Vlinemare

Vlinemare By Frenchwritermelon
== Part 1 ==
Kenric was laying underneath his Wanderling tree, his body covered in burns. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten there. He remembered distant shouting and having a strange taste in his mouth... a metallic feeling... it was his own blood. He winced as the memories came flooding back. It was too overwhelming and suddenly--Everything went black.
When he woke up again, he saw a girl there... and a boy... he vaguely remembered them... the names were on the tip of his tongue...
Sophie. Fitz. He smiled weakly. "Sophie...?"
Sophie was staring at him, trying not to cry.
Fitz was holding her hand.
Elwin rushed over. After Kenric choked down dozens of elixirs, he was able to rasp out, "What happened?"
Mr. Forkle, who was standing behind them, sighed heavily. "That... is a long story."
He sat up, despite Elwins efforts to get him to lay down again. Wincing, he asked how he'd gotten underneath a Wanderling.
"Kenric," started Sophie, biting her lip, "That Wanderling... it's...yours."
"What?"
"You were gone... for two years. You..." she trailed off, choking back tears.
"You died," finished Mr.Forkle bluntly.
Kenric stared at them. "N-no... that can't be possible--"
"But you were brought back to life."
"How? How did I d...die?"
Mr.Forkle sighed. "Well... Fintan killed you."
"I... oh... Wait, then... how am I alive?"
"We should probably call the Council here first."
"The... Council? You mean... well... I-I guess I'm not part of the Council anymore..."
All twelve Councillors barreled into the Healing Center.
Emery's eyes were wide. Oralie shoved past everyone, already in tears. She wrapped her arms around him and started to sob in his tunic.
"K-Kenric! I m-missed you so much...." she wept.
Kenric held her. "Oralie... I'm so sorry... p-please, don't cry... I got you, alright?"
She continued to sob. Kenric felt like his heart was being twisted with corkscrew. She hated to see her like this. Oralie didn't care that she was hiccupping or ruining her perfect makeup as she cried, and she paid no attention to the other Council members as she whispered softly, "I love you."
Kenric's heart was beating loudly. At first, he wasn't sure how to respond, but then mumbled back, "I love you, too, Oralie."
Even Mr.Forkle seemed a little misty-eyed as she clung to him, never wanting to let go.
Then, Oralie leaned up and pressed her lips against his. Kenric's face went red with surprise as he slowly kissed her back.
Emery coughed loudly, interrupting their moment. Everyone glared at him, even Bronte, as Oralie pulled away quickly and started to cry again. "I-I'm sorry, I... shouldn't've done that..."
Kenric winced. "Oralie, you don't have to apologize... I love you. Alot."
Emery coughed again. "Does anyone want to explain how the heck this is happening?"
"Come on, Emery, can't we just let them have a few minutes?" Terik suggested.
"No!"
Terik gave Oralie a sympathetic look.
Councillor Alina immediately spoke up. "I agree with Emery. We should figure out what's going on first."
Everyone looked at Sophie and Mr.Forkle.
Mr.Forkle sighed. "It had nothing to do with the Black Swan this time. It was a human. Or... kind of a human..."
"What? What do you mean 'kind of a human'?" Emery demanded.
"I mean the girl who brought Kenric to life is only half human."
Everyone seemed to get very pale.
Mr.Forkle looked at everyone. "It seems Fintan Pyren had a wife. A human one."
Everyone gasped. Bronte looked especially pale.
A girl sitting in the corner with sandy brown hair and grey eyes suddenly said, "And I'm their daughter. Kalesh Pyren."
Everyone jumped and looked at her.
"Kalesh?" said Bronte quietly.
"And her eyes aren't blue!" said Alina.
Bronte continued to mouth the name "Kalesh."
Sophie stared at him. He was obviously hiding something...
Fitz, she said telepathically.
Yeah? Fitz answered.
I'm going into Bronte's mind.
No... it couldn't be possible...
She immediately tore herself from Bronte's mind. Bronte gasped, obviously knowing what she had done. But neither of them said anything. Fitz kept telepathically asking what she had found, but she didn't tell him. Oralie was leaning against Kenric.
Emery seemed to be glaring at Kalesh, muttering things about Fintan being disgusting.
Kalesh sighed. She had dreams about people and accidentally brought them to life. So what? She was half human. So what?
Everyone already hated her. She hated them, too. Hated them for the terrible things they were calling her parents. Hated them for thinking her eyes were freaky. Hated them all. Especially Sophie. Why was she so special? Why didn't they mock HER eyes or HER parents? Why were those Councillor Emery and Bronte guys staring at her so much? Where was her dad? She suddenly missed him.
Kalesh looked around the room at each elf. She hated each. And. Every. One.
And she intended to do something about it.
The Council said she was going to live with the Vackers now. Yeah, right.
She hated them.
Meanwhile, at the Neverseen base, Fintan was furious. "MY DAUGHTER IS LIVING WITH THE VACKERS!?" he screamed, slamming his fist down on the table.
Ruy hunkered down in his chair. Vespara rolled her eyes. Trix was staring at the woman next to Fintan. She was a recruit in the Neverseen, an elf with wavy, soft brown hair and hazel eyes. Her eyes were an abnormality. Her name was Haze. She was an Empath and a Phaser.
Haze was staring at Fintan, sighing dreamily. Fintan, whose wife had died two years ago, had absolutely no interest in Haze. Or at least that's what he tried to tell himself...
Gethen was glaring at Lady Gisela, who was aiming a throwing star at his head and smiling.
"Lucky you. MY son is living with my HUSBAND. It's terrible." sighed Gisela, glancing up at Fintan.
"Why do you care about her so much?" questioned Vespara. "Don't let your emotions control you, Fintan, or else we might have to find a new leader," she warned.
Fintan scowled.
"We don't need to waste time finding some little girl! We have to focus!" added Gethen.
"She can bring people from the dead, don't you understand!?"
"Then why not just kidnap her?" Gisela suggested.
"YOU ARE NOT KIDNAPPING MY DAUGHTER! IF ANYONE HURTS HER, THEY DIE!!"
Gisela sighed, unfazed by his outburst.
Haze looked at Fintan. He was so cute when he was mad...
Meanwhile at Everglen, Kalesh was sitting in her new room, scribbling in a notebook. Fitz came in and she hid the book under her pillow. "Hi," she grumbled.
Wow, he has nice eyes.
She blushed.
He smiled. "How do you like it here?"
"It's okay, I guess."
Fitz! Sophie's voice filled his head suddenly.
Yeah?
I got to tell you something. About Councillor Bronte.
What is it?
Bronte has a wife, too. A human one.
Fitz cursed out loud. "Sorry, Kalesh, I... got to go."
He hurried away.
Kalesh sighed. She hated him.
BRONTE HAS A WIFE!?
Yes.
That's illegal! That is LITERALLY illegal! In so many ways!
Fitz--
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!?
Fitz!
What?
Kalesh is Bronte's daughter. Fintan adopted her.
WHAT!? OhmygodwehavetotelltheCouncil!!!
NO! Fitz, you can't tell the Council!
Why!?
He knows who my biological mother is! The Council CANNOT know!
Fitz didn't know what to say. Does... does Mr.Forkle know?
Not yet.
"Sophie, no one else can know about this."
"I know, Councillor Bronte. That's not why I hailed you."
Bronte scowled. "Then why did you hail me?"
"How did Oralie and Kenric find out?"
"They overheard me talking to Emily and--"
"Emily?"
He blushed. "That's her name."
Sophie smiled. "Are you blushing?"
"Gah, stop! No. I..." He trailed off.
"I guess out of all the Councillors, I never expected you to be the one to illegally get married. And have a daughter... Why did you put her up for adoption?"
"We were already hiding our marriage. It's kind of hard to hide a kid..."
In Kenric's old Councillor tower, he and Oralie sat together.
"Why is there a pink couch in here?" he teased, giving her a heart-melting smile.
She smiled back. "I used to come here every night... and sometimes I'd sleep on this couch... and cover up with one of your capes..."
She started to tear up. "And... I'd think about how we never got to be together..."
She suddenly bursts into tears. Kenric quickly wraps his arms around her
"Hey! Hey, I-I'm here now. Okay?"
They sat on the couch together.
Kenric took off his cape and whisked it on her. She starts to say something, but Kenric cuts her off, wiping tears off her face gently with his thumb. Oralie straightens Kenric's cape on her lap, her eyes locked with his. She snuggles up against him, sniffling. "Kenric? Please don't do that again."
"What?"
"Die! Don't die, dang it!"
