14

Sophie

"Try and keep a low profile," Alvar instructed, and Sophie gave the slightest nod as the two squished through the tons of elves passing through Atlantis. 

"Don't need to tell me twice," Sophie agreed, cringing as her arms brushed passed past the other elves'. She wanted to gag. They all pretended everything was normal. Everything was okay. But it wasn't. Didn't they see how broken the councils' system was? Didn't they see how much it hurt others? 

"We just buy the elixirs, and get out," Alvar reminded. 

"I know," Sophie said as they neared Slurps and Burps. 

Just a couple appearance elixirs and they'd be out of there. Away from the large crowd. But as to what they were all gathering for, Sophie didn't know. Nor did she care. The elves could do whatever the crap they wanted and Sophie wouldn't care. 

//

"Good day," Alvar said, setting the vials down on the counter before the red-headed man. He smiled, and Sophie felt like vomiting. The only thing she enjoyed about this place, was how odd the place was. She wanted to giggle as she imagined how the council would squirm uncomfortably inside the shop. 

"Is this all?" Kesler asked, and Sophie nodded for Alvar.

After paying, the two hid behind the nearest corner they could find and downed each elixir. 

Until Alvar was a tall, lean man with little muscle, and a slight stubble. 

Sophie became a short, fiery-haired girl with freckles sprinkled across her nose. 

She smiled as she stared at her reflection.

"Cool," she breathed, and Alvar laughed.

"It is pretty neat, huh?" 

After they'd adjusted their appearances, they were free to walk around without any worry of getting caught. They were free to get all the information they needed to perfect their plan. Rid it of any weaknesses or inconveniences. 

As they walked, Sophie stayed silent. Keeping her focus on the road ahead of her. There was no time for distractions. And yet... Sophie found herself stopping to stare at a young boy her age with messy blonde hair and ice blue eyes.

A sense of familiarity tingled in the back of her mind, and when Alvar caught her staring, he leaned in to whisper, "That's the traitor." 

Sophie let out a small gasp, the Deja Vu quickly turning into blood-boiling rage. The traitor. The same boy who'd hurt Fintan and stolen the Neverseen's secrets. 

"Calm," Alvar told her, and she released the breath she'd been holding, "You save that rage for the battle, yeah?" 

Reluctantly, Sophie nodded. 

"Fine. But I'm giving him the most painful, slow death anyone's ever experienced. For you," she snarled, picking up the pace in her walk to escape the blonde boy. She felt her rage waving everywhere, but that irritating feeling of Deja Vu towards him refused to leave her alone. 

//

Biana POV

"Everything okay?" Biana asked as she, Keefe, and Fitz walked along the streets of Atlantis. 

"Fine," Keefe breathed, but she could see from the concerned look in his eyes that he wasn't. 

"I'm not an Empath," she told him, "But I know you're not 'fine'. What's up?" 

Beside her, Fitz grumbled. Probably jealous of the attention she was giving to Keefe. Keefe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"I could've sworn..."

"'Could've sworn' what?" Biana prompted when he didn't finish. 

"I could've sworn I sensed Foster's intense emotions. But I can't see her anywhere." 

"Maybe you just missed her?" she suggested, pursing her lips in concern. 

"I doubt it. She's weak, remember? Why would she be all the way down here?" 

"What emotions did you sense?" This time, it was Fitz that spoke. 

"...Anger. Rage. Revenge." 

"Revenge?" Biana asked, "What would Sophie need revenge for?" 

"Maybe getting kidnapped and drugged?" Fitz tried, his tone sharp and annoyed. 

"Keefe," Biana urged, "This is important. If it was Sophie, we have to find her. We can't take any risks." 

After a couple moments of hesitation, Keefe nodded.

"Fine. You use your vanish abilities and search for her. In case the Neverseen have her hidden-- we don't want them to see you and run away." 

"I'll scan the area for familiar thoughts," Fitz chimed in, and Keefe nodded. 

"I'll also play a game of 'hot n' cold'. Wait until I sense her emotions."

//

Sophie POV

An uneasy feeling washed over Sophie as she and Alvar walked. As though she were being watched. 

"What's wrong?" Alvar asked when Sophie tugged out an eyelash. 

"I'm sensing something. It's weird. Like..." she trailed off, failing to find the right words to explain.

"What is it?" Alvar asked. Sophie opened her mouth to answer when something happened that made her freeze.

A hand

Sophie turned around, thankful for her disguise as she looked to see who had grabbed her. Alvar turned, too. And she didn't miss his tiny gasp as they locked eyes with the figure. 

A pair of teal eyes stared back. 

A word echoed in the back of her mind.

Fitz

Sophie yanked her arm away, backing towards Alvar for protection. Who was this kid? What did he want? She waited for him to turn away. Apologize and say it was a mistake. But he never did. Instead, he just stared at her with confused, hopeless eyes. 

"Who are you?" Sophie demanded, noticing the way Alvar tensed beside her. But the boy didn't answer. Instead, he continued right on staring. Focusing in on her eyes. Luckily, they weren't brown. 

And luckily, the boy wouldn't recognize her thanks to their disguises. 

But still. He scared Sophie. More than she wanted to admit. There was something about him. Something that made Sophie feel somewhat connected to him. In an eerie way. 

"Who are you?" she asked again, waving a hand in front of his face to draw him back to reality. It worked. He flinched, taking a couple steps back. 

"My sister's asking you a question," Alvar said beside her, and Sophie breathed a sigh of relief. He was good at staying in character. 

"Sorry," the boy cleared his throat, "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm looking for someone."

