Chapter 1
Graveyard Of Truths
Sophie knew that this would be it. 5 years, she thought. We've Been together for 5 years. She decided she would begin reciting facts, not opinion. For all she knew, he wasn't going to ask. After clasping her necklace around her neck Sophie said aloud. "We aren't going to Prism peaks like everyone else. We are going to be alone. We are going to a romantic moonlit garden. We aren---" Edaline's voice interrupted her. "You shouldn't talk to yourself so loudly. We could all hear you from downstairs." Sophie blushed painfully. "I was just--"
"I know what you were doing." Grady joined Edaline at the door. Sophie sighed. Must life always be complicated for her? Noticing how defeated Sophie looked Edaline walked over and sat beside her. "You look beautiful Sophie." And she did. Her Shimmering gown was the most beautiful shade of Teal, with silver embroidery. Her hair was swept back and her cheeks were pink--thought the last one might have been because of all her blushing. "Thanks," Sophie mumbled. She might be 20, but she was just as bad with compliments as she was as the wide-eyed 12-year-old. She also was crushing just as hard on a certain teal eyed boy. Sophie was ever so glad He didn't decide to be a councillor. But that was the wrong thing to think about. A terrible memory resurfaced...She tried to push it back down, but life is never That easy.
Keefe, telling her that he loved her. She told him that she couldn't. He asked why, and the heartbreak was obvious in his voice. But before she could answer, Fitz opened the door. She looked between the two and Keefe stepped back. His heart split in two and Sophie drifted
away.
The memory ended and Sophie fought tears back. She hadn't talked to Keefe since that Dreadful day. A day she would regret forever. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, Edaline and Grady were gone. She was all alone in a large empty house, with a graveyard of buried truths.
Red Moon
The brilliant red moon peeked through the trees and it seems like the world is holding its breath. Sophie glances up at the stars, wishing this moment could last forever. It was beautiful. And Sophie was afraid that what was going to happen next would ruin it all. Suddenly Fitz turned to her. Then It happened. Fitz took her hands-Sophie knew just then she would NEVER learn everything about elves- Then looked into her eyes.
"Sophie Foster, I love you more than anyone else in the world. I will swim oceans and climb mountains if you bid it. As long as you promise me your love, your heart, and your dreams. Will you marry me?"
A million words raced through her head. A million thoughts. Until her mind settled on an image. A tearstained Keefe, asking her why. Sophie looked into Fitz's eyes. How long had she loved those eyes? But it didn't matter anymore. She knew her answer.
"No.,"
Fitz asked the same thing Keefe had. "Why?" Sophie was about to answer when Fitz asked
"Is this about Keefe?"
"No. Yes...Maybe...I can't marry you, Fitz. Not yet." Fitz kicked the ground and said.
"I should have known. You always have to confuse everything, Sophie. I thought you loved me. I thought that you didn't care about him...I thought I knew you!' Sophie felt like crying.
"I don't care about Keefe... that way. Please, Fitz, you have to understand. I...Keefe has always been there for me. These last 3 years have been hard. I need him. And if he hears we are going to get married, I doubt that I will ever get to speak to him again. So, please Fitz, just let me figure this out." Fitz sighed.
"I can't Sophie."
Sophie turned to him. " What do you mean?" She could already hear him telling her that it was Keefe or Him.
"I can't wait forever. I already have. I can't do it again." Then he walked away. Leaving Sophie with the red moon shining on her face.
Chapter 2.
"You're Here."
Sophie woke up surrounded by trees. Great. She got to her feet and dusted off her dress. Feeling around on the ground for her home crystal, Sophie swore under her breath. Everyone's going to freak when They see Fitz coming home without her. Without his Fiance. Suddenly she heard a terribly familiar voice.
"Nice Vocabulary, Foster."
Keefe.
He looked a lot more muscular than the last time she had seen him. A earlier, less painful memory flashed through her mind.
"I'm Batman, so I can be your hero any day."
He certainly looked the part now. Well, except the fact that he was as blonde and Smirky (is that a word?) as ever. But that was not something she should be thinking about. She blurted out "You're Here." Keefe's smile was sad.
"Yes. Yes, I am." Sophie pushed her hair out of her face. Suddenly she felt shy.
"Do you know where my Crystal is?" Was Sophie's lame response. Keefe smirked and dangled her crystal in front of her.
"Not exactly smart to sleep with it 10 feet away. Never know who will take it."
At least Keefe was right about one thing. Sophie could never have expected Him to show up.
So she asked," What are you doing here?" Before realizing how rude that was. Obviously he had been looking for her.