His eyes widened in surprise. "Okay! Oralie..." He shook his head, a silly grin forming on his face. "I love you so much."
She blushed. "Sorry-"
He cut her off with a kiss. Still smiling, he whispered, "I said 'I love you.' You're supposed to say it back."
Oralie bit her lip to keep from giggling. "I love you, too." She snuggled against him again, burying herself in his warm arms and cape.
He kisses her forehead and holds her close, closing his eyes.
"There's something you don't know about Kenric..." Kalesh said quietly.
"What?" asked Fitz.
"I brought him back to life... but... he won't stay that way..."
"What!? you mean he's going to die again!?"
Kalesh nodded. "It'll start with seizures..."
Kenric's grin suddenly fell. He pulled away from Oralie. He was shaking. Why? What was happening to him? He started to feel pain... he didn't know where it was coming from. A scream started to crawl from his throat. Oralie jolted awake. She had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
She looked at him groggily. "K-Kenric?"
Kenric collapsed. He was writhing in pain and screaming.
Oralie burst into panicked tears. She didn't know what to do or where to go...
So, she ran out.
She light leapt to Bronte's tower and pounded on the door. "BRONTE!" she screamed. "BRONTE, HELP ME! THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH KENRIC!!"
She heard footsteps, then the door flew open. "What!?"
Oralie sobbed, sitting by Kenric's bed and listening to his ragged breath.
Kalesh smiled. "And then, the burns will start to appear on his body again. It'll be two years of pain and burning before he finally dies."
"I-Is there a way to stop it?"
"Don't know, don't care."
"Whose side are you on!?" Fitz demanded.
"My own."
Kenric looked up at Oralie. He smiled shakily. "Hey, sugar. Can I call you that? Because you're so sweet to me..."
She teared up. "Don't do that right now. I told you not to d-die!" She started weeping uncontrollably. "And you're g-going to d-die again!"
He winced. "I'm sorry... I'll... try not to do it again." He offered another shaky smile.
Meanwhile, back at the Neverseen base, Fintan was getting ready to go. Haze watched him throw on a dark cloak. "Can I come with you?"
He was about to say no, but when he saw Haze standing in the doorway, he nodded and tossed her a cloak. Haze squealed with excitement. "Where are we going?"
"To give Councillor Bronte and his wife a surprise."
Bronte walked into the huge house. A woman was sitting at a table, reading scrolls. He kissed her cheek. "Hey, I'm home."
She suddenly lit up, hopped on her feet, and threw her arms around him enthusiastically. Bronte almost fell, smiled, and hugged her back.
"How was work?" she asked happily.
"Good."
She kissed him. "I missed you!"
"I missed you, too," he mumbled.
She giggled. "You should be less grumpy sometimes."
He scowled, then smiled. She was making weird faces at him.
"You're ridiculous," he snorted.
"Hey, I made you smile."
The freckles on her face stretched as she smiled. He swept some of her dirty-blonde hair from her eyes and looked into her sparkling, icy eyes.
She kissed him again.
Bronte couldn't help but smile at his beautiful, optimistic wife. She was one of the few sparks of joy in his life.
Fintan was watching Bronte and his wife through the window for a few moments before Haze asked, "How did you even know about this?"
"My daughter told me."
"What?"
"She's part of the Neverseen."
"Since when!?"
"Since she was nine."
"How do the Vackers not know?"
"I gave her an impartner. She called and told me that she overheard Fitz and Sophie's telepathic conversation, and--"
"She's a telepath, too?"
"Yes. She can also predict the future and heal people."
"Do her abilities have names?"
"Yes. She's a Reviver, a Healer, and All-Seer."
"Oh. Wow. That's crazy."
Fintan rolled his eyes as he looked through the window again, cringing when Bronte kissed his wife.
"Why are you cringing?"
"Bronte kissed his wife. I... don't care much for romance. I haven't kissed anyone in two years--"
Haze leaned forward and kissed him. His eyebrows shot up. He pulled away and stared at her, his face reddening.
She grabbed his wrist, reading his emotions. "You like me back!" She smiled.
He frowned. "NEVER. Do that again."
Bronte walked out of the house and light-leapt away. Now his wife was alone...
"You liked it." Haze stated, knocking him out of his thoughts again.
"No! Don't do that!"
"But you like me."
Fintan's hand lit on fire. He then dragged his hand alongside the house until the wall was well-lit.
About fifteen minutes later, Emily was stumbling out of the burning house, her clothes singed, a good-sized piece of shrapnel sticking out of her leg. She collapsed before she could leap away. Fintan smiled. He turned to Haze, frowned, blushed, and pulled out a crystal to leap away. Haze grabbed his hand, continuing to smile.
Bronte sighed. "This ought to be interesting."
Oralie was kneeling by Kenric's bed, holding his hand. "Do you think they'll find a cure?"
"Maybe. Anything could happen in two years, Oralie."
She sighed heavily. "I... yeah. You're right."
Claretta, who was next to Bronte, also sighed. "I do wish Councillors could marry."
"Obviously, so does she," said Councillor Darek.
"They should be careful," mumbled Terik.
"They're probably going to resign from the Council after this."
"They’d better not!" said Alina.
"They're in love, Alina," said Bronte.
"What do you know about love?" she snorted.
"Enough not to crash a wedding." referring to Alden and Della's wedding
Terik attempted to cough over a laugh.
Bronte returned home to a pile of ashes, his wife laying in front of the wreckage, crying in pain. He hurried over, quickly pulling her into his arms. "Jesus! Emily! What happened!?"
She groaned. "I... don't know..."
"Wh... a-are you okay? Dang it! I got to take you to a physician..."
The next day, all the elves gathered to Eternalia to welcome back Kenric. However, Bronte wasn't there. Kalesh is there with the Vackers. Many elves are staring at her, whispering things. Kalesh continues to scowl and hate everyone.
"Everyone hates me," she grumbled to Sophie, who was holding Fitz's hand.
"I know how it feels," she responded.
"Um, you're a Regent."
Sophie adjusted her circulet. "Yeah, well... when I first came to the lost cities, people hated me. Alot. It'll change, though. As long as you strive to be better than your father and make the right friends--"
"Would you guys stop dissing my father!? He's not that bad! And it's not like I'm joining nobility any time soon like you! I'm half human!"
Dex suddenly comes over with Biana. "Hey! Lady Foss-Boss!" He smiled.
Sophie rolled her eyes, smiling back. "Hey, Dex."
Dex smiles at Kalesh. "Hi! I'm Dex!"
Kalesh stares at him. Then blushes lightly. "Hi."
He shook her hand, but she held on for a bit too long.
Biana seemed to be glaring at her.
Suddenly, everyone broke into applause. Kenric was standing there. Some people were crying and cheering. Councillor Emery calls for everyone's attention.
Kenric looks at the statue of himself, clearing his throat. "Wow... there's a statue of me."
Nervous laughter waves over the crowd.
"I know you were brought here under... unusual circumstances."
Meanwhile, Bronte was freaking out. "Emily! IS SHE OKAY!?"
"Sh-she's unconscious! She'll wake up soon," stuttered Elwin.
"How soon!?"
"Bronte! She'll b-be okay! Please, try to relax!"
"RELAX!? MY WIFE HAD A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL IN HER LEG AND MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN!! Do NOT tell me to relax!"
Elwin gulped. "M-my apologies, Councillor Bronte."
Bronte sat by Emily, tearing up. "S-someone burned our house down... someone knows I have a wife... I'll get k-kicked off the Council... I could get Exiled and never see Emily again..."
"S-so... just so I'm getting this right... she's... your wife... and... she's human..."
Bronte stared at him, teary-eyed. "Yes!" he shouted.
Elwin looked down. "A-and... you married her--"
"Illegally, yes! I know! How DARE I fall in love..." He bursted into tears. "I love her so much... y-y-you have n-no idea what she means to me! I'd DIE for her, Elwin..."
Elwin slowly nodded, still in shock.
Meanwhile, Councillor Kenric was explaining that there would be thirteen Councillors now since they couldn't force anyone to resign.
Kalesh was thinking about other things she could tell her dad, and she was also thinking about how stupid Fitz was for not knowing she was part of the Neverseen. Also, about how cute Dex was...
Fintan stared at Haze. Haze stared back, smiling dreamily. Fintan quickly shook his head, sighing.
Kalesh sat by the fireplace. The Everglen house was huge, and it took her awhile to find this room, but she did. The fire fascinated her. She often wished she was a pyrokinetic, like her father. She may not have been a pyrokinetic... but there was still a fireplace in front of her... and she could burn down Everglen... with all the famous Vacker family burning inside...
