CHAPTER 2! Yaaay! XD Sorry, I meant to update yesterday, but I was stressing about school and I changed some stuff and tweaked and now it's much better!
There was a cool breeze blowing and I relished it, letting it dry the sweat on my forehead. Eventually though, it turned cold and I was very conscious of what little clothing I was wearing. I just wanted to get home and put on pajamas. And drink hot chocolate. Maybe watch a movie. I hadn't watched The Lion King in a while. That was always a good one.
I picked up the pace when I noticed there was a limo waiting for me at the end of the drive way. I opened the door and collapsed onto the seat with a huff.
"Well, don't you look… bruised." Ian's cocky smirk greeted me.
"Mmm," I nodded in agreement "That might be from the 200 pound Tomas chocking me, throwing me and tackling me. Just a guess though." I sassed back at him. I caught my reflection in the window. I DID look bruised. Hand prints were already forming on my neck and my forehead was a light purple.
"Any time sugar loaf." Ian winked and dodged the fist I threw at him.
"You know, the last person to call me that got his neck snapped." I threatened darkly.
"I'd like to see you try. Sugar loaf." I lunged at him, but he easily dodged the attack and grasped both my wrists twisting them behind me. I grumbled something about being tired and hungry and Ian laughed and let me go.
"So where are you taking me?" I asked really wanting to get home and wash the Tomas off.
"I thought you said you were hungry." Ian looked at me.
"I am. But I am also, dressed like a hooker, tired, and in desperate need of a shower, so I'm not really in the mood for a fancy dinner. Just take me home"
"My mom wants to talk to you." Ian said bluntly.
"Your mom? I can't see your mom like this! I look ridiculous!" I exclaimed in horror.
"You do, but she insisted." I groaned. If there was a time I wouldn't want Isabel Kabra to see me it was now. I was sweaty and bruised from the fight and I was the opposite of classy dress wise. But the limo pulled up to the Kabra's mansion in the USA and I got out, sighing as I did so. I tugged at my dress, shoved my aching feet further into my pumps and moved my short choppy blonde hair around my neck.
As we walked through the halls of the Kabra manor I saw Natalie, who regarded me at first with an expression of amused shock, which quickly turned into a smirk which clearly said;
"Good Luck." I sighed as I thought about how much I actually needed the luck.
Finally Ian stoped in front of a pair of grand doors and regarded me. "Oh god, you are a bloody mess."
"Thanks." I said deadpan. Ian only turned and opened the doors, motioning for me to go inside. "Are you not coming in too?" I whispered, horrified. Ian just pushed me through the doors, shutting them behind me.
Isabel was sitting a large mahogany desk going through paper work, the noise of the doors shutting made her look up.
"Catherine! Goodness dear, have a little trouble with Douglas?" I could see through the motherly image with ease after knowing Isabel for years. This was one woman you did not want to say the wrong thing in front of.
"You could say that." I replied with a small smile.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Isabel said sweetly. "I'm also sorry to drag you hear when you clearly need rest, but I have some important matters to discuss with you." I nodded keeping my face still, not showing the curiosity I felt. "There is going to be a group of Lucians all under the age of 20 going around the world to 8 different countries in 8 weeks. You will be put through intense training and schooling in different parts of the world. I am excited to tell you that you have been accepted as of tonight to participate on this trip." I was trying to keep the interest from showing on my face.
"I'm not sure I understand. I've been chosen for this?"
"You could say you passed a sort of entrance test by finishing your job tonight. The Leaders of the Lucian branch have made a list of the most promising agents from around the world. Given your parenthood, and your past successes we have determined that you would benefit hugely from this program." Throughout her speech, Isabel had not offered me a choice, and I had realized I wouldn't have a choice in this. It would be much better to accept graciously and not offend Isabel.
"I look forward to it. It should be an enriching experience." I said cautiously.
"I knew you'd be excited." Isabel smiled. I turned to leave but Isabel stopped me by saying. "Catherine, darling, why don't you spend the night here, it's quite the trip back to your house and it's so late." Another offer I couldn't refuse.
"I'd love to, but what about-"
"Your things?" Isabel finished for me. She let out a curt laugh "Oh Catherine, you should know better, there's an overnight bag with your things in the guest room. Ian will show you there."
"Thank you Mrs. Kabra." I turned to leave again but she stopped me again.
"Catherine, would you mind telling me the clue you found tonight?"
"Honey. 4 milligrams." I said. Isabel nodded, processing the clue.
"Sweet dreams." She smiled silkily.
The hallway was empty when I left, but I didn't need Ian to know what room I'd be staying in. I walked up a very grand staircase and opened the door to my usual guest room. Sitting on the bed was a bag, I could see my pajama pants folded on top and I smiled. I walked over to the room's bathroom and shut the door, locking it behind me. I stripped down and observed my new injuries. The bruise on my neck was very clearly a hand print and I groaned. That was not going to be easily explained. The bruise along my hairline had turned a lovely shade of green, which almost matched my eyes. There was also a bruise on my hip that I wasn't sure how it had gotten there. I looked at my reflection with distain. I looked like an abuse victim.
I turned the shower on and cranked the hot water. I let the water relax my muscles and it felt good to just stand there, not needing to think about who would try and kill me next. I finally managed to convince myself to get out of the comforting warmth of the shower and pulled on my pajama pants and a tank top to sleep in. I left my room after toweling dry my hair and bumped into Natalie.
