~ I was faster this time, thankfully. Please review. I will post faster if I have 7 new reviews. Thank you to my current reviewers. Enjoy!~

Natalie's alarm clock went off at 7:45. She slowly got up. After she was ready for the day, she walked into the hallway. She hesitated when she realized she didn't know where or when breakfast was. After a minute she walked to Amy's room and knocked. Amy answered almost immediately.

"Hey Natalie, what's up?" Amy asked puzzled.

"I'm fine, thank you. I just wondered when breakfast was."

"What time is it?"

"It is 8:25," Natalie replied.

"Wake everyone up. I'll take everyone down in 10 minutes." Amy disappeared into her room. Natalie knocked on everyone's door and told them when to be out. She did Daniel last.

"Hey Natalie, what's up?" Natalie sighed.

"The ceiling and the sky. Amy said to tell you that breakfast is in a few minutes."

"Alright, thanks." They stood there awkwardly. Dan smiled at her. "Sorry, I have to get ready. I'll see you down there."

"Bye." She slowly made her way back down to Amy's room. As the door opened, Natalie noticed Amy had changed from nightclothes into designer jean and a jade t-shirt. Natalie hated to admit it, but Amy's style might be improving. Just a little. She had pulled her hair back into a messy bun with a head band.

"Everyone coming? Good," Amy said briskly as nine people walked over to her and Natalie. "Ready? Come on." They walked down the stairs and turned right three doors down. Natalie made sure she remembered that. There was a table with fifteen seats around it. They were about to sit down before Madison noticed there was name cards. Noticing that Ian was next to Amy, Natalie wondered evilly if that was a coincidence. She smiled sweetly at Ian when he looked at her. He saw his scowl turn into a smile as he saw who was sitting next to her. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she turned around to see a smirking Dan offer Natalie her seat.

"Miss Cobra, I would be honored if you took this seat," Dan said innocently.

"Daniel, how many times must I tell you it is Kabra!" Natalie said annoyed.

"Until you can say Dan like everyone else," he shot back. They both sat down and started talking to the person on the opposite side. Natalie and Madison started debating the better poisons to use when you want to give someone a slow painful death. Just as Nellie started to enjoy the discussion Nellie, Fiske and Mr. McIntyre walked in.

As the Cahill's butler started bringing the meal in, Nellie explained how mealtimes would work.

"Each day, everyone will get a specific chore. One is cooking." Natalie was shocked. She had to cook? Nellie ignored the muttering between the children and continued. "The meal is already set. You just have to find the recipe and make it. You will get of class 15 minutes early if necessary. If the chef is ever making something you don't like, you are welcome to make a PBJ."

"Thank you Nellie," McIntyre said as Nellie sat down to eat. "On weekends, we will have cooks prepare your food. Two of the other chores will be bringing food to the table, another clearing it." He looked around. "Any questions?" Dan raised his hand. This was not going to be good. "Dan?"

"When did we become indentured servants?" Amy laid her head on the table as Nellie laughed.

"That's what I asked!" Nellie told Dan. Fiske glared at her.

"You aren't Dan," Fiske replied patiently." We just can't hire teachers, maids and cooks. Also, this way you gain some experience."

"What would we need cooking experience for?" Natalie scoffed disbelievingly.

"What if you needed to get close to the king of Belgium? There just happened to be an opening for chef. You could do it, as long as you knew how to cook." Fiske suggested. The kids seemed to process this.

"That makes sense," Amy ventured quietly.

"What are the other chores we have to do?" Sinead asked after a minute.

"One person will be in charge or waking everyone up and another in making sure everyone is in bed. During lunch one person will inspect the rooms on the right to make sure they're clean. Another person will do the left. The other five have nothing and can relax on those days. If they want to help they can. If necessary you may ask someone to switch or help you. It should not be often though." He looked at Sinead after he finished and she nodded her thanks.

"When will we have time to clean our room and what happens if we don't?" Amy asked.

"You could do it the night before or run up at the beginning of lunch. You will get extra homework if you don't it or if you purposely skip over yourself. Is that all? Everyone done? Good! Please report to your rooms and stay there. Your supplies will be coming soon.

Sinead sat at her desk working on the plans for the secret room. Everyone had a signature color, which would be the color of their beanbag and paint. Jonah had offered to call in some interior designers to help. As she was thinking she heard a knock on her door. Nellie came in with an armload of supplies, grumbling.

"We can't hire to many people; the Vespers will eventually find us, whatever. Hey Sinead here's your supplies. Materials, schedules and other information. Go to Amy if you have any questions." She looked at Sinead's desk. "Whatcha working on? The secret room?" Seeing Sinead's surprised face Nellie told her, "I was the one who put it in the plans. I figured that when you visited you could have your own hideout. I know you discovered it as you guys were quiet for nearly a half hour. Don't worry, Fiske and McIntyre don't know and I won't bother you."

She looked around the room. "Have you got your stuff yet?"

"Nope" Sinead said.

"Alright, I'll have it sent in." Nellie turned to go.

"Thanks Nellie." Nellie paused at the door for a minute and turned around to look at her.

"Sinead, have you heard…"

Ian was looking through his schedule. He couldn't believe he was going to be forced to take classes with Dan and Natalie at the same time. And classes with the Dolts? Those buffoons have less smarts than a turtle. This was going to be torture. He sighed. That was the kind of thinking that Amy and the madrigals disapproved of. His face softened as he thought of Amy.

Amy. She fascinated him. Girls had always thrown themselves at him seeing his wealth, looks and power. He had scars to prove it. But Amy remained aloof no matter what. That is, besides Korea. He had made a breakthrough with her and left her for dead in a cave. Why couldn't she understand that was what he had been trained his whole life to do? And everything else he hadn't wanted to, but it was mother's orders. Then he had found out his mother killed their parents.

She hated him; she had every reason to. Yet she had let him hold her as she sobbed. He didn't understand the feeling of rage and sadness that welled up inside him. Evan was gone. Why wasn't he happy? Why had she let him comfort her? Did she forgive him? Or was she so upset she didn't realize it was Ian? That was a depressing thought. He turned to his schedule.

1. Tomas

2. ELA/reading

3. Janus

4. Lunch

5. Math

6. Lucian

7. Ekat

8. Study hall

9. Madrigal

Ian groaned. It was going to be a long year. As he looked through his supplies he had a book of codes, a sports watch, math textbook, history book, and poisons manual, English work book, rock climbing gear, and binder and other school supplies. His suitcase lay unopened by the door. He had just turned toward the window when Sinead burst in. he whirled around, and then relaxed.

"Don't you knock?" he asked irritably. She shook her head.

"Not usually," she replied cheerfully. "Big news. Someone else is attending school here. They're the ones in the spare room."

~ What did you think? Sorry for the cliff hanger. It seemed like a good place to stop. The next chapter is going to be really long, so it will take me awhile to update. Review, PM me, whatever! I want to her your opinions. Thanks, kahillkid5~