The Moonlark Reborn

Chapter 16

(SOPHIES POV): I felt my breath hitch. I didn't realize how hard I was squeezing my books until I felt a soreness in my hands. I instantly loosened my grip. I willed my hands to move forward, placing my items back into my locker while never taking my eyes off the symbol. Once everything was stored, I gathered the courage to take the note off from the shelf.

I felt too many eyes on me so I ran around the corner and locked myself inside a closet. I took a deep breath as I slowly uncurled the note.

Your friends don't trust you
The Black Swan won't answer you
But we will
Repeat "Forbidden forest."
Into the bead at the ring of midnight
And we will acquire your desires
Dearest Regards, Neverseen

I reread the note to myself multiple times until I could recite it word for word. "Neverseen." I whispered to myself. I felt something hard at the bottom of the page. I tilted the note and a little purple bead dropped out.

Into the bead at the ring of midnight. Could this insignificant little bead work as some sort of leaping crystal? I needed to find out, I was going to this meeting.

Hours later..

I sat on my bed, watching the seconds tick by on the large clock on the wall. Tick. Tick. Tick. I hoped Edaline had bought my act earlier. 

At Dinner..

"Are you alright Sophie?" Edaline asked. I looked up from my plate. Edalines eyes were filled with worry and she had a thin crease in her eyebrows. I feigned a smile. "Of course!" I responded. Edalines expression didn't fade. "You haven't ate any of your dinner." She pointed out. I looked back down at my plate at the untouched foods. "I'm just tired." I said, faking a yawn. "Actually, I think I'm going to go to bed now." Using this moment as an excuse. Edaline eyed me but eventually nodded. I was internally grateful Grady had missed dinner or else this could have ended much differently. I smiled and leaped out of my chair. Remembering my supposed tired act I wiped my eyes and walked slowly as if I would fall asleep right there and made my way back to my room.

Present Time..

In hindsight my acting probably did anyone no favors. All of a sudden a subtle chime rang throughout the house. The bead in my hand emitted a purplish glow. I closed my eyes and uttered the words from the poem.
"Forbidden forest."

The bead glowed brighter and then I was gone.

I reappeared in a dark forest. The bead had faded into the air. I felt for my pocket and was instantly relieved when I felt my home crystal. I retracted my hand to not draw attention in case someone was watching.

I watched the area for any signs of life. Nothing.
Seconds passed, then minutes. The air felt colder and I wish had wore something heavier. My eyelids felt heavy and I had to smack myself to keep alert. More time passed and I questioned whether leaping back now when I spotted two shapes emerging from the trees.

The shapes turned into figures and I was instantly able to spot the recognizable eye on their cloak. They moved closer until we were only a few feet away. "Why did you call me here!" I demanded. The figure on the right replied in an unfamiliar voice "We will give you answers, as promised."

My eyes narrowed to suspicion. "Just like that." I inquired. I couldn't see their faces but I was sure they were smiling. This whole thing felt uncertain, but I pushed the feeling back down. I decided to start with something simple. "What do you know about everblaze?" I voiced. "You have to be specific." The one of the left replied. I scowled. "Fine. Is the Neverseen using everblaze and why."

(To make it easier to write, Lefty is the figure on the left and Right is the figure on the right)

Righty let out a harsh laugh. "What makes you think we're using everblaze." He said in a mocking tone. There was more to it. He was trying to distract me, meaning I was right. I didn't show my realization.

There had to be a question they wanted me to ask or else they wouldn't have called me here. That's when it came to me. "Am I the moonlark?" I could feel their eyes staring at me, and I knew I was right once again.

I felt Lefty smile. "How could YOU be the moonlark?" He was trying to draw me out. Using what I wanted to bait me into telling him all I knew. I was done playing their games. "The Black Swan don't know do they." I said. I could feel the pieces slowly coming together. "I saw one of you near my apartment the day before I was brought here." All the details I had missed until now. "You were watching me, because you did something to make the Black Swan think I died." New answers forming. "I was never supposed to be in New York! You never wanted me to be found by Keefe and the others! You were planning to use me!!

I heard a clap and looked over to Righty. "Bravo miss Foster, I didn't think you would be able to piece this all together, but I underestimated you." I took a step back and reached for my leaping crystal. It was a mistake coming here. I reached into my pocket and felt nothing. "Looking for this?" Lefty said, dangling my crystal in front of my face. My eyes widened. "Ho-."

Another figure suddenly appeared next to lefty. A vanisher!? Anger rose in my body. I couldn't believe I had fallen right into their trap. I felt something hit me in the head as my body fell to the ground. My vision faded to black.