Thanks to everyone who flooded my inbox with lovely messages asking for the next update! I'm so excited you guys are enjoying this, and I'm really sorry it took this long to post this :( University sucks more than I thought.

Have fun reading! Just one more chapter left to go!

Disclaimer: Don't. Own. The. 39. Clues.


Amy stood paralyzed with shock.

"Surprise," Sophie smirked.

"NO!" Dan roared, taking a jerky step forward, but froze on the spot and fell silent as Austin pointedly trained his firearm on him. Sophie kept her barrel touching Amy's temple. "One wrong move, and your sister goes. Put your weapons on the ground, now."

Nobody moved. Sophie pulled the safety off her gun with an audible click. "NOW!"

There was a clatter of metal and plastic against concrete as the Cahills lowered their weapons one by one and kicked them over to Isabel.

"Tranquilizer guns?" Emmeline delicately shook her blonde curls. "Why, don't your mummies let you play with real toys?"

"Sophie," Amy pleaded weakly. "What-"

"Told you this would be more fun," Sophie purred, pressing the barrel firmly against the side of her head. "Now stop shaking, this baby is sensitive."

"You were supposed to be at Hadrian's Wall with Jonah," Nellie said coldly, glaring daggers at Isabel.

"Oh, yes, Jonah Wizard," Isabel laughed. "I almost forgot. You know, of all the Cahills, I never thought that he would be the one to end up being the most helpful."

"Jonah's been working for you, too?" Hamilton sounded strangled.

Isabel shot him a look full of contempt. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the slowest of them all? And to think I actually had doubts about my plan at the beginning. Jonah, believe it or not, had nothing to do with this. Not that he would have had the guts, anyway."

"Wait… so you haven't kidnapped Jonah? He isn't locked up somewhere? Being tortured?" demanded Madison.

"Such poor manners," Isabel wrinkled her nose. "No, no, and no."

"So he was never in any real danger," Chris shifted his stare to Austin. "You were never in any real danger."

He shrugged.

"I- I watched you leave! How-"

"Do you honestly think we're that stupid?" Austin rolled his eyes. "We knew someone was there the entire time. It was all an act."

Chris searched Sophie's eyes in desperation, but she bit her lip and looked away.

"So what do you want?" Reagan was almost in tears. "Why are you here? To kill us?"

"Nonsense." Isabel waved her hand impatiently. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so a very long time ago. No, I am here for a greater purpose- to finish what Damien Vesper himself started five hundred years ago."

Amy remembered what Mr. McIntyre had told them back at the arena on their first day, and failed to hold back an involuntary shudder. "Immortality," she breathed.

Felix snorted.

Isabel let out an amused chuckle. "So the Madrigals really did buy the story. No, silly girl, of course not. Have you learned nothing from your books and history? Nothing lasts forever. Immortality is an impossibility. The whole thing was just a hoax. Because you see, the Vespers are actually a dead organization brought back to life through lies and rumors. There's nothing much left of us. Stonehenge was pretty much the last of the bases intact. Damien Vesper wanted to conquer the world. The Cahills made sure he never succeeded.

"There was a time, too, when I dreamt the same dream. And unlike Damien Vesper, I came so close to achieving it! But somehow, I was thwarted by a bunch of amateurs. Children. I was humiliated, demoted, and stripped of everything I had. What's more, the Cahill serum, the key to my goal, was lost forever… or so I thought."

Isabel fixed Dan with a piercing gaze. "I happened to learn some incredibly interesting things while serving time. The Madrigals have always been thorough in cataloging information, even down to the most trivial things. Like, for example, the fact that the final clue- the only existing recipe to the serum- was destroyed when Amy broke the vial. Or the fact that Dan Cahill has a photographic memory."

Amy's heart skipped a beat. She knew. She knew.

"It was in the depths of my prison that I decided to give it one last shot- to try taking back once more all that was rightfully mine. Time was the one thing I had left, so I decided to use it wisely. I kept close tabs on each one of you. I hacked into the Cahill archives and kept myself informed. I read up on all the latest operations, plans for the future, agent profiles- everything that was within my reach. I-"

"I don't understand," Sinead interrupted.

Isabel blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You were locked up in a cell hooked to a security system designed by five of the most talented Cahill agents on the planet. The location of the cell itself was also a closely guarded secret. You were forbidden from any form of direct human interaction and you weren't provided with anything that was not essential to your survival. What you accomplished, however, requires highly advanced technology and manpower. I don't understand."

"Typical Ekat," Isabel smiled wryly. "Always having to make sense of everything. If I must explain... I'm sure you all recall the day we last had a family gathering like this."

