So sorry to keep you guys waiting, you know, the usual: School, homework, and annoying writers' block. But now that I have some free time on the weekend, I thought I would get this chapter out for you, 'cause I might not be able to do so for another week.

Natalie Kabra blinked her eyes open. Golden sunlight streamed through the small circular window above her bed, splashing over her and making her squint. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Today, we dock in Cherbourg.

Natalie was looking forward to get off this dreary ship. She had used the anxious hours aboard to her advantage, replenishing her ever-present supply of Lucian poisons, stowed in places such as as the heels of her shoes, the diamond on her necklace, the ruby ring she wore since she was eight. The meager chemicals she'd managed to scavenge up and mix weren't ideal, but, being a Lucian, she was always ready. She planned to spend the morning sitting in her room, basking in her own silence, since she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, especially Zai. But she knew it was unavoidable, they were in this together. She sighed, getting to her feet. The sooner she contacted her brother, the better, but she knew it wouldn't be that simple. They couldn't go back to London; the Vespers would undoubtedly waiting for them. Her best bet now would to accompany Zai and the Cahills on their...quest. That was another thing that puzzled her: Why was Zai helping Amy and Dan? He didn't seem like the kind of person to risk his life for someone else out of the sheer goodness of his heart. Did he have a secret agenda?

Of course not. Natalie dismissed the thought. Zai was just being helpful. Maybe he just wanted to travel and be active again. Whatever the case, they needed each other now. And she knew she could depend on him. But the question she asked herself: Could he depend on her?

…...

Amy Cahill jerked her head up.

Must've dozed off.

She stretched and rubbed her eyes, adverting her gaze to the cheerful sunlight brightening her room. She was sitting in a chair against the wall, her neck aching slightly.

Why wasn't I in bed- oh my god.

That's when it hit her like freight train: Zai and Natalie were dead. She slumped forward, all of her morning energy suddenly sucked out of her. The shining sun no longer seemed like a sign of a good day, but more like a cruel joke. She felt like screaming at the sun: two kids were dead at the bottom of the sea, it should be dark and cloudy. She slowly got to her feet. A familiar feeling of grief gripped her; it was like an icy cold blanket wrapping around her body, chilling her to the bone. She'd felt the same way when Grace had died. But this time, it was two kids under the age of fifteen. And she felt like it was her fault. Dan and Uncle Fiske had been kidnapped, why had Zai and Natalie Kabra payed for it? Zai probably knew he was risking his life on this mission, but Natalie had been unwillingly swept into this.

She slowly got to her feet. She caught her reflection in the mirror beside her bed and did a double-take: She hadn't combed her in almost a week; it clumped together in matted chunks and hung in front of her eyes, which were red and puffy. She hadn't eaten anything in almost 24 hours, and she felt about ready to drop from exhaustion, both mental and physical. She was interrupted by her tormented reflections when there was a knock at her door.

Before she could answer, the door burst open, and Dan stepped in, taking in the sight of his disheveled sister.

"Whoa! What happened to you?" he asked, recoiling slightly. Amy didn't even bother scold him for his childishness. Immediately Dan's head dropped, and his eyes darkened.

"I could've been dressing." she muttered sullenly, brushing a strand of hair out of her eye.

"But you weren't, so let's go." Dan turned. "Uncle Alistair wants us all to meet in his room." He had been trying to lighten the situation before, but it hadn't worked. He was just as weary as Amy, and honestly, she was a little pained to see her usually cheerful and talkative brother so depressed and serious-looking. Wordlessly, she followed him out of her room and a few doors down the hall where Alistair was staying. Dan opened the door without knocking, just as he had done at Amy's room. Ian, Nellie, Alistair, Elias, and Matt were gathered, all looking rather grim. Amy shut the door behind her and leaned against it.

For a long few moments, nobody spoke. Then, Alistair Oh took a deep breath.

"This is...a tragedy." he started gravely. "Two children, taken from us by the Vespers before their life really began."

