Suddenly the doorbell rang. Grace and everyone else were surprised no one else knew of this then? Grace got up to open the door...

It was William McIntyre. He walked in the door and nodded to all the Cahills. "Hello Madame Grace. I'm surprised at the visitors you have over." Grace smiled and explained to Mr. McIntyre (A/N, I'm going to call him Mr. McIntyre but when someone speaks he'll be William.) what had happened. He took the book and read through the prologue and first chapter raising a brow and his description. He looked sadly at Grace who rolled her eyes "I'm not dying yet, so wipe that look off your face!" Mr. McIntyre smiled and took a seat.

Arthur took the book, "I'll read."...Chapter 2

Amy Cahill thought she had the most annoying little brother on the planet.

Everyone nodded and looked at Amy. This chapter was about her.

And that was before he almost got her killed.

It all started when Mr. McIntyre read their grandmother's will and showed them the video.

Amy sat there in shock. She found herself holding a green slip of paper worth one million dollars.

A challenge? A dangerous secret? What was going on? She stared at the blank projector screen. She couldn't believe her grandmother would do something like this. The video must have been made months ago, judging from the way Grace had looked. Seeing her on the screen like that had stung Amy worse than salt in a cut. How could Grace have been planning something this huge and not have warned them in advance?

Amy never expected to inherit much.

Grace looked shocked. "Why not?"

All she wanted was something to remember Grace by – a keepsake, maybe one piece of her beautiful jewelry. Now this… she felt completely lost.

It didn't help that Dan was jumping around like he needed to go to the restroom. "One million dollars!" he squealed. "I could get Mickey Mantle rookie card and a Babe Ruth 1914!"

His tie was crooked, which matched his crooked grin. He had a scar under one eye from when he'd gone commando-raiding at seven and fallen on his plastic AK-47. That's just the kind of little demon he was.

Eisenhower and Arthur laughed while the other either stayed impassive or rolled their eyes. Little Dan stuck his tongue out at Little Amy.

But what Amy really resented was how comfortable he seemed, like all these people didn't bother.

Amy hated crowds.

Grace noted that mentally.

She felt like anyone was watching her, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

Sometimes in her nightmares, she dreamed she was at the bottom of a pit, and all the people she knew were staring down at her, laughing. She'd try to climb out of the pit, but she could never make it.

"That's a bit... extreme." Cora said.

Right now, all she wanted to do was run up to Grace's library, close the door, and curl up with a book. She wanted to find Saladin, Grace's Egyptian Mau, and cuddle with him. But Grace was dead, and the poor cat… who knew where he was now? She blinked tears out of her eyes, thinking about the last time she'd seen her grandmother.

You will make me proud, Amy, Grace had said. They'd been sitting on Grace's big four-poster bed, with Saladin purring next to them. Grace had shown her a hand-drawn map of Africa and told her stories about the adventures she'd had when she was a young explorer. Grace had looked thin and frail, but the fire in here eyes was as fierce as ever. The sunlight turned her hair to pure silver. I had many adventures, my dear, but they will pale next to yours.

Hope and Arthur looked at Grace and their children in worry. They didn't want their children involved in the clue hunt.

Amy wanted to cry. How could Grace think that Amy would have great adventures? She could barely muster enough courage to go to school every morning.

Isabel stared in disbelief. Not having courage, was this one even a Cahill?

"I could get a ninja sword," Dan kept babbling. "Or a Civil War saber!"

"Dan, shut up," she said. "This is serious."

"But the money –"

"I know," she said. "But if we took the money, we'd need to keep it for college and stuff. You know how Aunt Beatrice is."

Dan frowned like he'd forgotten.

Hope stood up confusion gracing her delicate features, "I don't understand, why is Aunt Beatrice taking all of their decisions or influencing them?!" Grace took her daughter's hand "Hope, calm down. As we read, I'm sure we'll find out."

He knew good and well that Aunt Beatrice only looked after them for Grace's sake. Amy always wished had adopted them after their parents died,

The book fell out of Arthur's hands and crashed on the oriental rug. Hope pressed against Arthur in silent tears. Neither was she able to end the pain were going to suffer or raised them properly. Irina having some sympathy (albeit little but still...) picked the book and began to read.

but she hadn't. For reasons she never explained, she'd pressured Beatrice into being their guardian instead.

For the last seven years, Dan and Amy had been at Beatrice's mercy, living in a little apartment with a series of au pairs. Beatrice paid for anything, but she didn't pay much. Amy and Dan got enough to eat and a new set of clothing every six month, but that was it.

No birthday presents.

No special treats.

No allowance.

