Keeper of the Lost Cities: Elysian

Chapter 47

The Councillors.

Sophie felt like a hole had suddenly opened beneath her feet, making her fall into eternal gloom.

She thought she had a plan.

But she found herself in a stressful and crucial moment- with nothing.

Helpless.

She thought she had a grip on the situation- some resolve. But it seemed distant- like a candle far away, flickering in the wind.

What could she do against the Councillors? Fight them?

What would she be then?

A traitor and outcast, like when she ran away with her friends to join the Black Swan?

Could she give up her life... again?

Sophie could feel the cold numbing her brain. Dulling her heart.

A crack of thunder shattered the world.

Suddenly, she sensed shadows around her consciousness. Weaving together a singular, dark web.

In a bout of panic, she flung herself away from the coils of darkness that had appeared out of nowhere. How could she have gotten herself distracted so easily?

At that moment, she was able to think coherently. She had defeated the Veil before, so nothing could stop her now.

Summoning all her might, she remembered how Biana and Flori were well again. The joyous, confident feeling spread wholly through Sophie's body, giving her renewed warmth.

She could see and feel the beams and ripples of light that charged out to combat the shadows. Then came a flash that was as bright, strong, and brilliant as a nova.

The shadows were gone.

For a moment, Sophie felt relief. But then she saw lightning split the sky, and she was forced back into the reality of All. Her. Problems.

Starting with Elysian.

But...

The Veil.

Was it still out there?

She hesitated for a few beats, expecting the darkness to hurl at her again.

But nothing happened.

Sophie tried to cling to the remnants of the warm feeling. She had to hold onto it.

She usually wasn't good with plans. But she was good with... a kind-of plan. Grasping that warm feeling and securing it, she knew what to do.

She stepped into the rain again, feeling the drops soak her clothes and skin once more. She could have used telekinesis to part them away, but she had a feeling she would need her energy for later.

Sophie allowed her mind to sense Elysian again.

She ran with a newfound strength. As she leaped across fallen trees and dashed through the wet grass, she refused to let herself stop even for a second.

The surrounding landscape began to look familiar. Had Sophie taken a huge loop around the island?

She'd been so fixated on following Elysian...

She thought she saw a building in the distance, but seeing clearly in the fog and rain was impossible. Was that Elysian's house?

Then she heard screaming in the distance. Frantic calls for help. Bright flashes of light and sizzling.

She ran closer... and she almost crashed into someone.

A lot of someones.

"Sophie!" Maruca cried.