She smiled at the thought. Her dad would be proud.
The house only partially caught on fire and Alden was able to stop it before it could hurt anyone. Kalesh only hated them more and her need for ruining the Vacker's lives became stronger. She wanted them to feel the same things she felt. Loss when her mom died. Abandoned because her dad barely seemed to care about her. Unloved because she knew no one would accept her the way that her mom did. And she could think of lots of ways to do it.
So many options, but she had to pick only one-- she was going to steal something from them. Something very important. And they weren't going to be able to get it back. She sat up in bed, holding a stuffed purple bear. She got it when she was six, and it was the only gift her father ever gave to her.
She angrily stared at the bear. "What do you want from me, Dad!? What can I possibly do to make you happy!?"
Then, she broke down crying, and threw the bear across the room. The bear clanked hard against the wall.
What? Why had it made a noise like that? It was a soft stuffed toy!
She cautiously went over to it, sniffling, and picked it up. She squeezed it, feeling around. All she felt was fluff... until her hand found something small and very much solid inside the bear's arm. There was a small secret pocket there.
How come she had never noticed it before?
Inside the pocket was a white crystal. Was it a light-leaping crystal?
She grabbed her nexus, which was pink. Alden had given it to her. She clasped it on her wrist, bit her lip, and held up the crystal to the light with trembling hands. A beam reflected off it, and a glittery pathway formed. She took several deep breaths, trying not to think about where it led, and stepped into the light.
She appeared somewhere... in some strange building... but she couldn't get a good look around before she felt someone grab her from behind, covering her mouth with their hand. She immediately tried to flail and scream and fight her way out of the person's arms, but everything suddenly went black.
Haze was in Fintan's room, talking to him and trying to flirt with him. Fintan was trying to get her to leave. That's when he saw Gisela standing there, scraping a knife down the side of the doorframe, which made a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard sound. Haze cringed. Fintan stared at her. "What do you want?"
"I brought you a nice surprise in the interrogation room."
"What?"
"It's your daughter! I caught her snooping around in the main hall."
"WHAT!?"
"It's such a nice night to kidnap someone, don't you think?"
"Oh my god..." he croaked, rushing past her. Haze trailed behind him.
Kalesh was unconscious, tied to a chair. There was a dark purple gag in her mouth. She has a deep cut in her shoulder, which is bleeding, blood trickling slowly down the leg of the chair and dripping on the floor.
Fintan and Haze burst into the room. His eyes widen in horror. He looks at Haze, who is equally pale.
"Kalesh!"
At the sound of her name, she moves slightly. Fintan kneels by her and her eyes crack open. "What have you DONE!?" he screamed at Gisela.
Gisela waved him away. "Gethen will be by soon to probe her mind. You said she knows vital information. This is how we get it."
Fintan ignored her and untied Kalesh, taking the gag out of her mouth. She collapsed against him, groaning. She glances up at him. "Kalesh?" he whispers.
"Dad...?" she mumbles.
Fintan looked at Gisela angrily. "What about 'don't hurt my daughter' don't you understand!? She... l-look at what you DID to her!"
"She'll live."
"I SHOULD KILL YOU!!!"
"Here, Fintan, let me see her," said Haze softly.
Fintan looked at her wearily. He hesitated. "Alright."
Haze gently took her and sent calming waves into Kalesh's mind using her Empathy.
Fintan sighs of relief as Kalesh relaxes.
== Part 2 ==
Kalesh was sitting in her room, talking to Fintan on her impartner. Della suddenly came in, and Kalesh quickly ended the call. Della smiled at her. "Would you like to help me make dinner?"
Kalesh looked at her, surprised. "I..." She thought, maybe I can get closer to Della. Earn her trust. She smiled. "Of course!"
A few minutes later, she found herself chopping vegetables, and learning the perfect way to sauté a brattail.
Her father called her half-way through and asked her to slip chloroform in their drinks to knock them out. Then she could sneak into Alden's office undetected.
She agreed.
As they all sat down for dinner, Alden was complementing how good it looked and smelled. Kalesh smiled back and went into the kitchen to pour their drinks.
She came back.
Alden started to do a toast. "To Kalesh! Who is an amazing addition to our family and a great chef."
They were about to take sips of their drinks.
"Wait," said Fitz. "I have something to say, too. I... I didn't trust Kalesh at first." He looked at her. "But now I realize I was wrong."
"Let's drink to that," said Della.
Something inside Kalesh broke a little. They just complimented her cooking and called her an addition to the family and now she had to knock them out?
She had to stop them from drinking their drinks in a non-suspicious way...
She tore the tablecloth off the table and all the food and dinnerware went crashing to the floor. "STOP!"
Everyone was shocked. "I-I..." Kalesh stuttered. She grasped for an excuse for ruining their food. "I... uhhhhhhhhhh. I have something to tell you. I... am allergic to brattails. I didn't want to say anything because I was having so much fun cooking with Della... but I feel really sick because of all the smells... and... we can't eat this."
"Oh! Oh my god, Kalesh, why didn't you say anything?" asked Della.
Why indeed, Della. Why.
Meanwhile, at Candleshade, Keefe was starting to feel faint. He was right in the middle of drawing something in his notebook. "Ro, I don't feel so good."
Ro stared at him. "Well, don't puke on me."
"I'm going to go... get some water..." He wobbled to his feet, promptly collapsing.
Ro caught him. "Whoa!"
Keefe winced. "There's something happening... my head hurts..."
Suddenly, his arm caught on fire. Keefe yelped as Ro dropped him. "So, you're a pyrokinetic now?"
Then orbs of water were forming in the air around him.
"Hydrokinetic?"
Wind blew the orbs into strange and obscure shapes.
"Guster..."
The room started to tremble. Keefe screamed.
Ro cursed. "And you cause earthquakes!? What the heck!? Couldn't Gisela just pick one!?"
Cassius burst into the room. "Why is the house shaking!? What is going on!?"
"Your son just manifested all of the elemental abilities at the same time!?"
Cassius stared at the obscure water orbs for a moment before falling on his face as a tremor shook the house again.
Ro snorted, "You have terrible balance."
Keefe yelped. "I can't control it! What do I do!?"
Haze sighed. "Fintan is going to kill me."
"I won't let him," replied Gethen.
Haze looked at him. Tiergan smiled. Haze blushed.
All three of them sat in Haze's new room in Alluveterre. Gethen couldn't stop staring at Haze, and Tiegan was giving the cheesy smiles, because it was his job as Haze's older brother to embarrass her.
"I'm glad you decided to leave the Neverseen, Gethen," said Haze quietly.
"Yeah," Tiergan agreed. "I'm glad, too. Especially now that Haze isn't in love with Fintan anymore."
Haze blushed. "I... yeah..."
Tiergan smiled. "I haven't gotten to tease you in twenty years, so get used to it."
Gethen smiled. "Do I get to tease her, too?"
"Of course!"
Haze looked at him in disbelief. "Gethen! Hey!"
"Sorry, but you seem like a fun person to annoy."
Haze blushed.
Tiergan stood. "Well! I must go. Wylie and Prentice are expecting me for dinner."
"Bye." She hugged him tightly.
He smiled and hugged her back. "Don't do anything dumb while I'm gone." Then he whispered in her ear, "Gethen totally likes you."
She snorted and shoved him away.
He snickered and walked out.
"So..." started Gethen.
Haze looked at him. "Do you want to go out with me?"
His eyes widened. "I. Uh. M. Yes..."
She smiled. "I've always wanted to go to the Forbidden Cities."
"Wh-- Uh. Okay. When?"
"Tonight."
He stared at her. "Really?"
"We should go right now!"
"Wh-- right now? Seriously?"
"Yeah!"
She looked so happy, and Gethen just couldn't say no... "Fine."
"Yay!"
She hugged him. He blushed.
"Are they knocked out?" hissed Fintan through the impartner.
Kalesh frowned. "Um. It... wasn't the right time."
"What do you mean!? All you had to do was give them the drinks!"
"The drinks spilled!"
Fintan bellowed in outrage and hung up.
Vespara sighed heavily. "This is why we don't put our trust in the poor con skills of a child."
"She's fine. She'll get the info we need. She's a telepath. She just needs to slip past Alden or Fitz's blocking. She'll figure it out."
"You seem stressed."
"THIS IS A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION!"
Vespara rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
Bronte hugged Emily goodbye, knowing he had to hurry out of the Forbidden Cities so the Council wouldn't be suspicious.
Emily kissed him. "Have a nice day at work!"
Bronte snorted. "Sure."
"I love you."
He gave a small smile. "I love you, too."
When Bronte finally came back, it was around midnight.
