Keeper of the Lost Cities

TWENTY-TWO

SHARING A ROOM WITH IGGY WAS KIND OF like having a congested warthog for a roommate, but Sophie didn’t mind. She was warm and snuggly with the feeling of home, and even a sleepless night couldn’t spoil it.

Grady and Edaline promised to check on Iggy during the day to make sure he was okay, and Sophie left for Foxfire not even caring that it was a Thursday, and she had another humiliating PE session ahead of her.

“Who’s ready for the Ultimate Splotching Championship?” Sir Caton asked as the Mentors strode into the amphitheater carrying huge sacks of tiny, brightly colored balls.

Everyone cheered.

“What’s the Ultimate Splotching Championship?” Sophie asked Dex.

“Telekinesis,” he grumbled. “I suck at telekinesis.”

She tried to look sympathetic, but secretly she was celebrating. Finally—something she knew how to do! Well, sort of—but that was better than nothing. “How does this work?” she asked as everyone partnered up. Naturally, she teamed with Dex.

“We push the splotcher at each other with our minds,” he explained, “and whoever gets splattered loses. The winners play each other until there’s only one left, and that person wins.”

“Everyone, on your marks,” Sir Caton ordered, as Lady Alexine handed Dex a bright pink splotcher. “Get set!”

Dex tossed the splotcher toward Sophie. “Catch.”

It very nearly splattered the floor, but at the last second she managed to catch it with her mind.

“Sorry, I forgot you’re worse at this stuff than me,” Dex said smugly. “At least I’ll win one match this time.”

She rolled her eyes. He shouldn’t count her out yet.

She took a deep breath, focusing on the power she knew was deep within her core. She could almost feel it swirling around, like a warm buzzing in her stomach.

“Splotch!”

Sophie pushed the warmth out through her fingers and sent it toward the splotcher.

Splat!

A stunned Dex stared at Sophie with bright pink slime running down his chin. She’d nailed him right on his smug little grin.

“Sorry,” she said, not quite able to hide the smile in the corners of her mouth.

“It’s okay,” he said through a sigh. “I guess I deserved it.”

“Well done, Sophie!” Sir Caton interrupted, sounding more surprised than she would’ve liked. “Go ahead and move up to the winners. Dex can join those colorful prodigies over there.” He pointed to a group forming on their left.

Dex scowled.

“So what’s the prize for this contest, anyway?” Sophie asked before Dex wandered away.

“Usually a pardon from one punishment—but don’t get your hopes up. Fitz always wins—not that Wonderboy ever does anything to need a pardon.” He mimed gagging. “Anyway, I hope you win a few more rounds.”

“Thanks.”

Marella made it to the winners. So did Biana and Maruca. Even Jensi. Unfortunately, so did Stina.

“Even a muskog could beat Dex,” Stina sneered. “Let’s see how you do against a real opponent.” She tossed a bright blue splotcher at Sophie’s head.

Sophie caught it with her mind, floating it in the space between them. She ignored the knots in her stomach. She wasn’t backing down.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” Stina sneered. “I’ll aim for your eyes—finally turn them blue.”

Sophie gritted her teeth. She didn’t care how she did it, but Stina was going down.

“Get set!” Sir Caton called. “Splotch!”

Sophie threw her hands out, pulling a bigger burst of strength from her gut as she shoved the splotcher.

Splat!

“Ow!” Stina screamed, rubbing her slimy blue cheek.

“Sorry,” Sophie said, her eyes wide. Had she pushed too hard?

“No reason to apologize,” Lady Alexine corrected. “Well done, Sophie. I haven’t seen such raw telekinetic power in a long time.”

Sophie flushed. That was the first compliment Lady Alexine had ever given her.

“But she hurt me!” Stina argued. “That disqualifies her, doesn’t it?”

“I didn’t mean—” Sophie started to explain but Lady Alexine held up her hands.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. If you’re hurt, Miss Heks, go to the Healing Center. Either way, Sophie won fair and square.”

Marella caught her eye and pumped her arms in victory. Sophie’s face felt hotter. Especially when she noticed the other prodigies cheering for her. Did they think she’d actually taken Stina down?

“As for you, Miss Foster,” Lady Alexine added, “I think it might be a good idea to put you with the Level Threes so your opponents can match your mental strength.”

