Chapter Text
❝𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢,
𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢.
𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐?
𝙸𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗' 𝚒𝚗 '𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐?❞
𝙸𝚌𝚎 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚜 – 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢 𝙳𝚊𝚢
❝𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐:
𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐.
– 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎.❞
― 𝙰𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚊 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎
This is going to suck, Rikki Foster thought, glancing at his twin sister, Sophie.
Sophie nodded in agreement as she took out her iPod and earbuds.
She and Rikki were on a field trip to the Natural History Museum. Their teacher, Mr. Sweeney wrongfully thought that his students would love an all-day trip to see dinosaur bones.
Rikki always called Mr. Sweeney, Sweeney Todd because his teacher insisted on calling Rikki, Ryan. It seemed like it was a battle of who could annoy each other into submission and finally call each other by their actual names.
They were looking at some dinosaur skeleton and Rikki could feel his mind slipping away from sheer boredom and thinking about something else. He mentally went through the articles he read online about the fires that were breaking out over San Francisco, which seemed a lot better use of his time. He wasn’t going to need dinosaur bones in his choice of field. He wanted to be a crime scene investigator, not an archeologist.
“Mr. Ryan Foster,” called Mr. Sweeney, in his nasally sounding voice.
“Yes, Sweeney Todd?” called Rikki, agitated. Why did his parents have to be fans of the band Poison?
“Do you think you’re so smart that you don’t have to pay attention?” asked Mr. Sweeney.
“I could probably teach the class better than even you,” said Rikki.
Mr. Sweeney narrowed his eyes at Rikki, “Congratulations, Ryan, you just bought yourself a week’s worth of lunchtime detention.”
“Did I get a discount on it?” asked Rikki. A few of the high school seniors snickered at it, but Sophie elbowed Rikki pretty hard in the ribs to get him to stop talking before he got more detentions tacked on.
“That’s it, two weeks,” said Mr. Sweeney.
“Was it a buy one get one free?” asked Rikki.
“Three weeks,” said Mr. Sweeney.
Sophie had to cover Rikki’s mouth with her hand to get him to shut up. It was agitating that Sophie was one inch taller than him, her being 5’4 and him being 5’3.
They continued on through the hall.
Why do you enjoy pissing him off? Sophie’s thought entered Rikki’s mind.
He’s a jerk, responded Rikki, glaring at Mr. Sweeney.
Some people would think that they have “twin-telepathy” but Rikki and Sophie were sure that there was something more to it, since Sophie told him that she was able to read other people’s minds. He couldn’t, but he was a freak as well as Sophie.
He had mismatched eyes, his right eye being a light blue that looked almost violet in certain lighting, and the left eye being a dark brown with gold flecks that matched Sophie’s eyes. It was why he kept his hair long to hide his right eye.
Sophie found out that he was aromantic-asexual. He had been planning on telling her when they got older, but she read his mind and found that out earlier than planned.
“Miss Foster! Have you decided that you’re too smart to pay attention to this information?” asked Mr. Sweeney.
“No, Sweeney T – I mean Mr. Sweeney,” Sophie said.
Rikki pulled the hood up on his black jacket to hide his chuckle. Sophie elbowed him again.
“Then perhaps you can explain why you were listening to your iPod instead of following along?” Mr. Sweeney asked, holding up the earbuds that he had taken from her. Sophie didn’t say anything, but tugged out a loose eyelash. “Since you’ve decided you’re above this lecture, why don’t you give it?”
Sophie recited facts from the information card that she had glanced at.
Mr. Sweeney scowled, and Rikki noticed the disdained looks their older classmates gave them.
The older students really didn’t like them, referring to them as Curvebusters, or called Sophie, Sophieflake or even Special Sophieflake, or walking dictionary. Sometimes they called Rikki Photofreak or Freak Eyes (as if having heterochromia was freaky instead of cool.)
It was why Sophie wore dull colors and lurked in the back, to avoid getting noticed. Rikki wore all-black, a chain attached to two belt loops, and a red-and-black studded wristband. He kept his brown hair with blond highlights shoulder length. His eyes also attracted attention if someone noticed.
