Becoming Magical [2]

C H A P T E R - 3 5

Councillor Terik had seemed surprised to hear from her so soon—and even more surprised by her request. Apparently the elves had packed up all of her old human things after she'd left them behind and brought them to Eternalia to be inspected. But they'd found nothing significant, and he had no idea if they'd since been discarded.

"Can I ask what you're looking for?"

"I'd rather not say." Sophie held her breath, hoping she hadn't just committed some sort of treason or perjury or other Exile-able crime.

Councillor Terik laughed. "I've always admired your gumption, Miss Foster. I'll do my best to find out what I can, and I'll be in touch tomorrow."

His image clicked away.

Sophie stared at the blank screen of her Imparter.

Sophie stared at the blank screen of her Imparter.

She was used to seeing Alden's face there—his bright teal eyes crinkling around the corners as he smiled.

What if she never saw him do that again?

She blinked back the tears and forced the fear to the same corner of her mind where she'd shoved all the other worries she couldn't let herself think about. She only had energy for the things she could control. Finding her journal. Figuring out what memory had been stolen. Learning the truth about the Black Swan. Terik promised her answers "tomorrow." In the meantime, she just had to wait.

-------------------------------------------------------

"What's going on with you, Mer and Keefe?"

Sophie nearly dropped her satchel as she turned to face a scowling Dex. The glass pyramid felt especially crowded that morning during orientation—though maybe that had something to do with the heavy glare Dex was directing at her.

"Nothing. Why?"

"I heard they went over to your house after school yesterday."

"I heard that too," Marella said as she squeezed in beside them. "Dedra told me after she heard it from Maruca."

"Yeah, and I heard that from Huxley who heard it from Audric," Dex added.

"Okay—who are those people? I've never heard of most of them."

"So he didn't come over, then?" Marella asked.

"Well . . . okay, they did—but it wasn't a big deal. Keefe was just helping me with something and Mer helped me with Silveny." She couldn't believe they were even talking about this—especially when there were so many bigger, more important problems to deal with.

Dex was clearly sulking about it, though, so she made sure to be his partner during channeling practice in PE, and that helped him get over it. Or it did until Keefe hooked his arm through hers on the way to lunch.

"Better get moving, Foster. You and I have a date with detention—remember?"

Sophie groaned. She'd forgotten all about that. 

She mouthed Sorry to Dex as Keefe led her toward the glass pyramid, up to the cramped floor just below the apex. Sophie hadn't been sent there since the time she stole the midterm information from Lady Galvin—a mistake she'd paid for with almost a week of torture—and she'd hoped to never return. Especially since the punishment changed every day, depending on the Mentor in charge.

She really hoped there'd be no screeching sirens or humiliating dancing this time.

"Who's monitoring us today?" Sophie asked Keefe when she noticed the Mentor's desk was empty.