Chapter Text
Terrifying Turbulence on Airplane from San Diego to New Haven: Young Yale Student Dies
Mysterious Hole Appeared Right Under Sophie Foster
No Turbulence Anywhere Else
Sophie watched again as the video of her falling replayed. They hadn't caught Mr. Forkle on the video. It was the wrong angle.
Mr. Forkle. Where was he now?
Sophie covered her mouth as the news lady explained that Sophie's sister had gotten a couple of texts right before the plane went airborne. How Sophie had asked her sister to guess who was on the plane with her. And how Amy had never gotten an answer.
The flight attendant Sophie had seen got an interview. But Sophie couldn't hear what he was saying. A terrible, sinking feeling in her stomach, heart and head seemed to muffle every sound to a faint ring.
"They think I'm dead," Sophie whispered.
"Sophie-"
"I need... I need to go tell them I'm alive!" Sophie couldn't imagine how her parents and her sister were reacting to this news.
Della looked at her sadly, "even if you hadn't fallen, we would have still had to find a way to take you away from the Forbidden Cities."
Sophie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You mean you're going to let them think I'm dead?"
"It's to protect them," Della said. "Humans can't know about-"
"No," Sophie said. "No, no, no. They- they're suffering!" The tears were already dripping down her cheeks. She didn't know when they had started.
"The humans will be sending a search party for- for you," Della said, gripping on to Sophie's hand. And Sophie could see her pain reflected on Della's eyes.
"And they won't see my body," she said quietly.
"Which is why the Council is planning to send some elves to deal with that as well as the autopsy and other reports," Della explained.
Sophie shook her head, "you can't do that."
"Sophie-"
"No. If you say having them think I'm dead is safe for them- then I'm going to assume it's because of the Neverseen, right?"
"Yes. But it's more than that-"
"But then if the Neverseen was no longer a problem... I could see them, right?"
Della pressed a hand against her forehead, "Sophie. Are you asking me to-"
"No. I'm telling you something. You know exactly how they feel right now. Exactly. Your husband. Alden, is it?" Sophie watched as Della flinched. "I'm your hope, right? That's why you haven't gone into complete despair. Because there's always been hope for you. Hope that he will come back. Hope that the Moonlark will save him."
Della slowly nodded.
"That's what you're taking away from my parents if you confirm my death. Please. Please, give them something to hold on to. Let them not find my body. Give them some hope," Sophie said.
"It would be more painful for them. To think that they may see you again..." Della began, but Sophie shook her head at her.
"If there's a chance I'll see them again, then we need to make them hope for it," Sophie demanded. "Even better, they'll start asking questions. Don't you want to see if human police figure something out about Mr. Forkle?"
"That could also cause issues," Della began. She cut Sophie off before she could protest, "but I- I see what you mean."
This didn't make her look any less grim as she said, "which is why your death will be a mystery. And someday, if I can help it- you'll see your human parents again."
Sophie felt arms wrap around her in a hug, but she was too busy squeezing her eyes shut. As if that would stop the tears that came from the knowledge that things would never be the same again.
_________
"So where is she staying?" Biana asked during dinner, eyeing Sophie with wariness.
Fitz nudged his sister's arm, "Hey, can you chill? Sophie's been through a lot today."
"Yeah, well... I have too," Biana shot back.
Della sighed as her children began to bicker. "I'm sorry about this," she told Sophie. "But- to answer Biana's question... I know a couple who has offered to adopt you."
Adopt? Sophie stopped eating, the purple tubers quickly gaining a sour taste in her mouth.
"Who?" Fitz asked.
"Yeah mom," a new voice asked, "who?"
"Alvar!" Della said, smiling as Biana and Fitz's older brother sat at the table, "you're here!"
"It's been such a busy day," Alvar complained, helping himself to the food spread around the table. "So many issues."
"I'll say," Biana muttered, earning a glare from Fitz and Della.
"Hey," Alvar said, his cobalt eyes turning to Sophie, "I'm Alvar."
"Sophie," Sophie introduced herself, as if he didn't know who she was.
"So- she's the one?" Alvar asked his mom.
Della glanced at Sophie before she said, "Maybe."
"What were you saying about Sophie getting adopted?" Alvar asked, sending Sophie's head into panic mode again.
"Sophie has likely had enough of us," Della said, her eyes on Fitz and Biana, who were still arguing.
"That's not true," Sophie assured her.
"Regardless, the Councillors did not give me permission to take care of you Sophie. And I honestly agree- I must work on protecting you. It's what Alden would have wanted. But someone unconnected to any of this needs to be there for you. And that's why I think Grady and Edaline will be good parents to you. And you will be a good daughter."