"Whoa, sorry Nat!" I knew Natalie really hated it when I called her 'Nat', but I had known her since she was born, I figured if she was going to kill me for it, I'd already be dead.
"Catherine. You're still alive? I though Mother called you into her office." Natalie said, genuinely confused.
"She did, but not to kill me." I shrugged.
"Strange…" Natalie said.
"Yea…" I began awkwardly "Anyways, where's your brother?" I asked, changing the subject from my death.
"I think he's in the basement."
"Thanks." I smiled. The basement? Why is he in the basement? The basement was where their communication room was. That was where Ian had been talking to me from when I was on the job. That was also where they tracked people they had chipped.
I walked down the stairs and saw Ian staring sadly at a little red dot on a monitor. The wall was lined with monitors, but there were only 2 lit up. One had the dot on it, the other had a list of names on the screen. I crept as quietly as I could until I was standing behind Ian.
"Who you stalking Ian?" I asked loudly, laughing when he jumped. I looked at the highlighted name on the second monitor, Amy Cahill.
"N- no one." Ian stuttered trying to cover both screens by standing up and turning around to face me.
"Amy Cahill? The Amy Cahill you told me you were over years ago?" I asked grinning mischievously. "Ian, does someone still have a little crush on a certain Madrigal?" I pinched his cheek.
"Not so loud!" He hushed me his eyes darting around the room, "The walls have ears."
"So dear old mommy doesn't know does she?"I asked still grinning, in a quieter voice.
"No, and I'd like to keep it that way." Ian said furiously.
"Why? She not like interbranch dating? Or is she still convinced that WE'LL get married?" I raised my eyebrows. No one liked interbranch dating unless you got allies out of it, but if you asked anyone in the Lucian branch, Ian and I were meant to be. The perfect Lucian couple. The thought made me gag. Sure, I loved Ian, but not THAT way. He was Ian. I'd had to give him stitches. He had to make me a pressure bandage with part of his shirt (Something he still hadn't forgotten 'That shirt was Egyptian cotton!'). We were friends, partners, but us as a couple would turn out horribly.
"It's a combination of the two." Ian sighed.
"I thought- HEY!" I cried in outrage as I noticed something on the screen with the names. "You had me CHIPPED?"
"Well it seemed like a good idea!" Ian grinned sheepishly.
"When? WHERE?" I asked looking down, for a scar where the chip would have been inserted.
"Do you remember that time you were in a comma for a few weeks? After the Young job? My mom said it would be a good thing to do." Ian explained.
"You chipped me when I was in a COMMA? God damn it Ian. I'm not sure whether to be flattered or irritated." I glared at him. I was defiantly leaning towards irritated.
"Flattered Love, definitely flattered." Ian advised. I just stared at him.
"I'm mad at you."
"You'll get over it." He smirked patting my hair. I just glared.
The next morning at breakfast I was about to cut up some fruit for breakfast, and I had gotten a big knife out of the block, when Ian walked into the kitchen and I suddenly had an idea.
"Think fast." I smirked as I saw Ian's look of horror as the knife left my hand. He ducked just as the knife hit the wall above his head. This was why Ian and I could never date, I always ended up throwing knives at him.
"Why may I ask did I just get a knife thrown at my head?" He asked, calmly standing to remove the blade from the wall. I smiled when I saw how good my aim had been. It wouldn't have hit him if he hadn't ducked, but it was defiantly close to causing some damage.
"You fused a chip to my backbone." I reminded him.
"Touché." He surrendered and I grinned. "I meant to ask you what my Mother wanted last night."
"She told me I had made a newly developed training program." I replied lightly.
"You did?" Ian smiled. "I'll be seeing you there then."
"So do you know any of the details? Like when we leave? Or what countries we'll go to?"
"No I haven't been told anything. I don't even know when we leave. My mom's big on surprises." Ian said humorlessly.
"Well why haven't you snooped?" I asked like it would be the most obvious thing to do in the world. Which it would have been for any regular kid.
"You have met my mother right? Isabel Kabra? KABRA?"
"What's life without a little risk?" I shrugged, grinning.
"Messing with my mother isn't risk. It's suicide." Ian countered.
"Well. It was just a question. Calm your pants." I muttered looking down at his pajama pants and he quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh darling," Ian began, reaching around me to grab the kettle. "You don't want to know what I've done in these pants."
"Oh, GOD. I do NOT want to hear about your sex life. Ever." I shuddered. "But, if we're already on the topic, when was the last time you actually talked to this Amy."
"Smooth, Cath, really smooth." Ian deadpanned.
"Seriously! I know you kissed the girl 4 years ago, but that's not it is it? I mean, what's so interesting in this chick?"
"She's just, you know. Different." Ian said awkwardly. I laughed at his reaction to having to talk about feelings. Lucians weren't big on feelings, but Ian had to be one of the worst.
"Aww, you really care about her." I pouted my lips. "So cute."
"Shouldn't you be going home?" Ian asked coolly. Oh, touchy. I knew how to get him to forgive me though.
"Oo, touchy. Fine, I'll leave." I walked past him, reaching up to ruffle his carefully styled hair hair. "Oh, is your mom still hosting the party next week?" Ian nodded silently, "Still in London?"He nodded again. Well, he was mad. He'd get over it.
Thank you to all the reviews, especially the anon ones I couldn't respond to, they really do mean a lot. :) So keep 'em comin ;D