Hullo! I decided to continue this one-shot (No, really?!) so I hope you enjoy this. I was a little rushed when writing this, and I know that it will be obvious, but I appreciate it very much if you just stick with it. I'm definitely planning a third chapter; after that, though, I have no idea. This chapter takes place a week after the last one.

Oh, and if you review, my writing improves, and if my writing improves, you suffer less. Also, it makes me happy!

DISCLAIMER: (Cue the heavy sarcasm) I DEFINITELY OWN KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES. YAH, I'M SERIOUS! SHANNON GAVE IT TO ME NOT THAT LONG AGO. ALL KIDDING ASIDE THOUGH, THESE WONDERFUL CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS BELONG TO THE BEAUTIFUL SHANNON MESSENGER. ALL THAT'S MINE IS THE PLOT…

Enjoy!

A week had gone by, and Sophie, along with Fitz, Biana, Keefe, Dex, and Linh still hadn't formed a plan to break Tam out of the Neverseen's grasp.

Sophie sat on the edge of her bed in Havenfield, enjoying a plate of freshly baked mallowmelt.

Her eyes locked on one of the pink flowers scattered along the carpet, her mind lost in thought.

I could transmit to Tam, and then ask him his location.

No. They'd notice, and he'd get in even more trouble.

Maybe we -

Her thoughts were cut short when her imparter lit up.

She leaped off the bed and sprinted to the desk.

"Hey, Soph." It was Linh. Her voice sounded weary.

"Hey, Linh. Need anything?"

"Um…well…I was thinking…maybe we could go somewhere? I need to take my mind off of some…things."

"Oh! Um, sure! How does Atlantis sound? Maybe a little shopping?"

"Sounds perfect." Linh smiled.

"Great! Let me just tell my parents and then we could meet here?"

"Be there in ten." Linh's smile seemed to drop right before the imparter went blank.

Sophie jumped up and threw on a somewhat clean dress, making sure her emergency vials hung securely around her neck.

After brushing her hair and slipping on some flats (she was still waiting for the elves to introduce sneakers), she ran out the door.

Edaline was busy strangling the verminion, attempting to feed it.

"Hey, mom."

Edaline glanced over. "Oh, hey Sophie. Going out?"

"Yeah. Linh needs some company. We'll be in Atlantis."

"Not without me," Sandor said, stepping out from the shadows. Her other bodyguards nodded in agreement as if to say don't forget us!

Sophie sighed. "Of course."

Sandor smiled, content with her cooperation and lack of argument.

"Be back for dinner, Sophie," Edaline said, still wrestling the verminion.

Sophie nodded. "Oh, and where's Grady?"

Edaline perked up. "You won't believe what he is doing. He went to pick up a new animal…which is why I'm trying to get this guy to eat. He's going to have a new friend."

Sophie rolled this new information over in her mind. "Wait…another verminion? You've got to be kidding." Sophie wasn't a huge fan of handling the little critters.

"I'm dead serious. I just don't know how we'll handle more than one. We might need some…extra help," Edaline said with a wink.

Sophie feigned a groan, causing Edaline to laugh.

"Don't worry. We'll make it work. I'll see you later, then?" Edaline added the last remark when a flash of light left Linh waiting.

With a nod, Sophie joined Linh as they (along with the bodyguards) light leaped to Atlantis.

"Ooh! This swan necklace looks just like a moonlark!" Linh showed Sophie the pendant she had found on one of the jeweler's shelves.

"Your right! It's beautiful too." Sophie examined the necklace. The silver chain connected to the body of a silver swan. Its tail feathers were covered in diamonds, and encrusted in the middle was a violet gem.

Linh hung it back on the display. "I bet Fitz would buy it for you in a second.," she said with a sly grin.

Sophie could feel the heat crawl up her cheeks. "Oh, be quiet."

Both girls burst out laughing.

As the two girls decided that it was time to head home, Linh began to act nervous. She continuously played with her hair and was tugging at the edges of her dress.

Sophie noticed the jitteriness and turned towards Linh.

"You okay?"

"Um…" Instead of responding, Linh grabbed Sophie's arm and dragged her into an empty space between two buildings. The dim, eerie area gave Sophie the creeps. She checked to make sure Sandor and the others were behind her.

But they were nowhere to be seen.

Must be scouting out the area, she told herself.

"Sophie," Linh said.

"Is something wrong?" Sophie couldn't read her expression. Her face seemed to show no emotion.

Linh pulled something from her pocket. "For you," she smiled.

Sophie realized that it was the necklace from the jeweler's store. Linh had bought it for her?

Linh stepped around Sophie and clamped it on to her neck.

"Linh, I don't know what to –"

"Sophie," she said, her expression stone, "I'm sorry."

Sophie moved away from Linh. Clearly, something was going on that was bigger than appeared.

"Linh, I can't help you if you won't talk to me. Why are you sorry? You've done nothing wrong."

Linh sighed, seemingly refusing to meet Sophie's eyes.