Grace winced, surely she had given some of those things to them right?

They went to regular public school and Amy never had extra money to buy books. She used the public library, or sometimes she'd hang out at the second-hand bookshop on Boylston, where the staff knew her. Dan made a little money on his own trading collectible cards, but it wasn't much.

Grace looked and Mr. McIntyre pained and a single glance from him made her understand. To be a member of their branch one had to be kind and humble. If they were spoiled that wouldn't happen.

Every weekday for seven years, Amy had resented Grace for not raising them herself, but every weekend Amy just couldn't stay mad at her.

Grace was a little hurt and little glad. After all what had to be done, had to be done. But it still hurt.

When they came to the mansion, Grace gave them undivided attention. She treated them like the most important people in the world. Whenever Amy got the courage to ask why they couldn't stay with Grace all the time, Grace just smiled sadly.There are reasons, dear. Someday, you will understand.

Now Grace was gone. Amy didn't know what Aunt Beatrice would do, but they could definitely use the money. It would mean they'd have some independence. They could get a bigger apartment, maybe. They could buy books whenever they wanted and even go to college.

Arthur stared at the book, not understanding. Was everything he had first learned about the Cahills true? If so he definitely hoped they chose the money. He knew this much from these books and living with the Cahills and he was sure, one of the Cahills were responsible for his and Hope's death.

She didn't even know why she and Dan carried their mom's maiden name – Cahill – when their dad's last name had been Trent.

She'd asked Grace about it once, but Grace had only smiled. "It's how your parents wanted it," she said. But the stubborn pride in her voice made Amy wonder if it had been Grace's idea for them to carry the Cahill name.

Grace gave a small grin, making all the other Cahills wary and suspicious.

Amy had trouble remembering her mother's face, or anything about her parents before the terrible night they died.

Alistair winced, he himself couldn't remember much about his own father Gordon Oh.

And that was something Amy tried hard time to think about.

"Okay," Dan said slowly. "So I'll spend my million on my collection. You can spend yours on college. And everybody's happy."

Amy felt heartsick. Arguments were braking out all over the room. The Holts looked like they were conducting a combat exercise.

Mary-Todd and Eisenhower grinned in pride and relief. Some of the tension was easing out and the mood got thankfully lighter.

Sinead Starling was holding her brothers, Ned and Ted, apart so they wouldn't strangle each other.

All the Cahills frowned then shrugged. Mr. McIntyre spoke up "I do believe that those are Denise Starling's children."

Irina Spasky was talking in rapid-fire Russian to that kid from the reality TV show, Jonah Wizard, and his dad, but from the way they were staring at her, it was obvious they didn't speak Russian.

Broderick whipped out his BlackBerry and furiously typed in a few words. Cora read over his shoulder "Teach Jonah and self, Russian?" Broderick shrugged though Irina had a faint yet smug grin.

Angry voices filled the Great Hall. It was like they were tearing up Grace bit by bit, squabbling over her inheritance. They didn't care at all that Amy's grandmother had just passed away.

All of the Cahills (except Grace, Arthur, Hope, Mr. McIntyre and the Kabras) looked guilty.

Then somebody right behind her said, "You'll decline the challenge, of course."

It was Ian Kabra, with his annoying sister, Natalie, at his side.

Isabel frowned/glared at the words. You don't call a Kabra annoying.

Despite herself, Amy's stomach did a little somersault, because Ian was very good looking. He had gorgeous dark skin, amber eyes, and a perfect smile.

Arthur and Isabel glared at each other furiously. That will NEVER happen! They conveyed mentally. Some of the others shuddered. Namely Broderick and Mr. McIntyre, who had never seen such a heated death glare all their life... Until now, that is.

He was fourteen, same as her, but he dressed like a groan up, in a silk suit and a tie. He even smelled good, like clove.

The glare continued though one could see Arthur gave a small shudder first.

Amy hated herself for noticing.

The glare still continued though Arthur got fiercer after hearing that.

"I would be sad if something happened to you," Ian purred.

"And you so need the money."

Natalie put her hands to her mouth in mock surprise. She looked like a life-size doll in her satin dress, her luxurious black hair swept over one shoulder. "That's right, Ian! They're poor. I keep forgetting. It seems so odd we're related, doesn't it?"

Isabel broke the glare and gave an exasperated look. She realized what her children were trying to do, but they might've well just up a board saying "Go on the Hunt!" These weren't normal people, they were Cahills.

Amy felt herself blush. She wanted to say something scathing in reply, but her voice wouldn't work.

"Oh, yeah?" Dan said. "Well, maybe we're not related! Maybe you're mutant aliens, because real kids don't dress like bankers and fly around in their daddy's privet jet."

