Chapter 1: How it all Begins

Tam glanced over at his sister, who sat on the cozy armchair that overlooked their property. There was a thoughtful look on her face as she read a book with a silver cover. One that he didn't recognize.
The expression awakened the vivid memory of a different face in his mind, one with unruly blond hair, icy blue eyes that twinkled with mischief, and an annoying smirk that teased his lips.
Tam scowled at the thought of the prank that the boy had played earlier in the day. It made his face burn red in shame and brought fire to his cheeks. The prank was humiliating, and he vowed he'd take his revenge. Oh, how sweet this one would be.
A voice snapped Tam back to reality. "You okay?"
"What?"
"You alright?" Linh said with a smile on her face.
He nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking."
She sent a skeptical look his way but didn't say anything else, continuing back to her book. On instinct, he rolled his eyes at her. It must be an interesting book if she'd drop the subject so quickly.
He looked around the room. Even after graduating from Foxfire, he and Linh chose to stay together.

It was hard to leave each other, not after the harsh adventures they had with their friends, and most certainly not after the cold lives they lived before Exillium, with their parents. They've been together since birth, they'll stay together until they're married off and have their own children.

As Tam sat on his chair, a wisp of thought echoed in his mind.

Holding back the smirk that tugged at his lips, Tam silently stood up and crept to his room with a plan running through his mind.
He had to avoid Merla, Linh's kind-of annoying murcat, who would quickly and willingly hiss as loud as possible to get Linh's attention, therefore foiling any and all plans he had.

Safely in his room, he scribbled down a messy note with his pen, his thoughts racing all the while.
They would never believe him if it were something silly… It would be a joke that they would never fall for.

So he chose something different…
He smirked, this would surely tell them that this was a joke… if they used those thick skulls of theirs.
He rolled his eyes.
But he couldn't count on that, because Ms. Sophie Foster always had a habit of panicking either way.
Maybe he shouldn't do something possibly triggering for the girl that got kidnapped?...

Nah.

He supposed her concern could be a good thing at sometimes… but at times like this, no.
Tam needed to find a way to distract her… which was easy enough.
Sophie's attention could be quite easily diverted.

Just mention a few names from the past and he was all set... But that seemed too cruel.
Even for this rage-driven version of Tam.
Maybe he could ask Linh to talk to her?
A wicked smile spread across his face as he remembered Linh's confession to him.
That could make for an interesting date.

Not only would this get back at Keefe, but he could also be the caring brother he always was for Linh.
Perfect. I'm truly the best twin she could ever ask for, Tam decided, his eyes twinkling.

The last part of the note was finished, and he made sure it looked nothing like his writing, even using the pen Fitz had gifted him one year. Tam didn't have to be a genius to know that Fitz was the worst at gift-giving of them all. But the fact that he was did help, for once.

Tam hopped back into the room where Linh had a glass tank on her lap and was dipping her fingers into the water as her little finger-biting-demon-fish chased after them.
The book lay forgotten on a cabinet.

"So uh, Linh," he started, fiddling with the note in his hands.

She didn't glance up. "No Tam, I will not go to Atlantis just for your hair products."

He held back an eye roll, "That's not what this is about. It's about Sophie."

Her head perked up, "What about her?"

He smirked again when he saw the blush creep up his sister's neck, "Hold on."
Tam pulled out his imparter, his smirk widening when he said, "Show me Sophie Foster."
Linh's eyes widened as much has his smile.
After a few moments of static—and of Linh crawling over—Sophie's face appeared on the screen.
"Tam?" She asked, her strange brown eyes bright.
"Hey, Sophie," Tam greeted her.
"Where's Linh?"
"Over here."
Linh's face was flaming red, and Tam took enough pity on her to not show Sophie.
"H-hi." Linh squeaked.
"I'd like to ask, Sophie," Tam began, "are you available at noon to meet under Calla's Tree?"
Sophie looked up for a moment, emerging herself into her thoughts before snapping back into reality, "Yeah, I think so! Wh—"
"Linh," Tam cut Sophie off, rolling his eyes, "Are you also available at noon to meet under Calla's Tree?"
Linh glanced away, her blush reddening even more—which Tam did not realize was possible… Or safe—and rasped, "Yes."
Tam grinned, "Cool, 'cause I'm not."
Sophie's mouth widened into an 'o' and Linh looked so hilariously squeamish. Before Sophie could speak, Tam clicked the imparter off and smiled at Linh.

"Guess you have a date with the one and only Sophie Elizabeth Foster!"
She scowled at him. "You are so dead."