Enemies to... Lovers? - By SilvenySlays :)

~The Type of Cruelty Only From A Fos-Boss, Chapter 18~

(Keefe's POV)

My life flashed before my eyes. Literally.

I saw my mother slicing her sharp starstone hairpin through my skin. I saw my dad telling me I was a disappointment. I saw me and Dex laughing as we drew a mustache on Fitz's face. I saw Sophie on the floor, slowly fading away. I saw the Neverseen throwing a net over Silveny.

In that moment, time slowed down. Then suddenly, Sophie's dagger was at my throat. I held my breath as she met my eyes.

Cruelty was still in them. But I could feel the real Sophie underneath.

"You don't want to do this." I whispered.

"You don't know what I want." She snapped, edging the knife closer. I felt the cold metal against my feverish skin. I swallowed hard.

"You love me, Sophie, you have to see that. It's why you're hesitating." I insisted.

"I'm not hesitating!" She hissed. "I'm realizing you might be a useful hostage."

"He is not to be a hostage!" Gisela snapped. "He must be killed, Sophie! Do as I say!"

There was a moment of pure silence. "No."

"What did you say?" Gisela whispered, using the tone that adults use when they're trying to be calm but they're about to lose it.

"I said no." Sophie said defiantly, still staring down at me with those cold eyes. "I don't play by anyone's rules." She glanced at Gisela. "Not even yours."

In one quick motion, Foster swung the dagger straight at my mother's form, almost knocking my chair over.

I toppled, hitting the ground with a thud. When I lifted my head, I found my mother's unconscious form on the floor, with Sophie standing over her.

The smile on her face was cruel. "Oops." She said mockingly.

That is not Sophie.

That's someone... Else.

She turned to me, grabbing the chair and placing it back upright. "Now to assess the hostage that started all of this."

"Foster, please-"

"Don't call me that." She hissed. "My name is Sophie and you, Mr. Ego, are going to call me ma'am."

"But I thought you were gonna kill me." I said, confused. She smirked, checking her reflection in the shiny-ness of her dagger.

"Oh no, I can't kill you. Not yet." She took one of her heels off (seriously, when did she start looking so hot?) and chucked it across the room. The heel sunk into the wall, perfectly aimed.

"But I will probably kill you eventually, so don't get comfortable." She chucked the other heel. Now she was barefoot. Her toenails were painted blood red. She put on some black platform boots.

"I wasn't gonna get comfortable, but okay." I mumbled, glancing back at my mom's dead body. I didn't really feel sorry for her, but it creeped me out that Sophie's mind wasn't broken and she had just murdered someone. Her emotions must be pretty strong for that to happen.

Sophie ignored me and turned to her parents. "These two can go back. They're still unconscious. No witnesses except you." She looked back at me. "I guess you'll have to come with me. Can't have anyone snitching, can we?"

"I guess not." I said awkwardly. "What about Glimmer?"

Sophie glanced at Glimmer. "She'll escape on her own. She's not much of a threat yet. Maybe someday I'll have a worthy opponent." Sophie whistled, and from the entrance of the cave came the two black pegasai from earlier. They were all healed up. Sophie put her parents on both of them, spoke to them in whinnies, and they took her parents home.

Then she unchained me, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me out of the cave, too.

*****

"So, what are you going to do with me exactly?" I asked.

"I initially accepted the stellarlune for you." Sophie explained. Recognition flashed in her eyes. As quickly as it came, it was gone. "But now I realize that will have to be pushed back... I need to get rid of the Neverseen first. I think we have Fintan and Gethen left... And maybe Ruy..." She started muttering things to herself as she dragged me deeper into the forest.

We passed a river.

Then we stopped at a tree. She knocked on it, and the tree suddenly opened. A little compartment holding a key stood out. She took off the key and moved to an empty space. At least, I thought it was empty. She stuck her key into an invisible keyhole, and suddenly a black sheltered building appeared from thin air. As I stared at it, she opened the door and dragged me inside.

She clapped twice to turn the lights on, and I found a bunker inside. A corner with weapons ranging from throwing stars to a giant sword stood next to the kitchen, which  was draped in black marble and white crystal. It was beautiful, but deadly at the same time. Just like her.

"Okay, time for your training." Sophie decided.

"What?" I asked. She released my wrist.

"Come on."

"Yes ma'am." I mumbled.

She pushed a button on the wall, and a platform appeared. We stood on it, and it slowly sunk to the ground, like an elevator without a railing.

I gasped when I saw what was below.

A giant obstacle course, including lava and tons of spikes.

"If you survive this, you become one of us. And if you don't, you die." She said calmly.

"Wait, what do you mean 'one of us?'" I asked. She smirked.

"You thought the Neverseen was the only rebel group?" She teased, holding up a dagger. She flung it across the room, and it hit the bullseye of the target standing there.

"Well, yeah I guess." I admitted, my voice trembling with anxiousness.

"Well, if you pass, you become part of my rebel group: The Waywards."

*HEHEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHE

I swear every chapter I write has me cackling evilly at the end. Hope you liked that, at least a little bit maybe? Idk

Bible verse for todaaay: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8.

Have an amazing day! Btw it's my brother's birthday so we're setting up for a party and I'm so excited to decorate! Anyway, be good, bookworms, I love you all!

TEAM FOSTER-KEEFE FOR THE WIN!

-SilvenySlays :)