A/N: I got this idea when I read the first chapter of the upcoming book "The Medusa Plot." I wondered if the Cahills really did have a connection with the gods. Then I noticed a Dan and a guy from the PJatO might become good friends because of their interest and background. So I made this! Enjoy!

I do not own anything you seen, read, or heard in real life!


Summary: Takes place before the Medusa Plot and The Lost Hero. 13-year-old Dan Cahill got in trouble, again. He escapes his homicidal sister by taking a stroll around the family cemetery. Then, he got himself knocked out cold. Guess who finds him?


A Grave-ly Union

Cahill.

That word just meant Dan's last name, before he got into the Clue Hunt.

That word brought him disgust because of all the backstabbing the clan has done for over the past five hundred years, during the Hunt.

That word gave him and his sister, Amy, a mission to bring the Cahill branches together, when they found out their branch's real purpose.

Now, that word gave Dan a bitter taste in his mouth. Not because of the family, but because of the training that was given to him by every representative of each branch, for the past two years.

They're taught the art of deception, how to blend in the crowd and darkness, disguising themselves, college advance math and science, the basic ropes of every extreme sport in the world, and more incredible stuff. And that was just the year when the mansion was finished.

At least it gave Dan reassurance that he's ready to take on anything, from mercenaries to old dudes with wooden canes. And with Uncle Fiske and the rest of the Madrigals at Amy and Dan's side, nothing can stop them. If they don't separate, that is.

"Is this really necessary, Uncle Fiske?" Dan heard Amy ask their great-uncle, who was packing for his trip California for some relaxation from the "family business" inside his bedroom. Dan wanted to ask that question for himself, but he blackmailed his sister to do it for him. It pays to know all of your sister's crushes, doesn't it?

So Dan was currently hiding in the hallway beside Uncle's doorway, listening to the ongoing conversation.

"Yes, it is. The branch's problems and the Vs are making my sanity limit go up. I need a break," he complained to my sister. "And Napa Valley is good place to start."

"W-what if the Vs find your l-location?" Amy stammered, obviously worried about their guardians' safety. "It's bad enough that N-Nellie had to go to Paris for culinary school last year, now you have to go too. We need you here." Amy cried up a bit, and then was quickly rubbed off by a soft handkerchief.

"No, you don't," Fiske said, folding his black handkerchief and putting it back in his pocket. "I know that you and Dan are perfectly capable of taking care of yourselves."

Then, he turned his back on Amy and closed his suitcase with his neatly packed clothes and weaponry. As he reached the door, he glanced back at Amy and said, "If you stay inside." He opened the door and Dan tumbled inside, right onto Uncle Fiske's feet.

Dan expected Uncle Fiske to scold him for eavesdropping on their conversation, but all Fiske did was smile. "Daniel, that skill is useful in the field, but don't get caught next time."

Dan smiled sheepishly, while standing up to help with Fiske's bags. Instead, Fiske embraced Dan into a big bear hug. Dan gasped for air, looking desperately at Amy for help. His sister just stuck out her tongue, and then mouthed Revenge.

After a minute, he let go off his great-nephew, who was breathing heavily. Who knew he had so much strength?

"Well, goodbye for now." Fiske's smile beamed to both of the children, then left without another word.

"Pay up, dweeb," Amy said, glaring at Dan to give her the blackmail CD, filled proof and facts about her crushes.

Dan just gave her a sly grin. "No way, this is still good material! Maybe if post some stuff in my CliqueMe and invite some people."

"Daniel Arthur Cahill. Don't. You. Dare," Amy hissed, getting her Swiss pocket knife from her pocket.

Dan showed his iTouch to her, and innocently said, "Oops, I think I just did. Bye." Then, he dash out of the room.

"DAN!"

Oh, I'm in trouble now, he thought. After skipping three steps at a time down the stair, he turned the corner and aimed for the end of the hallway.

"NINJA ASSASSIN," he yelled at his room door, which opened automatically. He (literally) dive navy-seal style into his room, and then locked it for safety. It's a good thing that his room has a voice activated security system, but that didn't stop Amy from sneaking into his room before (and he had broken video game consoles to prove it).

