The Foxfire Formal Ball

Chapter 6: Candleshade

The dance was only 3 weeks away.

That meant midterms were only 2 weeks away. Sophie had been so stressed studying for them that she could barely think about anything else. She could barely think, with the circlet causing everything to ache. She was taking five of Dex's serums a day just to function. After Keefe's explanation, Sophie spared no thoughts for the dance. She needed all the space in her brain for cramming in photographic memories of star maps, bottling techniques, history, and research on Telepathy.

Despite the insanity, she was doing fairly well. Sophie managed to juggle studying for all her sessions and to keep the circlet's pain at bay. She was keeping up with everything... Until it came to Linguistics.

Sophie could bypass the circlet (barely) when it came to other talents, but Linguistics hit her like a brick wall.

No matter how hard she tried, she wasn't getting any better at mimicking. It already took a huge effort to translate all the dwarven, ogre, goblin, and any human language her mentor threw at her.

And now with only two weeks, Sophie needed help. But she was too busy laying face-first on the couch, trying to deal with the massive amounts of pain from the circlet. Edaline found her and began rubbing her back. "Is everything alright?"

Sophie let out a muffled "yes", unmoved from the couch cushions. She listened to the click-clacks of Edaline's heels as she walked away.

Sandor stood Sophie's side, near the far-end of the couch. "Would you like me to escort you to your room?" He asked.

Sophie sighed. "Sure," she said, peeling herself from the couch. Completely leaning on Sandor, she slowly and painfully climbed the stairs to he room.

"Do you need any more assistance?" Sandor asked as they approached the door.

She was about to say "no" until she remembered she still had to practice her mimicking. "Yeah, actually," She said, clutching her head, "Would you mind helping me with Linguistics?"

Sandor raised am eyebrow. "I'm not completely sure what I can do to help."

Perfect, Sophie thought, wincing as pain erupted in her mind. It was as if the circlet was digging into her skull. "I'm not completely sure what I can do to help," she mimicked. Instead of immitating Sandor's soft, bunny-like voice, it came out as a squeal. She sighed, feeling hopeless.

"Perhaps the Sencen boy could help you," Sandor suggested. Sophie weakly nodded, pulling out her Imparter. "Show me Keefe."

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"Why am I at your house again?" Sophie asked, feeling slightly better. Sandor had given her more of Dex's serum than usual, and brought some along just in case. It was as if Sandor had stopped being a bodyguard and became a walking medical cabinet instead.

"Because you insisted," Keefe said with a smirk.

"I didn't insist," Sophie argued. "And you could've come to Havenfield, you know."

Keefe nodded, looking serious now. "It's just... my dad wanted to see you."

"Your dad?" Sophie asked, remembering the suspicious activity they discovered about him. Lord Cassius was a member of the Neverseen, yet didn't know that Keefe and Sophie (as well as Mr. Forkle and possibly the rest of the Black Swan) were onto him.

"Keefe, that's exactly why we wouldn't do it here!" Sophie said in a quiet, hushed whisper. However, not quiet enough.

"Is something wrong, Miss Foster?" Lord Cassius said from behind Sophie. "Your emotions seem to indicate you're upset. Has my son done this?"

Sophie quickly shook her head.

Lord Cassius slowly moved his gaze from Sophie to Keefe. "I would surely hope not." His eyes snapped back to Sophie. "I want to make it clear that I don't want my son to associate with you in public. It's bad for the Sencen name." He got closer to her. "And I especially don't want you to get any ideas at the dance."

Sophie nodded firmly, a fire in her eyes directed at Lord Cassius.

He nodded. "Good." He walked away without another word.

Keefe began joking once his dad was out of sight. "Were you scared, Foster?"

"Of course I was. It's not like I face one of my kidnappers every day."

"Gigantor wouldn't let him do anything," Keefe said, looking over in Sandor's direction. "Right?"

"Never."

"See? You're fine."

Sophie rolled her eyes. Keefe was impossible.

"Anyway," he said. "I think my mom could teach you a few tricks with mimicking."

Sophie followed Keefe into a small in-door garden. Lady Gisela sat by a small pond, surrounded by elvin flowers of every kind. Her back was facing them, her voice soft as she spoke to her Imparter.

"...lost?.....how many?....in a month...best time...."

Sophie looked up in alarm at Keefe. He quickly grabbed her wrist and led her out.

"Sorry," he said, out of breath, once they were somewhere safe. "My mom doesn't like being interrupted. It's not pretty."

Sophie nodded, still confused. "Just help me with mimicking."

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By the time Sophie arrived back to Havenfield, it was dark. She hurried up the stairs so she could collapse and fall asleep instantly.

Except there was something sitting on her bed, like a pretty package.

But Sophie knew better.

It was a note from the Black Swan.

***Author's Note***

Sorry for being late guys! I haven't been feeling well, so it may be a while until I update again. I hope to get out another chapter at least next week.

Again, thanks for reading and don't forget to like and comment!

~InkheadWriter