Always & Forever

Chapter 20

          I almost Inflict on the traitor I find behind me. How dare Fitz come back, and with the other three? Did he really think he would get away with it? After everything, he's done? He's as bad as Alvar was, and right now, I'd rather have had Alvar on my side rather than Fitz. 

          "What should we do with them?" Biana asked. "We can't just let them getaway."

          "I'll take them to the Council. We'll let them deal with the traitors," I said looking directly at Fitz when I said the last bit.

          "I'll go with you," Keefe says grabbing my hand. "Who knows what you'll try to do."

          I look away and focus on Lady Gisela instead.

          "You said that you killed her. How is she here?" I ask.

          "She was never in the same hideout Sophie was. We made should of that. So your pretty little boyfriend here, whom I do not approve of, wouldn't go after her. But when she heard that we were coming here, she insisted on coming," Gethen said from the floor.

          "What do you me, you do not approve of Keefe being Sophie's boyfriend? Her dad would have to approve..." Lihn trails off. "Oh, wow."

          "Wait, Gethen is your father?" Dex asks. "Wow, that's a big surprise. I'll be surprised if your bio mom can surprise us more."

          "You'd be surprised," I mumble. "Anyways, it doesn't matter if you approve of Keefe, you will never have a say in my life." 

          "But I did have a say in your life. I mean, I'm one of the reasons you're alive. So I think you should listen to me some times." Gethen struggles to get up but Biana and Tam had tied all four of them up. 

          "I think listening to your stupid reasons that you guys are the 'Good Guys' is enough of my listening to you," I snap right back at him.

          "Oo, she got you there," Tam said stalking up to him. "And if you think that you're ever, and I repeat, ever, going to be able to take her from us again, think again because this time I will fight back."

          "Sophie, you're on the wrong side of this fight. If you think you can live through this whole fight, think again. I can only keep you alive for so much longer." Gethen sounds like he's trying to keep me safe.

          "You sound as if you care," Keefe says.

          "I do care. She's my only child and I don't want to see her get hurt," Gethen replies, cooly.

          "If you never wanted to see me get hurt then why did you let the Neverseen kidnap me and burn me? Why did you have Brant attack me? Why did you let Lady Gisela almost throw my off of Mount Everest? You let Fintan attack me after we escaped from Ravagog. You destroyed Lumenaria while I was inside. You attacked me in Nightfall. You let Umber attack me with Sadowflux and you didn't even try to keep me safe when Lady Gisela attacked use in the Dwarf capital." 

          "Woah, I didn't know you almost died that many times. Keefe, we better keep a better eye on this girl," Tam said shaking his head.

          "Sophie, I had to," Gethen says. "If I made sure you didn't get hurt every single time then I would've been kicked out of the Neverseen. I had to make subtle suggestions to keep you safe."

          "Yeah, whatever." I picked him up along with the others using telekineses. "Time to go say hello to the Collective."

          "We're already here," said a voice behind me.

          I mentally said a few words that I would, for sure, get in trouble for saying. Why did I think that Keefe would let me take care of them myself? I turn to see the whole Collective and the whole Council standing by the door.

          "Well, now that you are here, Foster and the group need to have a little chat." Keefe motioned for our friends to follow us as he pulled me outside the room.

          When we made it outside Biana asked, "What do you need to talk about?"

          "Yeah, I'm really confused. But I would like to know what you meant by, 'You'd be surprised' when I said that I'd be surprised if your bio mom surprised us more. Would you like to explain?"

          Then everyone's emotions of confusion and worry hit me. I stumble back but Keefe catches me. 

          "I'm fine," I say standing up straight.

          "Okay, would you mind explaining what that was," Biana says.

          "Okay, I don't know if I already told you or not. But, I'm an Empath, and emotions hit me really hard." I look down at my hands.

          "So could you please keep your emotions in check until she learns to block most of them," Keefe says. 

          "Okay, so we have a Sophie who manifested as an Empath, and a Keefe who manifested as a Telepath? Great, is anyone else worried about what this means now?" Tam asks.

          "How did you know I'm a Telepath?" Keefe asked.

          "I don't know, I think you told us. But it was pretty obvious when you two started doing the whole, staring into each other's eyes," Tam replied.

          "Well, as nice as it was to be told this, we would like you to answer Dex's question," Lihn cut in.

          "I can't tell anyone," I say, looking away.

          "You can tell them, Sophie," A new voice says.

          I turn to see Oralie standing a couple of feet away.

          "It won't mess up the balance that has been created," Oralie said.

          "Yes it will, you know it will," I snap.

          "No, it won't, I made up my mind," She said, tears in her eyes. "I should have done this long ago."

          I freeze, "You're not a Councilor anymore?"

          She nods, "It's what I needed to do. Rules were broken and I can't live with myself now that it doesn't just involve me if I stay a Councilor. Just tell them."

          "I- I can't."

          "Yes you can, you need to."

          "Is anyone else confused?" Marella asks.

          Everyone but Keefe nods.

          "You know, don't you?" Biana asks.

          "I had to tell him," I said stepping in. "And now I need to tell you guys. Oralie is- is my bio mom."

          Everyone gasps and all the emotions hit me like a punch in the gut. Keefe wrapped an arm around me before I fell over. 

          "You mean all this time?" Another voice says.

          We all turn to find the whole Council standing there, looking surprised, Oralie nods,

          "Yes, and I'm leaving the Council. So there is need to make a big deal over this."

          The Councilors look at each other. It wasn't until a minute went by that I realized that they were discussing something.

          Emery nods and turns to Oralie, "We don't blame you. You don't need to give up your spot as Councilor."