He tried to keep the attention off of Sophie.
“Know-it-all,” Mr. Sweeney muttered and walked away.
“Nice job, superfreak. Maybe they’ll write another article about you. ‘Child Prodigies Teaches Class About the Lame-o-saurus,’” an older boy sneered. He shoved past Sophie and Rikki both.
Rikki felt his hands tingle and dug his fingernails in his palms to fight back the electric shocks that wanted to escape.
The feeling slowly went away.
It wasn’t Sophie’s fault that some writer of the newspaper decided that Sophie getting into Yale was more important than the arsonist setting fires, especially since the smoke smelt like burnt sugar and the fires were white-hot.
It was interesting that they went out of the way to ignore Rikki, who actually didn’t want the fame.
Their parents had decided that they’ll go to a community college when they were older. Rikki continued on, feeling bored again.
Hurry, I’m outside the museum! Sophie’s thought popped into his head.
He turned, seeing that Sophie was not beside him and quickly left his class trying to be as quiet as possible. He headed outside and spotted some older guy trying to kidnap his sister. There was a car on the sidewalk and a street lantern on the ground.
“Not without my brother!” Sophie yelled as the guy had a hold on her arm, trying to drag her away, “Rikki!”
Rikki ran over to his sister and took Sophie’s arm. “Hey! Let go of my sister!”
“We really need to get out of sight!” said the guy with some crisp British accent. Sophie pointed north and they ran in the direction of the San Diego Zoo.
What’s going on? Rikki thought, panicking on why this guy wanted to get away from what seemed like a car accident.
They slowed down and Sophie pushed the recent events into Rikki’s mind which was stunning.
“Huh?” Rikki asked, using the English language at his disposal.
“What do you want?” Sophie asked the British dude, apparently named Fitz.
“I’m here to help you, I promise,” replied Fitz. He sounded sincere but that meant nothing to Rikki.
“Why were you looking for me?” Sophie asked tugging at a loose eyelash.
Fitz looked at Rikki and gaped at him.
“Thanks, I get that a lot,” replied Rikki annoyed. “Heterochromia isn’t that surprising.”
“Again, why were you looking for me?” Sophie demanded.
“I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell you,” said Fitz.
“How am I supposed to trust you if you won’t answer my questions?” asked Sophie.
“Okay, fine – but I don’t know much. My father sent me to find you. We’ve been looking for a specific girl your age, and I was supposed to observe and report back to him, like always. I wasn’t supposed to talk to you,” Fitz explained.
Great, we’re in the presence of a loon, Rikki thought. Which one of us is going to kick him in the crotch?
Sophie just started laughing and Fitz really looked stunned.
“Anyway, I just couldn’t figure you out, now you have a brother…” Fitz said.
“What does that even mean?” asked Rikki.
“It means you’re…different from what I expected. Your eyes really threw me off, especially his and again, you have a brother,” said Fitz. “This really doesn’t make sense.”
“You don’t make sense,” Rikki said, “Going around trying to kidnap my sister, talking about stalking her, talking about eyes, and random crap like that.”
“What’s wrong with our eyes?” asked Sophie, tugging her eyelids and looking at Rikki.
“We all have blue eyes. So when I saw them, I figured we had the wrong girl again. But we didn’t. You’re really one of us,” said Fitz. “I’m not sure about him, and I don’t think he’s a part of this.”
“Hey! I get to say whether or not my twin gets to be a part of this!” Sophie snapped.
“Twin?” asked Fitz, balking like he never heard the term before.
“Yeah, twins,” said Rikki. “Siblings born of the same mother on the same day, at the same time—”
“I know what twins are,” replied Fitz, still looking at them like he never saw twins before.
Why is he looking at us like we just told him the earth is flat and called him an earth-rounder? Rikki thought.
“You’re a boy of eloquence, Rikki,” Sophie said dryly.
“What do you mean by part of this?” asked Rikki.
Fitz shook his head, took Sophie’s arm—
“Dude,” Rikki warned, glaring at Fitz’s hand, who, thankfully, let go of Sophie’s arm.
“Over there,” Fitz said motioning with his head to a dark green minivan. They moved towards it.