Emily frantically came up to him. "Bronte! Bronte, I-I have to tell you something!"
Bronte looked at her, his eyes widening at her frantic state. "What? What's wrong?"
"I..."
"Emily, what's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant."
"WHAT!?"
She suddenly started to cry. "Bronte, can we keep it this time?"
"Emily--"
"Last time you put Kalesh up for adoption, and she's being raised by a murderer! We have to keep it!"
Bronte just stared at her, in shock. "I..."
"Please!" she begged.
He locked eyes with her, biting his lip. "I... What if I...?"
"'What if you...'?"
"What if I'm... not a good dad..."
"Oh, don't even! You are an amazing husband, and you'll be the best dad ever!"
"But what if--"
"No. Shut up. I love you."
"Emily--"
"I said shut up! I love you!"
He looked at her. "I love you, too."
She smiled. "So... we're keeping it?"
"Y... yes."
She squealed and hugged him tightly. "We get to be parents! We'll be great parents!"
"Why do you always have to be so happy..."
"Because you're such a grump!"
He scowled.
She giggled. "Can we have two more kids?"
"Emily! I don't really want... any more kids..."
"Yes, you do. We're going to have a thousand."
He snorted. "Emily--"
"I want kiiiiiiiiiiiids, Bronte! I want babies, and teenagers, and I want to see them go to college, and I want to dress them up for Halloween!"
"Okay, I don't know what Halloween is, but I don't--"
"And I'm going to make you dress up as something ridiculous for Halloween. Like a banana. Or a puppy."
Bronte blushed. "Emily, that's ridiculous."
"I know! I love you." She kisses him for a whole lot longer than necessary. "So! What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"
He continued to blush. "Um--"
"Bacon and eggs! Good idea, Mr. Grumpypants!"
"Don't call me that. And I'm vegetarian! You know that."
"Fine. I'll make you a salad."
Kenric and Oralie were planning their wedding. "I think the cake should be pink, too," said Oralie.
Kenric smiled. "How about we make it white, or--"
"No. Pink!"
"Fine."
"Yay!"
That night, Kalesh broke into Fitz's mind while he was sleeping. She knelt by his bed and, closing her eyes, entered his mind. She stayed in his mind until she found information involving the Black Swan. This section of his mind was a little harder to get into, but after finding her way through a maze of his subconscious mind and dreams, she found what she was looking for. Something about Councillor Bronte and his wife... having a kid... and their kid was adopted by Fintan's wife... she quickly broke from Fitz's mind.
Covering her mouth with her hand, she stood, backing out of the room.
When she got to her own room, she called Fintan.
"Is it true!?"
"Is what true?"
"Councillor Bronte is my real father!?"
"WHAT!?"
"You didn't know!?"
"No!"
"Well, he is!"
Fintan cursed loudly. "I should kill him."
"Why didn't you tell me I was adopted!?"
"Well, I didn't know you'd find out information like that from Fitz's mind!"
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT! I... I'm not even your daughter! Don't you think I should know something like that!?"
"I don't know..."
"YOU'RE A TERRIBLE FATHER!!"
She hung up, in tears, not wanting to hear his response.
Fitz was standing in the doorway. "Hey, I heard you talking to someone. Or more accurately, screaming. Are you okay?"
"No! Go away!"
He blinked. "Sorry." He walked away.
Kalesh winced at herself and continued to cry.
The next day, Fitz came back to her room, wanting to comfort her since he'd seen her crying last night.
Fitz sat next to Kalesh. "You know, you didn't need to rip the tablecloth off to tell us you couldn't eat the brattails," he started.
Kalesh blushed. "Well, I guess I just panicked."
Fitz flashed his perfect movie-star smile.
Kalesh looked away. "I..." Her impartner beeped. She winced. "Can you give me a second?"
"Sure!" He walked out.
"What do you want?" she mumbled to her father.
"You got to break into Alden's office. Now. He's running errands for the Council right now, right?"
"Yeah."
"Now is the perfect time."
"So, you're not going to acknowledge what happened last night?"
He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. I don't have time to talk to you about that right now."
He hung up. Kalesh clenched her teeth, holding back tears.
Kalesh snuck into the office, starting to ruffle through his desk, which was full of scrolls. She searched for something that would be of importance to the Neverseen, but couldn't find anything that would be worth her father's time.
Fitz suddenly came into the room, freezing when he saw Kalesh.
Kalesh spun around "H-hi, Fitz."
"What are you doing in here?" he asked.
"I'm..." This time, she couldn't come up with a good excuse and broke down crying. "Fitz... I need your help... it's... it's... I really don't want to hurt you guys..."
"What are you talking about?"
"I... I lied to you. You were right to not trust me. I was sent to get information for the Neverseen, but I--"
"WHAT!?" Fitz exploded.
"Fitz, please, let me--"
"NO! YOU'RE JUST LIKE MY BROTHER!" he shouted. "I'm telling my dad!"
"NO! Fitz, I don't want to work for my father anymore! You have to help me!"
"I DON'T--... wait, what?"
"I hate him! He lied to me about everything, but I'm scared of what will happen if I try to leave the Neverseen..." She was trembling. "He killed my mom... what will he do to me?"
Fitz's eyes were wide. "I..."
"You have to help me trick my father. But you can't tell Alden."
The Black Swan was gathered for another meeting. Wraith was noticeably missing from the Collective. Mr. Forkle looked at Sophie. "Wraith has been attacked."
"What!? You mean by the Neverseen?"
"No, it was by a creature of unknown species."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we have never seen anything like it before. It's not even in the Sanctuary."
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know."
"Is there a description of the creature?"
"No. Wraith is unconscious."
Mr. Forkle eyed Tam and Lihn. "I'm going to need you two to come with us to the sight where he was attacked."
"Why!?" demanded Tam.
Lihn was already agreeing.
"We need a Shade and a Hydrokinetic."
"But why?" pressed Tam.
"Because it's a water dragon. And it is the only creature to have manifested with an ability. And it's a Shade."
Fintan sighed heavily, holding the small pomaflamean, which was a breed of Pomeranian dog, but it breathed fire.
"You know, you're the only one who really gets me, Ember."
Ember gave a high-pitched yip in response, causing Fintan to crack a small smile.
"If the other Neverseen members found out about you, they'd totally make fun of us." He scratched the fluffy dog's head. "But if they made fun of you, I'd kill them."
The dog yipped again and looked up at him. Fintan grinned.
Tiergan woke up. There were people surrounding his bed.
He yelped. "Jesus! What the heck is going on!?"
"Well, you weren't waking up," said Mr.Forkle.
"I'm a heavy sleeper..."
"You didn't move a single time yesterday!" shouted Physic.
"What!?"
"Yeah. We were all worried."
"Well--"
Haze ran in and hugged him. "What the heck!? I thought something bad happened to you!"
"I... don't even know what's going on."
"You don't remember anything that happened the day before yesterday?"
"No..."
"You were attacked by the creature."
"Well, did you find out what it is?"
"Yes. It's our world's very first dragon. We call it the axolotl dragon, because it lives in the water and has six horns."
"Whoa, really? And I was attacked by it?"
"Yes. Tam is taking care of it now."
"Why is Tam taking care of it?"
"The axolotl dragon needs the protection of a Shade because it's abilities were forced upon it. Someone messed with her genetics."
"I know how that feels," mumbled Sophie.
Mr.Forkle gave her a look. "I'm... sorry."
She sighed. "It's okay, I guess."
"How is that even possible?" Cassius wondered aloud.
Keefe was still trembling. Ro looked at him. "How am I supposed to be your bodyguard if you keep causing earthquakes?"
Keefe shrugged, shaking. He stared at his hands. "Well, I guess this means more ability training at school."
"No. Foxfire cannot know that you're a Pyrokinetic."
"Why not? Magnate Leto is Mr.Forkle."
"Yeah, The Black Swan can know, but not the rest of the school--"
"Why do you care so much about it? Your reputation is already terrible."
"Well, maybe I don't want yours to be!"
Keefe stared at him.
"Wait," started Ro, "Did you just say something nice to your son?"
"Yes. Believe it or not, I care about him."
"What if I'm okay with being Pyrokinetic?" argued Keefe.
"You shouldn't be."
== Part 3 ==
Tam stared at the dragon. It was about half his size, still a baby, and he wondered how he'd take care of it when it was full-grown. All the shadows in the room stretched when Tam accidentally dropped something on the floor, startling it.
"Hey, take it easy," he said softly.
The dragon let out a low growl.
Tam slowly reached out his hand.
