Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:FC5C:33DA:7CF0:60A-20191024050134/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:8150:45BD:7FCB:5331-20191026195448

Chapter 3

Sophie woke up on a cool bed, sheets wrapped around her. The soft suffocating blankets were so soothing, Sophie wished she could dive into them and never resurface. The headache had slightly dulled around the edges, but was still brain splitting. Someone forced her up and tipped a sweet, cold bottle of Youth water into her mouth. The water flowed through her, and the headache softened. Sophie groaned as more elixirs were forced down her throat. "No... sedatives..." she managed, even though talking caused a huge toll of pain on her.

"No sedatives," a familiar voice promised. Elwin stared her in the eye, his hair as messy as ever, and his eyes gently crinkling as Sophie forced her eyes open. "Drink this." Sophie was handed a cup of warm broth, and she drank it up, feeling warmth wash through her bones. Still, the headache was as painful as ever.

"No... hurt. Headache... owwwww." Sophie moaned, curling up again and burrying her head in between her knees. Another glass was held to her, and she gratefully drank it. It tasted like orange juice, and the headache immediately vanished. Her brain gave a sore yawn and rubbed itself, as if waking up from a painful nightmare. Sophie sighed in relief, sinking back against the pillow. Fingers stroked her back, and she realized Edaline was sitting next to her. Sophie tipped her head on Edaline's shoulder, feeling secure as her mother's cool hands rub her temples. "Thanks... mom," Sophie mumbled, feeling more tired then she had ever felt before.

"No worries," Edaline promised. "Biana was so worried. She hailed Elwin immediately, and then rushed to tell me." Only then did Sophie realize Biana was perched on the edge of the bed, near her feet, and peering anxiously at her. Sophie managed a weak smile, and Biana laughed, lightly shoving Sophie.

"You're alive!" her friend exclaimed, taking in a relieved breath. "What happened?"

"Eyes," Sophie rememebered. "Green eyes. And my brain felt like it was ripping to shreds." Biana winced and patted Sophie's leg.

Elwin frowned. "That shouldn't have happened," he said, mostly to himself. "I cured you from the echoes in the healing center."

"Flashback," Sophie recalled. "It was a flashback. Or another memory, planted in my head."

Elwin's eyes widened. "Should I call Fitz over?" he asked. "Maybe he can figure out what's going inside there-" he tapped her temples. "Since your subconscious trusts no one else."

"NO!" Sophie shouted, bolting upright. She blushed red. "What I mean is, can we have Mr. Forkle here instead?"

"You kids are always doing stupid things," a familiar voice mumbled in the doorway a few minutes later. "Retrieving flashbacks at the wrong times."

"That wasn't my fault," Sophie argued as the wrinkled, bloated elf moved closer to reach for her temples. She hoped her voice didn't show any trace of relief because Mr. Forkle was here.

"Teenagers," Mr. Forkle muttered before diving into her mind.

Three minutes later, he resurfaced, looking pale, shakey, and sweaty. "That was not one of our implanted memories," he said slowly. "I do not know where you have gotten the memory from, Miss Foster, but I promise you that we will have our telepaths work on the clue. I must go- the Collective is waiting for me." Mr. Forkle scrunched his brow, and then smiled sadly. "It seems like Mr. Sencen and Mr. Vacker are waiting for you downstairs," he said after a moment, opening the door. "I will see you soon, Miss Foster." Sophie saw his bloated form thudding down the stairs. Now that he was gone, Sophie could hear voices downstairs- arguing, and loudly. Sophie sighed and stumbled out of bed.

"Take these at night," Elwin said, shoving a box of serums to Edaline. "I need to go... but I'll be on standby. If you get the headache again, call me immediately." Sophie nodded as both adults left the room. She slipped into a white tunic that had POCKETS, and reached up to her waist. Around her shoulders, she slipped on a sky blue vest, pinned with a golden clasp. Her blonde hair flowed down her back, and she pulled on black leggings and soft crimson boots that almost reached her knees. Yet all of that couldn't hide the dark shadows circling Sophie's brown and golden flecked eyes.

She descended down to the cluttered, cozy living room, where Grady was watching her two friends argue back and forth from a safe distance, not looking happy about it. He caught her eye, gave her a thumbs up, and a look that said, they're all yours as he quickly backed up the stairs. Sophie gave him her best glare before folding her arms and staring at both boys, trying hard to avoid Fitz.

Keefe was wearing a greyish silver tunic with rolled up sleeves. He was wearing a red vest with golden buttons, brown pants, and boots. His golden and black cape was slightly crinkled, and pinned with the Sencen crest. He looked tired but his ice blue eyes held fierceness as he snapped at his best friend. His hair was half styled as he yet again tore his hands through his blonde hair. Sophie felt the urge to do the same, though she didn't know why, and blushed when he did so.

Looking at Fitz, Sophie didn't feel the butterflies in her stomach anymore. His dark hair was messy and he wore a blue sleeved tunic with a grey vest, and royal blue pants and boots. Fitz wore a cape pinned with the Vacker crest. His teal eyes were thick with anger as he shouted at Keefe. Sophie averted her eyes to Keefe and cleared her throat, tapping one foot impatiently and folding her arms.

"Just jealous!"

"Dude, she told me about matchmaking and that you did not handle it well."

"She did?"

"It took me three seconds to get the story out."

"You are the worst!"

"Hey, that's coming from you!"