But why wasn't Fitz here then?
He replied, " I noticed you didn't leave with Fitz, so I went looking for you."
Realization donned upon Sophie. "You've been up all night, Looking for me?" Keefe nodded. He really cares for me, doesn't he? Sophie thought. As Keefe held out his hand to her, she realized that maybe this is part of the reason she couldn't marry Fitz. "You're here." She whispered again, just as a reassurance to herself.
Chapter 3
Part 1
Her Dreams
When they arrived at Havenfield, everyone was shouting at each other. They didn't even notice them, standing beside the panakes.
"Why on earth would yuu leave without Sophie?" Grady asked Edaline accusingly.
"I thought she would be coming here with Fitz! Why one earth would she turn him down! And why is Fitz gone too? "Edaline exclaimed.
"But she did!" Sandor added in.
"Do you think she was kidnapped too?" Dex whispered worriedly.
"No, she wasn't kidnapped. Why would she get kidnapped?" Marella said, holding Dex's hand.
Gloria (Glimmer) sighed and leaned against Tam, who patted her back.
Biana was the only one to notice Keefe and Sophie, standing together.
"Hello there!" She said loudly.
And everyone turned to look at them.
Sophie gave a shy wave.
"Hi?"
Grady glared at her.
Edaline wouldn't look at her.
Linh gave Sophie a weak smile.
Dex looked worried.
Biana glanced between her and Keefe.
And Marella was the one to respond.
"You probably shouldn't have stayed all night in the Himalaya's."
Sophie looked down. "I didn't mean to...I just, fell asleep I guess. And it was only overnight..It's not like anything life-changing happened."
"Actually, something did happen. Fitz came here last night, without you..He said that you turned him down. Then he left muttering about time and a price. And.." Marella stopped there, as though she wondered if it was a good idea to carry on. There was a stretch of silence before Edaline finished it for her.
"And we haven't seen him since."
Sophie looked at everyone's worried faces.
"You..do you..Do you think he is going to..Not come back?"
Gloria stepped forwards. "No, we don't think he isn't going to come back. We think that he left against his will."
Sophie went pale.
"Was he kidnapped?"
"Sort of. No.Yes. Kind of."
"That doesn't tell me anything."
Gloria sighed. "I know..But it is kind of hard to explain. We should go inside and hail Mr. Forkle. He'll explain it to you."
Sophie nodded, then realized she had been holding Keefe's hand the whole time. She looked at him, and could see his face was pale too. She held looked into his eyes thoug ,and saw something very u-nkeef-elike. It wasn't pain. Or anger. It was hate.
Only then did she realize that everyone else had gone inside.
"Keefe?"
He smiled at her. A smile she had never seen before.
It had all been just a dream. Her dream.
"No. not Keefe. Karl."
Then it all went dark.
Chapter 3
Part 2
A Gem of a Memory.
"She awake yet?"
"No. I doubt she will before a couple hours. The shadows put her to sleep."
"Karl! Why the heck did you do that?"
"She wouldn't have came with me."
"Actually, she would have, if you still looked like Keefe!"
"Eh. I don't neccassarly like being blonde. Besides, she might wake up before then"
"Might. Not will."
Sophie groggily opened her eyes, to see who was talking. A boy who looked identical to Keefe, save for his black hair and sea blue eyesand a beautiful woman with Brown hair and ky blue eyes stood there. Beside her sat a shortish man. He shouted out in a gravelvoice
.
"The girl is awake!" Sophie gasped in surprise as the man turned his head and showed his dark green eyes. A human.
The boy, Karl, she assumed, walked over to her.
"Well, Hello there Princess, glad to see your awake." Sophie struggled against the bonds that held her.
"Stop that Sophie. We both know that if you struggle any harder, I'm going to have to tighten those bonds." Karl said, slowly, as though he liked the taste of the words.
The woman walked over to them.
"Karl. That's enough. You can leave now." she said. Karl glowered at her.
"I don't think I will, Evelyn." he said.
The lady, Evelyn, rolled his eyes at him.
"Fine. Stay. But don't interfere." She then pulled out a small device, which looked like a metal cube, and had 4 gems pressed into the top. An Emerald, A Ruby, A Sapphire, and A Onyx.
"Do you know what this is?" Evelyn asked.
Sophie shook her head. She knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't be doing her any favors.
"This." She paused for a second. "Is an Memoraie Gemma, or a Memory Gem. It can show me anything in your brain I would like to know. But, it may cause your mind to break, so I'd prefer you just tell me what I need, so I don't have to use this."
Karl smirked and Sophie winced. He looked so much like Keefe...