“There’s no easy way to explain this, so I’m just going to say it. We’re not human, Sophie,” Fitz said.
Sophie laughed again, but it sounded like hysterical laughter, “Not human.” She dragged the word out, “Right. Let’s go, Rikki. You were right.” She dragged him to the sidewalk.
“Where are you going?” Fitz asked. “Why was he right?”
“He said that you were a loon and I’m a loon for trusting you,” said Sophie. She stomped away.
“I’m telling the truth. Just think for a minute, you two,” called Fitz.
Sophie stopped, and Rikki figured that Fitz had a point. Sophie had shoved memories in his head of telekinetically lifting the street lantern.
However, the telepathy definitely wasn’t human. The electricity that Rikki could manipulate wasn’t human either.
“Can humans do this?” Fitz asked. He closed his eyes and vanished.
Rikki jerked back and Sophie had to lean against a car, thankfully not setting off an alarm.
But Fitz came back.
“But we can’t do that,” said Sophie, breathing heavily.
“You have no idea what you can do when your set your mind to it. Think of what you did with that pole a few minutes ago, Sophie,” said Fitz. He seemed sure. It almost made sense. But if they weren’t human…what were there? What was Fitz?
“So…what? You’re saying that we’re…aliens?” asked Sophie.
Fitz laughed, but Rikki was glad, because he wasn’t entirely sure if he wanted to be an alien. Yeah, he had that weird astronomy phase when he was ten, but still…
“No, I’m saying that you’re elves,” said Fitz, when he managed to compose himself.
“Excuse you?” asked Rikki, feeling like that was a dig at his height. He had plenty of older students call him midget or even elf, but still.
Sophie looked insulted on Rikki’s behalf or laughing. “An elf?”
“You don’t believe me,” replied Fitz.
“I’m not that short,” replied Rikki, still offended.
“Did you really expect us to?” asked Sophie.
“Especially since I had that thrown at me as an insult,” said Rikki.
Fitz ran his hands through his hair, making it stick out.
“I’m telling you two the truth. I don’t know what else to say,” said Fitz.
Rikki and Sophie looked at each other.
He’s a loon, I’m telling you, said Rikki.
He’s good looking, but can he be crazy? Sophie asked.
I’m not sure about the ‘good looking’ part, but attractive guys can be, said Rikki. Ted Bundy for example.
What’s the harm in entertaining him a little? Sophie asked.
“So, say we’re elves. What are we supposed to do?” asked Rikki.
“Help Frodo destroy the ring and save Middle-earth? Or do we have to make toys in the North Pole?” asked Sophie.
Fitz sighed, but it seemed like he was trying not to smile. “Would it help if I showed you?”
“Go ahead,” replied Rikki in disbelief.
“This ought to be good,” replied Sophie. She crossed her arms and leaned against Rikki, like he was a convenient wall.
Fitz took out a slender silver wand that had intricate carvings etched in the sides. There was a small, round crystal at the tip. It sparkled in the sunlight.
“Is that your magic wand?” asked Sophie.
“Actually, it’s a pathfinder,” said Fitz. He spun the crystal and locked it with a silver latch at the top. “Now, this can be dangerous. Do you promise you’ll do exactly what I tell you to do?”
“Danger is my middle name,” Rikki said.
“It’s Asher,” replied Sophie.
“Thanks Elizabeth,” Rikki said.
“No problem, Asher,” replied Sophie. “Anyway, what do I have to do?”
“You need to take my hand and concentrate on holding on. And by concentrate, I mean you can’t think about anything else – no matter what happens,” said Fitz. “You too, Rikki.”
“You want me to hold your hand?” asked Rikki balking at the thought of holding some stranger’s hand.
“I mean your sister’s hand,” replied Fitz, “Unless you want to hold my hand, while Sophie holds your hand.”
“Sophie can hold your hand,” replied Rikki.
“Why do we have to hold hands anyway?” asked Sophie.
“Do you two want proof or not?” asked Fitz.
What is he going to do, whisk us away to some magic elf land? Sophie asked.
Make us look like we’re into some kind of freaky crap? Rikki replied.
