Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20200105051715

Thanks for all the reviews! Here's the next chapter.

Twenty-One

Another reveal, another betrayal, even more chaos, Sophie thought to herself as she tossed and turned late that night.

'''The Councillors were busy invesitgating Empress Pernille’s involvement with the Neverseen. Oralie had promised the Black Swan a full update later, but that didn’t stop Sophe from wondering what was going on.'''

'''The Black Swan was creating a plan about what to do with the Neverseen’s hideout. Mr. Forkle had agreed to eventually gather everyone for a meeting, but that just made Sophie worry even more.'''

'''She snuggled deep down into her blankets, pulling the covers up against the cold. She was outside by the Panakes again, hoping that the sweet-smelling blossoms and whispers of Calla’s songs would help her sleep.'''

It wasn’t.

Sophie had so many memories from here.

Watching Calla choose to sacrifice herself.

'''That moment with Fitz that she hadn’t understood for so long. '''

'''Having her abilities reset. '''

'Are you sure you can trust me? '

'''“Are you feeling okay?” Edaline asked, coming up beside Sophie. She handed her Ella, her stuffed animal—a blue elephant wearing a Hawaiian shirt. “It’s okay to let the adults take charge for a change, you know. In fact, some people even say that they’re better at this kind of thing than teenagers. Isn’t that odd?”'''

'''Sophie laughed against her will. “I guess. I’m just nervous, and shocked, and a bunch of other stuff I can’t quite describe.”'''

'''Edaline smiled. “Being an Empath would come in handy right about now.”'''

That reminded Sophie of the Empath who was her biological mother, which reminded her….

'''“Tiergan’s my biological father. And he didn’t have any reason not to tell me!” The words came out in a panicked rush. She explained about the probing. “He’s been nice to me….but nice isn’t enough. He’s a parent to Wylie and Tam and Linh—why not me? And it wasn’t illegal like it was with Oralie!”'''

'''“Tiergan actually applied to adopt you,” Edaline told Sophie, sitting down next to her. “The Council just denied his request in favor of us.”'''

'''“Really? You’re not making this up?” '''

'''“Absolutely positive. I agree with you—he should have been upfront about this with you from the start.”'''

“I’m really glad you guys adopted me and not him,” Sophie told Edaline.

'''“Me too.” She wrapped her arms around Sophie. “It’s going to be okay.”'''

Sophie sank into the hug.

Letting it wrap around her.

Making her feel protected, safe, loved.

'''Sure, her genetic parents could be better. '''

'''But her human parents had been amazing, and her adoptive parents were as well. '''

'''She was done with her biological parents. Over and done with.'''

She knew who they were—and didn’t care at all.

***

The next few days were a combination of busy and bland.

'''Empress Pernille had been removed from power, and was being watched by dwarves Queen Nubiti had recommended. The trolls were electing a new leader. More dwarves were watching the Neverseen’s hideout, as Mr. Forkle had insisted that they try to detect how many people were there before forming a plan.'''

With each passing day, Sophie became more and more frustrated.

They had a team of powerful people on their side.

The Councillors were on their side.

And they still couldn’t take down a tiny group of rebels.

'''It was a Friday afternoon, and Sophie was heading to study hall when Magnate Leto approached her. '''

'''“The dwarves have determined that there are only two or three people in the Neverseen’s hideout,” he whispered. “We’re launching an investigation tonight.”'''

“Who gets to go?” Sophie asked.

'''“We’ll figure that out tonight. I’ll hail you later with the details of where and when we’re meeting.”'''

***

'''“I can control my pyrokenisis!” Marella shouted. “I’ve been taking lessons!”'''

“No matter how much control you have over your ability, fire in an enclosed, underground environment is not a wise idea, Miss Redek.”

'''Marella sighed. “Okay, so…..what if I go with Linh? We don’t go inside the hideout, because our abilities are too unpredictable. But we can wait outside, and if they run into unexpected trouble, Sophie can just transmit to me, and they can try and direct the fight outside, so we can take them down.”'''

'''“That…..isn’t a bad plan,” Mr. Forkle admitted. “It actually means we can make our intruder group a little smaller.”'''

Of course, that lead to another round of clamoring and discussion on who got to go and who would lie in wait outside.

'''The Black Swan had insisted that the Council not be a part of this, and the Councillors had agreed to stay away and focus on the trolls instead. But that still meant that the Collective, Sophie’s friends, and an assortment of parents and bodyguards were all debating on who got to go. '''

'''Tiergan wasn’t there—he was with Prentice, Wylie’s father, as the two of them were getting close to a breakthrough. That was all Mr. Forkle had told them, and it had made Sophie’s stomach do a backflip. Prentice had called ‘swan song’ before being arrested, but nobody knew what the dangerous information was about. Being close to a breakthrough sounded like a good thing, but what if it just left them with more questions than answers again?'''

