The Insider ~ A Fitzphie FanFic KOTLC

Chapter 12

That little dance! Ha! (It's the cover of this chapter). Howdy! How's the New Year? Mine's alright. This isn't a 1k special, but boy is it special! What a tragic turn of events. This book will no longer follow the KotLC storyline, but rather a separate agenda. Fell playing volleyball in front of about 80 people today! Live, Laugh, Love, Lie! Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

"Body? As in not alive?" Sophie frantically asked.

"Yes, they found him in a back alley of Mysterium. He had scars all over and was practically unrecognizable. He was already dead when they found him." Grady quietly squeezed Edaline's hand.

"They're holding a planting in the Wandering Woods tomorrow at 5. We thought you should know before that to prepare. I'm sure it'll be a very tough couple of weeks for the Vackers. This is after all the second wanderling they have there now." Grady tugged Edaline up out of her chair and escorted her up the stone stairs.

What was Fitz thinking right now? Sophie could only imagine what emotional turmoil her cognate was experiencing.

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Sophie soon found herself in a glittering green gown holding her parents' hands. Sandor left their group when he spotted the other bodyguards, probably discussing new strategies of defense. She wasn't sure what to expect from a traitorous member of the Neverseen's funeral, but more people showed up than she had expected. Sophie gently let go of Grady and Edaline's hands when she spotted Fitz standing near a familiar looking tree.

The stone next to it read: Sophie Elizabeth Foster in swoopy writing. Her tree hadn't grown at all since her kidnapping. It was merely a sapling with blond bark and soft autumn-brown leaves that made a wooshing sound when the wind hit them just right. Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that they were voices rather than windswept leaves. maybe her tree was waiting for her to be the Moonlark, then it would finish growing.

Fitz had his hands in the dark pockets of his pants. Knee-high brown boots covered his feet. A forest green cape over his emerald tunic, embroidered with what looked to be tiny diamonds on his shoulders, shimmering in the mid day sun.

Are you okay? Sophie transmitted. 

When he didn't respond, or even look up from the stone placard, Sophie walked away from the small crowd, nearly tripping over her gown. Fitz had a solemn expression on his face, a few tears were running down his face. Sophie gently tugged his hand out of his pocket and wrapped her fingers around his.

"We should probably be at the ceremony. Your family needs you there." Sophie said, pulling his hand behind her. Fitz reluctantly let her pull her towards the small crowd. He sat down in the chair next to where she had sat, in the front row next to Biana, who had glittery drops of water running down her perfect face. He never let go of her hand.

"Alvar was one of the few who have turned against us. We were never proud of his decisions and we aren't now." Emery boomed, the other councilors standing behind him, all wearing the same shade of muted dark green.

"We are here to celebrate the life of Alvar Vacker, the accomplished vanisher and beloved brother and son. Not the traitor he chose to be." Emery pulled a small seed out of his pocket, brown hair strangling it. 

Noland dug a small hole with a sterling silver shovel, barely small enough for an escape hole under a fence. Emery dropped the seed in and Noland buried what remained of Alvar Vacker. Liora poured the shimmery liquid over the buried seed and crushed it under her fingers, letting the glass fall onto the turned dirt. The councilors stepped back as a sapling sprouted from the ground: medium brown bark, thin enough to peel away with the digging of fingernails. Pale teal leaves in a circular shape grew beneath their eyes. Silver and black berries dotted the tree. The same silver and black the Neverseen wore on their cloaks.