Amy flinched as the old memories that haunted her crept up to the surface, flooding her mind with gruesome images. Guns. Explosions. Nellie and Fiske tied to a tombstone. Memories she'd hoped were buried along with everything else in the gauntlet.

"Yes, well, on that fateful day, someone decided to smash a glass vial into my head," she glared pointedly at Amy. "It was nothing life-threatening, although it very well could have been, but I still had to receive surgery because a few glass shards were embedded in my skull. When I finally woke up, I discovered I had two new things: a life sentence in jail and a chip in my brain.

"Between the two of us, Vikram was always the coward. But this time, his cowardice turned out to be wholly in my favor. Unlike me, he was fully conscious throughout the entire trial and had to deal with the harsh reality that he would be spending the rest of his life in prison. Your father-"

"He is not my father!" Natalie screamed.

"-may have been fainthearted but he was still an extremely competent Lucian. As any Lucian would, he devised a way to escape. He developed a chip that could connect to computers through data sent in the form of airborne electromagnetic waves. The chip was designed to function as part of a neural circuit, responding to certain brain wave triggers. He then bribed the surgeon responsible for my operation to plant the chip in my head. It was a risky attempt with a high chance of failure, but he had nothing to lose, did he? It wasn't his brain they were messing with, after all. He hoped it would provide us with a mode of communication with the outside world once we were imprisoned. He was wrong.

"See, this is the problem with you Cahills. The traces of Gideon Cahill's serum in your blood grant you the ability to exceed every expectation. Vikram's experiment surpassed success. The chip and I combined were capable of much more than he'd ever realize. Not only could it transmit data, it could also remotely harness a computer's system and transfigure it in any way I wanted. In other words, I could hack computers with my mind. Its only 'flaw,' if you will, was that it had a distance limit- I could only hack digital devices that were within a one kilometer radius. But that didn't pose much of a problem, because you Cahills generously equipped my cell with all sorts of high-tech security devices: security cameras, motion sensors, heat detectors, the likes. They were like portals- wherever they sent information about me, I could follow. I had access to every single file in the Cahill archives of the highest clearance. Turns out that your intent of isolating me was the very thing I needed. I was unstoppable. You have no idea how simple it is to break out of a cell when you have full control of all the security measures… and when you happen to have helped build the very thing."

Nellie's mouth popped open. "You did what?"

"You heard the Ekat girl," Isabel seemed like she was genuinely enjoying herself. "The cell was built by five of the most talented Cahill agents, one from each branch. I was the Lucian agent. The five of us never actually met each other and worked under false names, so as to completely obscure the nature and whereabouts of my confinement. Seriously, all that secret-keeping is going to be your demise someday. Anyway, the cell was designed post-surgery, so I was able to contribute from time to time with my newfound "ability". My code name was Blaise, which is-"

"-an anagram for Isabel," Ned whispered.

Isabel looked smug. "I really couldn't help it, although I was sure that someone would find out eventually. After all, anagrams are the oldest trick in the book. Funny how nobody caught on. Of course, I couldn't depend entirely on luck and assumptions, so after my imprisonment I used the archives to track the other four agents down. Felix and Emmeline took care of things nicely after that."

Amy was beginning to feel very, very sick.

"Escape was no longer a problem for me," she went on relentlessly. "My first goal was to bring you all together. Obviously, I knew you'd come running once you received news that I escaped, so the big question wasn't how, it was when. I needed to get the timing exactly right in order to inflict maximum damage. I also needed to make sure I was thoroughly prepared. I couldn't afford to let something go wrong- this was a one-time deal.

"I figured three years were enough for most of you to let your guard down. This is where dearest Jonah turned out to be most useful in this regard. You see, while I was keeping tabs on you all, I noticed how Jonah kept disappearing for days every time he came to London. A little research was all it took to find out that our Jonah has been seeing someone for quite a while now. He didn't want the press to know about his relationship, so he has his agent- the music industry kind, not the Cahill kind- cover up for him while he and his father disappear under the radar. This was exactly the sort of thing I needed, so I timed my grand escapade to coincide with Jonah's next London tour. Are you beginning to see how harmful secrets can be to such a dysfunctional family?"

"Why did you kill f- Vikram?" Natalie asked quietly.

"He was a liability," Isabel replied simply. "The less people involved, the less people you need to keep an eye on, and the less chance of failure. I didn't want to take him along with me after I escaped, and I couldn't trust him to keep his mouth shut. He knew too much already, which meant that he had to be disposed of. Plus, I never quite got over how he used me as a lab rat, brain surgery and all. I suppose that makes us even."

