Chapter 11
Dan marched to his room, furious.
Why did we of all people have to be Cahills? Why couldn't we have just lived a normal life and not gotten all this danger and pain and-
He broke off his thinking as he collided with something.
"Oomf!" He said falling backwards with a loud thud, the object landing on him.
But-the object was not an object; it was Natalie Kabra.
She was lying on top of him, their faces inches apart, and extremely close.
"Owwww…My head hurts….", Natalie complained. She then realized her and Dan's situation, and turned a bright red. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then scrambled to detach themselves. They glanced at each, faces burning, and Natalie came over to him, and patted his arm, while whispering, "I'm, er, very sorry, Daniel." She then left leaving Dan confused and a bright shade of red.
Nellie hung her head in shame after Fiske had said, "NELLIE GOMEZ IS YOUR SISTER!"
Fiske shook his head as he began explaining.
"Well-not sister by blood, but by law." He said quietly. "Grace adopted her 7 years ago."
Amy began to cry softly, and Dan put his arm around her.
"Grace-was-", he stopped as Ian and Natalie appeared at the library's door. They both took one look at Fiske's face, and immediately pulled out weapons.
Ian looked past Nellie and Fiske to see a sobbing Amy and a red-faced Dan.
Ian strode over to Amy, standing close to her protectively, while pointing his gun at Fiske. Natalie came over to the other three and stood at Dan's side, glaring at Fiske, her eyes almost as sharp as the high heels she was wearing. Ouch.
"So, Fiske, what happened now?" Ian inquired fiercely.
"I just told them who I was-and who their au pair was," Fiske whispered.
Ian looked thunderstruck and turned to Amy and Dan. Dan gave him a look of defiance, while Amy lifted her face, exposing her red face and tear streaks.
Ian gently put an arm around her as well, as Dan tensed. Amy leaned against Ian, wiping her eyes.
Dan could feel himself crumbling. All this information-all at one time- it was just too much.
Natalie saw Dan's expression and put a hand on his shoulder, as if to say, "It's okay."
Dan managed a small smile at her, then all four teenagers looked back at Fiske and Nellie, who stood by each other.
"Talk. Now." Dan commanded, a steely edge to his voice. He looked at the woman he was proud to call his au pair, and suddenly felt furious with her. After almost 5 years of knowing her, she had forgotten to mention the fact that she was related to them.
Just another secret kept in the dark from us, Dan thought bitterly.
"My-my-my-my parents-weren't able to take care of me, when I was 12 years old, and-and-and Grace offered to take me off their hands, and they g-g-gave me willingly." Nellie stuttered, seeming like she was going to cry. "Grace-Grace- hired me, and told me to take care of you two on the hunt, which she knew you would compete in. She told me to n-n-never let any harm come to you." Nellie bowed her head, and they could all see the teardrops falling, probably ruining her make-up.
Dan had had enough. He walked out, not looking back.
After only a moment's hesitation, Natalie walked out as well. She was going to her room; only she took a different path that would get her there quicker. She got to her room, then went to the hallway, right for Dan's room. She had to comfort him.
Not Mummy and Daddy's comforting, of course. When she was 4 years old, she had fallen and scraped her knee on the concrete path outside. When she ran to her mother and father in the study crying, they merely looked at her with disgust.
"Natalie, stop that disgraceful bawling at once! Is that any way for a Lucian to act?" Her father said, frowning at his daughter.
Natalie wiped her nose and ran to Ian.
She loved Ian. He was nice to her, even when mummy and daddy were not. She found Ian in his room, reading a book. Even though he was 3 years older, they were very close.
"I-I-Ian!" She howled. He put down the book and opened his arms. She ran into them, and started whimpering. "I-I-I hurt my knee!" She cried.
"Shhh, Nat. It's okay, Ian's here," He said comfortingly to her. He looked at her knee and smiled. He then took her to his bathroom sink and washed off her knee, putting a band-aid on it. He kissed the band-aid, smiling and saying, "All better!"
"Thank you, Ian!" She said, hugging him, then running off to her room and playing with her dolls.
What happened between us? Natalie thought, not paying attention. We used to be so clos- She collided with someone, falling on top of them.
"Owwww…My head hurts," She complained, then took in whom she was lying on.
Dan.
Cute Dan.
REALLY cute Dan, who was staring at her with an adorable blush.
She scrambled to get off him, stopping to pat him on the arm, saying awkwardly, "I'm, er, very sorry, Daniel." She then ran off, cursing her stupidity. This boy had just had his life turned upside down, and all she could say was, "I'm sorry?"
For once in her life, Natalie realized she had lots to learn.
Dan sat in Amy's room, absentmindedly looking out the window, drumming his fingers on Amy's book.
"Dan! Stop that, it's annoying!" Amy had become much more frustrated since yesterday when Nellie had revealed the information to them. They had avoided dinner yesterday, and skipped breakfast and lunch today, with Natalie and Ian brining food up to them and leaving.
Dan simply murmured an apology, and stared at the paper with the clue.
"So…Um, Amy?" Dan asked his sister hesitantly. "Since we're in Boston, can we, can we, uh, go to Grace's mansion? You know, just, just, just, for old time's sake?"
They both knew that was a lie. There was a pause, and Amy said, "You know what, Dan? Yes, we will." She then continued reading Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time.
Dan lay down on the bed, pleased.,
A soft knock woke Dan up from the peaceful slumber he had fallen into.
"Daniel! Amy!" A whisper outside the door alerted them.
Dan walked to the door, yawning.
Natalie stood outside, holding two plates of food, looking around.
"Wha-oh, thanks, Nat," Dan said sleepily, not realizing what he said. Natalie blushed, pushed the two plates of food for dinner toward him, saying, "Good night, Dan."
Awwww…We see a soft side of both Ian AND Natalie. Sorry that was kind of boring, I've got writer's block.