Outside the Huntsman's lair...

The tight maroon fabric felt less unbearable as Wendy made her way to the stairs of the Huntsman's current residence just somewhat ahead of Cole.After quite a bit of debating,the two had finally compromised with Wendy's proposed idea and still feeling small,random jitters;she took in the three-story,grey-bricked building that held a most foreboding sense,mentally combating it with her own self-assurance she could do it.

"Alright,"Cole began steadily."There's a new apprentice who is suppose to be female was arriving today to help with locating the Aztec Altar and so on.I think the Huntsman mostly just wants to even out the gender situation."

"But wait."She directed a skeptical look over her shoulder at him."I know your able to tap into the Huntsclan's transmissions,but what if this other girl shows?"

For the first time in hours,a tactical grin crossed his hazel features."Well,let's just hope number 40 brought a little extra pocket change for when she inadvertantly crosses the border."his forehead crinkled in concern as he handed her over his staff."Remember the settings I showed you and the kind of attitude you should represent in front of the Huntsman at all times.The less suspicion,the better."

"It's only for a few days."Wendy reminded him as she recieved it,careful to aim it to the sky."I'll find the best time,take the skulls and be out before they suspect me of anything.If worse comes to worse,I know one of them isn't so bad at all."

Cole nodded slightly and kept his darkened eyes locked with hers momentarily before he gestured vaguely that it was starting to get dark and he needed to get a move on;Wendy nodded back but in one instant forgot to thank him for agreeing to all of this and was about to turn back around when to her immense surprise she felt a somewhat brawny arm bring her close for a fracture of a second it felt like and relinquished her almost as fast as had hugged her.He brought out his cell phone once as he walked backwards down onto the sidewalk and once she had a little hesistantly brought out hers,she watched him as he strided away from her.

Five years of Gymnastics,three of Karate class and maybe something I've picked up as a dragon I can use as a human too,Wendy thought recapitulatingly as she gave a few medium knocks on the door and stifled her breath when it opened but let in out with ease when a scrawny,unimposing boy around her age appeared.He was dressed similiar to Rose but was just a harmless nerd to Wendy.

Surveying her up and down,a coquettish grin slowly crept across his face."You know,the Huntsman said we were getting one more recruit...but he didn't mention we were getting one who was part angel.May I show you to your quarters,40?"

"Um..."she shifted a bit uncomfortably at the nauseatingly show of attraction he was displaying to her."Sure,that would be nice if it's not too much trouble."

"No,no trouble at all!"The boy replied hurriedly and moved to one side to allow her to enter."I'm number 88,by the way.The Huntsman,number 89 and Huntsgirl are still pouring over several locations to where we suppose the Aztec Altar will make it's appearance."his tone took on a sly edge."They say your a mastermind at accient artifacts.You know,Pudding pop,I'm not so bad with them myself."

Wendy found herself tuning him out as she made her way down the foyer's hallway and passed a grand bookshelf leaned against the wooden paneled wall of an oak stairwell.Her azure eyes fell amongst some odd-looking objects that she couldn't make out in the back as the whole place seemed dimly lit.An eerie feeling started to settle into her,as she felt a large,gloved hand come to rest on her shoulder.

She whirled around,a strickened gasp escaping her lips and she turned dilated eyes up to meet those of the Huntsman.Only for a moment did Wendy think she was back quite a few months ago where he had nearly slain her but her common sense filtered through her and she felt herself becoming less tense,staring up more calmly.

"Number 40?"He inquired her haltingly,his brown eyes studying her consideringly.

With crisp retrospection,Wendy straightened up and nodded once."That's me,sir."

The Huntsman brought up a manilla envelope into view and skimmed down a few lines as he spoke."It says here by your records you've slain two unicorns,are well knowledged in a dragon's aerial tactics and are as well concerning magical items."

"Yes,sir."She replied promptly,though her nerves wracked when he lowered her false credentials sheet."I didn't know how soon you wanted me but I wanted to get here as soon as possible,to..."her words trailed as he furrowed his brow,almost as if to challenge her to make a mistake."To help you rid the world of all magic."

For a moment he seemed to regard her like the intrudor she was but the next his crucial expression lightened a bit."Very well,"he stated acceptantly and turned to peer over at someone Wendy couldn't make out."Huntsgirl,show her to her room and then you are released for the day.Number 40,report to me once settled."

She didn't see her mother's reply but watched as the Huntsman passed her and went into what she thought might be the living room,number 88 followed but not before squinching the side of his face in an attempted implicative wink before,which made her cringe and yet kept her eyes on him as he went in tow of the Huntsman.

"You barely held your own."A medium female voice observed,causing Wendy to shift her eyes and meet her mothers,which were marked with coolness but also an undecidedness to her as a whole."Well,"she said relentingly,turning on her heel as she grasped the stair's oak rail."Follow me up this way,it isn't far too your room."

Wondering how she would explain herself once there,Wendy almost dashed to the front door and bailed altogether.No,that isn't me,she issued forced thoughts,trying to get a calming on her racing pulse.I don't know how I'll pull this off but I will.