Sophie rolled her eyes at that and took Fitz’s hand.
Rikki took Sophie’s hand.
Fitz said, “Okay, we’re alone. We go on three. You two ready?”
“What happens on three?” Sophie asked.
Fitz gave her a warning look.
Rikki scowled at him for the look because what was the harm in asking a question, but had to concentrate on holding onto Sophie’s hand, which was beginning to sweat slightly.
Maybe it was his hand sweating from discomfort.
“One,” Fitz counted, raising the wand. Sunlight hit a facet in the crystal and a bright beam refracted toward the ground. “Two,” Sophie tightened her hold on Rikki’s hand. “Three.”
Fitz pulled them forward and a warm tingling shot through Rikki’s body, like he was being tickled from the inside.
There was an warm feeling around him, he felt like he had melted into goo and then the warmth faded and Rikki opened his eyes. He wasn’t sure when he closed them.
Rikki was staring at glassy river that was lined with impossibly tall trees that fanned out into wide emerald leaves. There were puffy white clouds and across the river was a row of crystal castles that glittered in sunlight. It was oddly more magnificent than Disneyworld.
There was a golden path that was leading into a sprawling city, where the elaborate domed buildings that seemed to be built from brick-sized jewels, with each building from a different color.
There were snowcapped mountains that surrounded the valley and for some reason the air smelled liked cinnamon, chocolate, and what sunshine probably smelt like.
“You can let go of my hand now,” Fitz said to Sophie.
Sophie and Rikki jumped, forgetting that Fitz was there.
Rikki had let go of Sophie’s hand, his fingers tingling because they had gripped each other’s hand to hard.
Rikki couldn’t make sense of what he was seeing. The castle towers were twisting and something seemed oddly familiar about them.
“Where are we?” asked Sophie.
“Our capital. We call it Eternalia, but you might have heard it beecalled Shangri-la before,” said Fitz.
“Shangri-la,” said Sophie. “Shangri-la is real?”
“Like from Jimmy Neutron?” asked Rikki, recalling that cartoon.
“That was Shangri-Llama,” said Sophie.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, but all of the Lost Cities are real – but not how you’d picture them, I’m sure. Human stories rarely get anything right – think of all the ridiculous things you’ve heard about elves,” said Fitz.
Sophie laughed and Rikki grimaced as it seemed to echo off the trees.
“Where is everybody?” asked Rikki. “There’s no one here.”
Fitz pointed to the green-stoned domed building that towered over all the others. The building seemed to sparkle less than the others. “See the blue banner flying? That means a tribunal is in progress. Everyone’s watching the proceedings.”
“What’s a tribunal?” asked Rikki.
“It’s when the Council – basically our royalty – holds a hearing to decide if someone’s broken a law,” explained Fitz. “They’re kind of a big deal when they happen.”
“Why?” asked Sophie.
Fitz shrugged, “Laws are rarely broken.”
Well that was different.
“Oh,” said Rikki. “People break the law all the time.”
“So, this is…magic?” asked Sophie.
Fitz laughed with his whole body this time. That irritated Rikki, because this guy just seemed to be mocking them.
“No,” said Fitz, regaining control. “Magic is a stupid idea humans came up with to try to explain things they couldn’t understand.”
“So, it’s basically science so advanced that it looks like magic to us mere mortals? Like in Thor?” asked Rikki.
“I don’t know what that is,” said Fitz. “And you’re not a mere mortal.”
“So how did we get here when we were in San Diego?” asked Sophie.
“Light leaping. We hitched a ride on a beam of light that was headed straight here,” said Fitz.
“That’s impossible,” said Sophie.
“Is it?” asked Fitz.
“Yeah,” said Sophie. “You need infinite energy for light travel. Haven’t you heard of the theory of relativity?”
Fitz laughed and Rikki found that this guy was really grinding his gears. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Who came up that?”
“Uh, Albert Einstein,” replied Sophie.
“This guy doesn’t know who Thor is,” replied Rikki. “I doubt he’s going to know who Albert Einstein is.”
“He’s right. I never heard of him,” replied Fitz. “But he was wrong.”
Sophie looked at Rikki.
