Sophie never thought she would be in the Underground for a shower and clothes. But when they finally arrived at the underground safe house, she practically collapsed on the cot they provided for her and her family. A too cold shower and plain but warm clothes later, Sophie was starting to feel like a person again.
Kassandra lounged in her bed, reading through a book provided for her. The queen's mind struggled to understand the new dialects of Inalian, far different from the Inalian of her own time. Apparently, ancient vatarians weren't blessed with a natural polyglot ability like the modern ones.

Sophie gently sat on the edge of Kassandra's bed and placed a hand on Kassandra's knee.
"How are you?"

Sophie was still yet to fully understand what happened on that ship. But she did understand one thing. As they were about to collide with the cliffside, Kassandra took the bulk of the hit instead of Sophie, spinning her niece around to avoid getting the jetting rocks to the back. Sophie always assumed Kassandra didn't like her that much, both their constant fighting and her favoritism to her brother.

Kassandra sighed, dropping the book.
The black veins have now fully covered Kassandra head to toe, pulsing with power breaking at its vessel.
"It hurts. I can't move on my own anymore. I feel useless." Kassandra sighed, wiggling her leg from beneath the covers.

Sophie nodded, pursing her lips, "I can't even imagine, Kassandra. I'm sorry this happened."

Sophie carefully loosed a breath before asking, "Why did you protect me when we were on that ship?

Kassandra considered her momentarily, then gave Sophie a small but warm smile, "Those things I told you when we first met? They are true. I believe you will be the shepherd into the new age, and now you have the resources to do so. You may not realize it yet, but you are more important than I." She pinched Sophie's cheek, an action she had never done once to Sophie.

Alexios entered their room, kicking Sophie's feet until she made room for him on the bed.

"You haven't died yet?" Alexios asked Kassandra, tired but still teasing. Kassandra gave him a snarky smile, "No, not yet. If I'm going out, I'm going out in a better way."

Alexios chuckled, nodding a bit to himself. Sophie picked up Kassandra's book, cracking it open and thumbing through the pages. Her father would read her the same story when she was little. The story of the Amazon and the sailor who fell in love and conquered the evil queen of snakes. A silly little tale, but a good one.

But now, whenever Sophie imagined the queen of snakes, Cynna's face took her place. It turned the story a little sour for her.
Sophie smiled and turned to her aunt, "A love story?"

Kassandra stared at the book, almost distantly, "I miss Waiyu."

Princess Waiyu, the Chiranu princess and Kassandra's wife. Kassandra had lived thousands of years underground and alone, allowing her to mull over her life. It sounded agonizing to Sophie.

Alexios cleared his throat, and he reached into his jacket. He pulled out a small glass ball filled with a mysterious purple and black liquid mixed with little white flecks. He handed it to Kassandra with a tight smile, "I saved this from the crash."
Kassandra snatched the glass back faster than the eye could see.
Sophie loved that little trinket. Maria made it for Kassandra to help relieve stress. You could watch the magical liquid inside swirl and shudder for hours, and Kassandra often stared at it for hours. Maria said she figured that lowering Kassandra's stress would help keep Mephala at bay.

"Are we..." Alexios cleared his throat, pulling Kassandra out of her wonder of the tiny little glass ball, "Are we still going to Adonis's Isle'?"

Sophie spun on him, "Are you kidding? Of course not! We are heading back to the valley as soon as possible!"

Kassandra rolled her eyes, "Of course, I still have business there."
Sophie then spun and gaped at her aunt.

"What could you possibly have to do that is SO important? I know you want the Observatory, but we need to know when to quit!"

Kassandra hissed, "Keep your damn voice down! Tell the whole world about the Observatory, why don't you?"

Sophie threw her hands up in defeat, beginning to stalk the room in anger.

Kassandra straightened, "The Undergrounds said they'll escort us to the Isle, but they cannot bring us back."

"You promised me that if I said so, we would return!" Sophie spat.

Kassandra crossed her arms, "That is your fault for believing me."

"No, no!" Sophie got in Kassandra's face, "I'm the Keeper, Kassandra. I'm the Mentore of the Assassins, Leader of the Spartans, and Admiral of the pirates! I will not sway on this!" A deadly trio she had assembled. A trio that Kassandra told her to build.
Kassandra stared at her niece, not standing down. Sophie scoffed, grabbing a thin cloak.

"Where are you going?" Alexios barked after her.

"Away from that woman!" Sophie called to her brother, slamming the door behind her.

Sophie jogged down the rickety stairs to the surprisingly quiet brawling room. The dug-out brawling ring was empty, with no fights happening. The shady criminals of Inalia murmured at their tables, giving her dark, dirty glares.

It was times like this when Sophie missed the safety and cluelessness of the Lost cities.

"A little early to be drinking, kid." Sophie glanced up at the bartender and shook her head, "I just need a quiet moment."

