“Then why did you leave them?” Fitz wondered. “You joined for a reason, right? And you had to know that leaving would mean you’d end up in a room like this—which, by the way, doesn’t have to stay that way. We want you on our side, Glimmer. You just have to trust us.”
“Oh good, we’re finally to the part where you tell me I can prove myself by sharing this wealth of information you all seem to think I’m hiding—except I’m not. And no one believes me, and instead everyone acts like I’m just being uncooperative. So here I sit, locked in a room with an ogre who keeps reminding me that he can end me anytime.”
“I can,” Bo agreed unhelpfully.
Sophie sighed and glanced at Tam, whose shrug seemed to say, She’s not wrong.
“Fine, you know what?” Sophie said. “There is one piece of information we’re hoping you might have—but if not, it won’t change us wanting to work together. So let’s just put it out there so we can move on, okay?”
She paused for Glimmer to agree but was met with only silence.
“Okay, I’ll take that as a yes,” Sophie pressed on. “We need to find Councillor Kenric’s cache. Keefe stole it from me to prove his loyalty when he joined the Neverseen, and he thought he stole it back when he left, but it turns out that was a fake. So now we need to track down the real one—and we have no idea where to look, so if you have any information that might steer us in the right direction, that’d be awesome.”
“Doesn’t have to be anything huge,” Biana added. “We realize it’s probably asking too much for there to be some sort of secret Neverseen storehouse where they hide all their important things.”
Biana was probably trying to lighten the mood with a joke.
But Glimmer flinched.
Even Tam noticed.
“What?” he asked her. “And don’t say ‘nothing.’ ”
The silence stretched and stretched and stretched.
Tam moved to sit beside her. “These are my friends, Glimmer. You really can trust them. And if you know something that might help, it’ll be better for everyone.”
“No, it’ll be better for you,” Glimmer argued. “All it’ll do for me is prove that I need to stay in this room and have more people annoy me with questions. Maybe they’ll even order a memory break—”
“They won’t,” Sophie assured her. “And even if they did, they’d order me or Fitz to do it, and we won’t.” She took a cautious step closer, like she would if she were approaching a frightened animal. “We’re not lying about wanting to work with you. We need your help.”
A whole lot more silence followed.
“Come on, Glimmer,” Tam pleaded. “If you don’t trust them—trust me.”
Glimmer sighed. “I… heard Gisela mention something to Vespera about a storehouse one time. She didn’t say much else. But it sounded like it was part of the Lodestar network.”
Sophie closed her eyes, wishing she hadn’t let herself get her hopes up.
It felt like a total gut-punch having to admit, “All the Lodestar hideouts were destroyed.”
“Were they?” Glimmer asked. “Or is that what the Neverseen wanted you to believe? I mean, do you really think they’d destroy everything they’d built just because you guys cracked their little symbol? Especially when they’re so good at hiding things with illusions?”
A sharp intake of breath echoed around the room as the gravity of that revelation settled in.
“You know this for sure?” Tam clarified.
“No,” Glimmer admitted. “But… it makes sense, right?”
It definitely did.
“I mean… I know they did destroy some stuff,” Glimmer hedged. “There was this whole annoying power struggle going on, and Fintan was changing up some of the plans and decided to get rid of the stuff he was abandoning. But some of it was left. And it sounded like the storehouse was part of that.”
A tiny spark of hope flared inside Sophie as she whispered, “Where do we find it?”
Glimmer turned to her, and Sophie could hear her sharp smile when she said, “You’re the one who said you wanted to work together. So here’s your chance. I’ll tell you which hideout to go to—but only if you take me with you.”
- TEN - KEEFE
Okay, let’s try this again!” Kesler said, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention. “And I gotta say, I have a good feeling this time. I think we’re finally onto something! But we’ll know soon enough. Everybody—earplugs in!”
Keefe cringed as Kesler, Elwin, Ro, and Dex shoved the glittering blobs into their ears.
He couldn’t believe he’d let them talk him into sitting through more tests after what happened that morning.
It had taken several panic-filled minutes for him to find the right command to snap the triplets out of whatever weird trance he’d put them in—and even though they’d laughed about how cool it was to watch everyone freaking out while they were stuck like statues, Keefe was pretty sure he was going to have nightmares about frozen Dizznees for the next few centuries.
Especially since it seemed like whatever he’d done to the triplets had been different from when he’d numbed everyone—more like he’d ripped their emotions away, instead of dulling them. Which made sense, since he’d given a different command. But he didn’t like having multiple ways to turn people into empty shells.
And he definitely didn’t want to discover any other methods.
That was why he’d crawled into bed the second the Dizznees left, hoping they’d give up on the whole project.
But hours later they were back—and Keefe had felt so much hope and conviction in the air that he didn’t have the heart to tell them to go away.
Plus… he wasn’t quite ready to give up on the chance of finding some kind of solution.
So he’d climbed onto Elwin’s armchair, seriously questioning his life choices—particularly after he saw that Kesler had brought five new elixirs to test.
Dex also had two new gadgets.
And the triplets must’ve eaten a lot of sugar.
