SUMMARY: The Vespers are rising. Amy, Dan, and the younger generation of Cahill's muststop them, but will love get in the way of their goals?

~o~

15 year old Amy Cahill stared in shock at the 5 simple words on the note in her hand.

We rise,

You fall.

~Vespers

Amy was frozen in fear. Was it time? Was this what she and Dan had been waiting for? She heard a gasp of shock and turned to see her twelve year old brother, Dan, staring open mouthed at the note.

It had been stabbed in place on the kitchen table with a dagger that had a "V" at the end.

Dan looked up at his sister and their mind-meld began to work.

'What does this mean?' he silently questioned.

'I'm not sure,' She responded.

'Is it time?' he asked.

'I think so. We're going to need help,' Amy said.

Dan nodded and in a flash he was punching in numbers on his cell phone. After a moment he put it to his hear and waited. After three rings a loud friendly voice picked up.

"Hey, Dan-o! What's up?" Hamilton Holt questioned from the other end.

Dan said a quick 'Hey.' before saying, "Ham, this is important."

There was a pause on the other end before Hamilton responded. "Why? What's wrong?"

Dan, who usually never choked on his words, choked on these ones, "It-it's them. They- they left us a message."

Hamilton Holt, knew who Dan was talking about, the Vespers. A family far more vicious and dangerous than their own. He took a deep breath and asked,

"Are you and Amy okay? What message did they leave?" Dan closed his eyes before responding, "The note said, 'we rise, you fall. I think it's time, Ham. Amy and I want to know how soon you can come over here."

"We're in the area already; we should be there by tomorrow."

"Okay, thanks Ham, bye."

"Bye."

Dan hung up and turned to Amy. "Should we call the Kabras?"

Amy nodded and pulled out her own phone. Over the year she had decided to upgrade her phone. She now had a LG full keyboard touch screen. She slid it open and began searching through her contacts for Natalie's phone number.

After finding it she pressed call and waited. After two rings Natalie's silky accented voice answered. "Hello."

Amy took a deep breath and said, "Hey, Natalie?"

"Yes? Hey, Amy." Over the year since the clue hunt Natalie, Amy, and Sinead had kept in touch becoming close friends even though Natalie's age difference.

"Natalie, is Ian there?"

"Yeah, why, you want to talk to him?" Natalie's voice hinted that she was being suggestive.

Amy blushed like a tomato and stuttered, "N-no, I- I mean, can y- you put it on s- speaker phone? It's important."

Natalie laughed a smooth laugh before saying, "Of course."

Amy heard the click of a button and Ian's British accented voice say, "Hello?"

"Natalie? Ian?"

"Yes?" they both asked.

"Guys, me and Dan think it might be time." Amy spoke sadly.

"Time for what?" Natalie asked.

"Dan and I, we got a message, from them."

"From who? Amy?"

When Amy spoke her voice was grave, "The Vespers."

A gasp of shock was heard from Natalie, but Amy had no idea what Ian's reaction was.

"W-what are we going to-to do?" Natalie stuttered out.

"We don't know." Amy answered, "Hamilton and his sisters will be here tomorrow. Can you and Ian fly over here?"

After a short pause Ian spoke, "We shall be there tomorrow morning." Then, the line went dead.

Amy sighed and shut her phone. She turned to Dan and said, "They'll be here tomorrow morning. Call Jonah."

Dan nodded and began dialing.

-At the Kabra Mansion-

Ian pushed 'end' on his sister's cell phone and turned toward her.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently.

Since Isabel was sent to prison, and Vikram went into hiding it had just been him and Natalie. He knew she felt saddened by their mother's betrayal, as he had caught her in his mother's room quite a few times.

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. After a few moments he opened his eyes and stopped a passing servant, "Pack clothes for Natalie and myself. Also, ready the jet we leave tonight." he ordered.

"Yes, sir." the servant bowed and left. Ian sighed and turned toward his still shocked sister. He grabbed her hand and repeated his question, "Are you okay?"

Natalie gave a weak nod and began heading up the stairs. "I'm going to my room." she spoke quietly.

Ian nodded and said, "Be sure to pack what you will need, we may be there a while."

Natalie nodded and left.

Ian sighed and walked to his own room to make sure he had what h would need.

-With Amy and Dan-

Dan sighed and flipped his phone shut. "He's not answering." he stated.

Amy sighed and said, "Try one more time."

Dan nodded and called again, this time after the fourth ring, Jonah answered.

"Yo." he greeted.

Dan sighed in relief and said, "Hey, Jonah-" he was about to continue but was cut off by Jonah.

"YO! Homie! How's my favorite cuz yo?"

"Listen Jonah!"

Jonah was quiet for a moment before saying, "Yo, dawg. Go 'head."

Dan sighed and said, "Jonah, you need to come over here soon."

"What's wong, yo?"

"It's them, the Vespers. They left us a message."

Jonah was quiet on the other end before speaking.

"I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. 'Ight?"

Dan smiled in relief, "Thanks Jonah."

"No prob, cuz. See ya tomorrow."

"K. Bye."

"Bye."

Dan hung up turning to Amy, "He's coming. That leaves, Sinead, Ned, Ted, and Uncle Alistair."

Amy shook her head sadly at the last part, "Alistair, is getting old. Let's let him live the rest of his life in peace, okay?"

Dan nodded sadly and said, "Okay. I don't have Sinead's number, you call her."

Amy agreed and called.

-At the Starling Mansion-

Sinead's phone rang, causing the three siblings to jump in surprise. On the fourth ring Sinead answered.

"Hello?"

"Sinead?"

"Yeah. Amy?"

"Yeah."

"Hey!" Sinead smiled brightly over the year since the clue hunt her, Amy, and Natalie had become close friends, even though Natalie was three years younger.

"What's up Amy?" Sinead asked lightly.

Amy answered with a grave voice, "Sadly, this isn't a social call."

Sinead frowned hearing the seriousness in Amy's voice.

"Sinead? Can I talk to all of you guys?"

Sinead was confused but answered "Yeah, sure."

Sinead pulled the phone away from her mouth before calling Ned and Ted.

"Yeah?" The two answered.

"Come here. Amy needs to talk to us."

The two boys nodded and came over.

Sinead put the phone on speaker and said, "Okay Amy, We're all here. Now what's wrong?"

"It's them Sinead. The Vespers."

All three siblings froze.

"What?" Sinead whispered in a shaky voice.

"Dan and I got a message today that said, "We rise, You fall. It was signed by the Vespers. Ian, Natalie, Hamilton, Reagan, Madison, and Jonah will be here tomorrow. Can you three be here tomorrow too?"

It took a moment for Sinead to think, but she said, "Yeah, see you there."

"See ya. Bye."

Then the line went dead, Sinead sighed and told her brothers to go pack, and she went to go pack her own things.

-With Amy and Dan-

Amy slid her phone shut and turned to Dan, "Well, that's everyone. They'll all be here tomorrow."

Dan nodded and Amy sighed. The clue hunt had changed her brother. No longer was he the rambunctious little boy she remembered. No, he was different, he had seen death and cheated it. What 11 year old would be normal after that.

She thought he would be back to his old self, but he wasn't. She just hoped he would be soon. She wanted her little brother back.

"Get some sleep." She told him.

"Tomorrow we'll tell everyone what we know. I think we'll be getting another message pretty soon."

Dan nodded again and headed to his room.

Amy sighed and went to her own room.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

~o~

Well? What do you think? This is my first 39 Clues story, so please be nice. :) REVIEW!

~Th3Sk8t3rG1rl