Unedited.

Show her everything you have that she doesn't. That's what Pearl had told Sophie. Dress to impress. However the part that was on Sophie's mind was what Pearl had said about Fitz, well not him particularly but about her 'interest'. 'Make him yours in front of her. Claim him.' Pearl had said.

Sophie drank the elixirs Pearl had given her, staring in her bathroom mirror Sophie watched as her pale chapped lips colored and smoothed. The gold flecks in her eyes burned brighter, and her hair became glossy and curled slightly. After she showered, Sophie had fixed her hair and dressed. Her hair was still damp, spraying on cinnamon smelling perfume, Sophie checked her nails which Pearl had spent all night, giving a manicure. Sophie's teeth had always been straight and alined, and clean, but now they were blinding white, against her pink lips. The circles under Sophie's eyes vanished.

Sophie placed her circlet on her head before stepping out of the bathroom. Pearl was snoring on the couch, looking exhausted. Nearly all night was spent showing Sophie how to walk, and clipping up her attitude. Not only to face Ambra, but for the wedding. Sophie pulled on the boots she had learned to walk in, and lifted the brown cape. Pinning it with her family crest, she left a hasty thank you note for Pearl, and apology for not being there when she woke up. Sophie opened her door, taking a deep breath. It was time to face Ambra.

It was cold outside, and the sky was lighting to a foggy grey. Sophie hardly felt the cold, but she could still see her breath hanging in the air in front of her. Sophie walked the short way to her office, where she found only a small pile of letters for her. The top one was addressed to her from Emery. Sophie was thankful for something to do. Smoothing the back of her skirt she sat down and picked up the papers from Emery. Opening it she started reading.

Sophie,

In a week, the council is making a public appearance, to have a hearing from the citizens of the Lost Cities.
Every council member is required to make a speech.

Grant it, it does not have to be very long, sometimes only a few sentences, you are not required to say more, but please have a speech prepared to calm the crowds. We are expecting some unrest and uncertainty in them. Sincerely,
Emery.

Sophie set the letter aside and picked up the next one. It was addressed to her, but had no other name. Frowning Sophie opened it, and pulled out a note and thick map. The note was simple but yet it made Sophie's mind screech to a halt.

'Destroy the map, after you memorize it.'

Unfolding the map, Sophie's photographic memory committed it to her mind. But as Sophie stared at it she realized something that made her heart thunder. Tunnels, secret passage ways that lead through the lost cities, some leading all the way to Atlantis... One tunnel even in her office. The side notes told her how to open each tunnel, secret passage and where stairs were. Every single detail was in straight blocked words. Turning around Sophie looked at the wall behind her, with a massive framed painting of a landscape. Sophie's eyes searched out the corner, looking at the corner Sophie couldn't even see signs of a switch.

Sophie glanced at the map, being sure she had every single detail in mind she struck a match and set the map on fire, she set it on the metal tray on her clear desk. Sophie wanted nothing more than to check the painting to see if it was a hoax, but she forced herself to open the next scroll. She added the small note to the flames. The scroll was from Oralie, who was giving her a heads up about the public speaking, she also gave Sophie praise for keeping the work cleared up.

The next scroll came with a package. The scroll was from Dex. Opening it, thew words were hastily scrawled in his messy and quick writing.

'Tada. Hope you like them!
P.S. they glow in the dark at will.'

Opening the package Sophie couldn't help but smile at the new sucker punches. They were simple enough, with a soft brown cuff, a thick braid was in the middle. When Sophie moved it, she found home crystals, color coded and embedded in them. Golden amber brown was set in the middle, for Havenfield. Sophie slipped on the cuffs, they were loose, but tightened around her wrists, like a vice. They for perfectly. Sophie smiled, but wrinkled her nose as smoke filled them. Looking at the burned map and note that was smoking she looked over at the fire place, where it was supposed to open.

