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Chapter 9

"Sophie. You're finally here."

"Fitz," she said, steeling her eyes. "Arina, go inside."

"But-"

"Inside. Now."

Arina swiftly ran inside, while Sophie glared at Fitz, and he happily returned it. 

"So, you and Keefe, huh?"

"Why does it concern you?" 

"You think it's okay that my ex-girlfriend and best friend are dating?"

"It was what happened when you and I were dating. How is it any different now? Besides, how come you consider Keefe your best friend now? Less than a week ago, you were pretending that we didn't exist." Sophie replied. Fitz struggled for a comeback, but found none. "How did you even find out anyways?"

"Let's just say a little bird named Biana told me." Sophie wanted to be mad at Biana, but she couldn't. "Now, why him?"

"I don't answer to you. It's my life."

"Well I used to be a big part of it."

"You're not anymore. Not after you cheated on me with Novaline!" he narrowed his eyes in protest, but said nothing. 

"What do you expect? You never had time for me."

Sophie scoffed and said, "You're one to talk. You were always busy going on secret dates with Novaline that you completely forgot about me. You should have just told me you were uninterested in our relationship."

"Well maybe I wouldn't have had to cheat on you if you hadn't ruined my life!" he yelled, and it felt like a slash across Sophie's face.

"Okay, that's enough." a voice called from behind them. Sophie turned around slightly, and saw another teal-eyed person that wasn't Fitz. And her name was Biana. "Fitz, I need you to leave."

"You can't stop me from coming here, and the Council won't do anything, even if you try to convince them otherwise. To them, we're all still best friends."

"Maybe the Council can't do anything, but I can." Arina said, storming out of the house.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"Maybe . . . this?" Arina called, and a giant wave came out of nowhere. Fitz stumbled, completely drenched.

"You're a Hydrokinetic?"

"Now isn't the time to ask questions. Help me!" Fitz ran at her, furious, but Sophie stepped in between them. 

"How dare you? First, you insult me and my boyfriend, then, you try to attack a child!" Sophie yelled. Sophie gathered all the negative energy she had stored over the past few days, and flung it at Fitz in a concentrated beam. After letting go of all her pent-up emotions, her head cleared. Sophie didn't necessarily like inflicting on people, but this was an exception. 

"Is he dead?" Arina asked cautiously.

"Of course he isn't. As much as I dislike him now, he's still one of my old friends. And Biana's brother.

"How could Biana be related to someone so mean?"

"He used to be different." Biana interrupted. "But now he's changed. Anyways, are you two okay?"

"I'm fine. Arina, on the other hand, when and how did you manifest?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe a few months after you found me? I didn't pay attention."

"You've known me for an entire year and you haven't thought to tell me that you manifested? We have to get you a mentor immediately."

"What about Linh?" Biana asked.

"That . . . is a good idea. I'll have to hail her."

"What about when she comes of age to enter Foxfire? Will we enroll her there?"

"I don't know. Won't she be discriminated against for her eyes? Which are very pretty, by the way." Sophie said, assuring Arina. "I'll have to ask the Council about it." Sophie exhaled slowly, knowing how much of a headache the next few days would cause her.

"I think I should head back to work now. I came home because I found something that you might like." Biana said, showing Sophie an ice-blue jeweled bracelet. The same exact color of Keefe's eyes.

"Biana, how did you get this?" Sophie asked, slipping on the bracelet. Biana adjusted it to fit snuggly on her wrist.

"I had it custom-made for you when I found out about you two."

"You really do work fast, don't you?"

"Always, when it comes to you."

"Thanks, Biana. I don't think we should keep you waiting here any longer now."

"Wait! Before I go, what should we do with Fitz?"

"He'll be knocked out for a while, so if you could, could you drop him off at Everglen? I feel like your parents will know what to do with him."

"I guess. Bye, then." Biana said, lifting Fitz with Telekinesis. 

"Bye. Arina, I'm going to talk to one of my friends about your Hydrokinetics. You come with me, okay?"

"Okay." Sophie quickly pulled out her imparter and said, "Show me Linh Song."

"Hey Sophie!" Linh replied after she picked up the hail.

"Nothing much. I'm just hoping that you'll train an unregistered Hydrokinetic for me. Nothing crazy."

"An unregistered Hydrokinetic? When did they manifest?" Linh asked. 

"I found her a year ago, but she said she manifested a few months after that."

"You found her a year ago? What's that about?"

"Arina, could you perhaps step outside quickly?" Arina left the room silently and Sophie continued. "From what she can remember, she was abandoned by her parents when she was 4. She recently started living with Biana and me. I only found out today that she had manifested since Fitz came and started getting aggressive, and then she threw this giant wave at him, and then I inflicted on him, and . . . yeah."

"Slow down there, Sophie. So she thrusted a giant wave at Fitz?" Sophie nodded in reply. "That shouldn't be possible. If she only manifested a couple of months ago, she shouldn't be able to do such an advanced move."

"I'm not sure how she did it. If you have time, could you train her every once and a while?"

"We need to start immediately. With that kind of power, she could become one of the most powerful elves this world has ever seen. Like someone I know." Linh said, raising an eyebrow at Sophie.

"I don't know what you mean. I'll have to talk to the Council about it, then. I'll see you soon?"

"I'll be there in a few. Just let me tell Wylie and I'll be on my way."

"You two have fun."

"Sophie!" Linh blurted out, and flushed.

"I'm kidding. Bye, now."

"Bye."

"Arina, one of my friends is going to come and train you. Now be a good girl, okay? I need to speak with the Council."

"Okay, Sophie."

"There's no reason to worry." Sophie said, and smiled because it was what Alden had always used to say.

Sophie leaped to Eternalia, and quietly knocked on Councillor Oralie's door. Her biological mother.