SpiritWolf14: Thank you for reviewing! I'm not offended, but this is a story that has amian in it. If you're worried that I'm going to focus every chapter of the story on them, don't worry, I' m not. Yes, some chapters will, but others are going to be about how the other characters are coping. About the story twists, hmmm...haven't really thought of anything yet. Though I might add one in the end. I would gladly accept suggestions if you have any. :)
And if anyone else has suggestions, they can PM me or leave it in the review section.
Thank you to everyone else who reviewed!
I don't own the 39 Clues.
Sleep eluded Natalie again that night, and it wasn't because Dan had spewed his 'lasagna' all over her favorite couture outfit when the lucky couple announced the news. Tomorrow was her mother's trial. The time went by agonizingly slow, each minute seeming to take an eternity.
Another factor contributing to her insomnia was the storm brewing outside. The wind howled and droplets of rain began falling from the sky, splattering onto the window. Natalie felt her whole body grow rigid with fear. The night was beginning to resemble the night from one of her most frequent nightmares. One where her mother's face emerged from the other side of the window in the middle of a storm, wielding the long, silver knife she always carried. She had had a warm smile on her face, though it made her face seem the more eerie. Her eyes were like a snake's; cold, deadly, and showing no emotion whatsoever.
A flash of lightning lit up the room just then, though the heavy curtains were drawn. Natalie couldn't help but jump at the clap of deafening thunder that followed. Gathering her blanket and pillow, she dashed out of the bedroom and into her brother's across the hall. She half expected her mother to be waiting there with her knife.
Natalie mentally chided herself. Don't be ridiculous. Tomorrow's her trial. She's in prison, overlooked by highly trained Madrigal guards. She can't escape anymore. She can't.
The last sentence was more of reassurance to herself than a statement of fact. Throwing open the door, she ran in, tugging the last of the blanket with her. As she closed the door, Ian bolted upright from the bed. Grabbing the tranquilizer gun he kept, he pointed it at the intruder's face.
"Who is it?" he barked.
"Ian," Natalie hissed "It's me!"
"Natalie." He lowered the gun. "Couldn't sleep, eh?"
She shook her head no. Another clap of thunder resounded outside, making her jump again.
Swinging his feet off the bed, he motioned for Natalie to come over. "You can sleep here tonight. I'll go sleep on the couch." She nodded.
Once both siblings were in the aforementioned places, Ian asked, "It's Mum isn't it?" He didn't need to look to know she nodded.
"I see. Good night, Natalie."
"Good night," she whispered.
Natalie thanked the heavens she didn't have black circles under her eyes the next morning. She rummaged through the closet where some of her clothes were temporarily kept. Picking an all black ensemble, she gave the daily once-over. It was an appropriate outfit for the day at hand.
The wind still had not died down from the night before. The gusts swept across her, cutting into her face, throwing her sleek, black hair about. Shivering, she pulled up her cashmere scarf higher, entering the limousine. A moment later, Ian entered.
"It's quite chilly outside."
Natalie nodded. "It feels more like London."
Ian half-smiled. "It does, doesn't it?"
When they arrived at the courthouse for the hearing, Natalie found herself at the bottom of the stairwell unable to move. Her brother strode ahead of her, not noticing she was lagging behind. Natalie wanted to move, but she felt as if her feet were stuck in cement, the substance holding her in place.
Ian, now noticing that she wasn't present beside him, turned around. "Natalie, are you all right?"
She inhaled deeply, breathing in the chilly, spring air. Steeling herself towards the courthouse, she replied, "I'm all right."
Once inside the courthouse, Natalie surveyed her surroundings. It was the same courthouse as two years ago, with the same judge and lawyers. The only difference was the jury, who had been replaced by a brand new set of jurors. Just as Natalie had finished with scrutinizing everyone's outfits, the judge banged his gavel. "Court in order! Escort the prisoner in."
The double doors opened, revealing her mother flanked by two guards, heralding her into the room. As she came into closer viewing range, she noticed her wrinkles were more prominent. The aftereffects of Botox.
Isabel seated herself beside her lawyer, her face emotionless. "The jury will now announce their decision."
A man in his forties stood up. "In the matter of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts versus Isabel Kabra, we find the defendant guilty of perjury and fraud." Now this man wasn't afraid of looking right at Isabel. He stared at her the whole time he announced the decision, and didn't even back down his gaze once. As the guards handcuffed her, he looked at her in disgust, then shot a pitying glance toward the two siblings.
The judge banged his gavel once more. "The defendant's parole has been revoked. Isabel Kabra, you will remain in prison for eighty-seven years, on charges of first-degree murder, perjury, and fraud. Case dismissed." His black robes billowed behind him as he exited the room.
As her mother was led down the aisle, she stared at her. Natalie knew her mother felt her gaze on her, but she didn't even glance toward her daughter once. Isabel stared straight ahead, ignoring the flashing camera lights of the reporters when through the door.
"Come on." Natalie rose. "Let's go."
As they exited the courthouse, the reporters flocked towards them.
"Ian, Natalie, what do you make of your mother's return to prison?"
"Has she revoked the disownment of you?"
"What happened to your father, Vikram Kabra?"
"Why have you not spoken on the matters of your mother?"
"Do you still love her?"
Natalie stopped in her tracks. Of all the times reporters had burdened her with their trivial questions, this was one she had never been asked before. Turning towards the reporter, she stated firmly, "Yes, I still do."
Natalie descended the marble stairs, with her brother trailing behind her. The reporters began following them, but, thankfully, the Madrigal surveillance team intervened. The team had been sent by Amy to ensure the two Kabras' safety.
Without a word, Ian and Natalie entered the limousine waiting for them on the curb. With a start, she realized she hadn't cried during the trial or wanted to. That was peculiar. Whenever she thought about Mum, much less see her in the flesh, she'd always wanted to shed a tear.
Leaning against the leather seat, she thought tiredly, "Perhaps this was one of the phases of closure I needed."