"We are perishing for lack of wonder, not for lack of wonders."

G.K. Chesterton

Chap 1:

"Yeah ma! I'll be back before dinner!" He called, looking away from his shoulder to lock the house door. He released a soft breath staring down at the welcome mat he was standing on. "I need a break." He mumbled to himself only hoping someone could actually make that come true. The neighborhood was quiet. All he could hear was the whishing of trees as winds blew their leaves. He expected it. His mother wanted to move into a somewhat silent place. Somewhere that wasn't as chaotic as New York. So they moved to Los Angeles. It wasn't a bad state. He just missed the lights of the big apple.

Tugging his hood on and tightening his coat strings, he jogged down to the corner where he found Sebastian cursing at his dad. Sebastian was cool. He had met him while listening to music past his house. Sebastian always got into fights with anyone. Yet when he met Jace, he found himself calmer. Less aggravated. More responsible. They balanced each other out. "Dude, what is it now?" He asked, stepping onto his lawn.

Sebastian threw his hands up in frustration and rolled his eyes before ushering him to keep trudging away. "Dumb ass." His nostrils flared and his cheeks were pink. "He wanted to hit my mom, again. The little shit was drunk." He did feel bad for his friend but he was half listening to what he was saying. His mind was elsewhere. He needed to grab some milk for his mom. They were running out. His mom never really drank much. It all came down to Jace but she was way too kind and they had plenty of money to buy more things later on.

"Ay, Jace!" He heard Sebastian call, feeling a hard tap on his shoulder.

"What's up?"

He laughed. "Man, you're crazy. You're damn crazy." And Jace couldn't help but grin softly at the statement. It was sort of true.

They walked side by side, an odd pair of companions. Jace was taller. Slender and muscular. His tawny hair was long and messy, the tendrils usually swept on one side of his head because of his impatience. His eyes were a dark gold and sometimes in the sunlight they glowed a vivid yellow. His face was a mask of no emotion. Only Sebastian knew the reason why. Sebastian was not short but had average height. His appearance would bring people to slight bafflement. With snow colored hair and black orbs, there were plenty of reasons why.

"We're goin' to Takis right?" Sebastian asked, scanning the car filled streets.

Jace nodded. He honestly didn't have a location in mind. He just liked wandering. He was going to tell Sebastian to hand him some cash since he forgot to grab his wallet when he caught a quick flash. He narrowed his eyes and whirled to the alleyway they had passed. "Seb. Go in without me. I'll follow you in." The man looked confused, his eyebrows etched in concern.

"What is it?"

Jace pursed his lips, not wanting to lie to his only friend. "Ima paint. Yeah, I'm gonna paint." He pulled out a spray paint bottle from his jacket pocket. It was almost empty. Sebastian nodded, nudging his shoulder before ducking inside the small building. Jace darted into the street lit space and found something that made his feet stop and mind go blank. It was a girl. She was short and wearing green jumper shorts. He could only see her back. She was pressing a kiss to a much older man whose eyes were wide and full of lust. She had a knife in her hand. Did the fool not see it? It was a short knife but it looked sharp, a ray of sunshine flashing onto its metal. She turned suddenly and he dared himself not to move. The older man dropped to the ground, shrieking. He was clutching at his chest as if in pain.

"What'd you do to him?" His voice was surprisingly menacing.

She smiled. She was cute. Her hair came down her shoulders, tied at the top. Her eyes were glittering like diamonds. Her full lips. Crimson and dripping. He sucked in a breath. She licked her bottom lip slowly. "You can see me. Wow. I'm intrigued." She took long strolls over to him and he backed away unknowingly holding his spray can tightly. He felt a wall behind him. A dead end. Instead he stared at her. She was a much smaller size than he was. He could just knock her over. But he didn't want that. For some reason, he didn't want to hurt her.

She brought her hand and touched his cheek. "You're warm." She whispered, her breath stirring his eyelashes.

He scoffed and swatted her hands away in slight disgust. "What the hell are you?"

She laughed. "I can't tell you or they'll get mad at me."

Jace shook his head. Once then twice. "You're insane. You're fucking insane." He turned to leave, wanting nothing to do with her. He would have to call the police about the dead guy. She was mental.

"Wait!" She called, her tone suddenly unamused, but serious.

He stopped but didn't face her and he listened as her running steps came closer and she was in front of him. "I'll tell you but not now. Here." She pulled his arm lightly as if asking for permission and he gave her a curt nod. She bent her head and placed a kiss on his bare skin. He jerked away ready to hit her when she responded, "Look at it."

Jace gazed at his lower arm and peered up at her quickly. "What is thi-"

"This spot, midnight. Your friend's waiting." She gave him a hurried wave before sprinting out of the alleyway and into the open, disappearing completely.

The information sank in and it took some time. He looked again at the lying man on the corner. It was real. She was real. "Jace, it's been fifteen minutes. What's going on?" Sebastian was there, his words echoing. He looked suspicious, his eyes on the empty walls where Jace was standing.

"Sorry. The bottle was empty. I was trying to see if there was anymore left." He hoped he bought it. His pale face looked skeptical and then a smile plastered on his mouth.

"Come on. I ordered you your favorite." Jace jogged to him returning to their normal conversation only once glancing at his arm.

On it was a red lipstick stain, words like a tattoo written beneath it.

It's a long story, Jace Herondale. I'll tell you it later. See you, paint boy.

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