The following amazing people deserve the biggest hugs I could ever give and here they come *virtual bear hug*: luverinreadin, NatalieKfan, Iwillcomebacktolife, Amazingly Brilliant, StuckInSpace, emmelinekat (this chapter is for you, by the way ^.^ please read the end AN), Priyalizabeth, BookwormGirl16 and Amber Angelina Lilac. *smiles sheepishly* Thank you very much for reviewing :) Like fo rizzles. (That was me trying to be a gangster... Yeah, not soo good.)

DISCLAIMER: I lost my notebook filled with disclaimers and I don't wanna get sued so... o.O No, I really don't own anything about the Cahills.

START.

oooooOooooo

Chapter 3

Victoria, dubbed by the team as 'Veronica', stared at him, even though she knew that no amount of intent looking would make him look back at her. He was too preoccupied with making blueprints or whatever for his next big, diabolical plan. Seriously, she does not understand why he has to go through all this profligacy. A word here that was used as, 'extravagance to the point of recklessness and wastefulness'. Alex has been exerting more than necessary effort in making the Cahills miserable. Not to mention he's undergoing some sort of solipsism which originally means the way of thinking wherein one's own mind is the only sure thing to subsist. But in Alex' case, it simply means he's an egotistical idiot who thinks everything he comes up with is foolproof and ours would surely fail one way or the other, Victoria thought glumly. And she probably shouldn't mention how the entire Council feeds this insanity by actually funding it.

Extravagance. Recklessness. Wastefulness.

She cleared her throat.

No response. Which, again, is nowhere near unexpected.

Victoria ran an overwrought hand across her unevenly cut, raven-black hair. She tapped her foot impatiently on the carpeted floor and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hey. Alex," she said in a tone that clearly demands for attention.

After a few more scribbles, Alex sighed exasperatedly. Without looking up from his work, he said, "You knocked on my door and told me you wanted to talk to me about something of utmost importance. That was thirty-two minutes ago." He glanced swiftly at his watch, barely looking at it. "And now, what is it you wanted to say?" He fixed his intense stare at her, using the look that made people want to run away as far as possible.

The forceful magnet his amber eyes had on her had always been able to make her feel... all warm inside. That was before. Sometime long ago. When they were little and things were simpler and most especially, when they weren't an elite group of young people trying to kill a five-hundred-or-so-year-old family out of vengeance and world domination. Those years that seemed so fuzzy and unclear to her these days, like they never even happened. Now those eyes were nothing but cold, golden orbs, taunting her to make a mistake, scrutinizing her every move. In fact, during the human chess game, she noticed how darker his eyes are than those of his brother's. She steadied her gaze, clenching her fists behind her. "Don't you think we're giving the Kabra girl an overdose?" she said slowly, having practiced that line on the way to his room ten times before asking him.

Alex heaved a sigh (one nearing irritation), the way teachers do when they have spent so many times explaining the lesson to her naughty students and nothing gets through them. "No. I don't think so," he replied sadly and quite openly.

Her heavily-lined eyelids fluttered unnervingly with the way things are going. "I think, she's already losing her memories and –"

"That's what you think," he interrupted with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Apparently, that's what I don't see."

Her nails dug deeper into her palms. This is so not how she played out the scenario in her head. In her head, she was winning and he was admitting defeat. Yeah, fat chance. "An overdose could be fatal and it could ki -"

"What?" Alex raised an atrocious eyebrow at her, one that does not hear mercy. He looked mildly interested at her statement and interlaced his fingers like a business associate. "It could what?"

Victoria's jaw tightened as she tugged at her red plaid mini skirt. She knew it would be pointless even if she even thought of opening her mouth to respond.

"It could kill her?" His voice came in a soft whisper, almost like a hiss, which sent sudden chills on her spine. He used that voice so constantly these days that it was hard to see the Alexander Ian she knew once upon a time. His conniving chuckles pulled her out of her thoughts. "And tell me, my dear... What is so bad in that?"

She swallowed audibly, trying to force her properly phrased words out of her mouth. She felt something going up in her stomach, threatening to come out. Her fingers started shaking that she had to cross her arms across her chest to hide them. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing his words scare her. "I... I just thought we wanted her alive for the next part," she said it like it was a question and she needed him to agree with her.

Alex chuckled once and gave her a mere flick of his hand, indicating that she should not worry about it. "Dead or alive... The plan would still work." With that, he continued writing as if nothing ever happened, chuckling to himself as if he just said a brilliant joke.

