Finding Keefe (Sokeefe)

Not A Reconciliation

It's like he didn't value it.
It's like he didn't care.

'Because he doesn't'

A tiny part of her said.

But that part was increasing exponentially.

Finally a very small bitter laugh escaped from her lips.

But it was just enough to make Magnate Leto shocked.

And that's what she needed.

"You say that as if it were the truth."
The words were cold, brutal.

Her voice was no longer hoarse. It had now warmed up enough somehow.

Leto was stunned.

And Sandor was too.

The whole room seemed to freeze over with the amount of ice in her tone.

She glared at him.

She glared.

Emotions were coming back it seems.

And she could live if only the bad ones came back.

And she was certain that's how it was going to be for forever, unless Keefe came back.

That wasn't even mildly an exaggeration.

More words of pure bitterness and rage scratched up her throat, but she bit them back, saving the poison for when it deserved to be used.

And he didn't deserve it.

He didn't deserve anything she gave him.

Because he didn't care.

Without her consent, a single rebellious tear slid down her cheek.

A tear.

Something she hadn't known in days.

But it wasn't a tear of sadness. Or joy. Or anger.

It was simply a tear.

With no expression attached.

"It is."
Leto's deep voice spoke again.

She had so many things she could retaliate with, but she stuck to,
"Is it? So we're lying now are we?"

Her lips tugged into a jagged smile of frost.

"I understand your pain and frustration Miss Foster."

"Do you?"
She countered.

If this was how it was going to be, she would make it impossible for him.

He sighed.
"Yes. If you do not fully recount, I lost my twin."

He did not get to play that card.

Not when Sophie was the one covered in his blood.

Not when it had forever stuck to her that it was her fault.

The guilt would consume her.

"You don't get to say that. Not when it was my fault."

She locked eyes with him.

His eyes widened.

She was shaking now, so hard that Sandor had to steady her.

"Miss Foster, we both know it wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. I could've saved him."

"That's not what he thought possible at the moment..."

Leto's eyes turned glassy.

"It was my fault. And so was everything else. Kenric's death. All the injuries. Keefe leaving. They were all my fault."

The guilt that she had buried so long ago was rising to the surface.

As well as her emotions.

Tears poured out of her eyes onto the floor, staining it with dark circles.

"Sophie..."
His voice was barely a whisper.

There was a long pause before he continued.

"Do you blame yourself."

But she couldn't answer.

She was too afraid to speak.

It's like all of her emotions had come crashing down at once, leaving her vulnerable.

But the look in her eyes said it all.

"Oh no..."
Magnate Leto muttered.

Magnate Leto had now stood and walked right in front of her. Their eyes were still locked.

She was feeling so many emotions at once.

But the most intense one was guilt.

It was her fault.

And with that thought, she collapsed backward.

Just like Alden had in Exile.