The dragon stared at him intensely. Tam tensed, retracting his hand as it came closer to him. It stared at him for another moment before letting out a strange purr and hopping up next to him. It leaned its head on his lap.
Still tense, Tam looked at its scaley back and gills. It slept and hunted while it was in the water, but it did everything else on dry land. Its horns were sharp and looked like they could impale him at any moment. He grimaced at the thought but didn't move away. He slowly relaxed. The shadows in the room slowly went back to their usual positions. The dragon, he thought, was a lot like him.
He carefully stroked the dragon's back, and it nuzzled his leg.
He half-smiled. "You don't have a name, do you, girl?" He paused. "You are a girl, right?"
She let out another strange purr.
"Your name is Shadow Heart." He looked at it. "Can you say, 'Shadow Heart?'"
The dragon looked at him quizzically.
He snorted. "Yeah, I know. I'm ridiculous. Don't tell Lihn I said this, but... you're the most adorable thing ever." He stroked her back again.
She gave a wide yawn, showing a huge tongue and sharp teeth.
He smiled. "Cool..."
Gethen and Haze finally go on a date in the Forbidden Cities.
They sat in front of a bakery, gazing into each other's eyes.
"So, I guess you have a crush on me, huh?" started Haze.
Gethen blushed. "Yeah... I mean... you asked me out and I said yes..."
She giggled. "Yeah. This is so weird. A good weird, though. Have you ever had a croissant before?"
"Um, yeah."
"Are they good?"
"Sure..."
She gave him a look. "Are they?"
"Y-yes..."
She smiled. "Good. I think I'm going to get one. How 'bout you, Gethen?"
"Uh, I might get a salad."
"Don't be boring! Get something good!"
"Okay, how 'bout carrot cake?"
"Oh, that sounds so weird... you should let me have a bite."
"Okay."
The waiter comes over to take their orders. He stares at Gethen, blushing. "Um, can I take your order?"
"Sure! We'll have a croissant and a carrot cake. And a couple waters."
"Yeah... hi... I... I'm Leon..." Leon continued to look at Gethen.
Haze laughed when he finally walked away. "Gethen, I think he likes you."
"What?" Gethen blushed. "Oh..."
"That is so cute!"
"I..."
Leon comes back over with their waters. He looks at Gethen again, blushes, and looks away.
Gethen sighs.
"You know, he's pretty cute..." remarked Haze when he walked away.
Gethen stared at her.
She laughed. "I'm kidding! You're cuter."
His face reddened. "Thanks."
Haze grabbed his hand under the table.
Leon came back with samples of something, but he froze mid step when he saw Gethen and Haze holding hands, sighed heavily, and turned around.
Haze smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. "He totally thought you were cute."
"Whatever," he mumbled.
A few minutes later, a different waiter came out with their food. "Here you go, guys, enjoy!"
"Thank you!"
Neither of them moved toward the food, though.
"Gethen?" Haze eventually whispered.
"Hm?"
"Can I have a bite of your cake?"
"Yeah."
Haze takes a bite of his cake. "Wow. It's really good."
"You... have some frosting on your cheek." Gethen picked up his napkin and gently wiped it off for her.
They locked eyes for a moment.
"I think I like you, Haze. In fact, I think I'm in love with you."
Haze teared up. "You have no idea how much that means to me, Gethen... I do, too."
He carefully moved the hair out of her eyes. She clung to him, blinking back tears.
"Fintan is going to hate you," she mumbled.
"Fintan hates everyone."
Haze smiled. "True."
He laughed softly, pulling her closer. Haze looks up at him, her eyes bright.
Gethen locks eyes with her. "You still have a little more frosting on your cheek." But there was no frosting there.
"Oh, well can you get it?" asked Haze, turning her head slightly.
He kissed her cheek. She blushed and looked up at him. "There was no frosting, was there?"
He shook his head, smiling bashfully.
Haze smiled and kissed him.
His eyes went wide. He blushed and kissed her back.
Tiergan smiled. "You kissed, didn't you?"
Haze blushed.
He smiled wider. "YOU DID!? Ah, that's so great!"
"I was just a kiss, Tiergan."
"You're in love! And I'm going to be honest, you should try falling in love with someone who isn't part of the Neverseen. It seems you're really into guys who have tried to murder me..."
"Hey! I'm sorry! It's not my fault Fintan was good-looking..."
Tiergan gagged. "You are so weird."
Haze blushed. "I don't like them because they tried to kill you, Tiergan, I swear, I love you--"
"Hey, it's alright! I was just joking. But seriously, try not to fall in love with anymore of those guys, okay?"
Haze hugged him. "Okay. Just Gethen."
There was a long pause. "When is the wedding?" he whispered in her ear, breaking the moment.
She shoved him, giggling. "Stop it! You are terrible!"
Tiergan smiled. "I know."
She hugged him again. "You're a great brother."
"I know. Are you going to do weird couple things, like hold Gethen's hand under the table, or kiss, or always be around him and forget I exist?"
"I could never forget you. You pester me too much."
"Aw, thanks!"
"I AM GOING TO ETERNALIA AND I AM MURDERING COUNCILLOR BRONTE!!!"
"NO!! Dad, please--"
Fintan hung up before anything else could be said.
Kalesh burst into tears. "Nonono...no..." She rushed to Fitz's room. "Fitz! Fitz, he's going to kill Councillor Bronte! And it's all my fault..."
Fitz's eyes went wide. "What-- NO! He can't do that!"
"We have to get to Eternalia before he does!"
Bronte was just about to leap to Eternalia. His impartner beeped. It was Sophie Foster.
"Sophie--?"
Sophie, Fitz, Kalesh, and Mr.Forkle were all visible on the tiny screen. "BRONTE! Don't go to Eternalia! He's going to kill you!"
Bronte looked at Kalesh. "What?"
"Look, I know about you being my father," said Kalesh, "and I don't want Fintan to kill you, sopleasedon'tgotoEternalia!"
Bronte stared at her. "What? But what about the rest of the Council?"
"Oralie isn't answering her impartner--" started Sophie.
"I'm going to Eternalia. I have to help them!"
Everyone started shouting at the same time. "No!" "Bronte, that's crazy!" "I can't let you die!" "Just stay with Emily!"
Bronte winced, locking eyes with Kalesh. "I'm sorry! I have to!"
"NO--"
He ended the call.
Vespara laughed, holding up Terik's prosthetic leg. Terik was trying to scramble away. Vespara grabbed his arm. "Now, where do you think you're going!?"
She throws him to the ground.
Fintan was holding a ball of fire close to Oralie, and Kenric was screaming, "Don't hurt her, I swear--!"
The other Councillors were tied up. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, FINTAN!" shouted Emery.
Fintan cackled. "Yeah, sure, when you're dead. I swear, if you don't tell me WHERE BRONTE IS, I WILL KILL HER AND ALL OF YOU WILL WATCH!!"
Kenric was in tears. "I-I know where he is," he said softly.
"NO!" Oralie screamed, "Don't tell him, Kenric! DON'T DO IT!!"
"I'm sorry... I can't watch him hurt you... I love you..."
"Kenric, NO! I hate you! I swear we're not getting married if you--"
"WELL WE CAN'T GET MARRIED IF YOU'RE DEAD, EITHER!" Tears were streaming down his face. "I LOVE you, Oralie, I..." He took a deep breath. "He's with his wife. In the Forbidden Cities."
The other Councillors gasped. "A wife!? He has a wife!? That's where he goes when he's not here!?"
"Emery, shut up," mumbled Councillor Claretta. "I have a confession to make. I have a girlfriend. And she's Councillor Zorina."
Councillor Zorina blushed. "It's true."
Fintan rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, spill all your secrets to each other before you die."
Emery sighed. "Alright, I have one." He stood from his chair easily. The ropes that would've held him there aren't tied. "I'm part of the Neverseen."
Fintan hands him a cloak, and he puts it on.
Everyone starts shouting at once.
Bronte bursts into the room.
Fintan whirls around, still holding Oralie against him with a ball of fire. Oralie yelps when it burns her neck.
Kenric is glaring at Fintan.
"On my god..." croaks Bronte.
Haze, Tiergan, Gethen, and Sophie all burst into the room.
"YOU TRAITOR!" Kenric was screaming at Emery, who shrugged.
Oralie was struggling against Fintan. "Let me go! Let me go, you monster!"
Fintan rolled his eyes. He was holding Oralie around the neck so she wouldn't struggle too much. Then he looked at Haze. He saw her holding hands with Gethen and squeezed Oralie harder around the throat. She was choking.
"LET HER GO!! SHE CAN'T BREATHE!! FINTAN, PLEASE!!" Kenric begged, tears rolling down his face.
