after unlocked: a sokeefe fanfic

Chapter 26-Sophie

"What just happened?" Dinla asked. Her voice shook.

Sophie glanced at Keefe. She had released him, instead grasping his hand tightly, after turning off her enhancing.

She probably shouldn't have turned it on in the first place.

His eyes were still unfocused, his face blank. As if he didn't hear anything they were saying. As if he was listening only to his inner demons.

"Uh, yeah. He, uh, manifested again a bit ago."

"But... he's too old to be manifesting."

Sophie sighed. "He already manifested as an Empath."

"Hold on." Duncan pointed at Keefe. "I thought you elves could only manifest one ability."

"Yeah... well, I have five. Most Polyglots have two. And Keefe has two."

"Is he a Polyglot?"

"Well, yeah," Sophie admitted. "And Gisela is."

"Huh?" They both looked confused.

Sophie blew out a breath. "We didn't tell the complete truth. Gisela is—"

"My mom," Keefe said hollowly. Sophie glanced up at him. "And my mom's genes are basically hardwired for two abilities; I, also have those genes."

"But how—"

"She... sort if, experimented on herself when she was pregnant... made it so that Keefe would manifest again later on."

"Wait. If she's your mom, a Neverseen agent, and you, a Black Swan member, then why did she give you a second ability?" Duncan asked.

"Second and third. She wanted me to join them. My... Thing, would be really helpful, apparently."

"Okay, but how did that happen?"

Keefe laughed; a dry, bitter sound. "I panicked. I panicked, and I—" his voice cracked. "I killed them."

Sophie wrapped an arm around his waist, squeezing tight. She hoped he was slowly coming to terms with her words: it wasn't his fault.

It was self defense.

"We need to leave," Sophie said. "There were more members, and we can't be here when they find the bodies."

Keefe flinched.

Duncan cleared his throat. "And us?"

Sophie exhaled slowly. "I guess... you're coming with us. Ever been to the Lost Cities?"

***

Apparently, Duncan had never lightleaped, either. He didn't like it. Sophie watched in sympathy as he dropped to the ground, Dinla patting his back as he retched.

Sophie turned back to Keefe. He hadn't said anything since they had left, and Sophie was starting to worry that he was blaming himself.

"Ms. Foster?" Sandor stepped into the garden. He sniffed the air, then turned to glower at Duncan, who was still lying on the ground.
"You brought a human?"

Sophie rubbed her face, trying to get rid of her blurry vision. Her bed sounded really nice just about then. "Yeah. It's been a long day. Is Mr. Forkle back yet?"

Sandor looked unimpressed. "Yes."

Sophie gestured to the mansion. "So... can you take us to him?"

Sandor motioned for them to follow. Keefe plodded behind her. Sophie noticed that Sandor was also casting worried glances at him.

Ro filed out of of a corner, her face brightening when she saw them. She frowned at Keefe's expression. "Did you reject him?" She asked Sophie.