So basically, there was no way this was going to end well.
“Ready, kids?” Kesler asked, and when the triplets responded with an ear-rattling “YES!” he told them, “Okay—go ahead and grab on!”
“Gah! Why are your hands always so freezing?” Keefe asked as Lex grabbed his left wrist—or he thought it was Lex. It was really hard to tell the triplets apart.
“ARE THEY?” Lex grabbed his brother’s hand.
“NAH, HE’S JUST WHINING ’CAUSE HE’S SCARED!” Rex pulled his hand free and grabbed Keefe’s elbow, flooding Keefe with that strange empty feeling again.
And Bex’s hand still seemed weirdly squishy.
But Keefe didn’t mention any of that, since it was probably another way this new ability was getting stronger and he wasn’t in the mood to think about what that meant.
He wasn’t in the mood to think at all, now that he was getting hit with lightning bolts of the triplets’ exuberance, mixed with tingly giddiness and rippling confidence and a heated sort of curiosity. It all kept building and building and building, like water rising up around him, drowning out all the air.
“It seemed like the orange elixir helped a little last time,” Kesler shouted over the roaring in Keefe’s ears, “so these first three are all variations of that same formula. The other two go in a totally different direction, in case we’re still on the wrong path—but I don’t think we are.”
Spoiler alert—they definitely were.
The first elixir made everything spin and spin and spin so fast that Keefe might’ve vomited if the command he was choking back hadn’t closed off his throat.
The second made his head pound so hard, he was ready to beg for relief—but he bit his tongue instead, letting the iron taste of blood distract him from the word crackling inside his brain.
The third made him itchy.
So so so so so so itchy that Elwin had to pin his arms to stop him from scratching off his skin.
Keefe’s eyes watered and his legs thrashed and he knew there was only one way to end the agony—but he refused to say it.
Refused to even let himself think it.
“It’s all right,” Kesler told him, placing a hand on Keefe’s shoulder. “You’re doing great. We’re going to get you through this.”
But that wasn’t true.
It couldn’t be.
Not with Kesler’s hand triggering that same hollow, empty feeling as Rex’s grip.
Keefe knew what that was now.
It had to be his body’s way of telling him to give up.
Stop fighting.
Surrender to his new horrible reality.
“Hey—don’t you give up,” Kesler told him, like he knew what Keefe was thinking. He pressed a cool vial against Keefe’s lips. “We still have two more tries.”
Keefe shook his head so hard, he spilled at least half of the medicine.
“Come on, Keefe,” Elwin told him. “I know this is hard, but we’re learning a lot.”
A laugh slipped through Keefe’s lips, and it felt as bitter as the elixir he swallowed, which burned like magma, making his eyes water as it seared his throat.
But all that boiling pain at least scorched the word that had been forming, making it crumble to ash and dust.
“Well… that’s something,” Kesler said as Keefe slumped against his chair. “Though it might not be an ideal solution. Last one—for now. And this one should be gentler.”
Keefe didn’t deserve gentle.
But he definitely craved it.
So he drank every drop, sighing as his body turned very, very heavy.
His eyelids drooped, his limbs hung limp, and his breathing slowed and slowed and slowed some more.
It felt like falling—and the darkness raced up to catch him.
A soothing pool of black that swallowed him whole, until there was nothing left.
Now he was safe.
Everyone was safe.
And the world was blissfully quiet.
So was his tired brain, which slowly shut down.
The darkness turned thicker and thicker while Keefe sank as far as he could go.
Hoping he’d never find a way back.
* * *
“HE’S FINALLY AWAKE!” someone shouted, making Keefe groan as the much-too-loud voice sliced through his brain.
He cracked his eyes open, sucking air through his teeth when the brightness blasted out everything.
It took several painful blinks before the world faded into focus again, and Keefe realized he was back in his room—and if the crick in his neck was any indication, he’d been there for a while.
“You’ve been out for about five hours,” Elwin said, and Keefe’s eyes darted toward the doorway to find the physician standing with a plate of food and a bottle of Youth. “Figured it’d be good to get some nutrients in your system before I give you any medicine for the headache and nausea.”
Keefe groaned. “No more medicine.”
“Hey, he speaks!” Ro said.
She didn’t sound nearly as enthusiastic as she had been.
“Yeah, I know,” Elwin told Keefe. “We’ve done a number on your system. But I’m only using normal remedies now. They’ll help, I promise.”
Keefe was too tired to argue.
The food and Youth and elixirs actually did make him feel more normal. He even managed to sit up and comb his fingers through his sweaty hair.
“In case you’re wondering,” Elwin said as he gathered the empty plates and vials, “Kesler and I have decided to take a break from trying to treat your ability medicinally. I suppose we should’ve known better. Abilities are a part of who we are. They don’t get affected by elixirs. We just thought yours might be different, since it’s so… unique.”
The better word would’ve been “unnatural.”
But it wasn’t safe for Keefe to say that.
It was never going to be safe for him to speak.
Or to be around people.
Or to have any sort of physical contact.
Or a life.
“Hey,” Elwin said, plopping down onto the bed. “That doesn’t mean we’re giving up. In fact, Dex left something he wants you to test.”
