A/N I am, as I said before going to start making longer chapters so this book doesn't have like a hundred parts! 

TW: fighting, mentions of scars and cuts (not sh), a bit of blood

[Biana]

"So, we know that he felt someone's heart emotions, and he wrote about it in his journal?" I ask after Sophie gave a summary of the journal. 

"Yep." Keefe says. 

"And so.... do we know who's?" I ask. 

"'Her emotions were intense, the longing for someone she once loved and the hatred she felt for herself afterletting him go. Her pain was so real and true, the emotions were raw and tangible. Almost as if they were straight from the heart.'" Sophie reads. 

"Any ideas who it is?" Tam asks, I can't believe I forgot he was here. 

Both Sophie and Keefe shake their heads. 

"It's so familiar but I can't put my finger on it." Keefe says. 

I repeat the entry in my head, trying to put a connection on it. The longing for someone she once loved and the hatred she felt for herself after letting him go. Letting who go? And then it clicks.

"I know who it is! But you're not going to like it." I say, directing the last bit to Sophie.

"Bring it on," she says, "who is it?"

+++

(Sophie)

Biana was right. I don't like this. I haven't talked to Oralie since finding everything out. And now I have to investigate her?

We walk along Lumenaria streets until we find the Councillors' castles. Diana knocks on the door second to farthest from the entrance, on a bright pink door. This is going to be a long day. 

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Keefe asks for what I'm sure is the hundredth time.

 "I'm sure." I say. 

I squeeze his hand. With a reassuring squeeze back he turns to Biana. 

"I assume you and Tam were writing out our questions and things back home?" 

"Yeah, obviously." She replies. 

I look over at Tam and see him keeping a tight grasp on Biana's hand. I then realize that he has to be nervous to be around the residences of Councillors after everything he's been through. So I transmit to him, hoping to be some help.

I'm not going to let anything go down, everything we're doing is completely legal. 

A/N I just had to add that it's so sweet, I think I wrote it badly though. Anyway, on with the chapter!

"Okay we're here." Biana says as we walk up to the door.  

I knock as loud as I can. Oralie opens the door, looking somewhat messy. Something flashes in her eyes, regret maybe?

"Sophie?" She moves aside to let us in.

 "Hi. Can we talk?"

"Come in, come upstairs, I'll get us some lushberry juice and we can talk about whatever this is all about." 

We follow her up to the kitchen. Her castle is slightly messy and for a second I wonder if it's because of me, or if it's the Council. She sets some lushberry juice and butterblasts on the crystal table, gesturing for us to sit on the poof stools surrounding it. She then sits down and focuses her attention to me.

"Sophie-" Oralie starts.

"No, it's okay. I'm being immature, let's just get this over with."

{Tam}

"So let me get this straight, this happened right after Fintan's healing? You were dealing with your grief and not carrying yourself 'professionally' and you were taking a moments break from duties. Lord Cassius accidentally bumped into you and felt some of your weird heart emotions?" 

"Yes, though I might not use the word accidentally, he took advantage of my situation to try to prove himself as an Empath." Oralie said. 

There she goes, assuming the worst. That's the worst part about the Council, they always make assumptions. Though I'm guessing she's right with this one.

"Oh I definitely wouldn't," Keefe says, "he just couldn't pass up an opportunity to feel a Councillor's emotions when they were crying. He wanted credit for deciphering your feelings." 

"He sent a letter explaining what I was feeling in depth. I think he thought it would make him look intelligent, like this would be some revolutionary concept. I can show you the letter if you'd like." Oralie says. I nod and she hurries off.

"Wow! This place is such a pretty shade of pink!" Biana pointed out.

"A bit much for me. I think black would be really nice," I say. 

"Imagine Councillor Darek's castle! Bright red!" Keefe says. 

Then Keefe and I get in a huge debate whether black or red is better, and the girls just watch laughing. 

"Just like old times." I hear Sophie says through a fit of laughter. 

She's right, Keefe is back to his old self, or mostly at least. He's determined to show his mother he's not afraid. I have to respect that.

"BLACK LIKE THE SHADOWS!" I shout. 

"RED! IT GRABS ATTENTION!" Keefe screams. 

"BOYS!" Councillor Oralie shouts, but you can tell she's holding in a smile. 

"Please keep it down, my castle is very close to Alina's, and she can't know you're here. Here is the letter. You best get going." She says.

"Do you not want to help us figure this out?" Sophie questions.

"Councillor Emery is coming for a meeting in a minute or two and this," she adds, gesturing to us, "is not Team Valiant business, even Biana and Sophie being here isn't great."

With that, we gather our notes and head out the door.

+++

[Biana]

I hold my home crystal up towards the sun. 

"Let's go!" 

I grab Tam's hand instinctively and Keefe smirks. He looks at me funny, but grabs Sophie's hand as she grabs my other hand. Together, we walk into the light. 

"BIANA AMBERLY VACKER!" Fitz shouts, "THERE YOU ARE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW CONFUSED I WAS BY YOUR NOTE?! 'OUT DOING STUFF?' HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO FIND YOU WITH THAT!" 

"You weren't supposed to find me." I say. 

