Moonlark Turned Evil

33: From the Skies

"My . . . father?" Sophie asked.

She was sitting in her chair, perfectly balanced, and yet she felt like the sky was crushing her. The earth was tipping upside down. The clouds were glitching out—

"Breath," Irily ordered, placing a hand on her shaking shoulders. The shadow mage had somehow managed to come up behind her without her noticing.

"I never even thought about my genetic parents until now," Sophie muttered, placing her cup on the table with trembling fingers. "But I guess it makes sense that they exist."

"How did that Forkle manage to get the DNA of a god?" Irily wondered out loud.

"Probably with his usual methods." Sophie managed to force a laugh, steading her shoulders.

Irily was her friend, but she was first and foremost an agent under Sophie's command. She had to act the role of a perfect leader, until the very end.

She stood up. "Well, thank you for coming on such short notice, Irily."

The silver haired woman sighed, as if to say, Stop shouldering everything by yourself, but smiled. "It was no problem."

"So." Linh took a breath, brushing a hand through her black hair. "We should start, then."

Fitz glanced around him.

Linh was on a green beanbag at the front of the room, looking nervous but determined.

Tam was sitting on a desk with a blank expression, legs crossed.

Biana was leaning against the windowsill, twirling a strand of brown hair around her index finger.

Dex was fiddling with a strange metal gadget from where he was on the floor, back propped up against the door to stop the triplets from rushing in on their meeting.

Keefe was leaning against the wall to Fitz's right, trying (and failing) to make himself look bored. His arms were crossed in a casual position, but his fingers were twitching.

Sophie hadn't come to Rhimeshire—Dex's house—because she was busy with homework.

That was why they were having this meeting now.

A meeting about Sophie.

It wasn't like they had a problem with her.

It was just blatanly obvious that she was hiding some big secret.

And of course, it wasn't like she needed to tell them everything, and she probably had some secrets because of her role as the Moonlark, but Fitz—and the others, too—wanted her to lean on them more.

To ask for their help, instead of trying to carry everything by herself.

"Well, if we're talking about lies . . ." Biana said, and all eyes turned to Keefe.

He held up his hands. "Woah woah, why're you all looking at me?"

"You're an Empath," Fitz stated.

"Wow, and I thought I was a Pyrokinetic."

His joke was met with blank stares.

"Okay, I'll take this seriously—but I'm just as clueless as you guys," Keefe said. "I mean, yes, I can tell you when she's lying, but how's that supposed to help us figure out her secret?"

"What does she think about the Black Swan?" Linh asked.

"We just established I'm an Empath!" Keefe protested. "I can't read her mind!"