Disclaimer: KOTLC belongs to Shannon Messenger. But the story is mine!
Sophie didn't sleep at all that night.
First, there was the worrying. A LOT of worrying. Mostly for Fitz, but for Keefe as well- he had seemed so off during the meeting. She hoped he was okay. She worried for the rest of her friends, too. Just because the Neverseen had taken Fitz this time didn't mean they couldn't go after another next time. And Linh, Wylie, and Marella didn't even have bodyguards to protect them.
And then there was Tam. Was he okay? What were the Neverseen doing to him, trying to get him to join their cause? And most important...why wasn't she able to reach him with her Telepathy? She understood if Fitz was sedated, he was their prisoner and not their guest. But why Tam?
All those worries kept Sophie awake well past midnight.
But once she did fall asleep...the nightmares came.
Horrible, twisted nightmares of losing Fitz, losing Keefe, losing Grady and Edaline. Remnants of her shadowflux echo stirred, arousing even deeper fears. She woke up at least eight times, jolted from her nightmares in a cold sweat.
And then, just as she had FINALLY settled into a sleep without dreams, her parents raced into her room, shouting, "SOPHIE, WAKE UP!"
"What?" Sophie said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What's wrong?"
Grady and Edaline exchanged a glance. "Well...do you want the good news first, or the bad news?"
"Um, good, I guess," Sophie said. She glanced at her clock. It read 5:45.
"Okay," Edaline said. "Early this morning, Fitz turned up outside Everglen's gates, exactly where he was kidnapped from."
"WHAT?" Sophie shouted, suddenly wide awake.
Edaline nodded. "He was sedated, but otherwise unharmed. He's awake now, in case you want to go see him."
"I do," Sophie said. She swung her legs out of bed. "But wait, you said there was bad news too. What's the bad news?"
Grady and Edaline looked at each other again. "Um, well...the Neverseen didn't exactly give Fitz back for free," Grady said.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Sophie asked. "Did Wylie go to them?"
Edaline shook her head. "Not Wylie."
"Then who…" Sophie's voice trailed off as she realized who had gone to the Neverseen in Fitz's place.
A boy who told her he'd do anything to make her happy.
A boy who had sacrificed himself for her before.
A boy who had promised that they'd get Fitz back, no matter what it took.
Sophie shook her head. No...he wouldn't do this.
But in her heart, she knew that he would.
Edaline confirmed her theory a few moments later. "Keefe has gone to the Neverseen."
Keefe woke to a small, grey-walled room. He was laying on a small, stiff cot, which was the only piece of furniture in the tiny cell.
Keefe sat up. Where am I? Where's Sophie?
Slowly, the events of last night returned to Keefe. Carving a leaping crystal with the angles 19/44/21, leaping to a meeting place in the Neutral Territories where his mom was waiting, making her promise to return Fitz, and letting her knock him out.
This must be one of the Neverseen's hideouts, Keefe decided. Climbing out of bed, he observed the small room closer. The walls were odd- kind of shimmery and textured, not just grey. And when Keefe touched the wall, it was weirdly warm- warmer then a normal wall should be.
Removing his hand from the wall, Keefe looked around the room. All the walls and the door were made of the same shimmery was really strange.
Suddenly, the door opened to reveal a man, dressed entirely in black, with a Neverseen cloak draped over his shoulders. He had blonde hair and sharp, cold blue eyes. Keefe remembered him from his previous time with the Neverseen.
Trix. Their Guster.
Trix glared at Keefe. "Come with me. Your mother wants to see you."
"I found this on my son's bedside table," Lord Cassius said, handing Sophie a piece of paper. "It's a note to you."
Sophie nodded her thanks, unable to speak.
She still couldn't believe it.
Keefe had joined the Neverseen? Again?
Well, he hadn't actually joined the Neverseen this time, but still.
"Um, Sophie?" Fitz asked, nudging her with his shoulder. "What does it say?"
They had all gathered at Havenfield to switch their Rescue Fitz plan to a Rescue Keefe plan, which they were having trouble with, considering the fact that there had never really been a Rescue Fitz plan in the first place. And no one had had any bright ideas overnight, so they were pretty much at the same place they were before. Sophie had even tried reaching out to Keefe telepathically, bur had the same results she'd had with Tam and Fitz the night before.
Sophie glanced down at the note. She began to read it aloud.
Sophie,
I'm so sorry for doing this. I hate having to leave you. I know you probably won't be able to forgive me for this, but I can live with that.
Fitz makes you happy. And no matter what the Neverseen say, you can be happy. You deserve to be happy. That's why I'm doing this, Sophie. Because I'd do anything to make you happy.
Sophie, I-
Sophie paused abruptly.
"Umm...Sophie?" Dex said. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Sophie mumbled.
"Uh-huh," Marella said. "That's why your face is the color of a tomato right now."
"It is not!" Sophie said, attempting to hide behind her hair.
"Seriously, what'd he say?" Fitz asked, trying to peek at the note over her shoulder. She clutched it against her chest. "Guys, it's nothing!"
"I'm pretty sure I know what he said," Biana stage-whispered to Linh, who nodded. "Me too."
"Please, can we just focus on the actual problem here?" Sophie begged. "Keefe is missing, guys!"
"Okay…" Fitz said. "Does the note say anything else?"
Sophie quickly scanned the note again. "Nope. Just that he was sorry, and to tell you all that."
"So...anyone got any ideas?" Dex asked. "To get him back, I mean."
"Even if you did, now is not the time to share them," Magnate Leto interrupted. "Right now, you all have school."
All the kids groaned. "But Keefe's missing!" Dex protested. "Isn't that a little more important than school?"
"Others in the Black Swan will focus on getting Mr. Sencen back. You all will focus on school. No arguing," he added when Marella opened her mouth to protest. "Go to Foxfire. Now."
Grumbling, the friends headed towards the Leapmaster. But Sophie lagged behind, staring at the note in her hands.
Sophie, I love you. More than you will ever know.
Author's Note: Wow, I updated twice in one day! Yay me! Also I'm so sorry for how bad this chapter is. But at least Keefe admitted his feelings for Sophie! FINALLY!
Anyway, review responses!
Stella Hayes: I know...but Keefe is the master of somewhat stupid decisions. Oh, Keefe. *sighs* Thanks for your review!
Undecided13: Yes Keefe! Don't do it! And thank you! Good to hear you got the hint...NOW GO UPDATE. I MEAN IT. RIGHT NOW.
Guest: Yes, I appear to be very fond of cliffhangers...And I'm not actually sure. That is how it started, but now I have all these great plot ideas...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! Thanks for your review!
A very obsessed fangirl: Yes Fitz really isn't worth it...but it's necessary to the story, ugh. Thanks for your review!
Please review!
Bye!
~Ash
