Hey guys, wow, okay I might be coming back! And actually posting things! I know, it's super exciting and stuff but anyway I know that everyone's been DYING so here you are.

ALSO SPOLIER FOR UM NIGHTFALL SOMEWHERE

RECAP: "Her secret ability is..."

0o0o0o0o0o

"Her secret ability is Mesmer, Sophie." Mr. Forkle's eyes were grim and fearful as he looked into Sophie's. "Do you realize what that means? She'll have the power to force us all to commit atrocities beyond the Forbidden Cities' comprehension. It would break our mind to think about it!"

Bronte walked into the room. "I came as soon as Alden hailed me." He ran his fingers through his shortly cropped hair. "This is bad. Very, very bad. Gisela, with her lack of conscience, can force us to commit atrocities of which the thought would break us."

"Wow...way to go," Ro deadpanned, "but the Forklenator just said the exact same thing, even down to the 'break our delicate and probably sparkly elven minds' part."

"Delicate is not the word I would have used," said Bronte. "And I highly doubt my brain is... sparkly." He said the word with such disdain even Ro couldn't disapprove.

"Oh, really?" Sophie asked, unconvinced. "Because last I heard, the Councilers know some pretty sketchy stuff. Heck, they've done some pretty sketchy stuff. I don't think you get to claim innocence against 'atrocities'. You knew what Vespera had done to innocent humans. Innocent humans! And yet you all buried it away in your archives and you just don't seem to care!"

"That is not the case!" Bronte said, his voice rising. "What happened with Vespera was a regrettable and tragic event, but it does not define us. I should think you of all people would know how it feels to be categorized because of a mistake, or even because of skewed judgement."

Sophie bit her lip. "I do. I just don't think you get to claim innocence after all you've done!"

"Interesting how you throw around the word you as though I personally committed the act that enabled Vespera to escape or as though I myself had just let her murder and torture humans in Atlantis all those years ago."

"You didn't stop her!"

"I didn't know."

"But you didn't even try to find out! You've always been prejudiced against humans."

"Again, this was not me personally. You forget that we have made mistakes, and that we is us elves, and you are an elf."

"I wasn't even born!"

Calm down, Miss Foster. This isn't the way to handle things, Mr. Forkle transmitted. Sophie blocked him.

"Dang Foster, letting the feisty side come through." Keefe tilted his head. "I like it! It's cute on you. Although, not as cute as my hair. I'm sorry. Nothing can beat The Hair."

Sophie laughed nervously, pulling a few eyelashes out.

"Nothing except your ego," Tam grumbled, tugging his bangs over his eyes. "Seriously, if it gets any bigger your head will explode."

Bronte rolled his eyes. "Mr. Sencen, this is not the time. And Miss Foster, that is disgusting."

"I'm afraid it is the time!! Foster's being all pale and nervous and--" he threw himself dramatically on the ground, throwing his hand on his forehead and shifting his voice up a few octaves, "Oh please, Hunkyhair save me! All these problems and somehow I never realized I needed you!! Oh I love you!"

"I DO NOT SOUND LIKE THAT!" was the first thing Sophie thought to say. "And I'm not  in love with you!"

"Sure you're not. Sureee." Keefe blew a kiss in her direction. Fitz clenched his fists.

"Ugh, and the Great Foster Oblivion strikes again," Ro groaned. She pulled out a dagger--at odds with her bright pink fingernails, and began to spin the dagger over her fingers. "Please, let's just do something about Creepy Mom!! Seriously! That's the problem here. You elves overthink everything. Honestly, get me close enough and one throw--" she mimicked throwing a dagger-- "and Creepy Mom is no more!"

"You don't seem to realize we cannot do that. Our minds--" Bronte started.

"Would shatter, yada yada yada...clearly, you're deaf. Let's try again." Ro rolled her eyes. "YOU. GET. ME. CLOSE. I. STAB. CREEPY. LEADER. MOM. PERSON."

Keefe flinched. 

As much as he knew his mom was evil... Sophie knew there was still a part of him that craved her love and affection and didn't want his mom to die. It was just natural, as much as he would never admit it.

"Look." A crisp, accented voice broke into her turmoiling thoughts. Fitz. "So she's a Mesmer! Let's just take her out--Sophie, we're Cognates. I'm sure we can handle her! Plus, if it was just triggered, she's not even trained. We can practice on Grady, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"I'm afraid Cognates isn't the answer, Mr. Vacker." Mr. Forkle looked gravely concerned. "Gisela is powerful, we all know that. And if she's manifested as a Mesmer--"

"Wait," Linh said. "How do we even know she's a Mesmer?"

Sophie took a step back, stunned that she'd completely missed this fatal flaw. "Yeah, how did  you know?"

"Just trust me. I know Gisella well." Ew, Sophie did not want to hear the story behind thatI. Mr. Forkle gazed into the wall of Biana's room as though it held the answers. Wait--Biana's room?

They were still in Biana's room.

Seriously. This was getting ridiculous.

"I don't care." Biana set her shoulders. "We can deal with this tomorrow." 

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow sounded wonderful.

"And in the meantime... WE CAN FINISH TRUTH OR DARE!" Biana shouted. 

Bronte raised his eyebrows. "Never mind. I don't want to know. Just don't let it interfere with any... beneficial connections you might already have, Miss Foster."

"Beneficial connections?" Ro snorted. "Is that your way of saying, don't fall in love with Fitzipoo because you have an important brain thing that makes a group of snooty, sparkle covered intellectuals look smart when you do it'? And while I agree, don't fall in love with dreamy teal eyed Fitzy over there, it's for entirely different reasons. Ice blue reasons. Far more dreamy, handsome, loyal--"

"I think that's quite enough," Bronte said. 

"Y'know, for once the Brontler and I agree on something," Keefe said, his eyes glaring daggers and warnings at Ro. She winked and patted a package of amoebas strapped to her thigh.

Bronte rubbed his temples. "Please never call me that again."

"I agree," Keefe agreed. "It's kinda stiff. Maybe...Bronty? Or...Bronetty. Or...WAIT, I GOT IT!! BRONTO! Get it? Like pronto, cuz he's always on time, but with a B, cuz his name starts with a B!"

Ro patted his shoulder.

Even Sophie had to cringe.

"I will take my leave." Bronte marched from the room.

"Not my best nickname?"

 Mr. Forkle sighed. "Mr. Se-Keefe. I know you're going through some...things--"

"I'M NOT GOING THROUGH ANYTHING! I'M PERFECTLY FINE AND MY LIFE IS GREAT! PLUS I HAVE FOSTER!! HAVE YOU SEEN HOW CUTE SHE IS? SHE'S LIKE A LITTLE GREMLIN THAT WANTS TO BITE YOU BUT ALSO JUST WANTS TO SNUGGLE AND IT'S SO ADORABLE!"

"I won't disagree." Fitz smiled his movie star smile at Sophie, and her heart fluttered. While half of her got stuck on the does that mean they both think I'm cute part, the other half was still focused on Lady Gisella. 

"Guys, we need to focus on Lady--"

"Tomorrow. We will, tomorrow." Mr. Forkle shocked everyone. "Sophie needs rest."

Once he exited the room, Biana turned an evil smile on the group.

"TRUTH OR DARE TIME. AGAIN."