Sophie contemplated on seeing if it was true, but a knock on her office door pulled her out of her thoughts. "Sandor, what ever happens, you do not speak a word about it, understand?" Sophie asked sternly. Sandor only raised an eyebrow. Sophie sighed and looked back at the papers. "Come in." She called, as she straightened the pile of papers. "Hey, Sophie." Fitz said as he walked in. Sophie looked up and smiled. Fitz blinked as if stunned at her change in appearance. "Fitz." She greeted standing up, striding past Ambra, she wrapped her arms around Fitz. "How are you?" She asked, looking up at Fitz. Blinking Fitz seemed to have trouble getting his train of thought together. "Um..." He had wrapped his arms around her as well.

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "I wanted you to meet....someone." He said, staring down at her. "Really?" Sophie turned and looked at Ambra who's face was stormy. Sophie tucked herself under Fitz's arm, leaving her arms wrapped around him. "Oh." She said lightly. "Who is this?" She asked, looking at Ambra, as if she were looking at a child. "Ambra Minter." Fitz said. "Oh...her." Sophie said looking away from Ambra's beauty, Sophie leaned up and pressed a kiss to Fitz's jaw she saw Ambra's fists clench.

Sophie laid her head on Fitz's shoulder looking at Ambra. "I'm Sophie by the way. Although I'm sure you've heard about me." Sophie said with a haughty tone. "Yeah, I seen you at your punishment, and tribunal, and Kenric's planting." Ambra said calmly. Sophie gave a wince, "I guess I made a bad impression on most people." Sophie said, as she felt Fitz's arm snake around her tightly, making a clear and silent statement to Ambra. "So you two..." Ambra said. "We're...courting." Fitz said. Sophie smiled, "Yeah, oh, sorry did you want to sit down?" Sophie asked motioning to her office though her tone made it clear she wasn't offering.

Ambra strode in the office and Sophie separated from Fitz, and quickly took her seat. "I thought councilors couldn't have personal relationships." Ambra said. "My position as councilwoman." Sophie said, emphasizing the word 'councilwoman' watching Ambra squirm. "Is only temporary, for that I have had an exception." Sophie said. "Really?" Ambra her curiosity peaked. "Yeah, I have a position as representative waiting for me." Sophie said.

"You were serious about that? I heard you talking about it at Alfred and Mae's wedding." Ambra said.
"Yeah, I am. What about you? Are you interested in any fields of work?" Sophie asked. "I've wanted to work at the sanctuary for a while...but only empaths and talentless are allowed to work there... Because it's pretty much impossible if you're not." Ambra said. "Why would you want to work there?" Sophie asked just as curious as Ambra. "I like animals." She shrugged. "What ability do you have by the way?" Sophie asked. Ambra didn't answer for a second before she spoke. "I'm a froster." She mumbled.

Sophie became excited. Rowan was a froster. "Really? Can you make it snow?" She asked excitedly. Ambra looked surprised at her reaction but nodded. "Only a little bit. I'm not as strong as others." She said. "But still it's a cool ability." Sophie said. Ambra's eyes snapped to her, as if to see if she were joking. "You think so?" She asked hesitantly. Sophie nodded, "Yeah, one of my friends is a froster, he and I had a snow ball fight after school." Sophie said. A smile curved Ambra's lips up, "Really?" She asked. "Yeah, we got detention, and that's the story of how I learned how to dance." Sophie laughed. Ambra laughed, "Is it true you turned Lady Galvin's cape to silver?" She asked.

Sophie's face burned but she nodded, as Ambra started to laugh Sophie quickly spoke. "It was an accident!" She said. "Still pretty cool." Ambra said composing herself and Sophie remembered this was the girl that had kissed Fitz. Sophie became serious and glared and Ambra who realized the same thing and glared back. "So you are the one Fitz is waiting for?" She asked. "Yes. I am." Sophie said. "And I'm waiting for him. So naturally if someone were to try -not like they could- taking him from me, they'd have to watch their back." Sophie said folding her legs she rested her hands on the arms of her chair. Trying to look as regal as she could.

"But what is this someone really liked him?" Ambra asked. Sophie raised an eyebrow drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. "Than I think she would really have to watch her back." Sophie said. Ambra smiled giving a small laugh, as she leaned forward. "Is a councilwoman threatening to do something to a citizen?" She asked. Sophie leaned forward imitating Pearl's sinister smile. "No, Sophie Foster is threatening to do something to the person who dares try to take what's hers."

