Awakening (a kotlc story)

Part 19: Lady Gisela is high maintenance

Helloooooo!!! I am really sorry that I didn't update for so long, so I will be posting twonew chapters instead of one! Yes I published two chapters today! Also, please comment if you would like a Halloween themed KOTLC chapter and meme chapter. To show how I am extra sorry, I will be posting a Halloween short story called Monster Mash (after the song) sometime this week. Idk what songs for this chapter, so please recommend.

Keefe's POV
Keefe really wished he could turn off the whole empath thing. Feeling other people's feelings was not fun. His feelings were enough to deal with, let alone everyone else. In front of the Councillors castles, he was getting hit by the whole range of emotion. Anxiety, curiosity, excitement, anger, resentment, annoyance, sorrow, nausea, butterflies, and an odd urge to tug out his eyelashes (Sophie). Keefe looked over in the direction of the Neverseen. They all had black cloaks and armbands with a weird symbol. They were just a bit too far away for him to really sense their emotions, although he could feel a faint sense of pride and smugness. It was nauseating. One of the Neverseen had her cloak down so you could see her face. Lady Gisela. Something about her looked oddly familiar like Keefe had seen her before. He had had that feeling with his dad as well, but that was because they looked alike. After all, they were related. Was it possible he was related to Lady Gisela? But wouldn't someone have said something? No, he was jumping to conclusions. She just looked familiar, that's all. Still, he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling he was connected to her somehow. Finally, the Councillors arrived. Oralie, despite being small and delicate looking, had a surprisingly intimidating death glare.
"The Councillors." Lady Gisela said suddenly,  "And to what do I owe this ...pleasure? I do not believe I invited you."
"The more, the merrier." Oralie smiled icily. Gisela gave her a look so cold Keefe could imagine snow falling.
"Well. I suppose the more people who hear it, the faster the news will spread. Such a tragedy. He was a fine young man."
"What are you talking about?" Sophie burst out. Mr. Forkle gave her a "Shut up and listen" look.
"Oh, you haven't heard? Quite disappointing. Alvar is dead." There was a stunned silence. Fitz's face contorted into a mask of cold fury. Keefe could feel the disbelief, shock, and sorrow practically pouring out of him. Not a fun feeling. For a minute, everyone was silent. Looking at Fitz and Biana, waiting to see their reaction.
"Prove it," Fitz said coolly, although judging from his clenched fists, he would not stay calm for long.
"Do you not trust my word?" Lady Gisela taunted.
"Of course not, you liar! I don't believe for one second that Alvar is dead!" Biana yelled, appearing next to Fitz.
"Believe me, it would be a favor to us if he was," Fitz growled. Biana looked up at him, dumbfounded. "Show us proof," he demanded. Fitz was practically vibrating with anger now. Keefe stepped forward, putting a steadying hand on Fitz's shoulder.
"Don't lose your cool, Fitz. That's exactly what she wants." Keefe muttered. Fitz turned, surprised he was there. Keefe guessed he hadn't exactly been a good "best friend". According to Sophie, Fitz used to be his best friend. Not anymore.
"I require something in return. I would like to meet your newest member. Zyfira Daei." Lady Gisela commanded.
"Ok." A voice rang out. "But prove that Alvar is dead first." It was Zyfira. She walked forward too, glaring at Lady Gisela with such hatred that everyone took a step back from her. The air felt like it was crackling with anger. The hairs on the back of Keefe's neck stood up. Her emotions still felt odd, rawer than everyone else's. Less sophisticated. Keefe's vision was turning red from her and Fitz's combined rage. Wow. Good thing they hated each other because if Zyfira and Fitz combined their fury, he didn't even want to imagine being their enemy. Lady Gisela's smile widened. It was infuriating. The temptation to smack it off her face...wow, Zyfira and Fitz's rage was really affecting him.
"All right." Lady Gisela agreed. "Here's your proof." With a nasty smile, she said;
"Alvar Soren Vacker, Neverseen." A bag appeared out of thin air. A large bag. An elf-sized bag. Keefe felt waves of shock ripple from around the group, as well as nausea. Elves can't stomach violence or death. Sophie was less nauseous than most, but it was still pretty bad. The nausea I felt combined from everyone was overwhelming. Keefe could barely keep his food down. The ground looked very inviting to kneel and heave up his lunch on. The only one Keefe didn't feel much nausea from was Zyfira. Just a faint queasiness. While she still looked appalled, it wasn't nearly as bad as the rest of the group.
"Go on then. Look at your proof." Everyone looked around at each other nervously. No one wanted to check.
"I think I'll puke if I look in there," Biana said. Keefe, Tam, Dex, Linh, Marella, Wylie, and the rest of the collective agreed.
"I'll check," Zyfira said. "I have a strong stomach."
"I've seen bad stuff on human shows before. I'll check too." Sophie agrees.
"I'll check as well," Fitz responds. Keefe winced.
"Fitz, I don't think that's the best idea."
"Oh, yes, I agree." Lady Gisela smiled. "Such a delicate situation. Wouldn't want anyone upset." Fitz had had enough. Keefe felt his rage overflow.
