Keeper of the Lost Cities: Unlocked: A Fan-fiction

Chapter Thirty-Four - Keefe

When Foster, Amy, and Keefe leaped onto the Dizznee property, Dex, Biana, Fitz, Bangs Boy, Linh, Marella, Wylie, Maruca, and Stella were already standing outside, sitting on chairs that looked like they'd been painted by a three-year-old. Considering Dex's three younger siblings, Keefe definitely didn't count it out as a possibility.

"Hey, Dex," Foster said in a shaky voice. Dex and the rest of their friends turned and saw her. With Amy. Jaws dropped.

"Amy?" Biana asked, shaking her head in confusion and glancing at Foster.

"We just came from-" Keefe started, but then stopped. Foster nodded at him to continue, though, so he did. "We just came from Oralie's... reception room, or whatever you want to call it. There's a lot of stuff we found out. Big stuff."

Their friends took this in for a second, then started clamoring for answers. Sophie gave a weak smile.

"Hey Dex-dude, can we come inside?" Keefe asked, already advancing across the large lawn and toward the house.

"Of course," Dex said. Everyone went inside and joined in Dex's room, sitting on various pieces of furniture – and things that weren't quite furniture. And the floor.

Then Keefe, Foster, and occasionally Foster Jr. all explained exactly what they had discovered, detail by horrifying detail.

***

Amid other reactions, some were fear, anger, hurt, and, most of all, shock, of course.

Finally, their friends had calmed down enough to breathe again.

"I wish I'd been there," Fitz said regretfully. "I could have helped."

"Me too," everyone else murmured.

"Hey – Dex, Mr. Forkle said you had something to tell us?" Foster asked, very obviously changing the subject.

"Oh, yeah. He told you about that, did he?"

"Not what you wanted to say, just that you wanted to say something. What was it?"

Dex stood and walked over to his window, staring out like it held the secrets of the universe.

"It's really complicated," he whispered.

Foster's nose scrunched adorably. "What is?"

Dex sighed and turned back to all of them, still standing. He looked somehow bother nervous and confidant at the same time.

"I've made a decision, and I'm not sure how you all will take it," he said softly.

"Let it out, bro! I'm dying to know! And hey, that rhymed. But – no distractions. Spill!" Keefe urged with a teasing air. Would humor work for easing tension even now?

It did. Dex smiled softly, then spoke.

"I've decided not to do the matchmaking system."

Keefe coughed. He had not been expecting that.

"It's just, every time I see what my parents had to go through, and Jolie and Brant, and so many other people, I hate it. I hate the matchmaking system for putting people through such struggles unnecessarily. It's unfair and cruel. So I'm making a strike. I don't expect you all to do it too, I don't even need you to. I just... wanted to let you know."

On the last part, his voice turned to a whisper and his gaze stole to one side. Biana was sitting still, her face pink, her eyes locked with Dex's.

Ohhhh. Oh, dear.

"I don't care," Biana whispered, still holding his gaze. Her cheeks were still flushed, but there was a firm look in her eye. "I don't care, Dex."

His face lit up like a beam of heaven had found it. "Really?" he asked. "You still..."

"Of course. Did you really think I wouldn't?"

"I didn't know what to think..." he mumbled, "but to know that..."

Fitz stood angrily. "You are not dating my sister, Dizznee," he said in a dangerous voice.

Dex stared at him. "Why not, if it's what both of us want?"

Fitz grunted something under his breath.

"I couldn't hear you," Dex said. Biana stood, laying a hand on Dex's arm and narrowing her eyes at Fitz. Keefe could practically feel the tension radiating off the three of them.

Linh stood. "Guys, let's calm down," she said carefully.

"No," Biana said, staring at her brother. "I want to hear what he has to say."

Keefe, Foster, and everyone else stood now, sensing the importance of this conversation.

"Careful, Fitzy-poo," Keefe said quietly. He really hoped his friend didn't mess this up.

Fitz looked around, at everyone surrounding him. His jaw clenched, and he spoke, his words loud and harsh.

"You can't date her because you're a Dizznee! Dizznees don't mix with Vackers. It's never been done, and it never will. The matchmaking system is there to keep us all safe- and strong as we can be. If you two married – had kids – they wouldn't be as powerful-"

"Power?" Biana asked incredulously. "Powerful? Really, Fitz? And seriously, marriage? We're nowhere near that point. I can't believe you'd seriously bring up power!"

"It's important. Do you never wonder why the Vacker legacy is what it is? Why we're all so strong? Because our ancestors have chosen their spouses – and who they date – wisely. That's the Vacker legacy. Putting aside minor love for stronger connections."

Tears were leaking down Biana's face. Dex's fists were clenched. Foster was looking at Fitz, horrified, and if Keefe hadn't been feeling the same way at the moment, he might have been able to take hope in it.

"Right now," Biana hissed, swiping tears from her cheeks, "I'm ashamed to be a Vacker."

Fitz jerked back in shock, his face shutting off and disappearing into angry, shuttered closure.

"Seems like we may have caught the crew at a bad time," said a soft, sickly voice from the doorway. Everyone turned in horror to see Vespera, Ruy, and Lady Gisela.

Word count: 969

Sorry it's late! Please vote and comment! Also sorry its kind of bad, this is my first draft bc I have to go to classes rn and I wanted to publish it first. Hope you enjoyed!