The Elvin Ball

Part 9

Keefe POV:

"Foster?"  Keefe asked. Sophie was sitting slumped against a tree a few feet in front of her. She had dark circles under her eyes that looked like bruises, and she looked exhausted. But she was still the most beautiful elf he had ever seen.

Sophie blushed, "Oh um, I-"

But Keefe didn't let her continue. He ran toward her and pulled her in a gentle hug. "It doesn't matter what happened, Foster. I'm just glad you're okay." He said, his voice breaking. 

Sophie sunk into the hug for a moment, burying her head in Keefe's shoulder. A silent understanding passes between them.

But then reality came crashing down and Sophie pulled away quickly, like she just had a sudden realization.

A tear slipped down her cheek. "Look Keefe, I'm with the Neverseen. You have to stay away from me."

"What?" Keefe asked quietly.

"I'm with the Neverseen." Sophie repeated again, louder. 

The emotions that came from Sophie were more intense than ever. Their was guilt, reluctance, sadness, and so many others he couldn't place. But one thing was clear, she did not want to be with the Neverseen.

His expression softened. "Why, Sophie?"

Sophie looked slightly shocked at his use of her first name, but she quickly recovered. "I-I don't have a choice." She said, her face wet with tears and strain.

'They must be threatening someone she loves.' the realization hit Keefe hard, and a feeling of understanding passed through him.

"I understand." Keefe said.

"You do?" Sophie asked, shocked.

"Of course Foster. I don't want anyone getting hurt. Just stay safe okay?" It broke Keefe's heart to let her go back to the Neverseen, but he knew she had a good reason, and he had to trust her.

Sophie looked relieved. "I'll try, Keefe." she said, a flicker of doubt in her voice.

Keefe's forehead creased. "If any of them hurts you, they won't like what happens."

Sophie gulped."Okay, Keefe, bye." she said, lifting her leaping crystal.

"Bye." Keefe breathed, reluctant to let Sophie go. "And Foster?"

"Yes?" she asked quietly.

"I missed you. More than anything."

"I missed you too." she breathed.

 Keefe's breath hitched. Foster missed me?

Sophie smiled, before raising her leaping crystal to the light.

But then a trampling noise came from outside the hidden spot in the Palmae forest.

Sophie froze.

"Keefe! We have to go! You coming???" we heard Fitz's frustrated voice yell.

"Um yeah! Coming!" Keefe's panicked  voice yelled.

"Well hurry up! You can sulk later!" Fitz said, walking closer to them.

Sophie unfroze and tried to quickly leap away, but of course, being the extraordinarily clumsy person she is, dropped it, again. (A/N nothing against Fitz here, but Sophie's already been seen by Keefe, goodness knows how much she'll be punished for that if the Neverseen found out, but being seen by Fitz too.. *shakes head* )

Sophie had a very frustrated look on her face, and she dropped to her knees and started searching through the long grass for the crystal. She then realized that wasn't the best idea, so she leapt up and started running towards the bushes to hide, with a very panicked look on her face.

Under different circumstances, Keefe would have thought it was very cute.

But, just as Sophie was about to jump into them, Fitz walked into the Palmae forest. Sophie almost shrieked, and Keefe jumped in front of Fitz.

But Fitz had already seen her.

"Sophie?!" he growled.

Oh no...

Sophie squinted her eyes shut, like she wanted to disappear from this situation, before trying again to leap away. This time she succeeded in finding the crystal. She tried to leap away, but Fitz grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing here???" Fitz asked.

Keefe tried to move between him and Sophie but Fitz sent him a glare that could've withered flowers.

"I-I-" Sophie began.

"I can't believe you," Fitz interrupted, "All this time we've been missing you, trying to find you, just for you to be betray us." He said, stealing a glance at the white eye on her cloak.

"Fitz I-"

"Traitor. Why would you do that Sophie?!"

Sophie gritted her teeth. "I didn't have a choice!"

"There's always a choice!" 

Keefe tried again to step between him. This time he succeeded, and grabbed Fitz and pulled him backwards.

"Fitz." he warned. 

Fitz pulled his hand out of Keefe's and glared.

"You need to calm down. Sophie's doing her best, and we need to trust her." Keefe continued, seeing Sophie take in a breath of relief. 

Fitz growled, but pulled his hands to his chest, appearing calm. "Fine, I trust her."

Sophie made a path with the light from the crystal, and stepped onto it discreetly.

"But, I don't trust the Neverseen!" Fitz continued, running toward Sophie, before either of them could react. 

Keefe swore and ran after him. 

Fitz grabbed Sophie's shoulder, attempting to leap away to the Neverseen with her. Keefe ran after him and grabbed his wrist, ring in vain to yank it off. 

But before anyone could stop it, all three of them disappeared into the light.

Leaping away to the Neverseen's hideout.