Enemies to... Lovers? - By SilvenySlays :)

~Training Time, Chapter 19~

(Keefe's POV)

She shoved me to the beginning of the training course and told me she'd be playing darts on the other side of the room as she watched me. I had to succeed on the first three tries, or else she would kill me.

Since when did she become so ruthless? Wait... It must be Vespera. That's the only explanation. She must be influencing her.

I started on the monkey bars, not realizing they were covered in slippery butter. Somehow, I made it across.

I wiped my hands on my pants and glanced at Sophie. She was watching me like a hawk. She pulled out a whistle and blew it, "Keep it moving, Sencen, we don't have all day!"

I smirked and ran through the spike maze as quickly as I could. But when I reached the lava climbing wall, it singed my clothes and made me yelp in pain. I fell, and a buzzer blew. Sophie stood over me.

"Strike one." She scolded. She helped me stand up (the one drop of kindness she had left) and ushered me towards the beginning again. I sighed heavily, my hands and arms tired. I kept moving. The second time, I managed to get past the lava climbing wall. But I got stuck on the throwing star regimen. I couldn't get a bullseye, no matter how hard I tried.

Then suddenly, I got it. I sprinted past after doing my famous wiggle dance that made Sophie smirk. I don't think she can smile anymore, just smirking.

Like me.

The next part was an alligator session. I had to ride a motorcycle through a lake of alligators without dying. Guess what? I lost control on the motorcycle. Another buzzer blew, and I groaned.

"Strike two, Sencen. You're getting closer to death." Sophie scolded. She dragged me off the motorcycle and plopped me at the beginning. One last time.

My thoughts were a blur as I swung through the course. I didn't necessarily want to be part of Sophie's rebel group, but I didn't want to die, either. Maybe I could fix this.

Suddenly, I realized that I was at the last part of the course. The tightrope.

I held a throwing star in my hands as I balanced myself and finally made it across. I said "LES GOOOOO" and Sophie looked at me weird. So I stopped.

Then she clapped slowly. "That was decent. I completed it on my first try, but whatever. Welcome to the Waywards."

As if on cue, the elevator lift that me and Sophie had come from began to lower. I stared in anticipation.

Then I gasped.

The seven people on the lift weren't unfamiliar.

"Guys, is that you?" I whispered. Tam, Linh, Marella, Dex, Biana, Maruca, and Fitz all looked embarrassed.

"We left the Black Swan to come support Sophie." Biana explained sheepishly. "We're here to design our new Waywards outfits. Since you're not already dead, I'm guessing you passed."

"Wait, you guys did the course?" I asked. They all nodded.

"She has different modes of evil." Tam explained. "Sometimes she's just got an attitude, and sometimes... She'll kill anything or anyone in her path. But she's definitely not the Sophie she used to be."

Sophie scoffed.

"See what I mean?" She glared at Tam.

"Anyway, Biana, go do your job over at the weapon station. Call us over when you need to take our measurements." Sophie instructed. Biana scurried over in obedience, like she was now scared of her best friend. I sighed.

"So... What is this group doing, exactly?" I asked. Sophie pulled out a piece of paper like she had prepared this all in detail.

"Get rid of the Neverseen," she read aloud. "Get rid of the Council. Get rid of matchmaking and Talentlessness... And take over the Elvin community. Pretty simple."

"Okay..." I mumbled.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Ma'am." I added. She looked satisfied, so she rolled up the paper again.

"Now, to establish your roles..." She pulled out a different piece of paper. "Dex, you are my weapon builder. Designed specifically for killing the Neverseen and defending us from their attacks." Dex didn't look to comfortable with that, but he nodded.

"Maruca, you're going to be working with Dex on that defense part." Maruca moved next to Dex.

"Biana is our designer and invisibility master..." She glanced at the bottom of the paper and then back up. "Marella, you're in charge of training extra so you can counter Fintan's power. It might take a while, but you can do it. Probably."

"Tam and Linh, you guys are double trouble. If we need you, we need you."

"And..." She glanced at me. "Keefe, you're our weapon agent. You need to brush up on that dagger throwing, because you're going to be training everybody. Got that?"

"Yes ma'am." I mumbled.

She nodded. "And I'm your captain, so I'll be in charge of the master planning and bossing you guys around."

"Fitz, you're our telepathy dude. Deal with it." She snapped. Fitz shrunk back.

She folded the paper and tucked it away.

"Everybody come over here!" Biana shouted. We all hustled over. She showed us two pictures. One was a picture of a female sketch wearing black pants and a black shirt. The cloak on the figure's shoulders was dark gray, with a W on it.

She held a grappling hook and notes in Biana's handwriting were written on the side. The boys had a similar design, and we all had chain necklaces that would allow us to communicate. According to Biana's notes, we were going to get rid of our registry pendants so we could stay discreet.

"They look pretty good." Sophie admitted. "Can you have them done by tomorrow?"

"I can do that. Just let me measure you guys, and I'll get to sewing." Biana decided.

"Perfect."

*****

The next morning, we all slipped on our outfits. To be honest, I looked even cooler in black. I tried to sneak up on Sophie with my hood over my head. I got a kick to the stomach and a scolding, but it was hilarious.

Sophie guided us to the top of a hill. We stood there, staring down at the ocean.

"Sooo why are we standing here?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"To look dramatic and cool." Sophie snapped. "Duh. Now, come on."

She guided us down the hill towards the water. She swirled her pinky in the clear droplets, and suddenly, thunder boomed in the sky. Rain came pouring down.

"You can summon the elements?" I asked. She nodded.

"Stellarlune is the most powerful element, after all. It controls all of them." Sophie replied calmly. Her eyes flickered pink.

Love.

I held my breath.

Then when she looked at me, I could see a glimpse of sympathy.

As quickly as it came, it was gone.

*Oopsie. I have to go to my football game. Bible verse for todaaay: "Cast all your anxiety on the Lord, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

Have an amazing day y'all, sorry, I have to go now!

TEAM FOSTER-KEEFE FOR THE WIN!

-SilvenySlays :)