"I've been thinking about Tam. Ever since I could remember, he's always had my back. Even when I was sent to Exillium, he wouldn't let me go alone. I've realized that he would go to any length to keep me safe – as we have seen. And now," her voice cracked, "now he went with the Neverseen for not only me, but all of us." Linh paused.

Sophie took the opportunity to speak. "Linh, Tam is one of most the brave, strong, and persistent people I've ever met. And until we reunite – which we will – he will persevere."

Linh nodded, sending a wave of relief to wash over Sophie.

Linh said, "The only thing is Sophie…that reunion is closer for me than you realized."

Sophie blinked. "Um…what?"

"Sophie, I want to be there for Tam like he was there for me. I-I will go to support him."

After a moment, realization dawned on Sophie.

"Linh…you can't – I won't – Just…but…" Sophie was at a loss for words. She never would've expected Linh to react this way. It just wasn't like her.

"I have to. I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing! You're not…" Sophie trailed off as two cloaked figures emerged from the darkness behind Linh. Their hooded cloaks swayed in the breeze; the arms embedded with the unforgettable eye symbol.

The two Neverseen did not pull their hoods off. By the way that they carried themselves, Sophie decided that she had never met these two before. This was unlike the Neverseen. They knew sending experienced, trained members was the best way to go when it came to Sophie and her friends. But something was different this time – Linh was standing so close to them, they could easily make a threat. Knowing Sophie wouldn't hurt a friend, they didn't have to be familiar with her tactics. And if Sophie did make a move, they could threaten Tam – wherever he was.

Deep down, Sophie knew that Tam would want her to protect Linh with her life in his absence.

So that is what she planned to do.

But if Linh wouldn't cooperate…Sophie didn't want to think that far.

Summoning all her courage, Sophie said, "Linh, listen to me. You know better than anyone that Tam wouldn't want this. Please, think this through. This is not the right answer. Come back. We'll get Tam out of there." At this, one of the Neverseen snorted sarcastically. Sophie chose to ignore it. "I promise, we won't stop until he is home safe."

Linh couldn't hide the doubt on her face. "Sophie, I have thought this through countless times. To you, this may seem like an illogical method. But I feel in my heart that doing this for Tam is what is right. Tam needs this. I need this. He may not know it, but I must go. My mind is made up. Goodbye, Sophie."

The Neverseen moved closer to Sophie. Her mind should've been on escaping (preferably with Linh), but it was too clouded with disbelief.

A/N: I know Sophie should click her panic switch right about now, but she is 100% distracted. So stop thinking about it. Keep reading…Oh, and congratulations on making it this far. You're a real trooper.

"Linh, please! I don't know how else to tell you. This isn't the right way. Trust me when I tell you that you don't want to go. Tam did this for you! Do you think he wants you to show up and join a bunch of murderers? Think about all your friends; all the people willing to help you – help Tam. What about Dex and Biana and Fitz and Keefe? What about Wylie? What about me?" Sophie hadn't meant for it all to come pouring out, for her to sound so selfish. But she could feel the tears welling in her eyes.
"You are making this harder than it has to be, Sophie. If my friends cared, if they understood, they would let me go. If you're not willing to do that, then I must ask myself if you are my true friend." Linh had never said anything so mean to Sophie – ever. But somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that she had to set aside the hurt and help Linh when she needed it most. Whether Linh wanted it or not, Sophie wasn't going to let her leave. At least not without a fight.

"Now, I'm not here to listen to you tell me how to make my own decisions. Remember Keefe, Sophie? I'm just trying to fix things!"

Sophie took a deep breath. Exhaling, she said, "Keefe made a mistake. You saw how that turned out."

"It will be different this time." She nodded towards the Neverseen. One stood by Linh, a dagger held close. The other stalked behind Sophie and seized her arms.

Where was Sandor when you needed him?

Sophie was clueless as to how to get out of this situation. She could flick her panic switch, but her hands were being held too tightly. She could inflict everyone, but who knew if there were more Neverseen out of range, or if the Neverseen by Linh could hurt her before he fell unconscious?

All she could think to do was talk, in her helpless state.

"Linh, please," she begged, "you don't understand what you're doing!"

"I understand full well what I am getting myself into. Now please, don't struggle. And, Sophie? Don't blame yourself." Linh turned away and began to engulf herself in the blanket of darkness behind her.

Before Sophie could respond, she sensed a sweet smell tingling in her senses.

Sedatives!

Black started to tear at the edges of her vision, but she still had enough consciousness to transmit.

The first person that came to mind was her cognate, Fitz.

She pictured his especially noticeable teal eyes and sent him an image of her location.

Fitz…Neverseen…help…

Let me just finish this by saying…whew! That is kinda long. And, yes, I know it's super rushed. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I'd be very appreciative.

Also, thank you soooooooooo much if you got to the end. As mentioned earlier, you must be a real trooper. Even I can't get through the whole thing without spacing out every few paragraphs.

Please review! Whether it's hate or love, I like to see reviews (but I prefer love). Expect update soon…

Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye!