60

Keefe

"What's going on?" Keefe asked, thrumming his fingers against his legs as he sat across from Livvy, who'd claimed he'd "need to sit for this". Something was definitely up--something the council believed would be better left secret. But Elwin was Foxfire's medic, so it wouldn't take long to figure out what had happened anyway. Keefe had been preparing for the worst during their entire walk, until they'd stopped on a small hill a good distance away from all the other patients. But he'd never have been prepared for what Livvy said next. 

"Elwin... lost his life during the battle." Keefe jumped to his feet. Elwin was dead? That meant the Neverseen had killed another one of Keefe's friends. Kenric, Calla, Mr. Forkle, and now... Elwin.  And Sophie... she'd hated Fitz for hurting Alvar--for killing Alvar, aka a member of the Neverseen. So what would happen when she learned Elwin was...? He choked back a sob, though tears still slipped down his cheeks. 

This was the same Elwin who had been childishly obsessed with stuffed toys and had even given Keefe his own beloved Mrs. Stinkbottom. This was the same Elwin who had saved Keefe's life on multiple occasions, as he'd saved Biana, Dex, Fitz, and Sophie all at some point. Elwin had been there since the beginning. And now... he was gone. Another loss for the Black Swan. They had Sophie back now, but at what cost? How many lives had been taken, how many wanderlings would be added to the forest? And though they had Sophie, she thought she worked with the Neverseen now, while there was no way of telling if this would be permanent. 

"I see why the council had wanted to keep this information quiet," Livvy said, steadying his trembling hands. He hadn't realized they'd been shaking, and he shoved them into his pockets. 

"I'm fine," he said, his tense self loosening as another question bubbled inside him. "Did you... see it happen?" 

Livvy looked at him, and when he refused to make eye contact, she tilted his head to face hers with a gentle hand. Her eyes were watering, a single tear falling down her cheek as she gave a sad smile. 

"Thank goodness, no. I believe it was that Babblos kid who had seen it happen." Jensi had seen it happen? Something churned inside Keefe. Jensi... While Keefe didn't really know him that well, he knew that he was far too young to get caught up in a war such like this. Then again, weren't they all? He couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like... to watch someone get brutally slaughtered before their own eyes. How had Jensi gotten into this mess? Last Keefe had known, Jensi still had yet to manifest.  Keefe made it a point to check up on Jensi later, get the full story from him. And ensure he was okay. 

Meanwhile, the silence between the two stretched on for what felt like forever, until Keefe decided, "I'm going go check on Sophie." Sighing, he dragged his feet back to where she lay, through the hills and grass, only to find... 

"Sophie!"

://

"I don't know what's going on!" Sophie cried, tears waterfalling from her eyes as the golden bolts crackled around her, hitting the grass and lighting it with fire. Purple and gold flames towered above her, the warmth tickling her skin. While burning everything else in its path, it seemed to have no effect on her. 

"I don't... I don't know..." Her cries were cut off as the crackles were silenced. The purple and gold light the fire had created flickered off, and Sophie was once again in the dark--both literally, and figuratively. She sighed, collapsing to her knees in relief. But that relief didn't last as eleven regally dressed elves stepped up to Sophie, wearing each their own scowl. 

One woman stood before the rest, eyes glaring into Sophie as if trying to see her soul. She was holding some sort of gadget that looked strangely familiar, and it was covered in ice. Just like, Sophie realized, the grass was. She'd froze the fire with a gadget? The woman had bronze skin and brown waves for hair that fell past her shoulders. And her eyes glowed a beautiful aqua color. 

"Sophie!" the blonde boy rushed to her side, eyeing the eleven warily. He held her with one arm around her waist, almost protective as the other hand motioned for the group to stop. Sophie's brow furrowed. Who were these people? She really needed answers, but telling everyone she had amnesia would probably cause a huge mess--one that Sophie really didn't want to deal with. So she stayed silent. 