The Cahills bit back grins at Isabel furious face.

Ian smiled. "You misunderstand me, dear cousin. We're very happy for you. We want you to take the money, have a wonderful life, and never think about us again."

"I agree with the last one." Arthur and Irina said simultaneously.

"G-G-Grace," Amy managed, hating her voice wouldn't cooperate. "G-Grace would want –"

"Would want you to risk your lives?" Ian supplied. "How do you know? Did she tell you about this contest she was planning?"

Grace winced and Cora grimaced. "Low blow." She said in a soft voice.

Neither Amy nor Dan answered.

"I see," Ian said. "That must be terrible – thinking you were Grace's favorites and then being left in the dark like that.

Perhaps you weren't as important to the old woman as you thought, eh?"

"Now, Ian," Natalie chided. "Perhaps Grace just knew they weren't up to the challenge. It sounds quite dangerous." Natalie smiled at Amy. "We'd hate to see you suffer a painful death, wouldn't we? Ta-ta!"

The Kabras drifted off through the crowd.

"Ta-ta," Dan mimicked. "What losers."

Eisenhower started bellowing in laughter and the others howled in glee. Revenge, they thought. Well... Isabel was livid but no one really cared at the moment.

Part of Amy wanted to chase down the Kabras and hit them with a chair.

Everyone but the Kabra's sighed mournful/regretfully. Little Ian looked at Little Amy in shock who looked a teensy bit proud.

But part of her wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. She'd wanted so badly to tell them off, but she hadn't even been able tospeak.

"They're taking the challenge," she muttered.

Isabel smiled though everyone looked horrified. Isabel was a crazy woman, who knows what her children are like?

"Well, duh!" Dan said. "What's another two million dollars to them? They can afford to give it up."

"They were threatening us. They don't want us involved."

The smile was wiped off he face. She knew that would happen.

"Maybe they'll suffer a painful death," Dan mused.

Some of the Cahills enjoyed the comment. The ones near Isabel did not.

"I wonder what the treasure is, anyway."

"Does it matter?" Amy asked bitterly. "We can't look for it. We barely have enough money for bus passes."

But still she found herself wondering. Grace had explored all over the world. Could the treasure be a lost Egyptian tomb… or pirates' gold? Mr. McIntyre said the prize would make the winners the most powerful human beings on earth. What could do that? And why were there exactly thirty-nine clues?

She couldn't help being curious. She loved mysteries. When she was younger, she used to pretend her mother was still alive, and they would travel together to archaeological digs.

A muffled sob came from Hope who had gotten up from Arthur's chest and was trying hard to not cry.

Sometimes Grace would go, too, just the three of them together, happily exploring the world, but that was just silly pretending.

"Too bad," Dan grumbled, "I'd love to wipe the smiles off the Cobras' faces…."

Just then, Aunt Beatrice grabbed their arms. Her face was contorted with rage and her breath smelled like mothballs.

Grace and Allistair gagged. "She is horrible." The two agreed.

"You two will do nothing ridiculous! I fully intend to take my million dollars, and you will do the same! Never fear, I'll put it in an account for you until you're adults. I'll only spend the interest. In return, I will allow you to continue as my wards."

Amy choked with rage. "You… you'll allow us to be your wards? You'll allow us to give you our two million dollars?"

As soon as she said it, she couldn't believe she'd managed to get the words out. Beatrice usually scared her to death.

Yet another similarity, Grace noted.

Even Dan looked impressed.

"Watch your place, young lady!" Beatrice warned. "Do the responsible thing or else!"

"Or else what?" Dan asked innocently.

Beatrice's face turned bright red. "Or else, you little upstart, I will disown you and leave you to Social Services. You will be penniless orphans, and I'll make sure no Cahill ever helps you again!

This whole business is absurd. You'll take the money and wash your hands of my sister's ridiculous scheme for finding the –"

"Clues." Isabel finished like it was nothing important.

She stopped abruptly.

"Finding the what?" Dan asked.

"Never you mind," Beatrice said. With a shock, Amy realized Aunt Beatrice was scared. "Just make the right choice, or you'll never have my support again!"

She marched off. Amy looked at Dan, but before she could say anything, Mr. McIntyre rang a little bell. Slowly, the wrangling and arguing in the Great Hall died down. The assembly took their seats.

"It is time," Mr. McIntyre said. "I must warn you that once the choice is made, there is no turning back. No changing minds."

"Wait a moment, William," Alistair Oh said. "This isn't fair. We know almost nothing about the challenge. How are we to judge whether it is worth the gamble?"