"Those are the people who-" Biana stopped talking.
"Who what?" Sophie asked.
"They lost their daughter in a fire," Della explained quietly. Everyone looked at the ground. They knew what loss felt like. But at least Alden still had a chance. "They helped me cope when Alden-" she stopped talking.
"Oh," Sophie said. She had a feeling however this went- there was going to be a lot of awkwardness about it. She didn't know how to feel about being adopted. Her human parents still existed. But they thought she was dead- or missing. Most likely dead. No human could survive that fall.
But you're not a human, Sophie reminded herself as she watched the Vacker family interact. You're an elf.
And it was time for her to find out who she was.
_________
Sophie's purple backpack only carried her laptop- which Della took to give to some technopaths to ensure humans wouldn't be able to find out there was any sort of activity on it- her stuffed elephant, Ella, and nothing else of important use. Money wouldn't be a problem anymore, according to the elve's strange economy.
This was one of the reasons why Sophie felt very unprepared as she arrived at Havenfield with Della. Another was the enormous roar that shattered her eardrums when they walked toward the nearest enclosure.
"That's a dinosaur," Sophie said, slightly dazed.
"Her name's Verdi," Della said, smiling a little. "And if I'm not mistaken, the verminion should be over there..."
"Always causing trouble," someone said from behind them.
"Edaline! It's good to see you!" Della said to the woman who watched them a little shyly.
"It's good to see you too Della. How are the kids?"
"Fitz is starting his final year at Foxfire. You can imagine how I feel about that," Della said as they hugged.
"Oh- and this is Sophie," Della gave Sophie an encouraging smile.
"Hi," Sophie said, not knowing what else to say.
"Hi," Edaline said, making Sophie feel better about her greeting.
"Do you want to see the verminion?" Edaline asked. "Grady was going to feed it a few minutes ago. He's probably still there."
"Is it still eating small creatures?" Della asked, "Biana asked me about Mr. Sparkles before we left. How's he doing?"
"Mr. Sparkles?" Sophie asked.
"An imp.The verminion tried to eat him- not much longer after Alden's mind broke," Della explained. "Biana and Fitz were here and they saved him. They named him Mr. Sparkles."
"He's inside," Edaline said, smiling, "we kept him after Biana and Fitz insisted."
"Mr. Sparkles is a strange name," Sophie said as they neared the verminion enclosure. The purple gerbil-like creature was sleeping. And Sophie was kind of glad.
"We did it!" a man who reminded Sophie of a cross between Thor and Robin Hood said as two gnomes followed him happily. "Oh- hi."
It seemed that Edaline and Grady were just as nervous as she was. This made Sophie feel a little better.
"Want to see Mr. Sparkles?" Edaline broke the silence after Sophie and Grady introduced themselves.
"Sure," Sophie said, and when she saw the imp she definitely did not agree with his name. "He's not even sparkly!"
The imp was grey and smelly. Nothing sparkle worthy.
"If Sparkles is his last name," Sophie said, watching the imp flitter around, "then he needs a first name."
Edaline smiled, "no offense to Biana, Della, but Sophie is right."
Della laughed, "he'll be Sophie's pet, I assume?"
"If she wants him," Edaline said.
"Then I'm calling him Iggy," Sophie decided as the imp landed on her shoulder.
"Iggy Sparkles?" Grady asked.
"Only if Biana is present."
Della left after that- making Sophie a whole lot nervous. But not before telling them that they had to go shopping for elixirs for Sophie. And she also told Sophie that she'd see if Biana would stop by with her boyfriend so Sophie would feel more comfortable. Sophie didn't have the heart to tell Della that she'd probably feel more comfortable if her slightly snobby daughter wasn't there.
"So..." Edaline said as silenced filled the room. "Before we go to Slurps and Burps... do you want to see your room?"
The more Sophie studied the couple, the more grief and sadness she saw behind their kind smiles. With a pang, she realized that this was likely how her human parents would be like for the rest of their lives. Grief- no matter how much- would always follow them.
She couldn't help her human parents, but maybe she could do something for Grady and Edaline. Sophie decided she was going to try.
__________
The door belched- making Sophie jump and Edaline smile. "Kesler does that just to make stuffy nobles uncomfortable," she explained to Sophie.
Grady had stayed behind to feed the T-Rex while Edaline and Sophie went to Slurps and Burps. Edaline's brother-in-law, Kesler, owner the elixir shop.
"I'll be right out!" A voice said. "Actually- Dex? Or Rex? One of you two- go see who it is."