"Miss Foster," said the elf with the pointiest ears. His gaze was stern; warning. "I understa--"

"Understand what?" snapped another woman from back. 

"Alina, please--"

"She helped the enemy, Bronte! We understand nothing! She has committed treason and therefore shall be banished!"

"The decision should come from all of us, Alina," a woman with white hair freckles sprinkling her face said. "For now, we are simply trying to gain knowledge." Bronte grumbled something about missing the original, before he turned back to Sophie. 

"Miss Foster," he started again, sending a glare to the woman called Alina before continued. "We are in no way here to harm you, but wish to gain insight." Sophie glanced to the boy beside her, but his gaze held firm on Alina. She inhaled, taking a moment to think before answering. 

"Yes?" What else was she meant to say? Tell the very important-looking elves "no"? Especially when she'd apparently committed treason!? Sophie scolded her past self very well before answering the man's questions as honestly as she could. 

"You didn't mean to start this... purple fire?" Sophie shook her head. 

"How do we know she's not lying!?" Alina demanded. "We need an Empath--"

"Mr. Sencen is an Empath," the woman with aqua eyes reminded. Everyone looked to the boy, and when he nodded, they turned back to Alina, whose face was red with anger. 

"We need an unbiased Empath," Alina corrected, and Bronte rolled his eyes. 

"I doubt Oralie would back you up now that you've gotten her fired," Bronte said. 

"It was a group decision to--"

"I'm well aware of that!" Bronte's voice rose above everything else, and even the boy flinched at the volume. "But right now, we're simply trying to understand things from Miss Foster's point of view. Hopefully, if we can proceed without anymore interruptions, we can actually come to a decision on the whole 'banishing' idea." 

Alina huffed, backing down and hiding behind the rest of the group in resentment. 

"Miss Foster," Bronte tried again. "If the fire was an accident, can I get some more insight on the destruction on Atlantis?" 

Sophie held his gaze, absolutely clueless about what she should say.

"The destruction on Atlantis?" she repeated in a squeak. Had this been the treason that Alina woman had meant? Why she should be banished? She looked back to the boy-- "Mr. Sencen"-- but he didn't look at her. His eyes showed pain, and Sophie's heart felt heavy. Had she hurt him? If she had, why would he stay by her side all day? She hoped she hadn't. 

"Yes, Miss Foster. You destroyed half the city, and we must know if there was something else behind it, not whatever villain act you put up." Sophie flinched at the label. Villain. he'd called it an act, but still. A villain

Sophie glanced out into the distance, remembering the Sencen boy's words, telling her they were outside Atlantis. Maybe if she could see the damage... she could find an answer. Something to defend herself. Then again, she may as well be guilty. It wasn't like she could trust her memories. She found nothing but more darkness, the city invisible to her eyes.

"To be honest..." she sighed. She'd hoped starting the sentence would help her finish it, but it hadn't, and now she had to come up with something. And the easiest thing at her disposal, was the truth. "I don't really remember...?" 

A man with lengthy dark hair and sapphire eyes stepped closer, glancing at the Sencen boy, who nodded slightly. 

"You're telling the truth, Miss Foster? You truly don't remember the destruction of Atlantis?" 

"Or anything before that," Sophie continued. It was a truth she'd needed to get off her chest. And if some of it had already slipped out, why not the rest? The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 

"Define 'anything'." Sophie locked eyes with him, emphasizing it when she told him, "Anything. Ever. At all." The man turned back to the ten behind him, and they all just... stared at each other for a strange while. The silence grew unnerving, but the boy still refused to look at her. Finally, she pulled out of his grip and seated herself beside him. He couldn't protect her when she still wasn't sure whether she'd hurt him or not. 

"Sophie," said the woman with aqua eyes. "Do you know who he is?" Sophie's insides churned as she followed the woman's finger to the boy sitting beside her. His hands were shaking as they twisted in his lap. His icy eyes focused on his fingers, still avoiding her eyes. She wanted to say "yes". To tell them that the boy beside her, kind enough to stay with her all day while she healed, had left such an impression on her life that she could never forget him. But instead, a black swan. She remembered a swan, over a boy who'd stayed by her bed throughout the day, just for her. How could she tell them no? 

