Secrets of the Past

Chapter 8

Sophie POV (while Carissa is at school)

"Maybe she should've stayed home..." Sophie pondered as she sat down. Carissa seemed still shaken up, but she had insisted on going to school anyway.

"Hm." Keefe didn't seem to be listening to her. Ever since he woke up, he kept raking his hands through his hair and staring off into space.

"Keefe, what's on your mind?" Sophie asked, reaching for his hand, "Is it what happened with your mother?" Sophie guessed, but Keefe shook his head.

"Then what is it?" Sophie's brows creased and a second later Keefe's hands reached up and smoothed the crease, gently.

"I think we should tell them." Keefe said, very quietly.

"Who?" Sophie questioned, very confused as to who he would want to tell what happened with his mother....

"The Black Swan." Keefe said, waiting patiently for Sophie's response. The answer took her by surprise, she hadn't seen most of them for a while maybe even since their weddings!

"You think we should? I mean it was just your mother, plus a vanisher!"

"Yeah, but then she threatened us and their technopath made a device so that my power wouldn't harm her or anyone else! They've been preparing for this Sophie! We need to let them know and maybe even plan an attack!" Keefe said, raising his voice just a little.

Sophie sighed, Keefe was right. They needed to let them know that the war they thought was over, maybe wasn't.

"Alright." Sophie agreed. "I'll hail them and ask them to come over as soon as possible."

"All of them?" Keefe asked, looking at Sophie. She froze. She hadn't seen one of them ever since their wedding. That one of them was Fitz Vacker. She still wasn't sure how he felt about her and Keefe being together. They really hadn't talked at all...

"I think we should Sophie...." Keefe took her hand, "He was part of the group too. He deserves to know."

Of course Keefe brought up another valid point, she just didn't want it to be awkward for him and everyone, but....she needed to push away those thoughts. He needed to know what was going on, that's why she was going to hail him.

"Ok." Sophie pulled away and went upstairs to grab her imparter. She couldn't help but feel a little joy as she picked up her imparter, thinking about seeing them all together again, like it used to be.

Carissa POV

Carissa sat down at their usual lunch table, noticing their two new members, Jett and Willow. Lily was a little more quieter than usual and Willow looked very pale and shaky. Jett looked....worried especially when his eyes met Carissa's.

"How are you feeling?" Jett asked, a concerned look on his face. He looked like he hadn't had much sleep, given the dark circles under his eyes. Actually it looked like none of them had really gotten any sleep.

"Honestly, a little confused..." Carissa sighed.

Jett's eyebrows rose, "Why?"

"What she did with the laser coming out of her forehead...I mean what was that?" Carissa slumped and frowned, but Jett looked confused.

"You mean you didn't know that she was an inflictor?" Jett cocked his head.

Carissa gasped, "No...the only person I knew that was an inflictor was Councilor Bronte!" She buried her head in her hands, "How did she keep her ability secret for that long? I feel so lost..."

"I have no idea..." Jett answered, pondering as he said it, "She didn't tell you anything afterward?"

"No, she was too drained from not using it in a while..." Carissa lifted her head up and seeing the scared and worried faces of Lily and Willow made her feel a little guilty for not asking how they were holding up.

"How are you guys?" She asked, glancing at Lily first then Willow.

They exchanged worried glances and poked at their food. Then Lily spoke, "Who were they?" The question voiced her worry.

"Could it be the symbol on your note...the black swan?" Jett asked.

Carissa tugged the note out of her pocket, "It could be, but they showed me where they wanted me to meet them..."

"Yes, but maybe they just grew impatient." Jett made a valid point, she got it the evening before they discovered them in the attic, maybe they wanted her to go right that day, it made sense...

"Umm, maybe it was the group with the creepy white eye on their sleeve." Willow, who hadn't spoken at all, suggested.

"Who?" They all asked in unison. Carissa wasn't the only person who seemed very confused.

"I noticed the sleeve of the guy who was covering my mouth and that was the symbol." Willow shivered at the thought.

"Willow, you saw the symbol?" Jett asked, beaming with delight.

"Well, yeah...." Willow said, making everyone else seem like they had missed an obvious clue.

"So, wait, who are the Black Swan..." Lily asked, glancing back down at the note.

"Well, you know how you guys mentioned your parents talking about the group...what if they were a part of it..." Carissa guessed, it felt right and completely wrong at the same time...I mean she couldn't imagine her parents being a part of this mysterious group! It just didn't make sense, but then again they had been super secretive about some subjects....

"I think it's time we confront our parents." Carissa proposed, glancing around at everyone's faces.

"Wait...our parents...you mean we confront all of them at once?" Willow asked with a squeak.

"Yes. Jett mentioned that both of your parents have mentioned something, so that means they must know something. Plus, they'll have to say something with all of us confronting them at once." Carissa paused, pleased with herself, this plan might actually work!

"I'm with Carissa." Jett agreed and out of the corner of her eye she noticed a tiny smirk from Lily.

Carissa blushed, "Great! Anyone else?"

"I'm in." Willow said with a look of confidence along with some worry glinting in her eyes, then everyone glanced at Lily expecting an answer, but it didn't come...

"My parents have never mentioned this group..." Lily said, "Or anything like this, but.... I still would like to see who the Black Swan are!" Lily smiled, revealing her dimples.

"Great! Invite all of your parents over to my house and just say that...umm..." Carissa stammered, "My parents are having a dinner party!"

Everyone smiled and nodded. Then waved goodbye. This was going to work. Carissa just knew it.

Sophie POV

"I feel so nervous." Sophie said as she fiddled with her sleeve.

"Yes, I know." Keefe said, looking slightly pale and clutching his stomach. Sophie immediately backed away, but Keefe moved closer.

"Just calm down." He said, as he grabbed her hand and sent a relaxing wind through her it. Sophie blew out a deep breath, but when she heard a knock, the panicking came right back to her and so did Keefe's paleness.

"I'll get it." He moved slowly to the door, as Sophie started to pace. Who was it going to be?