Chapter 1

"Life is a book, and every second you spend is an adventure."

Cold chilly autumn air slammed her back as she struggled to make her way towards her apartment. It was just a few blocks away. She shivered as she pulled the red (Black) scarf over herself again, which was gliding down, due to the strong wind. She should've asked George to drive her home. George Palmer, was her best friend. Her only friend. Everyone else in her art school, thought she was crazy. It was probably because of her art style. It was always full of weird creatures which she called Halflings. She was immensely grateful to have George by her side to help her through… whatever she was struggling with. She pushed the thought out of the way as her phone buzzed. It took a moment for her to register that her phone was in her pocket. She pulled it out and squinted her eyes to see who it was. It was her mother, her overprotective mother. She pushed the 'answer' button, sighing. She was prepared for another lecture about why she shouldn't make her mother angry. Her mother was hardly happy at this time of the year.

Like she was being chased by someone.

"Selene Storm!" Growled her mother.

"I'm just a few blocks away mom… It's going to—" Selene broke off as a black car stopped in front of her. The car was familiar to her as her own. It had a scratched on the side that she made a few years ago. Not that she even had a driver's license. She knew how to drive, thanks to George, who always enjoyed to showing off. But she had a month to go before she could even think about getting one.

"Mom, I'm going to have to call you back. But I'm going to be there in like 5 minutes. George is here." Selene stammered.

"Don't you dare hang up on me young lady, you are in—" Selene snapped her phone shut with a sigh of irritation. She would have to deal with her later.

Selene hopped lightly into George's shotgun. George was grinning at her. He was wearing his usual faded black T-shirt and a ripped blue jeans.

"So George, how did you know I was here?" asked Selene grinning back. Selene was always happy to see her best friend. Especially, when he was saving her from a disaster.

"Selene Storm, you know the weather. And you have an overprotective mother who would be yelling at you by now. I'm guessing she just called you. And here I am, rescuing you, again" George stated. "And don't even think about not inviting me to dinner. You know I love your mother's cooking." George finished.

"Nerd." Selene replied

"Crazy."

"Ergh, George, just get me home. Then I might consider inviting you to dinner."

"Yes, sir." George chuckled.

By the time they arrived, Selene could see her mother pacing through the window.

"Here we go again…" murmured Selene.

"Just don't tell her it was my fault." Said George

"What a friendship we have here George. And too bad, you are taking the blow with me" Selene said.

Selene fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. Her mother was waiting for her in the living room. George awkwardly followed her in. She was thankful that she had a wonderful best friend to help her through trouble like this one. She wondered how long it would take her mother to finish her lecture and give her and George some food. Selene was starving from the effort that she had to use in order to get to her house.

"Mom... I-" said Selene.

"No, Selene, No. No excuses." huffed her mother, completely ignoring George. She is in one of her moods Selene thought.

"Selene, you know how much you make me worry whenever you are not home. You are 17, you know how to take care of yourself." Her mom started, but was interrupted by Selene.

"Exactly mom, I'm 17. I know how to take care of myself." Complained Selene. She gave a sidelong glance towards George. Asking for help. It was their secret language that they used to communicate with one another without words.

"Selene's right. Ms. Storm. She was late today because of the wind." George said. In return, he got a bright smile from Selene. Which made him blush. But Selene's mother looked startled as if she hadn't noticed George standing next to Selene.

"Oh… hello George. What a pleasant surprise." said Selene's mother. Changing her behaviour completely within 3 seconds. Selene's mom glared Selene. Which meant, 'We'll deal with this after.'

"Hello Mr Storm. It's just that Selene-"

"I invited him to dinner mom!" shouted Selene, cutting George mid sentence. "I hope you don't mind. Because it's just that George loves your cooking." said Selene pulling out her sweetest smile that she knew her mother would fall for.

"Well then, young man, let's get you to dinner."

Dinner was served. The main dish was lasagna. George's favorite. George and Selene started to stuff it into their mouth. It felt good to have something inside her stomach other than guilt.

"Oh by the way mom, tomorrow I am going to George's birthday party. Is that ok? He arranged it earlier because you said we would be going to some camping thing with Jake right?" asked Selene. Jake was her mother's colleague friend. Jake was like a uncle and a dad to Selene. Since she had no dad. Her mother told her that he had died in a fire. But Jake insisted on calling him Jake. "Uncle makes me feel ancient." Jake had explained.

"Um… yes dear." Her mother replied weakly. She was getting weaker and weaker like something was drinking her energy. When Selene asked about she had said, "Nothing you need to worry about. I'm just tired Selene, dear."

The next morning she practically gulped her breakfast down. She was eager to get to George's as soon as possible. Selene pulled on her favorite ripped jeans, she liked it because the ripping weren't made by some ripping machine. It was made by her. Along with the jeans she pulled on a red sweatshirt. Selene still wasn't satisfied as she pulled her green jacket on. "Come on Selene, this is not a way to attend your birthday party." she whispered as she pulled her jacket off, changing her mind. "Maybe some amazing gentleman might notice me?"

