Lights, Camera, Orc-tion!

32: Evidence

The sense of surreality diminished the longer Elyon spoke and the longer Avicia stared at the papers strewn out before her. Avicia was painfully aware of Java Brava, of the squeaky booth beneath her, of the churn of the air conditioner and the buzz of the overhead lights. She was even more aware of the papers before her. Receipts of hospital bills, for her own father, paid in full. The print-outs of Avicia's remaining checks, both as a personal assistant and a 'fake' girlfriend, shown to be deposited into her account.

Most of all, the chat logs between Kahdreg and Kallinaera. Long discussions that happened over Sunday, after Kahdreg had left Avicia's company, when the siren revealed she knew about Bellamy Bluebell.

'What a shame it would be if - due to the alleged relationship with a prominent director - the paparazzi posted Bellamy's address so fans could greet her with impromptu visits!' Avicia kept re-reading that line, hearing Kallinaera's gleeful malice in the very print. Rage slithered within Avicia, knotting tighter and tighter with every re-read.

Even with this added information, Avicia's brain swam with questions.

How did Kallinaera even learn of Bellamy Bluebell? She doubted the siren perused camgirl streams all that often. The only thing Avicia could think of was some 'friend' of Kallinaera's somehow stumbled upon Bellamy. With as often as Kahdreg made appearances - even disguised - it was likely easy for anyone who knew the couple to spot them.

But why would Kahdreg just up and end everything without talking to her, first? There were workarounds to this situation! Avicia had plans for this potential eventuality. Of course, she always thought it was going to be an obsessive fan, not a scorned admirer of her own partner, that brought the plans into motion. Regardless, there were ways to fight this, to fight Miss Virlee!

Why did they bend to that damnable siren, at all?

"There's a lot at stake." Avicia's attention swung to Elyon, as the perceptive elf placed a gentle hand over Avicia's own, which still clutched at a paper. Concern and sensibility emanated from the elven woman as she continued, "Their career and identity. Possibly, your life."

Frustration swelled in Avicia, fingers crumpling the edges of the papers she held. "Why didn't they talk to me about it, though?"

"They didn't want to be talked out of it." Elyon's soft voice was not helping Avicia's inner turbulence. She wanted to smash something, to tear the papers to shreds, to upturn the table, but Elyon's gentle and sensible tone soothed the bristling irritation. Not to mention she didn't want to create further work for Leio, who had to be pulled away to tend to customers. "Kahdreg will do what they need to, in order to protect those they care about."

The words caused Avicia to sigh and slump further in her chair, releasing the papers from her grip. Her thoughts twisted down a separate avenue. Not for the first time, Avicia wondered if Kahdreg's distance from their family was also thanks to Kallinaera's criminal insistence to be part of the orc's life.

Would born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-her-mouth Kallinaera even humor the rougher, blue collar Vidarocs, among others? Or would she insist on even further distance due to the optics? And what would she do if Kahdreg refused? Would she put the Vidarocs in danger, just to get what she wanted? She had pushed - accidentally or not - Avicia from the yacht.

"How much has Miss Virlee fucked with Kahdreg in the past?" Avicia found the question on her lips before she fully realized her own thoughts. If Kallinaera was willing to do anything for what she wanted, how many had already been hurt or threatened in the past?

Visible tension made Elyon sit straighter, her shoulders stiffening as her hand retreated from Avicia. "Fucked as in...?"

Avicia's eyebrows dipped, a crease forming between them. Elyon's reaction already answered enough of Avicia's suspicion. But she needed a hard answer. With her voice hardening with every word spoken, Avicia replied, "Has Kallinaera Virlee threatened or coerced Kahdreg, or those they care about, in some way?"