The ride to Nerezza seemed to take forever, dragging Emrie along the way. They could only drive so fast with his weight trailing behind.
Damien began feeling nervous with how fast time was passing by. It would be dark soon. Just the thought of it ruffled Damien's nerves.
The driver pulled close to the entrance of the Nerezza's home. She stood outside by her pond collecting toads and whatever types of creatures she deemed useful for her work.
Damien opened his door, stepped out of the truck and head towards Nerezza.
"Hello Damien. To what do I owe this visit?" She asked a little too pleasantly than Damien was comfortable with.
"I am pretty sure you know why I am here." Damien said, annoyed as he looked back at the men in the truck.
They didn't dare step a foot onto Nerezza's property until they absolutely had to. They sat in the truck looking at the interaction between the two.
Nerezza chuckled. "Well, I had to ask anyway. I am testing your ability to be honest." She said, as she clipped some herbs from her garden, placing it in a little satchel that hung around her neck.
Damien rolled his eyes as she focused on her task. "I saw that." She said, looking back and glaring at him. Damien put both hands in front of him.
"Hey, I was just messing around." He said, not to anger her.
"What do you want Damien. Tell me." She said in a low growl.
"I brought the elephant." He replied.
"I know. Is he alive?" She asked, looking back at the motionless trailer.
"Yes, he should be waking up any moment now." Damien replied.
"Good. Where is the girl?" She asked.
Damien's heart sped up at her question. His eyes darted from left to right as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Nerezza studied him quietly.
"She is not here, is she?" Nerezza asked calmly.
"Not exactly. She is still healing and not ready to move around yet." Damien said. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"I do not care. I want the girl." Nerezza replied.
"Uh, can we negotiate? Damien asked, nervously.
"Go on." Nerezza instructed.
"Well, I have this for you." He said, opening his leather satchel and giving Nerezza a glimpse of the treasures he brought her.
Nerezza stared at the goods for a moment, then turned away to continue her work.
"What am I supposed to do with that, Damien?" She asked, emotionless.
Damien's heart sank. This was not a good idea.
"I was hoping you would take this in exchange for the girl." He said, scratching the back of his head.
Nerezza dropped what she was doing and walked closer to Damien.
"Do you really believe this is what that girl is worth?" Nerezza asked through her teeth as her lips and the veins in her neck turned black.
Damien remained silent trying to think of something to say.
"Damien. My deal still stands. I want the girl by the next full moon. You have a couple weeks left. Do not disappoint me." Nerezza warned.
"I can't give her up." Damien replied plainly looking at the floor with his hands in his pocket. He looked like a stubborn little boy.
Nerezza glared at him as her eyes began glowing. She moved in closer to him.
"You have become fond of her, haven't you?" She questioned, looking deep into his eyes as he quickly looked away.
"I am not sure how I feel, but I do know I can't just give her up." He said, still looking away while Nerezza stood less than an inch away.
Suddenly, she vanished before his eyes.
"Damien, you and that girl have no future together." She said, reappearing behind Damien as she whispered in his ear.
Damien was startled as he jumped forward and turned around to face her.
"You have kept her locked away to yourself for her entire existence. She is not meant to live amongst the rest of you. She serves a greater purpose beyond this life." Nerezza said, angrily.
"What do you mean. What is it that you really want her for? What do you mean 'beyond this life'?" Damien asked, confused as Nerezza walked away.
"Remove the elephant from the trailer and leave. You don't have much time before the darkness is awakened." She warned.
"Will you not give me anything for the borders?" He asked, impatiently.
"You will get nothing until I receive the girl. Your gold and diamonds are of no use to me now. I want the girl. Now leave!" She spat.
Anger grew inside of Damien at the thought of giving Zia over to this monster. He wouldn't do it.
"Please Nerezza, at least give me more time." He asked pleadingly.
"No. I will not allow you to keep her beyond the full moon." She said as she gathered her things and walked towards the entrance of her home.
Damien exhaled heavily and turned towards the trailer.
"Alright. Get him out. We have to get out of here." He said to the handlers.
The handlers reluctantly hopped out of the truck to release Emrie. They opened the back of the trailer as Emrie broke out angrily attacking the men while Damien looked back, heading to the direction of the ruckus.
Two of the handlers approached Emrie with electric prods, shocking him. Emrie didn't feel the shocks any longer. He saw red through his eyes.
Damien made it over to Emrie just as he swung his head violently in Damien's direction, hitting him with the side of his tusk and throwing Damien against a large Tree.
Suddenly, Nerezza appeared near the Elephant and kept moving closer to him. Emrie froze, breathing heavily.
"There, there." She said as she held her hands out to Emrie as he bowed his head to her. She touched the sides of his face with both of her hands and looked him in the eye.
"This is not how you behave here. Come with me." Nerezza said, walking away as Emrie followed her towards the forest near her home. He was completely calm and obeyed her.
Damien slowly gathered himself and stood up. He knew Nerezza was powerful but to compel a huge beast while in such a violent state was intimidating.
He pulled himself into the truck and waited for the handlers to follow. Slowly they each made it into the truck.
They pulled out of Nerezza's home and head back to the circus.
Everyone was quiet on the ride back. The sun was getting ready to set, throwing everyone's nerves out of order.
The driver picked up the pace, which was much easier without an elephant in the back of the truck.
The sky seemed to darken earlier than usual. They still had an hour left to get back to the circus but beating the fall of evening was not looking promising.
Without any protection from the darkness, they would all be in danger.