Ambra's smile widened threateningly. "What exactly is Sophie Foster going to do about it?"

Sophie sat back again, recrossing her legs, she raised her hand and rested it close to her chin. Ambra was tougher than she looked. "Has anyone ever told you, you're tougher than you look?" Ambra gave a real laugh this time as she sat back in the couch. "Once or twice." She said crossing her arms. "Y'know I've face a wild rampaging pillager, I've wrestled a T-rex, and have even been kidnapped three times and tortured...twice." Sophie said, staring at Ambra who froze. Sophie gave another smile, "I'm much tougher than what anyone thinks. So since I have business at the matchmakers, and council business to go about I'll let you leave with these words." Ambra had paled, and she looked like she was strapped to a ticking bomb. She couldn't look away from Sophie.

"Don't. underestimate. me." Sophie said slowly. Putting a heavy threatening tone in each word, that dripped with an unspoken promise. Ambra's jaw twitched, Sophie stood with a healthy smile that looked real. "I'm sure you have school to attend later today...or such." Sophie said making Ambra seem petty. Sophie said striding past the couch and to the door. Fitz who had been silently sitting at the opposite end of the couch stood and followed her, looking like he had a headache with trying to keep up with the conversation, which was friendly one minute, and threatening the next. Ambra walked into the waiting room and turned, waiting for Fitz.

"That conversation was hard to keep up wit-" Fitz's transmission was cut off, as Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his head down to hers, she kissed him firmly. In front of Ambra. Fitz wrapped his arms around Sophie and eagerly kissed her back, his lips moving against her own. The kiss was quick and stole both their breaths. When Sophie pulled away she and Fitz were smiling like idiots. Untangling herself from Fitz she sent Ambra a smirk. "He's mine." She transmitted to the girl, who turned away from her. "See you later." Fitz said breathlessly. Sophie straightened his tunic, winking, "Of course." She promised. Closing the door behind them Sophie's face burst with heat and she covered her face with her hands.

She had just done that...

Then she heard a squeak from the corner, then Sandor burst into snickers. "Shut up." Sophie scolded embarrassedly. "That. Was certainly amusing." He laughed. "I can't believe I just did... that." Sophie covered her face again. "Well you have business, and you shouldn't put it off any longer or you'll run behind schedule." Sandor said, with one last laugh. "Right." Sophie said firmly, standing up straight she tried her best to ignore the burning in her face. When she met Sandor's eyes he burst into laughter again. Sophie grumbled a few words Kyle had taught her, before yanking her office door open and striding out, her blush burning brighter.

~

All day, whenever Sophie thought abut kissing Fitz her face burned, and she had nearly stumbled over her words, and nearly messed up a wedding blessing.

Terik and Oralie were with her, and gave their own blessings. When Sophie had visited Eli, he had been eagerly accepted her offer. Sophie barely managed to finish an apple for lunch, before she had to leap to the next wedding. The rest of her day she was busy, having to stop at Foxfire to get the monthly update on the elite levels. Sophie got a few strange looks at her dress but most people seemed to approve and some girls even asked where she had gotten it from.

It was late when Sophie got home, and she felt exhausted, however Sandor held her back as he sniffed the air of the flat. He growled and whipped out star shaped darts. Sophie's mind snapped into action and she held her hands out in front of her, ready to inflict. Clapping the lights switched on showing a dark cloaked figure injecting the fruit, in the fruit bowl on the table with something. Before any of them could move the figure ran and jumped through a window, shattering the glass. Sophie and Sandor raced to the window, only to see a blond haired elf force shift. Vanishing. Looking at Sandor, Sophie knew he had seen the scarred face too. There was no mistaking it.

Brant had tried poisoning her.

But that wasn't the only realization that made chills run down Sophie's back. People wanted her dead, and they wouldn't stop until she was disposed of. People were trying to assassinate her.

She was a target.

(How was that?)