ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ

h o o d e d f i g u r e s

Keefe

The wave of emotions that crashed into Keefe was insane--even for someone who was constantly hit by Sophie's extreme moods. 

This--this was--

His mind scrambled everywhere, before it finally settled on one emotion: anger.

"WHY ARE YOU WITH HER?!" he yelled at his dad. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!" 

Vaguely, he felt Sophie shake his shoulder. But she couldn't bring him back this time. He was too far gone.

First he thought his dad betrayed him. Then it ended up being his mom. And now--now he was back at the beginning. Spots of rage danced in his vision, and he felt his nails digging painfully into his palms. "I--can't--believe you," he growled through gritted teeth.

Sophie shook his shoulder harder. "Keefe, relax," she said, her voice worried. But he pulled away from her. Relax? When both his parents had betrayed him?!

"It's not what you think," he heard his dad say.

"It's not what I think?" Keefe laughed in disbelief. "Right. You're right here in front of me, with Mom standing right next to you--and you're not in chains, and you don't look particularly unhappy. So what am I supposed to think?!"

"What if I told you I got kidnapped?" Lord Cassius said.

"You...got...kidnapped," Keefe echoed blankly. "By Mom?" He turned his gaze to Lady Gisela. "You said Dad was a waste! That's why you needed me!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Keefe saw his father flinch almost imperceptibly.

"I don't need him for the same reasons I needed you before," Lady Gisela told him, patting her immaculate bun.

"But then why aren't you locked up?" Keefe demanded, looking back at Cassius. "And again--you don't exactly look like you're in distress!"

"Oh, trust me," Lady Gisela said. "He's well secured. Can't have him sneaking away to your cute little Black Swan organization."

Keefe could practically hear Sophie's teeth grinding together.

"So you just decided to call, make sure everything's doing well here?" Keefe asked. "Check in with your beloved son?"

"Actually," Gisela corrected, "we were going to ask if you'd like to see your beloved Mr. Song."

~~~

Biana

Biana's head snapped up when she heard Tam's last name. So did everyone else's.

"Tam?" Biana and Linh asked at the same time, nearly tripping over each other to get closer to the imparter.

"Eager, are we?" Gisela asked. "Funny, no one has once asked about the loyal bodyguards."

Biana saw Keefe's jaw clench. "Because we know you won't answer," he said.

"Finally, a correct assumption," his mom murmured, and not for the first time, Biana wondered how in the world Keefe was her son. "Though we are willing to tell you, on one condition."

"A condition," Ro muttered off to the side, examining her nails (which she'd painted a bright, glittering gold). "Why am I not surprised?"

Biana was almost impressed with how much sarcasm Ro had put into her words. But then again, it was Ro.

"Nothing comes for free," Lady Gisela reminded them. 

"Okay, fine," Sophie snapped, ignoring Mr. Forkle's warning look. "What's the condition?"

Gisela smiled. "Let's talk to Mr. Song first, shall we?" She turned to look at her husband. "You're dismissed, Cassius."

He sneered at her, even locked up. "I'm your husband, Gisela. You can't order me around like--"

Someone in a hooded cloak yanked him out of the imparter's view, and his protests grew more muffled until they were completely gone--only to be replaced by more protests, which were getting louder by the second. But it was a way different voice.

"Let--go--of--me!" the voice growled.

"Shut up and stop moving," another voice snapped back. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Biana was only focused on the other voice. "I can't believe I was assigned to you. You're an insufferable little--little--"

"Cinnamon bun?" the first voice supplied sarcastically. "Yeah, I try."

Despite the situation, Biana's lips twitched. Tam was still salty as ever. And when he came into view, after the hooded figure beside him threw his hood off, Biana's heart leapt into her throat.

He looked...terrible.

Dark purple circles made his silver-blue eyes paler than ever. His jagged, silver bangs were even more jagged, if such a thing was possible. His skin was nearly yellow, and his cheekbones were unbelievably pronounced. 

"What did you do to him?" Linh cried out, her hand reaching toward the imparter's screen as if she could reach out and touch her twin.

"I'm fine," Tam snapped, glaring at the hooded figure next to him. "Except for him. Apparently, some-one survived." He shot a pointed look at Fitz, who sucked in his breath.

And everything inside Biana froze. Tam could only mean one thing.

He hadn't been there...when they'd discovered the empty goo-filled cubby.

Biana's thoughts went crazy, her mind jumping to a million possibilities. It couldn't be. It had happened too fast.

"Yes," Lady Gisela chuckled. "Whatever you're thinking, yes." She nodded to the hooded figure. "Go ahead."

The figure tossed his hood back, and Fitz made a choking noise. Biana stumbled back, and Dex had to grab her shoulder to keep her from falling.

Alvar.