Shoving back reluctancy,she followed Huntsgirl up the squeaky stairs and then to a room a few doors down a single hall that was as long as the foyer.There were no words exchanged as they entered and Wendy gaped at how appaulingly quiant the room was with a creamy,tan wall paper from wall-to-wall that included an alcove and to the back wall stood a queen-sized bed with the same color;also with white.

"This is all so gorgeous."Wendy exclaimed breathlessly as she strolled over to the window and fingered a pair of lacy,white curtains,finally turning to see her mother leaning with one shoulder against the doorframe."Why go to so much trouble?"

Some sort of effect seem to come over Rose,as pulled off her mask and a wistful look flowed over her flawless visage,eyes roaming high."The Huntsman isn't all that cheap when it comes to sleeping quarters,mine is like this only light blue and white."

"Oh.Well,that's a point his way."She laughed a little but immediately the small smile she had formed dissipated as her mother eyes refocused on her like before.

"There's something about you,"Her sapphire eyes clipped on Wendy distrusfully."I don't know what but even though I only met you once a long time ago...your very different."their space began to thin as she proceeded forward."Something..."

"I remember now."Wendy lied quickly,though she stumbled back a bit which gave an unconvincing giveaway."It was at school,wasn't it?Several years back or more?"

Rose halted and corrected her,suspicion rousing more vibrant."At my penthouse."

"Right...right..."She agreed with some energeticness to her words."That's right,we met there when I came by to...um...help you to thrawt dragon's aerial tactics."

"Don't try anything that's going to stir up trouble."The Huntsgirl warned her,giving a penetrating look before exiting."We've got a lot on our hands,especially me,and the last thing we need are last minute recruitments causing us to screw up our goal."

She left before Wendy could respond but that needn't have bothered her,she was far to lost in her own thoughts now.Dropping her fairly heavy backpack she'd been carrying,the suddenly exhausted fourteen-year-old welcomed the gentle springs to press onto her back,her mind churning with newly surfaced,troubled thoughts.

Was she going on the top of her own future mother's list?If and when the time presented itself,would she be ready to prove that she could do these things of the girl she was impersonating?And most of all,how many skulls did her uncle have?

Better get my sorry butt down there,she eventually rose up and stood onto the hard,woodened floors.I wonder how Cole is doing,hopefully better then me.

The Long's residence...

"So...how are you related to us?"

The question came from Jake,as the two fourteen-year-old boys stood facing one another on the front porch of the brownstone house.Though Cole wore a look of reposedness and mostly felt it,a bit of regret welled in his chest for allowing Wendy to talk him into this.Knowing full well that his future grandparents would take the final decision upon themselves,he brushed away any concerns towards the teen.

"I'm the grandson of Laoshi."He replied evenly,knowing he would never resort to lying as it was something he regarded as being almost unforgivable."As are you."

"Yeah,"he replied with exaggeration tightening in his voice."But how exactly?"

"Brandon!"Came an excited voice and a tall,Asian woman who Cole instantly took as Jake's mother came out and wrapped arms around him,causing a bit of color to rush to his face at the surprising strength she devoted into it."Oh..."she pulled back and rested her hands on his shoulders,coal eyes shining with joy."It's been so long since I've seen you or your father and finally you found some time to come."

"Um,alright."Cole said a little unsurely,not expecting this sort of reaction.

"Cousin Brandon?"Jake lifted an ebony brow,his skepticism vanishing as he gave the other teen a good-natured punch on the arm."Dude,it's been almost nine years."

"Come in,come in,"She told him briskly and following her orders,he found himself taking in the inside with a bit of curiousness.From first glance this place looks to be too homey and convenient to safeguard those items that could destroy-

"Johnation!"Mrs. Long's voice hollered in the direction of a back room,causing his train of thought to cut off and watched as she impatiently started to walk toward it.

"How long are you here for,Cuz?"His father inquired him casually,sliding his hands into the pockets of a slight red jacket he sported."Mom has pratically gone mad in the last couple of years awaiting a time when either you or Uncle Joe could visit."

Cole thought carefully about how much to reveal to him before responding."I took some time off from school on my own accord,so it'll be about three or four days."

The entire format of how the situtation was going was just to his liking,he was very confident that as long as he could avoid many direct questions relating to whoever this Brandon was suppose to be and keep a sharp eye on the American Dragon at all times,he estimated he'd find out at least the location of the skulls in less then two days.But what had been weighted down on him so,that being of getting into a rather unintended scabble with Arcelia,was now replaced with fear for his sister.

"Righty-o."A high-pitched and chipper voice reached his ears,causing him to turn his attention to a tall man about in his early forties and had the same shade of brown hair as Wendy,come into sight from the back."Now where's that kiddo at?"

Oh,he thought with a pinch of annoyance steming through him.She is so slain.

To Be Continued...

A/N:Their not going to see one another for a while,as the next few chapters will involve them getting deeper into their particular situtations and more on the plot will come up.This was mostly just introducing them to how they'll spend a big portion of their time pretending to be in the story.Well,more as soon as I get around to it.

LP