Selene noticed it was a perfect Saturday morning as she waited outside for George. The sky was a beautiful light cobalt blue and full of puffy white clouds that looks like it was spun out of fluffy cotton candy.

"What took you so long?" She grumbled as she opened the door.

"The traffic" he said cheerfully, handing her a Starbucks cup of caramel frappucino. "I got this for you too."

"That made up for the lateness." Selene grinned at him and took a sip. It was perfect. George knew that she hates coffee so it was decaf and there was whipped cream at the top. She was barely listening as George listed off the people coming to his party. There was a bunch of people that she didn't knew. He invited a few people from his band club, a few classmates and some of Selene's friends.

When she got the George's house she was greeted by the same familiar sight of red roses blooming in George's mother's flower bed and the same clean grass and green tea smell that always seem to linger on George. The sight of his house was as familiar as her own hand.

She opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The floral wallpaper was peeling away and she saw in a corner a stick figure she drew when she was 8 and George had dared her to. The dent on the door and she and George found metal poles and pretended they were knights when George missed her and accidentally hit the door instead. The marks on the walls when they would line up against the walls. Selene used to be much taller than George until he had his growth spurt that left him a head taller than Selene.

She followed George into the backyard, where lots of people were already gathering up. There was music blasting through the speakers George's dad got him for his 12th birthday.

Selene began to wander around as George went off to greet people who she'd never seen before. She shivered against the cold autumn air.

"..should've brought my jacket" she whispered to herself

She was startled when a boy with blond and piercing grass green eyes appeared. George grinned at her, appearing next to the boy. "This is Kyle. He played the cello in the band and he is really good. He's not familiar because he just moved here."

Kyle's mouth twitched at the corners and he stuck out a hand. "Kyle, Nice to meet you."

Selene smiled and shook his hand. His hand was warm and there was callouses. Kyle looked like the kind of person who could break your heart but put it back together in one swoop. After shaking Selene's hand, Kyle turned to face George.

"Hey, I'm looking for a girl called Selene?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot, this is Selene" George replied chuckling.

Kyle looked shocked for a moment then turned to face Selene,

"Miss.Selene," he declared, "I must speak to you in private"

Selene sent a look to George, who had a equally puzzled look on his face and there was something else she simply couldn't read. It was unusual, George is an open book to her and she understood all his moods and can read everything on his face. But this time, he had an expression she couldn't quite place.

"Ok" She agreed.

"Somewhere private." Kyle added. George raised a suggestive eyebrow and left.

Selene blushed, wondering what on Earth is her best friend thinking what she and Kyle are doing.

When George was out of their earshot, Kyle began.

"I was sent here to find you." he said as if he was a knight in shining amour sent to rescue a damsel in distress.

Selene backed up. "Woah hold up here. What do you mean by finding me, are you are stalker?

Kyle looked calm, as if he dealt with teenage girls screaming that he was a stalker everyday. "Aren't you a drama queen."

Selene looked mildly offended. "Excuse me, Mr…"

"Herondale" Kyle said proudly

"Herondale? What kind of name is that?"

"That doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is your safety" Kyle shrugged running a hand through his incredibly blonde hair. "The only thing that matters is your safety. Additionally you get to observe this amazingly handsome person."

"My safety?" Selene asked ignoring Kyle's handsome part, "I mean, what about my safety? I feel pretty safe to me."

"Oh no, you are not. Just follow me. I'll explain on the way."

Selene slowing started backing away. "You're crazy. There is no danger here. Maybe you should go and find someone else to bother."

Kyle sighed impatiently, muttering something under his breath about trying to remember how his dad brought his mom to the "shadow world." Selene was puzzled, what on Earth is a shadow world?

"Well let me tell you there are a horde of unseelie faeries coming this way. Unless you want to get captured and tortured you gotta come with me."

Selene blinked at him, confused. "But why would faeries torture me?"

In response, he grabbed her arm and started dragging her out of George's party. Selene shook him off and glared at him. "Well aren't you a charmer. DON'T TOUCH ME."

Kyle glared back. "I am usually very charming. Ladies come from everywhere to catch a glimpse of me and get my signature."

Selene ignored him and started going back to the party.

"Hey! I wasn't done talking!" Kyle called after her.

"Well I was done listening." Selene shouted back.

Suddenly he appeared next to her so fast that it shouldn't be possible. Well that was strange.

"No you need to come with me. You'll be in danger and my dad will disappointed if I fail this mission."

Selene was just about to ask why would his dad be disappointed when she heard horse beats. Kyle groaned next to her. "We're too late."

Then he turned to Selene, panic in his eyes. Selene was surprised, Kyle was such a chill person that it didn't occur to her that he would be so nervous. If Kyle was anxious, then something must be really wrong. All traces of ease and confidence disappeared from Kyle's body and he tensed up, like he was an arrow about to be shot from a bow.

