a/n: hey guys, been a hot minute since i updated anything on here huh? lol well i'm back and hopefully i'll be able to update this more often!

reviewssss:

A very obsessed fangirl: thank you! aww i did LMAO, actually i took like a month, r.i.p- hahaha YES!

Chapter 11

"WHAT? What did he say?" I shout, fear and worry pumping my veins. I stand up quickly, the straps rolling off my shoulders and unraveling the bag on the bed. The contents spill out all over Biana's bed, an assorted mix of wrappers, Prattle pins, and some things even I didn't know what were doing in there.

"Let me help," Biana immediately offered, scooping the objects and pushing them into the bag, sliding it back on its bottom and zipping it shut.

"Wait, no, I brought you a muffin- let me just-" I quickly unzip it and rifle through the jumbled mess, grasping the soft baked good and handing it to her.

Our hands brushed for a mere second, at which we both flinched at, startled by the accidental motion.

I clear my throat and nod. "Edaline made it this morning. You missed breakfast. Why did you leave?"

"I was behind on homework," Biana vaguely explained, unwrapping the muffin slowly. She stared down at the berry chunks sticking out of the fluffy cloud and picked it at, delicately putting the berry pieces into her mouth with a tiny smile enveloping her lips. "Thanks," she said.

I didn't want to be rude and interrupt the silent moment, but it was a state of emergency, so I slid the strap back over my shoulder and set my jaw, lowering my gaze to my lap, where I was fiddling with my fingers. "What happened with Keefe?" my voice comes out weaker than I thought it would. "Why did he call?"

Biana bit into the muffin, sinking her teeth into the soft bread. She chewed for a minute, with a rather unsteady expression on her beautiful face, as if my words were marinating in her mind. Finally, she swallowed and cleared her throat. "He wants us to protect Tam," she choked out, a loud exhale escaping her lips. I could practically see the cloud of fog massing around Biana's head from her sighs.

"Why? What's going to happen to him? Are they targeting him?" I fearfully ask.

"He said, take care of Tam and make sure he's okay," Biana explained with a note of bitterness mingling in her words.

"When was this?" I asked, my hands shaking in my lap.

"Just last hour," Biana replied, setting the empty wrapper on the bed having finished her muffin.

"Did you tell the Black Swan?" I verify, knowing I wouldn't be the first one she'd tell, since this was very important-

"No."

"What? Why not?" I exclaim, tugging at my eyelashes as confusion added to the swirl of panic going on in my guts.

"Sophie, you're the first one I told," Biana stated.

Confused, I sat back down, staring down at my quivering kneecaps. Why did Keefe pick Biana to tell? Why didn't he tell me? A spark of fire appeared in the storm of emotions. Poisoning the rest. I bit my lip, narrowing my eyes. Why did he tell Biana? Why not the Black Swan, at least, if not me? I thought out of all of us, Keefe would've thought I was the best person to tell. And what did he mean by the whole protect Tam thing? I was a huge ass mess right now.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay-" Biana reached for my hand, her cobalt eyes shimmering and softening as they met my gaze.

I retract my hand back, standing up and shaking my head, ignoring how Biana flinched, taken aback by my sudden action. Her eyes hardened over and she turned her head aside.

I roll my hands into fists, hanging them by my sides as I quickly paced around Biana's room. "We need to find out what he meant by protecting Tam," I mutter under my breath. "It means Tam's in danger, we know that much. But why? Why would the Neverseen target Tam again? After we just got him back?"

"Probably for the same reason they took him before," Biana finally spoke up, and I realized she heard the whole exchange I had with myself while pacing around the room anxiously. "He's a Shade. Their last one died, remember? Of course they need Tam."

"To take Umber's place," I nod.

"Ew, don't say that name," shuddered Biana, grimacing. "It carries all the things she did to us. Remember? She hospitalized you and Fitz." Biana shook her head, and I could see how pissed she still was about that, even though it happened a long time ago- well, not that long ago, actually, but a lot of stuff had happened since then, so it seemed like more time passed from then.

"We need to get Keefe back," I realize, turning to face Biana.

"Let's let the Black Swan handle this message," Biana told me uncomfortably.

"If you think we should, why was I the first person you told? Why didn't you tell anyone else?" I retort, unrolling my fingers out of the fist I'd clenched them into.

"Because that wasn't the only thing he said!" Biana suddenly yelled, her eyes filled with despair.

"What else did he say?" I whispered, dropping my hands to my sides weakly.

"He said he left because of his ability... and because, Sophie. His fate is to kill you."

a/n: okay I know all this seems confusing now, but you'll see what happens in future chapters ;)