Summary: Isabel escaped from prison, and Vikram has resurfaced. What will happen in the showdown between the deranged Kabra parents, and their children, along with the Cahill family? Amian, of course, with a little Cahill action.

Note: I'm going to pretend the Vespers never existed for this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the 39 clues.

Prompt: Sacrifice.

Isabel Kabra had escaped prison.

The news hit Ian and Natalie like a ten-ton brick wall, the report flashing across the television screen. Their mother was, in a word, evil. She'd tried to kill them, her own children, after ordering them to do horrific things to their family. True, at the time, they didn't have much care for their distant relatives. Apart from a certain red-haired Cahill, Ian thought, the now-familiar butterflies in his stomach raging once again. He found it strange how, in a time of complete terror, he thought of her.

"Ian?" Natalie whispered, her voice quivering.

Ian squeezed her hand. "Yes?"

The younger Kabra shuddered. "I'm sc-sc…" She trailed off. She didn't have to say it. Ian knew what she meant, because he felt it, too. He was scared. Although he was afraid of very few things, Isabel, his own mother, was right at the top of his list of horrors.

How did she escape? Where was she now? And what would she do next? Out of the three questions, the third was more worrisome by far. Would she come for Ian and Natalie, her children who had turned against her? Or would she go after Amy and Dan Cahill, the brother and sister who, despite their 'orphan' status, won the hunt for the 39 clues, and were the only people who knew the ingredients to the master serum? Or worse, would she lay in hiding, waiting for them to be at their weakest before she struck?

Either way, their family had to be told. The news would devastate them all, but it was a price Ian was willing to pay. It was more important to warn them so they would be prepared, then to hold back the vital information to protect their feelings.

"Bickerduff," Ian called. The butler hurried in, his tailcoat chasing behind him.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need you to book two flights to Boston, then take our suitcases to our rooms," Ian ordered, his voice full of authority.

Bickerduff nodded. "When would you like to leave, Sir?"

"As soon as possible, Bickerduff. Please hurry."

The butler gave Ian a curt nod, then raced out of the room, calling orders to the Kabra's many staff who attended to their every need.

"Come, Natalie," Ian said softly, helping his sister up. "We have a plane to catch."

On his way to the airport, Ian had called Amy and told her they'd be arriving in Boston early the next day. Amy was to meet them at the airport, per her insistence, and drive them to Grace's mansion where they would stay as long as they required.

Seven hours later, after whisking through customs and baggage check in two different countries, Ian stepped onto the white-tiled floor, his eyes darting out the window to the line of taxis sitting idle out the front of the airport. The wheels on his suitcase clicked on the tiles as he dragged it along, Natalie following close behind.

He glanced around the large, empty entrance, looking through the thin crowds for one face in particular. In a matter of seconds, he spotted her flaming red hair. She was sitting on a bench, her face buried in a book, although Ian knew that she wasn't actually reading. Her eyes were still, staring at the same spot on her page, and Ian could practically hear the whirring of gears as thousands of thoughts flew though her head. She didn't notice him, even when he waved his free arm around like a lunatic. As he headed in her direction, Natalie stopped in her tracks.

"Ian," she said, fear clearly lacing her voice.

Ian turned to his sister and gave her a reassuring smile.

Her eyes watered. "What if she's here?"

Ian's heart nearly broke at the sight of his sister scared and crying. She had been trained since birth to hide all of her emotions. To be a ruthless Lucian. To live up to the Kabra legacy. It was the very person who taught her those things that reduced her to this state. Ian resisted the urge to hug her; he knew that would only embarrass her further.

Instead, he spoke with a soothing tone. "You're safe, Natalie. She can't hurt you. I won't let her."

Natalie ducked her head as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away with her sleeve, pretending she was scratching an itch, then announced. "I need to go to the bathroom."

Ian took her suitcase and told her he'd be with Amy. She nodded silently and turned on her heel, walking in the opposite direction.

Ian sighed and walked over to Amy. When she didn't notice him, he coughed politely, causing her to jump, startled.

"Hello, love," Ian greeted, hiding the panic building in his chest and trying his best to look normal.

Amy stood, closing her book. "Don't call me that," she sighed, exasperated.

Ian smirked. With everything going on, you'd think the last thing on his mind would be Amy Cahill. But despite the situation, he tried his best to get under her skin, wanting to anger her. She was cute when she was angry.

What? He internally cringed. Don't be ridiculous, Ian Kabra. The words 'Amy' and 'cute' do not go well in the same sentence.

Then why, part of his brain asked, do you think about her every passing minute, and dream about her?

Ian smiled like he wasn't yelling at himself to shut up.

"So," Amy asked, "Where's Natalie?"

"In the bathroom."

Amy nodded and, after a pause, asked, "Why did you come? I mean, there must've been a reason."

Ian sighed and nodded. "There is. And you won't like it. But I'll wait until everyone can hear."

They stood in an awkward silence, staring off in different directions. Ian glanced down at his watch.