"Where did that shy, innocent, and less-dangerous older sister I once knew go?" he cried to himself, leaning on his bedroom door and feeling Amy's determination to get the disk by pounding her fists at custom-made, wooden oak door.

Dan needed to get out quick or his sister will have his head for sure. And he knew exactly how to go out undetected. Dan moved to his pile of dirty laundry from his carpeted floor. He searched desperately in the floor for the small letter M.

See, the new mansion was filled with secret passages. It was necessary if there was a fire, a Vesper break in, or in this case, a deadly sibling attack so the people inside could escape. Uncle Fiske designed the manor so he knew where each passage was and how to open it. But he never told anyone where they may be located; he said its part of the fun in exploring the house.

Over time, Amy and Dan found lots of passages however their uncle told them that there was still more yet be discovered. Frustrated, they stopped their efforts to find secret opening, nonetheless, they still stumble into new holes every once in awhile.

Although, blame paranoia for this, he never told anyone he had a secret way out of his room. Not even his sister. That gave him a lot of guilt in the past months. Dan was constantly tempted to tell someone about it, but he held the information back.

Now, it was an advantage against his sister if she tries to kill him. Lucky him.

When he found the miniature black M, he tried to pry open the hairline fracture in the middle of the M with his knife. Because of the pressure, the part of the floor close to the M popped open. It revealed a big pit with a ladder going deep into the earth and under the part of the floor was a handle to close the passage.

After Dan pocketed his knife and taking his inhaler from his side drawer, he climbed down the hole and closed the opening on the way. It was weird for Dan to be taking a knife with him wherever he went. Nevertheless, it was necessary for his safety to carry a weapon at all times.

At first, it was nothing but pitch black. Dan heard a soft click then the pit was filled light, maybe from some big light bulb or something because he couldn't see where the light was coming from.

"Okay, just a few more steps and—" Dan landed on the earth with an echoing thud. He looked up at the way he came and heard the cries of his sister, who was probably searching for him and wondering he is.

A wave of guilt washed over Dan at the mere notion of Amy worrying about him. The thought almost made him go up the ladder. Almost. Dan Cahill is not stupid enough to go up there and be reprimand by his equally paranoid and overprotective sibling.

It was time for a break for the both of them.

Dan turned around and ran ahead into the opening corridor. He saw another ladder leading towards the surface after passing damp and dirty rock walls. He skidded to a halt in front of the ladder and instinctively gazed up, wondering where he would pop up. Even though Dan has been in these halls several times, a thought of climbing up that second ladder never occurred to him. That's why everyone he knew called him oblivious.

Taking a mouthful of air, he carefully climbed ladder, one rung after another. When he finally reached the top of the ladder, he brooded over about the steps he took to get there. The ladder he took had more steps than previous one. Dan thinks he's in a high level, like a hill or something beside the house.

Without another second thought, he pushed with all his force the on a flat smooth stone that was blocking his way to the surface. It gave away and daylight blinded his eyes. He crawled out into the fresh air and sat on the grass. The slab he pushed aside was somebody's tombstone.

"Déjà vu much," Dan muttered, thinking back at the day of Grace's funeral. It wasn't the same tombstone he and Amy pushed during that horrible day when the original Cahill manor burned down although it was similar.

He pushed back the tombstone to its normal position on top of the opening. He won't use it route for awhile. Too many memories.

Dan decided to walk around the cemetery, maybe remember the good ol' days when Grace used to be alive. He tried to smile at the thought of his grandmother; however all he did was frown.

"Man up, Cahill," Dan ordered himself. "It's time to move on from the past. Don't get sentimental. Don't get—" He kicked a tombstone hard and earned a stubbed toe. He yelped and stumbled, his head hitting on a headstone.

Dan ate a face full of grass before his vision started to get blurry because it must have been an illusion when he saw the shadows move into a single spot. And the last thing he heard were soft footsteps heading towards him and someone saying "Hey, dude, are you okay . . ."