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

A Knock On the Door and...

<Sophie's POV>

Having just finished my moonlight picnic, under the Panakes tree, with Keefe, we part ways somberly, already sad to leave each other.

I head back inside and go upstairs, narrowly avoiding Edaline and her sappy questions about what happened.

I take a super looong soapy shower and change into pyjamas then head to bed, Iggy flitting to my shoulder and keeping me awake with his belly-shaking snores.

After a while I'm able to fall asleep, but not before my mind wanders back to one thing that's been bothering me: Fitz.

I know Keefe is amazing and stuff, but honestly: It was Fitz who came first last time. Maybe he really had changed. I wonder if Keefe would let me friendlily give Fitz another chance. I feel so bad thinking about it- but why not? Fitz was almost as amazing after all, and he vowed to make some attitude fixes. So why not?

                                                                                            ***

The next morning, after a heavy dose of cinnacreme and brattails (Grady let me after all he ate was only clarifava) I hear a knock on the door.

I brace myself for it to be Fitz again, so I roll my eyes and sweep my hair back into a loose ponytail and yank the door open. To see.. 

a messenger.

Talk about overreacting. 

He hands me a scroll with a vaguely familiar crest, stamped on it, saying, "For Sophie Foster?"

"Yes, that's me, thanks," I take it from him, smiling and closing the door.

As soon as the door shuts, my smile collapses because I recognise the seal- the Vacker Crest.

I anxiously tear it open, the last time I took a scroll from a messenger it was bad news, I hope for the opposite this time.

My mouth falls open in dismay and excitement:

DEAR SOPHIE FOSTER,

YOU ARE HEREBY INVITED TO FITZROY AVERY VACKER'S WINNOWING GALA,

AS YOU HAVE MADE THE TOP 100 (YOU ARE #100) OF HIS FIRST MATCH LIST- THE TOP CONTENDERS.

PLEASE SEND RSVP BY TOMORROW, IF YOU ARE GOING AN DIF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPOT ON FITZROY'S DANCE LIST.

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING, PLEASE BE AT THE VACKER ESTATE- EVERGLEN, IN TWO DAYS TIME, AT THE RECEPTION, AT 7.00 P.M.

THANK YOU,

SINCERELY,

THE VACKER FAMILY. 

P.S, APOLOGIES FOR THE SHORT NOTICE.

My face pulls into a grimace as I plop onto the rug, mid-step, and start thinking...

*in Sophie's mind*

The Pros:

-It'll give Fitz a chance

-Fitz and Biana would probably be more approving and friendly.. 

The Cons:

-Keefe would definitely be sad..

and mad..

and let down

I need to think and start tearing up. I dash outside to Silveny's pasture and bury my face in her mane, sobbing. Why did life have to still be so complicated, even after defeating the Neverseen??

<Narrator's POV>

But little did Sophie know, that this was only the beginning of  the love spell's emotional toll that would affect her. But through all the anger, pain and frustration, a seed has been planted; her newfound love for Fitz has bloomed yet once again.

<Back to Sophie's POV>

After a long night of racking my brain, I come to the decision that I would go, but NOT tell Keefe. It's just one night, he probably won't notice.. I hope.

With the gala only tomorrow night, and unnaturally wanting to look my best, I have no option but to vent everything to Edaline and let her take me dress shopping. She doesn't exactly approve of what I chose to do, but understands my situation and respects it.

We leap to Atlantis and go through the whirlpool, I still can't get used of the sensation of dropping onto the sponge. A gazillion dress shops later, I finally manage to pick out a dress that is both pretty and "me".

The dress has a swooping beaded neckline, the whole fabric a shifting gradient of both red and then to silver. It's covered in crescent shaped diamonds and has long sleeves and the whole design is just simple, elegant and stunning.

Getting back home, as I hang up the dress and take a shaky breath, I start realising that may possibly.. like Fitz again.