Author's Note: This chapter is one of my personal favorites only because I really really love the idea of the Garden of Dreams (you'll understand when you read it)

The next chapter will be published either today or tomorrow, not sure yet because I might have stuffs to do. My teachers have decided that to prepare for finals they need to assign extra homework, so I'm gonna be doing that.

Also I just realized it's spelled "polyglot" and not "polygot" I've been saying it wrong this whole time and I feel like a fool for not noticing the second 'L'

Random side note: earlier today I had a long conversation with my little sister's ex (who has the personality of stale bread) and his older brother is lowkey hot but that's not important.

Anyway, leave a review, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Sophie was panicking. This wasn't supposed to happen. The entirety of their plan depended on the Balmoral Hotel and the routine schedule they'd grown attached to.

She glanced to the side and saw a memory of Keefe, beckoning her. No, this wasn't a memory. It was him, showing her the way out. She wasn't quite sure how this worked, but she was grateful.

As Sophie exited Gisela's mind, the first thing she noticed was that they were in a different tunnel. If she hadn't been so preoccupied with their mind-reading plan, she would have noticed immediately.

Do you have any idea where we're going? Sophie asked Keefe.

Not a clue. It's probably going to be another of her tricks, though.

Eventually, they reached a small door that Gisela opened. It was only about five feet tall, and they all had to duck their heads while entering. Inside was a very small room that gave Sophie flashbacks to a certain closet that she'd been refusing to think about for the past few minutes. A glance at Keefe's flushed cheeks confirmed that he was thinking the same thing.

Without warning, the door slammed shut and the small room spun around, revealing that it was only an antechamber to a larger room. No, not a room. It led into a cave that opened up onto what looked like a cliff. The edge suddenly dropped off, and they were too far away to see what was at the bottom. It could have been three feet tall or three hundred, for all Sophie knew.

In the distance, she could see mountains and what looked like an ocean. Fog and clouds covered the ground below, making it impossible to see what the terrain was like. The whole place was strangely devoid of life. No birds or insects flitted about, and nothing moved. There was no wind. It was too quiet, too still, too perfect.

"This place has been around since the dawn of elven civilization," Gisela said. "Precious few know about it, and the ones that do rarely speak of it."

"What is it?" Sophie asked, stepping towards the edge.

The cliff was indeed several thousand feet tall, at least. The bottom was shrouded in mist, and the steepness of the drop made Sophie take a step back. She wasn't about to risk her clumsiness sending her over the edge, especially when she couldn't feel any of her abilities.

Ever since they'd emerged from the door, it felt like someone had thrown a blanket over her telepathy. Her inflicting was hidden, too, and the power of her enhancing that usually thrummed beneath her fingertips was gone. Teleporting probably wouldn't be possible, and she certainly wasn't going to test it out. Her Polyglot ability was undetectable, as well.

Sophie had never before noticed exactly how much her abilities affected her. It felt like someone had taken away a fundamental part of her. She didn't understand how, because they were outside. Was this place under some sort of dome, like the Sanctuary? She wasn't sure.

Gisela continued, "It causes people to reveal their secrets. It certainly revealed mine. Your problem is that you hide things from yourself, Moonlark. Denial is the only thing that restrains you. I think the Garden of Dreams will help you unlock your next ability."

"I don't have any other abilities," Sophie argued. She glanced at Keefe. "Right?"

He was disturbingly quiet and refused to meet her gaze.

"Keefe?" she asked.

"I've been thinking lately, and you. . . might have another ability," he said cautiously. "I mean, it makes sense. Maybe some sort of hybrid between your telepathy, inflicting, and teleportation."

A glance at Gisela confirmed it. This was her plan. She wanted Sophie for some sort of experiment, to use her as a weapon against the Council.

Sophie didn't know why, but Keefe not telling her his suspicions hurt. She'd thought they shared everything, but apparently she was wrong. She'd trusted him, and he still kept secrets from her.

"The Garden will mess with your emotions," Gisela said. "You might want to know that before you tear each other apart."

Sophie blinked back her anger. What was she doing? She wasn't mad at Keefe, not really. He'd only kept it from her because he didn't have solid proof, probably.

"This doesn't look much like a garden," Keefe noted.

Gisela stepped forward, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "The Garden, darling, is below."

Sophie craned her neck to try another futile glimpse towards the base of the cliff. Still nothing visible.

"Welcome, Moonlark, to the Garden of Dreams."

Then Gisela shoved them over the cliff.