Here's the first chapter!

The Continuation

Chapter 1

Isabel

It's been 5 years since the Order bugged us last, and we all sincerely hope that they won't bug us again. Of course, with our luck, they're just planning something way bigger than before. A year after all that fun stuff, Ethan got married to Rochelle, and Matt to Neriah.

Ethan and Matt both wanted to wait until they were sure nothing else bad would happen before proposing, while Arkarian couldn't care less if there are any more battles, just as long as I'm fighting next to him. I'm sure that Matt and Ethan would both have waited longer, if it weren't for the fact that both Neriah and Rochelle got pregnant.

So now, all six of us have kids. Arkarian and I have Ophelia, who's almost 6 now, Ethan and Rochelle have their four year old son, Blaze, while Matt and Neriah have their also four year old daughter, Ambrosine. Of course, a two-year difference doesn't stop Ophelia from being best friends with Blaze and Ambrosine (even though Ambrosine is her cousin). But their friendship could have something to do with the fact that all their parents are friends…

We take it in turns to decide whose house to meet at. Although, since Matt and Neriah live in the same place as the rest of the Tribunal, and Arkarian and I live in a complicated place to get to, we usually go to Ethan and Rochelle's place. Like today.

Since it's the first day of Ophelia's summer vacation (she just finished Kindergarten), we all agree to meet at 10:00 am in order to make the most of the day. Arkarian and I arrive first with Ophelia, and while Ophelia runs off to play with Blaze, we sit down with Ethan and Rochelle.

"So…is Dillon coming today?" I ask.

Rochelle shakes her head. "No, he's off with his new girlfriend, Crystal. And I didn't ask anything else after that, because I really don't want to know make the most of the day. Arkarian and I arrive first with Ophelia, and while Ophelia runs off to play with Blaze, we sit down with Ethan and Rochelle.

"So…is Dillon coming today?" I ask.

Rochelle shakes her head. "No, he's off with his new girlfriend, Crystal. And I didn't ask anything else after that, because I really don't want to know what the two of them are doing right now…"

"And you didn't ask him to bring her because…?"

"We invited them both, and Dillon said that they might come, but he's not sure.

I nod at that as Blaze comes running downstairs. He looks exactly like Ethan, except with green eyes like Rochelle's. He looks around the room, and then darts behind the curtains.

"Blaze, what are you-" begins Ethan, until we hear Ophelia yell from upstairs, "Ready or not, here I come!"

The doorbell rings right when Ophelia comes downstairs, and as Rochelle gets up to answer it, Ophelia looks around all of downstairs. When she finds Blaze, he gives a small shriek. A streak of blonde hair running past lets us know that Ambrosine has joined the game, and then Rochelle comes back with Matt and Neriah following.

I jump up and hug my brother. "Matt! Long time no see!" I exclaim. "You've really got to visit more often."

Matt grins. "Sorry, Isabel, but I've been busy."

"So I've heard." I move out of the way as Ethan and then Arkarian go to greet Matt. Between his brown hair and Neriah's black hair, I have no clue how Ambrosine's turned out blonde, it just did. Matt and Neriah sit down, and we can all tell that Matt wants to say something.

It's Rochelle who finally cracks. "Okay, Matt, spill. What is it that you're just dying to tell us?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yes!" we all exclaim at the same time.

"Alright." He takes a deep breath before continuing. "My father has just given me the position of leading the Tribunal, and, therefore, the rest of the Guard!"

At once, the room erupts in applause and sayings of "That's awesome", and "Congratulations!"

Rochelle rolls her eyes. "This is the last thing we need; you having more power than you already did," she says sarcastically, but grins all the same.

A shriek from upstairs has us all in stitches for some reason. Blaze and Ophelia run down while we hear Ambrosine counting to 10. Desperate, Ophelia looks around for somewhere to hide before turning herself into a chair identical to the one beside her.

I walk over to her, shaking my head. "Ophelia," I say, "you can't use your skills in hide-and-seek! That's cheating."

She changes back. "But there's nowhere else good to hide!" she moans.

Ethan comes over to her and points something out. "Did you try that skyscraper?" he asks. Ophelia giggles.

"Come on, Ethan! You can't use your skills either!" Despite my best efforts, I can't help but laugh.

"Okay, okay," Ethan says, grinning. The skyscraper vanishes, and Ophelia runs into a nearby closet, closing the door just as Ambrosine comes down the stairs. She finds Blaze first, and takes a while longer to find Ophelia. Just when the three of them are about to go back upstairs, the doorbell rings again.

Rochelle grins. "Dillon must have decided to come, after all." She goes to answer the door, and comes back trailed by Dillon and a red-head who I assume is Crystal. But her hair isn't a regular red, like Rochelle's. Instead it's more like Ariel's in "The Little Mermaid". In fact, if it weren't for her eyes, I'd have sworn that she dyed her hair. But her eyes prove that her hair is true.

Her violet eyes.

Ooooh…why are her eyes violet? Only reading on will give you the answer…