Our Planet has Crashed [COMPLETE]

thirty six - KOTLC

Fitz POV:

Fitz had been taking in details of the dragons' hut, noting how everything was made for someone five times his size when a chorus of gasps—and a screech he will never let his sister forget—reached his ears.

He turned, seeing Linh, Maruca, Marella and Biana gawking at a thrashing figure in a green dragon's talon.

Fitz couldn't see who it was, but he could see the white eye symbol on the sleeve of the black cloak.

On that note, he ran through the crowd of dragon legs to his sister and their friends.

By then, everyone else was there, yelling at each other, while the dragons looked at the with a puzzled expression. But from Fitz's observations, he could tell one of the dragons was busy freaking out and probably telling the green dragon holding Vespera to drop her.

It was Vespera. Fitz stopped straight in his tracks as he stared at the pale elf. Vespera was squirming in the dragon's hold, but her expression was calm. Fitz scowled, hating how she wouldn't allow them to see her uncomfortable.

He ran to Sophie and Biana's side, asking them what was happening, but Sophie was wide-eyed with her mouth open, and Biana was yelling at Vespera.

It was only when Wylie came to the rescue and smacked a large spoon against a pan with his telekinesis that everyone stopped doing what they were doing, and the chaos began to cease. It was so loud even the dragons winced.

Then he spoke up. "Vespera, you just have to tell us what you took from the planet."

She shook her head. "It's too important."

"Well, you're our prisoner." Biana pointed out.

She snorted, and yet she said, "I think . . . well, in fact, I might as well tell you. Gisela betrayed me, after all." Vespera laughed coldly, sending a shiver down Fitz's spine.

"Lady Gisela?" Sophie asked, finally out of her trance.

"Oh, yes," Vespera said. "Said she'd help me out with my vision after I helped complete hers, then purposely lets me get captured by a dragon."

"But . . . Lady Gisela was frozen by Winter at Havenfield, right?" Marella asked, evidently puzzled. "I made the firewall that would keep her in if she unfroze."

"Oh, no," Vespera said. "That was an illusion I helped her set up. She's been hiding in her safe little hideouts the whole time."

"But Winter's frostbreath . . ." Sophie said.

"Ah, about that," Vespera said. "Also an illusion. I was actually there, at Havenfield. I adjusted the mirrors that created that frost-like layer."

"And when she talked?" Biana asked.

Vespers tutted. "Now, that is a secret I will never tell you. It's more important than what we took from this planet."

"But why?" Linh asked. "Why make everyone think she's dead?"

"I don't know! Honestly, I'd rather scare my enemies than make them think I'm dead. Ruins all the effect." She sighed like Gisela was the most immature child she'd met. Which, considering Vespera's age, she probably was.

"What was the purple cloud?" Biana asked.

Vespera pressed her lips together as she seemed to think about her options.

"Can you just tell us already?" Fitz exploded.

"Ah, look at the Golden Boy. So impatient." Vespera shook her head, sighing.

"I agree with Fitz, though." Sophie said. "Can you tell us now?"

"Well, I'd prefer to do it in a more comfortable position, don't you think? And—"

"And what? Get you a drink? Just tell us!" Fitz yelled.

"Do at least one thing for me?" Vespera purred. "Get me a thinking cap."