The bartender passed her a glass of Earl Grey tea with the teabag in for too long. It was bitter but washed down her throat.
She tapped her nails on the bartop, her mind replaying the events. There were a lot of her men on that ship. She hadn't seen James yet, and Alexios hadn't mentioned him.

Sophie gulped back the last of her tea, tipping her head back and clamping a hand on her hood to ensure it didn't slide back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flitter of white hair leaving the tavern.

Of course, they didn't listen to her. Why did Alexios side with Kassandra and not Sophie? The prick.
Sophie threw some coins onto the countertop, pulled her hood tight over her head, and tailed after the white-haired queen.

(Sibylline original)
The sewers were surpassingly clean since these are the most traveled parts of them. Underground criminals and scum travel through here like it was an everyday stroll. Sophie tailed them for a good half mile before they came upon an exit lit by a bright orange bulb. Alexios carefully helped Kassandra and himself up the ladder, unaware of his sister peeping around the corner.

Kassandra was using a shoddy cane she found to maneuver through the streets. She probably wouldn't be able to walk independently after the crash. Alexios stood directly behind her, fiddling with the straps on his gauntlets. She was surprised neither of them had seen her yet.
She refused to go to the Observatory with them, but she also refused to see them hurt. So she would tail them, watch their business finished, and be back before she even needed to admit that she followed them.

It was early morning in Inalia. The rooster calls echoed throughout the valley and into the quiet streets, a rare feat for such a bustling city. Sophie kept glancing to and fro, unable to shake her anxiety about being in the hive of the Senate. The same Senate who wanted to see her dead.

Things were the same but also different. The classes were even more prominent, and the market stalls had been permanently closed. Probably a decree by the Senate so the consumers would go to the big fancy shops that fund even more nobles.

Adonis's Isle hadn't changed a bit, however. The sacred land of temples and gardens had even grown the same roses from four years ago. Kasandra was complaining about her cane, despite Alexios urging her to hush. Kassandra wasn't trained in the ways of stealth-like Alexios and Sophie were. Like the entire Morretti bloodline was.
Sophie tucked behind a tree, picking at the grass until she saw the movement of the Pythia walking out of her temple with a face of pure outrage.

Alexios looked ready to hit the woman, but Kassandra just stared stone-faced.
"You cannot be here! When I said I'd give you access to the Observatory, I did not  mean after you had blown part of the Senate building to save that foolish sister of yours!" Lucrezia, the holy Pythia, chastised.

Alexios stood his ground, murmuring something Sophie couldn't hear. Lucrezia huffed but, to Sophie's shock, stood aside.
What the hell could they be doing to make even the Pythia stand aside?
While Sophie tried to figure out how to get inside the Observatory without Lucrezia noticing, the Pythia crossed her arms and glared at the tree.

"I know you are there, girl."

Sophie remained where she was, but Lucrezia snapped her fingers, "Morretti! Come out from behind that tree."
Damn.

Pulling down her hood, Sophie glared at the Pythia.

"How did you-"

"The same way I knew Alexios and Kassandra were approaching. I got a vision in my sleep."

Sophie gestured to where Alexios and Kassandra previously stood, "You knew they were coming?"

The Pythia sighed, "A letter was thrown into my offering dish about a week ago, given to me by some peasant doing their holy rounds. At least so I thought. It was from Kassandra. She figured, me being the most powerful Seer of this generation, that I already knew of her existence. Which of course I did. She requested that she and Alexios walk in, and I've learned over these last 4 years to just let it happen now. You Morrettis are wrapped up with the Observatory and would probably find a way to get to it anyways. Just go." Lucrezia picked up her skirts and stomped back to her temple, grumbling.
Sophie shrugged, heading down the staircase to the Observatory below.

The stone was just how she remembered it. It was cool and rough, gracing the tips of her fingers as she carefully descended the stairs. She finally reached the main chamber, peeking in to see Alexios pacing while Kassandra fiddled with the right-facing portal.

Kassandra was wielding the artifact she somehow nabbed on her way out of the valley. The small golden glasses, an artifact that could open the portal to Eira, were already so shoddy it felt like they might disintegrate in Kassandra's calloused hands.

"Kassandra, this is not the way to execute this! She deserves to know!" Alexios whispered.

Kassandra glared over her shoulder, "You agreed you would help me with this."

"I said I would do it if the event arised. I didn't agree to help you cause-"

"You would only be delaying the inevitable!" Kassandra spun fully on him and, in doing so, spotted Sophie leaning against the rock.

Kassandra froze, glancing at the stolen artifact in her hand and her niece. Kassandra's head rolled back as she mouthed malaka to the ceiling.

Alexios spun as well, blanching when he saw his sister.

Sophie's blood didn't boil with anger as she expected. The same anger she felt whenever she thought of Leto. Instead, she felt like she was about to vomit her guts out onto the floor. And she felt weirdly embarrassed, like she was finding out she was the one left out when everyone went out together.