As looks went to Allistair. he shrugged. "I suppose I was a bit wary. After all no one has ever made the Hunt official."

Mr. McIntyre pursed his lips. "I am limited in what I can say, sir. You know that the Cahill family is very large… very old. It has many branches.

Cora was amused, "So four are many, huh William?" Mr. McIntyre flushed "I, er, well..." He glanced at Grace, who understood why he said many. After all saying there are four isn't true and no one knows about the missing one.

Some of you, until today, did not even realize you were Cahills.

"No, I think most of us knew." Mary-Todd said. "And some of us aren't exactly Cahill." Broderick added.

But as Madame Grace said in her video address, this family has been instrumental in shaping human civilization. Some of the most important figures in history have in fact been Cahills."

Excited muttering filled the room.

"Historical figures?" Mr. Holt bellowed. "Like who?"

Mr. McIntyre cleared his throat. "Sir, you would be hard-pressed to name a major historical figure in the last few centuries who was not a member of this family.

"Abraham Lincoln,"

"Ekat." Allistair said.

Cousin Ingrid shouted out. "Eleanor Roosevelt."

"Lucian." Isabel smiled.

"Yes," Nr. McIntyre said simply. "And yes."

A stunned silence fell in the room.

"Harry Houdini!"

"Janus," Cora and Broderick stated.

Madison Holt shouted.

"Lewis and Clark!"

"Tomas!" Eisenhower shouted and Mary-Todd grinned.

her sister, Reagan, suggested.

"Yes, yes and yes," Mr. McIntyre said.

"Oh, come on!" Mr. Holt yelled. "That's impossible!"

"I agree!" Uncle José said. "You're putting us on, McIntyre!"

"I am completely serious," the old lawyer assured him. "And yet, all the previous accomplishments of the Cahill clan are nothing compared to the challenge that now faces you. It is the time for you to discover the greatest secret of the Cahills, to become the most powerful members of the family in history – or to die trying."

Amy felt something cold an heavy in her stomach, like she'd swallowed a cannonball. How could she be related to all those famous people? How could Grace possibly have thought Amy could become more powerful than them? She got nervous just thinking about it. There was no way she'd have the courage for a dangerous quest.

Some of the nicer and saner Cahills felt a bit bad. Dangerous was an understatement.

If she and Dan didn't accept the challenge… She remembered Beatrice clutching their arms, telling them to take the money. Beatrice would find a way to steal their two million dollars. Amy wouldn't be able to stand up to her. They would go back to their dreary little apartment and nothing would change, except Grace would be gone. No weekend trips to look forward to, nothing to remember her by. Amy never thought anything could be worse than when her parents died, but this was. She and Dan were totally alone.

Hope blinked hard to stop the flow of tears and Arthur put an arm around her. She knew he was pained too.

The only way out was this crazy idea that they were part of a great historical family… part of some mysterious contest. Amy's hands started to sweat.

"Embarking on this quest," Mr. McIntyre was saying, "will lead you to the treasure. But only one of you will attain it.

Yeah, all the Cahills thought My child/me!

One individual"–his eyes flickered across Amy's face–"or one team will find the treasure. I can tell you no more. I do not, myself, know where the chase will lead. I can only start you on the path, monitor your progress,

and provide some small measure of guidance. Now – who will choose first?"

Aunt Beatrice stood. "This is ridiculous. Any of you who play this silly game are fools. I'll take the money!"

Of course, no one was surprised at her choice.

Mr. McIntyre nodded. "As you wish, madam. As soon as you leave this room, the numbers on your voucher will become active. You may withdraw your money from the Royal Bank of Scotland at your leisure. Who's next?"

Several more stood up and took the money. Uncle José. Cousin Ingrid. A dozen other people Amy didn't recognize. Each took the green voucher and became an instant millionaire.

Then Ian and Natalie Kabra rose.

Isabel straightened with pride. "That's right, Kabra's are always first."

"We accept the challenge," Ian announced. "We will work as a team of two. Give us the clue."

"Very well," Mr. McIntyre said. "Your vouchers, please."

Ian and Natalie approached the table. Mr. McIntyre took out a silver cigarette lighter and burned the million-dollar papers. In return, he handed Ian and Natalie a manila envelope sealed with red wax. "Your first clue. You may not read it until instructed to do so. You, Ian and Natalie, will be Team One."

"Hey!" Mr. Holt objected. "Our whole family's taking the challenge! We want to be Team One!"

Eisenhower glared at Isabel.

"We're number one!" the Holt kids started chanting, and their pit bull, Arnold, leaped into the air and barked along with them.

Mary-Todd flushed at the stares directed at them.

