Unedited.

"Should I ask, why you look like you want to jump out of the plane?" Kyle asked, an hour after Sophie woke up, and crawled into the co-pilot seat, staring out the window. She had contacted an elf! She could have asked for help! She could of gotten back to the Lost Cities!

"Just thinking." Sophie replied smoothing out her facial features. "Hopefully it's not thinking about jumping out of the plane." Kyle said. "No." Sophie shook her head. Were there more lost elves? Were they lost? Did they know they were elves?

Sophie's ears popped with the high altitude, but the mint gum Kyle had given her, helped. "I know things might be worrying you right now. But you'll get your memories back, and Nick...I promise if you don't like him, if you just want a vacation, call me right away." Kyle said. "I'll be there the next the next day." He promised. Sophie smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Kyle. I'm just thinking...trying to remember... Before." Sophie pressed her hands to her sides. The bruises had healed, but how had she gotten them? Did someone hurt her? And what had her journal meant about being poisoned? Did someone try to kill her? Was she in danger? Who was this Alvar? And the flashes of faces she got, who were they?

And those eyes, those teal blue eyes that swarmed around her, like a blanket covering her with warmth, Sophie wanted to know whose eyes they were, she wanted nothing more then to see those eyes. Who was the owner? And the voice? The voice which hardly ever stopped talking. The many tones of calming, pleading and the tone...the tone of gentle trust, caressing her mind, causing peace to wash through her. She wanted to meet the owner of that voice and those eyes. She wanted to be close to them. "Don't try to remember that to much. Maybe you fell down the stairs...or fell down a mountain while trying to ski..." Kyle offered.

Sophie looked at him. He had seen the bruises to, and they weren't from stairs or skiing. He sighed, "Look I won't lie to you." He said. "Those bruises did look like someone had done them, and I know it might scare you about who. But I... Rose went through a lot of that crap as a kid...it's why she kept asking you about them, but look at the bright side, you're moving half way across the world to Alaska, you're going to live with your old baby sitter and his wife. Nobody can get to you, no one can hurt you there." Kyle said. Sophie sighed and wrapped the brown jacket tighter around her.

"If it was someone...what if they come after me?" She asked voicing her thoughts, that had kept her awake at night. "If someone tries finding you, they have to go through Rose...literally, and they will already be at the police station so all they have to do is nab them. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." Alden said smiling gently at Sophie. Sophie glanced around Alden's aquatic office, as she sighed. That was his favorite saying.

Sophie gasped. Alden! Alden Vacker was Alvar's Dad! "What?!" Kyle asked jumping at Sophie's panicked gasp. "I just...I uh...." Sophie glanced at Myth who stared at her with those dark watery brown eyes. "I remembered something." Sophie said as she pulled her journal out. "That's great! Right?" Kyle asked. "I think so..." Sophie said as she tapped her pen to her chin before writing. "Well what exactly did you remember?" Kyle asked. "Um...well I remember someone's Dad. I don't remember the person very well, but the dad...he...he has always been kind to me..." Sophie said before she started writing. Her head spinning, if Alvar had helped poison her? Did that mean Alden had been in on the plan? But Alden...he was good. Sophie was sure about it. Positive.

But if Alvar was his son...

One problem at a time. Sophie told herself as she took a deep breath. She just needed to focus on finding a way back to the Lost Cities... To Eternalia.
"You look angry now." Kyle said. "It's just that...I'm not sure about Alden's son..." Sophie said. "Remember Rose and I will protect you at all costs..." Kyle said. Sophie placed her journal away, "It's still going to bother me until I remember." Sophie said. "Well buckle up kid, we're almost there." Kyle said. Sophie strapped herself into the seat, and looked back to see Myth brace himself.

~
There he stood. Sandy hair was trimmed and combed in a professional look, he had on dark work pants, work shoes, and a white button up shirt, with rolled up sleeves as he waited in the warm airport, bustling with bodies.

His grey eyes swept over the crowd, wondering if he would recognize the girl, he last saw when she had just been a few days before five years old. She'd be thirteen now...how had she ended up in Alaska? How had her parents and sister died? How had she gotten hurt? Questions flew through his mind, as he waited in the small airport. Walking through the crowd with a purposeful stride, a man with messy black hair strode through the crowds, a black and blue duffle bag over his shoulder he held the gloved hand of a blonde girl who wore a brown leather jacket that was to big for her, with wide brown eyes that seemed wild and ecstatic with nerves and excitement.

His eyes slid past the girl, looking, before stopping and darting back to the girl, who stood as still as a statue staring at him with those round eyes. That was her. Nick smiled kindly and opened his arms. Just as she did when she had only been four she launched into his arms. "Nick!" She smiled squeezing his neck tight. "Eliza!" He said lifting her off the ground, and swinging her around. "Look at you." He said after he set her on her feet. Observing her. Her silky blonde hair fell past her shoulder nearly reaching her stomach, though her smile was still the same. Sophie grinned up at Nick, "Look at me? Look at you! A doctor, married and everything." Sophie laughed, as Kyle walked up to them.

Behind him, the massive enclosed crate, the airport required for large, was on wheels. "Kyle, this is Nick. Nick this is Kyle." Sophie said as she placed her hand on top of the crate where Myth quietly sat, waiting to be let out. The men shook hands, and Nick thanked Kyle, who promised it was the only human thing to do. Sophie stared around the airport. Her eyes scanned over the bundled up humans, grey eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, violet eyes, blue eyes. Sophie's eyes darted back to the corner where she had seen the blue eyed man in a suit, he was staring right at her. His eyes were far to blue to be human. Sophie tried zoning in on his thoughts but he quickly turned away, pulling his collar down as he rubbed his shoulder, Sophie stared at the tattooed black swan it's neck arching just below his ear.

