cascade | kotlc

16. A Small Eternalia Visit

--- June POV ---

"God fucking damnit sister, what's happening now?" she cried out as Sophie dragged her out to meet with Fitz. Of course, she was completely fine with the Fitz part. She was much less happy with the 'going somewhere and probably almost dying in the process' part.

"I swear to god this is going to be my demise someday," she grumbled as Sophie practically threw her over her shoulder and rushed down the stairs. "Please don't drop me..."

"Do you think this is a mistake?" Sophie asked when Fitz leaped into the surprisingly quiet empty pastures.

"What, bringing me into this mess? Of course it is. Can I finally take a break for a while? No? Almost dying a couple hundred times not good enough for you yet? What other dangerous thing can I do at this point?"

"I'm pretty sure your sister's beating you at that," Fitz teased, pulling her into a hug. She tried halfheartedly to groan as her disastrous heart fluttered, and a smile leaped onto her face.

Fucking hell hot boys! I swear to absolute fucking god, if fucking hot boys isn't the death of me it's going to be my sister, fucking hell.

"Don't make me check your mind," he whispered into her ear, winking at her. "I have a few guesses for what you're thinking right now."

...

FUCK YOU-

"It feels like we're wasting time on the wrong things," Sophie muttered. "Especially since we don't have any actual plans. I mean, what's the Collective doing right now, besides shutting down all our ideas and telling us to wait?"

"If you aren't going to take me wherever you're going, I'd be perfectly happy to train Linh more," June told Sophie. "But nooo. You're going to make me come with you because you know that's the only way Dad will let you go without dragging Sandor along."

"Yep," she agreed cheerfully. "And there's nothing you can do about it because I'm too cute for my own good."

June sighed.

"I think what happened to Wylie really shook them up," Fitz said. "I mean, I used to think the Gold and Silver towers were completely impenetrable. But learning that you can literally trapeze into the windows unimpeded... there has to be some other way in, isn't there?"

"Probably something to do with the Hall of Enlightenment. I really should just go and destroy all the mirrors, but Mr. Forkle won't let me." June cocked her gun. "What's the point of giving me a gun if I can't even use it?"

"I'd honestly feel better if you didn't have to."

"I just don't think it's a good idea to sit around doing nothing," Sophie mumbled. "I know I'm not as close to Wylie as the Collective is, but maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that makes me able to see what really needs to be done."

"Yes, it's called letting me go and help Linh and also maybe Tam if he's not away and spending time with Biana," June said sarcastically. "You're perfectly welcome to join and get obliterated, by the way."

Sophie looked away and tugged out an itchy eyelash. "Do you have a pathfinder?"

"Why would I? Ask my boyfriend. He's a Vacker."

"Not with me right now," Fitz said, checking his pockets. "Why? Where do you want to go?"

"Somewhere dangerous, probably. Maybe involving the exterior of a high-speed moving vehicle. Heck, she might take us to Eternalia or something."

"You need to be nicer to your sister, you know."

"Not when she's constantly dragging me into messes like these!"