Keeper of The Lost Cities: Book 9: Showdown

Chapter 2 - Sophie's POV

"HE DID WHAT??" Biana has been screaming her lungs out, and I don't think I've heard anything louder. "HOW DARE HE LEAVE ALL OF US ALONE HERE!"

Everyone is at Havenfield, Team Valiant, the Council, the Collective, Alden and Della, even Keefe's jerk father Lord Cassius. Everyone's face is red, sad, whatever. Even Tam seems a little saddened by Keefe's disappearance. I can't stand it, I can't. I run up the stairs into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me.

Collapsing on my bed, I looked at all the pictures Keefe did for me over the years. We'd been through so much together, Team Foster-Keefe, as he put it. Now the Keefe part of our team was missing. It isn't much of a team anymore.

Behind me, the door opened and closed with the grace of an ogre. I wasn't in the mood of looking at anyone. They would just remind me of Keefe. "Sophie?" Edaline crept out from behind the door, holding something in her hands. "Sophie," she said again, sitting on the bed next to me. I picked my head up and put it in her lap, and she started stroking my hair. "I know, it's hard, I know."

"It's not fair, it's not fair," I found myself saying. "I've gotten so many dangerous abilities over the past years, and nothing made me leave this way. Why couldn't he have stayed? We could have helped him. I could have helped him..."

"You know what I love about you, Sophie?" Edaline peered at me with her turquoise eyes. "You use your head. You use logic. You act well under pressure. You'd do anything for a better world. That's why you're the leader of Team Valiant. That's why you're the Moonlark. And if I'm being entirely honest, I think you'd do a better job of leading the Black Swan than Mr. Forkle does."

A squeaky voice from the hallway mumbled, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"But can I tell you what Sophie Foster has?" Edaline proceeds to ignore whoever it is. "You have a heart. You have feelings. You have things that you want. And I think you have to start listening to it, Sophie. You've used your mind enough. Let's follow your heart now."

I turned so I could look up at Edaline. "That sounds like you had a whole speech prepared."

"Maybe." Judging by the humorous glint in her eyes, I think she did. "Here," she passes a parcel into my hands. "Ro dropped this for you."

"Ro?"

"I will proceed to leave you alone now." Clearly, she knew what was in the package. After she closed the door, I continued to lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling. Eventually, I managed to roll off my bed and go to my desk for something to open the package with. I also saw a tray with some broth in a bowl, as well as a note.

"You will eat this, or I'll let Lord Ruewen know that you stay up late and make a list of ways you can get revenge on Lady Gisela..." I read out loud. "How do you even know that?"

I sighed and started sipping the broth while opening the package. As soon as I got the wrapping off, I dropped it. It was a book. A golden book. But worst of all, I recognized that book.

Keefe kept four journals - one for happy memories, one for important ones. He kept them classified by color. But Keefe also had a color he used for things he didn't want others to see. He used gold. He had a journal for memories he didn't want others to see. And I happened to be currently holding that journal.

I couldn't bring myself to open it. He hid them for a reason, and they weren't something he wanted others to know. As much as I wanted revenge, I couldn't do that to him.