Elysian (After Stellarlune)

37. Sophie's POV

Sophie was...

Speechless.

Shocked.

And scared. So, indescribably scared.

For herself, a bit. But mostly for Keefe. What was Elysian doing to him? Where was he?

For a second, Sophie thought it was a decision. Was she ready to leave everything she knew, ready to die for Keefe?

Until it wasn't. Sophie had always known she'd die
for this. This cause, this revolution. It was practically written in the stars for her to go this way.

She'd get someone to take over. Biana, probably. Biana was a great leader, great at talking to people. Sophie's perfect replacement.

And Sophie's friends...

They'd get over it. They'd move on. They know how important that is.

So the decision, it wasn't a decision at all.

Elysian was waiting patiently in Sophie's mind. She noticed the calming of Sophie's thoughts, and asked, You've decided?

I decided a long time ago.

Meet me at Havenfield at 12 noon.

How will I know Keefe is alive?

He'll be there.

Sophie sighed aloud. Edaline, whom Sophie had forgotten was there, shot up from her half-sitting half-standing position and came up to Sophie.

"Is he okay? What's happening? Where is he?"

"Stop!" Sophie shouted, then immediately felt bad. "Give me a second."

Noon. Elysian said in her mind, after which Sophie felt her weighing presence leave.

"Sorry." Sophie said to Edaline. "Elysian was telling me what I needed to do."

"What does she want?" Grady said, materializing from a corner.
Sophie debated lying completely. But her parents wouldn't believe her. Sophie instead chose to cover her lie in a truth. "She wants me to join her." Edaline's mouth fell open, but Sophie continued. "I said I'd think about it. I'm not going to do it, you know. We just..." Sophie trailed off, her story threatening to unravel. "We have to figure out another way to get to him."

Tears clouded Sophie's eyes. What she was describing wasn't going to happen, but the mere thought of it destroyed Sophie. She couldn't let anything happen to Keefe. Not anymore.

Before Edaline could crush her in a hug, Sophie said, "I need to be alone," and walked out of the room.

A plan started to form in Sophie's mind. She needed to get to Havenfield without anyone noticing.

Sophie's first thought was how she was going to get away from Sandor. Then she remembered that Sandor wasn't here.

Another reason why I'm doing this. Sandor had risked his life who knew how many times for Sophie. She wasn't going to let him die now, in Elysian's clutches, no less. Ro, either.

And Sophie's thoughts circled back to Keefe. Beautiful, amazing Keefe, who needed Sophie more than she needed him, who would no doubt do what she was doing and more if their roles were reversed.

Sophie snapped her thoughts back to what she was to do that night.

She finalized her plan, and found herself at the door to Biana's room.

Sophie exhaled a steadying breath as she knocked on Biana's door.

The door almost immediately opened to a disheveled and tired-looking Biana, her hair a mess on top of her head and still in her pajamas.