Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20191217234739

Chapter Six

'''“Sophie? Time to go.”'''

Sophie rolled over in bed, not wanting to wake up.

'''“Don’t blame me, you were the one who schedueled law-breaking at midnight.” She looked up to see Grady standing over her bed. '''

“Ha, very funny.” 

'''Grady smiled and left the room. “I’ll be waiting downstairs.” He headed out the door.'''

Sophie put on dark pants and a dark tunic, along with the most sensible boots she could find, and then headed downstairs.

Grady and Edaline were waiting for her in the living room.

'''Grady gave her a hug. “Remember, be back by one.” '''

“I know.” 

'''“Stay safe,” Edaline said, pulling Sophie in for a hug. “I love you.”'''

'''“I love you too, Mom,” Sophie replied, sinking in to the embrace. '''

Who cared that Oralie was her biological mother?

'''Her real mother was right here. '''

***

'''Dex and Oralie were waiting for her outside, both dressed in dark clothes. Oralie also held a satchel that clinked like it was full of shards of glass.'''

“Do you have the leaping crystal?” Sophie asked.

'''Oralie nodded, taking it out of a hidden pocket. “I also have vials for the DNA samples.”'''

The crystal was opalescent, like every color of the rainbow swirled together.

'''“I’ve got the fake cache,” Dex said, holding it out to Oralie. '''

The tiny marble looked exactly like the real cache Sophie had seen—but when Dex touched a piece of his hair to the silver circle, the entire thing glowed pink.

'''“Thank you,” Oralie said, taking it from him and putting it into yet another hidden pocket. From the look Sophie got at the inside of her coat, the blond Councillor had over fifteen of them, which made her a little jealous—her most-pocketed coat only had nine. “This looks incredible.” '''

'''“It’s getting close to midnight,” Biana said, appearing between Dex and Sophie. She smiled a little when both of them gasped. '''

'''“I’m ready.” Sophie concentrated on turning on her enhancing. '''

'''Biana reached for her hand, and Dex took Biana’s hand. Oralie held the crystal up to the moonlight, making sure everyone could see the path before she grasped Dex’s other hand.'''

'''“Three. Two. One,” Dex whispered.'''

The four of them stepped into the light, letting it whisk them away.

***

'''The crystal took them to a round room, a shrine to everything pink and girly. Sophie knew this place—Oralie’s readying room. But since the curly-haired Councillor already had placed her hair in one of the vials, they headed for the door.'''

'''The hallway was extremely dark. Even in the daytime, the diamond walls kept out most of the light, and with everyone vanished, Sophie didn’t know where to go. Oralie took the lead, directing them five steps straight and to the left, and Dex used his Technopath skills to open the door.'''

'''The room was full of mirrors, reflecting the faint moonlight and making the room glow. Peridot-and-silver lanterns, currently unlit, hung from the ceiling. This had to be Councillor Alina’s readying room. Sophie’s least favorite Councillor hadn’t been so bad when she was the principal of Foxfire, the prestigous elvin academy. But the power of being a Councillor had gone to her head—and it looked like Alina’s incredible vanity hadn’t abated in the slightest. '''

'''They made their way to the dressing table, and a moment later, Biana tapped Sophie’s arm. Sophie could just barely hear the glass clink.'''

'''The four of them moved through the rooms, collecting DNA from Councillors Clarette, Zarina, Ramira, Noland, Darek, Velia, Terik, and Liora. Thankfully, the jewels the Councillors wore on their circlets were prevalent in the rooms, and Oralie had spent enough time around all of them to be able to match room to person. '''

'''Finally, they reached the last room: bare and simple, with just a sturdy table and chair. At first, nobody could spot any combs or brushes. But Biana noticed a locked drawer which Dex was able to open, and it was with a sigh of relief that Oralie tucked Bronte’s DNA into the last vial.'''

'''There was enough moonlight streaming through the window for Sophie to pull out her home crystal and create a path back to Havenfield. As soon as they arrived, they all dropped hands. Sophie collapsed on the dewy grass, and everyone else followed suit. She concentrated on turning off her enhancing. '''

'''“We did it!” Dex marveled. '''

'''“Who’s going to hold onto the vials?” Biana asked. “And when can we meet next?” '''

'''“We can meet here,” Sophie suggested. “Really early in the morning. Is eight good? And I can hold onto the vials until then.”'''

“You sure?” Dex asked.

'''“Yeah. Grady and Edaline probably won’t ask too many questions. Also, I want to.”'''

'''Oralie handed her the satchel. '''

'''“See you in the morning,” Dex said as he leapt away. Oralie and Biana also left, promising to be back at eight.'''

Sophie headed back to the house, and when she stepped inside the front door, she wasn’t suprised to see both Grady and Edaline waiting up for her.

'''“I’ve got the DNA,” she told them, showing them the satchel. “We’re all meeting here tomorrow morning at eight.”'''

'''“Then you’re going upstairs to sleep,” Grady dictated. “Seriously—you don’t want to be groggy when violating dozens of fundamental laws.”'''

Sophie snorted.

“Are you going to be okay?” Edaline asked.

'''“I’m fine,” Sophie replied, hoping the words were true. “I’ve broken the law dozens of times before. What else is new?”'''

'''“Just promise me one thing,” Edaline said. “You had nothing to do with whatever is in Oralie’s cache. Nothing. So don’t let the guilt get to you. No matter what’s inside that cache, it wasn’t your fault.”'''

'''Sophie nodded. “I promise.”'''