Hey there! Here's the next chapter. I'm sorry that it took me so long to write it, but there are many things I've got to do at the moment and I don't find the time very often. I hope you like it and I'd be happy to hear what you think about this story!

I don't own the characters or places in this story!

Chapter 13 – Cameron Ashdown

Emma

Emma was running again. She was running on the beach and through the landscape near the Institute. She felt like she was flying. Not just because she was back in LA. It was brilliant, but this time there was something else.

Julian.

She had spent the previous evening on the beach, together with Julian. And they had… At that thought, the smile on her lips grew even wider. She still couldn't believe it. It had been an amazing night, maybe the best one in her life so far. Because Julian had been there. And they could be together.

After they had spent the half night on the beach, they had gone back to the Institute. And Julian had stayed in Emma's room. The next morning, she had asked Julian if he wanted to come with her, but he had just shaken his head. He had to prepare breakfast for the children. At that, Emma had smiled and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Then she had taken her clothes and vanished in the bathroom. When she had changed, Julian hadn't been there anymore. So she had left the institute.

And now she was alone, running, enjoying the beautiful weather and the memories of last night. Life was really great right now. Even if she missed her friends in Idris very much.

When the institute appeared in front of her, Emma began to run more slowly. She didn't know how long she'd been gone, but somehow it couldn't just have been an hour. Maybe she had even missed breakfast. Julian wouldn't like that. When she stopped in front of the stairs that led to the front door, Emma turned around again and closed her eyes. The sun was shining down on her and she breathed in deeply.

"Nice morning, isn't it?" A voice behind her asked and Emma turned around immediately. She took a step back and prepared herself for an attack. However, as soon as the person in front of her stepped out of the shadows, she noticed that it wouldn't have been necessary.

The boy in front of her had short red hair, brown eyes and he was very tall und muscular. And he was a Shadowhunter. The runes on his arms, legs and neck made that very clear. When he noticed Emma's change of position and the tension in her shoulders, he held up his hands.

"I'm sorry that I scared you. That wasn't nice. My name is Cameron. Cameron Ashdown. You must be Emma Carstairs, right?" He said it in a friendly tone and Emma relaxed slowly.

"Just to make that clear. You didn't scare me. I just don't trust people who wait in the shadows and don't show that they're there. Normally, they've got something to hide then. And I don't like to be watched secretly either." She paused and raised her eyebrows. "I don't have to introduce myself since you already know who I am. But I don't really know who you are, Cameron Ashdown. I just know that you're one of the younger Shadowhunters here in LA. No news of anything special that you've done. Or did I miss something?"

Her cold tone seemed to surprise him, because he just looked at her in silence for a few moments and seemed to search for the right words. But then a large smile appeared on his face again. "So they were right when they said that you weren't just a cute little girl."

At that, the last piece of sympathy Emma had felt for him vanished. "Who said that?" She demanded and crossed her arms. Her voice had sounded like ice. Could the good part of the day already be over?

"My parents. But I hadn't really believed them. They just knew you when you were a child and people change. Especially when they're sent to Idris." He tried to make the statement about her as a cute little girl unsaid, that was clear. Emma wouldn't let him get through with it that easily.

"You shouldn't talk about people you don't know. And you shouldn't judge them as well." She said and started to walk towards the door. She wanted to get away from this guy. And hopefully, there was still some breakfast waiting for her.

"Don't you want to know why I am here?" Cameron asked, now he seemed to be confused.

"No, I don't." Emma said indifferently and stopped in front of him again. This guy looked nice, but Emma didn't like him. Suddenly, she remembered that Julian had mentioned him before. And that he hadn't sounded very friendly. She understood why.

"But I was sent by-" He began again when Emma held up her hand.

"Tell it someone else. Or do I look like I want to deal with any problems right now? Just in case you haven't noticed it, I wanted to relax this morning. That's not possible anymore." She wanted to turn around and walk away, when he grabbed her arm.

Emma reacted instinctively. As soon as his fingers closed around her arm, she grabbed his wrist. Her other hand got hold of his shoulder and in one motion, she threw Cameron Ashdown to the ground. If she wouldn't have surprised him that much, it wouldn't have been possible. He was stronger than Emma, that was obvious. But now she could place her knee on his chest and a hand on his neck. He wanted to move his arm, but without hesitation Emma placed her other foot on the wrist.

When Cameron had looked not happy before, he was really angry now. "What do you think you're doing? Get away from me!"

"Maybe you should have thought about this before you touched me." Emma smiled as sweet as possible. "And what do you say about me as a cute little girl now?"

"Okay, I was wrong. Happy?" He asked and tried to free himself, but Emma tightened her grip around his neck.

"Not really. But it was a beginning."

In that moment, the door of the institute opened and a worried looking Julian appeared behind it. He just wanted to leave the building, when he noticed Emma and Cameron. When he saw the position they were in, he narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is going on here?" He asked and looked at Emma questioningly.

"I was attacked." Emma replied immediately and every emotion seemed to vanish from Julian's face. He looked at Cameron blankly.

"Is this true?"

"What? No, of course not! She attacked me! I was sent here to bring news to the institute, but she didn't want to hear them. She said I should tell it someone else. And when she wanted to go inside, I grabbed her arm to keep her from doing it and then-" He stopped when he noticed that his words didn't seem to calm Julian down. Instead, his expression became angry.

"And why didn't you just go inside and tell me what you have to say?" He demanded to know and Cameron swallowed.

"Let me stand up again." He growled at Emma and she sighed loudly.

"That's not really nice, you know?" She asked and let go of his neck and wrists. She stood up – right on Cameron's stomach. When he made a protesting noise, Emma jumped to the ground and stood next to Julian. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do this." She said sweetly and she saw Julian's lips twitch. So he really thought that this situation was funny, he just didn't show it in front of Cameron.

"That will have consequences for you, Carstairs." Cameron growled, but Julian raised his eyebrows.

"I don't think so. After all, you wanted to hold her back against her will. She just defended herself." Julian said calmly and Cameron sighed.

"Do you want to hear what I have to say now?" He asked and Emma thought that it didn't sound as if he really wanted to talk to them anymore

"Not here. Why don't we go inside?" He turned to Emma. "The others have already finished breakfast, but I've kept something for you. Why don't you eat while Cameron tells us why he's here?" He asked and his eyes didn't allow her to protest. So she just nodded.

"Sure." She said and with a smile, Julian leaned in to kiss her. They both ignored the surprised gasp of Cameron Ashdown.