Reunited: A Keeper of the Lost Cities fanfic

Chapter 4: Sophie

"I AM GOING TO MURDER THAT BOY!!!!" Ro glittered into sight next to Linh.

"I think that kind of defeats the point of the whole  thing 'I'm his bodyguard so I have to protect him and make sure he DOESN'T die' thing," said Dex with a grin.

"YEAH? WELL APPARENTLY HUNKYHAIR DOESN'T VALUE HIS LIFE ANYWAY!!"

Sophie giggled and looked around at all her friends. She had invited them all over so she wouldn't have to break the news about Keefe a billion separate times. Fitz had suggesting asking Linh to bring Ro over, because Ro was Keefe's bodyguard, and would obviously want to know about the letter. Clearly, she had noticed his absence. 

"How did he even get away from you?" asked Biana, who was sitting down on the carpet next to Dex.

"He..." Ro's mouth started to form a word, but she glanced at Sophie and started over. "He tricked me. And anyway, the details aren't important." she added hastily. Sophie narrowed her eyes with suspicion, but decided she was too tired to argue.

"Okay, I've decided I won't kill Keefe. I will kill his mom. AND I have some new amoebas to try out. Hunkyhair can expect some MAJOR hurl-fests in the future." Ro remarked defiantly, a slight maniacal grin on her face. But even through the jokes, Sophie could see the disappointment and sadness in Ro's expression.

"Ummm... okay... is it just me, or is everyone kind of scared of her now?" Marella asked uneasily.

"Is it just me who is very, VERY disappointed in her?" Sandor's squeaky voice was gruff. "If it was me, I would never let my charge go!"

"I didn't let him go!" insisted Ro, tugging on her red pigtails. "I was incapable of moving! He..." Ro's voice trailed off.

"He what?" Sophie probed.

"Never mind," mumbled Ro.

"Woah! Sorry to get off topic, but when did Iggy become so... decorated?" Dex said suddenly. Sophie went over to pick up the little imp, just noticing that he had been dyed a mermaid color with- tiger stripes? Very random and chaotic, but somehow worked in a slightly charming way. She could tell it was Keefe's handwork. She was also very glad for the distraction. She really didn't want to talk more about Keefe's note.

"AWWWW YEAH HE'S SO CUUUTE!!!" Biana gushed. Iggy let out a toxic burp in agreement.

"But I can toootally do better than that." Dex bragged. "Remember when you were in level two and I made him all-"

"Okaayyy, I think we are getting a liiiittle off topic now. We're not here to gawk over Sophie's imp," said Fitz, bringing them back to the point.

"Right. Sorry," Biana replied guiltily. Dex didn't look very apolagetic, so she elbowed him until he mumbled in agreement.

Fitz looked at her expectantly, the rest following suit.

"Right! Ummm... well..." Sophie took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves and stop her voice from shaking so much.

"When I came back home from Solreef yesterday, there was a note underneath Iggy's cage." she started.

"What did it say?" Linh asked softly.

"It said... it said that Keefe... Keefe is gone."

All around her, Sophie's friends gasped.

"What do you mean, "gone"?" asked Wylie.

"He... he said that he was going to be hiding the same way the Black Swan hid me. He told me... not to come after him. He said to forget him." Sophie's voice had became impossibly small now, and she could feel some pesky tears threatening to spill over. She took another deep breath and determination crept in.

"I... I thought he would know that that is impossible. So... I have decided that even though he said it is very dangerous-" Sophie cringed as Sandor tensed up from where he was standing in between Linh and Fitz.

"I have decided that I am going to look for him. I am going to track him. I am going to get him back."

Then, Sophie's heart fell out of her chest as she heard a familiar voice say, "No. No you are not. Because I will find him first. He is my son, after all."

Lady Gisela.

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