroll was interrupted when another round of bombs made their way overhead.
On the other side of the river Thames, Brother Zachariah is making his way towards the London Shadow Market. He visits a faerie, to gain some secret information. However, the faeries are hostile and warn him to mind his own business. They attack him, but he evades their advances. As he is about to leave, one of the faeries stabs him with a weapon coated with Cataplasm and severely wounds him. Brother Zachariah stumbles his way to St. Bart's Hospital where Tessa and Catarina are busy tending to patients. Tessa is horrified to see his wound, and when he explains that he cannot return to the Silent City in his state, the two warlocks decide to take him and treat him at their flat.
The journey back to their apartment is difficult. A man named Charlie offers to help them; he is an ambulance driver in the hospital and Catarina had once helped his wife Mabel when she was ill. He drives them back when shelling begins again and bombs are dropped in their way. Tessa implores Jem to keep fighting as they take a longer route to remain safe. Some time later, they encounter a few injured mundanes, and Catarina, Tessa and Zachariah make their way back home on foot. Brother Zachariah, a.k.a Jem tires out quickly, however another mundane bus driver drops them back home.
Once at their home, Catarina begins treating Jem's wound, while instructing Tessa to sponge him in order to reduce the fever. Soon the latter feels herself losing hope, when a half-delirious Jem calls out for Will. A peculiar force gives Tessa the strength to continue her task. As the poison leaves his body, Jem begins thrashing around but soon falls limp again, cured.
They move him to the bedroom, and Catarina dresses his wounds. While he is sleeping, Catarina, who was unaware of Tessa and Jem's relations inquires about it, and Tessa briefly explains her history. When Jem finally wakes up, he informs them that he had gone to the Shadow Market to make some inquiries, which were not appreciated. Catarina goes to make some tea for them and Tessa and Jem have a conversation. She asks him why he left her to grieve Will's death alone, to which he replies that as a Silent Brother, there was no respite he could offer to her. The topic of Jem being turned back to human arises and thinking of a future together, the pair share a kiss.
Jem however, pushes Tessa away after a while, claiming that as a Silent Brother, he should not have any mortal relationships. Catarina returns and asks him to elaborate about his "inquiries", which seemed so dangerous to get him stabbed. He tells them that he has been searching for the Lost Herondale line. Catarina then confesses how she had tricked the Clave and saved Ephraim Loss. She had raised him, however, he had left after a terrible fight.
Jem explains how, in 1936 he had encountered Roland the Astonishing in the American Shadow Market. The lost Herondales were being chased away and their life is in danger. Catarina composes herself and leaves Jem and Tessa for some time. Tessa tells him to stop distancing himself from her and gives him hope and encouragement. The next morning, Tessa wakes up to find a note from Jem stating that there will be no more separation between them and as long as they both were together, Will will stay alive within them.
Tessa finds a reason to live again. That evening, Catarina and Tessa are walking down the streets again. A few people proclaim that the bombs had meant to destroy St. Paul's Cathedral, however they had failed to defeat them and thus London had been saved. Tessa fingers her jade pendant again, feeling her spirits lift after a long time.
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Trivia[]
- Though this is the fourth story, it was released fifth due to Son of the Dawn being released first.
- This story is told from the points of view of Tessa and Brother Zachariah.