Sophie

"You're not Alvar," Sophie said, glaring at the brunette before her, tied to a small wooden chair that had been lying around.

Biana. The Traitor. But despite how angry she was for being tricked, Sophie couldn't help but feel pity for the girl. Alvar's sister. She was so misguided. Brainwashed. Lost. And Sophie wished she could help Biana. For Alvar's sake.

"Nope," Biana grinned, spitting at Sophie's feet, "I'm his sister." 

Sophie felt her face twist in surprise, Biana knew about Alvar!- and Sophie knew she'd just given away information by her reaction. 

Despite how powerful Sophie was with her multiple abilities, she'd never master the art of acting as well as Alvar had.

"How did you know the password?" she quizzed. Biana smirked.

"It was easy. I know Sophie." 

Sophie straightened, growing more confident. Biana was lying. 

"Now, the real answer?" she urged, flaring her nostrils as Biana's grinned widened.

"You don't believe me? Search my thoughts." 

Sophie was tempted. She almost did. But, Alvar knew what he was doing. She trusted him with her life. And if he said Sophie was not yet ready, she would wait. However long he needed. 

But she also needed to appear confident. 

"I know you don't know Sophie. Because I know her. And she's in no way associated with you."

Biana gave Sophie a quizzical look, as if trying to figure Sophie out. 

"I do know Sophie," Biana insisted, looking genuinely confused now, "How else would I know the right password?" 

"You must have read my mind," Sophie huffed, defensively. Biana flashed in and out of sight, still restrained to the chair. 

"Vanisher, remember?" 

"Double abilities." 

"Nope."

"It's rare not impossible. Double abilities," Sophie insisted, but Biana just laughed.

"No. It is impossible. You're thinking of Sophie. But she's not--"

"Normal? I know. But what about that one boy? The traitor of the Neverseen? I heard he has multiple abilities." Another laugh from Biana.

"Keefe? His mom experimented on him! He's the same as Sophie!" 

"A lab rat?" Sophie guessed, hissing the word with a hint of sour. She was growing impatient. She really should go back for Alvar. But... she couldn't leave Biana. That would risk too much. Lady Gisela might learn of Sophie's mistake and punish her. 

Alvar was strong enough to fight his own way back. He could manage. And so could Sophie. 

"So, how did you know the password?" Sophie urged, steering them back onto topic.

"I told you," Biana spat, "I know Sophie. We're friends."

Sophie laughed so hard her sides hurt.

"Friends? That's the biggest lie I've ever heard!"

"Search my mind!" Biana said, again. And again, Sophie was tempted. But she restrained herself. 

Alvar knows what he's doing. Alvar knows what he's doing.

She repeated the reminder over and over until it was engraved into her brain. 

"If you won't talk, I guess I'll have to beat it out of you," Sophie snarled, but it was an empty threat. And she was sure Biana knew that from the way Sophie's voice wavered. 

As much as Sophie wanted to be like Alvar, she couldn't torture anyone. It made her sick just thinking about it. Torture. The word seemed to trigger something in Sophie. A sort of... memory? 

The image was blurred and fractured, but Sophie could hear screams. Pleas for help. The sound of burning skin, sizzling. Simmering. Sophie's face contorted in disgust as she imagined the smell stinging her nose. 

A girl and a boy. The boy had red hair and she could faintly make out freckles. The girl had blonde hair and brown eyes. Similar to Sophie. 

Though the girl's vision was limited, she could tell they were being tortured. Teased. Taunted. 

She could almost taste the drugs the Black Swan slipped down her throat, trying to sedate her. And now, Sophie knew why the thought of sedatives always made her queasy. The feeling had been carved into her. Trauma from this experience. 

So it was a memory. One the Black Swan had wiped from her memory. But the one thing that didn't make sense was the boy. The redhead boy who slightly resembled Sophie's disguise. Who was he? Why were he and Sophie together? 

"Hello?" a voice said, drawing Sophie out of her daze.

"What?" Sophie asked, realizing it was Biana who was talking. She had also burst into laughter.

"You zoned out for a bit. What's the matter?" 

"What did you do to me?" Sophie asked, hating how her voice squeaked. 

"I didn't do anything to you," Biana said, and Sophie tried to ignore the nagging feeling of honesty behind Biana's words. 

"You and your... cult did something to me," Sophie said, stumbling back a couple steps. 

Alvar. He'd know what to do. But she couldn't leave now. Not when Biana knew about one of Sophie's weaknesses. 

"We did nothing. Why? What is it?" It bugged Sophie how genuinely concerned Biana seemed, her lips twisted into a sincere frown of worry.

 What was happening? What were these memories? It was only one-- but it was enough to make Sophie go insane. Luckily, she managed to keep herself in check. Ignoring the urge to tear her eyelashes out then and there. 

