(Some violence...but it is just a demon/dark elf. So...)

Unedited.

Sophie didn't sleep that night. Sitting under the window she watched night come and go.

Dark elves were ruthless things with no present state of mind, no regret and no fear, they wanted blood shed, they were creatures born of chaos, so how was Sophie supposed to fight them? Well it? The one the Neverseen had created, to destroy her and Keefe? And Keefe? Lady Gisella had injected him with some sort of darkness, and that's what he was fighting.

If the darkness took over him would he turn on her? Would he try to hurt her? There were enough unanswered questions already, not to mention the inner war inside of her. She didn't even want to join in to it, to try and sort things out. Why couldn't things work out on it's own? At the top of the stairs, Myth lay sleeping, giving a slight snore.

As the sky started lightening, Sophie stood up. Shrugging off her jacket, she set about making breakfast. Sophie was tired, but she would never be able to get sleep. Not while Elwin was hurt, not while a dark elf was hunting her down, and certainly not when a war was going, not while two wars were going on. Sophie pushed her headphones in her ears, and turned on her 'Angry' playlist.

The music wasn't nearly as jarring as she remembered, but it still jolted her mind, she turned the volume to high, blocking out all other sound, she set to working.

Sophie managed to eat, but she found herself restlessly pacing the living room. Everyone seemed to wake up at the same time, around sunrise. Except Keefe and Dex, who seemed to be late sleepers. Sophie continued pacing, as everyone got breakfast. She needed to fight,but she was afraid, she was scared, and she wanted nothing more then to hide out here in the forbidden cities, until the war ended, but no one else could fight what was to come.

They're were more keys, to defeat the dark elf. That's what she needed to do. She needed to gather the keys, she needed to rally the forces of the Black Swan, she would need help. She couldn't gather the keys alone. She'd need every bit of help she could get. Who else was a key? What could they do? What part did Sophie play in all this? Slowing her pacing Sophie glanced up at the ceiling. Her arms wrapped tighter around her. What part did she play? Was she really the only one who could fight? If she wasn't, then why did she have to fight at all? What about the other keys? Couldn't they be brave? Couldn't they be strong? Couldn't they fight? Couldn't they lead?

Sophie had started pacing again, she was cold. She was cold with fear, shivering with anxiety, shaking with dread. She wasn't brave, she wasn't courageous, really she was a coward, she was afraid...every muscle was tense with terror, her heart pounding in fright. She couldn't protect her friends, her family, she couldn't protect her home, she had turned and run. She was hiding like Alvar said. She should have stayed and faced the fight, the war that was marching to her.

She should have stood her ground, she should have faced everything and risen. She should have faced Iver and his brother. Sophie started turning to continued pacing but Myth shoved her to the ground. Sophie's breath whooshed out of her, as she heard glass shattering, taking her back to the Neverseen base for only a moment. The sounded of loud yelling and panic, made her ears pop as she looked up to see the marble like figure, dressed in sharp metal armor, black horns protruded from it's head, as it roared at her cowering friends, who had dropped to the ground when the glass had shattered.

Sharp needle like teeth were bared, a wide open pink mouth looked wrong on it's fearsome chiseled and sculpted face. The skin of the creature was a dirt brown tan, with black swirls curling up every inch of it. Muscle looked to be packed on rock hard muscles. It carried long curving blades that reminded Sophie of a saber tooth tiger's teeth. It's red eyes burned around the room, until they met Sophie's. Sophie was positive her heart was going to overload and stop, because of it jerking and slamming against her rib cage. Fear griped and clawed at her sanity. Her hope was gone, she didn't want to face this thing, she didn't want to die, but she knew she was going too. She knew she would never win against the creature with the lust for bloodshed flowing through it's thoughts, it's body and it's very DNA. It would stop at nothing for blood.

It stood a head taller then all other elves, like it's ancestors once did. It's nostrils flared as it's head turned to the closest elf next to it. Tam.
Adrenaline burned in Sophie's body as she pushed Myth off of her and ran, while the dark elf was slowly prowling towards Tam. Sophie launched herself onto it's back, wrapping her arms around the thick neck, she yanked back as the thing screamed in surprise. Sophie would die before this thing had a chance to hurt her friends. Sophie felt the long knife stab into her leg, she yanked back on it's head again, as the thing tried flinging her off. Sophie mustered her fear and inflicted it on the creature who screeched as Myth ripped half of it's leg off in one bite. Black tar like substance dripped to the carpet, staining it.

Sophie clenched her legs tighter around the armor that dug into her legs. She managed to dig her nails into the tough skin, which felt like peeling an orange, she felt the hot black blood drip of her hand, as she jerked the demon's neck side ways and up. She felt the pop, she heard the snapping crunch of the neck breaking, but the demon continued to hit at her legs and trying to hit Myth, who dodged pulling it's leg off, the demon fell but rolled over. Sophie felt one of the spikes on it's armor puncture her torso. Myth was splattered in the blackness, as he pulled at the other leg. Sophie let the demon go and let Myth drag it away, before she jumped again, she stepped on the chest of the demon, she ripped the knife from it's hand and stabbed it's chest.

