Chapter 4 - Freedom Granted

The Kabra siblings entered one of the many guest rooms of the Kabra estate while Amy followed them with her eyes, which were almost back to their original color - Ian noted."Where am I?" she demanded. "What happened?"

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Ah, the usual questions... Your brother bumped his head, you fainted of shock, we brought the two of you here in our estate. In short, we saved your lives." It was Amy's turn to roll her eyes. "Who tried to end it in the first place?" she shot at her. She touched her chest absentmindedly and jerked up right when she felt that it was smooth. Something was not right here... "Where is my necklace? My jade necklace?" she demanded. That was when she took notice of her clothing. "And what am I wearing? These aren't my clothes!"

"Relax," Natalie said with annoyance. "Your clothes were all torn and dirty so we asked our nurse to dress you... And you shouldn't be complaining! Those are expensive clothes. And as for your necklace, that's your problem not mine!" She left the room, not wanting to deal with Amy's problems. Amy on the other hand, examined her clothes. Cashmere. That figures. Amy rolled her eyes inwardly. They were indeed expensive. But why would they make her wear such clothes? The Kabras must not want to look bad in front of their enemies... or ... They must want Amy and Dan to feel like they're in debt! So they would tell them the clues! No, the Kabras weren't that thickheaded. She would bet anything that these clothes were Natalie's and Dan's clothes must've been Ian's when he was younger.

"Do you like them?" said a voice

Amy gasped when he saw Ian. "You're still here?"

"No, I'm not. I'm in the living room." he replied sarcastically.

"I need my necklace."

"Why's that necklace so important anyway?" Ian asked with curiosty.

Amy looked away. "Why do you care?"

"Cause I'm curious." He frowned. "And I'm not that bad of a person you know."

"Yeah, I've noticed." Amy sneered then looked away from him again. "That's the last thing that I got from my grandma. From Grace."

"Oh I see..." he replied. He felt something inside him soften at her words. "I guess I'll let you rest now." He walked to the door and twisted the knob but stopped. "And by the way, you're free."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ian answered her but did not face her. "You know exactly what I mean. My sister and I both have decided that it's best to let you go. At least for the moment."

"But why?"

"You do have to question everything people do and decide before you get the satisfaction don't you?" he snapped, and without another word exited the room.

Amy was aroused from her slumber by a constant nagging. Her eyes fluttered open, and she couldn't be more happy when it was her brother waking her. "Dan!" she exclaimed then hugged him. Dan however, felt nothing right now but panic. "Amy what happened?" he whispered

"You don't remember?"

"Well I remember Natalie counting up to three then... that's the last thing that I recall..."

"You were going to attack her but Ian stopped you. He pushed you. And you hit the wall pretty hard."

"But how did we get in here? And where are we anyway?"

Amy sighed then explained everything to him. "And Dan?" she said when the story-telling was over.

"Hmm?"

Amy looked him in the eye. "Never, ever put me through that again." she said firmly. "I don't know what I would've done if I lost you." This was the first time Amy spilled her feelings for her brother

"Well, we've got nothing to blame but the Kabras." At that exact moment, Natalie came barging in. "Speak of the devil..." Dan muttered under his breath. "And the devil shall appear." Amy continued silently.

"Here." Natalie said tossing a bundle of clothes at their feet. "Your clothes for tonight and tomorrow. Susan will deliver your food in a while. The bathroom's over there-" she said pointing to a door near Dan's nightstand. "Kindly tell your brother -" She stopped when she noticed Dan. "Oh good you're awake! No need to tell her anything Amy. That's just it. I won't bother you with my presence... I mean I won't bother myself with your presence."

"Natalie!" Amy called.

Natalie stopped in her tracks. "Yes?"

"We're leaving tomorrow."

"Good." she said then smiled a little. She exited the room, her heels clanking on the marble floor.

