House Of Aoikasai

by Heaven's Wordsmith

Jenna Stevens is the new girl in Aoikasai House, named for a goddess lost in a sea of grief, and all Jenna wants is to make her family proud. After hearing about the legend of Aoika House, however, she sets out on a quest to find a treasure that could solve every problem her family has ever faced and so much more, but will this treasure prove to be much more than she bargained for?

10. House Of Missing

Jenna groaned and slapped her alarm clock off and sat up. "Good morning, Jenna." Yuko smiled, already wide awake.

"Good morning," Jenna yawned. She stood and knelt down to pull her shiny collection out. She slid the lid off and blinked. The necklace wasn't there. She sifted through the spoons and metals compact in the box. It wasn't there. Her heart began to race. Why isn't it here? I know I put it in here last night! She thought. She shook her head and slid it back under her bed. I'll have to retarce my steps. Where could it have gone?

"Hey, Jenna, you up yet?" Ember burst through the door, also fully awake. Her eyes landed on Jenna. "What's wrong?"

"I lost it," Jenna answered. "The necklace is gone."

"What?" Ember's eyes widened in surprise. "Didn't you have it last night?"

"The pretty necklace?" Yuko asked. "The one you found a few nights ago?"

"Yeah and I thought I did have it," Jenna stood. "I remember even putting it in the box. I don't know what could've happened to it."

"Oh, Jenna-chan!" Yuko gave her a sympathetic squeeze. "I'll help you find it!"

"N-no thanks, it's-"

"I insist," Yuko said. "I'll find it faster than you can say 'panda'!" Before Jenna could object a second time, Yuko dashed out of the room. Ember sighed.

"I have a feeling she's only going to make things worse," She said. "Maybe it fell off in the attic somewhere."

"I don't know," Jenna scratched her head and furrowed her brows. "I remember putting it back in the box last night, but I just looked and it wasn't there."

"In the box?"

"Yeah," Jenna nodded. "I've been keeping it in my shiny collection shoe-box!"

"Your shiny collection?" Ember shook her head. "You're a strange person, Jenna."

"So, I hear you're missing your amulet, mi'lady Jenna," Axel peeked through the door of her room. "Your knight in shining armor is here to help."

"What're you doing here, Axel? You know you're not supposed to be up here!" Ember scolded. "And how do you know about the necklace?"

"Yuko told me," he answered. "Where did you last see it?" Ember looked at Jenna.

"Yuko told you?" She blinked.

"Jenna Stevens report to my office immediately!" Miranda came marching in and glared at Axel. "What do you think you're doing Mr. Toft?"

"Many apologies, ma'am," he said. "I was just trying to help a friend."

"Get back down stairs now," Miranda hissed and turned her attention back to Jenna. "Both of you to my office now!"