"I hate you!" Fitz growled, about to charge at Lady Gisela. I grabbed his arm, and without thinking, tried to send waves of calm into him. He pushed them back and struggled against my grip.
"Stop Keefe! I don't want to be calm!"  He yanked his arm out of my grasp and started storming towards Lady Gisela.
"Stop!" Keefe yelled. He imagined a wave of calm slamming into Fitz. Drowning the anger. Stopping him. Fitz froze midstep.
"Come back here. Calm down!" Keefe directed. He imagined a fog of obedience settling over Fitz, an overwhelming urge to listen, to go the easy way. It wasn't even really an emotion like Keefe could usually share with someone willing. It was a feeling, a commanding feeling. He could feel Fitz's mind rejecting the order, but he forced it onto him. Fitz walked back, a placid expression on his face. Keefe let him break mostly free of the feeling, but left a bit of calm in Fitz. He needed it. Looking around, Keefe saw everyone looked awestruck. Dumbfounded.
"Sorry, Fitz." Keefe apologized. "I didn't even realize I could do that. Why didn't any of you tell me I could do that?"
"Because you can't," Sophie said. "I've never seen...anything like that. You never used to be able to do that. I've never seen anyone do that."
Lady Gisela yawned. "Is someone going to check the body?"
"Yes," Zyfira said. She walked forward and opened the bag. Immediately, she recoiled. Gulping, she pulled an arm out of the bag, and held her thumb over the wrist, checking for a pulse. Keefe's mind was spinning. He had a new power? That no one had ever heard of? Why? How? Did it have to do with his "legacy"? The only thing he could remember.
Straightening, Zyfira gently closed the bag. "He's dead," she admitted. "I checked for a pulse, a breath, something, anything. There was nothing. Was he sick? His face had a weird cast, and there was a rash along his arms and neck."
Biana choked out a sob.
"He-he-he's dead? Really dead?" Zyfira nodded.
"Now then. For my side of the bargain." Lady Gisela said. I want to talk to Zyfira." Zyfira marched up to her.
"What do you want?" she snarled.
"My, my, so energetic. Introduce yourself to me. Name, age, ability, school." Zyfira looked confused, and she was not the only one.
"I'm Zyfira Daei. I am 16 years old. I go to Exillium."
"What is your ability? You did not answer the full question."
"Why?" Zyfira countered. "Why do you need to know my ability?"
"Simply curious. You seem like a striking young lady. The Neverseen are always looking for bright additions."
"I would never join you."
"I'm not shocked. You seem to enjoy playing for the losing side. That was an electrifying performance you put on earlier. Volunteering to do what no one else had the guts to." When Lady Gisela said this, Zyfira got an odd look on her face. A sort of dawning realization, and not a good one. Keefe felt thousands of different emotions come from her in seconds. Joy, sadness, fear, disgust, anger. Hundreds of combinations of each. The look disappeared quickly, and Zyfira's face seemed more...troubled than before. Weighed down. There was a new understanding in her eyes. No one but Keefe and Oralie seemed to notice. Oralie caught Keefe's eye from where she was standing. He nodded, showing he had seen and felt it too. What did it mean?
"It was nice to see you, Zyfira. I hope we meet again someday." Lady Gisela smirked. Zyfira shrunk away, going back to the Black Swan. She seemed shaken, more scared of Lady Gisela than before. Keefe patted her shoulder awkwardly, mouthing "You okay?". Zyfira shrugged and gave him a sad smile. Keefe felt...envy from Sophie? Wow. That was a new one. Did she think he liked Zyfira? He didn't, but he understood her. They were both newcomers to the Black Swan, well kinda newcomers.
"I have one more bargain." Lady Gisela said. "You wish to plant a Wanderling for Alvar, yes? Well, I can give it to you." From the depths of her cloak, she pulled out a small sapling, not even a foot tall. It looked like Alvar, at least, it looked like the photos Keefe had seen of him. The tree looked very strong despite being a sapling, almost put together (if a tree could look that way), with cobalt blue flowers and dark brown bark. The leaves were wavy and also cobalt blue.
"But if you want the tree, you must let me hug my son. I have missed him." Mr. Forkle hesitated. "Do you want the tree?" Keefe looked over at Biana, who was staring at the tree with tears in her eyes. He looked at Fitz who was trying not to look at the tree, but Keefe could feel his desperation.
"Just let her hug her son. What harm can it do?" Keefe burst out. Biana and Fitz needed that tree, he could tell.
"Keefe, are you sure?" Mr. Forkle asked. Keefe nodded. Why was Mr. Forkle asking him?
"So, who is it? Who's her son?" Keefe asked.
"You, Keefe." Lady Gisela said, with a viperlike smile. Keefe felt his insides turn to ice. What? No. No. NO. How could no one have told him? He felt guilt radiating off of everyone, especially Sophie. They knew. They all knew.
"Now then, do you want the Wanderling, or not?" she asked. Keefe stumbled forward and hugged Lady Gisela. She grabbed his arm, so tight her nails dug in, and whispered;
"Remember, my son. I am doing this for you. This is your legacy." She let go and handed him the Wanderling. Keefe stumbled back.
Lady Gisela was his mother. And no one had told him.