Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20200103061534

Hi guys! I'm going to be busy with school starting and extracurriculars and stuff, so I might not be able to post daily. I'm going to keep going with this, and I'm having a lot of fun writing it.

Here's Chapter 20. Hope you enjoy!

Twenty

Linh?

Her super-sweet friend had placed a tracking device on someone without their permission?

Linh had been furious when Glimmer had moved in, but still…...

“You did what?” Tam shouted.

“It turned out well in the end,” Linh called defensively.

'''Tiergan sighed. “Linh, keep in mind that planting a secret tracking device on someone is not ethical. Or legal. We will be having a very serious talk about this when we have the time. However, Luzia has betrayed us, so it did have its merits.”'''

'''“The Council tracks us with registry pendants—no offense.” Linh glanced at the eight imposing figures across the room. '''

Sophie winced.

The Councillors were there, too—what would they have to say about this?

“Where did you even get a tracking device?” Tam asked, glaring at his twin.

'''“I reached out to Tinker—the Black Swan’s Technopath. She also didn’t really trust Glimmer, so she made it for me.”'''

'''Sophie shot a glance across the room. The Councillors seemed to be debating telepathically, judging from their strained expressions and Emery’s I’m going to need some strong headache medicine after this face. “We aren’t going to press charges,” Emery told the group after a moment. “Even without the other four here, it’s unanimous.”'''

'''There was a general sigh of relief. '''

“However, we do ask that you help us track down Luzia, and Miss Song, keep in mind that in the future, the Councillors will be doing the tracking, not you.”

'''“I think we’re all in agreement on that one,” Mr. Forkle said. '''

'''Emery turned to Linh. “Putting the ethics of your doings aside, do you have access to the tracking reciever?”'''

'''Linh nodded, pulling a silver square from a pocket in her tunic. She showed Emery and Dex how to navigate it. '''

“She’s in the Liamber Valley,” Dex declared after a few moments.

“We should try and track her down now, before she can return to the Neverseen,” Fitz called.

'''“We need to apprehend her as soon as possible,” Mr. Forkle agreed. “A small group, that’s good with disguises.”'''

And, miraculously, it didn’t take too much time to figure out who was going.

Biana and Sophie, so they could vanish up to five people total due to the new strength of Sophie’s enhancing.

Keefe, because his new illusionist ability would come in handy in case Luzia had anything wacky waiting for them.

'''Linh, because it was her tracking device, and the Liamber valley was full of streams and rivers. If they had to fight, her Hydrokinetic skills would be useful. '''

And Grady, because all the adults had wanted the teenagers to have at least one adult with them.

With that, Councillor Liora conjured a leaping crystal, and the five of them headed to the Liamber Valley, to track down the elf they thought was their friend—but wasn’t anymore.

'''The valley was huge and deep, dark green and glimmering with various streams. It looked gorgeous—way too pretty to be hiding a criminal. '''

“Wow,” Biana breathed.

'''Linh took a deep breath. “The water…”'''

'''“Let’s get down to business,” Grady whispered, from where he was standing between Linh and Biana. Keefe tightened his grip on Sophie’s hand, as he would cause the least chaos by being enhanced because Grady’s and Linh’s abilities were both just as powerful as they were unstable.'''

'''A pale blue breeze rushed through Sophie’s mind. '''

'''“I can feel your panic, Foster,” Keefe reminded her. “It’s okay. We’ve got this.”'''

'''“Straight ahead,” Linh told the group. Although Sophie couldn’t see her friend, she knew that Linh was holding the tracking reciever in her free hand.'''

'''They hiked through the dense trees, trying not to make too much noise. Sophie was now regretting her fancy Regent clothing. At least she’d worn sensible boots. Her purple gown wasn’t that frilly, and the long sleeves were definitely a plus. But the stupid cape kept catching on everything—bushes, trees, twigs. It did keep out the cold, though.'''

'''The sky was dimming, the sun sinking lower and lower, and Sophie spotted a star in the clear blue expanse. '''

It was hard to think that just over an hour ago, she’d been probing Luzia’s mind, and now she was wandering around in a forest.

'''“We need to go across,” Linh directed, and Sophie turned her attention back to her friends. Linh was staring at a stream, which was rushing and roaring and foaming, like an angry lion crafted from water. Too deep to wade, too wide to jump.'''

'''“How?” Grady wondered. “Could you part the water and create a path?”'''

'''Linh shook her head. “I don’t know. The water feels different here.” She stretched out a hand, trying to part the water, but it didn’t even rippple.'''

“Maybe if I enhance you….” Sophie began.

“Or what if the water isn’t water at all?” Keefe asked.

'''Sophie couldn’t see him, but a moment later, the area to her left lit up and dimmed simeltaneously, as if Keefe was sucking away all the shadows and light. The water dimmed and darkened….then disappeared altogether. '''

The ground smoothed out, revealing a large circular stone with an eye symbol cut into it.

The symbol of the Neverseen.

And there was a tiny silver plate set in the center of the eye.

'''A sensor? A lock?'''

“We should investigate,” Keefe suggested.

'''“Absolutely not.” Grady declared. “Who knows what will be inside a Neverseen hideout?”'''

“Can’t we be spontaneous, like we were when going to London?” Sophie countered.

'''Grady sighed, rubbing his temples. He spoke in a bare whisper. “They might have mechanisms to detect intruders. Keefe, replace the illusions. Sophie, transmit an update to Fitz, and tell him to tell the Collective and the Council. After Keefe has replaced the illusions, we’re going to walk away from here, find a safe place, and wait to see what the other adults have to say.”'''

Everyone reluctantly agreed.

Keefe shot more shadows and light, replacing the stream.

“How do you do that?” Sophie marvelled.

'''“It’s instinctive, sorta.” Keefe shot another bolt of shadows at the base of the tree. “Thanks to Mommy Dearest.”'''

Sophie sucked in a sharp breath.

His mother might be down there.

“Keefe—” 

'''“It’s fine. Let me replace the illusion, and then we’ll get out of here.”'''

'''It only took him eighty-six more seconds before the stream was back to the way it was. '''

“Let’s go,” Sophie whispered.

'''Nobody argued. As they walked, Sophie reached out with her mind.'''

'Fitz! FITZ!'

'Sophie! Is something wrong?'

'We’re all okay. We found a Neverseen hideout—at least, we think we did. We’re not sure what to do about it. Can you tell Mr. Forkle and the Councillors?'

'Yeah, sure. Give me a second.'

A minute later, he transmitted back, I told them.

They want us to step back and wait, right?

'Yeah. You’re supposed to come back here as soon as possible and we’ll figure out a plan. '

'Okay, I guess. I’ll tell everyone and we’ll be back at Havenfield soon.'

'Awesome. Stay safe.'

You, too.

'''Sophie passed along the message, and they light leaped back in the last glimmers of the fading sunlight. '''

When they reached Havenfield, Sophie realized that they weren’t the only ones who had made it back.

Councillors Bronte, Clarette, Zarina, and Alina were all there.

'''Along with an infuriated Empress Pernille. '''