Eminence (Wattpad Edition)

Note 14 - The You That I Knew

An uncomfortable silence filled Emanon's room. Everyone sat in stiff anticipation. Anika, Jack, Warren, and Dr. Galvan was stationed like courtroom spectators. Emanon and Theo stood on opposite sides of the room, neither willing to close the gap.

"So..." Theo finally broke the silence. "This is quite the reunion."

"So it is," Emanon said without looking at him. Her gaze stayed fixed on the floor, her arms crossed.

"You look healthy."

"Thanks."

Anika leaned in toward Jack and Warren on the couch and whispered, "Are we at a divorce hearing?"

"Who do you think gets custody of us?" Jack murmured back, deadpan.

"You two are ridiculous," Warren muttered, though a tight smirk betrayed his restraint.

"No talking," Dr. Galvan said firmly, just as the door opened and the lawyer entered.

The door clicked shut behind the lawyer, but no one moved. Emanon's fingers twitched at her sides. Across the room, Theo stood with a casual posture, like a man playing calm while something darker boiled beneath the surface.

Warren's hand brushed against his knee, inching instinctively toward Emanon's direction, even from his seat. Jack noticed but said nothing.

Anika leaned back, her usual levity drained, though her eyes flicked between everyone with curious alertness. Dr. Galvan stood with arms crossed, watching Theo. Then, the lawyer cleared his throat.

"Good morning, everyone," the lawyer said. His crisp tone was met with a wall of silence.

"My name is Taurai Abram. I will be facilitating this legal visit regarding the domestic offense between Emanon and Theo Ashford. I noticed we do not have a last name on record for Emanon?"

"She's an amnesiac," Dr. Galvan replied. "We don't have much beyond her contract record."

"Very well. Emanon and Theo, please step forward."

They both approached the long table where Taurai sat, keeping their distance from each other.

"You will now do two things: First, consent to have your will overtaken so I may acquire truthful answers. Second, you will provide blood so I may monitor emotional responses. If both of you comply, and this issue can be settled here, it will not need to be escalated. Do you understand?"

They both nodded.

"I, Theo Ashford, give full consent to have my will overtaken and my thoughts and emotions monitored by Taurai Abram..." Theo said, then pricked his finger, allowing a few drops into the cup.

"I, Emanon, give full consent to have my will overtaken and my thoughts and emotions monitored by Taurai Abram..." Emanon echoed, her voice unsteady. She pierced her fingertip and let the blood fall into the cup.

Taurai added a liquid from his flask to the blood, swirling it briefly before drinking.

"Speak..." he commanded, voice warping unnaturally.

Emanon nearly stumbled from the sudden heaviness in the room. It felt like hundreds of eyes bore into her mind, crawling beneath her skin. A cold shiver ran through her as if reality itself had thinned.

Taurai turned to Theo.

"What is your relation to Emanon?"

"I have no relation to Emanon," Theo said flatly. "It was Eminence that I knew..."

"Who is Eminence?"

"Eminence was my fiancée, we grew up together. Our engagement was called off... thirty years ago."