Hi again! I can't wait for you all to read this chapter- I remember how fun it was to write, so hopefully it's fun to read. Also- we should make a petition to canonically make Iggy's fur like what it is in this chapter- you'll see! Anyways, enjoy!
-LLF
Keefe sat with her until late after the stars came shining through her still-open windows. They seemed to be smiling, though that could've been Sophie's imagination. She felt like she had a glowing aura around her, a bubble no one could pop. A dreamy, happy grin still settled on her face. It remained there, getting comfortable, as she showed and changed into fuzzy fuchsia pajamas and while she climbed into bed. It even stayed when Grady and Edaline came in, even though Edaline smiled sappily and Grady scowled the entire time. She was pretty sure that it was even still there when she first woke up.
But it fell right after that.
Mr Forkle was sitting at her desk chair, and Sandor and Flori were nowhere to be seen. Sophie jolted up, anger flooding her previously peaceful and happy mindspace. It shook and splashed, like a stormy sea, only intensified by the thunderstorm of panic for whatever was happening and Flori and Sandor. All of the flowers and vines on her canopy twisted to face the bloated figure, wriggling uneasily in time with the tempest in Sophie's head.
"Ah, Miss Foster. You're awake," Mr Forkle said, an unconvincing smile on his wrinkly face. "What do you want? Where are Sandor and Flori?" Sophie interrogated him, rather angrily. Mr Forkle chuckled. "You kids and your silly questions," he said, a humorous smirk on his thin lips. Sophie wasn't comforted by the familiar phrase. "Was there another fire? Is someone hurt? Answer my question!" she shouted desperately. Mr Forkle raised an eyebrow. "No and no. Your bodyguards are simply distracted by an errand I set up." Sophie grumbled under her breath. "So what do you want?" She said again. Mr Forkle sighed dramatically, and stood up to pace. Iggy, sensing the tension in the room, flitted over to Sophie's lap. She absent-mindedly played with his soft fur, vaguely noticing how much curlier and stretchier it was. Her fingers grazed a note and she looked down to read it.
Soph,
I know you had a hard day yesterday, so hopefully Iggy's fur will be a nice little cheer up! Sorry, I slipped into your room this morning. I Promise I didn't watch you sleep, unlike some people *glares at Mr Forkle*
-Dex :)
Sophie smiled at the note, and noticed Iggy's opalescent fur for the first time. It was the prettiest style Dex had ever done, white and swirly with shimmering neon glimmers whenever the mischievous imp moved. It was also very long and curly, with big loops; when she pulled it to its full length, one strand was about one foot long. It always bounced back, though, making it very comforting and entertaining to play with. Iggy seemed to love it as much as Sophie did, and she giggled as she watched him pull on his fur.
"Yes, yes, Mr Dizznee stopped by an hour ago. But I came here to discuss something more…serious." That caught Sophie's attention, and she accidentally yanked Iggy's curly fur. He squeaked in annoyance and fluttered to the top of her canopy, his wings almost covered by the abundance of shimmering fur. He glared down at them both.
"Serious discussion? What happened? Did something bad happen?" Sophie said, the panic building in her chest. Mr Forkle stared long and hard at her, his gaze scrutinizing, then shook his head. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief, tying the thread of panic away under her ribs for later. "What is it, then?" She asked, taking a calming breath. Mr Forkle pulled the desk chair to the side of her bed, and sat heavily on it, steepling his fingers. "Miss Foster. Your blatant lack of respect yesterday was unacceptable. We must control that, especially in front of our new Councillor allies." Sophie laughed, almost hysterical. "THAT'S what this is about?" She giggled, doubling over. Iggy looked down at her, confused. "Yes, Miss Foster. So we have constructed a test, of sorts. You have to complete it to earn our trust." Sophie's eyes widened, and her mind didn't flash to anger. It went to shocked, blatant pity. They really expected her to believe that? To do a test after all she'd done for them? She tried to hide it, nodding seriously as Mr Forkle outlined the basics of the test: She had to do whatever the Black Swan said for 3 months. Juline, Tiergan, and her friends weren't allowed to participate because they were halfway through quitting the order, so that left a whole lot of people Sophie didn't know. And they could make her do anything. The whole time that Sophie listened to him, a voice sounded in the back of her head. Only after he left did it come into focus.
It was something Keefe had told her the night before. "You can't be mind controlled," he had said. "So don't let them control you anyways." Sophie sucked in a breath, realizing that Keefe had been right. What Mr Forkle was attempting was basically mind control. Keefe's words repeated, a motto this time. "You CAN'T be mind controlled! SO DON'T LET THEM CONTROL YOU ANYWAYS!" This time, he added a plea, something that Sophie had nearly forgotten about. "You hear that, Foster?" Keefe's mental voice faded, but it left Sophie still reeling. "I hear you, Keefe," she breathed. She had found a wisp of determination, and was craving more. She was not going to let the Black Swan use her as their little puppet.
She quickly scanned the house, using her growling stomach as an excuse to be walking around. Sandor and Flori were still gone, Grady was away on assignment, and Sophie found a note from Edaline saying she had gone to Everglen to make ripplefluffs with Della. She was completely alone.
Sophie sat on the edge of her bed, thinking. The vines on her canopy grew and tightened around the pole, and the flowers closed, even in full daylight. She knew she had to do something drastic here. She couldn't stay here, with the Black Swan controlling her. She had to get out. She had to somehow also solve the problems in their world, simply because, well, who else would?
An idea came to Sophie. She sucked in a breath, but then got to work. She scribbled 6 hasty notes- one to her bodyguards, one to the Council, one to Mr Forkle and his Black Swan, one to her parents, one to her friends, and one for Keefe. Once she had sealed the last envelope and written who each one was going to, the plan had completely come together. She picked out a couple outfits, and pulled out a small dagger from inside a box in her closet. She ripped open the seam of every single piece of fabric, fishing around and eventually pulling a bronze disk from all of them. She left each one on the dresser next to her letters. Once that was done, she scoured the floor, spotting the sharp trimmers lying on the floor by her bed, where Flori had been pruning her flowers. She grabbed them, studying their sharp edges.
She clipped off the thick band of the nexus Elwin still insisted she wear easily.
Then she snapped off the registry pendant around her neck.
And she crushed the Black Swan pendant with her outward channeling, and slipped it into the Black Swan's envelope before sealing it.
Sophie then slipped on a dark, unassuming outfit: A black tunic with a mini skirt, long grey leggings, tall brown boots, a pair of dark gloves and her fingernail gadgets (she still needed to figure out how to control that) and a midnight colored hooded cloak. The rest of the de-trackerfied clothes went into 2 small brown satchels. She also packed up some food, her IPod, her scrapbook, her Spyball, and Iggy, slipping him into his cage and holding him against her chest. "Shh, ok, buddy?" she whispered gently to the curious imp. He seemed to understand, and settled into his cage.
Sophie put up the dark hood of her cloak, walked outside, and took a deep breath, preparing to run. If her theory was right, if she could run fast enough, she would be able to Teleport.
She started to sprint, channeling energy to her legs to run faster and faster. Iggy let out a terrified squeak, but she didn't slow down. Soon, it felt like she was almost flying, and the adrenaline built up so high that it overflowed. A much more quiet, much smaller rift in the sky appeared right in front of her, and she charged into it.
Sophie Foster had officially run away to the Neverseen.
Gasp! I totally did NOT see that coming! What did you think of this chapter? :D See you next time!
-LLF out