“If we’re going with a small intruder group, if Sophie’s willing to enhance me, I can turn us invisible,” Biana offered.

“Or I can,” Della and Sir Osmond said in unison.

'''“Actually, this time it might be better to have Mr. Tam handle stealth,” Mr. Forkle pointed out. “He said the Neverseen’s hideout was in a cave, and an underground hideout could be designed to look that way. He’s had the most experience with the Neverseen’s hideouts, as Mr. Keefe was staying in places along the Lodestar map, which has now been abandoned. The Councillors have cameras in those hideouts now, as do I. His Shade ability can cover the group, at least from a distance, and it will come in handy in other ways as well.”'''

“So who does get to go inside?” Keefe asked.

'''“Mr. Dizznee, definitely, to deal with all the locks and mechanisms.”'''

'''Dex grinned. “Also, I should probably give the panic switch receiver to someone else—this way, if we run into trouble, we have a way of notifying everyone else besides Sophie’s inflicting.”'''

“Good thinking,” Mr. Forkle said.

'''Dex smiled and slipped the ring off his hand, handing it to Biana, who was sitting next to him. “Don’t paint it pink, okay?”'''

'''Biana smiled back. “I’ll hold off just this once. Take mine, so you can tell me if anything’s going on.”'''

“Okay.”

“Miss Foster is going as well,” Mr. Forkle declared.

“If there are illusions, you’ll need me,” Keefe interrupted.

'''“Fair enough. Mr. Sencen, you can join Miss Foster and Mr. Dizznee.”'''

Keefe looked annoyed at the use of his last name, but it was quickly replaced by a smile when he realized he’d be getting to go.

'''“I should go inside, too.” Maruca declared, fingering her new Black Swan pendant. She’d sworn fealty a few days after the showdown in Loanmore. “We’ll need force fields, and I’m a Psionopath.”'''

“All right,” Mr. Forkle agreed.

'''Wylie, Maruca’s second cousin, narrowed his eyes. “Promise me that you won’t get hurt.”'''

'''“I can keep everyone safe,” Maruca argued, snapping her fingers and creating a force field that enveloped him. '''

“Can you take this down now?” Wylie grumbled.

“If you agree to stop overprotecting me.”

“Not a fair deal.”

“If you agree to try to stop overprotecting me?”

Wylie groaned.

'''Mr. Forkle glanced at the two of them, making eye contact with Maruca. “Take that force field down, please."'''

“Fine.” Maruca snapped her fingers again, unravelling the dome of white light.

'''“What about me?” Fitz asked. “Sophie and I are—”'''

'''“Cognates!” Keefe called. “And Marella and I are cousins, which also starts C-O and ends in S. Same thing, basically. We don’t do to everything together, though.”'''

'''Fitz groaned. “That is not the same thing!”'''

“Wait, you two are cousins?” Sophie stared at them.

'''“You didn’t know?” Marella looked suprised. “Yeah, my dad is his mom’s brother. We never really spent a lot of time together, though, because his dad wanted to disconnect himself from my mom after her accident.”'''

'''“We hung out more when we were little,” Keefe added. “Her dad is a Guster, and he used to be a Regent before he left the nobility when Caprise had her accident, which made my dad see him as an acceptable person to be with. He and my mom spent a lot of time together.”'''

'''Sophie stared at the two of them intently. They did have the same messy blond hair and ice blue eyes—and, now that she was looking closely, their noses looked similar, too.'''

“Whoa.”

'''“Back to what we were talking about,” Mr. Forkle interrupted, “I’d prefer that you go with the outside group, Mr. Vacker. You and Sophie will be able to transmit updates to each other this way.”'''

Fitz consented to the plan.

'''Tam looked around, sizing up their group. “My shadows can probably cover one more at most, and we’ll have dwarven bodyguards, so everyone’s bodyguards can go with the outside group.” “Good thinking,” Mr. Forkle agreed, eliciting groans from all the ogres and goblins. “Also, I’d prefer if you brought an adult along. And, as much as I hate saying this, not a Telepath or a Vanisher. With Mr. Tam’s shadows, those abilities won’t be of that much use.”'''

“I should go,” Grady, Edaline, Jax, and Juline all said at once.

'''“I was afraid of that.” Mr. Forkle took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s try logic this time, instead of arguing. Jax’s ability as a Phaser is the most discrete, and useful even when not in a fight. He also is a Black Swan member, and does not have any connections to the people going down to the hideout, so he’ll be unbiased. Before any parents can get mad at me, I can assure you, you can all be part of the outside group. We’re going to need plenty of backup in case of a fight.”'''

Jax beamed.

Grady, Edaline, and Juline eventually agreed—though not without a lot of grumbling.

And with that, Mr. Forkle gave everyone half an hour to gather their weapons and prepare for the fight ahead.