What if...? The Neverseen found Sophie Foster

Chapter 6

SHE'S ALIVE!" FITZ TEASED WHEN Sophie wandered into the living room the next day. He sat in an overstuffed armchair reading a book called Twenty-Five Ways to Catch the Wind. "You do realize you slept through breakfast and lunch, right?"

"I did?" Sophie looked around, trying to find a clock, but everything was covered in weird clothes—like a costume shop threw up on the furniture.

"Sorry. I guess I was tired."

"You had a rough day yesterday. Plus, your body needs rest while it detoxes," Della said, materializing in the center of the room. Sophie clutched her chest. She couldn't understand how anyone could get used to the ghostly way Vanishers appeared. Della frowned as she met Sophie's eyes. "How are you doing?" Sophie shrugged.

She didn't know how to answer. "Well, you look great. Not that you weren't pretty before, but I think that detox made a difference. You should see how shiny your hair is, and your eyes are so... striking. You're going to be quite the heartbreaker when you grow up."

"Who is?" Biana strode into the room in a fitted dress with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered with every step. She looked way more glamorous than any twelve-year-old had the right to look. "Sophie," Della said, smiling at Sophie. "Doesn't she look pretty today?" There might've been things that were less embarrassing than that moment, but Sophie couldn't think of any. Especially when Biana shrugged, and asked, "Isn't that the same dress you wore yesterday?"

"All my other clothes were—" she started to explain, but Della held up her hand. "I'm sorry. I should've sent something up for you. I've been shopping all morning." She waved her arms at the explosion of clothes. "Behold. Your new wardrobe."

"That's all for me?" Was she going to be wearing five outfits a day?

Della winked. "I got you everything you'll need, plus a few extras. The only thing I didn't get was a new nexus. I figured you'd want to pick your own. Unless you want to keep Fitz's old, beat-up one." Sophie stared at the cuff on her wrist.

"This was yours?" she asked Fitz. He nodded. She liked that—more than she wanted to admit. She fingered the sparkly stone, which was exactly the same color as his eyes. "Do you want it back?"

"I don't need it anymore. It's yours if you want it." She was very aware of everyone watching her, so she tried hard to sound casual as she said,

"Might as well keep this one then, so it doesn't go to waste."

"If that's what you want," Della agreed with a smile. "I should be done packing all of this in a few minutes, and then I'll get you some lunch." "Packing?" Her heart sank as Alden entered the room holding her backpack and Ella. "Are you kicking me out?" She tried to make it a joke, but a touch of hurt leaked into her words. Della rushed to take her hands. "Of course not. We thought you'd want to get settled into your new home.

If you want to wait a few days, we'll unpack your stuff right now." Sophie swallowed to steady her voice. "No, it's fine. In fact, I don't really want lunch. I'm not hungry." Her stomach was so knotted with nerves there wasn't room for food. Della smiled sadly. "You're going to like Grady and Edaline." Her palms dampened at the strange names.

"What are they like?"

"They're great," Alden promised. "They run an animal preserve at Havenfield, so they always have all kinds of exciting things going on."

"Do they have any kids?" Della glanced at Alden. He looked away. "Grady and Edaline lost their only daughter about fifteen years ago. Her name was Jolie. She was twenty when she died. It was a... terrible accident." Della covered her mouth with her hand. Alden shook his head.