KEEFER Of The Lost Cities

Everblaze- Deciding to Leave the Lost Cities

A/N- So I was thinking to include the end of Everblaze AND the start of Neverseen because I really like the last scene in Everblaze, but it got a little long, so I decided to split to decision making and actual leaving into two chapters. 

It was dark in Everglen. Dark and quiet, though Keefe knew all his friends were here. It just felt wrong, because Everglen was literally the physical representation of light. It was happiness. And now everything was all so horribly wrong.

He sat on the guest bed that was practically his own, considering how many times he had slept here after trying to get away from his parents. Regardless of how acquainted he and this bed were, he couldn't get comfortable. He couldn't relax. He needed to do something.

How had he lived with his mother his entire life and not even had a single suspicion about all the strange things she did? He just assumed she was weird. 

Not evil. And she wasn't supposed to be the evil one. It was supposed to be Cassius. He couldn't wrap his head around it. 

Everyone was still asleep, and a burst of loneliness hit him like a rock. But it wasn't long until he realized-

There. Just down the hall. Fear. And resolve. Determination. Foster. It came to Keefe like some divine revelation that she was actually planning to do it. To leave the lost cities with the Black Swan. And she was going without the rest of them. 

It made him a little betrayed, that she was planning to leave him here. He was going to die here. What would he do, all alone with his father, while she went off to go find his mother?

He slid off his bed, tiptoeing to his door and silently pleading it wouldn't creak as it opened. Of course it did, but only a little. He slipped out and wandered toward where the feelings in the air were strongest. He didn't actually know where Sophie was, but when he got to her door, he immediately knew it was hers without even looking through the crack in the doorway. Keefe pulled it open a little more so he could go through. 

"Can't sleep either?" he asked, fidgeting with his sleeves as he realized that she wasn't surprised, just understanding. He walked closer and sat next to her on her bed. Suddenly, he felt concern for himself and knew what she was going to ask right before she opened her mouth. "Please don't ask how I'm doing. That's all anyone's said to me since I got here, and they keep tilting their heads and puckering their brows and it makes me want to punch them- and I really don't want to punch you. Especially since I'm pretty sure you could knock me across the room." 

She smiled at the cuff Dex had given her and didn't say anything. Keefe took that as an invitation to ask, "So when do you leave?"

She turned to him, finally surprised. "Ugh, I swear, for an empath, you act more like a telepath."

"That's because I'd be an awesome telepath. And I can guarantee, if I snuck into your head and saw secret things, I would tell you what they are. Most of them, at least. Okay, maybe just the part about you being completely lost without me and needing me to come with you when you leave." That was partially a dig at Fitz and partially a plea to let him come.

Keefe watched Sophie reach for an eyelash and then drop her hand and twist her fingers together, waiting for her confirmation.

"I don't even know if I'm going." she mumbled. Oh, so she was taking the denial way out. 

Keefe felt like scoffing. "Yes, you do. I mean, you're also scared and stressed and stuff. But I can feel your resolve. Shoot- I could feel it down the hall. Which is why I had to come in and bug you. Because I want in- and before you say anything, you should know I'm not really giving you a choice in this. I'll follow you if I have to, but I'd rather not have to be creepy like that."