The two planes landed simultaneously. The Sea Duck's passengers exited first, watching the Khan plane as if it was the door to doom. For Eliza, this could very well be the case. The door slid open and the foreboding Shere Khan stepped out. She guessed she should've been used to this, but he hadn't caught her in a crazy stunt before. His crossed arms and crossed brows were exactly like when he caught her in the library. This time the look in his eyes could've set the world on fire. Eliza approached, watching her feet and clenching her trembling hands behind her back.

"Explain yourself," said Khan. His voice sounded as blank as always, but this time with a dangerous undertone.

"Well, I- " The knot in her throat made speaking difficult. She felt smaller than ever. "You see- "

Before she could finish, Kit was at her side. "It was my fault, Mr. Khan."

Eliza stared at Kit, briefly forgetting her uncle's presence "What? No, it wasn't."

"I talked her into it."

"No, he didn't. He's just covering for me."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Enough," Khan demanded, though his tone didn't change. The children froze. "It doesn't matter whose fault it was, only that you did something reckless."

"Hold on there, Khanny," said Baloo, coming between the tycoon and the children. In better circumstances, Eliza might have laughed at the nickname. "Don't you think you're being a little hard on the kid?"

Khan raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Baloo."

Eliza's mouth dropped. They knew each other?

"I know you like taking risks, but you shouldn't influence children to do the same. Especially," he nodded toward Eliza who flinched, "when they're not your relatives."

Baloo glared. "First of all, they weren't in any danger. Second I know more about kids than you ever could." He pointed his thumb at Kit. "I know it takes more than some big fancy penthouse for kid to belong anywhere."

Eliza cringed. The only other person to stand up to Shere Khan was his own brother. Like their spat at the restaurant, she might as well have not been there. Baloo was similar to her father in so many ways. Suppose he got just as defensive.

She tapped Baloo's arm. "Baloo, it's fine." Baloo looked down to meet pleading eyes. The same eyes he had seen in Molly and Kit. His eyes softened and he nodded.

"Come, Eliza," said Khan, returning to the plane.

"Yes, sir." She barely took a step before someone from behind touched her shoulder. She already guessed whose hand, and she was afraid to face him. Still, she looked over her shoulder to find Kit looking lost.

"I'll see you soon?"

"I hope so." That hope was slim. She was certain her uncle was going to call Silas and tell him to take her back. As much as she would love to leave the solitude of Khan Tower, she couldn't let her father take that stress. She wasn't ready to give up school either.

Once they were in the plane, Eliza sank into the expensive leather seat, wishing it would swallow her whole. Shere sat in the next seat over, keeping his eyes away from her, which she was grateful for. She never thought silence could be so ear-grating. The engines' hum was a familiar welcome. She tried distracting herself by looking out the window, only to witness Kit and Baloo waving solemnly. She waved back as if it was the final farewell.

Kit continued waving even as the plane took off.

"Who would've guessed?" said Baloo.

"No kidding." Kit's hand dropped, but he still watched the vanishing plane. "Papa Bear, do you think Eliza will be all right?"

Baloo put a comforting hand on the boy's shoulders. "Well, she was brave enough to cloudsurf, wasn't she?"

"Yeah." The guilt of getting her in trouble nagged from inside. Be strong, Eliza.

Back in the plane, Eliza watched her friends shrink away..

"Now then," said her uncle. "Care to explain what you were thinking?"

Eliza shrank against the seat's cushion. "I just thought it would be fun."

"And you didn't consider the risks?"

Eliza cringed. Of course she considered them. She even asked Kit the same question. And yet, "I trusted Kit."

"That kind of trust and reckless thinking is exactly what gets you killed." Even though he kept the same monotone, Eliza wondered if he had been legitimately worried. "Should that happen, what am I supposed to tell your father?"

Eliza's blood boiled. Were they just another business to him? Without thinking she blurted, "If you really cared, why didn't you talk to him?"

His eyes flared. This time Eliza didn't cower. She couldn't say where this bravery was coming from, but after flying a thousand feet in the air, what else was there to be afraid of? As they glared each other down, Eliza remembered the position she was in. Her face dropped and she slowly turned away.

After another painful silence, Shere finally spoke. "I've been thinking over the appropriate punishment."

Eliza spared a slight glance. "You mean you're not going to tell Dad?"

"He has enough on his plate, such as it is." He glanced out of the corner of his eyes. "Despite what you may think, I do care for my younger brother."

"Oh." She moved her gaze back to the front of plane, hiding her disbelief.

"I believe the term is 'grounded,' correct?" Eliza nodded. "There will be no more after school visits for the next month." So, it was back to the cage.

Just me and my books again.

As if reading her mind, Shere added, "You are banned from the library as well."

Eliza jerked her head toward him. "Isn't that a bit much?"

"I believe in the punishment fitting the crime."

She was tempted to ask why he didn't lock her in a jail cell,but that would only prolong her imprisonment. Suffocating silence filled the rest of the ride.