The demon stopped for a moment, looking confused for a moment, Sophie knew this thing wouldn't be stopped for long unless it was truly dead. She pulled the knife out again before stabbing it's throat, the thing started moving more, though sluggish it was still quick. Sophie didn't see the arm swinging up at her. She felt her ribs crack as the fist slammed into her, she flew off the beast, tumbling and rolling she she landed in a crouch, her nails digging into the carpet, she didn't stop to clutch her side Sophie didn't allow herself to acknowledge the pain, although it ached in her body. She launched herself back into the fight as the thing swung it's fists at Myth, who was snarling so loud it sounded like a roar.

Sophie slammed her palm into the handle of the knife, driving it straight through the thick neck, dug her hand into the hot wound she grabbed onto the chest of the armor she let out a yell as she ripped the demon's head from it's body, she threw the head across the room as the body moved around before shattering to black dust, like a pile of ashes. Sophie's chest rose and fell in panic as she looked at Myth who had a small stain of red appearing on his shoulders. The Neverseen had found them.

Sophie wiped the black tar off her hands onto her jeans she strapped Myth's armor onto him, "Get Elwin. We're leaving." She told her wide eyed friends. She was done running.

As she finished strapping on Myth's armor a flash of light appeared in the middle of the living room, Della, Alden, Grady and Edaline appeared. Looking ragged and fearful. They looked up at Sophie, around the room, at the pile of ashes they spoke.
"The lost cities have been compromised." Grady said. "We need to leave now." Sophie said, standing tall, she wanted to fall to her knees in pain, she wanted to scream and cry in fear, but that wasn't what they expected her to do.

She did as she was expected to do. She stood tall, squared her shoulders, she didn't show her pain she didn't cry, she did as she was supposed to do. She took the lead. Sophie pushed the demon's knife in her belt loop, she brushed off the battle as if it hadn't left her shaken to the core. "Where too?" Alden asked. Sophie clenched her jaw before sighing. "To a friend's place." She had better give that call to Kyle.

~
(Thank you have a nice day.)

"Merci vous avez une belle journée." Sophie said to the French receptionist at the five star hotel. Sophie and the others had all gone up to the roof of some fashion business building, and jumped. Sophie had teleported to France. Where Dex had gotten more money for them, Sophie had rented a hotel suite.

The elevator had classical music playing. Sophie could feel her green shirt staining with her own blood. She had been able to pass Elwin of as drunk, and Myth's armor as a new fashion. Alden and Grady laid him down on the first bed in the room. Sophie tossed the key card on the night stand as she dropped her backpack, she unzipped it, pulling out her hailer, "Who are you calling?" Dex asked. "Your parents." Sophie said. "What?" Dex asked. "We need to make sure they are okay." Sophie said. She didn't know why she chose France, she could of just as easily teleported to Alaska, but something inside her told her France.

Dex took the hailer, Sophie rubbed her temples as Juline and Kesler promised Dex they were okay. Sophie looked around at the room full of people. Most of her friends were pale and looked grim. The adults were trying to bring Elwin around. "Sophie...what are those things?" Alvar asked in the quiet room, causing everyone to realize that Alvar Vacker was in their midsts. "Dark Elves." Sophie said. "It's why Elwin went to shock. I managed to open the second catche."

"Second?" Alden asked. Sophie and her friends explained. Sophie came clean of her secrets, her being a failure, the Black Swan lying, Iver and his brother, Keefe being the Lodestar initiative, she told them about the Neverseen having been part of the Black Swan, them creating a dark elf, and the war with the ruthless and mindless creatures. She told them about one showing up in the living room that morning. Sophie told them about the other keys and everything else, of importance.

"You said a friend...who is it?" Grady asked. Sophie glanced at the phone on the nightstand, it looked like any normal phone, but to Sophie it looked like it weighed a hundred pounds. Kyle would kill her after he skinned her alive. "Doesn't seem like a friend if you're that scared to call them Foster." Keefe said, making her shoot him a glare. "Be quiet Keefe." She said as she wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans, she grimaced and looked down at her dirty pants. There was no wonder the receptionist had given them a weird look.

She needed to feel confident to talk to Kyle. Grabbing her backpack she walked into the restroom and closed the door. Turning on the shower, she pulled her hoodie off, she looked at the blood stained green shirt. Wincing as she pulled off the shirt she stared at the bleeding wound. It felt as if she scrubbed her skin raw, her wound wasn't bleeding a lot, it dripped slowly. Sophie found the small first aid kit Edaline had included in her backpack when she had packed it. Sophie cleansed the wound and wrapped it. She changed into clean jeans, a black under shirt, with a stylish baby blue shirt that slipped off her shoulder showing the black muscle shirt beneath. Sophie pulled her hair up in a bun, she stared at herself in the mirror.

The shadows under her eyes were darker, and the gold flecks in her eyes seemed to burn like embers. She looked better than worse, she looked tired and hurt, but that was to be expected. Sophie took a deep breath. She could do this, she had to do this, she needed to just get her courage up, get the attitude up. Squaring her shoulders she opened the bathroom door. Her one of her headphones wasn't working, but she shoved the other in, and played her best motivation song.

