Stellarlune - KOTLC Book 8.5 Fanfic

Chapter 17

"Drink this, then this," Elwin pointed to the group of elixirs on a tray beside her. "It'll get you up and going."

Sophie nodded. If the elixirs would allow her to somehow help her friends, she would drink it without a complaint.

She picked up the neon orange elixir, and uncorked it. The smell of pudding puffs rose up her nose.

This was definitely worth it.

After Rosei had sung her asleep, Sophie had been transported to her room, with Elwin arriving at Havenfield a second later. He had woken her up reluctantly, when Grady had apparently told him some of the situation.

"Trust me, all of them are pretty good," Elwin told her. "The panakes took care of almost everything."

Sophie nodded. The sooner she could get to Biana and Sandor, the better.

"Elwin?" Sophie asked. "Is anything wrong with Sandor?" Sophie braced herself for the worst, her mind flashing to all fates Sandor might have had.

Sandor limply lying on the cold grounds of Mount Everest, blood coating everything.

Sandor's nose crooked, and with dried blood.

This time...

"He's fine. I even checked his vitals to be sure," Elwin responded cheerfully.

"Wai - but..." Sophie started, thinking through all of the possibilities.

"Lady Gisela is a polyglot," he reminded her. "She told him that the Neverseen was going to attack Sophie, in Grady's voice."

Wait, but Sandor had been following her all along before? Why had he run in a different direction?

"Ms. Foster, it's nice to see you awake," Sandor walked in the room. "I'm sorry for failing you once again. I should have known the Neverseen's tricks."

"I'm fine," Sophie assured him. "But what I don't get is how you went the opposite direction as me?"

Sandor stood tall, his face breaking into a grimace. "The Neverseen made an illusion that looked and smelt exactly like you. When Lady Gisela warned me in Grady's voice that you were an illusion, and that the actual illusion was you, I immediately responded. Again, I am sorry that I have failed you. Bo was roaming the house for security, and Flori was working on plants that were supposed to dull the pain of headaches."

"It's really fine," Sophie assured him once again. "But I need to know, is anybody hurt?"

"Biana fainted due to shock and stress," Elwin jumped in, snapping a green orb of light and waving it around Sophie's eyes. "I don't know what the stress is about, and she won't tell me. You should have a go at it, Sophie, after I declare you healthy."

What was Biana worried about? Was there something she wasn't telling them? Something important? Sophie did respect her friend's privacy, but if it was harming her health, she wouldn't stand for it.

Not to mention Keefe.

"I think I should go and ask her what's going on," Sophie decided.

"Drink this, and you'll be ready to interrogate her," Elwin instructed, as he handed her a purple misty elixir that looked like it had silver glitter coating it.

Sophie uncorked it, and drank the elixir. It tasted like a bottle of Youth, but with more of a rich flavour. The final aches disappeared.

Elwin snapped a red orb of light and waved it around Sophie's body.

"You're good for now," Elwin said. "Tell me immediately if you start to feel dizzy. Chances are, I may not be here for you, so I want you to take this just in case."

Sophie accepted the white milky serum from him. "Thanks, Elwin," she said. He laughed it off.

"Go. I think you have bigger problems than thanking me," he grimaced.

"Come with me, Miss Foster. I'll take you to your friends," Sandor instructed.

"Wait," Somebody exclaimed.

Sandor swivelled around, pulling out a throwing star. "Don't move," he warned.

"Mr. Forkle?" Sophie asked.

He did not smile. "Miss Foster, it's high time that I issue a meeting. For everyone. We need to decide what to do with our time."

Sandor lowered his weapon. "Apologies," he stated.

"No need for them at all. You were just trying to protect Sophie anyways, which I am most grateful for," Mr. Forkle said to him.

"Have you found Keefe?" Sophie limply asked, already knowing the answer.

"Unfortunately, we have not found him, Lady Gisela would be too smart to let anything get in her way. I suspect Mr. Sencen's magisdan handcuffs were specially made to deflect all technology and signals."

Sophie groaned, unable to help herself.

But how were they going to find Keefe?

"Luckily, Silveny and Greyfell are not in need of an urgent rescue just yet. I'll tell you everything once we have the meeting," he added. "Thank you, Elwin, for treating her,"

"Anytime," Elwin offered.

"Wait," Sandor exclaimed. "This could be the perfect time for an attack. Miss. Foster, stay right in front of me."

He brandished his sword, walking in a crouched position.

"Where is the meeting's destination? I'd like to escort and guard the perimeter," he asked.

"It's not here. It's in one of our hideouts. Miss Foster, do you feel up for a light leap?"

Sophie nodded, praying that nobody would attack them.

Everybody was safe, right?

She tried to assure herself that everybody was already in the hideout, safe.

But what about Keefe?

Was he safe?

It wasn't fair, it wasn't right that he had sacrificed himself for the group.

This was different from the times one took a big risk.

Keefe had trauma from his past. He had to face it. Even though he was one of the best people Sophie knew in her life.

"We have arrived," Mr. Forkle announced, breaking her chain of thought.

"Everybody, out. Out. Out. Out. I don't feel comfortable staying here." Sandor instructed. Mr. Forkle made a beam of light from his crystal.

Suddenly, a grain of something black dropped onto Sophie's shoulder.

Ash.

Sandor's eyes widened as he pushed Sophie and Mr. Forkle into the beam of light right before the sound of an explosion hit their ears.