Alrik's Work

Alrik presses his remote and the walls slide shut, hiding the screens once more. For a moment the two of them sit in silence. Emory stares with wife teary eyes, her face flushed red as she swallows the hitter taste in her mouth.

Parma didn't deserve to die like that.

"It's a good thing I prepared ahead," Alrik chuckles softly, as if he's merely discussing the weather and not the painful death of a person. Emory glares at him, eyes blinking back the tears that desperately want to spill. "It's a shame really. She was one of my longest lasting experiments. I admire the way she held out though,"

Emory's throat constricts, her black painted nails dig into her palms. He's talking about her like she isn't a person. Like Parma was just a tool that became too tedious to deal with, too annoying.

"Now, how about we start over?" Alrik smiles, his teeth white and perfect. Emory hates that. Hates that someone so vile can be attractive and charming when in reality he is a cruel manipulator. "I believe a proper introduction is required. My name is Alrik Montgomery, I am a scientist of demon anatomy and magic, and this research center is my life's work."

His life's work is torching people to understand demons better. If his life's work happens to catch on fire and burns to the ground, Emory doesn't think it would be that big of a deal to science.

"Rome said my high priestess sold me to you." Emory says instead. If he thinks she'll play his game and introduce herself to him, then she hopes he gets upset that she doesn't. Only, not upset enough to through her back into the dark room. "Is that true?" Emory tilts her head, eyes glued to every change in his expressions. Anything that gives away why he's doing this.

"Yes." He sighs, and for a moment she thinks he's genuinely sympathetic for her, but it quickly vanishes when he gives a large smile, "Rome was sent to pick you up when the accident occurred. He tells me you summoned a demon?"

He's fucking crazy.

"And you bought me to experiment on me?" She asks, ignoring him completely. He doesn't seem to mind as he leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest.

"I'm glad to see you grasp things quickly." Alrik nods his head and then chuckles, "That makes it easier for me." He sits up and stands, "Come, let's get started."

Emory watches him walk out of his office door with pale furrowed brows. Start what? She follows after him, curiosity getting the better of her.

He leads her to a different room a few turns down, and introduces her to the man in a white coat who sits at a computer.

"Emory, this is Tilly. He'll be your doctor while you're here."

When Tilly doesn't take Emory's outstretched hand, she clears her throat and drops it. O-okay then.

"Please remove your shirt." The doctor says.

"Why?" Emory asks, voice sharp as her body tense, "You a pervert? Cause if you are I'll -"

"He's not," Alrik says, his tone sharp, "Emory, stop your nonsense. We wish to look at the curse."

Emory stiffens, but willingly foes so. It's a good thing she's wearing a sports bra underneath. Whoever dressed her did her a favor.

Her shoulders are tense as they walk around her to look at her back.

"Oh, how interesting," The doctor murmurs.

"Indeed, I've never seen a curse do that before." Alrik says, a chipperness to his tone.

"What?" Emory asks. "What is it doing?"

"Do you feel it? The curse?"

Everyday.

"What is it doing?" Emory snaps.

"It appears to be spreading, however in a very pecular way."

Emory snorts and slouches, right. She already knows it's spreading. She just doesn't know why or how to stop it.

"Will you be able to figure out what kind of curse it is?" She asks, hopeful.

There's a moment of hesitation, "You mean you dont know what curse you have?"

"No. It appeared when I was young." Emory shrugs. "Why, do you know what curse it is?" She spins to look at him.

Alrik shakes his head, glancing over at the doctor, "No. It's why we will research it, figure out what it is." He smiles.

For the first time since Emory arrived, she feels like maybe she can finally get something out of being here, instead of a trapped rabbit. If it takes being experimented on for them to figure out what curse she has, then she'll do it. And then once she knows, she can figure out a way to break it.

It's a solid plan in her mind. Alrik and his partner continue to do a routine check up, making her feel like she's at a doctor's appointment rather than being a science experiment. They draw her blood, check her weight and height, makes sure her body is healthy.

What she doesn't expect is for Alrik to bring up magic lessons.

"I'm sorry, evil antagonist said what?"

"Evil-?" Alrik shakes his head, "You'll need to learn to control it."

"But the curse-" Emory begins.

"Is an excuse." Alrik snaps. "You cling to your curse like a clutch, the reason you don't do anything, why you give up so easily. It's why you never pushed yourself to try."

"I don't know, even Priestess Promilia gave up trying to teach me a long time ago."

"You're priestess was weak." Alrik says, and Emory's eye rows stood up. She glances at him in disbelief, he clearly didn't know her Priestess very well. She was the strongest witch Emory knew, and Mavis is just as promising.

"If you want to see yourself as weak, Emory, I will happily send you back into the dark room."

Emory flinches. He doesn't play fair, giving her a choice of magic lessons or the dark room. Though the answer is easy enough.

"I'll take the damn lessons." She mutters bitterly.

Alrik chuckles, "Smart girl."