Victoria was willing to try at least one more time, though. She does not want another death on her hands... or on his, for that matter. Or on anybody's, she decided, biting her lip uneasily. "How about some soporific? Those things that could –"

"Make people sleep? Seriously?" Alex scoffed, scowling at her. "No."

"So, you are planning to kill her," she replied mordantly, willing her sarcastic words to hit him hard.

Alex made it a point to appear as if he's wholly busy. "As I've said, either way." Then, he perked up as if an idea just somehow popped into his mind. "You know what's funny though?" he asked with his eyes narrowed, pointing his ballpoint pen at her derisively. He fluidly stood up from his seat, inching his way towards her. "What's funny is how you could complain about my plans when," he paused for dramatic effect, "yours failed mi-se-ra-bly." With every syllable of the last word, he edged closer and closer to her, their faces almost touching. "You should thank me. I'm making this a whole lot easier for you. With my plan running perfectly, the Council wouldn't even notice your little... ah, failure."

Victoria shoved him away. Hard. "You are such a jerk, Alex! The machine worked... only not the way we expected it to be."

Alex nodded, understanding. He twirled a lock of her hair in his hands, his fingers always slipping because her hair was too short. "As I've said... Failure," he breathed. "Now all you have to do is do the job I assigned to you without anymore whining and –"

"Dang it, Alex! What happened to you?" she yelled at him, pushing him harder than the last time. Alex stumbled backward with an amused smile. "Okay. So maybe the finished contraption didn't separate Cahill blood as it was supposed to, but what do you expect?"

"Failure," Alex murmured softly.

She ignored him. "Haven't you thought about the fact that maybe there is nothing to separate in the first place?"

Alex had his eyebrows raised the whole time she was speaking. "For argument's sake, let's pretend that I'm interested in what you're saying and that I will ask you to continue speaking." He held out his hand in invitation.

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Look. What if we were wrong about the serum being so powerful that it could be genetically transferred from the receiver to his offspring? What if the serum only affects the person who drank it? What if all along the Cahills of today are what they are because... they 'just are'? Because they are born to be musically-inclined or athletic, or... or smart or –"

"Or people who takes pleasure in killing others and making their lives miserable?" Alex interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly.

"N-No, I meant –"

"Do you want to know what's wrong with your speech?" Alex cut her off again, placing his hands on her shoulders. "There are way too many maybe's and what if's. And you want to know what?" His eyes blazed in a frightening mixture of wild fire and molten gold. "That's all they are gonna be! Maybe's and what if's. Because you, my friend, are sadly mistaken."

"And how do you know you're right, Alex?" she challenged, shrugging out of his touch. "Because your Mommy told you?" Alex stepped back as if she just punched him and raised his fist as if he was going to punch her. Instead of backing away, Victoria stood her ground and glared at him defiantly. "Go ahead! Punch me! Is that what Isabel taught you, too?" she said her name like she was talking about Barney.

"You don't know her, okay?" he exploded. "You weren't there when it was just the two of us and those Cahills messed everything up!" He was screaming so loud, you'd think he was holding her responsible for everything that happened. "You think all those Cahills are so big and strong and that they're going to save the world. But they're not. You know why? Because they're cheaters who will get everything what they want at other people's expense!"

"You mean like you?"

Victoria clamped a hand at her mouth, not believing what she just said. Alex looked the exact same way.

"Well," Alex said, turning on his heel and walking back to his working table. "I think we've said enough for today. I think you should be on your way for the next testing." As he sat, he gave her a blank look. "You know, no other stone could break diamond other than itself. I'm just doing likewise."

Victoria wasn't sure if she just imagined the imperceptible pleading note in his voice. Like he was begging her to understand what he was going through. She could only give him one apprehensive nod and left without another word. As she silently closed the huge oak door behind her, she can't help but think of the reasons why she managed to stay in this group for so long. Those reasons outnumbered her before. They seemed so countless, then. But now... What was the point of staying here with this group?

Was there even a point to begin with?

Victoria shook the errant thoughts away with a vigorous shudder. She neared the lone room she never wanted to visit again. She placed her thumb on the scanner and waited for the metal door to sneakily open. She slithered inside, willing herself not to make the slightest of sound. The door closed silently.

