The poison in our veins.

Chapter 1

A.N. Hey, would love to know your thoughts on this story I hope you like it, I know it's a bit slow but it is going somewhere I promise.

Rated M for darker more upsetting themes later on.

Disclaimer: sadly I own nothing but the plot, all belongs to the amazing Cassandra Clare.

Jace POV

Jace groaned and internally rolled his eyes at the over excited and clearly exaggerated reaction his arrival drew form his mother. As if this couldn't get any worse she didn't wait in the brightly painted safety of the porch but with one foot falling out of her pink fluffy slipper and her wet hair bouncing tied up in an equally soaked towel as she ran toward him down the drive.

His mother Celine Montclaire formerly Herondale was a beautiful woman. With small but bright green eyes surrounded with a few small wrinkle that only enhanced her beauty her hair was still the soft blond he remembered from his childhood but with a few clearly greying hair framing her small face.

He cut the engine simultaneously stopping the old music that filled the car leaving him feeling yet again even more uncomfortable in his current situation closing his eyes and with a prolonged sigh he pushed the door opened stepping out onto the broken pavement slamming the door shut and taking a deep breath before turning to his mother with a bored and disapproving stare as she opened her arms and he crossed his she crashed into his body knocking him back a step.

She wrapped her arms around him as though her life depended on it.

His mother's perfume was unbearably strong as though she had showered in it un able to move his arms he did not return her embrace but did take the time to appreciate the height difference that their time apart had allowed with him standing over half a foot taller than her.

Her towel brushed against his chin ; he let out an impatient groan and his mother stepped back while keeping her hands wrapped around his biceps taking him in as though he were going to runaway if she let go. Which was something he had considered o multiple occasions.

She let out a sigh and with a shaky breath an almost silent "oh Jonathon, my baby."

Her eyes were watering now and he coudn't help but feel the slightest bit irritated by her tears and her use of the name Jonathon had always irritated him since he was able to consciously think about it really but only when his parents split ways did he voice his opinion which thankfully his father agreed on and between the two of them they settled on the name 'Jace' after the name 'J-C' didn't catch on.

He couldn't hold in his scoff when his mother declared her love "Oh my Jonathon, my boy gosh look at you gosh I love you so much".

He again let out another scoff and grunt at her confusion toward his response. Her eyes filled with concern.

" My name's Jace not Jonathon … has been for about a decade now and no you don't 'love me' you barely know me. I mean what kind of mother doesn't know her own son's name" he was filled with rage and a tad of regret regarding his attack on his mother.

She was clearly at a loss for words mumbling and shaking her head before taking a deep breath and pushing her lips into a bright smile ignoring his angered eyes and inviting him in.

The house was nothing too special it had three bedrooms one set up in purples for his mother a plain white guest room: a small wardrobe was next to a plain white desk across the room from the double room decked out with yet again plain white sheets. The room was painted a gentle white contrasting the only colour in the room that was the grey blinds covering the window.

Then there was his room the same as it was when he was a small child a small single bed covered in bright blue sheets. The walls painted a mix of blue and red, the only difference was that all of his old toys had been taken away when he moved.

"I washed the sheets fresh for you thought you might like to have your old room back."

She let out a small sigh hovering around him awaiting his reply. His eyes filled with amusement as his lips turned into a small smirk.

"Nah, thanks but no thanks I'll take the guest room, this isn't my home. Plus there's the double bed you know for my guests." Not that they'll be staying the night.

Another bonus of the guest room was that it was on the opposite side of the house to his mother's

room so that not only would it be on the opposite side of the house to Celine's room it also had a small piece of roof outside of the window. Perfect for smoking.

Celine let out a small huff, closing her eyes briefly. She stepped out of the room letting him pass.

"Do you need any help with your bags sweetheart?" His eyes met hers rolling his eyes.

Jogging down the stairs he yelled back a simple

"No."

Three minutes later all his bags were out of his car and in his room. His mother although not helping followed him around like a

Duckling following its mother maybe more of a lost puppy, he wasn't really a fan of ducks. Though he wasn't really a fan of his mother either.

"My gosh Jonath.. Jace is this all you've got? Where's the rest of it?" she fussed around his things as if trying to make things magically appear.

"This is all I need." His tone was indifferent. He didn't really need anything life was easier with fewer attachments.

She began to protest again but was cut off by his bored stare pushing her away.

She looked down at the floor once again with a sigh, "Come down stairs please, after you've finished unpacking."

He didn't speak just gave her a small nod before turning back to his bags.

Running his hand through his hair he sat down on the edge of the bed his dropping himself backward onto the mattress. He let out a shaky breath, pushing himself up to his feet.

Ten minutes later he was all unpacked his room still looked unlived in but that was how he liked it, not a thing out of place.

He hesitantly trudged down the stairs stopping at the last step listening out for his mother.

Not hearing any signs of life he slowly moved around the house into the kitchen not seeing her there he called out, "Celine, I thought you wanted to talk, where are you?"

He didn't get a reply. He let out a scoff rolling his eyes moving to go back up the stairs when he heard voices from outside.

He moved to the window pushing the blind to the side peeking through to the front drive.

His mother was stood at the top of the drive talking over the fence to a woman about his mother's age with dark red hair falling out of a messy bun, a pencil behind her ear. She had fair skin and a slim figure but was plagued with purple bags beneath her eyes hiding her small laugh lines.

He went to move away, not wanting to be caught looking but it was too late he'd been caught.

"Oh Jo.. Jace honey," the corners of her lips turning into a small smile clearly the name was growing on her " get out here. Come and meet our neighbours."

He moved toward the door with a sigh, not really having a choice. He pushed his head up and put on a hesitant yet friendly smile. His mother beamed at this, seeing him smile for the first time in years. Fake or not.

His mother pulled on his arm pulling him closer.

"Jocelyn, this is my son Jace." He was a little surprised at how proud she sounded saying this after all that had happened.

He stretched his hand forward to shake Jocelyn's hand putting on his biggest grin.

"Jace,"

"Jocelyn, I live just next door with my daughter Clarissa. Will you be staying long enough to attend school?"

His mother had clearly been blabbing about him.

"Yes there's isn't anywhere else for me to really, I'll be attending North high."

Her eyes dropped at this, "ah yes it's a good school, I'm sure you'll love it my friends son goes there, Simon."

He didn't pay much attention to this but decided to use unpacking as an excuse, a blatant lie that'll work nonetheless.

"Well it was really nice meeting you Jocelyn, but I really must get back to packing." He gave her one last smile before turning to walk back into the house.

"Oh Jace, before you go I was wondering.. I know you must be busy with everything but I was wondering if you maybe would look after my daughter for me while I run some errands. I'll pay you of course for the trouble, maybe it could be a regular thing if you came around three times a week." Her expression looked defeated as though he'd already said no.

"Sure, why not I could do with the extra cash." It couldn't really be that bad.

Her face lit up in surprise as did his mother's, " oh really wow thank you, it's just that it's getting so difficult to find someone to watch her and I've got so much to do."

"Really it's fine, what one do you need me?"

"How's nine thirty tomorrow?"

"Of course, sounds great."

With that he turned and walked back into the house leaving his mother to chat outside with his new neighbour.

He trudged into the kitchen, making himself a bowl of ramen before taking it with up the stairs.

Closing himself off in his room, he just hoped his mother would leave him be. That was one benefit of what might come of tomorrow it's give him a chance to be free of his mother's hovering.

Thank you so much for giving this story a chance would love to hear your thoughts in reviews. Mwah!