“Probably both.” Fitz removed a small black orb from his satchel. “My dad gave me an obscurer to help us stay hidden.”
The gadget bent light and sound in a limited radius, camouflaging anything inside.
“Are you serious?” Biana asked. “Then what was the point of these ugly costumes?”
“It’s called being careful,” Fitz told her.
“Plus, I get to be Batman!” Keefe added. “But I’m done with the jacket. Why is it so hot here?”
“Too many people, not enough trees,” Fitz said as he took off his scarf and coat, leaving him in a rather tight blue T-shirt.
Biana ditched her sweatshirt, revealing a yellow screen-printed tee. “I liked that this one had a few girls,” she told Sophie, pointing to the group shot of the X-Men. “Even if they have super weird hair.”
“Uh, there’s a guy who has blue fur all over his body, and you’re focusing on the girls’ hair?” Keefe asked. “And hey, that clawed dude’s yellow shirt might be as tight as Fitz’s!”
“Jealous?” Fitz asked, flexing rather impressive muscles.
“Shouldn’t we try to figure out where we’re going?” Dex asked, shoving his sweatshirt into his satchel and hugging his skinny arms against his chest.
“Probably,” Keefe agreed. “But first—what is that?” He pointed to the drippy ice cream a family was devouring. “Whatever it is, I want some!”
“I think that’s gelato,” Sophie told him. “And forget it.”
“Actually, I think it’s a good idea,” Fitz said.
Keefe leaned closer to Sophie. “In case you were wondering—that is why he’s my best friend.”
Sophie sighed. “Even if we had time, how would you pay for it?”
Her friends were used to buying everything with their birth funds—a special account set up when they were born, with more money than they could ever use in a lifetime. But it was useless outside of the Lost Cities.
“Won’t this stuff work?” Dex asked, pulling out a wad of crinkled, colored paper. “I had it left over from when we were in that other Forbidden City after we got kidnapped.”
Paris and Florence did accept the same currency, but . . . “We don’t have time for gelato!” Sophie said.
Keefe draped his arm around her shoulders. “Foster, Foster, Foster. Live a little.”
“You know he’s going to keep pushing until he gets what he wants, right?” Biana asked.
“Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine,” Sophie mumbled. “Give me the money. I’ll be right back.”
“We’re coming with you,” Dex said.
“Uh-uh. I’m going to have to be visible to buy something. And together we’d be way too conspicuous.”
“But we’re in costume!” Biana argued.
“Yeah, but you guys will still stand out. I mean . . . look at you. You look like models.”
“Wait, is Foster saying she thinks we’re hot?” Keefe asked.
“I think she is.” And the huge grin dimpling Dex’s cheeks was practically beaming.
Sophie wanted to deny it, but the truth was, elves were way prettier than humans. Even Dex with his messy strawberry blond hair was ten times cuter than any human boy his age.
“I’m just saying you guys will draw a lot of attention,” Sophie said. “Especially since you don’t speak Italian.”
She pointed to two portrait artists sitting in the shade of the Duomo, waving their hands as they talked. As a Polyglot, Sophie could tell they were discussing their favorite soccer teams. But the rest of her friends only spoke the elves’ Enlightened Language. Fitz knew a little English from his time searching for her, but that wouldn’t get him far in Italy.
“Sophie’s right. The less we’re all seen, the better. But I’m going with her.” Fitz handed Keefe the obscurer and snatched some money from Dex. “No one wanders off alone.”
“Fine.” Sophie was still mad at him, but they also needed to talk.
“I can’t believe we’re wasting time on this,” she said as Fitz followed her through the crowds of tourists. It was so strange to see gray hair and wrinkles and glasses and canes after so much time around the ageless elves.
“I get that we’re in danger,” Fitz said. “But that’s why I thought this was a good idea.” He scooted closer, lowering his voice as they passed a group of girls ogling him. “I mean . . . aren’t you worried about how everyone’s holding up? Biana seems really nervous, doesn’t she? And Keefe is barely keeping it together. I’m sure Dex has to be freaking out too. So if gelato makes them happy, don’t you think that’s worth it?”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” she admitted. “But still, we’d have more time for things like gelato if you’d told me what the Black Swan’s instructions were before we left and let me work on solving the riddle.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to drive you crazy. I was worried you’d sneak away without us if I told you.”
The thought had crossed her mind—several times . . .
“I just want to keep everyone safe,” she mumbled.