In the Heart of the Fire (a KOTLC fanfic)

XII

"But I need time." I add.

"You sure about that?" Keefe's eyebrow lifts knowingly.

I stick my chin out. "Yes. What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, we have a Telepath with no limits, not even distance. She's been checking in on you ever since she knew you were gone."

My cheeks flare red. "I don't need a babysitter. I don't need your help. I don't need someone in my private thoughts at any moment. So, thank you, but please stop."

"Wow."

"What?"

"That's the thanks I get for breaking law to be with you?"

"I didn't ask you to break law for me. You break rhe law all the time without my help. I'm serving my time. I am keeping true to the law. Not to mention, I'm in trouble enough right now. It's best to keep my head down." I sigh. "You need to leave."

His face twists, hurt as clear as the jewels that we build our cities with. "I'll have you know that while you sitting here 'serving your time' we're stuck in the Losf Cities without our friend. Without our best friend. Without you. So while you are living the life, our group is incomplete and we feel it. Just the same as when Sophie is with Elwin, getting healed. Just the same as when Fitz and Biana, and now I'm in there too, go on a trip with Alden. I'm not longer asking, Haesel. You're coming back with us."

"I'm sorry, 'us'?"

No sooner had the words come out of my mouth than I see a familiar head of curly hair come forth from the crowd.

"It's crazy what you can do with a Mesmer in the human world." Keefe smiles proudly.

I run a hand over my face. "No. No, no, no, no, no! No, Keefe! This is ridiculous! I've already said no! Just leave me alone! Go back to Everglen and just stay there! Can you please just stop being rebellious for once?!"

"What a lovers quarrel..." Sueanna comments.

Keefe opens his mouth as if to reply to me, ignoring Sueanna, then turns to Meluna.

"You.must be the friend." He says, turning on the charm.

"It's Meluna." She crosses her arms and scowls, clearly not trusting Keefe. "And friend is a loose term. I'm the correspondent, though." She addresses me. "We've been writing back and forth for a while, now. Look, Haesel, you don't belong here. The other elves? They're true criminals. You're just misplaced. Go with them. Go with him."

I shake my head. They don't get it. No one does. Whatever I do, I do it to the fullest. I don't give up, no matter what.

I turn around and head to class. I could use some Sprout pep in my day.

But when I enter the Art Room, nothing is okay. Mx. Rayne isn't there and Sprout is not at our table. I catch their eye and they look away. Great. What else is going wrong today?

The answer to my question: Tam being my new table mate. I'm not afraid to admit that I almost lost it right then. The urge to get up on my desk and just scream and rage and literally spit fire was so tantalizing. But I chose to stay seated like the good little elf I am.

"You all aren't going to stop until I go back, are you?" I ask him.

He shrugs. "I'm only here because Linh made me."

Typical Tam. "Fine." I grumble. "Let's go."

In response, Tam picks up his bag and we walk out the door. Well, to the door. Some lady decides to come in before we can go out.

"Go sit down!" She orders. "I'm your teacher for today! No need to look for Ms. Rayne."

I blink. "It's Mx. Rayne. And we aren't going to look for her. We were checking on our artwork currently drying. We need to go now or we'll be late for our actual first class." The lies just slip off my tongue one after the other. I feel people looking at me, but don't pay them any mind.

The lady looks a bit taken aback. I guess kids don't talk back to her every day. "Alright." She relents. The second she clears the door (she was overly large), Tam and I sprint for the main entrance.

I really shouldn't be surprised to find Keefe, Sueanna, Linh, Sophie, Dex and Fitz waiting for me.

"Where's Ro and Sandor?" I ask, knowing they can't be far away.

"Waiting in a car around the corner." Sueanna chirps like she's just talking about the weather, not goblins in the Forbidden Cities.

"Let's blow this Prattles stand!" Keefe yells.

Everyone hushes him. "There are classes happening right now." Sueanna chastises him.

He rolls his eyes and I find myself smiling despite the circumstances. My friends do want what's best for me and our group. They did break a lot of rules for this, but they have good intentions. In all honesty, I missed them. In all fairness, Keefe gave me a week to myself to decide if I needed him and the group. My silence was probably devastating because it meant I chose my imprisonment over them.

I sigh. I'll talk to them in the car. Now's not the time. It feels good to be immersed in my group again as we walk into the sun. My best friends all right here.

I can't help but laugh at the huge van they got. It's what Sprout calls a "church van." It means they're made to fit about 10+ people. There in the front sit the two goblin bodyguards in hooded capes. Sandor is alert and on the lookout who Ro is busy filing her nails with a wicked looking knife. They make quite the team.

We children pile into the backseat. I'm pleased to be in the farthest back seat, next to the window. Sueanna snags the seat next to me and Dex sits beside her. I don't miss the look Keefe gives Sueanna as he sits in front of me. It was less than nice.

When everyone is settled, I make my statement. "Thank you all for coming to get me. To be honest, I had forgotten what true friendship is like. That breaking the rules for the benefit of others is just another day in the life of a true friend. So...thank you."

"Are you saying you forgot who planned your whole birthday party?" Sueanna scoffs playfully.

I laugh. "Never. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you guys."

Keefe looks back at me. I look out the window. We will talk later.

"Why are we in a car?" I wonder aloud. "We're elves. We can light leap."

"We leaped in an abandoned place. If humans see us, we will be in so much trouble." Dex explains.

"Fair, but won't my presence get us in so much trouble?" I counter.

Silence.

"It's all just part of the show." Ro yells from up front.

I put my head in my hands. Oh boy. A deranged giggle escapes my mouth. "Our parents are going to kill us."

Sueanna laughs with me. "At least we'll do it together."

I nod. Truth.

"Oh. Hey." Linh intervenes. "We brought your stuff back. Fitz and Keefe stole ig back from the Council." She throws a bag at me. I eagerly zip it open. Inside are the clothes I wore when I was taken away for Project Flareadon. All it's missing is the words "I love you." I swallow nervously. Keefe is entitled to that date just as much as I am. He spent time planning a whole day. The least I can do is let him have it.

Sandor slows the car to a stop. I look around. I know this clearing. Just an instinct. This is where Zeke disappeared. This is where we go back.

*****

Author's Note: OMG that only took me months. I apologize for how long that took. The next one will be sooner. I really hope it was worth the wait. Happy reading, book buds! Love you all!💙