The Mysterious Benedict Society Meets the Mysterious Miss F

Chapter 9

As the group of elves and no longer disguised humans hurried through the streets of Atlantis, Reynie glanced around at his surroundings through his hooded cape. In desperate attempts to hide their eye color, Reynie and Sticky were given bright blue capes fashioned over their heads. Sophie and Fitz were very against taking the clothes from an unexpecting shop. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." Kate had said before she darted in the boutique and came out one minute later.

Reynie was very anxious someone would find out they'd stolen the cloaks, but no one came out after them. So the group was darting towards the candy shop when Reynie had grabbed Sticky's arm, forcing the group to stop. A picture of a dark alley behind a red and white colored building flashed through Reynie's mind. The sign reading Sayla's Sweetshop was also in view when Reynie heard Constance's voice.

Hurry up, I need help. Got in trouble, behind Sayla's.

"Constance!" Reynie shouted out loud, without meaning to.

"Where?!" Sophie yelled over the elves talking around them. When Reynie pointed at the candy store, they sprinted ahead.

"In the back! A... a dark alley..." Reynie huffed as they ran to the back of the building. Sophie stopped them from banging into her by thrusting out her arms. With silence, they crept forwards to see Constance and two other figures with black capes and a symbol of an eye.

The Neverseen. Reynie whirled around, staring at Fitz reading his mind.

I know that. Reynie thought back, and when did I give you permission?

Sorry, Fitz transmitted to him, But we can't talk out loud and we need a run through of a plan.

Okay then... But Reynie was still bothered and tried desperately not to think of any secrets or anything he didn't want Fitz to know.

"What the- OUCH!" Ruy was flung against the wall by some invisible force, knocking him to his knees. As Gethen turned towards the unknown attacker, a 7 foot tall goblin pinned him against the bricks with mighty strength, knocking the wind out of him.

"Sandor!" Sophie gasped, "What are you doing here?"

"You know this guy?" Sticky asked shakily, steadying his hands and peering at Sandor in curiosity.

"I'm her bodyguard, whom she snuck away from again!" Sandor said in a surprisingly squeaky voice. "And you," he turned back to Gethen, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm not saying anything." Gethen snarled with a mad smile. Sandor pinned something on his head and Gethen slumped down, unconscious.

"What was that?" Reynie asked, sliding his hood off.

"A new device Dex has been recruiting us bodyguards. And stop running off, Sophie! You almost died, again!" Sandor squeaked sternly. Reynie spotted Kate holding back a laugh.

"First off, Sandor, you're supposed to be on vacation. It's not me running away from you." Sophie retorted, crossing her arms, "and second, we did not almost die! We had everything under control!"

"Really?" Sandor raised an eyebrow, "then tell me what you were going to do about these two." He jutted his head towards the unconscious Neverseen members.

"We were going to inflict on them of course!" Sophie informed him. With Sandor's skeptical look, Sophie quickly changed the subject. "And how did you become invisible?"

"With me of course!" A girl with wavy dark hair and stunning teal eyes materialized from the brick in front of them. Reynie instantly knew she was a Vacker, standing next to Fitz.

"So while you were scolding me about running away from my bodyguard," Sophie accused teasingly, "you were helping Biana get away from hers?"
"Well I-" Sandor sputtered, "It was for good reason!"

"And I certainly didn't need his help. Sandor came begging to me." Biana grinned.

"So where are we going now?" Reynie asked, tired of their bickering. "Do you have a headquarters or somewhere we can... I don't know, question them?"

"Unfortunately," Fitz muttered, "Gethen won't... lets just say that he's a skilled telepath and blocker. But we haven't tried Ruy yet, so that's worth a shot."

"You're not going to do it here, are you?" Sticky asked, catching the glances made between the two cognates. "You know how foolish that is, right?"
"HELLO!" Constance yelled, startling everyone. "DID YOU FORGET I WAS HERE?!"

"Oh, of course not!" Kate said, coming over to her. The others murmured in agreement, trying to keep the guilt off their faces.

"While they were scoping out my mind, I found a small piece of information in theirs." Constance said with importance.

"Well, what is it?" Kate asked as Constance stood up, grinning at them. Constance didn't say anything and continued to smile at their expecting faces.

"Tell us!" Sophie hissed, growing agitated and impatient with the smug look Constance was giving them.

"Well, I suppose if you buy me one of everything from this lovely shop here," She mused, pretending to think it over.

"Deal." Fitz said automatically. Sophie sighed, feeling the urge once again to slap him for taking Constance's bait.

"Gethen said something about checking "Foxfire files"... and I think they're trying to find out who I am. They were trying to use me to get to the "Moonlark", whoever that is. But why are they interested in my files?" Constance asked.

"Foxfire is a school that elves go to." Fitz explained, "If they get access to the files, they'll figure out that your..."

"Human." Constance said, but small doubts whispered in her head. But am I human? She thought about how she knew no one else in Stonetown with her telepathic gift. But Sophie and Fitz, two elves, were able to master it completely. Constance never knew her biological parents either and her earliest memories were at an orphanage. What if... what if I belong here?

"I think I need to go to Foxfire." Constance said boldly. "Gethen was able to get into my mind without any struggle, and I wasn't able to get into Ruy's at all. What if that happens again and I put myself in danger?" She could feel the excitement bubbling inside her. "I need to know how to protect myself... and then I'll have a record made at Foxfire, so the Neverseen won't be suspicious." She concluded, worried they wouldn't take her seriously.

"I think," Sophie said gently, "that's a great idea."