"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Fitz exclaimed, sitting on Sophie's bed. He shook his head, "How do you know if these dreams are real? I mean, you've had creepy nightmares before, and they weren't real. Also... how did Fintan ESCAPE!?"

Sophie wiped her runny nose with her free hand, "I know they're real, I just... have this feeling." She looked at Fitz, "Trust me on this, they're too realistic to be fake. Silveny is trying to send me a message- she's literally being tortured right now. And Fintan escaped by Lady Gisela."  

Fitz sighed, running his hands through his dark hair, "Sophie, I think we should just wait before we do anything, you know, talk to Mr. Forkle and all that."

He tried for a smile, but it was more like a sheepish grin. 

Sophie stared at him, her eyes blazing with annoyance, "I thought you trusted me on this. I thought you of all people would understand- especially after what happened at Havenfield."

"Sophie." 

"I thought you cared!" Her emotions were swirling now, fighting to let loose the tangle of emotions just under her ribs. "I thought you cared for Silveny as much as I do." 

Fitz scooted closer, wrapping his arms around her as he tried to calm her down. Sophie relented,  burying her face into Fitz's shoulders as the tears continued to fall. 

"I do," Fitz whispered as he held her tight. "I'm sorry Sophie." 

"It's fine," she exclaimed, now more determined than ever to search for Silveny.

She stopped crying, her eyes pure steel, but she still held on to Fitz, taking comfort that another friend was watching her back. 

"Ahem."

Sophie had completely forgotten about Sandor- and the fact that Grady was staying at Everglen as well. 

And that the door was wide open.

She gulped, her eyes slowly resting on the doorway.

Grady was there, scowling, his jaw clenched tight as he opened it just a tiny bit to say, "It's time for breakfast." 

_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--_--

Grady fumed as they all walked down the massive halls to the dining room. 

Sophie could only hear snatches of his continuous muttering. "First, it is That Boy. Then, it is This Boy... I can't believe... What about DEX?!" 

Sophie shuddered. She would NEVER, EVER in all millennia, tell Grady what had happened between her and Dex. She could imagine what his reaction would be like:

"WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Are there any good boys in her life? I thought that DEX was a Good Boy!" 

She shivered again. He would have totally taken it the wrong way.

Grady stood between her and Fitz, and if one of them even glanced at each other, he glared at both of them. 

And Grady's glares... they were scary.

 And I thought you were the master of The Death Glare, Fitz transmitted.

Oh really? 

Sophie shot him her best glare.

Fitz blinked, Uh... never mind. Are you sure you're not mad at me?

I could never get mad at you.

Really? 

Sophie felt Fitz's mind sadly flash back to when Alden's mind was broken. Fitz had been out of control, blaming Sophie for everything that had to do with his dad's insanity.

Fitz, I never was mad at you when that happened. 

He smiled at her, but it still didn't cover up the the sadness that lingered in his teal eyes. 

Grady glared at the two of them, his voice threatening, "Are you two transmitting? Because if you are-." 

"Grady!" Edaline interrupted, winking at Sophie as she did so. They had arrived at the gorgeous, shimmering dining room. 

Sophie shot Edaline a grateful look. 

"I call sitting next to Foster!" 

It was Keefe.

He grabbed the seat next to her as Biana sat down in the other. 

Biana leaned over and whispered low enough so that only Sophie could hear, "Do you want to know why Fitz came in your room in the first place?" 

Sophie looked at her, blushing as she said, "How do you know that he went in my room?''

Biana rolled her eyes, "Well, duh, I'm a Vanisher, remember?"

She disappeared just to prove her point. 

"But that doesn't give you permission to do so," Sophie squeaked. 

"I need to keep an eye on my brother, just to make sure that he doesn't try to mess with my best friend."  

Keefe interrupted what Sophie was going to say next- which was nothing because she was too tongue tied to do so. "Uh, Foster? I'm picking up some serious mood swings." 

Keefe smirked, but that disappeared as he took a closer look at her exhausted face. "Sophie? Are you okay?" 

Sophie sighed, "I'm fine." 

But there was no escaping from an Empath.

"But that isn't what you're feeling. And these don't really help much either." He pointed to the dark circles rimmed around her bloodshot eyes. 

Sophie closed her eyes as the images filled her mind once more. 

"Is it about Glitterbut?" Keefe asked. 

Keefe knew her too well. 

He continued, "Because if it is-." He leaned closer, stopping about three inches away. "Tell me, and we'll do anything we can do to stop it."

His breath brushed her blushing cheeks.

Keefe met her gaze. 

And what Sophie saw in them was pure determination- the same exact determination that she felt, matched within his ice-blue eyes.

"Ahem." 

With the second interruption in a day, Sophie turned around to glare at the person who had done so. 

But she shouldn't have. 

The twelve Councillors stood at the edge of the room, silver circlets glittering coldly as they stared at Sophie, faces hard as stone.  

Councillor Alina glared as she sneered at them all, "Where is the alicorn?"