Kyle took something out of his jeans pocket. It was the size of a dagger and it had a translucent look. Then he said, "Gabriel!" and the blade sprang to life, glowing brightly. Selene stared at the shining dagger. She saw and heard so many strange things today that she didn't even question Kyle why he carries random knifes. Kyle handed the dagger to her, showing her how to hold it ("It's called a Seraph Blade." He told her). Then he took off his leather jacket, revealing two scims strapped to his back. He took them off and gripped it in his hands, his forceps taunt. The seraph blade in Selene's hand was buzzing. At the back of her mind, she felt some sort of familiarity as she held the blade.

From the sky appeared 6 people, riding horses. Selene loved horses but these horses look scary, with their blood-red eyes and transparent almost ghost like bodies.

The six riders have bronze skin and hair, and wearing masks of gleaming metal that covered half of their faces. Each rider wears a sword at their waist so massive that Selene wondered how possible it is to carry. The riders are beautiful but they have an unearthly look to them. Selene was scared. Something tells her that the riders and Kyle was part of a supernatural world. Even though Kyle looked like a normal teenager boy, with his ripped up jeans and leather jacket, but the ease he held the blade was scary, it was as if he holds a knife everyday. Little did Selene know that he does do that everyday.

Kyle moved in front of Selene in a protective stance. If touched her heart that even in danger he still tries to protect her. His beautiful face was almost calm while Selene's heart was pounding. Somehow, she felt calm, as if the fear of battle was fueling her. It was like the seraph blade in her hand is calling to her. The light of the seraph blade light up Kyle's face in a pearly glow, and the shadows made Kyle's high cheekbones and jawline more prominent. Selene mentally face-palmed. She has no time to think about stupid boys! Especially when there is going to be a battle.

The riders glided to the ground gracefully. Selene noticed that all of the riders were men except for the woman at the front.

She smirked. "We meet again, little shadowhunter."

"Shadowhunter?" Selene asked.

Kyle gritted his teeths. "Not now. I'll explain later."

Then in a louder voice he yelled to the woman. "Ethna, we bear no ill intentions. This mundane next to me is innocent. Please let us go."

It was obvious that Ethna and Kyle knew each other. Selene wondered what kind of relationship they have. She hoped it was not a romantic one. Plus, Ethna was pretty, with her bronze tan and almond shaped eyes.

Ethna grinned. "Nice try, Herondale. And it is plain to see that the girl is not an mundane. Or else you wouldn't come all the way her from New York to Seattle. And plus, she does not look like a mundane, she has the fey's beauty."

At that, to Selene's surprise, Kyle faintly blushed. But it quickly disappeared when Kyle held his scims in front of him in a more threatening way.

"Fine. If you want to do it the hard way, then do it." Kyle growled.

Ethna cackled. "Any last words?"

Kyle grinned. "I'm stunningly attractive!"

Suddenly, two dark figures fell from the sky. One of the figures was a boy with messy brown hair and beside him crouched was a pretty girl with long black hair. They were both wearing weird looking leathery tunic like clothes. Strapped across their chests were lots of dagger, knifes and a small pouch.

"Dramatic much?" Kyle grinned

"Jealous much?" The boy smiled proudly.

"Oh come on, Laken, did you have to fall out of the sky?" complained Kyle, the riders momentarily forgotten. Laken and Kyle moved closer, their backs facing Selene, blocking her from the view of the riders. Selene saw Laken hard Kyle a small pouch behind his back.

"Come on! We were waiting on the mundane's roof for the past hour! I have cramps now!" Laken shot back, pretending the exchange never happened.

The girl with black hair sighed in exasperation, playing along.
"Um.. sorry to interrupt but is she the one?"

"Yep" said Kyle proudly "Her name is Selene. Selene, that boy with brown hair is my parabatai, Laken. Just call him Lake." Kyle snickered "And Parabatai is a pair of shadowhunter who fight together for a lifetime. We are bonded by oath" He explained as he pointed at the girl with black hair. "And that is-"

"Adaline Lightwood. It's a pleasure to finally meet you Selene. You can call me Ada"

"Hey! My name is not Lake!" Laken complained, "Call me Ken"

"Enough talking!" Ethna growled, "leave us Nephilim, this girl belongs with our kind."

"No, she comes with us!" Ken growled back, and Selene was surprised how vicious Ken sounded. A wickedly sharp iron sword appeared in Ken's hand as the riders stepped towards them.

"Everyone! Our objective is to protect Selene." Kyle ordered. It was obvious that he is the leader in this pack.

"Gotcha!" Adaline said as she went behind Selene. Kyle was in front, and Laken was at her side, forming some sort of a protective triangle. Selene appreciated how these people are trying to protect her even though they don't know her that well. But she was really confused about the tone Ethna had. She couldn't quiet place what was in her voice when she said girl. Sure, there was a little bit of mocking, and perhaps, envy? Selene didn't know why Ethna would be jealous of her while Ethna looks totally gorgeous.

Thank you so much for reading and next chapter will be up soon!