Secrets

Three

Sophie felt like her world was tilting on the edge of a huge chasm. Her dream had been true, she had just been too slow to believe it. 

And now it was too late.

Fintan smiled, but it never reached his cold blue eyes. "Ah. Now your pathetic little brain is starting to comprehend what I'm implying."

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" Sophie shouted, her anger once again bubbling just below the surface of her skin. She knotted the anger into her mess of emotions- she couldn't inflict without hurting Sandor.

Fintan grinned, "What we did was capture a perfect little bargaining chip." 

Sandor started towards him, grabbing the collar of Fintan's cloak, and lifting him up into the air. 

Fintan smiled, "I also wouldn't think that would be a good idea." 

He burst into flames. 

Sandor squeaked, quickly dropping Fintan on the floor. The fire was starting to spread, but Fintan's eyes were clearly seen through all the haze, smoke, and flames. 

When he spoke, his voice echoed throughout the burning room. "If you want to get her, you have to find her." 

The last thing Sophie heard before he light leaped was a cold laugh, hollow and dark, reverberating around the room.

                                                                       ----------------------

"We have to go," Sandor shouted over the blazing bedroom.  

"I need to let Grady and Edaline know," Sophie yelled, her eyes smarting in all of the thick smoke that swirled around them. 

"They'll find out a way on their own. The fire is spreading."

"No! I almost lost them before, and I won't lose them ever again." 

Sophie dashed around Sandor's thick arms, racing out of her bedroom door. Smoke flowed out from her bedroom and made its way into the hallway. 

Sandor chased after her.

"MOM! DAD!" Sophie ran down the hallway, calling for her parents.

"Sophie?" It was Grady. 

Coughing, Sophie ran as fast as she could toward the voice, squinting through all of the thick smoke. 

She crashed into a pair of strong arms.  Looking up, Sophie saw a handsome face with chiseled features and bright blue eyes. 

Grady. And right behind him was Edaline. 

Sophie buried her face in her father's shirt as Edaline hugged her from behind.

Sandor caught up to them, panting, his face tinted pink from all the running. He turned to Sophie. "NEVER RUN AWAY FROM ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" He shouted. 

Sophie ignored him. "We have to go," she exclaimed over the roaring of the crackling flames.

Together, they all raced toward the door, Sandor practically carrying Sophie as she protested. "I don't need to be carried! I am perfectly capable of running myself!"

Sandor sighed, "Sophie, I don't know how to say this but-"

"I'm really clumsy?" She interrupted.  

"...Yes."

All of a sudden, Sandor stopped, Grady and Edaline right behind him.

They had reached the huge door that marked the exit of the mansion.