"Well, now, shall we get start-?" The Man beside Sophie cut Evelyn off.
"Lady Evelyn, you said that once I gave you the Memory Gem you would..'
Evelyn glared at him fiercely.
"Do.Not.Interrupt.Me. Jordan." The man, Jordan, nodded and slunked back into the shadows. Sophie felt a bit sorry frorhim. She knew that he would be dissapointed. People like this never keep therirpromises.
"As I was saying, Are you ready to start, Sophie Foster?" Sophie glanced between the Memory Gem in her hand, to the smirking boy in the corner, to the poor human, then back to her.
"Yes."
Chapter 4
Darkness
Fitz POV
Darkness. That was all Fitz knew. And then the pain.
"There is no use for the boy. Just give him to Alvar."
"But what about using him against the girl."
"I said that there was no use for him!"
There was an awkward pause.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes." Suddenly Fitz was part of the darkness once more.
Sophie Pov
Sophie watched Evelyn sweep away to the other rooms, Jordan following close behind. Karl was the only one that stayed. He smirked at her "Still trying to escape?"
Sophie ignored him and focused on her transmitting. Please Mr.Forkle! I am in a cave! There's water leaking in from the roof! Anything you can take from that...Please...
Karl shouted out "The Girl's Transmitting!" And Sophie felt all the hope draining from her. IT would be impossible to do anything but hope now. Karl came and sat down beside her.
"I told you once, so now I'll tell you again. You aren't getting out of here. Not until you give me what I want."
Sophie noted what he was saying "You..You are the one that needs something from me?"
"I do. But for now, I figure that some sedatives will keep your mind far away from escaping."
And then Sophie knew Darkness once Again.
Keefe POV
Shadows drifted through his mind. Shadows of her. Shadows of him. Shadows of pain.
I can't Keefe. I can't love you..I.
Why Sophie?
Silence.
Then the door opened.
He looked to her, with such love,
And she looked at him exactly the same way.
How could I have been so foolish, He thought to himself, as he saw tears forming in Sophie's Beautiful brown eyes. She never loved me. It was just an illusion. A Hope. And now, I have to pay the price.
She looked at him, then he said what he'd needed to say since the day he met her.
I love you, Foster.
And then she was gone, leaving Keefe. Alone in the Darkness.
Edaline POV
It happened. Again and Again. She would always be taken from her. Always. No matter how much she Edaline struggled or protected, or helped. She would always leave her girl vulnerable and alone.
What if she doesn't come back?
That thought consumed her mind.
She was quite aware of everyone, talking and shouting and worrying. But no ammount of yelling would bring her daughter back.
Both of them.
She had already lost one. She absoloutley couldn't lose another.
"Eda..You all right?"
He looked up into the eyes of the man she loved.
"I'm scared." She whispered. Grady wrapped his arms around her.
"It's okay to be scared. I'm scared too." By now everyone had stopped yelling and was talking sensibly.
Suddenly Mr. Forkle stumbled over backwards. Edaline rushed to his side.
"What happened?"
"Sophie, she sent me a transmission. But then it all went dark."
Chapter 5
Faults
Fitz POV
Fitz struggled against the bonds helplessly. He knew he could never get out of them, but he tried anyways. For Sophie. The ropes cut into his flesh and he stopped, shaky and out of breath. Because this was his fault.
Only his fault.
He had chosen to go so they wouldn't take Sophie. But they took her anyways.
HIs Fault.
He heard a banging in the distance and wondered how close Sophie could be..She might even be in the next room..Fitz sighed and wondered what they were going to do to him.
"There is No use for the boy. Just Give him to Alvar"
His Fault.
Karl POV
Karl awoke with a start. He could hear Sophie in the next room, crying.. He walked over to her room, then hesitated. He was probably the last person she wanted to see right now. But he went in anyway. Sophie was lying on the bed, a dome of bright light preventing her from leaving. Her face was wet-from tears or sweat, Karl wasn't certain. He sat in the chair beside her bed. He didn't want to get in trouble for letting her awake Jordan. He read a book for a little, but stopped when he saw that Sophie was waking up...
Sophie POV
Sophie opened her eyes and was starteled at the sight that awaited her.
"Were you watching me while I was sleeping?" Sophie blurted out. Karl looked uncomfortable.
"No..I just came in here when I heard you crying." Karl responded cooly, despite his face being bright red.
"Is Eveyln here too?" Sophie asked, searching the shadows of the room.
Karl smirked. "No, she has a life you know."
Now it was Sophie's turn to blush. "What does she do when she isn't murdering baby kittens?" Sophie asked.
