𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙾𝚏 𝚄𝚜- ᴀ sᴏᴋᴇᴇғᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ (𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕊𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕊𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕚𝕥𝕫)

Plotting

<Fitz POV>

As I leap back home, I realise one thing: Sophie will definitely tell Keefe what I was there for. The fury inside of me that has been growing would seem uncontrollable to most, yet I seem soothed by it.  It's like a plague, a curse, that amplifies my emotions to be ten times more painful. But it helps me find my true sight.

Later that night, as I go to sleep, I decide that I will pay Sophie another surprise visit sooner than she thinks.

                                                                                              ***

The next morning, as I start to head downstairs for breakfast when I realise one thing: Grizel isn't waiting outside my door as she usually does. I narrow my eyes and walk down the endless hallways and to the kitchen. In the kitchen, I find Biana eating Ripplefluffs and chatting to Dex on her imparter. Woltzer is behind her, stationary as usual, and keeping an eye out for her little 'disappearing acts'. 

"Where is Grizel," I ask her.

"Wait, gimme a sec Dex. What did you say, Fitz?" she glares up at me.

Lately, I've been very distant from my family. Obviously, Alvar isn't any good company or help. My sister is too busy with Dex and social life. My dad treats Sophie and Keefe more like his own children than he should, and my mom is always hanging around Edaline or Juline. 

As the rage blinds me, in anger of not being in touch with my family, it suddenly screams in my head: "THEY ARE ALL USELESS! THEY DON'T GET YOU! YOU DESERVE BETTER, AND YOU KNOW IT!"

"FITZ!"

I glance up to see Biana standing in front of me, with her hands on her hips, my mom at her side.

"What?!" I say, taken aback.

"You see, mom! He says something to me in the middle of me talking to Dex, then he zones out for five minutes, suddenly screams, and all the while, HAS NO DECENCY TO REPLY ME!" she tells me mom.

"Fitz, darling, what's going on?" My mom asks me, raising her eyebrows.

"Nothing, mom... just reliving a spooky nightmare from last night," I reply untruthfully.

"Hmm.. okay," Biana clearly doesn't believe me, but lets it slide.

"Oh, I see, anyways, Fitz, I just want to tell you that your father and I have decided to hold your Winnowing Gala in one weeks' time. So please get a new set of clothes and accessories... unless you'd like me to do your shopping!" she informs me excitedly.

"Mom, I'm perfectly capable of buying my own clothes. Besides, I was going to head to Atlantis later, but I can't find Grizel," I say.

"Oh, Grizel's on a date with Sandor. She'll be back in the evening, she told me to tell you," Biana says nonchalantly and starts hailing someone else on her imparter, as my mother leaves the room. 

As I walk out of the room, with a pastry in my hand, my vision feels obscured by sadness; a melancholy, deep, and longing sadness. Even Grizel can find love... everyone can find love... except for me.

                                                                                       ***

I walk through the streets in Atlantis, peering through all the shop windows.

Earlier, I collected a peacock blue velvet suit for the gala, and now I'm looking for a gift for Sophie.

I stop at Thelford's Gems and Jewels. I walk in, greet the shopkeeper, and pick out a silver and teal bracelet.

I hurriedly pay for it and scurry out.

I take a turn down a backalley and twist through the windy streets past creepy vendors until I find a cloaked hag with an assortment of spells and enchantments.

"One powerful love spell," I say, glancing up and down the alley warily.

"Remember, the first person she sees after holding the object containing the spell is the person she'll fall in love with. Anyways, what's a pretty boy doing in a place like this?" She wheezes, handing me the spell.

I don't answer, but give her a tip and leap away as fast as I can.