Lost In Time Chapter 18:
Sophie was livid. They had the audacity to leave, venturing off to the Lost Cities without the rest of them? "Ugh!" She yelled again, throwing the papers off her desk.
"There is no reason to worry," she thought to herself. Sophie used to get annoyed at Alden for saying that, but it helped her breathe for a moment. "There had to be a reason they left with the crystal." Taking another deep breath, she emerged from the small study room, hoping that Keefe was back, reassuring her that they didn't betray the team.
Instead, wrapped up in her own thoughts, Sophie bumped into Fitz, literally. "Well hey Sophie," Fitz said with a worried smile, helping her stand up. Sophie barely even looked at him as she took his hand. "Why would they leave like that? After how hard we all worked to get that crystal, why would they just take it?" Sophie mumbled, hoping Fitz would have an answer to her dilemma.
"I don't think it was on purpose," Wylie said as he and Marella walked over. "I think Tam is a double agent. Linh is in her room right now, but she was the one that came up with the theory."
Marella nodded solemnly in agreement, piping up with her own ideas. "Think about it, how have the Neverseen been able track us? They had to have a link, and that was Tam."
Sophie looked up from the ground. "But why did Dex and Keefe go with him?" Just then Biana walked in, holding Linh's hand. Sophie couldn't help but smile how all her friends showed up whenever they had a problem. Their timing was impeccable.
"We just have to wait. Dex wouldn't leave without all of us. He isn't like that," Biana said, determination flaming in her eyes. "We just need to wait, they will come back for us."
Linh looked up, tears lining her eyes. "I'm sorry about my brother," she whispered, and then broke down in sobs again. Sophie, Marella, and Biana walked over to comfort her. Linh had been through so much drama and pain because of Tam, and this just added on.
As the girls embraced, Fitz couldn't help but notice Wylie scoot further away from Linh. Which was not like him. In fact, Wylie was always the first one there for Linh, so what changed?
"What's wrong?" he asked, walking up to him. Wylie proceeded to shake his head. "Not here," he whispered, dragging Fitz towards the door. When they were out of earshot, Wylie turned Fitz towards him.
"Tam wasn't the link," he said. Fitz stiffened, eyebrows raised in alarm to what Wylie had said. "It's Linh."
Keefe and Dex just stared around in awe. They had almost forgotten that Everglen was the Troll's hive while Luzia lived there. "I'm so glad you get to witness this! It's pure beauty at it's finest, what a shame it's considered treason." It was quick, but Keefe sensed how ashamed and sad Luzia was about this. "Well, maybe in the future it won't be. Maybe the trolls and elves will have an alliance," he said, ignoring the glare from Dex, telling him not to reveal anything.
"Ah, but I have a feeling you know the answer to that," Luzia said, turning towards the three men. "That's why I brought you here. The ogres are still viciously attacking the troll territory and I need you to stop it. I need you to prove to the elves that trolls aren't the real enemy."
"Wait, you want us to fight? Why can't you do that?" Tam asked.
Luzia sighed. "I can't get elves from this time period to fight against ogres, I need elves that aren't recognizable."
Dex stood, mouth wide open. "She- guys- what?" Keefe tried to come up with a story about how they weren't from the future, and Tam came up with the only intelligible response. "What makes you think we aren't from this time period?" he asked skeptically.
"It's pretty obvious. And you aren't in our database," she leaned a little closer to Dex, "there isn't a single elf that can manipulate technology." Appalled, Dex looked over at Keefe and Tam. "B-but Lady Iskra?"
Luzia shook her head, "hasn't manifested yet, but I'm glad to know what power she will have."
Tam rolled his eyes, "nice one, you just revealed more about the future." Keefe ignored the bickering and walked up to Luzia. "What would we gain out of it. If we do what you ask, what do you have to offer?"
A sly smile appeared on Luzia's face. "I'll send you home."
"Home," Keefe whispered. It seemed like such a foreign topic. What even was home?
"You don't have to make your decision now, I'll give you the rest of the day." Luzia said, stepping past him to talk to Dex and Tam. "Now gentlemen, I have to introduce you to someone who has been helping me a lot with building this place." she said, gesturing her hand to a dark figure who had suddenly appeared. "Meet my dear friend, Vespera."