There was something wrong with Sophie. And if the Black Swan used it against her, she'd be in serious trouble. She could fail to fulfill Alvar's wishes. Bring his family back to him.

"What's going on?" a voice asked, coming down the hall. Sophie tensed, while Biana straightened. But as the familiar man appeared in the room, Sophie smiled with relief. 

"Fintan," she sighed. But his gaze was already focused on Biana. At least he didn't question Sophie's disguise. That would've given her away.

"What's she doing here?" Fintan asked. 

Sophie decided to leave out the part where she had mistakenly taken the wrong person and instead said, "I captured her from the Black Swan." 

Biana laughed, and Sophie sent a silencing scowl to the girl.

Though, Biana didn't get the message.

"She was attempting to save my brother. But mistakenly grabbed me instead."

Sophie rolled her eyes.

"Please, how could I accidently grab the wrong person? You two are clearly different weights, you have long hair, too. I would've felt that." 

As Sophie listed the reasons she couldn't have possibly made the mistake Biana was speaking of, Sophie realized how much of an idiot she was. How had she not noticed the change in weight and the hair that tickled her back? 

In her defense, however, she'd never actually picked up Alvar before. So, how would she have known? As for the hair, Sophie had been wearing a cape. It wouldn't have bothered Sophie so much she'd notice. 

Fintan nodded, agreeing with Sophie. 

"Where's Alvar?" he asked, and Sophie turned bright red with embarrassment. Biana smirked, triumphantly. 

"Updating Lady Gisela...?" she answered, hoping the lie would satisfy him until Alvar returned. 

Fintan nodded his approval.

"Well done," he said, and Sophie swelled with pride, "You might just be able to get ranked higher. Maybe earn more information from higher ups." 

Sophie beamed, and Biana scowled. 

But Sophie's smile faded as a strange tingling ran through her body, tickling her. 

"I've... got to go. Fintan, can you watch her for me?" Sophie eyed her mentor with a pleading gaze, in hopes he'd understand how desperate she was. He gave a small nod, and Sophie bolted to get away.

The elixirs were wearing off. She headed to her room to retrieve the rest of her supply, only to learn she'd used them up. Sophie tugged at an eyelash, sending another plea-- this time, to Alvar.

Alvar? Alvar? 

A faint voice responded, faint from exhaustion.

Sophie?

Yes, where are you now? His answer aggravated Sophie, but at the same time, it made Sophie proud of her ability's strength. Inflicting was definitely her favorite ability. Despite how wrong it felt every time she used it. 

Still paralyzed. He thought with a hint of irritation. But Sophie also heard pride. Alvar was proud of her. 

Sorry. Sophie said, trying to hide her giggles of excitement. 

Should I come get you?

No. Alvar said, a little too quickly for Sophie's liking. But once again, she trusted Alvar. He was like a big brother to her, despite not being blood related like Biana or Fitz. 

Just... give me a minute.

Okay. One request? She knew it was a long shot, especially because she'd just left him paralyzed. She could almost hear Alvar's sigh as he replied.

Yes?

We're out of elixirs. And I kinda captured Biana. Sorry. She added, remembering they were siblings.

But instead of the grief or fear she was expecting, not that she'd ever seen Alvar fearful, she could hear his smile as he thought:

Good job.

Sophie swelled with joy, overflowing with it. If she had a "Happiness Meter", it'd be bring bring bring-ing at the top. 

Two simple words that meant more than the world to Sophie. It was the very reason she so badly wanted to save the world from the council. And it also encouraged Sophie to try and "fix" Biana. 

I'll bring back some elixirs. Which ones?

It was... Sophie paused to read the labels of her empty vials. Redhead Ripplepuff, Freckle Frognog, and Electric Eyed Eel. She answered, staring through the mirror to admire her electric blue eyes. 

Got it. Alvar thought. I'll be home soon. 

Sophie nodded. Soon. He'd be home soon. The word "home", though it was strange, filled Sophie with pure bliss. Home. It was a simple word, but it was now Sophie's favorite word. 

Because it reminded Sophie that, no matter what Biana said about being an experiment for the Black Swan, Sophie did belong somewhere. 

Sophie belonged right where she was. The Neverseen's base. With Fintan, Gethen, Lady Gisela. And especially Alvar. It reminded Sophie that she was just as much a misfit as the rest of her "family". No. The word didn't even belong in quotes. Because they were her family.

Her human parents were dead. And her "biological parents"-- whoever had donated DNA to the Black Swan's experiment-- were dead to Sophie. They didn't deserve the title of "parents". 

Be home soon. Sophie thought, deciding it best to stay far away from Biana until she got her disguise back. She couldn't risk exposing her identity, now could she?