cascade | kotlc

11. To Be Free

 June arrived at Havenfield after school the next day. She went to knock on Sophie's door and she let her in, but she was surprised when she saw Keefe on her bed.

"So, this is where the great Sophie Foster lives -- hey, June," he said as he grabbed Ella from among the pillows. "Wow, you really sleep with this thing? I thought Fitz was kidding when he gave it to you when you were recovering."

"Why did you bring him to your room?" June asked Sophie amusedly. "Your room's going to get wrecked after he's done with it. Didn't Dex find -- what was it -- a picture of you in fairy wings up here?"

Keefe shot up. "Fairy wings?"

"Nevermind."

Sophie sighed as she snatched Ella away and placed her on the desk chair. Keefe opened Iggy's cage and he curled up in his lap, squeak-purring like crazy as Keefe tickled his belly.

"Only you would have a pet imp -- and dye it hot pink."

"He actually came from vermillion vomit," June told him. "I strangled the vermillion and unlocked its jaw, and that came out."

"That's so cool, but why's it pink?"

"The pink is Dex's fault," Sophie cut in.

"Ah yes, I forgot about Dex. He comes over a lot, doesn't he?"
"We are best friends. And I've been thinking-"

"Oh, good, at least one of us should."

"Keefe, why're you even here?" June asked. Sophie nodded at him.

"Well, Foster here wants me to help her solve all her problems-"

"It was more like you coerced your way into helping me," she interrupted.

"Three conditions, Keefe. Accept them or you're out."

"Why doesn't June have to follow them?" he whined.

She rolled her eyes. "Because I'm her sister, duh. Also, I doubt you can wield a ten-foot long saber."

"Number one," Sophie said. "Anything I tell you can never be repeated to anyone, ever. Not even Fitz. Not my parents. Not your parents."

"Ooh, I get to solve all the Foster mysteries, awesome!"

Sophie threw up her arms. "June, feel free to stab him if he does this again."

She smiled sweetly. "Much obliged." In a fraction of a second her blade was pinned to the carpet beside him.

"Woah, woah, calm down, Foster," Keefe said, inching away from the ten-feet long saber. "Don't hire your sister to murder me."

June raised an eyebrow and slowly dragged the blade over to Keefe's neck. He put his hands up in surrender. "Please don't hurt me." She giggled and the blade retracted into the hilt.

Sophie sighed. "Two, I'm the one who makes the decisions, and you don't get to argue with them."

"Can your sister?"

June flicked a petal off her hilt. "I won't. Sophie's usually good at this stuff."

"I don't see how that's fair."

"I didn't say it was fair. You either agree or you're out."

He grinned. "Fine, Foster's the queen of the universe, agreed."

"You'd better call her 'your highness' then," June commented. "Since she's the queen of the universe, it seems proper for her to receive a title."

"Sure, your highness. Anyways, what's the last one?"