"But-"

"Son, if she didn't want to be found that's fine, give her some space." Mom interrupts, appearing out of nowhere. 

"NO!" Fitz shouts. "SHE COULD HAVE BEEN CAPTURED BY THE NEVERSEEN AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK!"

"WHY ARE YOU BEING SO PARANOID?! THE WORLD MIGHT BE MORE DANGEROUS BUT I'M NOT A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE! WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT ME, YOU NEVER USED TO. TRYING TO EARN POINTS TO WIN BACK MY TRUST, AFTER EVERYTHING YOU DID? DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK I'M GOING TO RUN OFF TO THE NEVERSEEN?"

Fitz aggressively grabs my arm as I start to run off, tearing my sleeve and revealing fresh scars, shimmering with tiny specks of broken glass.

I hear footsteps behind me so I vanish, I don't want to be anywhere near Fitz. I turn around and see Sophie and Tam rushing toward where I vanished, so I reappear. 

"Bi! Are you okay?" Tam asks, looking at my arm, which and slowly started to bleed again.

"N-no." 

"What was that all about?" 

"Fitz thinks I'm going to join the Neverseen. Because I've been seeing Alvar."

Sophie's face shifts between confusion, anger, and understanding so quickly. I knew it would be hurtful but when I saw Alvar's letter I had to hear him out. And, I have to admit he makes some sense. He didn't know he was being followed, he didn't know Vespera was going to come back for seconds. I'm sure of it. 

"The last time we met, Vespera followed him, she wasn't done back in Nightfall." 

I look at the scars scars from Nightfall, a reminder of the sacrifices I've made and will always make for my world. I then look at my new scars, the sign that Vespera's not done, and she never will be. The blood trickles down my arm, and it's too much, my eyes get fuzzy and everything fades to black.

+++

"Where am I? What happened?" I ask, jolting up.

"The healing center, and you blacked out at the sight off your own blood." Elwin explains. 

"Oh."

"You'll be okay, though it was one heck of a job getting all that glass out of your cuts. By the way, you up for visitors?"

"Yeah, I guess." 

Elwin walks over to the door and as soon as he opens it, Tam, Keefe and Sophie barge in, my mom following behind them. 

"Bia!" Sophie runs over to carefully give me a hug.

"Are you okay?" Tam and Keefe ask in the same tone at the same time.

"I'm fine, it really wasn't a big deal, I mean it wasn't like I was almost dying." I glance at Bullhorn, who's sitting on Elwin's chair.

 My mom smiles at me, she's concerned but looks relieved. Sophie lets out a sigh, Tam looks worried, and Keefe- I do a double take. 

"Keefe! What happened?" He's holding a bag of snow to his cheek.

 "Fitz happened." His voice is cold. 

"Oh Keefe what?" 

"After you ran out I shouted at him and he punched me. I don't blame him though, the tension was high and I think he's been really uptight. I just shoved him out of the way and left to try and find you. By the time I got there you were passed out."

"You let that happen, for me?" I ask. 

"I'd do anything for you, you're practically my little sister.." 

"Thank you." I say. 

"Hey but you gotta give some credit to your boyfriend, he was the one who brought you here when I didn't know what to do." Sophie chuckles.

I let out a slight laugh and looked over at Tam, who was blushing.

"Mom?" I ask. 

"It's true. Based on what Sophie told me I can see why Fitz was worried for you. But we trust your judgement, and if you don't think Alvar meant to do it, I trust you. You have some things to work out with your brother though." I suffocate my mother with a hug.

"I guess I don't blame Fitz for anything but punching Keefe. I see why he's mad at me but, he needs help. The world can't be his punching bag."

Everyone nods, agreeing with me.

"Keefe," my mom says, "will you come with me for a second?" I give him a nod and he follows my mom out the door. 

"Wait!" Sophie says when they're gone. 

"You never denied it when I said Tam- Tammy was your boyfriend!" Sophie squeals, this is the first time I've heard Sophie squeal, or be interested in boy drama.

"Sophie!" Tam moves to hit her jokingly.

"I- uhh." I say. 

"Don't worry about it Bia. Here I'll leave you lovebirds alone." With that Sophie holds up her home crystal and leaped to Havenfield. 

"Bi, I-" Tam starts but I cut him off. 

"Tam Song, I've had a crush on you since the day we met. I'll never forget the look in your eyes that that first day. I was determined to show you that hope and trust and friendship is real, and I hope I've shown you even just the start."

If you don't put everything out there then what do you do with the what ifs?

"Biana, I think you're still too tired for this. I don't want you to say something you would regret and I don't want to know that you didn't like me after all. I've liked you all this time. If you remember this tomorrow come find me then. Get some rest."

He holds up his home crystal, and leaps away before I can find the words to tell him how I really feel. I'm left sitting there alone, well, apart from Elwin, who's got a smile sappy enough to counter Edaline's.

+++

A/N I'm so sorry I took so long to edit this, I've been lacking motivation, but I'm back on track and I have a lot of ideas to fix up this plot line. I appreciate you guys sm and I hope I can make this work for you. 

Let me know how you feel about the edited versions in the comments and if you have any suggestions let me know. 

Byeee 

-Isla