The Second Moonlark: A KotLC Fanfic

Chapter 3 (Look, Glitter!)

So this was Foxfire.

Sonia had never seen anywhere this... Sparkly. The central pyramid glittered between the six central towers that signified the lower levels, and the Silver and Gold Towers peeked their shining tips over the top of the pyramid. Sonia couldn't believe that she had to spy on this place- The crystal buildings probably reflected every light beam that came their way, making it hard to hide in the shadows. Ah, well. She'd have to hide in plain sight.

"You ready?" Ruy was at her elbow, letting her get a feel for the building before she had to go inside. He was her mission partner, as well as the one who was going to be monitoring the Tracer she'd brought with her- a pen-like object that traced words into the database it was linked to instead of the page it was 'writing' on. That would come in handy during lectures, when she was supposed to be taking notes.

Ruy shook her lightly, jolting her out of the place her mind had been going.

"Remember." He told her, making her smile softly. Sadly.

"You know I always do."

*****

Seriously, why did elves need everything to be mazes?

Her patience was wearing out as she wandered the blinding white halls of the Level Six building. Every turn was met with some statue of a yeti, or yet another door that looked like it shouldn't work. She was finally considering shouting for help when she came across a window, but it wasn't so much the window that stopped her as the elf standing in front of it.

Even facing his back, Sonia could recognize him. He was the subject of some of the in-depth photos she had studied back at the Foxhole. His characteristic hairstyle was missing, but it was definitely him.

Keefe Sencen. Her leader's son. Right. There.

Before she could process that one of her targets was standing in front of her, he turned around. His bloodshot eyes studied her face, and she instinctively backed up a step.

"You're new." That was all he said, in a hoarse voice that spoke of tears. Sonia waited a moment, and then judged it safe to go on.

"Yes, my name is Sonia Nox. Do you mind showing me to..." She checked her crumpled course sheet. "Lady Lyssa's room?" Strangely, he sighed.

"You know, the last girl I showed to her homeroom in the middle of the school year got kidnapped three days ago." Sonia nodded carefully, her mind racing. Where was the naturally joking personality she'd studied? Maybe he was taking the kidnapping hard. Naturally, the Moonlark was his girlfriend, for Lodestar's sake.

"I still need help. I'm not used to such a... different building." Keefe nodded, starting down the opposite hallway. She followed, and they talked on the way.

"What do you mean by different?" She let a small silence run, phrasing her next sentence carefully in her head.

"I grew up out of the Nobility. The working class don't get very... differing homes, so the layout is new." That bit of speech got a questioning gaze from Keefe.

"Why? Foxfire wouldn't want to disturb their image by bringing a known Talentless into their hallowed halls. No offense." She laughed. Of course he would think she was Talentless.

"Nah, it's fine. I'm a fluke- the one really powerful member of my family. And once they found out I had as many abilities as I do, they had to bring it before the Council." She let herself drift into the fake bitterness she dredged up, knowing that Keefe was an Empath. But perhaps his ability wasn't working as well as it should, after the blow of the Moonlark's disappearance.

"Here's your door." Keefe stepped to the side in front of a door that looked like it was made out of a shattered mirror, glued back into place. She sighed, went to step through the door, but Keefe's voice stopped her.

"My table at lunch?" He sounded sincere. She wasn't expecting to get into the Moonlark's inner circle this easily, but she'd take anything she could get.

"See you there."

A.N. Thx for reading, the next chapter (or maybe the one after that) has small spoilers for anyone who has not read up to Neverseen. Thank you again! Oh, and yes, Lady Lyssa's door is a subtle reference to Biana's accident.