“Concentrate harder this time, you two,” said Fitz. He took Sophie’s hand again, and Rikki grabbed his sister’s hand.
Rikki waited for the warm feeling again, but this time he felt scattered and he felt like a rubber band being snapped into place.
Then he was standing in front of a massive glowing castle.
“How do you think we got here?” asked Fitz.
It was like everything he learned had to be thrown out, because this was ridiculous.
“You both look confused,” said Fitz.
“Well, it’s like you’re saying, ‘Hey, Sophie and Rikki, take everything you’ve ever learned about anything and throw it away,’” replied Sophie.
“Actually, that is what I’m saying,” Fitz said. He smiled smugly, “Humans do the best they can – but their minds can’t begin to comprehend the complexities of reality.”
“And what, elves’ minds are better?” asked Sophie.
“Of course,” said Fitz. “Why do you think you’re so far ahead of your class? The slowest elf can still trump a human – even one with no proper education.”
Rikki thought that was uncalled for, but Fitz was right. He was just some stupid boy who didn’t know anything at all.
Actually, he was an elf.
Sophie was breathing heavily, and had to lean onto Rikki.
He felt it too.
Their entire life was a lie.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. You believed what they taught you – I’m sure I’d have done the same thing. But it’s time you knew the truth. This is how the world really works. It’s not magic. It’s just how it is," said Fitz.
The castle bells chimed and Fitz pushed Rikki and Sophie behind a large rock as a gateway opened.
Two elves with floor-length velvet capes walked out, followed by dozens of creatures. They were at least seven feet tall and wore black pants, displaying their thick muscles. They had flat noses and their gray skin seemed to be pleated.
“Goblins,” Fitz whispered. “Probably the most dangerous creatures you’ll ever meet, which is why it’s a good thing they signed the treaty.”
“Is that why we’re hiding?” asked Rikki.
“We’re dressed like humans. Humans are forbidden in the Lost Cities – especially here in Lumeraria. Lumenaria is where all the other worlds come together. Gnomes, dwarves, ogres, goblins, and trolls,” explained Fitz.
“Why are humans forbidden?” asked Sophie.
Fitz motioned for them to follow him to a rock that was farther away. He explained, “They betrayed us. The Ancient Councillors offered them the same treaty they made with all the intelligent creatures, and they agreed. Then they decided they wanted to rule the world – like it even works that way – and started planning a war. The Ancients didn’t want violence, so they disappeared, forbid any contact with humans, and left them to their own devices. You can see how well that’s working out for them.”
Rikki was annoyed because really, humans are stupid and evil now? Granted he knew that with the wars, famine, violence, slavery…but not everyone was that awful.
“The stories told by the humans who’d known us must’ve sounded impossible after we disappeared, and eventually they evolved into the crazy myths you’ve heard. But this is the truth, you two. This is who you are. This is where you both belong," Fitz explained.
“We’re really elves?” Sophie whispered.
“Yes,” replied Fitz.
Rikki looked at the glowing castle. It wasn’t supposed to exist, but it was clearly in front of him. It was totally insane, but something seemed to half click into place, but he still felt off.
“Okay,” said Sophie. “We believe you.”
The gate clanged closed and Rikki jumped at that.
Fitz stepped into the shadows and took out a different pathfinder, which was sleek black with a cobalt blue crystal on it. “Ready to go home?”
“We’re so dead,” Rikki said, remembering how they ditched their field trip and the fact that Rikki had three weeks’ worth of detention.
Their parents were going to freak.
Sophie took Rikki’s hand and then Fitz’s hand.
The smoky ash stung after breathing the fresh air of Lumenaria. They were a block from their house.
Fitz coughed and glared at the sky. “You’d think humans could handle putting out a few fires before the smoke pollutes the whole planet.”
“They’re working on it,” said Sophie defensively.
“The arsonist was using some sort of chemical when he started them. They’re burning white hot and the smoke smells sugary,” said Rikki. “And the wildfires aren’t anyone’s fault either.”
“Until someone decides to set the forest on fire intentionally,” said Sophie.
“Arsonists,” Fitz said shaking his head. “Why would anyone want to watch the world burn?”
