Chapter 19: Pressure
Damien sat in his office sipping on whiskey and figuring out his next move. He knew he would have to satisfy Nerezza before she became upset. He had been so angry since he left her.
"How dare she put her hands on me! How dare she threaten me!" He scoffed as he gulped the remains of his whisky and slammed his glass down, almost breaking it.
Standing up from his chair, he began pacing back and forth in his office lounge area.
A thought came to him in the midst of his frustration. Walking over to the room he sent Zia to meet with the strange man, he entered and walked over to one of the nude paintings on the wall.
Damien carefully passed his hand under the bottom of the frame as it lifted off the wall, allowing Damien to swing it open.
Beyond the frame was a safe. Damien entered the code for the safe that was imbedded in the wall and opened it slowly.
Inside the safe was stacks of gold, money, diamonds and jewels. He stood there, admiring the treasures for a moment as his mood changed.
He smiled as he reached into the safe and pulled out a golden brick and a hand full of diamonds. He placed the items into a leather pouch and placed the pouch in his shoulder bag.
"This has to work." He whispered as he went to go locate Emrie.
Emrie was not far from Damien's office. His holding area was the closest one to Damien's office. He entered the holding area and immediately fixed his eyes on Emrie.
Ok, you big, hunk of meat. Time for you to go." Damien spoke to Emrie, who was shackled on all four feet.
Emrie had not been eating anything at all since the accident. He had no desire to do anything at all.
Damien felt the elephant was useless in this state, so getting rid of him now would be ideal.
He was a hazard to have him around anyone. Emrie and the treasures should satisfy Nerezza until he could figure out his next move.
Damien opened the metal bars to the cell and walked up to the elephant. Emrie kept his head down not even acknowledging him.
"I will tell Zia goodbye for you. Don't worry." Damien said with a grin. Emrie stood up and let out a loud trumpeting noise at the sound of Zia's name. He began pulling the shackles as he moved towards the door.
The wall base where the shackles were attached to, were breaking out of the walls with each pull.
"What the hell are you doing, Emrie? Cut it out." Damien yelled as he reached for the main lead attached to Emrie's neck and pulled him back with immense strength.
"Stay your ass here until I say!" Damien said, gradually pulling back the enormous elephant.
Just as Damien was able to plant his feet and stop Emrie, the handlers rushed into the room with the electrical prods.
Each handler surrounded Emrie, shocking him with the prods. He trumpeted again, raising up his front legs as the men pulled the chains to lower him.
The group of men had a more difficult time than Damien did by himself while restraining him.
Damien became an onlooker as he watched the handlers battle to restrict Emrie. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small tranquilizer gun.
The men struggled with forcing Emrie out of the cell with his enormous size. Slowly, they were able to move him inch by inch as Damien grew more impatient with every minute that went by.
As soon as the men forced Emrie into the trailer, Damien aimed the gun at Emrie and pulled the trigger. Emrie collapsed into the trailer. The men lifted the gate, locking it behind the motionless elephant.
"He won't wake up until we get there so let's get out of here now, before darkness falls. I don't want to get stuck out there. He should be groggy and more willing when he wakes up." He told the men who were still recovering from handling him.
"Hey Damien." Aeson said, meeting Damien at the entrance of the holding room. "I need to speak with you. It's about Zia." He said.
Damien already looked annoyed. He was still upset that they questioned his authority before. Why would they want to anger him? He thought.
"What is it, Aeson?" My schedule is tight right now. I am just about ready to leave, as you can see. Damien said, impatiently.
"Well, Zia seems to be healing quickly. She has made amazing progress." Aeson said, waiting for a reaction from Damien but he had no emotion or words concerning her progress.
"Is that all?" Damien asked.
"Uh, no." Aeson replied, puzzled. "Do you think we can move Zia into a more comfortable location?" He asked as Damien's eyes turned blood red.
"We talked about this, Aeson. Don't piss me off." He said, through his teeth.
"Just listen, Damien. If she stays in that dark holding area, her healing will begin to plateau. She is healing rapidly now but her mood can affect her healing. Right now, her pressure is low, and I think if she is in a better location, she will feel much better." Aeson said.
"Zia put you up to this, didn't she? Damien accused. "No. Not at all. I am speaking as a medical professional." He replied.
Damien glared at Aeson, then rolled his eyes.
"You can also start making money off of her again if she is well enough to dance." Aeson said, knowing that was the most convincing factor in the situation. Damien took a moment to analyze what Aeson said.
"Fine, whatever. She can stay in one of my rooms in my office area. She won't have a key. I will have to let her in and out. That is all I will allow." He replied.
"Great! I will get her things together. When will she be able to go to your office? Aeson asked.
"You're asking too many questions now. I will get to it when I return." Damien replied as he walked away.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone