~ A Kotlc Story ~

Chapter 4 - Sophie

A/N I am soooo sorry i havent posted over this week, I've been busy and haven't been on my laptop. I have however written up to Chapter 10 on physical copy so expect the waits to be worth it.

It was Keefe who had spoken. His face was shadowed but I could see his eyes narrow as he glared at the Council. "What do you mean leave" He repeated.

Councillor Aline was the one to answer. "Because Sophie knows the most about humans. She has been selected to befriend human teenagers, and introduce them to the lost cities bit by bit."

My mind raced, and tears started to well in my eyes. "S...So I'll be living in th...the Forbidden Cities" I stuttered.

"Yes," Oralie responded quietly.

"B..But what about Foxfire, What About THE NEVERSEEN!" My voice rose with every word ending in a shout. I stood up facing the Council. Biana grabs my hand squeezing it tightly, and Keefe grabs the other. My breathing turns ragged and the world spins before. Not this time, I was not gonna pass out. I flop back down on the chair.

"Well Miss Foster, The Neverseen, has been inactive for nearly a year now. So we decided to do it now rather than later" Councillor Emery said. "And about Foxfire, you will continue your studies alongside the human school. As we expect with your photographic memory, it should be easy." Emery took a breath before he continued. "Also you will be placed in a grade with kids your age rather than moving up a few grades like you did when you previously lived there"

I started to feel dizzy again, voices swam before me. "Sophie are you ok?", "Breathe Foster", "Sophie can you hear me?", "Miss Foster?"

The thoughts that raced through my mind didn't help either. A whole year living with the humans? Would I stay here? Would I live in the Forbidden Cities? What about the Black Swan? What about Project Moonlark? What about the Neverseen? What about-

My thoughts stopped.

Sophie. Sophie! A faint voice was at the back of my mind. It yelled again amplifying until I realised who it sounded like.

Keefe?

YES The voice answered

How are you in my brain?

Well alright Lady Fos-Boss, as I recall you were talking to me in my mind Keefe said. You didn't sever the connection I just had to mentally yell your name for what was it like 5 minutes.

5 minutes....Keefe, what's going on?

Well, Foster you sorta didn't collapse but also collapsed. You collapsed and Biana and i had to help you into your chair, but you were conscious muttering all those questions aloud. Fitz tried to get past your blocking but he couldn't. So i thought hmmm maybe i could just yell her name over and over again until she might possibly hear me.

Really? I asked

Of course not! Foster, do you really take me to be that smart? nah it was the Forklenators idea, he thought that it might work seeing as he knew we were telepathically talking the whole time.

Why can't I wake up?

I heard Keefe think for a moment before he answered.

Forkle said you like overloaded yourself. Elwin's giving you some elixirs so you should wake up right about----

"Now"

My eyes fly open and I blot upright. Elwin stood over me, with a bright neon green vial in his hand. Keefe grinned from behind him. "Told yah Foster"

"Sophie, are you ok?" Elwin inquired, I clutched my head. "Yeah I guess"

Elwin nodded, snapping his fingers. A blue ball of light hovered over my head. "You look fine now"

"Are you alright to continue Sophie? Or do you want to go home?" Oralie asked.

I suck in a deep breath and clear my head. "I'll continue."

"Good" Emery responded. "You will be living in an apartment, with gadgets rigged by Dex."

"Elwin will be your stand-in Physician, although I think he already has that job" I feel my face heat up. It was true, The amount of house calls Elwin has had to answer was too many to count, and just then when I passed out Elwin was there.

"So it's just me going?" I shakily asked.

"Yes," Bronte replied.

My worst fear was confirmed, I had to leave everyone behind.

"So where will I be going?" I asked.

"You will be going to a local high school in Manhattan" Bronte replied.

"When will I be leaving?"

"In a week's time," Councillor Alina answered.

"Oh"

A week left with my friends, a week left at Foxfire. One week until I left in the Lost Cities. One week until I leave for the Forbidden Cities.

"We'll be giving you more instructions over the coming week," Emery said. "I advise you to start packing. Your free to go now" Emery said. And like that, the meeting was over. The Councillors all got up and left except for Oralie, who came down to see me.

"I voted against this" Oralie said looking at me. She pulled me into a hug. "It was 9 against 3" She whispered into my ear. I immediately knew who the three were. Councillors Oralie, Terik and Bronte were my usual supporters on the Council. Whenever it came to something about me, they always voted for what was better for my well-being. I pulled away from her, wanting to go home.

"Thanks, Oralie" I mumbled walking towards Grady and Edaline. My friends blocked me. Biana raced up to me pulling me into a hug.

Then she places her hands on my shoulders. "It's gonna be okay."

Keefe sauntered over and placed one hand on my shoulder and the other on Biana's. "Yeah Foster we're all here for you" he smirked.

Dex wandered up behind me. "If it makes you feel better I rigged a human computer with an app, that when you click on it. It hails all of our imparters, including Marella, Linh and Tam. So you can have a big group chat call!" Dex beamed.

I had to laugh "Thanks Dex" I leaned forward and hugged him. His face turns bright red. I noticed that Fitz was over with Alden and that he didn't come over to talk to me. It didn't matter, I'd speak with him later. My friends parted so Grady and Edaline could come to see me. Edaline brought me into a hug.

"I'm sorry kiddo" Grady said.

"We found out yesterday but we were ordered not to tell you" Edaline squeezed me tighter, then released me from what was probably the hundredth hug today.

Biana waved in farewell walking to Alden and Fitz. Then they clasp hands and glitter away. Dex left shortly after that leaving Keefe. "What are you gonna do now?" I asked him.

Keefe shrugged in response. "I'll probably stick around, wandering around for a bit because Dear Old Daddio is in a mood."

I could practically feel Grady's glare, but that didn't stop me from asking "Do you want to come back to Havenfeild?"

Keefe smiled sadly "I'll have to decline that offer, you should spend some time with Grady and Edaline"

You sure? I transmitted to him.

I'm sure he replied. Keefe smirked "See you round Foster"

I smiled and walked over to where Grady and Edaline stood. I grabbed their hands as Grady raised the crystal and we glittered away.

A/N I'm not sure when I'll be able to update next, but I'll try my best to transfer my hardcopy work to online.