Disclaimer: KOTLC belongs to Shannon Messenger. But the story is mine!


Within half an hour, everyone had gathered at Havenfield for the second emergency meeting of the day.

"I still don't understand what happened," Dex said, staring at the note the Neverseen had left. "Doesn't Fitz have, like, a million bodyguards?"

"No, that's Sophie," Biana said. Her beautiful face was all puffy from crying. "Fitz only had Grizel, and when he left here, he leapt away without her knowing."

"I should've been paying better attention," Grizel mumbled. Sandor reached for her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, but her gaze remained fixated on the ground.

"Let's focus on the note," Sophie said. "That's the only clue we have. It's our best chance at getting Fitz back."

"Okay," Linh said. They all leaned over to study the note again.

Foolish Moonlark!

You think you can be happy?

WRONG.

We will always be one step ahead.

If you want Pretty Boy back,

you'll have to make a sacrifice.

An eye for an eye.

There's no way to save everyone this time.

Or, you could try to be the hero.

Try to get him back.

But you will fail.

And you will have to watch as everyone you love,

everything you stand for,

is destroyed.

Time to make a choice, Moonlark.

Love,

The Neverseen

19/44/21

"So...yeah," Dex mumbled. "Anyone have any clue what that means?"

"Wait…" Keefe said. He twisted around to study the note from another angle. "It might mean...I'm pretty sure we have to...if we want him back...we have to give them someone else."

"Who?" Biana asked.

"Me, probably," Wylie said. "If I go to them, they'll give Fitz back."

"But you aren't going to them," Linh piped up. "We don't trade lives, no matter what happens."

"Linh's right," Sophie said. "We'll find a way to get Fitz back, without having someone else leave in his place."

"Also…" Marella added. "I know that I'm kind of new to this, but aren't the Neverseen masters of distraction? We always think that they're doing one thing, and then they end up having an entirely different plan to catch us off guard. I think that they are trying to get us to focus on getting Fitz back, so we aren't prepared when they make their next move."

"That's a good point," Biana said. "Maybe they don't even want any of us after all."

"Yes," Sophie agreed. "Maybe we can split up. Half of us work on a plan for finding Fitz, the others focus on trying to figure out whatever the Neverseen are planning this time."

"Wait, hold on," Dex said. "Can't Sophie just reach out to Fitz with her mind? They are Cognates, after all."

"That's true!" Sophie said. "Let me try." They all watched as Sophie closed her eyes and stretched out her brain as far as she could, searching for Fitz's thoughts. But no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't find his crisp, accented mental voice.

Fitz? Are you there? She tried transmitting, but she got no response.

Sophie opened her eyes and saw her friends, still staring at her expectantly. She shook her head. "I can't find him."

Biana slumped back with a sigh, and Dex patted her back reassuringly.

"Try Tam, then," Linh suggested. "He's with the Neverseen now, too. Maybe he saw something."

"Good point," Sophie said. But when she tried to reach Tam's head, she got the same result as she had with Fitz.

"Maybe they're sedated," Dex offered. "Or under one of Ruy's force fields."

"Can't her telepathy go through those, though?" Marella asked, frowning when Sophie shook her head. "Only when Tam's here to boost me with shadows."

"So...we're back to where we started," Wylie said. "With no plan, no Fitz, and no clues about what the Neverseen are planning."

"Well, you're Mr. Positive," Sophie grumbled. But inside, she agreed with Wylie. It felt like all the work that they had done was for nothing, because they had gotten nowhere.

It's always like this, Sophie reminded herself. There's always this period where everything seems hopeless, but we make it through in the end.

"What about those numbers?" Linh asked, pointing to the 19/44/21 at the bottom of the note.

"I'm pretty sure that they're leaping crystal coordinates," Sophie said, peering at the numbers again. "Must be to one of their hideouts."

"I highly doubt that," Mr. Forkle said, walking over from where he and the other adults were clustered. "The Neverseen are far too clever to give us a way to get to one of their hideouts, where we could storm it with an army of goblins. I suspect that those coordinates lead to a meeting place, where they can make the exchange and then head back to a hideout."

"True," Sophie admitted as the rest of the adults joined them. "Have any of you had any bright ideas?"

They all shook their heads. "We came over here to see what you guys have come up with," Grady explained.

"Have you tried reaching out to Fitz telepathically?" Granite asked. Sophie nodded. "It didn't work. I tried Tam, too. They must have been asleep or something."

"Well, I'm sure that there's no reason to worry," Alden said. But even he looked uncertain. Della clung to his arm, looking paler than usual. Of course, Sophie reminded herself. Their son is missing.

"What about you, Keefe?" Sophie asked. "You've been kind of quiet. Got any thoughts?"

Keefe shook his head, his ice-blue eyes focusing on Sophie. "No. I was just thinking...if my mom was a part of this…" He clenched his fists. Sophie moved to his side and placed her hand reassuringly on his shoulder. "Even if she was, it's not your fault."

He nodded.

"Well," Mr. Forkle said. "I suggest we all get some sleep. It's been a long day already. We can continue trying to think of ways to get Mr. Vacker back tomorrow."

Everyone murmured their agreement and left. Well, except for Keefe, who continued to stare into space, lost in thought.

"Hey, you okay?" Sophie asked.

He sighed. "I'm okay. What about you?"

She shrugged and sat down next to him. "Not really. All I really want to do is curl up and cry, but that won't help us get Fitz back."

"Yeah." They sat in silence for a few more minutes, before Keefe stood up. "Well, I should probably get home. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"See you." Sophie rose and headed for the stairs.

"Wait, Sophie?" Keefe asked. Sophie paused and turned to face him. "Yes?"

He gave her a small, sad smile. "Don't lose hope, okay? We will get him back."

"Thanks, Keefe."

"Anytime, Foster."


Keefe sat on his bed, his insides squirming with guilt.

He hated lying to Sophie. It made him feel like the rotten person he knew he was. But he had to lie. If Sophie knew what he'd been planning, she'd try to stop him- try to convince him that there was another way. But this time... there wasn't another way.

He had to do this.

Keefe glanced down at the piece of paper in his hand. He set it carefully down on his bedside table, securing it under the bracelet he'd made for her.

She probably wouldn't forgive him this time.

But he had to do it.

It was the only way.


Author's Note: Wow...my longest chapter! 1,294 words! YAY! Also, we have 31 reviews, 6 favorites, and 4 follows! Thanks so much! I hope you liked it.

Review responses:

Sokeefe555: Thank you so much!

A very obsessed fangirl: Yes...there was a part of me that wanted to do that too. But it would ruin the plot, so...*sighs* Yes, Sophie finally came to her senses! And SOKEEFE WILL HAPPEN! Thanks for your review!

Undecided13: Yes he was taken! And now you know how I feel when you don't update your No One story...hint hint. And thank you!

Please review, follow, favorite, and all of that good stuff!

Bye!

~Ash