Moonlark Turned Evil

25: A Christmas Party

Hello there~

I'm updating (kinda) early because I have a camp over the weekend. It's a no device kind of thing, so I won't be able to write chapter 26 until after that.

This chapter is basically helping Sophie come to terms with her choice, and also a way to calm down from last chapter's rushed pace.

Enjoy!

"What're you doing this evening, Foster?" Keefe asked.

He had come over in the morning to help them shovel the snow around Havenfield, and had stayed past lunch apparently because he wanted to eat Edaline's mallowmelt.

Sophie suspected it was more because of problems at home.

"I have a Christmas party." She took a sip of her hot chocolate, sighing happily.

"With, y'know, them?" he asked in an undertone.

She nodded.

"Where?" he asked, almost as if he was planning on breaking in.

"Somewhere on the ocean floor," Sophie said. "That's all I'm telling you."

Keefe sagged. "There's no way I can get there without an invite." He glanced up at her with puppy eyes.

"No."

"Pleaseee."

"No."

"Come on Foster!"

"No."

He finally gave in. "How're you even going to sneak out?"

"I have my ways," she told him.

Keefe have her a, no, seriously, look.

"Grady and Edaline don't come into my room after I say goodnight," she explained. "I won't be missed."

"What's the party plan, then?" he asked curiously.

Sophie shrugged. "I don't really know. Definitely a sparring match, some kind of feast, cake, and maybe a pillow fight if we're going by last time."

The Empath gave her a look of mock betrayal. "Having a pillow fight without the Keefester!"

Sophie shook her head in disapproval, trying to hide her smile. "I'll teach you how to fight, then. In exchange for you missing out on the party."

His eyes lit up. "Seriously? Isn't that, like, classified or whatever?"

She snorted. "I'm thinking about asking Alden or Forkle to get someone to teach you guys how to fight anyway. And me, too, since it would be weird if I pull off something with no fighting experience. You guys are going to be targeted for being friends with me. People will try to blackmail me and stuff like that. I need you to be able to protect yourself, since I can't be everywhere at once."

And because you're Gisela's son. She watched him grinning and joking around. If there's truly a god somewhere, she thought to herself, please let him remain unharmed by this war.

"The Sophster has arrived!" Fayn teased as she walked through the door. "Didn't expect you to be late."

"I have a double life to consider," she reminded him, glancing around.

The room was covered in wreaths of flowers and other Christmassy things. In the center of the room was a huge, undecorated tree dusted with snow. There were mountains of presents piled underneath it, that everyone had brought. Those would be handed out later, at random.