Author's Note: After a deleting spree of the worst of fics on my profile, I knew I would never have the heart to delete this one. Ever. But it is rather horrid, and I cringe ever time I look at it. I've decided to rewrite the entire thing, and yes, there will be more chapters than before. Though I'm sure most of you will miss the old version, I hope that you enjoy this one more. It has more of a plot and there's a lot less cheesy fluff.

Disclaimer: I don't own The 39 Clues, the characters or the plot of it, as the authors of the series do. I do, however, own the words/plots/ideas below and in no way or form is copying/reproduction permitted.

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Prologue

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Nellie Gomez slung the large duffel bag over her shoulder, looking around cautiously before she slipped her feet into her boots. She tightened the red coat around her, and shoved a hat colored a outrageous shade of orange over her multicolored locks. After wrapping a black scarf around her neck, she looked around once more before sliding out the door and into the blizzard raging outdoors. Thick flakes fell from the clumps of gray clouds above, adding to the foot of fluffy snow already matted to the ground.

Six years. It had been an entire six years since the clue-hunt. Six years since Nellie grew tired of chasing around a troublesome pair of siblings every time they disappeared right under her nose. Six years since the two had shed their innocence at the fresh ages of fourteen and eleven years old. Six years since they had lost it all, and gained so much more, only to lose it all again two years later.

The colorfully dressed woman carefully set foot on the icy pathway leading to the end of the driveway. Her boots immediately gripped the slippery surface, allowing her to make the five-minute trek to the end of the from lawn and to the gates that led to her exit. Her feet sunk into the snow, and she grimaced, lifting her leg out of the cold and shaking off the wet flurries. She trudged through the snow with a steady rhythm of sinking, shaking free, and nearly falling face first.

She finally reached the large gates and took off the wool gloves on her hands to press the pad of her thumb against the finger scanner. It read her fingerprint and recognized it as one of the authorities of the home, and let the gateway click open so she could pass. She nearly ran to the black SUV in relief of not being caught. She slammed the door behind her, and slipped the driver a hundred-dollar bill.

"The airport - I'd appreciate it if you'd get there in thirty minutes max."

The driver nodded, his foot slammed against the gas pedal. The car lurched forward, and Nellie gnawed on her lip anxiously. Everything would have to be perfect. This was probably their last chance to organize something that would bring peace. Last time's disaster only pushed everyone farther apart, but this year, she needed to make it work. She knew she was probably insane for helping out and allying that demon, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And those drastic measures included Nellie traveling halfway across the world to the Kabra Mansion to aid Natalie Kabra.

Ever since the predicament with the Vespers, the Kabra had changed. All of them had - but Natalie, who was severely electrocuted and revived days later after a coma, seemed to change the most. Being near death did wonders to a person, and Nellie was one to know. Her hand immediately traced over her shoulder, where a scar remained as a reminder.

United the Cahills stood, but divided they fall.

And did they fall.

Nellie knew of the small organizations that teamed together against the Cahills. She knew that everyone was constantly waiting for a chance to slip into the many cracks of the Cahill foundation. She knew they had enemies, and she knew that there were at least a couple hundred people after her. There was no way to tell how many enemies the Cahills had, and the Vespers, who were the largest, were probably just an excerpt of the horrors that the Cahills could witness.

This was their time to join together and work as a team. This was their time to heal those cracks before anyone else had a chance to slink in and tear them about. This was their chance, and it was probably their last. The Vespers may have joined them together, but just barely. The Clue-Hunt had dispelled the largest of rivalries, but did not suceed in eliminating them all.

Christmas was their last chance before they fell apart.