❝𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲.❞ ― 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒙 𝑲𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒄

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟎.𝟒 ┊ 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒇𝒆

"Don't try screaming," an all-too familiar voice drifted into Keefe's ear just as he opened his mouth.

He screamed anyway. 

None of the figures walking on the streets paid him any attention. That was strange. How could anyone walk past without turning around and wondering who made that ear-splitting sound?

The answer lay on the ground, twinkling in the sunlight, as if winking at him. The obscurers, which were tiny black orbs with thin silver swirls on it, bent light and sound, so humans wouldn't be able to see or hear him or his... visitor... as long as they were near it. That explained why the humans didn't give him a second glance.

Keefe stared blankly at the obscurers for a moment, before collecting himself again. He turned around, his face hardening and his eyes turning to steel. "What are you doing here?" 

The black-cloaked figure took off her hood, which had a picture of an eye on the side, revealing her blonde hair in a fancy updo. 

"Well, isn't that a nice welcome back. Nice to see you too, son," Lady Gisela smiled coldly at Keefe. The frost in her tone could freeze a volcano. 

Keefe held her gaze and simply glared at her, unfazed. "Considering you literally lead my friends into a trap and wasted all their efforts just to give me a crazy new ability so you could take over the world or something, tried hurting those I love, and lied to and manipulated everyone, I think it's fair that you don't get a very warm welcome, especially since you just appeared out of thin air," He said, sarcasm evident from his tone.

Lady Gisela played along. "Oh, is that so? Wasn't it yourself who joined the Neverseen and failed to even get a cache? Or put your friends in grave danger? Or tried to fix everything - and ended up ruining everything - while I succeeded?" She gave him another tight-lipped smile. "I'm surprised I'm apparently not on your list of people you love... being your mother and all."

Keefe mentally seethed as the memories flooded him again. It was, in a way, all his fault. He pushed the thoughts and guilt to the back of his mind. "In all fairness, you haven't been a very loving mother, and may I remind you the things you've done again-"

Lady Gisela's stare seemed to pierce a hole in his head. "Now, there's no need for that, is there? I'd be completely happy to have a ... nice chat with you after my... plans. But I came here for a reason, of course, and we can't afford to waste any more time."

"Fine, Mom-of-the-Year. Hurry up and do your creepy, evil thing and let's get this over with." Keefe narrowed his eyes.

"So now I'm the Mom of the Year," Lady Gisela said, shaking her head. "And indeed, I'm not here to treat you to ice-cream - a delicacy here - and take a stroll in the park. We'd be doing some pretty important things for the upcoming war-"

"W-war?" Keefe's jaw dropped open, his eyes widening. That... He knew it had been coming, but saying it out loud - it seemed real, as if the word had become three-dimensional. He imagined everyone armed with weapons, using their skills and abilities... the hate on their faces... he shuddered - he couldn't bear the thought of it.

Mommy-Dearest smirked. "TMI, I suppose, but there's no harm in mentioning it... you can't do anything to stop that, anyway." Her smirk disappeared, and she turned. "Now, where was I? Right, important things to do. In fact, we can't just rely on these obscurers... we'd be going to somewhere else... somewhere safer."

Keefe's head was bursting with questions. "Wait - No, I don't understand... Where are we going?"

"You'd find out now, won't you?" Lady Gisela's left hand went to her right one, and she shifted a ring on the ring finger of her right hand.

Keefe stumbled after Lady Gisela as he tried to fight the urge to follow her to whatever creepy place she wanted to bring him to. Normally, he'd have just stayed there and continue taunting her, but his brain felt fuzzy.

The scowl on Lady Gisela's face deepened, and she touched the ring again.

Something clicked into place in Keefe's mind, and he stopped tripping over his own feet. His eyes glazed over slightly, like he was hypnotized, and he walked forward unnaturally, like a soldier, all swagger gone. When Lady Gisela went to him and reached for his hair to tidy it up, he didn't even flinch. She smiled.

"Now, let's go," she said. No objection from Keefe. It was as if he was stone. 

Inside, Keefe didn't really understand what was going on. His brain seemed to have shut down for the moment. He didn't know how that was possible - he was moving... towards a light...

White light enveloped his vision, and then the Forbidden Cities were gone.

So... any theories, guys? Wonder what happened to Keefe? Stay tuned for Chapter 6 ;) 

But for now, Chapter 5 will be Sophie's POV, so you'd have to wait 2 chapters !!