"And you thought I was that someone?" Sophie asked, raising an eyebrow. Alvar placed a hand on her shoulder, and Sophie backed down. She trusted Alvar. With her life. So, if he wanted her to calm down, it was because she was becoming too reckless. 

"Who were you looking for? Maybe I can help?" 

Sophie bit the inside of her cheek to prevent the smirk that urged to form at the corner of her lips. Alvar was the best of actors. And getting information out of people. But as to why he was questioning the boy, Sophie was clueless. And curious. 

But she didn't dare question him. He knew what he was doing.

"I wasn't looking for anyone," the boy said. This time, Sophie couldn't hide the laugh that escaped. But she quickly snapped her mouth shut.

"Sorry," she squeaked, before gaining her confident voice back, "But didn't you just say you were looking for someone?" 

Before the boy could answer, two others came bounding up behind him. Sophie blinked as she watched. 

One other boy, blonde hair and ice blue eyes. And a girl. A brunette with the same gorgeous eyes as the boy. They looked almost identical, in fact. But not twins. Sophie could tell, from the height difference and the way they interacted with each other. 

"Fitz!" the girl called in relief, and Sophie let out a small gasp. Fitz. That was what her brain had told her, earlier. But, how could she know that?

"What's going on?" the other boy-- blonde-- asked. 

"Nothing," Fitz sighed, "I thought it was her but... no luck."

The blonde's face contorted in confusion.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm sure, Keefe," Fitz groaned, "Does she look like her?" 

It was then that Sophie noticed how careful they were being with 'her' name. It made Sophie wonder just who they were looking for.

"Sorry to interrupt," Sophie chimed in, "But who are you guys? And answer my brother's questions," she added, remembering Alvar's earlier question about who they were looking for.

"No one," the brunette answered, matter of factly. And Sophie was tempted to peer into their minds, but Alvar's hand squeezed her shoulder. He must've known. And for some reason, he didn't want her to.

But that didn't make sense. He had been the one to ask first. And Sophie was just trying to make it easier. Besides, if anyone were to sneak into a mind without getting caught, it was Sophie.

 Despite how much more experienced Alvar was, Sophie was naturally better at mind reading. She'd done it many times. Never to her own kind, though. Not the Neverseen. She would never violate her family's privacy. And to her, the Neverseen were family. 

"Where is she, then?" the girl asked, her earlier defiance deflating as her face filled with defeat. 

"I swore I felt her emotions here..." Keefe mumbled. 

An Empath, Sophie noted. 

"This is pointless!" the girl groaned.

"Let's go, Biana," Fitz said, "It's obviously not her." 

He gave one last look to Sophie-- apologetic-- before leading his friends away. When they had gone, Sophie kicked at the ground.

"Woah, what was that for?" Alvar chuckled, and Sophie's frown deepened. 

"I could've pulled the information from their minds, y'know," she grumbled.

How could Alvar not trust her? She'd easily read others minds many times before. So what was so different about this time.

"I wouldn't have gotten caught."

Alvar let out a hearty laugh, making Sophie's insides flutter. It was rare to see him laugh like that. Like he really meant it. She wished she could see that side of him more. Not that she liked him. He was like a brother to her. 

Not yet. Sophie reminded herself, We'll destroy the Black Swan. And fix things. Alvar will get to be happy all the time, then. 

She smiled at the thought.

"I know you could've," Alvar replied, and Sophie realized they were still conversing, "But not yet. You'll see them again, soon. And then, you'll get to read their minds all you want." 

Sophie pursed her lips, turning to meet Alvar's eyes. 

"You know who they are, don't you? Who are they? Who were they looking for?" 

Alvar's smile turned dark, his features shadowed by something opposite of happiness. But not sadness nor anger. Something... other

"They were looking for you, Sophie," he answered, grimly, "They wanted to take you away. Away from the Neverseen. Your family. Away from me." 

Sophie felt a lump form in her throat. She swallowed it. 

"Who were they?" she asked, pretty sure she could already guess.

"Dogs of the Black Swan," Alvar answered, "You already know one of them." 

Sophie straightened at the mention of it. 

"The Traitor." 

Alvar nodded his confirmation, and fear trickled down Sophie's spine. Goosebumps crawling up and down her arms. 

"And the others?" 

A look of sadness and grief crossed his features as he forced himself to answer.

"They were my brother and sister. They've been misguided by the Black Swan. Led astray. They hate me. And so do my parents. They've all been brainwashed. But I'm not going to let them go down the wrong path. Even if they think I'm evil, I'll do anything to show them the truth. Bring them back to the real good side. They'll understand when we do that 'big reveal'," he pet Sophie's head, her red hair frizzing as he did so, as he said, "So, don't mess up. My family's lives rest on your shoulders."

Sophie nodded, earning a grateful smile from Alvar, and Sophie returned it with her own. But it wasn't half as big, being saddened by Alvar's story. His sister. Brother. Mom and Dad. They all hated Alvar for doing what they thought was wrong. Evil

Sophie clenched her fists. She'd do whatever it took to bring Alvar's family back to the truth. So they'd love him again. But it also felt as though a heavy weight had been placed on her shoulders. And not just because of Alvar's hand. But because of his words, instead. 

"So, don't mess up. My family's lives rest on your shoulders."

She wouldn't fail. Sophie would show the council-- the world just how much better the Lost Cities would be without such wicked rules. She'd bring Fintan his justice. Alvar, his family. Lady Gisela... er, whatever it was she wanted. 

Sophie was going to show the world that she wasn't some weapon the Black Swan created. She was the hope of the world.

A beacon of light.

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