Chapter 22 The Art of Isolation
For the next two breakfasts, Klishei did not join them at the breakfast table, even when it was Yeseus who was already asking her.
“Are you feeling sick?” He asked in a genuine manner.
Klishei shook her head. “I will come down later. I just need to finish writing this,” she said as she continued to scribble in her journal. Sensing that he had no chance in persuading her this time, Yeseus conceded.
“All right, then. We’ll leave something for you to feast on. Don’t skip.”
Klishei did not even look up at him all the while. In fact, she avoided looking at him these past days. Ever since he woke her two nights ago to have sex with him even if she was tired and had just come back from a kidnapping incident, she resisted the urge to make eye-contact with him.
Because it will only take one look for her resolve to crumble.
One look from his crystal blue irises will instantly freeze her and make her submit to her own desires.
Her stomach grumbled but she only dared stand when it was already 10 am. She walked out of the room and made her way to the kitchen.
There was no one inside. She helped herself with the salad. She hadn’t even popped the plump apple in her mouth when Suneia and Naelyr walked in, both drenched in sweat holding empty glasses and sunhats with their other hand.
“Oh, good morning, Klishei,” Naelyr shyly greeted.
Suneia cleared her throat and smiled. This time, it was not fake. “How are you? We’re just out gardening if you need some—-”
Klishei immediately stood, taking with her her plate. “Sorry. I placed the juice over there.” She motioned to the pitcher near the sink.
Then, she exited the kitchen through the other door and went upstairs to her room. Stunned, Suneia and Naelyr looked at each other.
Back at her room, Klishei finished her salad, crunching the nuts satisfyingly as she enjoyed the view from the window.
The familiar flutter of wings caught her attention.
“Hi, there!”
Angus’ face popping from the window almost made her lose her balance.
“Angus, how many times do I need to tell you not to freak me out like that?”
“Oh, sorry. I was just excited to see you. It’s like it’s been ages since I saw you stick out your face. I haven’t seen you outside! Are you doing fine?”
Klishei folded her arms. “I might eventually die of a heart attack if you will not learn to gently show yourself.”
Angus scratched his head. “My bad,my bad.”
“But to answer your question,” Klishei started as she sat on a chair. “I’m doing perfectly fine, with all that has happened last week.”
Angus nodded, knowing full too well how tiring her situation was. “Well, coming out with us might help you recover,” he suggested.
All the similar wordings of the Entities made Klishei assume that they were talking about her while she was not with them.
“Sorry, Angus. I still have that fear that Daevar might suddenly appear and take me away again.”
“I see. But if you need any help. Me and the others are just around. Don’t hesitate to ask, okay? If you need a new notebook or pen, we might even make them for you!”
Klishei just waved Angus off. “Bye for now, Angus. I’ll be taking my morning nap.”
She was not sure if there was a thing such as a morning nap but it worked. Angus flew away, leaving Klishei alone. With nothing left to do, her eyes hovered over the picture frames in Yeseus’ table and cabinet.
She spotted one where the four of them were complete. The image of Suneia and Naelyr side by side made her realize that in the days she had been here, she hadn’t contacted any of her friends or family.
That’s when it hit her. She had a best friend, a boy, someone whose name started with an L.
Panic surged her heart when she couldn’t remember it. It was a short name with only two syllables.
“Luka,” she suddenly blurted.
She thought of the teacher who approached them on the way to the bus. Looking back, Yeseus covered her vision of him and ushered her inside the bus upon seeing him. She finally remembered. It was Sir Hans, her art teacher.
Why did Yeseus pull her away from him?
Klishei’s hands rummaged through Yeseus’ books. She spotted the familiar blackened wooden cover that Yeseus showed her a few days back.
She skimmed the pages until she found the section where it talked about the werewolves. She spent the morning reading, each page revealing another level of revelation.
When Angus came to visit her again, she was already prepared.
“Hey, Angus, did you mean when I said that you would do anything that I ask?”
The fairy excitedly fluttered his wings. “Why, yes!”
Klishei put up her notebook. She showed her the last page. There were no more blank pages.
“Oh, you’re out of paper. I can ask Suneia—”
“Uh, no. I thought that maybe you would be so kind as to accompany me to the craft store. I saw one when we rode on the bus. They sell the type of paper that I want.”
Angus seemed taken aback by her request. “Accompany you? Well, sure. But I thought you were scared to go out?”
Klishei hugged her notebook, quickly thinking of an excuse. “Am I not allowed to change my mind? Besides, I’ve been cooped up in here for the past few days. I would go insane if I do not get out for fresh air.”
Angus considered it, noting that Klishei had indeed locked herself in this room. He then gave her a huge smile.
“What are we waiting for, then?”
“Thanks, Angus. You’re the best. I’ve always wanted to know the feeling of being able to fly.” Klishei gave her sweetest smile.
Angus finally got what she wanted and he clapped his hands in his joy. “You could have said that earlier. Come on, then.”
Klishei’s heart was thumping in nervousness. She tried to shake it off with her smile. “Can I ask you that our little trip outside will be a little secret between us? I don’t want to offend Suneia that she can’t create the paper that I need. Yeseus might also scold you if he finds out that you helped me go out.”
Angus thought about it. “That makes sense. All right, I promise you. We will fly through the forest so that they won’t see us.”
Klishei took a last look at the room. The half-wilted small plant at the corner was enough reason for her to strengthen her resolve.
“Klishei?” Angus asked.
“Sorry, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
As Angus took her hand, Klishei quietly opened the cover of her notebook, releasing a torn piece of paper that landed at the floor of the room.
It would be in plain sight if ever Yeseus entered later.