"I..." hanging her head, she mumbled, "I don't. I don't remember him, or any of you." 

//

It hurt. Keefe had figured, when she'd first mentioned she hadn't remembered Atlantis, he'd felt her panic and theorized she could've lost all memories. He knew he was right, but hearing the words stung even more than Keefe had expected. He'd stayed by her side all day, and into the night. First, Elwin. Now, Sophie. And the worst part was, it might've been his fault. It had been during her sleep that she'd lost her memories. And she wouldn't have been in that sleep if it weren't for him. He kept his gaze downcast, not daring to meet her gaze in case she could see the guilt in his eyes. 

The council shared looks. "Do you remember anyone? Or anything? Maybe the name 'Keeper' rings a bell?" Keefe flinched at the name, his mind flashing back to his fight with the Neverseen version of his Foster. The word lit something inside Keefe, but he buried it. She wasn't his "Foster" anymore. Not only did she not remember him, it wasn't even her being with the Neverseen, but instead, it was the fact that, he might've been the one to erase her memories. Which meant he had no right to call her by that name. Instead, she was "Sophie". The word sloshed around his head, trying to find a home inside it. But it was too foreign--too strange. The word felt weird on his tongue, too. 

"I don't recognize the name," Sophie told Councillor Emery. "I don't... remember anything." The hesitation caused Emery to glance Keefe's way, and he gave a small nod as confirmation. Though he was lying. Sophie's emotions had shifted strangely as she said the final words. She didn't remember being Keeper, Keefe could tell. But she did remember something. The truth emanated from her as clear as day. He couldn't imagine anyone not noticing it, but maybe that was just an "Empath thing". 

More silence, which Keefe knew was telepathic conversation. He wondered if Sophie remembered anything about the Lost Cities, or if her entire knowledge of her entire life was gone, leaving her only able to talk and think. Eventually, just when Keefe thought the suspense would kill him, Alina stepped to Sophie with a smug grin. 

"Sophie Foster," she said, dragging out the name in a mocking tone. "As an extra precaution until we are absolutely certain you aren't a threat to the Lost Cities, we'll be bringing out an old friend." Her smile was wide, while the other councillors seemed uncertain. 

"What are you talking about?" Keefe demanded, refusing to make eye contact with Sophie as he spoke. 

"I'd rather we do this discretely. Not many know of Sophie's 'incident' in Atlantis today, and I'd prefer we keep it that way until Sophie's memories have returned. Then, she can decide what to do." 

Keefe nodded, relief washing over him. Sophie wouldn't be known as the "traitor". As "Keeper". Hopefully, that new identity could die as quickly as it had been created. But Keefe couldn't stay quiet when an all-too-familiar gadget poofed into existence, conjured by Councillor Liora. 

"I thought Dex had destroyed that," Keefe growled, jumping to his feet in protest. Sophie stood too, probably confused. 

"There was enough left for us to have our own Technopath recreate one," Emery said in a soothing tone. It only angered Keefe more, however. 

"THAT THING IS AN ABOMINATION!" He hadn't realized he was crying until something wet tickled his hand, and a salty drop slipped down his skin. "You can't do that to her. Not again..." He also hadn't meant for his words to come out so mushy. But they were out there now, and there was no taking them back. 

"Do what again?" Sophie demanded, fear flickering across her warm brown eyes. Keefe, finally, met her eyes, relaying his own fear in hopes she knew what to expect. He saw, as he met her eyes, that the golden flecks had yet to return. Not that it mattered but... he wondered if that meant the "real Sophie" was still gone, just waiting to return. 

The two stared for the longest time, and when she didn't use her telepathy, not once, Keefe knew she probably wasn't even aware of her abilities--making her all the more dangerous. He couldn't tell the council that. If they found out, all chances of convincing them to try another way... they'd be gone. 