Haze let go of Gethen, horrified. "Stop it! Stop hurting her!"
"I should kill everyone in this room! And I will!"
"Let me kill one of you, and I'll let her go. A life for a life."
"I'll do it! Kill me," Haze volunteered immediately.
Tiergan and Gethen shouted, "NO," at the same time.
Clarette called "I'll do it. For Oralie. She was always a great friend."
Zarina looked at her like she was crazy. "No, you're not doing that."
"Oh, I'll gladly kill a Councillor," said Fintan, coming toward Clarette.
All the other Councillors were shouting things, like, "No, don't hurt her!" and "Kill me instead!" All of this only caused more shouting and screaming as Fintan pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat.
"Wait!" Haze shouted suddenly. Zarina was sobbing, and Clarette's eyes were squeezed shut.
"Fintan, I'll be with you again. Isn't that what you want?"
"Well, I originally came here to kill Bronte, but she will do just fine."
Clarette let out a scream as Fintan's knife came on her.
Zarina scream sobbed. Oralie was crying softly as Fintan continued to keep his hand around her throat. Councillor Noland also let out a scream, and it was so loud, everyone winced, even Fintan, and Zarina kicked him as hard as she could between the legs. Fintan grimaced and fell to his knees.
Haze darted over, wrestled the gun from his hands and drove it through the side of his head.
Emery's face was pale, and he light-leapt away.
Everyone was silent, and the only sound was crying and the sound of Councillor Alina muttering to herself.
Everyone was untied.
Zarina knelt by Clarette, sobbing.
"Zarina, I'm so sorry," whispered Councillor Bronte, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Zarina shoved him away.
"DON'T EVEN TOUCH ME! You were married illegally! MARRIED! DON'T YOU THINK I WANTED TO GET MARRIED!? Because I DID! We wanted to adopt a boy... WE WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY, TOO!!"
Bronte winced. "I-I... how did you find out?"
"I wanted to get married," Zarina wept, ignoring him.
Kenric was holding Oralie, looking at the burns Fintan left on her neck.
"I'm okay, Kenric--"
"This is not okay."
"I know, but--"
"This is NOT OKAY!!"
The Councillors looked around. Bronte was married, Emery was part of the Neverseen, Alina wouldn't stop muttering to herself, Oralie and Kenric were getting married, Clarette was dead and apparently Zarina was in love with her, and what was even the point in banning relationships if it was happening anyways?
The Council soon declared that they could have a family, even if it was with a human, since Bronte was already married to one. Emily was also elected to be on the Council, to rule alongside Bronte, and
A cure was found a few weeks later for Kenric, so he wouldn't be dying any time soon. There was a memorial for Councillor Clarette, and Zarina sat under her tree and cried.
Kenric was elected as the new spokesperson for the Council.
Here's a list of everyone on the Council in case you got confused:
1. Kenric
2. Oralie
3. Bronte
4. Emily
5. Alina
6. Noland
7. Darek
8. Terik
9. Zorina
10. Liora
11. Ramira
12. Velia
Kalesh was walking through the grass around Everglen for some fresh air. She saw a dead mouse laying in the grass and sighed.
It's not like she could bring it back to life, but what if... just for a moment...
She pressed two fingers on the mouse's fur.
Her hands started to glow. She felt for any sign of life. Anything at all. And suddenly, she got it. She led the small bit of life back, pushing it through every nerve in the small creature's body, and suddenly, it scurried away.
She gasped.
"Whoa."
Zarina was just about to leave the Wanderling tree and let the man in charge of the sanctuary for the elves' bodies take Clarette away, when Kalesh ran forward, out of breath. "Councillor Zarina! Wait!"
Kalesh bounded over. "I can bring her back to life! I figured out how to do it without a dream!"
"What!?" She looked at Kalesh, her eyes wide. "Do it! Bring her back!"
Kalesh scrambled over to Claretta, pressing her hands on her shoulders. Kalesh's hands began to glow, as well as Claretta's lips, and Kalesh searched Clarette's cold mind until she heard an obscure voice. She called to it, bringing it to Clarette's lips as the bit of life broke apart and spread, until it touched every nerve in her body, and Clarette jolted back to life, gasping for air and wincing. The stab wound in her chest healed when Kalesh had brought her back to life, and Clarette continued to gasp, until she started coughing, and then crying in confusion.
Zarina quickly threw herself into Clarette's arms, sobbing and hiccupping.
Clarette held her, "Wh-what's going on...? Zarina...?"
"Y-you d-d-died!!" Zarina wailed, pulling her to her feet and hugging her fiercely.
Clarette gasped, suddenly remembering. "Oh my god... Zari, I'm so sorry, sweety, I didn't mean-"
"Don't. I-it's not your fault... Clair, we can be together now! The Council said that we could be together!"
"R-really?"
"Yes!"
Clarette let out a shaky laugh. "I love you so much..."
Zarina cried, "I love you, too! We can get married! And have a family! And... you... I get to have you..."
Clarette smiled brightly, wiping the tears off her face.
Zarina sniffled. "S-sorry..."
"For what? Crying?"
"I... yeah... I guess..."
Clarette locked eyes with her. "Don't apologize. I love you."
"I do, too, Clair..."
Clarette kissed her.
Zarina kissed back, struggling not to cry.
Kalesh smiled at the heartfelt scene, stepping back.
When Clarette finally pulled away, she had Zarina's dark purple lipstick all over her lips.
Zarina giggled.
== Part 4 ==
=== Kenric and Oralie's Wedding ===
Bronte was smiling, completely forgetting that he was wearing pink, as he smiled at Kenric. Kenric was gazing at Oralie, waiting to say I do and kiss her. Oralie was looking at him, her face glittering with blush.
Emily smiled at Bronte, tears falling.
Clarette and Zarina sat in the back, holding hands and smiling. A small boy was sitting in Zarina's lap. The boy fidgeted and looked at Clarette.
"Mommy, when will it be over?" he asked.
Clarette shushed him, smiling. "In a few minutes, ."
The matchmaker pronounced Kenric and Oralie to be bound by their love forever, til death do they part, and Oralie pulled him forward and kissed him.
He kissed back.
Everyone was clapping and cheering.
Bronte kissed his wife, and Clarette kissed hers.
Kenric and Oralie were dancing.
Bronte was shoved to the dance floor by Emily. "Emily, I don't know how to--"
"Be quiet. We're dancing."
He sighed. "I..." She grabbed his hands. He blushed when she put his hands on her waist. "This isn't how elves dance--"
"I know. Just trust me. Here, just sway to the music."
She began to sway them back and forth. He relaxed after a moment. "I... that's it?"
She giggled. "Yeah. Just go with the music." She took his hands, leaning against him. "Spin me around."
"What?"
"Just do it!"
He carefully spun her around, giving into a small smile. "This is actually pretty fun."
"Yeah!" She continued to spin, and spun into him, almost falling, then winced.
He quickly caught her. "Are you okay?"
She gave a reassuring smile. "Yeah. Just my leg."
"You should sit down..."
"I'm fine! Keep dancing with me!"
"Emily--"
"Bronte."
He hesitated. "Fine."
She giggled. "Stop worrying so much."
He frowned. "You shouldn't be dancing around..."
"It's fine. I know you'll catch me if I fall."
He blushed lightly. "Hmph. Yes, but--"
"But nothing!" She giggled again.
He scowled.
She kissed him, and when she pulled back, the scowl was gone. He looked at her. "It's gonna take me a while to get used to the fact that I can kiss you in front of people without being attacked."
She laughed.
How did Bronte and Emily meet? This is a question you're probably dying to know the answer to.
Bronte was walking through the Forbidden Cities, and his obscurer was glitching. He needed someplace to hide so he could leap away. He looked around frantically. There was an alley up ahead, and he turned into it. He froze when he saw a man and a woman there. The man was an elf, wearing a familiar dark cloak with the symbols of those creepy white eyes... and he was holding an orb of fire, trying to burn the woman, who was screaming in pain.
Bronte panicked and inflicted on them. The woman screamed louder, and the man crumpled to the floor.
Bronte's obscurer wasn't working anymore as he lifted up the woman and carried her away.
Soon, an ambulance appeared to take Emily away, and Bronte still couldn't light-leap away as he struggled to explain his clothes, and why he was in a dark alley, and how he stopped the attacker, and where the attacker went.
Bronte scowled when they asked about his ears, and the crystal in his pocket...
"They're fake..."
"Why do you look like a weird... elf?" asked the cop.
"Because... I like to put on costumes? Look, I don't see how this is important..."
