cascade | kotlc

13. Nostos, Homecoming

 Sophie's dreams were a horror show of ghostly voices and black figures and fire, but the presence of her sister calmed her down. She woke up tangled in covers and with June next to her -- Edaline must have left -- and she found an enormous gray beast towering over her. She screamed as black fear swirled through her mind and her whole body trembled. June pulled herself up, her eyes bleary and unfocusesd.

"Stop, Sophie," Alden warned, shaking her shoulders. "Stop, you're hurting him." His voice washed the darkness away and her vision cleared. The gray beast twisted in pain on the floor.

"That's a goblin," June mumbled, still not fully awake. "Why's there a goblin?"

"Sandor won't hurt you," Alden promised. "The Council assigned you a goblin bodyguard to keep you safe. It's not a good idea to inflict pain on him."

"Inflict?"

"I told you so," June muttered. "It's what you did to those three guys on the bridge. You're an inflictor. You have two special abilities, Sophie. That's really rare."

"Considering how special you are, I wouldn't be surprised if you still have more abilities that you haven't discovered. You're a Polyglot too, Dex says."

"We were in France," June remembered. "I recognized the Eiffel Tower, Dex showed it to me before. You spoke French?"

Sophie nodded.

"You speak languages instinctively, just by hearing them. It's a very rare skill. You'll be glad you have it as you advance in multispeciesial studies."

"You're incredibly powerful, sister," June said. "And Alden, I think... there was a tidal wave at the cave. I... I think I caused it. Which meant... it's my fault you declared our deaths." She stared at her feet.

Sophie picked her up and gently placed her on her lap. Her sister looked adorable when she was flustered. Her cheeks would be shaded a pale pink, and her hair would cover half of her face. It made her look stunning.

"Don't think about it," Sophie comforted. "It's over. I'm fine. And it's not your fault."

June looked up, her eyes watering. "Thank you, sister. I believe you."

-

Sophie sat next to Alden and June on a pedestal facing the twelve Councillors in Tribunal Hall, and this time it was a packed house. Friends, Mentors, strangers. Even enemies. Stina sneered at her as Bronte rose to read the charges.

Between the laws and the bylaws and the sub-bylaws, she'd committed five major transgressions and eleven minor transgressions, including illegally visiting the Forbidden Cities, reckless handling of a protected species, and destruction of protected collectables. At least half of them carried the possibility of exile.

And yet, Sophie wasn't afraid.

She'd been drugged and interrogated, watched her best friend and sister tortured for trying to escape, and had to fight to escape and to survive.

The Council couldn't do worse.

"Miss Ruewen," Emery said, his voice warm. "Oh behalf of the entire Council I'd like to express our relief that you made it home safely. We'd also like to assure you that we will find whoever was responsible for your kidnapping and make them see justice for their actions."

"Thank you," June said.

"That being said, you stand before us today accused of very serious charges. What have you to say in your defense?"

June smiled.

"The law exists for good. It exists to protect us, and the laws on the Forbidden Cities are drafted to protect humans and stop all interaction between us. The Everblaze present in the Forbidden Cities was an elf's doing, and thus it must be stopped by an elf. I cannot stand by and let humans suffer. I am not a human, nor do I have any human relationships, but humans are by all means a living species. Even though they have committed major transgressions in the past, that does not make humans any less worth protecting."

"Thank you."

-

"There's one more matter we must address before we close," Emery announced, calling the room back to order. "It's a delicate matter, however, and one I think best left only to immediate friends and family. Everyone else, please see yourselves out." He waited until the crowd left, then turned to Sophie. "It appears we have two adoption requests for you, Miss. Foster. One from Alden and Della Vacker, and the other from Grady and Edaline Ruewen. The Council feels it should be your choice, so we're leaving the decision up to you."

Sophie spun around, her eyes finding Grady and Edaline.

Grady gave her a small smile. "It's your call, Sophie. Whatever you decide, we'll still love you. And I know June would love it if you were her sister."

Edaline nodded her agreement. Her eyes looked misty.

June squeezed Sophie's arm, her hopeful smile lighting up the room. Sophie knew who she wanted to be with.

"Della and I want you to be happy. Wherever you decide to live won't change anything. And, I think, you know where you want to be." Alden smiled at June.

Sophie nodded. She turned back to Grady and Edaline, taking in Edaline's tearstained cheeks and dark circles, and Grady's puffy eyes and rigid jaw. She looked at June and saw her sister.

She saw her family.

"I've made up my mind." She took a deep breath and cleared the emotion out of her voice as she turned to face the Council. "I want to stay with Grady, Edaline, and June Ruewen."

She wasn't sure who cheered louder, Grady and Edaline, or June, or Dex.

She dipped another curtsy as Emery concluded the tribunal and the Council glittered away.

June ran Sophie and jumped into her arms, squeezing her in a big bear hug. Alden smiled behind her. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. "And I think you made the right decision."

"I think so too."

June was crying, and Sophie pressed her face against her's, like they had when Sophie promised her Grady and Edaline loved them, and she really believed it now. She had found family.

June led her outside, where all her friends had gathered under one of the Pures. Grady lifted her, twirling her twice before setting her down so Edaline could strangle her with a hug.

"You won't regret that decision," Edaline whispered, kissing her cheek. "I promise."

Sophie smiled. "I promise too. I love you guys."

"We love you too," Grady, Edaline, and June said as one. They crushed her with a hug. Everyone's eyes were wet with tears.

"For the record, I'm really glad they didn't exile you," Dex said as he gave her an awkward hug. "And I'm really glad you aren't going to be a Vacker," he whispered in her ear.

Sophie rolled her eyes, and she saw Fitz kissing June. She smiled.

Fitz nudged her when she came over. "So you don't want to live with us? I see how it is." June had climbed onto his shoulders and was rubbing his cheeks teasingly.

"I know," Keefe agreed. "You save a girl's life one day and the next day she trades you away like a Prattle's pin."

"At least I still have my wonderful girlfriend," Fitz said. June blushed.

"She probably couldn't stand the thought of having you guys around all the time. And I can't say I blame her."

Sophie giggled. "You guys don't mind?"

"Nah. One little sister and a girlfriend is more than I can handle already," Fitz said as he sidestpped Biana's shove. June bent down to whisper something to Biana, who grinned. "I guess I'll have to settle for being your friend."

"Friend sounds good," Sophie agreed.

"You still staying with us tonight?" Biana asked.

"Actually, I think I want to sleep in my room, if that's okay." She glanced at Grady and Edaline. They smiled and nodded.

June hopped off Fitz and put a hand on Sophie's shoulder. "Can I sleep with you?"

"Of course."

It was truly family.

Sophie Foster was going home.