Disoriented

"I'm right here." Keefe said cooly as Sophie turned around to face him, her face set aflame in shock.

"Keefe," She said, looking slightly relieved and yet alarmed at the same time, and he could feel as much with his enhanced empathy, or perhaps enhanced wasn't the right word. More like... evolved.

"Come with me." Keefe spoke before Sophie could ask any questions, quickly he dashed outside, not missing the pointed look Grady hurtled his way. Knowing exactly what it meant from there conversation earlier and the instances he'd told Grady about afterwards.

~~~Flashback~~~

"Sophie." Keefe called from outside Havenfield, his thoughts alert and set on the fritz from his earlier revelations. Pounding on the door he sighed, contemplating how in the world Sophie could keep so much from him. Suddenly the door opened and instead of meeting the eyes of the blonde beauty he was face to face with Grady.

"Oh Keefe I didn't see you there." Grady said, a casual openness in his eyes and yet a heightened sense of emotions flitting around him that begged another question to be asked.

"I'm here to see Sophie," Keefe said dryly, noting the change in Grady's emotions when he heard his daughters name spoken in such a way.

"She's up in her room." Grady said and for some reason he couldn't bring himself to walk inside, what was he supposed to say? That he liked her? That he felt... betrayed somehow? Or should he just pretend nothing happened? What... what was he supposed to do about all this?

"Keefe? You okay there?" Grady asked, bringing him out of his frenzy of mindless thoughts.

"Yeah I'm fine, I... guess I should see Sophie now." Keefe said and his tone sounded more deflated than he meant it too. Meanwhile Grady was analyzing him and he couldn't help but feel self conscious under his gaze.

"You should, shouldn't you," Grady said analytically. "but you came here for something else didn't you?"

The question didn't come as much of a query, or in much surprise as he found himself nodding. It was indeed true he needed to speak to Sophie soon, but for some reason he wasn't ready for that yet, something was holding him back.

"I suppose so."

"maybe seeing Kye might help you out."  Grady said, offering advice that was surprisingly helpful.

Keefe nodded as he realized that actually might help him in some peculiar way. In full truth he hadn't come for Kye, but now that the occasion arose he realized that may be just what would cheer him up and clear his thoughts.

"She's out with the alicorns, she loves them." Grady said and stayed at the door as Keefe started to leave.

"Tell me before you go." Grady uttered in a cool tone that spoke volumes of concern he hadn't known was there.

And even still  those words stayed in his mind the whole time as he allowed a short nod before going to find Kye.

"Keefe!" Kye yelled as he came into view, a smile lighting up her face as his timid frown changed into the ever-loosening smirk

"Hello Kye." Keefe said as his half sister rushed towards him and hugged his legs.

"What're you here for?" Kye asked, blinking her blue eyes sweetly at him. In spite of his mood he snorted at the little girl's expression. But seconds later a familiar voice wiped the grin off both of their faces.

"I don't know what he's here for. But I have some ideas for this conversation."

Gisela.

Eyes blazing Keefe turned to face his mother who stood with prominent stature and a slight smile on her lips.

"Hello Keefe."

His mother's cold voice rattled around his brain as he drew Kye closer to him and shielded his sister away from the sight of his mother, though knowing this was futile when Gisela smirked at the apparent movement.

"I'm not here to hurt you, I wish you'd realize I wasn't the bad guy here."

"Oh?" Keefe asked, gritting his teeth. "Ignoring everything else you've done, what about Kyes family huh? Kidnapping is pure bad guy."

"Kidnapping? No. Let's just say... a little bargaining." Gisela said tossing him a knowing look he hadn't any idea what to do with.

"Bargaining?"

"Yes. Don't you think its peculiar that I would leave Kye all alone for you and Sophie to find instead of taking her with me?"

A sinking feeling arose inside him as he acknowledged the truth in the statement. Gisela obviously noted his resolve when she continued,

"You see I needed you to bring Kye to the lost cities. But I knew you'd never have any reason to bring her unless she was in danger. So I simply... directed her family away from her. Through simple reasoning." His mother said with a crooked smirk that made him tear his eyes away from her.

"But why? Why would you want to bring Kye to the lost cities?" bitterness swelled inside him at the lengths his mother would go to get what she wanted.

"I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet. I've left enough clues, though I suppose you wouldn't notice them with all the chaos going around with you memories. Sophie really does make a mess of things doesn't she?"

"Says the one who stranded there daughter in the middle of the lost cities for who knows what and than did thousands of ridiculous things just to get her back. And for what stupid reason?"  Keefe asked with an aggressive tone that fell short when his mother smiled triumphantly.

"I thought you were smarter than this Keefe. You see Kye has unique powers, and I needed her to be around a certain one of your friends."

All the blood drained from his face as he realized her words.

Sophie.

Was she in danger?

"Took you a long moment to put the pieces together. Honestly I thought the moonlark animal would be enough to clue you into everything."

"That was you?" Keefe asked, astounded. Once he'd gotten his memories back he had indeed realized he still didn't know where it had come from. But through all the chaos of the last few days he hadn't had any time to analyze the seemingly unimportant detail.

"Indeed. Now, I do believe I have done what I set out to do." Gisela said and looked as if she was about to leave but he protested quickly. Thousands of questions on his mind but one breaking inside his heart.

"What about Kyes family?" He asked quickly, pushing away the worries he had about Sophie. He'd think on that soon. And probably for the rest of the week.

Gisela tossed him a dismissive look, as if the question didn't matter but finally she answered.

"They'll be released when I have everything I need."

"I thought you said you did what you set out to do?" Keefe asked sarcastically knowing it was never that simple.

"For this one goal I did, but I like to gather all I need to succeed in a plan before I put all the pieces together." Gisela said and he scoffed.

"Goodbye." Gisela said, before glancing at her daughter who had remained suspiciously quiet the whole time.

"Take care." She said with a sarcastic voice as she raised her crystal up to the sky and glittered away.

"Are you okay?"  Keefe asked as his mother left and he knelt down beside the shivering child in front of him.

"No. I saw them." Kye said, hardly even looking at him as he watched, confused.

"Saw who?"

She didn't even blink as she said, "my family. I saw them. In her thoughts."

"Kye... I"

"No. They're okay right now. But you have to help Foster." Kye said with a determined look in her eyes. And he smiled at the brave little girl in front of him.

"All right." He said, knowing exactly what he had to do next.

"I'll be back soon."

~~~

"Sophie we need to talk." Keefe said urgently, and she nodded.

"Yeah I know. Your memories..." Sophie started but he interrupted, there was no time for this.

"Sophie you're in danger." He said, knowing those weren't the exact details but he couldn't spare anymore time. Thankfully Sophie paused in her sentence.

"What?" Sophie asked but before he could say anything else another voice joined the conversation.

"Keefe?"