Emily jolted awake in the hospital. She remembered... "They weren't human..." she whispered.
The nurse stared at her. "What?"
Emily looked over, startled. "N-nothing... Where's the man who saved me?"
"The police are talking to him in front of the hospital."
"I want... to thank him."
The nurse nodded.
Bronte cursed under his breath in the Enlightened Language.
"And what language were you speaking?" pressed the cop.
Bronte sighed. His English wasn't very good, and he really wanted to leave. "It was... Italian?"
"That sounded more like a question than an answer."
Bronte scowled, "I'm SORRY."
The cop continued to hold up the crystal suspiciously.
Bronte immediately started to get nervous. "You... shouldn't hold it up to the light like that..."
"Why not?"
Because it could whisk you away to Eternalia. "Because it's bad for your eyes to look at light pouring through a multi-faceted crystal."
The cop handed it back to him.
The nurse came out. "Hey, she wants to see the guy who saved her."
Bronte tensed up. "I don't have time for--"
"Leaving so soon?" the cop continued to question.
Bronte bellowed, grumbling more curses under his breath, and storming into the building.
When he got to the room, he quickly composed himself, and went inside. "Hi--" His voice broke and he stared with horror at the hand-shaped burn on her neck.
She smiled. "I know your not human."
Bronte's mind spun immediately. "You do?"
"Actually, I've known for a while. I don't know what you are, but, you're not human. And I've been studying these crazy fires, because they're being set off by that non-human that was trying to kill me. He caught me spying on him and tried to set me on fire. So thank god you were there."
"So... you're not freaking out?"
"Why would I?"
"I... because you're human."
"Well, not all humans are stupid."
He scowled. "I wasn't calling you stupid."
She smiled. "Yes, you were."
"No, I--"
"Whoa."
"What?"
"I... just realized how cute you are."
His face turned beet red. "Don't call me that."
She continued to gape at him. "Are all of you cute? What are you, anyways?"
Bronte glared at her. "I'm an elf."
"I should've known! You have pointy ears."
Bronte glared harder.
Emily smiled. He confused on why she was smiling. "I--"
"What's your name?"
"I'm Councillor Bronte."
"I'm Music Professor Emily. Or at least I was a professor... I quit my job after my mother died. SO! Tell me about yourself, Bronte."
Bronte looked at her. "It's Councillor Bronte--"
"Whatever. I'm human. I don't have to call you that."
Bronte glared at her again.
She giggled. "You are so grumpy!"
"I-I am not!"
She laughed. "You're cute. What does that crystal do?" She points to the crystal clenched in his left hand.
He looks at it. "It's... how I travel."
"Take me to the elf world!"
"No way!"
"Well, you can't just leave now. I want to come with you."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"I want to see what it looks like!"
"I'm sure you do! It's illegal."
"SO? No one has to find out."
Emily wrestled the crystal from his hands. "How does it work!? Show me, or else I'm throwing it on the ground and shattering it into a million pieces!"
"OKAY! Okay... give it to me."
Emily gave it to him. He held it up to the light and tried to light-leap away, but she grabbed onto him at the last moment, and she was whisked away with him.
Bronte yelped.
He looked at Emily. "WHAT THE HECK-- oh, jesus..."
The color was draining from her body and she was starting to fade away...
He grabbed her and pulled her into his tower.
Emily woke up a few hours later. She yawned. "Wh-where am I?"
Bronte flew up from where he was sitting and knelt by her. "Jesus! You can't do that! You almost faded away!"
"Well, I didn't know that would happen."
"YOU COULD'VE DIED!"
"I know! I get it! I'm sorry! Chill, would you?"
"CHILL!? I BROUGHT YOU HERE ILLEGALLY!"
Emily suddenly grabbed his hand. "Just relax."
Bronte froze up. He quickly pulled his hand away. "Don't do that."
"You're weird."
He looked at her, his mouth going dry. The woman, Emily, he realized, was flirting with him.
He stepped back. "I. I need to... water..."
He hurried away to get a water. Emily followed him. She wobbled to her feet. "So, where are we exactly?"
"You shouldn't be standing. And we're at my house."
"You have a nice house."
"Mhm. You shouldn't be standing."
She sat at the table, sighing. "I'm sorry I grabbed your hand."
"It's fine."
"No, it isn't. I obviously offended you."
"I wasn't--"
"It's fine."
He scowled. "I'm taking you home."
"I'm hungry. Make me food first."
"I don't have much right now... how about some mallowmelt?"
"Sure. Whatever that is..."
"This is the best thing ever!"
"Yeah, it's pretty good."
She smiled and took another bite. "Did you make this?"
"No. A Councillor did."
"How many are there?"
"Twelve."
"So, who gave this to you?"
"Councillor Oralie. She sends gifts to everyone all the time."
"She sounds nice."
"Yeah. She is."
Bronte looked at Emily. He blushed. Oh no. He was starting to like her.
Emily stared back, smiling broadly.
Bronte stood and walked away.
Emily frowned.
"Okay, now I have to take you home."
"No! Wait! I... I like you."
Bronte paled. "Yeah... um... great..."
"I'm serious. You're a really nice person--"
"You said I was grumpy..."
She giggled. "You are. And it's adorable."
Bronte stared at her. He suddenly leaned forward and--
And then he leaned back, covering his face with his hands. "Nonono, this isn't happening," he grumbled.
"You were about to kiss me, weren't you?"
He stayed silent.
Emily sighed and hugged him.
Bronte tensed. "What are you doing?"
"Hugging you."
Bronte tore out of the hug. "I... Emily..."
Emily started to tear up. "Well, I'm assuming that since you don't even want to hug me, you don't feel the same way."
"Emily, I... I can't... I'm not allowed to... be in love..."
"Why?"
"Members of the Council can't... be married... or in a relationship..."
She snorted. "I'm not marrying you. I'm hugging you."
She hugged him. He didn't hug back.
"Em--"
"I'm not letting go until you hug back."
He scowled and hugged back. They stayed like that for a while. Emily was smiling, her eyes closed, her cheek pressed against his chest.
Bronte was still hugging her, and as they stood, holding each other, Oralie came through the door. "Bronte, I--" She gasped.
Bronte let go of Emily in a panic. "Councillor Oralie! We were just... uh."
Oralie smiled. "And you make fun of Kenric and I for being in love? Look at this! You hypocrite!"
Emily looked at her. "I... I'm Emily..."
Oralie's eyes went wide. "Bronte, that's a human name."
Bronte winced. "Yeah."
"You fell in love with a human?"
"I'm not in love! You don't understand, she..." Bronte trailed off.
Emily was glaring at him.
Bronte closed his eyes. "This shouldn't be happening. I'm taking you home now."
Emily looked hurt. "Bronte--"
"No! No, don't look at me like that! I'm not the bad guy here! THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING! You're a human!"
Emily looked at him. "You saved my life. And you admitted you're not human. And you told me about the Councillors, and elves, and mallowmelt, and now I know about it, so you can't just leave me with the other humans! You have to tell me more! I want to know this world!"
Oralie looked at them. "Bronte, she knows. There's nothing you can do about it."
"We can... wash her memory."
"No!" Emily shouted. "You can't do that to me!"
"Bronte! You can't just do something like that!" said Oralie.
Bronte felt overwhelmed by all of the emotions he was having. "I..."
Oralie grabbed his hand, feeling his emotions. "You don't know what to do because you're in love for the first time. You're overwhelmed by your emotions, and I get it, Bronte."
"No!" He pulled his hand away. "You don't get it!" His voice cracked. "She's a human!" He was starting to get emotional, and panicked, roughly wiping at his eyes. "I... can't..."
"Sure you can."
Emily grabbed his hand. "I like you. A lot."
"I... I do, too," he grumbled. "Jeez, I can't believe I just said that."
Oralie smiled. "Show her around the lost cities. She has blue eyes, so she'll fit right in. And she can borrow one of my dresses."
Emily smiled.
Bronte looked at her, cracking a small smile. "Maybe just for one day. Right? One day?"
Emily nodded. "One day."
"No, Bronte, that's crazy! I'm not jumping!"
Bronte was grinning. "It's how you get to Atlantis."
Emily's eyes widened as he drags her to the edge. "No!"
"You just gotta trust it."
"This is insane."
"I'll hold you."
Emily hesitated and looked at him.
He blushed.
"Promise you won't let me go?"
"Yes," he promised.
She gulped. "Okay."
Bronte carefully wrapped his arms around her. "Ready?"
"No."
"We'll go on three."
She clung to him. "Okay..."
"One... two..."
She squeezed him tighter.
