A/N: I know. Really, I do.

I am a terrible horrible no good very bad person.

The lack of updates for absolutely anything and everything is so very cruel to everyone. I took an extremely long vacation from it to read a lot. That and school has been oh so demanding of moi, I just haven't gotten around to it. But alas! Here I am, and I should be getting into the swing of things once more. This is just a short chapter, sorry, but I may even post a new chapter later today or tomorrow. Trying so hard! Thank goodness for Christmas break, yeah? Yeah. Okay, so here ya'll go. Sorry once more for the wait. Hopefully I'll do better in the future. :D

-Kenxi

"Emma?"

Instantly her mind sharpened itself from deep, dark thoughts, and Emma whipped around to see Jules standing in the doorway. She glanced once more at the still unconscious man lying in the guest bed before standing from her chair and walking over to where Jules stood, eyeing the stranger nervously.

"What's up?" She asked, trying not to look too eager. "Any news on who the heck and what the heck is going on?"

It seemed that Julian momentarily forgot what his purpose was in being there, for he was still staring at the John Doe behind her.

Emma sighed in exasperation and snapped her fingers in his face. "Hello? Anyone in there?" Jules yanked his gaze from the man to Emma's face once more, looking a bit stunned. Emma raised her eyebrows. "You alright? Have you guys heard anything yet?"

Julian blinked and shifted his weight to lean against the door frame. The only light there was coming from behind him, putting ghastly shadows on his face. "Yeah, sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He always did that when there wasn't good news. Great. "We called all of the nearest institutes, but no one seems to know anything about killings or this guy. We talked to the Council, but they don't know anything either. It doesn't seem like much is going on at all. Things are pretty good here—have been for the past five years, you know. Maybe the guy got confused. After all, he did have a pretty bad concussion and plenty of blood loss."

Letting out a frustrated breath, Emma turned again to look at the man. He was sleeping peacefully it seemed, undisturbed by any recent events. Jackie, their cook, had taken to tending his injuries earlier, and ever since he had been asleep like the dead. Whereas everyone else was going out of their minds trying to figure out what had happened. Except for Tavvy, who was too young to care, and Ty, who just didn't care for no apparent reason.

He was a Shadowhunter—that much they knew for sure. The old scars and even new ones were visible on his pale skin. The guy was probably mid-twenties; shaggy brown hair fell into his eyes and sharp cheekbones were the only notable things in his features. But why, oh why would he have come here? Why would he somehow know about more than one deaths—killings—that no one else knew about? Why would—

Emma jerked around to face Julian again, startling him, a thought prominent in her mind. "Jules, maybe the reason that none of the Shadowhunters know about the deaths is that the deaths aren't Shadowhunter deaths." She paused to take a breath, and to think about her next words carefully. Before Jules could say anything, she spoke once more. "Maybe the killings he was talking about occurred in Downworld. Maybe someone is killing Downworlders."

Jules eyed her for a second, and then he just sighed. "I don't want to sound like I'm telling you that you're wrong, but even if the guy was talking about Downworlders, wouldn't the Council know about deaths like that? It doesn't really make sense."

"Nothing makes sense right now," Emma muttered, folding her arms like a pouting toddler.

She felt Julian put his hand on her shoulder softly. "Hey," he said, a new lightness to his voice. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out. Always do." With the same hand he punched her playfully. "Just in case, let's look into the whole Downworld thing. Who knows? Maybe you're right. For once." He winked at her and she punched him back, albeit harder than he had her. He laughed all the same.

Before either of them could say anything further on the matter, the familiar ringing sound entered the institute once more. The two parabatai shared a look before taking off down the hall.

"I want to speak with Julian Blackthorn right now! I don't care—" A female voice was shouting near the entrance as Jules and Emma made their way there. What on earth was going on?

The woman was clearly one of the Fair Folk. Her and the two goons at either side of her, holding spears like medieval guys. The scene before them looked ridiculous, really; Emma could tell by the shouting and frustration in the room. Arthur appeared to be trying to calm the visitors down in vain. Dru was ushering Ty out of the room with Tavvy in her arms. Livia was glaring daggers at the new arrivals like they were the enemy. Perhaps they were.

The strange girl was clearly upset, her hands rubbing the silky fabric of her yellow flower dress. Her golden hair slightly mussed as though she hadn't really had time to do it. Despite everything, Emma knew immediately that she was a part of the Faerie Courts.

She caught Julian's eye and pointed at him. "You! Julian Blackthorn. I have come by orders to speak to you. The rest of you may leave."

Emma took a sharp breath and wrapped her arm around Jules' defiantly. "I am his parabatai, I get to stay with him."

Julian found her hand and squeezed it with his own, saying nothing. He didn't have to.

Pursing her lips, the girl seemed to decide that breaking the two of them apart would require much more effort than it was worth. She nodded quickly to them before shooting a look at both Arthur and Livia who were still in the room. Arthur pointed at himself with wide eyes as if to say, "Me?" and then figured it out and pivoted on the spot to leave. Livia didn't budge, her folded across her chest, eyes as hard as steel.

"Livvy," Jules gave her a pointed look. "It's okay."

She tightened her jaw, but didn't argue as she, too, left.

The faerie girl stood up taller and smoothed out her dress. "Now, then. Let's sit down somewhere and have a little chat, shall we?

A/N: Yep! Please review because it brings me mucho happiness. I hope to update once more today or tomorrow to make up my lost time with ya'll.

Thanks for reading!

-Kenxi