Keeper of the Lost Cities Story; The Lost Secret

Chapter 22

"Wow, it's beautiful here," Kai breathes as they walk up the long stairs to get to the house. 

"Yeah it really is," Linh says. 

They continue up the stairs in silence. Kai isn't sure what to say to people who have been exiled and come back. Plus, this is the girl who literally saved Atlantis. The pair are quite intimidating. 

"So uhh... do you need to hail your mom or something like that?" Tam asks. 

Kai shrugs, "Not really,"

The two give her an understanding look. 

"She doesn't care," 

"I'm sorry," 

"At least she doesn't care too much," Tam says. 

Kai gives him a look. Does he even understand how hard it is to deal with a neglectful parent? Tam seems to notice Kai's doubt. 

"My parents care a lot about what they look like to others. They tried to tell people that me and Linh weren't twins," Tam says. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," Kai says, "I get that too... my mom is nobility so she's always gone," 

"Yeah," Linh whispers. "She's a bad parent, right?" 

Kai gives Linh a surprised look. How did she know that?

"Ye-yeah, how did you know that?" Kai asks. She doesn't tell anyone that. 

"Keefe told us... just so we knew what you'd been through," Linh says quietly. "I'm not going to tell anyone... if that's why you're worried," 

"No, it's not that," Kai says quietly, "I guess I'm just embarrassed, I mean my mom throws books at my head so," 

Tam chokes on nothing. Linh stops walking. 

"Wait what?" Tam says. 

Kai stops walking too. "I thought Keefe told you," 

Linh's eyebrows are scrunched in worry, "He told us you had parent problems, but he didn't say that she hurt you physically," 

"Oh," 

"She throws books at you?" Tam asks loudly. 

"Well, she threw a book at me," Kai says, "One time,"

 "That's still horrible," Linh says sadly. Water animals began to float in the air. 

"Yeah... it is," Kai says, "and that is amazing," 

Linh blushes at the praise, "Thanks," 

They continue up the little stairs left till the top. Kai looks out at the view, it really is beautiful. 

"Finally there," Tam grumbles. 

Kai guesses that Tam does not enjoy the walk up the stairs as much as she did. He opens the door and holds it for her and Linh. 

"Thanks," Kai breathes. 

The house is beautiful. Kai looks around at it in awe before someone walks into the room. 

"Hello," they say. 

Kai turns to see a tall blonde elf. He had longish hair and really bright blue eyes. He must be Tigran. 

"Hi, I'm Kai," she says sticking her hand out to shake his. 

"I'm Tigran," He says. 

"Nice to meet you," Kai says. "Thank you for letting me stay here, I really appreciate it," 

"Of course," Tigran says, "I just want to ask you one thing, could I read the note they left you?" 

Kai hesitates, but she has a feeling it's okay. She suspects that Tigran might be involved with the Blackswan because Tam and Linh stay with him, and Mr. Forkle seems to trust him. 

"Yeah," she hands him the note. 

"Hmm," Tigran says as he reads it. 

"What does it say?" Linh asks. 

Tigran looks towards Kai, "Can I read it out loud?" 

Kai nods, it isn't like a bunch of people haven't already read it. 

"Kai, your father would be proud of what you're doing, but we would appreciate it if you gave us what we need. We know you have it, so leave it at your favorite spot at midnight in three days," 

"Woah that doesn't sound good," Tam says. 

"Yeah I know," Kai says. 

"What do they want?" Linh asks. 

Kai sighs, "See that's the problem... I have no idea," 

"Weird," Tam says. 

Kai laughs, "Yeah weird is right,"

After some more investigation of the letter, Linh leads Kai to the extra room which is next to hers. 

"I'll bring you some clothes to sleep in and for tomorrow," Linh says. She leaves Kai in the room. 

It is a nice size room, with a large bed. There is a tall mirror in one corner and a desk in another.

"Okay so here's some pajamas, and also a uniform for Foxfire tomorrow," Linh says walking back into the room. She hands Kai the clothes.  

"Ugh school," Kai grumbles. 

"Yeah, I feel that," Tam says leaning against the door frame. 

Kai laughs, "I have to meet Forkle though," She says, "He's a weird dude," 

Tam snorts, "Yeah I bet he gets that a lot," 

Linh laughs at that, "Definitely," 

Kai smiles. She likes the twins, she really feels like she can relate to them. 

"Okay well the gnomes said dinner is ready so we should head over there," Tam says. 

Kai hadn't realized how hungry she was. "That sounds great,"  

They all talk as they head to the dining room. Kai finally felt happy, she maybe even felt like this was home. Real home.