"So, this is what you two have been murmuring about? Trying to reconnect with Eira?" Sophie scoffed, striding into the room.
Alexios straightened and took a single step towards his sister, guilt apparent on his face. Sophie raised a hand, her eyes dark,

"Don't you dare."

Sophie strode to her aunt and snatched the glasses, the ancient artifact they were sworn to protect, out of her hand.

"Are you really that stupid? The Neverseen know we have these artifacts, are actively hunting us, yet you two run off to reconnect with the avatar of an ancient god WE ARE TRYING TO DEFEAT?!"

Silence settled over them. The glasses in Sophie's hand grew warm underneath the pressure of her palm. Or maybe it was the fact that they were starting to glimmer gold.
The Morretti's all jumped as the portal hissed, the symbols lining the portal entrance glowing silver.

"Ah shit." Sophie cursed as a young woman lounged on a blue velvet chaise, surrounded by Dunmer finery. Eira had cut her hair shorter since Sophie last saw the lady in waiting. She was frailer, and her actions were a bit more reserved now.
"Sarai, I think Ruy will get over it." Lysandra, or rather Eira, complained to the queen, who was out of sight about a previous conversation.
Close it, end the portal somehow! Sophie's mind screamed to her as her mouth dropped open, and she tried to find some sort of switch to turn it off.
And then Eira's eyes made contact with her own.

Egil's daughter didn't believe she was real at first. Eira went even paler, her light freckles looking like splotches of earth upon her face in contrast. She saw the three Morrettis staring, the family not fully realizing it worked.

Eira straightened to attention, her words whispered as if they were a chant to a god, "How?"

Sophie's hand slowly dropped, trying to figure out what to say. But Eira beat her to words, "No, no! This is just another illusion!"

Sophie's cocked a brow, "A what?"

"Though in my previous episodes the Mentore was never scarred." Sophie curled in on herself, her hand covering her left eye. This scar was one of the ugliest things to happen to her.
There was the distant sound of Queen Sarai inquiring if Eira was alright. Eira ignored her.

Kassandra strode forward, "Little Eira, do you remember me? It's Kassandra. We need your help."

Eira focused on Kassandra, narrowing her eyes, "The one who killed my father?"

Kassandra didn't hide her shock, "Please don't tell me you believe that as well? Your brother-"

"My brother is a fool. But..." Eira knotted her hands in her hair, "I don't know! This is just another illusion! Another episode! I need to find Ruy, he will help me calm down!" Eira stood, beginning to walk away.

"No! Eira, please! We need you!"

Eira spun on her heel, stomping back to the portal. She snatched a pair of fabric scissors from a maid's cart.

"Why can't my mind just leave me be?!" With the rage of a madwoman, Eira swung the scissors at the portal, severing the connection like it was a thread.

The portal in the Observatory died away, returning to nothing but a hunk of rock. The three Morrettis stood in shock in the darkroom. Sophie crossed her arms.
Eira thought they were nothing but an illusion, a trick of her mind. Had she been having manic episodes? Was that normal for her?

"So, are you happy now?" It was not the time to be a snarky brat, but Sophie felt like she deserved it.

Kassandra glared at her niece, "No, I'm not." Kassandra combed back her hair, the white a stark contrast again the black veins staining her entire body.

"I was actually really relying on Eira seeing reason." Kassandra grumbled, reaching for the glasses again to try and regain connection. Sophie held them out of her reach, getting into the queen's face.

"Now that we are alone again, kindly- what the fuck were you thinking?! We have been hidden for the past four years and then you just decided to ruin that because you, what? Got lonely? Decided that Eira would be your new buddy? Were you lonely, is that it?"

"Amalia, you must understand-"

"No, what I don't understand is that you were going to undo all of my hard work! I spend all this time and you two have the audacity to cut me out of something that could ruin everything!" Sophie turned to Alexios, "And you. My brother. The person I trusted more than anyone!"

Alexios opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Sophie felt needles pricking at her eyes, salt threatening to spill over. Is there anyone around here that would just listen?!

"Amalia-" Alexios didn't get to finish. The rock above them shuddered, dust sprinkling down on their heads. Sophie stifled a gasp when she heard the marching of boots.

She and Alexios met eyes once more, but no anger was in Sophie's eyes.
Just fear.

Kassandra grabbed her cane and made her way up the stairs, "Everyone move. Quietly."

Sophie tucked the glasses into her shirt pocket, securing the button over the top of it to make sure they wouldn't go anywhere.
The three Morrettis peeked out from the hidden door of the Observatory. An army of blue and yellow approached over the hill, their boots crushing the daisies and marigolds carefully curated for this Isle of peace and religious connection. The Senate had found them. And thus, so had the Neverseen.
The young blonde and her comrades, the Neverseen's number one enemy, was cornered right where they needed her.

Sorry this is late. I was depressed.
Please say thanks to Knowledge bear for helping me FINALLY getting this chapter out. Please remember to vote, comment, share, and follow!
_Sibylline_