A huge glass directly in front of her allowed clear vision of the room which extended one floor beneath the room she was in. The spacious room, painted in pristine white, is where they made Natalie Kabra stay. She was currently crouched and unmoving, like a fragile ball on one corner of the room with her long jet-black hair strewn all over her body, covering her up like a dark velvet blanket.

Victoria just stood there, unable to do anything, as another guard came in the room, a syringe filled with transparent fluid in one hand. Natalie remained in her upright fetal position, taking no regard of the unexpected company. Without further adieu, the guard inserted the syringe on the crease of her elbow.

She did not even recoil away from him.

"Miss Victoria."

Victoria started at the sound of the butler's voice so close behind her. How did she not sense him coming? "Yes?" Was she that immersed in the scene playing out in front of her?

The butler bowed formally, emotionless. "You are now needed for the testing."

She closed her eyes and counted till ten, trying to calm her nerves. Before walking out of the room to proceed downstairs where Natalie was, she told the butler, "Tell your boss that... Other things could break diamond and they are not as pretty."

xxxOOOxxx

Victoria held up a 12 by 12 inches card which had a picture pasted on it. "Tell me who this is," she said, keeping her voice from being too commanding. The little girl is already trembling as it is. It's sad how she's starting to pity this girl she was told to hate.

Natalie Kabra drew her knees up to her chin, glancing up at the older girl like a caught baby mouse. It was a picture of a young man with hair the color of melted chocolate and eyes with the strangest shade of gold. "My brother."

"Name?"

Natalie recited out of instinct, "Alexander Ian Vesper-Hollingsworth."

"And you are?"

"Natalie Isabella Vesper-Hollingsworth." Natalie refused the sudden demand of her head to throb in pain. She can't help but feel that there is something wrong. Something is horribly out of place, though she can't figure out what. It was literally killing her inside and out.

"Mother?"

"Isabel Vesper-Hollingsworth K-" Natalie gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. She had let something slipped. She did not know what, but she knew she was going to be punished. What was it she was going to say anyway? After Hollingsworth? Something that started with 'k'.

Victoria produced another card, pretending to be oblivious. If she took note of how Natalie nearly said Kabra which she wasn't supposed to remember, Alex would only suggest that they increase the dosage of that devious solution. "And this?" It was a peculiar picture, something Natalie had always wanted to look at closely. When the testing came the second time, she thought it was a trick question and she immediately answered, "My brother... in disguise." But, apparently it was the wrong answer. More and more painful needles came after that lone mistake.

But, even so, as Natalie looked at the picture of the young man in front of her, she still had the weird feeling that... She knew him. Natalie clutched at her head again. It was painful. "That's..." she gasped, the pain in her head getting more and more unbearable. "That's the deceiving enemy, the one that brother is always talking about." Tears cascaded down her cheeks and she bit her lip to keep more of them from falling. "Ian... Kabra." The salty tears kept on rolling down her cheeks and the pain just kept on coming and coming and she just wanted all of it to stop... She shut her eyes so tightly; she began seeing images behind her eyelids. Dark hair, startling gold-like eyes. Blonde hair, reddish hair, green jewel-like eyes. Bulky trio with blue eyes. Natalie began sobbing quietly. "Make it stop," she whimpered pathetically.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. Her face remained stoic as she studied the younger girl's features. She seemed to be struggling to remember something. "That's it for today."

With that, she rose and left the room.

Natalie Kabra – no, that's wrong. Natalie Isabella Vesper-Hollingsworth resumed her fetal position and rocked back and forth, back and forth, wondering what it was she keeps on forgetting.

xxxOOOxxx

Hamilton Holt glared – with visible loathing – at the calm and collected facade of Jake Rosenbloom. He has been emanating hate waves since the moment they set foot on the room. "Have I ever mentioned how much I hate this plan?" he asked Ian, clenching his fist dangerously. "'Cause I do. I really do."

Ian barely spared him a glance. In fact, he was trying his best to not look at him and simply pretend he does not exist. And he's doing a good job at it, too. He focused on the stacks of differently colored papers in front of him. "Rosenbloom and Tolliver, you'll be accompanying the girls on their... supposed mission." He looked up at them, his inquisitive and at the moment, scathingly startling amber eyes staring them down. "Correct?"

Evan nodded, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's only fair," he shrugged nonchalantly, as if their decision made perfect sense. Which does not in certain people's opinion.

"I see," Ian replied slowly, considering something. He scrutinized Tolliver for a long moment. "But you know, Tolliver, I seem to remember you have a queer knack for research..."

