This chapter was made possible thanks to Hello2323, Sorry I just Did, The Cahill-DemiGod Witch, OMG-Kittens, and DeviousDragons. Thanks tot he supoorters of this story : RgeRunsStill, Evanescence456, and My Heart of Blue.
~Ian~
A light meal at the Kabra mansion was all Ian and his sister Natalie needed to get themselves up and going. Right after eating, they went upstairs to their rooms and started packing their clothes for the trip to Santa Barbara in California.
Ian closed the door behind him as he entered his room and started putting the things that he'd need into the bags he had already laid out. Outdoor clothes went in the duffel bag shoes in a smaller bag, and others/important things in the big pull-along luggage.
Half an hour later, he was finished. When he listened closely, he could still hear something in Natalie's room, which meant that his sister wasn't finished packing. He just hoped they wouldn't miss their flight.
He double-checked his things to make sure he had all that he needed. When he was sure he got everything, he went to his balcony to enjoy one last view of the twinkling London nightlights.
Wonderful, he thought as he saw several lights blinking together, forming letters. Wonderful like someone he knew
...who had long reddish-brown hair...
...fair skin...
...a radiant smile...
...and sparkling, intelligent, blazing jade green eyes...
Who's amazing as amazing can be, he thought. She's absolutely perfect.
After a second of being amused by what his mental voice just said, his Kabra traits came back again. But she's an orphan! And a peasant! A really smart and beautiful peasant, that is...
"Ian!" Natalie's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "Time to go!"
"Oh, right," he said quickly, getting his bags. He left his room and met his sister at the top of the stairs.
They exchanged glances. "Well," he sighed, "how do you suggest we get our luggage down without causing such a racket?"
~Amy~
Where is that boy? How can one eleven year old get lost so easily? Amy thought frantically as she searched for her ninja-obsessed brother in the crowded airport.
"Dang it Dan, when I find you, you are so in trouble!" She muttered to herself. The au pair Nellie had gone to the little ladies room and so it was up to Amy to find her little brother.
She whipped her head around, looking for her brother. Finally she spotted his dirty blonde hair in a candy store.
Of course she thought dryly as she stalked over to him, she grabbed his ear and pulled him out of the candy store but not before he bought a handful of Doritos. "Ow, ow, ow, ow! Let go, Amy!" he complained as she pulled him out.
*On the Plane*
"Dan, I can't believe you made us almost miss the flight!" Amy scolded her little brother.
"Hey sorry, they had Doritos." Dan said, spraying Amy with bits of Doritos.
Amy made a face and wiped the Doritos off her face "Don't talk while you're eating! It's disgusting! I swear, a donkey had more manners than you!"
"Whatever." Dan said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey kiddo, unless they were having a sale on iTunes gift cards, you have no excuse." Nellie also reprimanded.
Dan sighed, "Everyone's a critic."
"Real original Dan, you got that from SpongeBob." Amy said, rolling her eyes.
"Pfft, whatever, I got my ninja moves." Dan scoffed. Amy and Nellie both rolled their eyes. They put their carry-ons in the overhead compartment and took a seat in the window row.
"I call window!" Amy and Dan both yelled at the same time. Then they began to argue "You got the window last time!"
"No, you did!"
"Dan, I specifically remember you hogging the window seat the last time!"
"No, it was you!"
"Hey kiddos hurry up and decide, you're holding up the line here." Nellie told them, gazing at the line forming behind them.
"Fine, Dan can have it." Amy said giving up, "But don't expect a gift on your birthday." She muttered. Dan just stuck her tongue out at her, which she gladly returned.
*One hour later*
Amy never expected the plane ride to be this boring. There was nothing interesting to read in the in-flight magazine, and the food didn't taste that good, so she just decided to watch the clouds outside the airplane window.
She was on her way to Santa Barbara, on her way to see her relatives and everyone she cared about especially a certain someone...
with perfect dark skin, glittering amber eyes, and a smirk that's both annoying and somehow cute at the same time.
Stop it, Amy, she scolded herself. Remember, he tried to kill you, Dan, and Alistair in Korea! He's a worthless, power-hungry, conceited, rich, supermegafoxyawesomehot WHOA WAIT! WHAT DID I JUST THINK?
She blinked, snapping herself out of the thought. I did not just think that I did not just think that I did not just think that
But he really is...never mind.
*One hour later*
Two hours since take-off and Amy Cahill was now the most annoyed person in the whole world, she, unlike Dan and Nellie, was a light sleeper. Every time she settled down for a nap the kid behind her would start kicking the seat, Dan snickered and gave the kid a thumbs-up. Amy glared at him but glaring at her brother did not solve her problem, after two hours of this she had finally snapped and shouted at the kid to stop. The kid burst into tears and his mother glared at her as did many of the passengers
"B-but...I-I...he-kicked...oh never mind" she stuttered, sitting back into her seat. Nellie had plugged in her iPod and was listening to music full-blast; she was out of Amy's reach now. Sighing she pulled out her own iPod and sorted through pictures of her, Dan and Uncle Fiske. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she displayed a picture taken on the day the clue hunt ended. Nellie, Amy, Dan and Fiske were smiling up at the camera, their arms around each other. Dan peeked over his sister's shoulders at the picture and smiled sadly, remembering the good 'ole days.