“I don’t know,” said Sophie.
“Because people don’t have anything to do,” replied Rikki.
Fitz took the silver pathfinder out.
“Are you leaving?” asked Sophie, her voice hitching.
“I have to find out what my dad wants to do now – if he even knows. Neither of us thought you were going to be the girl, especially now that there are two of you. It’s a complicated matter,” said Fitz.
The girl.
Two of you.
Why did he phrase it like Sophie was important?
“He’s not going to be happy I took Sophie to our cities, especially with her brother, even though I was careful no one saw us. So please don’t tell anyone about anything I’ve shown you today,” said Fitz.
“Okay,” replied Rikki.
“We won’t, we promise,” said Sophie.
“Thank you. And make sure you act normal so your family doesn’t suspect anything,” Fitz ordered.
Rikki nodded.
“Fitz? Why can’t I hear your thoughts?” asked Sophie.
“I still can’t believe you’re both Telepaths,” said Fitz.
“I’m not,” said Rikki. “For some reason the only thing I can do is talk to her, not read her mind.”
“Anyway, aren’t all elves Telepaths?” asked Sophie.
“No, it’s a special ability. One of the rarer ones, and you’re only twelve, right?” asked Fitz.
“We’ll be thirteen in six months,” corrected Sophie.
“That’s really young,” said Fitz. “They said I was the youngest to manifest, and I didn’t start reading minds until I was thirteen.”
“But…I’ve been hearing thoughts since I was five," said Sophie.
“Five?” Fitz yelled. Rikki looked down the street to see if anyone heard. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” said Sophie.
Rikki had been run over by a car and Sophie ended up hitting her head when she got up to go get their parents.
Rikki couldn’t remember why he was in the street in the first place. However, he found that he can manipulate electricity and for some reason decided to stick a fork in the electrical socket, finding that it didn’t do anything other than cause a blackout.
“Is that wrong?” asked Sophie.
“I have no idea,” replied Fitz. He narrowed his eyes at Sophie.
“What are you doing?” asked Sophie.
“Are you blocking me?” asked Fitz.
“I don’t even know what that is,” said Sophie.
“It’s a way to keep Telepaths out. Kind of like putting a wall around your mind,” said Fitz.
“Is that why I can’t hear you?” asked Sophie.
“Maybe,” replied Fitz. “Can you tell me what I’m thinking right now?”
“I told you, I don’t hear your thoughts the way I do with other people," Sophie countered.
Fitz said, “That’s because humans have weak minds – but that’s not what I meant. If you listen, can you hear me?”
“I…don’t know. The only mind I have read was Rikki’s,” said Sophie.
“There you go,” said Fitz. “Do what you did to read Rikki’s mind and try to read mine.”
Sophie and Fitz looked at each other for a moment.
“You’ve never felt a mind as quiet as mine?” asked Sophie.
“You heard me?” asked Fitz, looking pale.
“Was I not supposed to?” asked Sophie.
“No one else can,” said Fitz.
Sophie asked, “And you can’t read my mind?”
Fitz shook his head, “Not even when I try my hardest.”
“Why?” asked Sophie. “Can you read my brother’s mind?”
Fitz looked at Rikki. “Can I try?”
Rikki nodded, but tried to think of something that Fitz couldn’t blackmail him with later.
“Strange,” said Fitz. “I can’t either. But yet you can read each other’s minds?”
“He can’t read my mind. We can have conversations with each other, but he can’t see what I’m thinking, but I can read his mind,” said Sophie. “He can shove me out of his mind.”
Fitz just shook his head, “This doesn’t make sense. I think it has something to do with your eyes, and where you live – I need to ask my dad.”
“Wait, you can’t leave now,” said Sophie.
“I have to. I’ve already been gone too long – and you two need to get home,” said Fitz.
“Will we ever see you again?” asked Sophie.
“Of course, I’ll be back tomorrow,” replied Fitz.
“How do we find you?” asked Rikki.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find you,” said Fitz.
That sounded like a threat and then Fitz was gone.
Rikki looked behind him and then at Sophie. “We’re so grounded that the ground will look at us and say damn.”