Almost Gone- A Keeper of the Lost Cities Fanfiction

Chapter 11

Meanwhile at Everglen...

"They've been down there too long," Elwin diagnosed, his forehead scrunching up into lines. Picking up the vial that he had given to Sophie, he twirled in his fingers, keeping his eyes on the staggering raise of his patient's chest.

"It usually takes time," Alden countered, his teal eyes focused on his son, who was still as a statue. He shifted his weight on the other side of his foot, leaning on his right leg, desperately waiting for his son to open his eyes.

They were gathered in one of Everglen's bedroom, which was regal and yet cozy at the same time. "In one minute, if they're not back yet, you are going to bring them back." He pointed the words at Alden, who was the only Telepath among them.

Alden sighed, but he agreed. Dex began to count the seconds till 60, but at 11, someone pulled the door slightly and slipped in. It was Biana. She looked pristine in her pink tunic rimmed with gold lacing, and white leggings, but her gaze was concentrated on the scene at hand. Her eyes slid over to her father, and tiptoed to Alden and he put his arm over her in a hug. She absorbed the warmth, holding back the tears from her eyes. Biana pulled back silently, and moved over to Dex.

Dex, surprised from Biana standing close to him, stopped at 48 once she slipped her hand into his. They didn't look at each other, but it was still intimate the closeness of them, and the way she held her head up high. He squeezed back in reassurance, wondering if she was having trouble accepting that this was their reality, once he realized that her right leg was flickering, vanishing for a second and then reappearing the next. She squeezed back, and they finally looked at each other, her pale cheeks flushing in the darkness. It was a memorable moment if it wasn't for the change in the room.

The whole room, shuddered, and became darker, like someone had driven all the lights out. Biana gripped Dex's hand tightly and they all looked at each other, baffled on what to do next. Thankfully, Elwin took charge and demanded Alden to go into Sophie's mind. Alden didn't need anyone telling him, but before he could move closer to try, the three boys gasped, and their eyes flared open. 

Keefe was the first who threw his hand away from Sophie, like he would hurt her. Soon Fitz, followed him and they both hacked, struggling to breathe. Tam immediately stood up, rasping out, "You have to get out!"

"Why?" Alden asked, staying back when Fitz waved him off. His son looked like his eyes would pop out of his sockets, and Keefe didn't look any better. 

"Not you." He coughed, and then took a breath looking at Keefe and Fitz, "Guys now!"

"No," Biana whispered, letting go from Dex's hand. She ran over to Fitz who was on the ground, clutching his heart. She leaned over, reaching to put her hand on Fitz's back to soothe him, but he grasped her hand tightly.

When he looked at her, Biana didn't see her brother. There was a feral glint in his eyes-power hungry, waiting to pounce on his prey. "Fitz," she pleaded, trying to put the fear out of her voice. 

Everyone was silent, except for Keefe who was still gasping for air, like he couldn't breathe. Fitz's eyes widened, when he saw his sister. He released his tightened hand on her wrist, like a burn."I-I'm sorry," he choked, out, struggling to stand up. But Biana wouldn't let him leave. 

His eyes pleaded out to his father, searching for any recognition in his, trying to convey the message he was sending. Alden turned deathly pale, but the message was sent.

Grady interrupted, looking at Fitz and then at Alden, to finally Keefe who had managed to stand up and was trying to balance, "What's going on?" he demanded, holding Edaline close to him. 

"No time..." Keefe managed to say, his fit of coughing interrupting. "To explain." He clutched his heart, just like Fitz.

"Biana let go." Alden's voice hardened at the sight of his son, but still held the confusion. Biana did no such thing. She reached out to soothe her brother, but he swatted her hand away, letting it fall to her side, as he stood. 

"Biana, come here!" Alden repeated again, his tone cold. 

Della, was surprised at her husband who rarely raised his voice. "Alden..." She moved to her husbands side, and slid her slender hand into her husband's. Realizing that something was wrong, Della complied, but still holding the confusion in her eyes and softly said to her daughter, "Biana, just come here."

Biana was stubborn, and she wanted to know what was happening, so she didn't let go of her brother. He tried to move away, but she planted herself, and the feral glint in her brother's eyes returned. "No," she uttered. "No, no, n-" she repeated over and over again, not letting go of her brother. A tear slid down her cheek, she didn't get what was going on. Why couldn't she understand, and everyone else could? Why was she the only one, the only one dumb enough to figure out what was happening? A shiver went through her as Fitz started hacking again, like his he was drowning.

Finally Dex, walked over to her, feeling all eyes on him, but he didn't squirm. No-he wouldn't. Let them think what they were thinking. It didn't matter. He murmured soothing words into her ear, caressing her back to comfort her. And after a minute of sniffling, she was quiet. And Biana stood up, leaning on him the whole way, while she tried not to feel all the stares that were on them. She wouldn't allow herself to, Dex was the only one who mattered. She pushed the feelings and thoughts that were bound to invade her mind, holding off the answers to the questions, that all this time she was lying to herself about. She could wait one more day to answer those questions and feelings that she had tried to resist all these years, but it was time to come clean. She had to. 

 Unfortunately, her thoughts couldn't help Keefe and Fitz from clutching their hearts, and wincing in pain. They looked at Tam one last time and he met their stare, a promise filling up his eyes. "You have to go." Keefe nodded, looking at each one of them for the last time, then wincing as he realized that he shouldn't think like that. It wouldn't be there last time together. It wouldn't. It wouldn't. It wouldn't.

His gaze turned to Foster, for one second, he told himself. 

He took her in, the bliss on her face, the corners of her eyes creasing when she slept, and the little breathy noise she made when she was asleep. He would never forget her, not as long as he lived, no matter what his mother or the Neverseen would do to separate him away from her. But it was really time to go. There was a different person in his body, and he could sense that it was ready to erupt. His heart was aching, probably the imprint that Fintan had left in him, the pain turning blinding, but he didn't let that stop him. He scrambled to the door, tripping over feet, as the from their friends questions bombarded Tam, and his oldest friend followed. Together they ran, ran as fast as they could, turning separate ways once they left Everglen. Turning Fitz looked at Keefe, his eyes scanning him until Keefe stared back at those teal eyes. At the negotiation between them. He dipped his chin and turned around, not looking back and ran in the opposite direction of his friend. 

It was an unspoken promise that he held to his truest friend. For how long they would run, he didn't know, but they wouldn't, couldn't go back, not until every ounce of his presence was in them. Keefe wasn't big on promises, but he would hold this one until his last breath, and he knew that Fitz would do it too. 

His core burned with fire, cold and hot but in his heart slowly melting away he would not adhere to its rules.  Never.