21 Years

Prologue

He first saw her when she was fifteen and he was thirty-six.

She was known as the best of the best when it came to pole vaulting; and, based on the performance he had just witnessed, it was clear why. Her moves were fluid, swift, and as graceful as a gazelle. A small smirk was set on her young, beautiful face, the lack of sweat showing just how easy this sport was for her. The smirk changed into a full-blown grin when the words echoed around the stadium in several different languages, eventually English:

"And Irina Spaskaya has won first place in the 1977 World Championships Women's Pole Vault!"

He cheered for her along with everyone else. Even though she was a Lucian (whether or not she knew it; she suspected that she didn't, based on her carefree demeanor and Tomas loves) and he had been given tickets to the Pole Vault World Championship to spy on her in the first place, she was clearly the winner. Clapping could hurt no one. In fact, it would probably benefit him; were he to not clap, then he would look out of place and suspicious.

As Irina Spaskaya gazed around at her audience with joy and appreciation in her eyes, he could have sworn that she stared straight at him. He felt himself burning inside, praying to whatever deities existed that she didn't recognize him as he forced himself to calmly stare back at her and act like he was just a spectator, but in the blink of an eye, she was looking away.

His cell phone rang, and he immediately dug through his black coat pockets to pull it out. He briefly read the caller ID before flipping open the phone and pressing it to his ear. "Hello, William."

"Good day, my old friend. How is the mission going?"

He glanced back down at the champion pole-vaulter and answered, "Couldn't be better. She's an excellent pole-vaulting; she won first place. An impressive feat for one as young as her, if you ask me; it makes me wonder if she has any Tomas blood in her."

"Interesting," William said thoughtfully from the other line. "So, she shows no sign of knowing that she is a Lucian?"

"None that I have observed."

"And if she ever does find out? What kind of agent will she make?"

"An excellent one," he replied without hesitation. "She is confident, athletic, stealthy, and fluent in multiple languages; not to mention, who knows what else she is capable of. Yes, she would make a formidable enemy, of that we can be sure."

"Good to know," William responded, and then paused. "You know, nowadays, it really is hard for me to believe that you were ever as shy as Grace makes you out to have been."

"People change," he spoke easily. "It's part of growing up. I just took longer than most."

"Yes, I suppose you did," William chuckled. "It's a good thing for us Madrigals that you did, though. You are an invaluable asset."

"Thank you," he grinned, even though he knew that William couldn't see it. "Anything else you need to tell me?"

"No. Any additional information to report to our leader?"

"Tell Grace that I still do not anyone but you two to know that I exist," he ordered. "She's been nagging me even more than usual recently. It's getting quite annoying, to be honest."

"She just wants to introduce you to Hope. The girl is seventeen years old now; it kills Grace that her daughter can't know her favorite family member."

"It's safer for everyone if the fact that I am alive stays a secret," he told William. "Someday, I hope that I will meet Hope. But not today."

"As you wish," William sighed, obviously wanting to say more.

"Goodbye, William."

"Goodbye, Fiske."

Fiske Cahill flipped his phone shut, tucked it back into his pocket, and exited the arena.

First things first, this is just the prologue. The rest of the chapters (and I don't know how many there will be, by the way) will be MUCH longer. I promise. Second, this is rated T just in case I use any sort of bad language. For those of you who are uncomfortable with cursing, there won't be much in here, but I understand if you don't want to read this story because of it. Third, if any of you uncomfortable with romances between people with marginal age differences, don't read this. Just a warning.

Now that that's done with... What did you think? Please review; I want to know whether or not I should continue this story! Yes, it's an unusual pairing; I'm hoping people will grow to like it, though!

Thanks so much for reading- and hopefully reviewing!

-Joelle8

P.S. Disclaimer: I don't own the 39 Clues or any characters whose names you recognize.

P.P.S. Yes, William is William McIntyre, in case you didn't figure that out already.

P.P.P.S. If you have some spare time, I'd be really appreciative if you'd vote on my poll on my profile! Thanks!