Q-Tip(KOTLC) {Completed}

16

The rest of the day, Keefe kept Janessa entertained, going on about Fitz's stuffed sparkly dragon named Mr Snuggles, with Dex and Biana coming in for a couple hours.

"Where's Sophie?" Janessa asked.

"She's with Prentice." Keefe told her.

"Wait—you guys got Prentice out?! And you thought me knowing about Mr Forkle's secret identity and Mr Snuggles was more important than that?!" Janessa demanded, angrily sitting up before crying out in pain and having Keefe help her lower back down onto the pillow.

"Oops." Keefe shrugged innocently. "To be fair, Mr Snuggles and Forkle's identity is a really big deal. And Sophie just got back like half a minute ago."

Janessa rolled her eyes. "You're annoying, you know that right?"

"Thanks Snowflake!" 

Janessa blushed. "I thought you were done with that nickname."

"Does it annoy you?" Keefe smirked.

Janessa tried to make a straight face. "Not at all."

Keefe grinned, then his eyes widened.

"What's wrong?" Janessa asked.

"I can feel your emotions right now." Is all he said.

"Wha—?" Janessa blushed cherry-red. "Did I make things weird? I'm so sorry Keefe!"

"Why are you apologizing? It's... it's not a bad thing."

"But, you don't like me that way, do you?" Janessa frowned.

"I... I'm sorry. You're like a sister to me. And..." Keefe trailed off.

"You like Sophie. It's fine. I'm glad we got this out of the way early though." Janessa forced herself to say, looking anywhere but Keefe, who frowned.

Sophie entered the room for the first time since Janessa woke up, not noticing the awkwardness between the two.

"Janessa! I just heard you were awake! We were all so worried!" The blonde exclaimed.

"I'm fine now. Thanks for worrying though." Janessa replied, smiling.

Keefe took Sophie's arrival as an excuse to leave.

Janessa frowned. "I'm really sorry, Sophie."

Sophie's eyebrows furrowed. "About what?"

"I was really rude when we first met. I haven't had a family since I was eight. I have a few human friends, but no one I can relate to. I have you now, and not only do you understand growing up in the human world, you know the craziness of the Lost Cities and the Black Swan. I always wanted a sister. But, now I'm really happy we became friends. I'm proud you're my sister." Janessa said with her azure eyes watering.

Sophie approached her bed and interlocked their fingers. "Me too. I'm glad I know at least one of my biological family members. And you're a pretty good twin to have. And I'm sorry about your human family."

Janessa sighed longingly. "I don't remember them that well. I hadn't developed my photographic memory until after I joined the Black Swan, so if I saw them again, I might not be able to recognize them. What's your adoptive family like here?"

"They're perfect. Edaline's my mom. She's super sweet and seems delicate, but I've seen her wrangle a T-Rex. Grady is the perfect dad. He's strong and looks like he could be a movie actor. He's very protective and is willing to sacrifice everything for me and Edaline. They've been through a lot, but still manage to be happy and love me." Sophie gushed, brown eyes sparkling.

Janessa smiled bittersweetly, imagining the image of their perfect family. "They sound... amazing. I wish I could have that, but I've been here living and learning for the past seven or eight years. I have parental figures in the Black Swan who have all taught me about the Lost Cities, but I think of them as just really cool aunts and uncles. It's not the same when you have parents who risk everything for you and really love you."

Sophie then had an idea. "You know, JJ, if you ever decided to move to the Lost Cities after all, you could stay with me. My room is huge so we could definitely share and Grady and Edaline would love you, I'm sure."

"Really?" Janessa's eyes shone with hope, not even noticing Sophie using her nickname.

Sophie nodded, before her expression became downcast. "If we're ever allowed to go back to the Lost Cities. I've gotten us all sent to Exillium and banished forever."

Janessa smiled and squeezed Sophie's hand. "If you hadn't, Fitz and I would both be dead. You did the right thing, Sophie." Sophie returned the smile gratefully.

Then, Physic entered the room with a distraught expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" Janessa asked nervously. She tightened her grip on Sophie's hand.

"Another member has been going to the human world for your mission and overheard the Freemans talking about the boy you were friends with at the hospital, Andrew Brill. He chose to try a risky surgery. He didn't make it." Physic said quietly.

Janessa felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach and began hyperventilating. The deep breaths turned into heaping sobs that moved her body completely, causing her wounds to reopen and begin bleeding through her bandages, rainbow flames licking the tears on her face. Janessa didn't notice the extra pain over her heartache.

"JJ, you need to calm down!" Sophie said, wrapping her arms around the weeping girl, avoiding the flames, to stop her from moving.

Physic pulled out a vial and forced the contents down Janessa's throat until her vision blurred.

"What did you give me?" She slurred, hiccuping and crying.

"Just a sedative. You're hurting yourself more. Go to sleep, Janessa." Physic soothed.

Janessa slowly let the darkness take over her mind, taking away the pain of her dead friend.