The Phoenix

Chapter 10

Keefe's P.O.V.

There was something on my mind that's been bugging to tell Sophie about my theory that Councillor Bronte may be Sophie's biological father. I knew she wouldn't take it well though. I already told Y/N about the theory and she said she'll also be there as a support for Sophie in case Foster becomes sulky again.

"Were you drawing more of your memories?" she asked. I felt a bit annoyed at the fact that everyone was helping defeating my mom, while I was cooped up in my room going through pointless memories. Y/N neared closer to me, knowing what I was feeling.

"I did a few. Nothing important. But... I was mostly working on something else. That's why I stopped by—but... maybe it's not a good time. You've had a crazy day and—"

"It's about my biological parents, isn't it?" Sophie interrupted. Damn, she knows me too well. Y/N squeezed my hand. I could feel a bunch of dread wafting off her.

"Wow, that's even more dread than I felt yesterday,' I mumbled, fanning her emotions away. "Are you sure you want to keep looking into this?" I ask, even if I was still confused about my emotions, I still care about Foster.

"Honestly, I have no idea what to do," she admitted. "Bronte gave me this whole long lecture on why I shouldn't find out who my genetic parents are, and it kinda got in my head."

"Does that mean you told the council you're unmatchable?" Y/N asked. 

 "Only Bronte and Oralie." She made her way over to her bed and sank onto the edge. "I wasn't planning on saying anything. But I kinda freaked out when they were crowning me—started imagining giant crowds of elves chasing me through the Lost Cities with torches and pitchforks, shouting, 'Burn the unmatchable girl!' And I figured it'd be less humiliating to risk losing the title now, before anyone even knows it was an option."

"Damn," Y/N whispered. "I don't think anyone would go that far Sophie, relax. But did Bronte freak out?" Y/N asked.

"Of course he did—but... not the way I'm sure you're thinking. He was actually strangely awesome about the unmatchable part."

Ro snorted.

"No, really. I mean, he didn't offer to order the matchmakers to make my lists even without having my genetic parents' info or anything—and of course he brought up the whole 'it's not a problem if you just stay single forever' argument. But... he also said the Council would stand by me if people made a fuss about it. And it kinda sounded like he meant it." She picked up the circlet she'd tossed aside earlier, tracing her fingers over the symbol for her new team. "It's a little hard to believe him, but... I don't know. I kinda do."

"Because he also brought up something I hadn't thought of before, and now I'm not sure what to do about it." 

"Nah, I don't buy it," I reply.

"Me neither, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to break someone's sanity to figure out who your parents are. Like the council did to Prentice," I was a bit surprised that Y/N was so caught up on what happened on a daily basis in our crazy lives. I was kinda glad she was here, it was selfish of me to want her to be here, where so much problems happened, but she provided a distraction. It was selfish, but I couldn't help it.

"It wouldn't. But it doesn't have to be as drastic as a memory break for someone to get hurt. And that's what makes this so hard. Because if you really think about it, I'm the only one who'll get any benefit out of finding my biological parents. Everyone else gets a ton of drama. And there really is a chance that the Black Swan might try to stop me, so who knows what kinds of problems that might cause? And if I'm aware of all of those risks, and I still search out my genetic parents anyway, I'm... being selfish, aren't I?"