Evan made a face. "Yeah, so?" he replied warily, not trusting Ian's words. There was always, always something behind them. Always.

Ian leaned back on his seat and rested his elbows on the armrests, keeping his expression mildly polite. "So... I think you'll do best if you stay here at the comm. center, if ever Amy and the others need... ah, necessary information." He said all of these things in an unbelievably flat tone, making an impression that he couldn't careless whichever he chooses.

There it is.

Evan gave him a look. The Look. "I know what you're doing and it's not going to work."

Jake chuckled conspiringly. "You know, mate," he began, speaking in a much-practiced British accent. "If you're just going to end up as the overprotective not-boyfriend, you shouldn't have started that argument to begin with." He clapped Ian on the shoulder with an understanding nod of his head.

"Right," Hamilton agreed. "So why don't you make Rosenbloom stay here and Tolliver go?"

"Look who's being the overprotective not-boyfriend now," Evan said in a taunting singsong voice.

Hamilton shot Evan a dirty look and was about to tell him that he could just tell his therapist that when he caught Ian frowning at him. "I'm just saying," he conceded, raising his palms in defeat, and went back on his sulking mode.

There was a tentative knock on the door which made all four pause.

"Uh... come in?" Evan called uncertainly, earning a questioning glance at the other three. "What? Knocking is just so unusual in this household," he shrugged.

"Which could only mean that the little Saunders is outside the door," Ian said, glancing out the window.

And true enough, Keightlyn Saunders peered inside the room warily. She pursed her lips thoughtfully before speaking. "Um... Ned asked me to tell you that Ted told him that Phoenix mentioned something that Dan told him which Reagan overheard from Madison which she –"

"You mean Sinead wants us to know that...?" Hamilton prodded, knowing the drill.

Keightlyn shifted her weight awkwardly. "Well, actually... It's Amy this time."

All four boys rolled their eyes.

"She wants you to know that... Well, lunch is ready and..." Her face twisted into an uncomfortable expression. She bit on her lip and played with her fingers. "That's all," she finally said hesitantly.

"I don't think that's all," Jake whispered theatrically to Evan.

"I think so, too," Evan stage-whispered back.

Keightlyn shyly glanced up at all of them from under her thick eyelashes. "Well, it's just that... I don't think you'll like what I'm about to say," she muttered.

"If it's from either one of those girls," Ian started, mildly exasperated, "rest assured, we wouldn't like it any other way."

"Could I just quote what she said?" the little girl asked in an almost whining tone.

Jake sighed, followed by Hamilton's getting-annoyed grunt. "Go on," Jake said kindly, shooting Hamilton a warning glare. The latter merely stuck his tongue out at him like the perfectly capable adult he was.

"She said, 'You think you're so smart,'" she paused, checking their reactions first; they remained politely interested. "'But you forgot to turn the cameras in that room off, Einsteins.'"

Keightlyn Saunders immediately shut door, but not quickly enough to escape the muttered curses and scrambling around while hissing at where those blasted cameras are.

oooooOooooo

Okay, so... *deep breath* I know that you hear it from me so many times that it probably is sounding like I don't mean it, but I do. I feel really, really guilty right now because I actually thought of like putting this story on... on... *whispers* ON HIATUS. Then, emmelinekat sent me a PM that drowned me in shame. I mean, she said such nice things and whoever those friends of hers are, I thank you, too. From the bottom of my hypothalamus. She said super nice things (that I don't think I deserve in the least) that I deleted the doc that contained my huge apology about putting this story on hiatus and typed three chapters. I'm so SORRY. TT^TT I'm so SORRY. TT^TT - That's me sniffling.

But rest assured, the story is on its way and I'm not gonna beat around the bush anymore. You'll know what I mean. ,o - That's a wink, I think. Ha. It will be fast-paced? If everything goes well, I should be able to update next week.

With regards to Fabula Secunda, I need to have the stuff I made checked by my co-author first :)

Thank you all for being very patient with me. If I could, I would hug all of you warmly and thank you one by one. Seriously. I would. :)

I missed this and missed you guys so much. I hope you forgive me.

Question of the Day:

On a scale of 1 to infinity, how mad are you with AngelicSpring? How disappointed are you with her? What do you think about the Ham-Sinead-Jake triangle?

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"Because writers have various ways of writing, a variety of things can cause a writer to experience anxiety, and sometimes this anxiety leads to writer's block." - The Purdue Online Writing Lab