~Dan~
Dan remembered that day, only a month after the hunt, where he had pulled a prank on the Kabra's.
*Flashback*
For Dan Cahill, hearing the Kabra siblings cry out death threats, bloody murder and for someone to call their lawyers was probably the best wakeup call he could ever get. Well not the lawyer part.
He grinned deviously as he got up, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stretched his arms.
"Morning Saladin. How are you on this fine morning?" Dan asked, stroking the cat's silky fur.
Mrrp? The cat meowed as if to say What's got you so cheery today? Dan just laughed and leisurely got out of bed. He quickly changed into a Ninja Gaiden tee shirt and jeans. He brushed his hair and teeth and walked over to the Kabra's room where he was presented with one of the most amusing scenes ever.
"WHO THE BLOODY HELL DID THIS TO MY HAIR!"
"YOUR HAIR! MY HAIR IS MORE IMPORTANT!"
"NO NATALIE MINE IS! SOMEONE GET MY LAWYER ON THE PHONE!"
"FORGET THE LAWYERS IAN! GET SOMEONE TO FIX. MY. HAIR!"
That was the loud conversation between the now bright purple-haired siblings. Dan couldn't help but crack up. Before he was upset that Amy had insisted that they stay with them at Grace's mansion for a while until they could get their situations under control but now . . . totally worth the pain.
He had snuck into their bathrooms the day before yesterday and had switched ALL their hair products with purple hair dye. So it would pretty permanent.
His sister suddenly walked in, looking very angry. See, when awake, Amy was nervous and shy but when woken up, she could get very mad.
"What in Pete's sake is all the yelling about? Someone people enjoy sleep and sani-" She suddenly stopped in her rant, looking at Ian's hair. Then she burst out laughing. When she saw Natalie's hair, she laughed even more.
"It's not funny!" Ian retorted, looking at his hair from all angles.
"Y-Yes it is." She managed out, not even acknowledging the name.
Plan well done, Dan thought to himself, walking out with a victorious smile.
*End Flashback*
Dan smiled despite himself "I can still hear Ian and Natalie screaming 'MY HAIR! MY HAIR! GET MY LAWYER ON THE PHONE!"
~Amy~
Amy cracked a small smile "I have to say, that might've been you best prank yet" Dan faked wiping a tear from his eyes "Thanks you, that means a lot coming from you"
Amy rolled her eyes "Dork" she muttered.
"Bookworm"
"Geek"
"Nerd"
"Doofus"
Dan took a deep breath and screwed up his face and hissed "Cobra Lover"
Amy's face turned red, she blinked many times before glaring at Dan and turning away from him. She put away her iPod and pulled out her book, Pride and Prejudice and started reading. Blocking everyone out as she drifted off into another a world.
Dan rolled his eyes and turned away from his sister, he had a feeling that this would be a quiet flight to California; he pulled out his PS3 and started playing. If only both siblings had turned and paid attention to the man sitting across from them, observing them then maybe they would have been able to stop the great tragedy that would hit the Cahill Family. If only...
*Later on*
The plane landed successfully at the airport. Everybody scrambled to get their belongings together.
"Dan be careful! Don't hurt anyone! Don't hurt yourself more importantly!" Amy said as Dan bounced around a bit hyper.
Dan rolled his eyes, "Amy, I'm not emo." He said a bit jittery.
Nellie gave him appointed look, "That's a stereotype." She reprimanded.
"Hey sorry." Dan said, putting his hands up.
"Dan, help me with this bag." Amy said, reaching up to get one of their bags down. Dan scooted over and helped her. They brought down a black bag that was heavily locked.
Dan raised an eyebrow, "Man, this guy sure likes his privacy." He muttered.
"That would be mine thank you." A man said from behind them. The Cahill siblings turned around and came face to face with a tall man, wearing a black trench coat and a navy fedora hat. His steel blue eyes were warm and inviting but Amy sensed something off about him. He had a chiseled face and soft stubble.
"Oh sorry, here you go." Amy said, handing the man his bag.
"Thank you, have a nice day." He said, tipping his hat and then walking away.
Amy turned to Dan, "Did he seem a little off to you?" She asked.
He shrugged, "Seemed fine to me."
Amy studied the man, her eyes narrowed. She shrugged "I guess you're right. He seems nice enough."
"Come on kiddos! Time to get off this plane!" Nellie called. Amy and Dan scrambled to get their bags and followed Nellie off the plane.