The Truth

Ever After

Jolie yanked the hood back over her horrified face, but too late. "Fintan's in there," she said in a choked whisper, and then ran back down the hall, leaving a stream of frantic questions without answer in her wake.

Sophie drew a shuddering breath. She could only imagine what this would be like for Grady and Edaline... actually, she couldn't. The only thing she could do now was what she came for. Distract Fintan.

Holding her head high, she pushed the door open. Fintan was sitting in a metal chair at a metal desk. He turned to look at her, and she could see menace in his eyes. He wasn't going to let her go until he got some answers. Sophie swallowed.

At that small noise, Fintan sprang with catlike grace from his chair. As he lunged towards Sophie, he flicked his wrist, slamming the door shut.

"The Moonlark," he said in a cold voice. "Fancy meeting you here." Fintan ignited fire in his hand, pinning her against the cold hard wall, also made of metal. He waved the fire under her chin.

"Why have you come here?" He hissed angrily, moving the fire closer.

"I want- to talk about- uniting for a common cause," Sophie choked out. Fintan turned away, his cape swishing dramatically behind him. Sophie sank to the floor, rubbing her throat. Then, remembering that she was the Moonlark, she summoned up her strength and bravery up and stood.

"It makes sense," she said, her voice stronger now. "We are both campaigning for change. If we work together, we have more strength, more resources."

Fintan turned to face her. "How do I know you're not lying?" he said. "How do I know that the second we uncloak and reveal our true identities, that you're not going to turn us all in?"

"You don't," Sophie said. "But we won't."

"Well, what would we work for?" Fintan asked, and Sophie's mind hit a wall.

"Well- The, um- What do you want changed?" she asked.

Fintan chuckled, an ominous noise. "Well, to start, I want the life that has been taken away from me. Do you know what it was like," he said, "having to pretend I was talentless? I went from riches to rags. Councillor to working class."

Sophie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You brought that all down on yourself by your craving for power! None of this would have happened if you hadn't tried to ignite the Everblaze, so stop whining." Sophie was feeling brave and reckless.

Fintan practically snarled at her, but Sophie could see sadness in his eyes.

"We can fix your problem," she said. "Make Pyrokinesis legal again, and have it taught in the schools." Fintan scowled. "That won't help," he said bitterly.

"Yes it will-" Sophie started, but was interrupted by someone running in through the door. Jolie again. But Jolie completely disregarded Sophie as she frantically addressed Fintan.

"Sir, we have intruders! They're everywhere! Call for backup!"

Fintan lunged for Sophie. "You knew about this?" he asked, rancid breath blowing in her face as he panted in anger. His hands on her arms burned, and she screamed in pain. Drawing all of her fear and anger out of the pit of her stomach, she shoved it at Fintan, and with a pang of guilt, Jolie.

Sophie burst the door open, running down the hallway. When she came to a fork in the passageway, she stretched out her mind, listening for Fitz, or Mr. Forkle, or Keefe. But instead, she heard Edaline's thoughts. Grady and Edaline were here! Then reality struck her. Jolie. Grady. Edaline. They had gone so long, thinking that Jolie was lost. What would happen to them now? And would they... This was the worst thought of all. Would they still want Sophie?