Project Phoenix

Chapter 6-Before

Alvar glared at Sophie through a glass wall, the only barrier separating them.

Slowly, Alvar's snarl twisted into a sadistic grin, his perfectly white teeth gleaming in the low light.

Sophie wanted to punch him in the face.

"Not yet, Sophie."

She glanced to her right, where Mr. Forkle stood in all his wrinkled glory. On Sophie's left stood Councillor Bronte.
No Vackers, other than Alvar himself, were present.
Sophie had made sure of that.

"What do we do?" Sophie asked, looking at each of the two older elves. "Do we know why he was at Candleshade?"

Mr. Forkle shook his head, which made his flabby neck wobble. "Not a clue. We assume it has something to do with Lady Gisela."

"Lady Gisela?" Sophie gasped. "But I thought she—"

"You thought wrong, Sophie," Mr. Forkle interrupted.

She gulped and turned back toward Alvar, who watched amusedly from the other side of the glass. He raised an eyebrow at Sophie, taunting her.

It was as if Alvar was asking to be pummeled in the face, and Sophie was willing to deliver the punch.

"Let me talk to him," Sophie pleaded. "Let me ask him some questions."

"Absolutely not, Miss Foster," Bronte said. "We can't risk another incident. Remember what happened last time?"

Sophie thoughts immediately went to Ruy; his screams filled her mind. "Yeah.  I remember."

Mr. Forkle placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Sophie. Everything will be fine, in due time."

"But what if it isn't?" Sophie whispered. "What if we're missing something big?"

"And what would that possibly be?" Bronte asked. "We successfully brought down the Neverseen five years ago."

"Well, it obviously wasn't too successful," Sophie muttered, rolling her eyes. "The remaining members of the Neverseen are still active, and we need to find out why."

Mr. Forkle and Councillor Bronte stared at each other over Sophie's head.

"Fine," Bronte eventually sighed. "You get 5 minutes with Alvar, and that is final."

Sophie nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't do anything you will regret, Moonlark." Mr. Forkle placed a hand on Sophie's shoulder. "Remember the time and place. Remember who you are."

Sophie nodded. "I'll be fine. I just need to talk to him."

=======================

"Sophie Foster." Alvar muttered, his eyes gleaming with hatred. "Long time, no see."

"I'd like to keep it that way," Sophie retorted, taking a seat in the chair across from him.

He chuckled. "Always so quick-witted."

Sophie shifted uncomfortably in her chair, letting the silence hang long enough for awkwardness to settle.

"What do you want?" Alvar asked quietly. Sophie had to lean forward to hear the question.

"Maybe you should be asking yourself the same thing," she replied. "Why were you at Candleshade?"

Alvar stared mutely at Sophie. His blue eyes never wavered from her own.

"Let me rephrase that," Sophie said. "Why have you been faking your death for five years?"

"Aren't we all allowed to have secrets, Sophie?" Alvar tilted his head. "You have your fair share, I'm certain."

Sophie shook her head. "My life is none of your business, Alvar. Answer the question."

Alvar leaned back in his seat, casually crossing his legs. "I'll answer your question if you answer one of my own."

Sophie frowned, but nodded her head slowly. "Fine. Ask away."

Alvar closed his eyes, deep in thought. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and stared right at her.

"Do you love my brother?"

Sophie blinked. The question wasn't at all what she expected. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said," Alvar replied. "Do you love my brother?"

Her insides felt fluttery, and not in a good way. Sophie gulped, trying to soothe her suddenly dry throat.

"Yes." Sophie crossed her arms. "I do love him."

Alvar's eyes seemed to pierce through her skull as he watched her. He finally looked away, smiling slightly.

"I see," he muttered. "Thank you for answering my question."

"I believe it's your turn now," Sophie said. "Why have you been faking your death for five years?"

Alvar looked over Sophie's shoulder at the glass wall. "Open your mind to me. I don't want them to listen."

Sophie groaned inwardly, but did as he asked.

I've been on the run for five years, Sophie, Alvar said. But not for the reason you think.

Sophie's brow furrowed. Then tell me why. Tell me the truth.

There was a slight knock from the other side of the glass wall, but Sophie ignored it.

The Neverseen is still active and still plotting, he transmitted. You may think they've been defeated and bogged down, but they haven't. They're determined to bring you down.

Why are you telling me this? Sophie asked. It was all too easy for her liking. Alvar was never this cooperative in the past, and things couldn't have changed so quickly.

I need your help, Sophie Foster. Alvar locked eyes with her, and for the first time, Sophie saw true fear.

The reason I'm transmitting to you is because of a mole, Alvar quickly explained. Someone in the Black Swan has been keeping the Neverseen updated on current information.

Do you know who? Sophie tried not to look over her shoulder at the glass wall, where Mr. Forkle and Councillor Bronte stood waiting.

Alvar shook his head slightly. Not yet. But we can figure it out together. I need your help.

Sophie's confusion went up ten levels. Why do you need my help? When have we ever helped each other?

Alvar grimaced. The Neverseen is trying to kill me, Sophie. The five years I've been in hiding wasn't because I was scared of the Black Swan finding me. It's because I was scared of the Neverseen finding me.

Sophie's head was swimming. "What did you do?"

He remained silent.

"Alvar," Sophie whispered. "What did you do?"

"I found out something I shouldn't have," Alvar murmured. "And now they want to kill me."

Alvar met Sophie's gaze, his eyes dark. "And they're coming to kill you too."