Natalie choked on a sob, tears flowing silently down her cheeks. Isabel briskly turned away from her, her face impassive. She droned on.

"The next step was luring you out. Sure, I got you all in one place, but I couldn't stage an attack at the Kabra mansion. It would draw too many unnecessary eyes, and besides, I wanted to have some fun. It was my first outing in years, after all."

Amy gaped incredulously. What is it with Vespers and the word fun?

"I decided Amy was the perfect choice. She was high up in the Madrigal pecking order, so it would cause some serious internal turmoil, and most importantly, her abduction would spur Dan into action. It wasn't that hard manipulating the security system for the Kabra mansion. Sure, most of it was new, but the schematics were based on old Lucian systems and what's more, I used to live there. With that done, Austin here did an excellent job of infiltrating the premises and kidnapping Amy."

Dan looked like he'd been slapped across the face.

"Initially, I hoped that Amy's disappearance would lead you to mobilize your top agents and increase your numbers, which would have given me all the more Cahills to wipe out. I was planning to lie low until you had your Boy Scouts sorted, and then let slip Amy's whereabouts so you could come looking for her. Stonehenge was supposed to be the stage for my final act. But somehow, my disgraceful son managed to find out where Amy was kept, and had the nerve to come looking for her! I had to make a choice, and fast. When I saw Dan was rash enough to accompany him, I almost abandoned everything just to make do with the serum, then and there. But then I realized that it was a perfect opportunity to earn your trust and destroy you from within. Of course, it meant having to alter drastic proportions of the original plan. I had to expose, and therefore demolish the Stonehenge base, covering up any extra tracks. But all Vesper bases come with self-destruct functions, which saved me a lot of cleaning up, and I was careful enough to have several backups prepared in case the unthinkable ever happened. I quickly set up a decoy in Hadrian's Wall and relocated to London- this was Phase One.

"Young Jonah came through just in time for Phase Two. Janus are such sentimental fools. As soon as he slipped away to see his lovely young lady, I sent you the message, which was probably the easiest part by far. One important thing you should know about Cahill security is that it is outsider-hostile only. It is child's play disabling it from the inside, which Sophie and Austin did flawlessly. Everything that happened after was only too predictable. You couldn't get moving fast enough. Your agents who went after the fake base in Hadrian's Wall will have found themselves trapped within an extensive subterranean fallout shelter on lockdown. The bomb is set to go off in approximately an hour. Like I said," she raised her eyebrows, her eyes glinting maliciously. "Maximum damage."

"Your son is there, you absolute witch!" Amy cried, horrified.

"Pity he won't be around to see your grand finale then, eh, darling? He's always had a soft spot for you, Amy, even during the clue hunt. It's why I decided against sharing the Lucian serum with my children. They were too weak."

"It's called being human," Natalie said through gritted teeth.

"Quite the little angel now, aren't you, Natalie?" Isabel smiled, before turning back to Amy. "And no, you're wrong, actually. My son is here. Felix has been a great help to me all this time, haven't you, sweetheart?"

Felix was beginning to look slightly uncomfortable, but nodded curtly.

"What's in it for you?" Dan blurted.

Isabel frowned. "What?" she snapped, but Dan seemed completely unfazed by her icy undertones. Instead, he was staring back and forth at the Johnson twins.

"What's in it for you?" he repeated. "Why are you helping her? You guys are Cahills! Your parents were Cahills- they were on our side!"

Austin's eyes flashed as his muscles tightened on his gun, and Amy's palms started sweating profusely.

Please don't shoot Dan. Please don't shoot Dan. Please don't shoot Dan…

"Don't talk about them like you know anything," growled Austin, but Sophie merely cocked her head, shooting Dan an expression of mild fascination.

"Interesting question," she mused after a brief pause. "You mentioned our parents. Yes, they were Cahills- faithful, hardworking Cahill agents who were devoted to their cause. From what I've heard, they were good people, too. But I wouldn't know, would I? I'd never know, because they died when I was too young to remember anything. We told you back at the mansion that we eventually took the investigation into our own hands and tried to find out the truth behind our parents' murder, and we did. We went all the way back to South Africa and dug up old police records. Imagine our surprise when we discovered our parents' file was classified as solved, tucked away among hundreds of others inside a cabinet labeled The Nudelman Case. Sound familiar?"

Nudelman. It did sound familiar, Amy realized. Where had she heard it before? Confused, she glanced around the room, her gaze locking with Dan's, equally befuddled. She saw recognition dawning in his eyes a split second before she remembered as well.

Mom and Dad's aliases while tracking Amelia Earhart.

"Yeah, that's right," Sophie narrowed her eyes. "Your parents killed my parents. The legacy runs on, and now it's our turn."

