Lucidity

Chapter Nineteen: Detectives

Riding a pegasus with Natalia was a brand new experience and one Caitlyn wouldn't mind repeating. She and heights weren't exactly compatible, but having a friend there who seemed to be enjoying herself helped immensely. Especially when flying in the night.

"Does this mean you're going to pay for my red hair now?", Natalia cheekily asked, grinning at Caitlyn.

"I tell you there's a conspiracy to do with Rectionem Scientiae and all you can think about is hair dye?!", hissed Caitlyn.

Natalia rolled her eyes, though Caitlyn couldn't see from behind the girl. "You should sleep on it. Then you'll understand why I deserve red hair."

She took it back, Caitlyn did not appreciate flying with Natalia. There was a reason they'd never been especially close and still weren't, it had just initially come in handy that Natalia was shifter and seemed the type of adventurous girl to view exposure to magic as enough of a reward without even having to pay her for her silence on top of that.

"Where are we going anyway?", asked Natalia, "You can't go anywhere near Rectionem Scientiae. You'll be brought to your parents right away."

"Look, just make sure the horse takes us there - uh, no disrespect, oh lord of the skies - I'll explain once we're there."

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Caitlyn wasn't quite true her word. Both she and Natalia were exhausted upon arrival, so the two of them headed to her appartment. Quickly, she turned the key in the lock and invited Caitlyn inside.

"Dad, Jacqueline, Rachel, I'm home!", Natalia called out. Her father looked up from a small table, he had been reading a scientific journal. Caitlyn tensed up when his gaze landed on her. "I thought we said not to announce it."

"I trust my daughter's judgement. If she has brought you home, I trust there's a reason. I'm fine with all except one," he stated, leering at his daughter, who waved her hand. "No need to worry, Dad, the thought disgusts me."

"Good," he hummed, opening his newspaper again. Caitlyn took a chance to examine the room and found it smaller than most she was used to. It was painted a light brown and fully furnished with an eating and sitting area, yet the furniture wasn't especially tasteful. The walls were slathered in sketches and paintings, pressed flowers and dried herbs, embroidery and home crafts. A small plate hung from the ceiling on which there was a candle which was lit. Somehow Caitlyn had expected something more lavish and fashionable. Natalia wore fine clothes, fancy silk garments, yet this house was middle-class at best.

Upon being led into her companion's bedroom, she discovered the same was true of it; the bed seemed to be falling apart and one of the closet doors was askew. Caitlyn frowned.

"God, don't look like that. Sure, it's not what you're used to but I thought you were meant to be good at faking politeness!", whined Natalia, dropping down on her bed, "For that face you can sleep on the bare floor."

"Why do you dress like that if you live like this?", asked Caitlyn, trying to watch all of her friend simultaneously to avoid missing any telling body language.

"The clothes were my mother's, she was an army general and died in the war. I decided my best bet of moving up in the world was to keep up appearances and it's kind of worked. I got a job as a secretary at Rectionem Scientiae, didn't I? Requires practically no skill but better pay than those in manufacturing get. Besides, that doesn't exactly appeal to me."