Since when did she have the mental strength to face off against older kids with a lot more training and experience? She’d been ahead around humans, of course, but here she felt so far behind it wasn’t even funny. Was she starting to catch up?

It seemed like she was. She took out the Level Threes in duel after duel, and before she knew what was happening, there were only nine other prodigies left.

“A Level Two making it to the top ten,” Keefe said behind her. He flashed a crooked smile. “And you said you weren’t mysterious.”

She stared at her feet to hide her blush. “Must be beginner’s luck.”

Keefe snorted. “Or maybe you’ve got all kinds of talents we don’t know about.”

He couldn’t know about her telepathy, could he?

“Look who went pale again. Interesting . . . ,” he murmured.

She opened her mouth to make some excuse, but he cut her off.

“I have a feeling you’ll be the one to take down the mighty Fitz.”

Sophie froze. She wasn’t surprised that Fitz was still in the competition—especially after Dex’s earlier grumblings—but it hadn’t occurred to her that she might have to battle him. Her palms slicked with sweat, but she shook the idea away. What were the odds she would be able to beat a bunch of older, much more experienced prodigies?

Evidently, the odds were good.

Soon enough she was in the final four: her, Fitz, and two Level Sixes named Trella and Dempsey. Everyone seemed as surprised as she was—even the Mentors.

Sir Caton paired Fitz against Trella, and Sophie toyed with the idea of not even trying in her match with Dempsey—so she wouldn’t have to face Fitz. Then she caught the hopeful look on Stina’s face and found a new determination to win.

“Splotch!”

Dempsey was fast on the draw and the splotcher was halfway to her face before she stopped it. She locked her jaw and threw out her hands, pushing with every bit of strength she could muster. Her stomach cramped and the splotcher splattered so hard it knocked Dempsey back a step.

“That hurt!” He rubbed his cheek, smearing the orange goo.

She rushed toward him. “Sorry, are you okay?”

He flinched, not looking happy to have the girl who’d just bested him trying to help him. Sophie stepped back.

“Winner,” Lady Alexine announced, and Sophie spun around. Fitz waved to the cheering crowd before he turned and met her eyes. Her heart fluttered.

“It appears we’ve reached our final battle,” Sir Caton announced. “I think it’s safe to say that this is the most unusual match we’ve had in Foxfire history. Are the competitors ready?”

Fitz stepped toward Sophie with a smug smile. “I am.”

“Uh, me too.” Her voice shook, betraying her nerves.

“Go, Fitz!” Biana shouted. Her voice hid an edge that made Sophie wonder if Biana wanted her to lose more than she wanted her brother to win. She wouldn’t be surprised.

“Kick his butt, Sophie!” Keefe cheered. “It’s about time someone took Fitz down.”

“Some best friend you are,” Fitz shouted. But he said it with a smile.

“Any preference on splotcher color?” Sir Caton asked.

“Pink! Pink! Pink! Make Fitz look pretty in pink!” Everyone joined Keefe’s chant.

Sophie glanced at Fitz, trying to read his expression.

He grinned. “Ladies’ choice.”

“Pink,” she decided, to make Keefe happy. And it would be kind of funny to splat him with pink—not that she expected to win. Dex said Fitz always won.

“Pink it is.” Sir Caton tossed the splotcher, and Sophie and Fitz made it float in the space between them.

“On your marks!”

Sophie’s hands clenched into fists. If she was going to beat Fitz, she was going to have to give it everything she had—and then some.

Adrenaline surged through her veins. The murmur of the audience faded, and she became aware of another buzzing in the back of her mind, like a back-up pool of energy she’d never noticed before. It felt stronger than the other energy. Could she draw from there instead?

“Get set. . . . Splotch!”

Sophie threw her hands out, pushing toward the splotcher with her mind. Her brain seemed to stretch, like someone snapping a rubber band, and her ears rang, but she didn’t break her concentration.

The splotches exploded as her force met Fitz’s and Sophie felt the energy rebound. The next thing she knew, she was flying backward across the room. She caught the surprised look in Fitz’s eyes as the same phenomenon happened to him.

For a long second she was weightless, then her back collided with the wall and the wind was knocked out of her. An almost simultaneous crash told her Fitz had met the same fate.

Pain shot through her whole body and she collapsed. The last thing she saw was Fitz crumpled on the floor. Then everything went black.