"You need to get out of the way!"

"That's what Alden said. It's Sophie's choice, you know."

"We're meant to be!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

Sophie cleared her throat again, and louder. The boys kept arguing. "AHEM! EXCUSE YOU BOTH, ARGUING ABOUT MY LOVE LIFE AS IF IT WASN'T EVEN MINE!" Sophie yelled. Both boys froze and turned to look at Sophie, who had her fists clenched and her brown eyes steaming. Fitz shot a glare at Keefe before flashing a smile at Sophie. Sophie chose to ignore it, and her glare softened when Keefe sent her an apoligetic look. Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie could see Fitz giving Keefe the ultimate death glare. "HOW MANY MINUTES DID THAT TAKE YOU? I TOLD YOU BOTH TO QUIT AT LEASE THREE TIMES!" Sophie snapped, feeling the steam wafting off of her in huge chunks. "AND FITZ, YOU DON'T EVEN GET TO SAY THOSE THINGS AFTER THE MORNING! AND KEEFE, DON'T YOU EVEN SMIRK!" She felt something flutter crazily in her stomach after she said Keefe's name. Sophie shoved the feeling away, diverting her glare to both boys. She sat down on one of the armchairs, feeling the last of the anger wash away as she crossed her arms and legs so tightly, it was a miracle she didn't get tangled up. "Why are you here?" she finally said, her glare-fest not finished yet.

All five of her bodyguards, and even Ro and Grizel (who had probably tagged along with Keefe and Fitz) started talking all at once.

Grizel: "Fitzy boy here came to apoligize and ask you to be his girlfriend again."

Ro: "Lord Hunkyhair came to ask you if you were all right- Biana hailed him about the headache."

Bo: "Teenagers. Love. Disgusting. I can even see the goblins exchanging sappy eyes."

Sandor: "Does this mean I have to give you another boy lecture?"

Tarina: "Is this some epic love saga? What's going on?"

Flori: "I feel like I have missed something."

And even Nubti, who was definitely not going to miss the fun: "I am so, so lost."

Keefe snickered. "Fearsome Foster five," he said under his breath. Sophie shoved him lightly.

"Wait, what headache?" Fitz said, but he was completely ignored.

"No, you do not have to give me another boy lecture," Sophie grumbled to Sandor, who shook his head and dismissed Keefe and Fitz, who complained loudly as Sandor shoved them out the door. Then he dragged Sophie into her room, where Biana was waiting. She smirked at the look of horror on Sophie's face as Sandor folded his arms and began to pace.

"What happened?" Biana whispered. Sophie told her the story. Biana winced. "Ooooh, there comes Grady," her friend told her. "Hopefully me being here will make things a little better." Sophie felt Biana give her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Grady stalked into the room and folded his arms again.

"Looks like we have to have this talk again," he said.

"What talk?" Sophie said, hoping she sounded clueless.

Grady raised an eyebrow. "About boys."

Sophie groaned and muffled her face with a pillow, as her life of depression was completed. Biana giggled. The bodyguards took their postions- Ro and Bo shooting each other silent glares by the window but still watching Sophie, Tarina and Sandor flanking Grady, Grizel smirking as she leaned by the bed, Flori at her feet, and Nubti tunnling away. ​​​​ ​​​​​​"That Boy," Grady said, glaring, "Is the worst possible choice. What happened with Fitz?" Sophie kicked the ground as he mentioned his name. "Not so well, huh?" Grady said sadly, sitting down next to her and patting her back.

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to kill my brother when we get back home," Biana offered. Grady cracked a smile as Edaline strode in.

"Oh, is Grady giving you the talk again?" Sophie's mom winced when Sophie, Biana, and all the bodyguards in the room nodded. Ro snickered as she checked her nails, which were painted an ashy silver. Bo grumbled. Flori and Tarina exchanged glances. Sandor sighed.

"He drove Jolie crazy, too," Vertina said, popping out of nowhere. "Grady made sure that Jolie considered all the options before deciding on Brant." Sophie winced at the name.

"Anyways," Sandor inturrupted. "Keefe is a perfectly legitamite choice, and we will support you with whoever you choose."

"SOMEONE MENTION ME?" Keefe yelled outside the door. Sophie groaned again, burrying her face in Biana's shoulder. Her friend snickered. Sophie could tell that Fitz was at his heels.

"I'll handle them," Grizel said, stalking outside. Sophie could hear the shouts as Grizel grabbed each boy by the cuff and dragged them away. Now her audience was shortened to Ro, Bo, Sandor, Tarina, Flori, Edaline, Grady, Vertina, and Biana (who was there for moral support), but that didn't make things any better.

After seven thousand and two hundred seconds (Sophie's butt definetly went numb) Grady finally ended it by squeezing Sophie into a hug and leaving the room, followed by Edaline and all the other bodyguard. "I see it now," Biana said, staring at the door, which was closed. "Why Grady is the number one overprotective dad. Even my dad isn't that scary." Sophie giggled and smashed her face into the bed.

Then there was the knock.

"Come in," Sophie said, expecting it to be Grady or Edaline.

Instead, Sandor came in silently and handed Biana and Sophie a scroll, and then resumed his post outside.

Sophie stared closer at the seal.

It was wax, and very familiar.

The seal of the twelve Councillors.

Hi, sorry for any typos! Please comment and tell me which parts you didn't like, and I will try and improvise. Thanks!