Keefe shook his head harder, but Elwin grabbed his hand, pressing something flat and cool and square into his palm. “Relax—it’s not one of his inventions. Dex wanted to make more tweaks to those before we try them. But he also had a theory that sounded pretty valid.”
Elwin pulled back his arm, and Keefe stared at the small silver Imparter.
“Dex thinks your commands will only work on people in the same room with you, since tone comes from emotion,” Elwin explained. “He said you’re probably transmitting some sort of emotional energy when you say the word, and that’s what causes the reaction—or helps, at least. And that’s something that can’t happen in an Imparter conversation.”
“He also said he knows you’re going to shake your head when we tell you to test it, because you’re scared and tired and convinced nothing is ever going to help,” Ro added. “So he said to tell you to trust the Technopath and hail him once you wake up so he can say, ‘I told you so.’ And I gotta say, I’m liking techy boy more and more. I think you should listen to him.”
“So do I,” Elwin agreed. “If you do end up commanding him, I’ll be right here with earplugs in to help you figure out a counter command—but I don’t think you’re going to need me. Every time you’ve used your ability, I’ve felt a strange ripple pass through the room. So I think Dex is onto something with this theory. You also won’t be able to feel what Dex is feeling—which is what seems to overwhelm you. But… there’s only one way to know for sure.”
Keefe tightened his grip on the Imparter, knowing the smarter, safer move would be to toss it against the wall as hard as he could, let it shatter into so many pieces, he’d never be able to use it.
But a tiny spark of hope had been kindled again.
“Go on, Hunkyhair,” Ro told him. “I have a good feeling about this.”
Keefe definitely didn’t.
But he still took a slow, calming breath, promising himself that if this failed, it would be his last test.
He was giving one final try—one final push against what his mom had done to him.
If it didn’t work… it was ability restrictor time.
He closed his eyes, trying to keep himself as relaxed as possible before he held the Imparter up to his lips. His mouth was parched and his voice sounded raw and crackly as he whispered, “Show me Dex.”
- ELEVEN - Sophie
Nope—we’re not having this argument again!” Sophie said, waiting for the room to quiet down before she added, “You guys have to stop freaking out any time something sounds a tiny bit dangerous—”
“This is more than a ‘tiny bit dangerous,’ ” Grady interrupted, pacing to the wall of windows and staring out at Havenfield’s pastures.
Sophie had kept her promise to Sandor and went straight home after Glimmer made her offer.
But that didn’t mean she was planning on staying there for very long.
“You’re talking about going to a Neverseen hideout with a member of the Neverseen,” Edaline gently reminded her.
“No, Glimmer’s a former member of the Neverseen,” Sophie corrected.
“So she claims,” Sandor snorted. “This whole thing could be a trap.”
“Glimmer wouldn’t do that!” Tam argued.
“Sadly, I don’t think that you—or anyone else here—can truly speak for what Glimmer would or wouldn’t do,” Tiergan said quietly.
Tam and Tiergan had insisted on being part of the conversation—as had Fitz and Biana. And Sophie was sure it was only a matter of time before Mr. Forkle showed up.
And the rest of the Black Swan.
And more of her friends.
And Sophie was done wasting that kind of time.
Especially since none of their planning and arguing
and worrying and explaining ever seemed to save them from almost dying. That’s why she’d had the we-need-to-stop-overthinking-things fight with them before.
And still, here she stood, staring down a bunch of stubborn, worried faces.
She knew they were only trying to keep her safe—but she was really getting sick of having everyone question her and doubt her all the time and try to hold her back.
She was the moonlark.
This was what she was supposedly made for.
Wasn’t it time for people to start trusting her?
And didn’t the fact that she wasn’t dead—despite how many times the Neverseen had tried to kill her—prove that she was strong enough and smart enough and capable enough to know when a risk was worth taking and roll with whatever happened next?
Or… was she just getting more desperate and reckless?
“Look,” Sophie said, climbing up a few of the stairs on the curved central staircase to make it easier for everyone to see her. “We finally have an actual lead—and it’s for something we totally overlooked, so we’re lucky we’re getting a second chance. Whatever’s in that storehouse has been hidden right under our noses this entire time—probably while the Neverseen laughed at us for falling for their trick.”
“That’s no reason to go rushing over with only five minutes of planning,” Grady argued.
“Actually, it is. The Neverseen know we have Glimmer. So I’m sure they’re scrambling to protect anything she might know. They’re probably moving stuff and hiding stuff right now—as we speak. And we have this tiny window of a chance left—assuming we’re not already too late. So we need to move quickly. And stealth needs to be our priority. The bigger our group is, the harder it’s going to be to sneak around. So I’m fine bringing Sandor and Flori—and Bo can come too, since he’s in charge of Glimmer. But other than that, it should just be me, Tam, and Glimmer.”
Biana sighed. “You’re seriously going to make me remind you that I’m a Vanisher?”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t set off their sensors,” Sophie countered. “We’re going to a Lodestar hideout—those had lots of security.”
Unlocked 8.5 (Keeper of the Lost Cities) Page 40