"Wait," Dan gasped. "No. NO! You've got it all wrong!"

"Sophie, dear, it's time to do the honors," Isabel purred.

"Our parents aren't responsible for the murders!" Dan yelled. "It was Isabel! She framed them!"

"You're lying," Sophie said, but Amy felt her gun shake slightly against her temple.

Isabel's hands twitched. "Sophie, shoot Amy. SHOOT HER!"

"Austin!" Dan pleaded. "Dude, please, you have to believe me. Our parents were on a mission, but Isabel wrongfully accused them of all those crimes to cover up what she did. Look at her now! You think she isn't capable of killing innocent people and blaming others?"

"Is that true?" Austin asked in a dangerously low voice.

"I told you they would say things like that," Isabel snapped. "Anything to save their own lives."

"She killed our parents, just like she killed ours!" Amy shouted. "And now she's trying to kill us!"

"Mother?" Felix's voice shook ever so slightly.

"ENOUGH!" In one swift movement, Isabel grabbed Austin's gun with such force that she sent him tumbling ungracefully to the ground. Amy felt the piercing cold of the barrel leave the side of her head as Sophie aimed for Isabel, but Isabel was faster. She whacked Felix on the head with the blunt end of the handle and knocked him out, training her weapon on Austin.

"FELIX!" Emmeline screamed.

"I am done with this nonsense," hissed Isabel, her calm façade completely broken. "Drop your gun, girl, or your brother's pretty little face won't be so pretty anymore. Drop it!"

Sophie's gun dropped to the ground with a sharp clatter. Isabel turned to Dan.

"You asked what I wanted. I want the serum. I want revenge. And I want to end you Cahills once and for all. If you don't tell me exactly how to make the serum, Dan Cahill, I will kill every person in this room, starting with your sister."

Dan was crying. "No- please-"

"Don't, Dan," Amy warned. "She's going to kill us all anyway."

Isabel pointed the gun at Amy. "You have five seconds to start talking. Five-"

"Wait! Please!" Dan begged.

I'm going to die, Amy realized.

"Four-"

"I love you, Dan."

"Three-"

Dan locked his eyes with his sister. I'm sorry, he mouthed, then turned back to Isabel, taking a deep breath.

"Two-"

"Dan Cahill, don't you dare-"

"One-"

Amy closed her eyes.

So many things happened in the next split second that nobody would ever exactly remember everything that went on. A deafening sound akin to an explosion reverberated around the chamber with such force that it left Amy's head ringing. With a sudden wave of nausea, she fell heavily down to the cold floor, bright blurry spots appearing before her eyes and obscuring her view. She was sure she'd been shot, but all of her senses were completely numb and she couldn't pinpoint exactly where it hurt. Everything felt so far away, so surreal, that she felt her consciousness threatening to slip away entirely.

So this is what dying actually feels like.

Amy waited for the calm to overwhelm her, but something wasn't right. She felt far from peaceful... rather, it felt like she was needed somewhere. That it wasn't the time to be lounging about like this. She had to wake up, and she had to wake up NOW.

The dizziness subsided abruptly as Amy was jolted violently back into the real world. Her breath hitched in her throat as if she had been physically pulled out from another dimension. Someone was holding her and screaming into her ear. Scratch that - a lot of someones were screaming. A sharp pain shot up and down her left arm, where she'd landed. As Amy blinked furiously to clear the fog out from behind her eyes, she heard a gasp.

"Amy! Amy, you okay?" Dan sobbed, clutching her in his arms. Dan Cahill, crying his eyes out and hugging her at the same time?

I really must be dead.

Her thoughts came to a skidding halt when she finally registered the trail of blood pooling steadily at her feet. For a terrible moment she thought the blood was hers, but then realized that she wasn't the only body lying on the floor. Isabel Kabra lay dead a few feet away, her perfectly manicured fingers still wrapped tightly around the handle of her gun. Behind her, Emmeline Vesper stood with her amber eyes wide open and glistening with tears, her hands trembling as she slowly lowered the weapon she just shot her mother with.

But the blood now seeping into Amy's shoes wasn't Isabel's, either.

"NO!"

Something big, bulky and black was sprawled on top of her right leg, pinning it down. Sophie was hunched over the body, trying desperately to stem the blood from wherever it was flowing from, but even Amy could tell by the weight on her leg that the person was already beyond help.

"NO!" Sophie screamed again. "No, Austin, no!"

The initial shock of it all must have been slowing her brain, but it didn't take long for everything to become clear as Amy stared into Austin's dull, lifeless eyes.

He had taken the hit for her. Austin Johnson had saved her life.