"She's been 15 minutes," he announced, trying to bite down the fear threatening to overcome him.

"I could go check on her?" Amy offered, and without waiting for an answer, walked in the direction of the bathrooms.

As she stepped into the small room, lingering with that 'public toilet smell' was another that sent shivers down Amy's spine. She immediately knew something was wrong. Very wrong. All of the stalls were open, and there was no one else there. As she glanced around the room, she spotted a silk scarf lying on the floor by the sink. She picked it up and read the label. Louis Vuitton. That could be only one person's.

Amy raced out of the bathroom and, pushing through the crowds, reached Ian in a matter of seconds.

She thrust the scarf out to him. "Is this hers?" she asked urgently.

Ian's eyes widened and he snatched the material from her hand. "Let's go," he said, his voice tight. "Now."

The ride back was full of tension and distress. No one said a word. Not even when Nellie greeted them at the door.

Amy typed a quick text to her family.

Meet me in CCC. NOW!

She ran the stairs, Ian close behind, and hurriedly punched in the access code to the Cahill Command Center. When she stepped in, everyone was already there.

"What's going on?" Dan asked.

"When did Ian get here?" Jonah said.

"It's two in the morning! Why'd you wake us up so early?" Sinead demanded.

Question after question was asked until Amy felt a headache coming on.

"SHUT IT!" she yelled. "Everyone, be quiet!"

Everyone stared at her in shock, not daring to make a sound.

"We have a big problem," Amy said. "Natalie's gone missing. We need to find who took her-"

"It was Isabel," Ian interrupted. "She escaped prison yesterday."

Again, silence fell. Ian could feel the fear radiating from his cousins. He didn't want to hurt them, but he continued to explain the entire situation, including Natalie's disappearance.

When he finished talking, a loud, shrill DING rang through the room. Sinead shot to her feet, grabbing the keyboard and typing in commands so fast that you could barely see her fingers.

"Vikram Kabra's been spotted in Boston, about 30 minutes from here," she announced.

Ian inhaled a sharp breath. "Of course. I should have expected this."

"But that's not all," Sinead said. "He was seen getting in a limo. Look at the person in the back seat." She enlarged a photo taken from the street security cameras. Through the open door, the face of his mother smirked viciously, staring directly into the camera like she knew they'd see this picture. Beside her sat a girl with long, dark hair and coffee-brown skin. Only Ian could tell she was scared out of her mind, trying to hold back her tears as Isabel pointed a gun at her side, shown only to the camera.

Ian sat down beside Sinead, pinching the bridge of his nose and leaning on the desk. "She wanted me to see this," he said. "All of it. Look."

He pointed to the phone in her hand. The screen showed that she was making a call.

"She wants us to find her."

Dan scratched his head. "How do we do that exactly?"

"We can find out who was using a phone in that area at the time this picture was taken, and trace it to wherever Natalie is. It's too easy, so it can only be a trap," Ian explained.

Dan nodded. "Good luck with that."

Amy shot him a warning look. Don't be mean, Dan, she told him with her eyes.

Sure. Defend your boyfriend, he said back.

This isn't a joke! Do you want anything to happen to Natalie? To let Isabel get what she wants?

"Okay!" he said, defeated. "I'm sorry! It's what I do, Amy!"

For once, don't do it. We have to stop Isabel and save Natalie, whether you like it or not.

Dan rolled his eyes. She doesn't look like she needs saving. She's as calm as ever!

Could you be any more heartless? Amy demanded.

Sinead sighed. "I hate it when you guys do that. It's creepy."

Hamilton gave her a weird look. "They're just glaring at each other."

"No we're not," Amy huffed. "Dan, leave now. Go for a walk outside. Maybe the cold will wake you up!" She pointed to the door. He sighed and walked out.

"Okay. We have work to do," Amy said. "Jonah, Hamilton, Ian, and I will be going in. Reagan and Madison, you're our backup. Sinead, Ned, and Ted, can you work the computers and comms? We need to find Isabel and Vikram, whether it's a trap or not. I'll make a few calls and gather a few Madrigal agents to help us." She turned to Ian. "Anything you'd like to add?"

Ian looked around. "Where's Ned?"

Dan was walking around the mansion, the cold morning air chilling him right to his core. He knew he'd been cruel. Almost Lucian-like. But that didn't stop him from being angry with his sister. She thought she could boss him around, make him do what she wanted him to do.

News flash, Amy, he thought. You're my sister, not my mom!

Then he heard a sound. The trees rustled beside him and he heard the SNAP of a twig.

"Who's there?" he called. No one answered. "You better watch out! You don't want to mess with this ninja!"

"How about an annoying Cahill who got in my way?" In an instant, a damp cloth was pressed to his mouth and nose, the toxic fumes irritating his eyes. He tried to hold his breath or at least take his attacker down. But then his vision went black and he fell to the ground. The last thing that went through his mind was that the person who'd spoken had been a woman. With a very familiar British accent.

Isabel Kabra.

To Be Continued…