Neverswan

Chapter Eighteen | Kaylessa

Happy reading amazing people!!

—caly

"Okay, Kaylessa," Elion said wearily as he gestured for Kaylessa to enter his villa. Kaylessa openly gawked at the utter mess. It was beyond messy even. Every single food container he ever used was thrown casually around the room, some still with food in it.

His clothes were strewn everywhere and there was no safe place to walk.

"Um, dad?" Kaylessa asked, side-stepping a bowl of lushberry juice. "Why is it so messy?" She had never once been inside his villa since they bought the place. She assumed it was because he just didn't want her to see him in a bad state, but it might be just because of the mess.

"No, it's not," Elion said defensively. Kaylessa pointedly glanced at the mess surrounding them. Whatever.

He could have lost anything in this mess, Kaylessa thought. He couldn't find it if he wanted to. She danced around a glass full of leaf puree and sat down on the couch in the center of the living room, tilted in the wrong direction. She patted the seat beside her.

"What did you lose? You told me you lost something before" she asked her dad. He scratched a subtle stubble growing on his chin and shrugged.

"I don't know, I guess I forgot," he said. Well, that wasn't helpful. She sat on her hands to prevent clenching them.

"Was it jewelry?" Kaylessa asked.

"Now, why would a grown man wear jewelry if he doesn't go anywhere," Elion huffed loudly. Kaylessa pursed her lips.

"It's not your jewelry you lost," Kaylessa amended.

Elion Salvaxe gave her a side-glare, "What do you know about the missing item?" He sniffed delicately and turned forward. Why was he acting so . . . weird?

"I'm just asking what you lost," Kaylessa said patiently. "Maybe I can help you find it."

Elion studied his daughter for a second, "I guess." Kaylessa shifted. Okay, they were getting somewhere.

"So, what did you lose?" Kaylessa asked again. She wiped her sweaty palms on her black leggings and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Something of mine," Elion said vaguely. Kaylessa tried not to grit her teeth. Is he playing a game right now? Is he being mysterious on purpose?

"Yes, but what item?" Kaylessa clarified.

"The item that I lost," her dad said, bouncing up and down on the cushions. Oh, so we're playing a game, aren't we? Kaylessa sharply inhaled.

"O-ok," Kaylessa sighed. "But can you describe it for me?"

"Sure. I lost it a couple of days ago, but I don't know when. I remembered it was gone and went to look for it and when I—" Elion started.

"No, no, can you describe the item?" Kaylessa asked, her patience wearing thin. Her dad looked contemplative enough that she thought he was thinking of the thing he lost.

"I'm hungry," was all he said. Kaylessa sighed through her nose. They were so close, she thought. She went to the kitchen to find it over piling with dirty dishes everywhere. She placed them in a pile in the sink making a mental note to wash them later but piled some mush on a clean enough plate.

She made her way back to the couch and passed the plate to Elion. He used his bare hand and shoved the sludge right into his mouth. Kaylessa cringed. He chewed loudly and when he finished, he placed the plate on the floor, right where he could step on it, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

What happened to manners? Is this how he eats every day? Kaylessa pursed her lips but got up to place the dish in the sink.

"So, how did the item you lost look like?" she asked, hoping for a direct answer.

"Oh, I don't know," he said mysteriously. "I forgot. I think it was pretty though." Kaylessa sighed, it was obvious that she wouldn't get anything out of him.

"Okay, thanks dad," Kaylessa mumbled as she got up to leave.

"You always remind me so much of your mom," Elion whispered as she reached the door. That was the only sane comment he made that night, so Kaylessa just smiled and left.

When she reached the safety of her bedroom, she flopped right onto her bed facedown. Even if she tried to talk to her dad, there was no way he would ever help her with the case. If only I had a telepath to do the job, she could just sneak right in and find the answer.

Kaylessa immediately sat up cursing herself. No, that was an invasion of privacy. If someone did that to me, I would hate them forever. I would never do that to my dad.

She huffed and rolled around on her bed completely dejected. This investigation will get us nowhere if I don't talk to my dad. She rolled onto her stomach and watched the sun lower itself to the horizon outside of her window.

I should talk to my dad . . .

Kaylessa bolted upright and whipped out her imparter. She quickly hailed Esarae and when she picked up, she saw Keryn was also there. Good, don't have to call him.

"We were in the middle of dinner," Esarae complained. A loud grumble in Kaylessa's stomach reminded her she hasn't eaten yet.

"Yeah," Keryn huffed beside her. He was talking with his mouthful of purple goo and was still chewing when Esarae shoved him aside.

"Ew, Keryn! Don't show her your dinner!" Esarae grumbled. "So, why did you call us? Did you find something?" Kaylessa hummed in thought. Well, she did sort of learn something . . .

"I have to cancel tomorrow's meeting," Kaylessa said at last. She watched Esarae eyebrows go up. Keryn made his way back into the frame and hogged the camera.

"Why?" he asked. "Did you find something?" Kaylessa rolled her eyes at the petty move.

"No, I have something I have to do," she amended.

"What?" Esarae asked, tilting the camera towards her face, but Keryn moved her arm to show his entire face, cutting Esarae in half. She smirked at the twin's internal bickering.

"I have to go to Atlantis with my dad," Kaylessa smiled sheepishly.