Mr. McIntyre raised his hand for silence. "Very well, Mr. Holt. Your family's vouchers, please. You shall be Team… uh, you shall also be a team."

They made the trade – five million-dollar vouchers for one envelope with a clue, and the Holts didn't even bat an eye.

"Huh," Eisenhower said shrugging.

As they marched back to their seats, Reagan bumped Amy in the shoulder. "No pain, no gain, wimp!"

Eisenhower beamed with pride "That's my kid!"

Next, Alistair Oh struggled to his feet. "Oh, very well. I can't resist a good riddle. I suppose you may call me Team Three."

Alistair shrugged "I probably didn't want the newcomers to know I've had experience."

Then the Starling triplets rushed forward. They put their vouchers on the table and three million more dollars went up in flames.

They all frowned and once again Mr. McIntyre reminded them "Denise Starling's kids."

"Da," Irina Spasky said. "I, also, shall play this game. I work alone."

Irina briefly paused and if you squinted you could see the ghost of a smile.

"Hey, yo, wait up." Jonah Wizard sauntered forward like he was pretending to be a street punk, the way he did on Who Wants to Be a Gangsta? Which was kind of ridiculous since he was worth about a billion dollars and lived in Beverly Hills.

Broderick was proud and Cora was... Well she felt something.

"I'm all over this." He slapped his voucher on the table. "Hand me the clue, homes."

"We'd like to film the contest," his dad piped up.

"No," Mr. McIntyre said,

"'Cause it would make great TV," the dad said. "I could talk to the studios about a percentage split –"

Broderick was a bit embarrassed, but he shook it off.

"No," Mr. McIntyre insisted. "This is not for entertainment, sir. This is a matter of life and death."

Mr. McIntyre looked around the room and focused on Amy.

"Who else?" he called. "Now is the time to choose."

Amy realized she and Dan were the last ones undecided. Most of the forty guests had taken the money. Six teams had taken the challenge – all of them older or richer or seemingly more likely to succeed than Amy and Dan. Aunt Beatrice glared at them, warning them that they were about to get disowned. Ian was smiling smugly. Perhaps you weren't as important to the old woman as you thought, eh? Amy remembered what hi annoying sister, Natalie, had said: Grace just knew they weren't up to the challenge.

Isabel could smack something in frustration right now. What was typically a good technique was going to be used against her children. She needed to give them more training. Much more training. Maybe these books weren't a complete waste of time.

Amy's face felt hot with shame. Maybe the Kabras were right. When the Holts turned her brother upside down, she hadn't fought back.

When the Kabras insulted her, she'd just stood there tongue-tied. How could she handle a dangerous quest?

But then she heard another voice in her head: You will make me proud, Amy.

And suddenly she knew: This was what Grace had been talking about. This was the adventure Amy was supposed to take. If she didn't, she might as well crawl under a rock and hide for the rest of her life.

She looked at her brother. Despite how annoying he was, they had been able to communicate just by looking at each other.

Everyone looked at Little Dan and Amy at surprise.

It wasn't telepathy or anything, but she could tell what her brother was thinking.

They really had to remember this detail.

It's a lot of money, Dan told her. A lot of awesome baseball cards.

Mom and Dad would want us to try, Amy replied with her eyes. This is what Grace wanted us to do.

Yeah, but a Babe Ruth and a Mickey Mantle…

Ian and Natalie would hate it, Amy coaxed. And Aunt Beatrice will probably blow a gasket.

Grace and Alistair laughed "To make Beatrice mad and her unable to do anything back... It's too good of an opportunity to miss!"

A smile crept across his face. I guess Babe Ruth can wait.

Amy took his voucher. They walked to the desk together and she picked up Mr. McIntyre's lighter.

"We're in," she told him, and she sent two million dollars up in smoke.

"Done." Irina said her thick Russian accent making it hard to understand. Mary-Todd understanding took the book from her hands. "I'll read, if no one else wants to."

No one objected as Mary-Todd began to read...Chapter 4

Ok, it's done. And I realize it's late but I was busy updating some of my other fics on my other account. Please, please, please review to encourage write more and faster. I've been noticing it's harder to come up with what they are going to say, since they don't really know much about the future people. Anyways I don't own the Maze of Bones or the 39 Clues. Well, I do have some of the clues on my account but that's a different matter.

Some of the Thank yous,

Epic Books (Guest): You are very welcome I adopted it. Thanks for all the compliments and I'm trying my best to update regularly. Thanks for all the reviews.

JEMILYLOVER1234: Uh... here's the update!

Anyways thanks to all or followed or favourited

Bye!

~Sakuya~