Keeper of the Moonlark

Impossible Telepathy and Elementalist

Athena spent the night albeit against her will at the Vacker's residency. Sophie would be coming in the afternoon to do her test where Athena will also be tested. Panic settled into Athena's chest. This wasn't supposed to happen. She was supposed to stay hidden her whole life, but now, she was exposed.

"Is there laws against kidnapping here?" Athena muttered to herself as she brushed her fingers through her wet silver hair, sitting on the bed. "Mr. Forkle is not going to be pleased." 

The room she was staying in was quite large and incredibly nice. A ginormous bed with large drapes was in the middle of the back wall. The sheets were as soft as silk, and the bed itself felt heavenly, but despite that, she couldn't calm her nerves.

To ease her mind, Athena walked onto the balcony. She wore a silver dress, borrowed from Della Vacker, Fitz's mother. Della was a peerless beauty with gorgeous cobalt blue eyes, and long brown hair. She had been kind to Athena despite her showing up unannounced and under unfortunate circumstances.

She sat on the railing and looked at the moon. Something about the moon always resonated with her. It always quietly watched as the world slept, casting soft light on the world below. The moon couldn't shine without the sun, and maybe Athena sympathized with it. 

This wasn't how what she had expected from her life. Though she didn't know what she had expected after Sophie was taken to the elven world. Everything she had done was for the moment Sophie returned to where she belonged, but where did that leave Athena?

"Will you be joining us for dinner?" asked Della, drawing Athena out of her thoughts.

Athena looked over her shoulder at the older woman. "I will pass, but thank you for the offer."

Della smiled at Athena, taking her appearance in without discrimination. "Anytime. Please let us know if we can do anything."

"You could let me go home." Athena laughed bitterly already knowing the answer. She began to braid her hair, twisting the pieces together. She watched the moon again. 

"Where is your home, Athena?" asked Della softly.

With a sad smile, Athena refused to answer, keeping her back to the woman. Normally, Athena would have been polite if not a bit distant, but she had failed her mission. All she could do was be glad that Sophie was safe. Athena couldn't help but feel anxious about meeting the council tomorrow.

"If that was all you needed, I would appreciate it if you would leave." Athena said into the night sky.

* * *

If Athena knew they were going to test her abilities, she would've run. They were planning on enrolling her Foxfire, and that was what she wanted least. Maybe, that's why they kept it from her. For being supposedly good natured, the elves kept a lot of secrets.

Everyone was wary of her. Unlike Sophie where there was some evidence of her existence left on purpose, Athena was unrecorded. Athena could be a threat, and now, they were trying to tie her down.

As Athena prepared to jump off the balcony, she heard a knock on her door. It was now or never. The door opened as she leaped off, but she wasn't fast enough as a hand grabbed the back of her dress.

"What do you think you were doing?" Alden said with a concerned look on his face. He pulled her back on the balcony. 

Athena scowled. "Escaping." She made eye contact with a very shocked Sophie. "Good afternoon, Sophie."

Alden practically dragged her out of the room as they headed to where they would be tested. With a deep breath, Athena made her face blank and shrugged Alden off. She followed him quietly with Sophie walking behind her.