"She has a daughter. And a husband. Of course, her daughter is currently missing right now but.." Karl shrugged, to show he couldn't care less for Evelyn's missing daughter.
Sophie bit her lip "What do you need from me?"
Karl looked out the window, then responded.
"You are the only one that knows where my sister is."
Sophie gasped slightly "Sister..You have a sister? And Keefe does too.."
"Yes. And Lady Gisela put the memory in your mind, where nobody would think to look."
Chapter 6[]
Apologies[]
Sophie POV[]
Sophie was speechless. Finally she said "I'm sorry Karl..I don't know where your sister is. I never have."
Karl looked away. "Sorry isn't going to cut it, Sophie. And you do know where she is. I just have to say her name."
Sophie looked at him "Do it now then. Say her name."
He rolled his eyes "Yeah, great idea Sophie. Do it in the middle of the night, with no one around, no one to help if your memories come toppling down." he said sarcastically.
Sophie glared at him "Fine. Don't do it then. I honestly don't care" She turned towards the wall and stayed like that for several minutes before she finally heard the soft click of a door closing. She wondered how Fitz was doing. Had they hurt him? Had they.. She shook the thought out of her mind. He couldn't be..dead. He just couldn't. Suddenly a transmission blasted through her mind.
Sophie?
..Fitz? Is that you? Are you okay? Sophie transmitted back.
I'm okay..for now. They were going to use me against you but now..Now they are going to give me to Alvar. He responded. Sophie's heart stopped for a moment.
Alvar? He's Alive?
Yes. Fitz finally transmitted finally.
I'm Sorry... Sophie said, feeling foolish. She had been apologizing to people a lot lately.
Don't be Soph. It's my fault. I'm the one who should be saying sorry.
And then he blocked her from his mind.
Fitz POV
Alvar paced in front of Fitz.
"What do you want?" Fitz snarled.
Alvar stopped "I want you to cry."
"What?" Fitz asked, confused. What would Alvar need him to cry for.
"I said, I need you to cry. Because once you do, I can use your tears to become you." Alvar said it like it wasn't confusing at all.
"Become me..Like an elixir?"
Alvar rolled his eyes. "No. Like a mask. A seamless mask. I'll take your place, and you'll be dead." he said calmly.
Fitz tried to shove the thought of his death out of his mind and said "I won't cry even if you torture me. My entire family would be betrayed by you again."
Alvar laughed "Who said anything about torturing you?"
Chapter 7[]
Stars Of Glass[]
Sophie POV
Evelyn stood in front of Sophie, examining her.
"Alvar will need to borrow you after we are done this process." She informed Sophie. Sophie nodded.
"I will not guarantee you will survive this. On the contrary, you probably won't."
Sophie stared at her. She wouldn't survive it? Had Evelyn never met her?
You're Strong. Sophie reminded herself,
"Okay." Sophie said.
Evelyn motioned for Karl to come forward. He took a deep breath, then said her name.
"Kiara."
Nothing happened for a moment.And then the name sunk into her brain.
"Kiara, what's wrong? Did you manifest?" A beautiful blonde lady asked. Lady Gisela.
"I don't know, mom. It hurts." She whimpered. Lady Gisela looked away.
"Mom?" Kiara asked.
"I don't think you did. Come. We have to go somewhere." She held out her hand. Kiara took it unhesitantly.
The memory stopped and Sophie's brain tried to take a moment to comprehend it. But the memories started up again, this time a different one.
"This might hurt. You just have to remember, we are doing this for the good of The Lost Cities" Lady Gisela warned Kiara. Kiara nodded. Lady Gisela reached into her bag and pulled out a small silver bottle. It had ice crusting its rim. "Drink this Kiara. You'll be frozen a moment before it manifests. Karl was fine after, so I'm sure you will be too. Of course, he didn't manifest but.." she stopped.
"Here." Kiara took the bottle and carefully untwisted the lid. She tipped it into her mouth...
"Sophie? Do you know where she is yet? Can you come out?"
Sophie shook her head weakly.
"Okay, Okay then"
Sophie went back to the memories, but this time it was different. This time, she was Kiara.
What is happening? Cold.Ice. I can't do this anymore. Please.
"Kiara! Kiara wake up! Oh Stars, please wake up."
I slowly flutter open my eyes "I'm awake."
Lady Gisela hugs me and smiles "Welcome home Kiara. Welcome to Starglass."
Sophie struggled to free herself from the torrent of memories.
"Sophie, don't worry. You can sleep for now." Karl said.
"Starglass." Sophie rasped, before letting go of reality.