Eminence

Note 12 - An Uninvited Guest

When Emanon came to, she was on the bathroom floor, puking copious amounts of blood over the toilet bowl. She could hear the voices of Jack and Warren just outside the bathroom, and she could hear them so clearly that the door must not have been closed. She was too weak to turn around to see them, and she felt dizzy. Her throat burned, and her chest hurt from the strain in her muscles as she puked. Every breath she took was painful, and she was scared because she couldn't remember anything from before she got to this moment. The sounds of Jack and Warren's conversation were overwhelming. She could feel the anger and fear from them as they spoke, anxious about what to do until a knock on the door silenced them. 

"It's not healthy, puking after you've just eaten." A voice called out from the other side of the door. 

"What do we do?" Jack asked Warren in a soft voice.

Warren did not answer, though; she next heard the door open. Emanon no longer needed to vomit; however, her nausea did not subside; in fact, it worsened. She felt a deep sinking feeling in her stomach, and her panic grew. She recognized the presence that walked through the door, but whoever it was, they were already in the room. It was too late. 

****

Warren stayed near the bathroom entrance as he watched the man walk through the room and sit near the window. 

"It's so nice you keep this room so cold and dark. I can tell you don't treat her like an animal..." The man said in a sarcastic tone. 

Jack moved to the bathroom and sat near Emanon. Seeing her state, he pulled her into his arms and consoled her, wiping her mouth and face with a damp cloth hanging over the sink.

"Who are you to Emanon?" Warren asked, and the man smiled. 

"Who are you to her?" He responded. 

"That man isn't human..." Emanon said out-breath. Her voice sounded slightly hoarse. 

"Emanon belongs with me..." Warren told the man. 

"Does she now?" The man asked, and his smile dropped. 

"And you?" Warren followed up. 

"I guess you could say she's an old friend of mine. My name is Theo. It would be best if you were getting her to the hospital, by the way, all that blood loss. " he replied. 

"We can't-" Jack said to Warren in a hushed tone. 

"Where do you suggest we go?" Warren asked Theo.

"I'm honestly impressed you're so calm and collected about me. Are you not aware of what I am? I can tell that those two hiding in the bathroom corner do." Theo said jokingly. 

"Answer the question, Theo; I'm not interested in your person." Warren retorted. 

"That's a funny thing to say to a predator, Warren..." Theo replied, and suddenly, a heavy presence filled the air; the air thickened to the point that it was suffocating. It paralyzed Warren, but he stood his ground; if he had faltered now, it would have Emanon killed. 

"Theo,  Emanon needs help; if she's important to you, I need you to tell us where we can take her." 

"I suppose I could tell you, but will you return to speak with me? I must get to know who you are- Warren, a human with his own will despite the collar around his next. I can see your contract, you know." 

"Just with me, though; Jack will stay with Emanon." 

"That's very brave... Fine. I'll write down the address for you. You will return when she's stable, and we will talk. I promise I will not harm you since you seem so promising." Theo said as he took a pen from his coat and a note from his pocket. He wrote down the address, then stood up and extended his arm for Warren to take it.