"Three!"
Bronte pulled them off the edge, and Emily screamed all the way down.
They landed on the giant sponge together. Emily landed on top of him.
"Ow," he grumbled.
"O-oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" She scrambles off of him, giggling. She shakily got to her feet. "So... this is Atlantis."
Bronte stood. "Yes."
Emily looked around, in awe. "Let's go to the store!" she called suddenly, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him across the street.
People were gaping at Emily as she pulled him along. Bronte was struggling to keep up with her, almost tripping. "Emily--"
She stopped by the store, looking through the glass pain into the shop and gazing at the dresses on display.
She then proceeded to grab his sleeve and pull him inside.
A few people outside the store were watching and listening. "Is that Councillor Bronte? Who's that girl with him?"
A few elves gave a quick bow or curtsey as he stumbled along.
Emily giggled. "Should I bow to you, Councillor?"
He blushed. "I... suppose not."
She laughed and gave a clumsy curtsey anyways.
Bronte's lips twitched with a small smile. "You're terrible at curtseying."
"I know."
The guy sitting behind the counter gapes at Bronte and Emily.
"Is that a smile I see?" squealed Emily. "Did I make Councillor Grumpy smile?"
Bronte rolled his eyes.
The man behind the counter stared, in awe that someone was able to call him something like that and not get inflicted on. "Um..." He awkwardly bowed. "Councillor Bronte... Wh-what brings you here?"
"Well--"
"Bronte, look at this dress!" Emily exclaimed, holding a dress up and twirling around.
Bronte looked at her, blushing. "It's... very nice."
The man continued to be shocked that the girl hadn't called him Councillor Bronte. Just Bronte. As if she didn't need to be formal with a Councillor.
Bronte sighed. "She... "
"Isn't it so beautiful?" continued Emily, interrupting him again.
Bronte's lips twitched in a small smile. "It's wonderful, Em'."
She giggled. "You abbreviated my name. How adorable of you!"
Bronte glared at her. "Don't call me that. I'm serious."
The man's eyes were wide. Councillor Bronte was many things, but adorable was not one of them.
"You're always serious," she mumbled. She continued to twirl around with the light purple dress.
He hesitated. "Do you... want me to buy it for you?"
"Yes!" She squealed, "Can I try it on?"
"Sure."
Emily came out of the dressing room. She danced around him in the lavender-coloured dress. "Oh, Bronte, I love it so much!"
His breath caught as he looked at her. "You... look... beautiful."
She smiled at him. "How sweet of you," she whispered.
Since they were out of sight from the man, she grabbed his hand.
He smiled bashfully.
Emily giggled. "You're so cute."
Suddenly, without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her.
She gasped.
Bronte cursed quietly, his face pale. "I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... I..."
She wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay." She kissed him back.
For a second, he kissed back, and everything seemed to melt away, it was just him and Emily, and there was nothing else to worry about, but her...
Until he suddenly pulled away. "I-I..." He stepped back. "I'm sorry... I can't..."
Emily frowned. "It's fine," she whispered. "Thanks for the dress..."
They walked away from the dressing rooms.
The man noted that both of them looked a lot more glum than they had ten minutes ago. Bronte and Emily were avoiding eye-contact, and neither of them spoke as he paid for the dress. They left.
Oralie smiled at Bronte. "You're in love with her."
"I know. I shouldn't be. This shouldn't be happening! I CAN'T JUST--"
"Bronte! Chill!"
Bronte sighed heavily, burying his face in his hands.
"I get you think it's bad to fall in love because you're a Councillor--"
"And because I'M AN ELF AND SHE'S A HUMAN!!"
"Yeah... that, too. Also, don't be mad, but I kinda... sorta... told Kenric."
"WHAT!?"
"I'm sorry! I tell him everything."
"I..." He sighed heavily. "Ugghhhhhhh... today couldn't get anymore awkward."
"Sure it can," said Emily, inviting herself into the room.
Bronte looked up at her. His face went red.
"Nobody has to find out we're together. We can go on dates in the Forbidden Cities, and no one will know! Except Oralie."
Oralie smiled. "Yeah! You can teach her the Enlightened Language!"
"Yes!"
Bronte looked back and forth between them. "I..."
Emily and Oralie looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"Guys, please, don't look at me like that... Fine! Fine... I'll do it."
Emily squealed and hugged him. "YAY!"
Bronte closed his eyes and hugged her back.
They were on their second date.
Sitting together in a fancy restaurant, Bronte was sitting across from her, smiling.
Emily was smiling back. "I love your hair."
"I love you." The words just came out. He told her he loved her. That was ridiculous! They've known each other for a week! Bronte visibly winced at himself.
Emily grabbed his hand. "I do, too."
He felt relieved. "I just... you're so... nice... and I'm... not nice..."
"Yes, you are. You're nice to me."
Bronte shakily smiled. "I'm not nice enough."
"You've just had a rough life, that's not your fault."
He looked away. "I..."
She giggled, dragging her chair close to him and leaning against him. "Oh, shut up. You're adorable."
He scowled, wrapping an arm around her. "You're lucky I like you."
"Yes, I am very lucky."
Bronte's eyes brightened. He kissed her forehead.
She looked up at him, smiling, and pressed her lips against his.
It was two years later.
Emily and Bronte were sitting in front of a waterfall.
Bronte was holding her, and he looked nervous about something.
Emily snuggled into him, sighing contently. "I love you."
He felt his mouth go dry. "I love you, too."
"There's something wrong, isn't there?"
"No."
"There is. I can tell."
He grabbed her hands and stood her up. "Em', I've been meaning to ask you something. And I don't know how it's going to work... but I've been thinking... I know it might be complicated... but maybe we could make it work... we could have a private wedding--"
"Councillor Bronte, stop."
He looked at her.
"Are you asking me to marry you?"
"I mean... I don't..."
"Councillor Bronte." She was smiling. "SHUT UP! JESUS, OF COURSE I'LL MARRY YOU!" she shouted at him. "Don't even assume I wouldn't marry you just because the Council hates love, and SCREW THE LAWS!! I don't care about laws! I love you!"
He teared up. "Emily, you're the most amazing woman on the planet."
Tears were streaming down her face. She was smiling uncontrollably. "I know. Did you get me a ring?"
"Wh-- of course! Yeah!"
She started to laugh. "C-can I see it?"
His face went red. He fumbled through his pockets for a moment, grumbling, "I'm sorry, I'm not very romantic..."
"Yes, you are. You're adorable and I love you."
He pulled the ring-box out of his cape-pocket.
Suddenly, he dropped it, and it fell into the water, immediately being swept away by the rushing water. His jaw fell.
Emily snort-laughed.
Bronte looked over and saw her laughing uncontrollably, her face red.
Bronte slowly started to smile to, then laughed.
They were both laughing, until Emily grabbed him and kissed him.
"I can't believe I'm marrying you, you dork."
He blushed, scratching the back of his head and smiling bashfully. "That... wasn't supposed to happen..."
She snorted. "Obviously."
Present Day
"I have an announcement to make." Councillor Bronte immediately had everyone's attention. "My wife is pregnant."
All the Councillors cheered.
Emily was practically glowing.
Now that Kalesh was living with them, she was excited to be a big sister.
Everything went back to normal.
Bronte and Emily were living in their new house, which was called Vlinemare, which means "a house of life and diversity."
Tam was taking care of ShadowHeart, and Emery was taking care of Fintan's dog, Ember.
The Neverseen was struggling, but Emery was the leader now, and that meant things would be changing. Things would be different.
Especially since they had a new recruit, and he was a Mesmer.
Sophie got another letter from Oralie, and, this time, it said that everyone now knew that she was her biological mother. And now she knew who the father was.
It was someone she didn't know... a man named Xavier, who was an inflictor.
Mr.Forkle finally told her.
And now she and Fitz were getting their match-making scrolls.
"Who's at the top of your list?"
Fitz's face was pale.
"What is it, Fitz? Who is it?"
"K-Kalesh..."
Sophie smiled. "Mine is some boy I don't know... did you seriously think we'd be matched perfectly?"
"No, but..."
"Come on. Let's go to Everglen. Kalesh is still packing up her stuff, right?"
"Yeah, but--"
"I know you like her."
Fitz went silent.
Sophie smiled again. "It's okay! Do you know who's third on my list?"
"Who?"
"Keefe."
Fitz sighed. "Sophie, I'm sorry--"
"Don't apologize. Let's go!"
Kalesh smiled. "So... you like me?"
"I..." He blushed.
"Good. Because so do I."
Alden suddenly burst into the room. "Guys! There's something wrong with Biana!"