Keeper of the Lost Cities Story; The Lost Secret

Chapter 34

"Please trust me," Zayne pleaded with the new group of people gathered in the healing center. 

The three guys had moved Kai back into the hidden room of the center and told Fitz and Sophie about Zayne. 

Fitz was angry, like really angry. Then he started to breathe funny and Elwin had to happen. Sophie on the other hand had lots of questions, like a lot. She wouldn't shut up. 

"You left though, right?" Tam asked. 

He had insisted on doing a shadow vapor reading on Zayne, which he repeated at least three more times after that. Each time he got the same reading, which he claimed was a good level of shadow vapor. 

The others all kept an unreasonable distance away from him and the only ones that were even near him were Asher and Kai. 

"Yes I left," Zayne said for the millionth time. "They never knew my real identity, I changed my looks with elixirs." 

Before someone could respond, Mr. Forkle burst into the room. He looked less fat than before, almost as if the ruckleberries hadn't set all the way into his body. 

"Explain," He demanded Zayne as soon as he saw him. 

Everyone else in the room fell silent, and for once, Zayne looked uncomfortable with the attention he was getting. 

He explained how one of the members reached out to him when he was disguised a few years ago. Zayne had been visiting his sister's Wanderling tree which no one else knew existed because his parents hid her body. Zayne never agreed with that decision, but he knew that if people knew, his family would get treated differently. 

"It was Trix that came and found me first," Zayne said. "He thought my name was Karden." 

He looked down at his feet and continued his story. 

"I snuck out whenever I could," Zayne continued. "Trix convinced Fintan that I was a spy, so I needed to be able to go home and school every day." 

Zayne explained that he had minimal involvement in the order, he was mostly used to spy on things at Foxfire. He had nothing to do with the gnomes or the prison break. 

He didn't find out what happened to Kai until she was already in their facility. 

"I told Gisela everything I knew about you," He said. "I made it sound like I didn't know you, but I'm not sure she believed me." 

"She told me that you were too powerful to die and that you needed to be released. Umber and Gethen didn't want to let you go, they wanted to kill you," 

"So that's why Gisela staged an escape." 

Everyone stared at him in shock until Dex asked the question everyone was wondering. 

"So when did you leave?" 

Zayne wrung his hands tightly. "I left after Kai did. I watched her on the cameras, then wiped the memory and left. They have no idea that Gisela helped." 

Keefe scoffed, "Classic mommy dearest. Making sure that she won't get into trouble for her actions." 

Kai didn't mean to, but she flinched. Gisela had saved her life, and Zayne too. Kai didn't see it as selfish to make sure the others in the order didn't know about her escape. 

"They really don't know who you are?" Forkle asked. He didn't seem too suspicious about that, which was probably because half the time he was a walking rucklberry to disguise himself. 

"I don't think so," Zayne said. "I always had the elixirs," 

Forkle nodded. "So, there are procedures to be done," 

Everyone nodded and turned towards him. "First, Kai needs a bodyguard," He looked toward Dex and Biana's bodyguards, who nodded.

"Then, if you're comfortable, can I look at your memories from your time in their order?" Forkle asked Zayne. Kai could tell that he didn't want to, but he probably wanted them to trust him so he agreed. 

"Perfect, now you kids need to get back to class," Forkle said. "I'll contact all of you to let you know any updates." 

Zayne and Asher nodded and rushed out of the room. Kai tried not to be bothered that neither of them said bye to her. 

"What are we going to do?" Biana asked once they were gone. 

Everyone looked at each other sadly. 

"I have no idea," Sophie said.

Her words were quiet, but they seemed to pack a huge punch in everyone's mind.