Nobody really knew how to respond to that. Alistair coughed awkwardly.

"I'm sending the rest of you home." he finally said. "After what happened...it's too dangerous for you to continue on your mission. The Vespers are hunting us, and you'll be safer under the protection of your branches."

There was another long pause while everybody processed that statement.

Would we? Amy wondered numbly. Could the Madrigals really protect us from the Vespers?

"No." Ian suddenly spoke up. Amy gasped. Did he just read my mind?

"We're not going home." Ian finished. "Natalie and Zai wouldn't want us to give up."

"He's right." Dan piped up. "And it won't be much safer back home, anyway. At least when were traveling, the Vespers will have to keep searching for us."

"We set out in the first place with Zai to rescue Dan and Uncle Fiske," Amy added, "And we didn't accomplish that yet. We have to keep going, in order to honor Zai's and Natalie's efforts. We can't let their sacrifices be in vain."

Nellie and Elias nodded. "This loss just increases the importance of this mission." Elias said.

"I totally agree. We owe them that much, especially after they've risked their lives for us." Nellie affirmed. Alistair looked around the room for a minute.

"Is this really what you feel is best?" he asked. Amy could tell by the look in his eye that he did not share their decision.

"Yes!" everyone answered at the same time. Alistair sighed wearily.

"Then I suppose there's no changing your minds." He sighed again. "And, as the eldest among us, it is my duty to assist you."

"Uncle Alistair, you don't..." Amy started. She was trying to find a polite way to say, You're too old.

Alistair shook his head, then looked at Amy and Dan. "I wasn't there for you before," he said quietly. He stood, leaning on his cane, his gaze intensifying. "So let me be there for you now."

Amy and Dan locked eyes with him and gave a slight nod of thanks. Then, they turned to the rest gathered in the room. At that instant, a connection of friendship and trust passed through them. In an instant, they knew that they could count on each other until the end.

"So, what's the new plan, dudes?" Nellie tried to lighten the atmosphere, though it was a legitimate question. Matthew pulled his chair forward.

"I've been tracking Vesper movements in the Himalayas," he offered, "I think I might have a lead..."

…...

Zai looked out the window of his room. They were pulling into the French port Cherbourg. Several tugboats were floating alongside them...tugging them toward the docks. Zai moved a step back to get out of the sunlight, and felt something shift in his pocket. Reaching in, he closed his hand around the round object and pulled it out. It was a beautiful stone, jade, to be precise, about the size of a golf ball, with a rounded oval shape. It was a milky green, with small, delicately carved words adorning it'sside. Zai had read them a million times before, he could describe the text and size from memory. He held it in his hands, rubbing his fingertips around the cool surface, feeling the words beneath his skin. He closed his eyes and remembered the words:

To Zai, the best twin brother in the whole world

-Zana

He saw the vivid memories when his sister had pressed the stone into his hand, just before she'd died.

Before she was killed.

She must've gotten it beforehand and was planning on giving it to him on a special occasion. Now, it was all he had left of her. He had vowed to keep that stone for as long as he lived. But no matter how much he looked at it, it wasn't enough.

"Zai! We're about to dock in Cherbourg!" Natalie burst into the room, interrupting Zai's thoughts.

"Your powers of observation are frightening." he muttered. Natalie appeared not to hear him. Instead, she was staring out the window, a nervous look spreading across her face.

"Zai, what's going on out there?" she asked. Zai peered out the round window. The ship had come to a stop at one of the unloading docks. But Natalie was right, something was strange. They were on a cargo ship, but there was no sign of any cargo being unloaded. Zai and Natalie looked closer. Then, Natalie's blood ran cold. A black Hummer was pulling up next to a warehouse right past the dock. The door opened, and two men in dark suits emerged. Zai's eyes widened. The Hummer had a big, black 'V' painted on the top.

"The Vespers..." Natalie whispered, "They've got us."

…...

Ta-da. The next step in the story. Stay tuned!