Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Elysian

A/N: Since it's been about a month since my last update, I wanted to publish something, but I haven't been working on anything on Wattpad. However, I HAVE been writing. I've been keeping quiet about it because I have no idea how long it's going to take me to finish a project this big and I never thought I'd do this. But after Unraveled came out, I started toying with the idea of actually attempting to write book 10. Not just a story full of Sokeefe fluff, but come up with my take on all the plot points and nuance that have to be wrapped up, and then actually turn it into a novel, while still trying to sound like Shannon Messenger. I'm using my free time to work on the book and plan to post it once it's done and edited, which may still be a few months from now. But because I don't have any other content for you guys right now, here's a sneak peak!

Chapter 1

"Y—you're Elysian?" Fitz stammered out, reflecting the disbelief Sophie was feeling.
Elysian was supposed to be a place.

Not a person.

"I am not surprised that you do not know of my existence," Elysian said in her strangely melodic voice. "It has been many years since I was bound to my fields, and few have found their way here since."

"You're bound here?" Sophie asked her, finding her voice at last.

"That is correct," Elysian answered, and though her face was hidden behind her hood, Sophie got the sense that she was looking directly at her. "When the world was young and our kind—in fact, all kinds—were few in number, I was hidden here and bound, unable to cross any of the rivers that intersect here in my fields."

"Your fields?" Marella asked her, shaking her gilded hair out of her eyes and looking around, taking in their surroundings once more.

"They are named after me." Her head inclined toward Sophie. "This young one knew that already."

All eyes turned to Sophie. "Humans have myths about the Elysian FIelds," she told them. "But...most human myths are only barely connected to reality. So I don't actually know anything about you or why you're here."

"What I want to know," Keefe asked, "is how you knew anything about what Foster does and does not know, and how you have managed to shut off all of our abilities, and what we're going to have to do to get them back."

Sophie looked at Keefe more closely. He looked pale and shaky, and his eyes kept darting between her and Elysian—and then to Lady Gisela, who was standing and staring with unaffected shock written across her stretched features.

"I can see your thoughts," Elysian answered him. "That is how I know you are searching for a power source, and that you were all mistaken in the nature of my power." She turned toward Gisela. "These stones in this quarry are not the source of power that you seek. They are merely conduits. You have already seen what they can do. They are incapable of completing what you started in that young one." She gestured toward Keefe.

Sophie didn't know if that was good news or bad news. If Elysian was the power source, could she help Keefe? Would she?

"My research—" Gisela began, straightening herself up to her full height and glancing at her mutant trolls, which were currently frozen in place, unable to move.

"Was flawed," Elysian finished for her. "I am certain that all trace of my existence is buried quite deeply in your histories."

Sophie's heart was racing. How long could this stalemate go on? Was Elysian toying with them? Was she preparing to attack? And did they stand a chance, since she had completely blocked all of their abilities—and even their ability to hold weapons?