"Aunt Edaline?" A boy of about thirteen asked as he opened the door. "Whoa- you're here!"
"Rex! Where are your siblings?" Edaline asked as he hurried to hug her.
"It's their break. They're with mom doing who knows what! Dex and I have to help dad with all of this boring stuff."
A tall boy around Sophie's age, with the same strawberry blond hair and periwinkle eyes as his little brother peaked out of the room, "this isn't boring Rex! And hey! He's not lying dad! It's actually Aunt Edaline! And-" he stopped talking as his eyes met Sophie's. "And someone else."
"Who?" A man who was practically an older version of his sons strolled out, a grin spreading on his face as he saw Edaline.
"What brings you here? Juline is going to get so annoyed that I got to see you!" He hurried to pull Edaline into a hug. "How have you been?" Then he turned to stare at Sophie. "Clearly some things have changed."
"This is Sophie," Edaline explained. "Grady and I are taking care of her."
"Why?" The older boy, who must have been Dex asked. Then he flushed, "Sorry. I guess that's not my business."
"It's okay. Sophie, you can tell him as much as you want." Sophie knew Edaline didn't mean her telepathy, but she still wished she didn't have to keep that a secret here as well. But they were afraid to let everyone know how powerful of a telepath Sophie likely was. At least for now.
"I'm- Sophie Foster. I thought I was a human until yesterday."
"She lived in the Forbidden Cities," Edaline explained.
"Really?" Kesler's eyebrows shot up as Dex said "Whoa!" and Rex yelled, "that is the coolest thing ever!"
"It's a long story," Sophie said timidly as Kesler shook her hand, followed by his sons.
"I can imagine!" Kesler said. "So, Sophie. Are you going to Foxfire?"
Sophie nodded, "I'll start out as Level Six. If I can handle it."
"I'm a Level Six too!" Dex exclaimed. "Do you have an ability?"
"Polyglot," Sophie said, wishing she didn't have to lie, once again. Well- this wasn't really a lie. It was more like omitting the truth. But Dex seemed like a kind person. She felt guilty.
"She has to study during the break, to catch up to the basics," Edaline added.
"Hey, maybe I could help you!" Dex offered. "If you want."
Sophie grinned, "Of course! The only people helping me right now were the Vackers, and-"
Dex made a face, "Yuck. You know the Vackers?"
Kesler raised an eyebrow at his son. "Dex. You know what that family has been through."
"Yeah- but they're the Vackers," Dex reminded him as if they were poisonous.
Kesler sighed, "why don't you go show Sophie your Alchemy and Technopath stuff while Edaline and I catch up?"
"I'm coming too!" Rex declared.
"No," Kesler said, "someone needs to keep the shop going! Go make sure we haven't run out of these." He handed his son a list️.
Rex groaned and snatched the list, turning to Dex and Sophie. "Tell me everything," he said to Dex before he stormed off to clean stuff up. Edaline and Kesler went to the back, talking about he elixirs Edaline needed for Sophie and about Juline, who was apparently Edaline's sister.
Sophie turned to Dex, "Why do you hate the Vackers?"
Dex shrugged, "you just have to talk to them. But- you have. Wait. Let me guess. You have a crush on Wonderboy."
Sophie hoped she wasn't blushing, "Wonderboy?"
Dex narrowed his eyes, "Knew it."
"I don't have a crush on anyone!"
"Uh huh. You just can't admit it in front of Biana Vacker️. Probably scared she'll step on you with her jewel encrusted heels."
"Okay, now you're sounding a little ridiculous," Sophie said, "but yeah- Biana doesn't seem to like me very much."
"Because you have a crush on Wonderboy."
"I do not have a crush on Wonder- on Fitz!" Sophie exclaimed. "You know what? I think you do!"
Dex laughed, "keep telling yourself that."
"Oh, you have a crush on Biana!" Sophie said, grinning as Dex stopped laughing.
"Uh- has she presented you to her boyfriend?"
"Oh yeah- they're kinda coming here soon," Sophie remembered.
"What? Here? As in my dad's store? As in near my vicinity?"
"Sorry," Sophie said, giving him a small smile. She couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to Dex. She'd never really had a friend like him before. Were they friends? She was afraid to ask. Maybe they were just obligated since they were sort of cousins.
"Wait- you said her boyfriend is coming too?" Dex asked.
Sophie nodded, "Why? You jealous?"
"No. Just wait until you hear all his nicknames."
"What nicknames?"
The door belched as a response. Biana walked in, making a face and holding hands with a dark haired boy.
Dex snickered. "Yup. That's him," he whispered to Sophie as she studied them. "She's still dating Glow-Up Valin."