*Chapter Sixteen*

ALVAR'S EYES WIDENED in surprise. "What do you mean, destiny?"

"Thanks for trying to help me." Sarah sighed, wiping away a stray tear. "But I'm a rogue. And I can't be part of a secret organization. Not the Neverseen, nor the Black Swan. I'll work better alone."

"Hmm?" Alvar had Sarah's hand in a vise grip.

"I'm saying... that I have to go." Sarah bit her lip as she pulled her hand free with no difficulty, and sprung into a cartwheel. "Thanks for everything, Alvar." She smiled faintly as her heart throbbed in pain at what she was about to do. She was strong, Alvar thought in awe as she pocketed his crystal and...

Wait. A. Minute.

She stole his light crystal? "Sticky fingers," Alvar said dreamily, but then slapped himself. Though he had never felt this way towards any humane being, he had to snap out of it and stop Sarah from escaping. He tried to chase her, but he didn't have to.

"Mm. Good try," Lady Gisela said, "but you'll have to do much better this time to evade us."


Biana groaned as she blinked her eyes open and caught a whiff of... a really bad stench.

"Where are we?" Biana heard Sophie mumble.

Green buildings surrounded the view, and a boggy lake blurred by.

They were in Ravagog.

Carried by ogres.


Sarah mumbled in her sleep, tossing and turning. A moment later, she sat upright.

Tears stretched down her cheeks.

Brushing down her chin.

She didn't realize what was happening until it did. Alvar was embracing her. He pulled away abruptly, seeming embarrassed about what he just did.

"I can't believe it," he murmured, touching Sarah's right cheek.

"Hey! Handsy much. Get your hand off my face," Sarah muttered as she slapped Alvar's hand off. "What is it, laundryman?"

"You passed the test!" Alvar seemed giddy. His lips were drawn into a straight line, but beneath it his jawline was twitching, as if he wanted to smile but resisted the temptation in order to look tough.

"What... test?" blinked Sarah, using her fingers to comb her hair; it was scraggly and tangled.

"Well, apparently Lady Gisela and Fintan followed us to the lake and they saw everything that happened."

"Everything?" Sarah blushed, looking down at the ground as she untangled a severe knot in her hair with just her index finger and thumb.

"Yeah," Alvar nodded vigorously. "They're willing to let you in as an official member of the Neverseen now."


Keefe thrashed against his bonds, but it was useless.

The chains were too strong.

Too unbreakable.

The complete opposite of him.


Sarah fisted her hands and slammed them into the wall. "You are complete idiots," she giggled hysterically, falling to the floor and lapsing into a ball, rocking back and forth as she chuckled.

Alvar was looking seriously worried. "Um, do we have a physician around here?"

"If anything, you guys need them," guffawed Sarah. "Didn't you hear my big speech-io?" For some reason, now the laughs were uncontainable. Everything seemed funny to her now.

Lady Gisela raised an eyebrow. "You are far too much like Keefe."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Sarah said, her lips pursed. "Anyhow," she smiled curtly, "I'm assuming that you heard everything. Meaning you heard the three simple, basic, and excessively rudimentary words I used. I. Work. Alone." Then her lips were drawn tightly again, pretending she hadn't just thrown up the thesaurus. "I had big expectations of you guys, but not being able to comprehend three words? That's... wow, that's just too rich." She let out another long giggle.

Lady Gisela smiled thinly. "Oh, no. We heard you, all right. But you passed the test. You see, we wanted to see how you escaped. Using someone close to you to get what you want- sometimes you have to take extreme measures."

"Oh, Alvar's not close to me," Sarah said, offering a large smile again, laughing at their deriding.

Alvar shrugged. "She's kinda right." But he held out his hand for Sarah to take.

Sarah ignored it. After breathing in deeply, she calmed down, her laughter ceasing. "I'm not going to join any organization. I'm staying outta this war," she told them with a small smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"A wise decision, to be sure," nodded Gethen. "But how can you ignore our proposal when we have this?"

A thin, ragged figure was dragged into the room. It coughed and held its stomach as if in extreme pain. "Keefe," whispered Sarah.


"Join us and the both of you will remain safe," Lady Gisela said, pursing her lips.

"Do you hear yourself now?" Sarah shook her head. "And look, seriously, just look at Keefe. He might die any minute now! Are you guys willing to take that risk? Just to get some new recruits?" She spat at the floor in disgust. "You guys are sickening to the very core."

Lady Gisela shrugged. "We are willing to take risks in general. Risks are worth the profit."

"Are they?" Sarah argued, holding a hand over her mouth as she shivered at the sight of her collapsing brother. "You stinkin' bastards..." Sarah let out a stream of very dirty words that people under the age of eighteen should never hear nor know.

Gethen jumped, loosening his grip on Keefe, causing him to slid onto the ground helplessly. His light-blue eyes widened, mildly impressed. "You sure know some tough words."

"Don't try flirting with me. Alvar tried and it didn't turn out well," Sarah flashed back.

Alvar shrugged as Gethen's eyes scanned over him. "Scrawny boy, huh?"

"Ugggggh. Could evil people stop falling for me?" Sarah flicked a strand of her hair out of her eyes, sighing. "I mean, look at this," she gestured at herself, "and I understand why, but keep your emotions in check, 'kay?"

"Enough playing!" Lady Gisela snapped, her sharp eyes falling on Sarah. "Too much like Keefe," she muttered.

"What was that?" Sarah asked. "Gethen, sorry to disappoint, but I think maybe you're not my type. Don't take it seriously, I'm just more into dark-haired guys. Blond is so last year." Her eyes fell on Alvar, making him blush and avert his eyes.

Gethen cursed, and everyone turned to look at him. He flushed and swatted at the air. "Dang flies," he mumbled.

When the Neverseen turned back to where Sarah had been, she was not there. Only blank wall greeted their glances.

Keefe wasn't there, either.

"Feel free to let loose now, bro," Alvar said quietly.


"C'mon, Keefe, pull through," Sarah whispered, pulling her brother as she made her way through the maze-of-a-hideout. "They should really hire some interior decorators. This place looks like it's a Halloween cornmaze or sumthin'."

She only got a ragged groan in response. "Ugh. I guess it's dinnertime," Sarah sighed, pulling out a thick-wadded sandwich. "Sorry to do this, Keefio, but tough times call for tough measures..." She bit her lip. "I wonder if elves mean serious vegetarians or if they'd accept fish. Tuna time, bro."

She stuffed the rye sandwich in Keefe's mouth and he was still unresponsive. "I guess I gotta be the responsible one," groaned Sarah. She moved Keefe's jaw to chew the food, and she pushed on his throat to make him swallow it. "Keefe?" She sighed and threw him over her shoulders, hunching forwards and walking as fast as she could.

"Going somewhere?" a steely voice asked.

A/N: Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates it! Sorry I can't give you guys candy, but pretend this chapter is the treat. 7 days 'till Legacy is out, WOO!