So sorry I haven't had the chance to update in a while, but I just got on holidays and have been out literally all week long, staying up till 2am to watch soccer etc. and I've been away for a couple of days, so I thought Id update now before i went away, but was being a retard and refused to upload the chapter. SO here we go, okay? Good.

Isabel

Only minutes after I finally fell asleep again, my alarm goes off. I turn it off, and bring the blankets us close as I shiver. I'm used to Arkarian's body heat, and he hasn't returned yet. I sigh and reluctantly get out of bed. I rummage through my bag, trying to find something to wear to school. I don't even want to think about breakfast at the moment, and so I just brush my teeth and go in and shake Ethan.

'Go away. Sleep,' he grumbles from beneath the covers.

'I'm going to school now. Arkarian left late last night with Matt. I don't know when they're getting back.'

He grunts, letting me know he's understood me. As the secret door opens, I see a very familiar looking dog sitting at the base of a tree, a backpack at its side. I almost laugh.

'Morning Neriah. Sleep well?'

She forms back into her human self, smiling at me, 'I did thank you. I vaguely remember Matt leaving, but I'm not sure when. What happened?'

Her smile fades as she sees the look on my face, 'I had a vision. Someone is going to be taken into the Underworld as a hostage. I think Arkarian knows who it is, but he wouldn't tell me. He told me that it was urgent that he and Matt go to Athens right away to talk with Dartemis and the Tribunal.'

'It can't be good then,' she pauses for a second, looking worried, 'and are they going to keep an eye on the school today?'

I shrug. I wish I knew. But I very much hope they will be. Now that we know what the Order wants to do to us, I'm not going to feel very safe being anywhere near them. We walk down the mountain in silence, and we reach the bus stop just as the bus pulls up. Neither of us wants to have a reason to be called to Ms Burgess' office. We arrive in history, and both just stand in shock at who is at the front of the class. Next to Mr Trevale, stands Chloe Campbell. Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves, we walk in and sit on opposite sides of the room, but I can feel Chloe's eyes boring into the back of my head.

Damn, I send my thoughts thundering into Neriah's head. She almost smiles, but she looks worried. I'm sure she is thinking, as am I, what could be keeping Matt and Arkarian. When the entire class is seated, Mr Trevale clears his throat for everyone to be quiet.

'Good morning class, this is Ms Campbell. She is a student teacher, and will be sitting in on classes today in history, physical education and technology.' Just great, I think. I am in all of those classes. From what Dillon told us, they also fit with her powers. Mr Trevale continues, 'I would like you all to be on your best behaviour. She is an ex-student, and therefore knows how everything around here runs, so no funny business.' Chloe flicks me a death stare, and a chill runs through my body. This is just perfect for her. She has the opportunity to observe us, without seeming to be suspicious.

For the first half of the period, we had to endure Chloe staring at us, trying to hear any of our thoughts, but we keep them tightly closed. Fortunately, both Neriah and I are incredibly good at this. She has been taught to screen her thoughts from a very young age, and I've been going out with a truthseer for over a year. Chloe seems to realize that she isn't going to gain any information from our thoughts, and begins to look annoyed.

However, while Mr Trevale is giving us an assignment, with about twenty minutes left of the period, a strangely familiar boy knocks on the door and walks in. Accompanied by Ms Burgess, I get worried, but neither Chloe, nor Ms Burgess look at all interested in this kid.

'Excuse me Bob, but we have a new student. His name is James, and he has just transferred here from overseas,' Ms Burgess announces. I look over to Neriah, and she doesn't look at all worried. In fact, she seems to have a triumphant smile on her face.

Mr Trevale nods, and tells James to take a seat. The moment James' back is towards Ms Burgess and Chloe, he winks at Neriah and me. It is then that I recognize him. It is Janah, Dartemis' personal servant. His appearance has been altered slightly, to resemble a teenage boy, but it is defiantly him. He sits in the seat behind me.

I can't think of anything better than to have the immortal's own servant sitting in with us, protecting us, but it makes be wonder how much trouble we might really be in. Where are Arkarian and Matt? I hope nothing has happened to them. Reasonably, they could simply be help up in Athens, and not be able to make it. Either way, I still feel a sense of relief. Also, Chloe doesn't seem to realize that we have an ally in the room with us, although I can see her face screw up in the realization that his thoughts are completely blocked to her. While she is talking to another student, I share a quick look with Neriah, and she gives me a slight nod. I take this to mean that she has talked with Janah mind to mind, and that the boys are okay.

'Hi! My name is Isabel.' Acting as normal as possible, I turn around, and stick my hand out to Janah.

'Hey Isabel. I'm James. My uncle recently moved here so he could live closer to his son, and I moved with him.' I smile at him, letting him know I understand who he is.

'Isabel! Turn back around and be quiet! Have you copied this all down yet?' Mr Trevale yells at me across the room.

'Yes sir,' I reply, and Chloe throws a smirk in my direction. I smirk back at her. Fortunately for me, she doesn't know that I know who she really is. Yet.

The bell rings, and we all hasten out of the room, with Mr Trevale yelling at us to remember to do our assignments. Neriah and I exchange smiles as he does this. He set the assignment on King Richard II of England.

The next class passes relatively quickly, but when recess comes, Neriah comes up to me.

'Matt and Arkarian are on their way. They didn't know about James,' that surprises me. I thought it was their idea. I shrug, and my eyes widen as I see Matt casually walking towards us sitting on one of the benches. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Janah sitting with some of the other boys.

'Hey Matt, what are you doing here?' I ask him as he reaches us.

'Do I need a reason to visit my sister?' He says sarcastically, as if I should know why he is here. I just stare at him blankly, and he continues, 'I didn't know about my father sending anyone else. Plus, it might give me a chance to see what "they" are planning.'

I guess I agree with him there, but he isn't quite finished yet, he turns to Neriah, 'I don't think it would be a good idea for us to look at all like we are more than friends. If they want Chloe to seduce someone, I will be the obvious first.'

She laughs, but knows he has a point. As if on cue, Chloe comes up to us.

'Matt Beckett? What are you doing here?' Instead of the nasty tone she has been using with us all morning, her voice is sweet and alluring. I see Neriah suppress a laugh, and I'm finding it hard not to smile myself. Chloe snaps her head over to us.

'Go pick up that rubbish over there!' she yells, pointing to a chip packet on the ground. We happily oblige, and I give Matt a wink as I walk off. I link elbows with Neriah, and we walk off. Not too far though, just to where Janah is sitting, who is also watching Matt with amusement. We all want to see what happens.

Matt

'Long time no see,' Chloe says, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder. I try not to laugh, knowing what she is trying to do. Isabel winks at me, and a smile comes to my face. Not wanting her to be offended, I try to use it to my advantage.

'What can I say? It's great to see you again,' I fake, resisting the urge to run after Neriah.

She giggles, and flutters her eyelashes at me, 'So why are you here?'

I shrug, 'Isabel forgot her lunch, again. If I had known I was going to run into you, I wouldn't have needed a reason.' I hear Isabel have a violent coughing fit to disguise the burst of laughter, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Neriah patting her on the back, also with a giant smile on her face.

Chloe takes a step closer to me, and if she were my height, our noses would be touching. She runs a finger down my shirt, and I have to stop my body from convulsing. I can feel the evil just pouring out of her. As if sensing it, she takes a small step back. But I suppose she does know that I am an immortal, and therefore certainly have enough power to kill her easily. Not wanting to act suspicious, I try to start a conversation again.

'So how come your back at school?' actually, I really want to know the answer to this.

'I'm training to be a teacher. So this is good experience for me,' I sense a hidden meaning in this. If I'm right, she is, or is going to, train other members of the Order. That means they are getting bigger. Not good.

'That's great!' I say, feigning enthusiasm. She nods, and looks vaguely triumphant. I need to make sure she doesn't realize that I know she is a member of the Order, 'What do you do in your spare time? Got a boyfriend?'

Lame, but effective. She giggles again, and smiles at me, 'Nope! Do you have a girlfriend?'

'No,' I say without hesitation. As much as I hate lying, especially when it deals with Neriah, I have to do this. For the Guard, and for our safety.

The bell rings, and Chloe pouts at me, 'Oh no. I have to go.'

'Damn,' I say, trying not to sound like I'm looking foreword to it.

She steps right up close to me, and brings my head down so that it is just centimetres from hers, 'Come back tomorrow?'

'Sure,' and I pull away as fast as possible, seeing that she intends on kissing me. It's not like I don't take this job seriously, but I know how I would feel if I had to see Neriah kiss another guy. There is no way I would do that to her.

She giggles once more, and blows me a kiss as she turns around, flicking her hair, and walks towards the staff room. As soon as she disappears from sight, the girls come up to me. Isabel looks like she is having breathing troubles, and I just poke my tongue out at her. Neriah is about to move closer to me and give me a hug, and then seems to think better of it. I lean down, so I'm looking her in the eye.

'I love you,' I whisper.

She smiles, 'I love you more.'

I quickly brush a strand of hair off her face, 'See you at home.'

I turn to Isabel, 'The Tribunal knows about your vision. We have already done everything we can to prepare for it. Arkarian will brief you about it tonight.'

She nods, and they both walk off to their lockers.

As I am walking out of the school, I see Rob walking through the gates. He sees me and waves, his thoughts completely blocked to me. I reluctantly walk over.

'Hey mate,' he says.

'Hey. What ya doing here?' Knowing that he would never tell me the truth.

'The school cleaned out my daughters locker after she died,' my insides swell at the lack of emotion he is showing towards Rochelle's death, 'and they are going to let me go through that.'

I nod, and am about to walk past him, 'I spoke to your sister and her friend yesterday. They said you went out with her.' He doesn't say Rochelle's name, but I know who he is talking about.'

'That was a long time ago. I don't like to talk about it,' with that, I turn and walk away from him.

'You looked pretty close to that Neriah girl when you picked me up the other day,' he says slyly.

'We're just friends,' I turn around, glaring at him with golden eyes. He can't hold my gaze, and we both turn and go our separate ways. That is what we need him to believe for everything to work in our favour.

What did u think? Good? Crap? Boring? Too short? Think Australian should have won against Italy? (the answer to that one is YES!)

REVIEW!

xx