Keeper of the Moonlark

Fateful Encounter

Athena wandered around the museum, trying not to draw attention to herself. She has spent most of her life hiding her features from humans and blocking her mind from Sophie. Everything was to keep the moonlark safe.

From her view, she could see one of Sophie's classmates picking on her. They were jealous that as a twelve year old, she was already about to graduate high school. She had photographic memory and was incredibly smart, so she deserved it, but that didn't change the fact that high schoolers were mean. I wanted to scold her for pulling out her eyelashes.

With a brown wig covering her hair and brown colored contacts, Athena hardly looked like herself. It was her usual attire though because amongst elves and humans, her looks were an oddity. It was what she gets for being an experiment. 

It was her duty after all. Mr. Forkle created her for the sole purpose of protecting Sophie until she was assimilated into elven society. Every now and then, Athena couldn't help but wonder what happened after, but she couldn't bring herself to ask Mr. Forkle. She worried the answer would only hurt more than the anxiety.

A little part of Athena felt bad as she watched Sophie get ripped into by her teacher for not paying attention. Poor Sophie has to be in pain with all of the thoughts of everyone going through her head. Her brown eyes with those golden speckles were downcast. Athena wanted to help, but couldn't draw attention to herself. All she could do was protect Sophie from the sidelines even when she knew Sophie was in pain because of her telepathy.

Athena almost missed him as she scanned the room. She did a double take when she saw him. He was unmistakably a Vacker with his dark brown hair and teal eyes. He was reading a newspaper. Athena notices Sophie's face on the cover. What was he doing here? Did the black swan not inform me of something? Why was she on the news when they were trying to keep her out of the public eye?

It's all Athena could do not to teleport Sophie right out of there when she watch him approach her, but instead Athena casually move closer. She keep her face passive as they begin talking. There's a faint blush on Sophie's face. A piece of her blonde hair falls over her shoulder as she looks into his eyes.

Athena can't help laugh at her cute reaction. Despite only interacting with her when she was in danger, Athena felt as if Sophie was her sister. Still, she didn't like an elf that close to her without knowing if this was the plan.

Hundreds of thoughts flood Athena's mind, but they all go silent as a group of young kids enter the room. Telepaths were weak against the thought of children since they were so loud and needle-like. Plus all of the other thoughts of the adults and teens around them. Both the Vacker and Sophie cringed in pain. Sophie tried to hide it, but it was too late. He noticed her reaction. 

"Did you just... hear that?" The Vacker boy said quietly. Athena almost didn't hear him.

Sophie paled and was in shock. "Who are you?"

The tension was strong between them. Sophie's fear was almost palatable to me. Athena needed to get her out of here without her noticing me. Her anxiety was probably going crazy.

"You did—didn't you." He moved closer to whisper. She didn't hear what he said, but Athena could guess from Sophie's expression. "It's okay. You don't have to be afraid. I'm one too."

He's the Vacker prodigy, she realized. He's Fitz Vacker. Athena grimace. This was not happening was it? She was in shock. This had to be a part of the plan, right?

Sophie dashes out of the museum. Fitz and Athena follow out after her, but Athena tried to stay out of sight. Fitz calls after her, but when Sophie is panicked all she can think of is escaping. Athena saw the car way before Sophie and Fitz do, but she was too far away. Sophie is in the middle of the crosswalk but the car is going too fast. Neither Fitz and nor Athena will make it if they run.

Athena did the only thing she know how to in the situation and teleported to her as the tires screech. The moment Athena grabbed Sophie, she teleported the both of them to the other side of the street. The car swerved to dodge Sophie, hit a curb, and launched into a streetlamp. The streetlamp falls towards the two girls, and Sophie shoots her hands towards it, using her elven powers for the first time.