She paced the room, ignoring the looks she got she took deep breaths, getting her nerve, she tossed her iPod to Dex as she shook her hands out before picking up the phone she dialed Kyle's number before she could stop herself.

~

"Hello?" Kyle asked through a yawn, as if he had just woken up. All the nerve Sophie had woke up and she paled. What was she doing?! She had caused Kyle enough problems! She couldn't do this to him. Her mouth had turned dry. "Hello?" Kyle asked louder, sounding annoyed. "H-hi." She squeaked.

Four hours, and thirty minutes. Was how long Kyle's lecture was, which was mostly cursing and asking Sophie if she knew how much she had worried him. Sophie had sat down cross legged her back against the nightstand, she hung her head listening to every word. Knowing she deserved it.

"Hello? Are you still there?" Kyle asked. "I'm sorry Kyle." Sophie whispered, her voice shaky. Kyle sighed. "Don't cry, you just gave Nick and I a scare, and I'm only upset because I care about you." He said. "I'm still sorry." Sophie said. "So you remember me? You found answers?"

"Yeah. The answers aren't what I wanted them to be, but they are my answers and I'll keep them."

"You sound upset. Are you hurt? Do you need help? Did someone hurt you?" Kyle asked. Sophie shook her head, before remembering she was on the phone. "No...I am I'm trouble though. Kyle you were right."

"I could of told you that." Kyle said. "How so?"

Sophie's vision blurred, and she blinked letting two tears slid down her face. "About everything." She said brushing away the tears as she took a deep breath. She blinked several times to hold back the tears. "Should I ask for specifics?" Kyle asked. "Or are you going to cry?" Sophie let out a strangled laugh as she scrubbed away the stubborn last tears. "What are you talking about? I'm not even crying." On the other line of the phone Kyle laughed. "Okay, don't blow your top. Do you need help?"

"Yeah...." Sophie said. "Well?" Sophie bowed her head, as she drew her knees up to her chest. "I've already caused you enough trouble...I hate to ask this of you."

"Don't worry about it. Where are you at?" Kyle asked. "It's not so much as where we are at, it's where we are going to go." Sophie said as she rested her forehead on her knees. "We?" Kyle asked. "I...we have a lot to talk about." Sophie said. "Well I got time." Kyle said. Sophie sighed, as she looked around the hotel room. "Can you just..." What did Sophie need? She needed a place too stay...no she needed a place for her family and friends to stay, she was going back to fight.

"Just tell me where you are at, I'll be there as soon as I can." Kyle said. Sophie turned away from the room closing her eyes. "I'm in trouble Kyle." She said, tracing circles over her socked foot, with her free hand. "...I got a lot of people in trouble with me...You could get in trouble." She whispered. The last thing she needed was to drag Kyle and Rose in this mess. "You need a place to lay low?" Kyle asked. "Something like that." Sophie "Just give me a destination." Kyle said.

Sophie told him the hotel name and room. "Way to lay low. Isn't that a five star hotel?" He asked. "Yeah...it's called hiding in plain sight." Sophie smiled. "Pppsssshhhh, I'm not even going to ask. Want me to bring your duffle bag?" Kyle asked. "Please?" Sophie asked. "Alright, anything else?" Kyle asked. "Bring some courage, I could really use some of that...and maybe some nerve and a pep talk." Sophie laughed, feeling sad that it was true.

"You sound depressed." Kyle said good naturedly. "Oh y'know, it's just not sleeping for nearly three days straight, being on the run and trying to figure everything out, the norm." She said lightheartedly.
"Sounds fun." Kyle said sarcastically making Sophie giggle. "Nothing like it. I'm almost as good at it as I am skiing." Sophie said making Kyle laugh loudly. "Oh that must be a disaster." He laughed. "Pretty much, yeah." Sophie brushed a strand of hair out of her hair. "That's the norm for me."

"Y'know I'm starting to actually believe that." Sophie could hear the sound of him zipping up a bag. "I thought you would of already believed that after the mountain incident." Sophie said. She had falling and tumbled half way down the mountain, sweeping Rose and himself off their feet. "Well I'm not one to judge even after a few mistakes." Kyle said. "I do have a question though." Sophie said.

"Shoot." Kyle said. "When you get here....you aren't going to kill me right?" Sophie asked. "Eh we'll see how I feel." Kyle said, Sophie could hear the smile on his face. "Well I'll be ready to run just in case." Sophie promised, smiling. "I'll be there as soon as I can Sef." Kyle said. "Thank you Kyle." Sophie said. "Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help." He said. Sophie knew the call was ending, but she didn't want to end it. Not yet, she needed normal for a little bit longer. "I better get going." Kyle said. "Okay." Sophie said not hanging up. Kyle sighed. "Everything is going to be okay." He said. "You can't promise that." Sophie said. "No. But I know I'll do everything I can to make it happen."

Sophie laid her head on her knees. "Me too." She said. "I'll see you soon." Kyle promised. "Yeah....I'll see you soon." Sophie repeated and hung up the phone.