Keeper of The Lost Cities: Book 9: Showdown

Chapter 27 - Sophie's POV

"Hello," Linh singsongs, waving her hand in my face. "Anybody home? You've been staring at the exact same place for the past twenty minutes."

I blink and realize at the flash of burn in my eyes that indeed, I have been staring.

I shake my head. "Sorry."

"Don't be!" Linh says, all smiles. "Want help?" she points to the homework I have sprawled on my table.

"Sophie? Need help with her homework?" Fitz leans across me to speak to Linh. "It should be the other way around."

"Yeah, that question sounded dumb as soon as it came out of my mouth."

"I just can't stop thinking about Elysium," I tell them. "I mean, I know that we've gotten a solution and all, and we've received a lot of information from Glimmer, but... when?"

"Would it be bold of me to assume the Council is stalling?" Tam asks. "I wouldn't put it past them to do that."

"I can't understand why, though. Why aren't they as concerned about this as we are?"

"Can't you?" Tam cocks his head, those silver-blue eyes of his piercing.

"They were- are- members of the nobility, appointed by-"

"You really don't see it, do you?" Tam shakes his head. "The only reason Team Valiant exists in the first place was because the Council knew you would never work with them on your own. They knew that your friends are a big part of you, and vice versa. All they needed was for you to join the nobility. So what, if a few teenagers came along with you? In the end, only you mattered."

I open my mouth to retort no, that's not true but nothing comes out because Tam's right.

"While choosing those teenagers did involve a bit of, politics, for lack of a better word-"

Fitz mutters something along the lines of you seriously sound like a mentor.

"Their selection was just for publicity purposes. As we all know," Tam grimaces, "you aren't the best at public appearances."

"You don't need to rub it in," I mutter and look away. "What's your point?"

"The Council could care less about Biana and Dex." Tam shakes his head. "After all, you're still here."

Fitz's face is pale, and Linh is frozen. But no one says anything because we all know Tam's right. It's the hard, cold, and cruel truth everyone's known inside, but no one's wanted to face or admit.

To think that if we'd only realized this before, Dex and Biana might be sitting next to us, laughing and protesting about homework.

To think that our Council would manipulate us so much.

To think that these are the people who dictate every aspect of our lives.

I can't understand why people stand for this. Oppression, at its finest, and everyone goes along with it. Who else, other than the usual circle, knows that two teenagers are sitting in something that's practically a nuclear war zone?

"C'mon. Wanna come over today?" Fitz sighs as we all gather our things, and get ready to leave.

"Can't. I'm gonna get Team Valiant and storm the Councillor's castles. Wanna come?"

Tam, Linh, and Fitz share a look. "Are you serious?"

I shrug. "Why not?"

They share another look, before Tam grins his most mischievous smile yet. "Why not?" Tam repeats.