Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20191227194307

Fourteen

“How’d your illusions session go?” Sophie asked Keefe at the start of study hall.

Keefe’s empathy session already took up the time blocked off for special ability training, so during the time everyone else had PE, he was working with a Flasher Mentor and a Shade Mentor to gain control over his ability.

'''“Okay,” Keefe said. “Lady Zillah was her usual intense self. I think it’s killing her to have to work with a Flasher, but that’s what makes it fun! And as much as she hates it, when she works together with Lady Celeste, their illusions are super cool.”'''

“So what sort of stuff do you do?”

'''“I can just do cover-ups for small things now, and I can’t do anything with the light and shadows but send them various places. But I can make something disappear!”'''

'''Ro, Keefe’s ogre bodyguard, came up behind them. “Small things. He tried it out on me last night.” '''

“And I almost made you vanish!”

'''Ro grinned. “Hey, Lord Hunkyhair—you still owe me one because you snuck away twice. So I’ve wrapped your punishment into one legendary epic.”'''

Keefe groaned.

'''“And she needs to come over after school today,” Ro continued, gesturing to Sophie. '''

'''Before Sophie could ask what the heck was going on, Sir Osmond called, “This is study hall—meant for quiet studying. Please use this time as it was designed to be used.”'''

His voice was the exact same as Wraith’s.

That shouldn’t have been that much of a shock to Sophie, since she now knew Wraith’s identity, but it still left her feeling frazzled.

'''After study hall was over, Sophie hailed her parents to tell them what was happening, then gathered up her books and followed Keefe and Ro outside. Keefe pulled out a leaping crystal, a clear one that would take him to the Shores of Solace.'''

“Wait.” Sophie grabbed his arm.

'''“What?” Keefe asked. '''

'''“Let’s teleport instead. Crashing onto your father’s pristine beach will drive him crazy.”'''

'''Keefe grinned, but his smile shrank quickly. “Can you levitate high enough with all of your bodyguards?” He shot a glance at Sandor, Bo, and Flori.'''

'''Sophie smiled. “I don’t need to. I discovered a new way to teleport. If I build momentum and run really fast, that works just fine.” '''

“So that was how you got me out of Loanmore!”

“Yeah.” She’d glossed over that part when explaining earlier, since she didn’t think it was important.

But from the way Keefe was blushing…..it seemed like it had been to him.

'''Keefe cleared his throat. “Thanks a lot for doing that, Foster. Seriously. I guess it was my turn to almost die—or should I say ‘Foster it’?”'''

Sophie half groaned, half laughed at the term Keefe had coined as a reference to how many risks she’d taken.

“Can you teleport with all of us?” Sandor asked Sophie, jolting her back to reality.

'''“I can try.” She reached out, grasping Sandor’s enourmous hand. Keefe took her other hand, and soon they had formed a giant chain.'''

Sophie sprinted, faster and faster, and in less than ten seconds the sky split and they fell into the void.

'The Shores of Solace'', Sophie thought, envisioning the prim beach and tidy cerulean waves. '''

'''They crashed onto the beach, spraying black sand in every direction. Ahead of them sprawled Keefe’s father’s beach house, decorated with pearls and seashells, with massive windows overlooking the ocean. Decorated in blues and grays, it was one of the prettiest places Sophie had ever been.'''

'''Yet she hated it, because Lord Cassius had kept it private from his son—had treated his son with indifference for all those years. Keefe had only moved back in because Lord Cassius had held back information on Sophie’s human parents unless Keefe agreed to come back, and that was just to quench the rumors about his runaway son, not because he loved Keefe or missed him.'''

'''Her biological parents were probably better than Keefe’s, and that was saying a lot. Sure, Oralie and Tiergan had kept secrets and lied, but at least she knew they were both on her side. '''

'''Oralie had given her a hug before. '''

'''She didn’t know if Lord Cassius had ever done that to Keefe. '''

'''“What was that noise?” Lord Cassius demanded, rushing out the patio door and glaring at the multispecial ensemble, his ice-blue eyes settling on his son. Of course his navy blue cape and cream-colored jerkin were immaculate, despite the swirling ocean winds.'''

'''“We teleported,” Keefe explained. “Foster here had a new strategy she wanted to try.”'''

“And I don’t suppose you’ll give me any reason for why all of you are here?”

'''“Actually, yeah,” Keefe said. “Foster’s going to be helping me search my memories.”'''

'''“I suppose that’s acceptable,” Lord Cassius said, his brow furrowed. “Keep in mind that if this is related to the Black Swan, I am also a member.”'''

'''Keefe shrugged and raced to a door. Sophie followed him down the hall until they reached his room.'''

'''It would have been pristine, with the glittering walls embedded with sea glass and smooth marble floor. But Keefe had randomly arranged the furniture—probably just to annoy his father—and the books and clothes strewn everywhere made the room look more like a hurricane disaster zone.'''

“Have you recovered any missing memories?” Sophie asked him.

'''Keefe shook his head. “Nah—and I’ve held off on the fathomlethes. I figure that whatever Mommy Dearest has planned for me with my new ability, it’s smart for me to know as little about her plans as possible. Then I won’t have the skills for her to make me do whatever she wants me to do. Also, with probing Luzia’s mind, that might give us more clues.”'''

“If you want me to try and trigger anything, you can always hail me,” Sophie offered.

“Thanks.”

'''“Okay, as cute as it is to watch you argue with Miss Oblivious,” Ro told Keefe, “it’s time. You’ve got to do this. No excuses, no denials. You owe me one, and I told you I’d make it big. Don’t worry, there’s no pain, at least not physically.” '''

“Let’s just get this over with,” Keefe muttered.

'''Ro gestued to Sophie. “I want you to tell her what you think of her.”'''

Sophie’s mind spun.

Keefe didn’t hate her, did he?

'''She really hoped he didn’t…..that everything was okay…. '''

'''Keefe cleared his throat, blushing a deep shade of pink before muttering “I like you. Like, like like. Ugh, now I’m just saying like over and over again. The point is that I think you’re really awesome. And I—Iloveyou.”'''

Now it wasn’t just Sophie’s mind that was spinning.

It was her world.

Upside down and inside out.

'''Keefe Sencen liked her? She’d never felt that way about Keefe.'''

Or…had she?

Images flashed through her mind.

'Keefe flying with her on Silveny to get her abilities reset, and going with her on so many Black Swan excursions, and helping her deal with all the confusing notes and clues. '

The window slumber parties in Alleturve so they wouldn’t have to be alone.

Keefe holding her as Mr. Forkle died, keeping her together.

Keefe taking on the title of Mercadir so he would face King Ditmar instead of her.

Keefe helping her with skill training when she was stuck in the Healing Center.

Keefe giving her a hug when she really needed one, when she was worried Bronte was her father.

Rushing Keefe to the Healing Center, making sure he got out okay.

Did she feel that way?

He cared about her—and she cared about him.

Maybe she did feel that way.

In that moment, that was more than enough.

“I….like you, too.”