Reign of the Neverseen

Chapter Five

Unedited.

Show her everything you have that she doesn't. That's what Pearl had told Sophie. Dress to impress. However the part that was on Sophie's mind was what Pearl had said about Fitz, well not him particularly but about her 'interest'. 'Make him yours in front of her. Claim him.' Pearl had said.

Sophie drank the elixirs Pearl had given her, staring in her bathroom mirror Sophie watched as her pale chapped lips colored and smoothed. The gold flecks in her eyes burned brighter, and her hair became glossy and curled slightly. After she showered, Sophie had fixed her hair and dressed. Her hair was still damp, spraying on cinnamon smelling perfume, Sophie checked her nails which Pearl had spent all night, giving a manicure. Sophie's teeth had always been straight and alined, and clean, but now they were blinding white, against her pink lips. The circles under Sophie's eyes vanished.

Sophie placed her circlet on her head before stepping out of the bathroom. Pearl was snoring on the couch, looking exhausted. Nearly all night was spent showing Sophie how to walk, and clipping up her attitude. Not only to face Ambra, but for the wedding. Sophie pulled on the boots she had learned to walk in, and lifted the brown cape. Pinning it with her family crest, she left a hasty thank you note for Pearl, and apology for not being there when she woke up. Sophie opened her door, taking a deep breath. It was time to face Ambra.

It was cold outside, and the sky was lighting to a foggy grey. Sophie hardly felt the cold, but she could still see her breath hanging in the air in front of her. Sophie walked the short way to her office, where she found only a small pile of letters for her. The top one was addressed to her from Emery. Sophie was thankful for something to do. Smoothing the back of her skirt she sat down and picked up the papers from Emery. Opening it she started reading.

Sophie,

In a week, the council is making a public appearance, to have a hearing from the citizens of the Lost Cities.
Every council member is required to make a speech.

Grant it, it does not have to be very long, sometimes only a few sentences, you are not required to say more, but please have a speech prepared to calm the crowds. We are expecting some unrest and uncertainty in them. Sincerely,
Emery.

Sophie set the letter aside and picked up the next one. It was addressed to her, but had no other name. Frowning Sophie opened it, and pulled out a note and thick map. The note was simple but yet it made Sophie's mind screech to a halt.

'Destroy the map, after you memorize it.'

Unfolding the map, Sophie's photographic memory committed it to her mind. But as Sophie stared at it she realized something that made her heart thunder. Tunnels, secret passage ways that lead through the lost cities, some leading all the way to Atlantis... One tunnel even in her office. The side notes told her how to open each tunnel, secret passage and where stairs were. Every single detail was in straight blocked words. Turning around Sophie looked at the wall behind her, with a massive framed painting of a landscape. Sophie's eyes searched out the corner, looking at the corner Sophie couldn't even see signs of a switch.

Sophie glanced at the map, being sure she had every single detail in mind she struck a match and set the map on fire, she set it on the metal tray on her clear desk. Sophie wanted nothing more than to check the painting to see if it was a hoax, but she forced herself to open the next scroll. She added the small note to the flames. The scroll was from Oralie, who was giving her a heads up about the public speaking, she also gave Sophie praise for keeping the work cleared up.

The next scroll came with a package. The scroll was from Dex. Opening it, thew words were hastily scrawled in his messy and quick writing.

'Tada. Hope you like them!
P.S. they glow in the dark at will.'