“Calm down, Travis,” Emma said.
Her mouth turned down at the corners, making me think maybe she was also disappointed he had awakened. I could only assume her displeasure came from having to endure his hysteria again. Whereas, I was disappointed because, as uncomfortable as it was, I enjoyed feeling like Emma and I were alone together.
Bang bang bang.
Emma gave the door a crooked smile. “There now, not nearly as loud or thundering as last time. Just like…” She looked at me as if horrified by some fact. “Oh my god, I don’t even know your name.” She clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Calan,” I said.
Again, I wondered what my Masters would think of my disclosure, especially Master Ylang. I should have only told her I was a Chevalier, a servant. To name myself to a civilian of no consequence in the greater battle was a sin of vanity. The delight on Emma’s face chased away my thoughts of coming punishment.
“You look like a Calan.”
Travis was still rubbing at his puffy face. “Yeah dude. What, do you like workout every day? Wouldn’t know to look at you in that big coat, but it’s clear now you’re swole.”
I nodded though I didn’t know what ‘swole’ meant. “I train every day, yes. For three hours. It is necessary for someone of my position to do so.”
Emma’s eyes fluttered down behind her glasses to my torso and arms again. This time I recognized the expression. Lust. My stomach shifted hotly.
If Travis weren’t here, I couldn’t be sure what I would have done. I decided in the end it was good he was here acting as a chaperone.
“So can we go home now?” Travis whined, hope lighting his words. “Haven’t heard any banging in a minute.”
I shook my head. “No, we must go to my Master.”
“Me too?” Emma asked, her voice hopeful.
“The soul eater has your scent now. It will come for you no matter where you are.” I added slowly, “If you want to live, I believe it’s best if you stay with me.”
Travis folded his arms. “How very Terminator of you.”
My brows scrunched up. “Pardon?”
“Don’t mind him,” Emma said, waving him off. “He’s just being a baby. But yes, very interested in living.”
“A baby?” Travis flailed his arms, bordering on hysteria again. “Something is trying to kill us. A… what did you call it? A soul eater? I think it’s totally normal for me to freak out over being chased by a monster.”
“It’s a spirit,” I corrected.
“What?”
“It’s a malevolent spirit. Well, it was until it became corporeal, but technically it’s still a spirit. Not a monster.”
Travis looked like he was sucking on un-ripened berries as he asked in a deadpan voice. “What? Are you telling me there are such things as monsters, too?”
“No, of course not,” I scoffed.
Travis gave a watery smile and ran a shaky hand through his hair.
“Demons are very real though.”
He blanched.
“They would probably be closer to a monster than a spirit. Demons are obviously solid all the time.”
Emma eyed Travis, as if anticipating he might snap. “So Calan, I need to go back to my place to pick something up before we go anywhere.”
“No,” I shook my head. “As I said, we must immediately go to my Master. He will know what to do. I can create the portal, now that we cannot be trailed by the soul eater and I am strong enough again to do so.”
