Keeper of The Lost Cities Fanfic: Elysian

Chapter 17

Alvar looked worse than the last time Sophie had seen him. He was so pale, it was like someone had sucked all the blood out of him. His skin was pulled tight over his bones, making his tunic and pants look like they were three sizes too big for him, and his dark hair had turned white. "Why would you tell me?" Sophie asked, scowling and pointing the dagger at him. "Because," Alvar said, his voice a rasp, "Someone has to stop them." "Oh, gee, I didn't know we needed to stop the Neverseen." Sophie said with no emotion. Alvar shook his head. "No. Ruy and Elysian. Their plan is bigger than you think." "And how do I know this isn't a trap?" Alvar coughed, which sounded more like a wheeze. "Do I look capable of coming up with a trap? I've been hiding in the woods, hunting for food and water, trying to stay alive. Promise me you'll stop them and I'll tell you what it means." Sophie glanced at Sandor real quick, surprised to see his nod of agreement. Then, she went back to Alvar. "I promise we'll stop them, Alvar. Ruy's being hunted as we speak." Alvar nodded and Sandor let him go. He stayed where he was. "That new symbol you discovered, Sophie, it's Elysian's mark. It's what proves their plan will work if not stopped. You know the other two, of course, but once tied together, it makes a plan worse than death." "Just get to the point." "So, the Neverseen want to kill you and your friends. That's the part of the plan the eye represents. The Lodestar involved experiments on human captives. And Elysian's mark ties both of them together, but is also the most important part of the plan. It represents them taking over both worlds, killing every elf and human and ogre and goblin and dwarf unless proven useful." Then, he looked at Sophie sadly, and said, "You and your friends prove useful to Elysian. They'll use your powers to help kill every race until it's just them and your team." Then, he gasped, and clawed at his heart. Sophie caught him in her arms before he fell on the stone floor. He even took her hand, staring at the stars. "Remember your promise. And tell...tell my family I'm sorry. Especially to Fitz. I regret everything I did. But you can stop them, Sophie. Remember...." Alvar Soren Vacker took his final breath that night, his grip slack, still staring at the stars.

Chapter 18

Sophie didn't know how long she sat there, staring at Fitz's now-dead brother, wondering how he went from being a crazed Neverseen member to a regretful, good elf in the end. It wasn't until she noticed she was still holding his hand that she was also holding Alvar's family crest pin. So, some time later, she hailed Alden, and asked if she could come over to talk. "About what, Sophie?" Alden asked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, well..." Sophie said, blinking her tears back. "Alvar." Alden's face fell and he said, "Sure. No reason to worry, right?" Sophie didn't answer him. "Well, I'll see you in a minute." She nodded, then put her Imparter in her pocket, and let Sandor pick her up. As they fell, and the energy built in her mind, she pictured Everglen and wondered how she would break this to the Vackers, especially Fitz. Then, she pushed the warm energy out of her mind, not even noticing the thunderclap, and Sandor landed gracefully in the fields of Everglen.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sophie explained everything, answered the questions she could, and comforted the Vackers. Della had tears in her eyes, as did Biana, but Alden seemed confused and Fitz... He didn't believe it. He seemed to be mad, but with his emotionless expression, it was hard to tell. After telling them about Alvar's death, she told them what he'd said about Ruy and Elysian's plans. Fitz believed that, given how much of a ghost he looked like when she finished. No one said anything for a long, long time. Which was good for her, because she didn't know what to say. Should she say she was sorry, say they just needed time to process, or that she should leave them alone? "You expect us to believe this?" Fitz asked calmly. "After everything he did?" Sophie nodded. "He said he was sorry. Especially to you, Fitz. He knew how much his betrayal affected you and hurt you–" "It didn't hurt me." Fitz said. He once looked up to Alvar, like Keefe had, and he'd also been obsessed with hunting Alvar down. This was the last thing Sophie needed, for Fitz to get mad at her for what Alvar had told her. "You sure? Because, as I recall, you were obsessed with hunting him down. Heck, you almost killed him in cold blood!" Then Sophie realized she should've stayed quiet. "You were the same way with Ruy, Gethen, and Fintan. And look where that's landed you." Sophie knew she should've said something, but she didn't. Instead, she let Fitz walk off, processing what he meant.