The man hurried away. Sophie took a step prepared to follow him,but Kyle's hand clenched on her shoulder. "No getting lost, or wondering off. Again." He scolded lightly. Sophie couldn't help but grin. She had accidentally got lost at the small airport in Arizona. Nick was hoisting her duffle bag on his shoulder. He looked beyond relieved to see her, Kyle kneeled down to her height. "Remember call me, if you ever need anything." Kyle said, Sophie her eyes stinging, knowing she wasn't going to see Kyle for a long time. "I will." She nodded. "Don't lose the journal..and don't get lost in a storm again." He said. Sophie smiled, "I am the storm." She said trying to lighten the mood.

Kyle scoffed, which sounded choked up. "Nick is going to take care of you now, okay?" Sophie nodded as she tried to blink back the tears that burned in her eyes. Kyle smiled, "Take care of yourself kid. I'm going to miss you." He said. Sophie threw her arms around Kyle's neck. "Thank you door everything." She said trying not to cry. Kyle squeezed her tightly. "You're welcome. Now go start a new life. Everything is going to be okay." He promised, as he pulled away. Sophie took shaky breath nodding. "Oh..." Sophie reached in her bag, and pulled out the wrapped palm sized boxes. "When you and Rose are together, open them." Sophie said. "And no opening it on the plane." Sophie said as Kyle took the boxes.

"Alright kid."

"Promise you will only open it when Rose opens hers." Sophie said. Kyle grinned. "I promise." He said as he placed the two boxes in his pocket. He stood up, straight. "You ready to go Eliza?" Nick asked reaching his hand out. Sophie looked at Kyle, then to Nick, and back. Kyle nodded encouragingly. Sophie picked up the handle of Myth's crate and took Nick's hand. She took a step towards the door, walking...forward...away...at the doors she stopped and turned, dashing back to Kyle she hugged him one last time. "One last hug." She said, before stepping back and hurrying after Nick. Kyle smiled and waved. Sophie glanced one last time over her shoulder, at him, over his shoulder the same elf stood, staring at her.

As Sophie's eyes darted around the airport she picked out several black swan tattoos. She smiled at Kyle one last time before hurrying out. "So this Myth...I heard he was pretty big." Nick said nervously as he opened the back of the black SUV. The seats had been placed down, leaving the back empty. "But." Nick said glancing at the large crate..."I didn't expect lion size big."

"He's bigger." Sophie said as she pulled open the crate. Myth hopped into the back of the SUV slapping Nick in the face with his tail. "What the?!" Nick asked staring at Myth who curled up, hiding his face with his thick white tail. "He just finished shedding, he was brown earlier." Sophie said as she shoved the cart into the outside cart areas. "That isn't a dog." Nick said, which made Myth growl, "He's a mixed breed and a companion." Sophie said as she climbed in the back with Myth. Nick was looking like he was asking himself 'what have I gotten myself into?' Sophie could hear his thoughts of surprise and disbelief, she quickly blocked the sharp thoughts as she accepted her duffle bag.

Five minutes felt like five hours of awkward silence. Sophie played with the key chain on her journal after she had written about the strange tattooed elves with the same black swan, watching her, as if they were watching prey. It made Sophie feel afraid. Sophie fondled with her still sore ears and earrings, before they for to sore, and she went back to making small braided pleats into Myth's thick white fur.

"So how did you end up in Alaska?" Nick asked, as they stopped at a red light. "I don't know." Was Sophie's awkward response. "Kyle seemed like a very nice man. Is he married?" Nick asked. "No." Sophie said. "Oh." Nic nodded. Sophie felt as if she just need to get out of the car. If only for a moment. "Can we stop? I need to use the restroom." Sophie excused herself. "Yeah. Sure." Nick said switching lanes. At the gas station, Sophie let Myth jump out. "I don't think he'll be allowed to go i-" Nick started but stopped as Sophie pulled out the large orange helper dog handkerchief, and wrapped it around Myth's neck. "Kyle and I covered that." She smiled as she hooked the leather strap to her. It felt as if her gut was tugging into itself.

Sophie grabbed her bag and hurried inside the gas station, where she found directions to the ladies restroom where an elderly lady was coming out of. Sophie locked the door behind her, it felt as if her own stomach was punching her, she leaned over the sink, she turned on the water and splashed her face. Her breaths became short gasps...it was like her body was folding and collapsing into herself.
As her brain started her, she felt Myth's cold nose press Intl her leg, every memory came rushing back. Iver and his brother, the truce between herself and Alvar, Fitz -who hadn't stopped trying to transmit to her- Biana, Keefe, Silveny, Greyfell, King Dimintar, gnomes, Delia's betrayal. Sophie weakly managed to write in her journal.

'Don't trust Delia'

Grady and Edaline, Iggy Dex, Tam, Linh, Mr. Forkle the Black Swan, the Neverseen. Everything crashed down on Sophie. She shoved her journal into her jacket. She was being conjoured somewhere. She weakly grasped onto Myth's neck and squeezed her eyes shut, as she realized being conjoured had caused all those bruises, her memories were rushing out of her, no matter how tightly she grasped for them, it was like a whirlwind sucking out her memories. Then just like that, everything went black.

(Now you realize what happened to Sophie? Partly...)