"What a house! Or palace, I must say..." Dan exlcaimed, taking in his surroundings. Above them hung a chandelier, its glass ornaments, sparkling all over. The floor was covered with a plush carpet. It was so soft that Dan couldn't help to contionously rub his feet on it. The walls were painted cream and the their bed's matresses could swallow them whole. There was a huge mahogany desk on Amy's side of the room. Dan opened he door to the bathroom and found everything they needed there. There were towels and other bathroom necesseties. His eyes widened like saucers when he saw the hugest the tub he had ever seen in his twelve years of living. He was just like Grace. Appreciating even the simplest of things. But all too soon, his fantasy ended when Susan entered their room. They ate their dinner in solemnity and slept with their tummies full and their bodies clean and well-dressed. But even after living in luxury, their hearts were not completely at peace, knowing that they would need to face challenges once more, when tomorrow comes.

"Dan, faster!" Amy shouted the next day after breakfast.

"You do realize, that this is our last day here don't you? Why can't I enjoy the sun before I face the storm? Besides, you're already done!"

"I know, I just want to get out of here as soon as possible!" Amy replied, while running her brush through her damp hair.

"Wait all you want, but I'm only getting out if here after... 10 mins!"

Amy sighed and sat on her already made bed. Her wandering mind was brought back to earth by a knock. She grunted, got up and opened the door, surprised to see Ian.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I believe this is my house. I have very right to be here."

Amy fought the urge to roll her eyes. "No, really. Is there something you want to tell us?"

"Give you actually." Ian replied then stepped inside the room.

Amy closed the door behind her. "And what is it?" she asked, folding her arms on her chest.

Ian reached out in his pocket then pulled out a delicate necklace. He held out his hand for Amy to see.

"Oh my god! My necklace!" she exclaimed. "How'd you get it?"

"Well, Maegan, our nurse who took care of you gave me this. She said it was yours..."

"Um... Tha - thank you." Amy stuttered. What was wrong with her? Here she was, stuttering, when the enemy was practically three steps away from her! She placed the necklace on her neck and tried to clasp it.

"Let me do it." Ian said after watching Amy struggle. Amy, meanwhile wasn't sure if she heard him right. Without waiting for a reply, Ian went behind Amy and held the chain. It was hard to tell who was more tensed. Both were holding their breaths. Ian was surprised to find such actions would affect him like this. He had never ever felt more... nervous in his life. Cause that was the only word to describe the feeling. But it wasn't that unpleasant at all. Ian steadied himself and clasped the necklace together. "There." he said then stepped back. "I'll see you in a while." he muttered then went out.

"Nellie!" Amy shouted the moment they saw their au pair, Nellie Gomez, standing in front of the estate's tall gates. Amy had called Nellie through her cellphone and told her that they were all safe and that she should meet them in the Kabra's estate. She told her the address and now here she was, smiling, yet crying at the same time. Dan and Amy ran to Nellie and hugged her. "I swear to myself," she said. "I will NEVER not leave my eyes on you again." Their catching up was stopped when they saw the Kabra siblings approach them. "How did they treat you, by the way?" Nellie asked while keeping her eyes on Ian and Natalie. "We've got lots of time for that Nellie." Amy replied. A sleek black car made its way through the gates. Natalie knocked on the window and the window rolled down. "Viktor, take these three wherever they want to go." she ordered. The driver nodded then rolled the windows back up. Dan and Nellie entered the car. "Get in. I just have to say something." Amy said. Nellie nodded then slammed the door's car. Amy brought her hand up and slapped Ian on the face. "ARE YOU MENTAL!" Natalie screamed while Ian rubbed his cheek. Weirdly, he didn't feel any anger at all. He felt like he deserved it. Natalie brought her hand up as well but Ian grabbed her wrist. Natalie looked at her brother, not believing what she was seeing. "He deserved it!" Amy spat "And just for the record, what he did to my brother was way worse than that." She then looked at Ian. "Mark my words, Kabra. Hurt a single strand of my brother's hair or Nellie's, I'll kill you the first chance I got." With that she entered the car and gave one last glare at the stunned siblings.

Dan grinned at her once Amy entered the car. "For the first time sis, i'm actually proud of you."

"Don't mention it." Amy replied.

*AN: I know... this chapter is like BLAH! But don't worry! I'll make up for it in this next chapter!*