He glared as Liora stepped forward, the circlet sitting innocently in her hands. 

"Our Technopath has also improved it, ensuring there is no way to take it off without a councillor's DNA." Keefe watched as Liora locked the circlet into place on Sophie's head, whispering something inaudible before pulling away. He hadn't heard whatever it was she'd said, but Sophie's spiking emotions seemed to quiet after that, and he was grateful. 

Liora than nodded to the other councillors, Oralie noticeably absent, before all eleven leapt away. Slamming his fist into the ground, Keefe cursed. He'd barely fought against the council, barely tried to stop them. And now, according to Councillor Liora, only councillors were able to take off the circlet. 

"Useless," he uttered, so quiet he could barely hear himself. He should've tried harder. Tried harder to them from using the circlet. Tried harder to help Sophie back when she had her memories--or, the corrupted memories. He should've been there been there to help Sophie back when she'd first been kidnapped. He never should have left... He could see that now. So, Keefe made a new vow. After everything was over, Keefe wouldn't be returning to the Forbidden Cities. Instead, he vowed that he'd be there for Sophie. No. Matter. What. He didn't care whether Sophie liked him back or not anymore. He just wanted his Foster back. His Foster

"Did I..." Keefe looked up to see Sophie, tears spilling down her face as she stood there, head bowed. "Did I hurt you? When I destroyed Atlantis?" More tears fell, and he could tell she was trying her hardest not to break down. Keefe's heart died a little inside, watching her. Useless. "I don't remember, and it's killing me. I don't remember being... a traitor, and I couldn't imagine... I didn't hurt you, did I?" 

His own eyes welled with tears as he watched her. Her fists were clenched, quivering. 

Useless. 

Useless.

Useless. 

The word pounded in his head, haunting his thoughts. He wanted to comfort her, to hold her steady until she could stand on her own. He wanted to take her hand and walk her into a time of peace and love. But he stood there, frozen in his own fears. He couldn't move. 

"I'm sorry," Sophie said, seeming to believe she'd hurt him. She hadn't... Not physically at least. And not on purpose either. It was Keefe's on idiotic self that was claiming he deserved her. He didn't deserve her, though. Not at all. While he'd been chilling at Starbucks in the Forbidden Cities, Sophie was being drugged, kidnapped, and brainwashed, if that's what they were calling it. Now, because of him, their lives had turned into this huge mess of emotions and lies. 

"No," Keefe told her, still frozen and eyes looking away. "I'm sorry. You didn't hurt me. I... hurt you." She gave him a curious look, but he refused to meet her gaze. He didn't deserve that either---to see her beautiful, unique brown eyes, though missing the golden flecks that usually sparkled in the sunlight. 

"What... do we do now?" she asked, her fingers twitching towards her lashes, though her other hand kept her from doing so. Keefe could think of lots of things they could do, one in particular. But... it wasn't the right time. And he was starting to think that the time would never be right. 

"It's late," Keefe eventually told her. "We should probably find somewhere decent to stay the night?" His first thought had been Havenfield, but... Did Grady and Edaline know about Keeper? If they did, what did they think? Would Sophie be safe there? Or if they didn't, would Keefe have to be the one to tell them? None of their other friends had visited yet, which was a clear sign that they were avoiding her on purpose. That ruled out Rimeshire, Everglen, and any of the Black Swan hideouts. 

There had to be someplace they could go. But the longer Keefe thought about it, he realized just how lost they truly were. Maybe... an idea took place. It would hurt to stay there, after what he'd learned earlier that evening. But... they were desperate. 

"I... know a place we could stay. But don't get your hopes up." Sophie nodded, and while he wasn't quite sure whether or not Livvy would clear them to go, he knew he was tired. And even after sleeping nearly a day, he knew Sophie was, too. So, grabbing her by the waist, he leaped them both to Foxfire. 

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