19.1. She Hates Humans - Part 1

Emi is sleeping when Liana's helicopter arrives. They must have given her quite a dose of sedatives because otherwise I can't imagine anyone would be able to sleep in such deafening noise. The bodyguard carrying her has a strange expression on his face. I don't have to touch him to guess what he's probably thinking right now—that he isn't transporting a human.

To be fair, Emi doesn't look very human anymore. Her body still has a humanoid shape but that's about it. She's covered in thick fur, has a tail and her ears have an animal shape. And I bet her skeleton keeps changing further because Clawfangs have differently built lower legs and, well, a muzzle.

"Gosh, we do need that psychologist," Julia is mumbling for herself. "People turning into lizards and cat creatures... that must mess with one's head."

"Actually, Emi is a fox," Fefnir says calmly and takes the Clawfang Alpha into his arms because the bodyguard is evidently uneasy carrying her. "And I'm fine with my transformation, thank you for asking directly."

"Oh, right, sorry," Julia slaps her forehead. "I'm just thinking aloud."

"You're really okay with it?" Erik is doubtful. "You do look like..."

"Like a dragon, Erik, just say it," Fefnir grins, revealing his pointy teeth. "To be honest, I'm surprised myself that I feel so good in my new body. But I do, really. And I bet Aefener does, too."

"Mmm," I nod and briefly touch Erik's palm to send him my feelings. After the initial shock, I began to truly like my new body to the point I can't imagine not having wings anymore. Their weight on my back is so comforting; I feel whole.

We arrive to the guest room which was prepared by the maids beforehand and Fefnir gently lies Emi into bed. Liana then dismisses all bodyguards and closes the door so that we can speak freely. Julia immediately starts tending Emi's minor injuries while Hana washes dirty places on her fur.

"Will you tell her about your telepathy when she wakes up?" Liana looks at me. "I mean... she'll become a member of our inner circle. To keep it a secret just in front of her would be a bother."

"I will," I say confidently. Huh, did I feel totally calm about it just now? Glad even that I can open up to another friend?

"But better take it slowly," Julia suggests.

*****

Emi wakes up in the most dramatic way I've ever seen. The moment she opens her eyes, she's already jumping on her legs and bares her teeth.

"Emi, it's us!" Liana exclaims quickly because Emi growls menacingly.

"A-Aefener?" the Clawfang Alpha blinks, confused by the sudden change of scenery around her, but she immediately recognises my white wings and silver hair. She wobbles which makes her sit down. She must be still feeling numb. And scared. But she's also relieved seeing us.

"Sorry, Emi, they had to sedate you," Liana apologises. "You were... too wild to handle."

"I'm the one who should say sorry," Emi says weakly. "They wanted to help me but I couldn't think straight. I didn't hurt anyone too seriously, did I?"

"Just a few scratches, I paid them extra," Liana waves her hand.

"Thank you... for actually rescuing me," Emi whispers. "To be honest, I didn't hope anyone would really come for me. How did you even do it? Where am I?"

"Oho, Emi, you have no idea who she is, don't you?" Fefnir realises while pointing at my viceroy. "I'm Fefnir, by the way, if you haven't recognised my beautiful scales."

"Black wings, violet hair... Liana I bet," she takes a guess.

"I mean in real life," he specifies.

"You've been in hospital the whole time, Emi?" I ask because it'd explain a lot.

"Ever since I started growing fur," she nods. "Which was... I don't know how long exactly. My mother took me and my cousin Quil to hospital immediately after we started showing first symptoms and they confiscated our phones. I had to steal it back when I was running away."

"Emi, my real name is Laura Richter," Liana properly introduces herself.

Emi doesn't seem like she understands, though. But I guess my initial thought also was that it must be just a coincidental name likeness. Liana has to quickly explain the situation about Emi's rescue, mentioning her private jet and the fact that she's just smuggled a person out of a non-EU country.

"No way!" Emi's jaw drops and I notice two distinct fangs. "You're THE Laura Richter?"

"Why is everyone using the definite article with my name?" Liana rolls her eyes. "But yes, that's me."

"And we're in your super luxurious mansion," Emi sighs out. "In... Germany. Unbelievable."

"The truly unbelievable is still coming," Fefnir pokes me and I have to poke him back. I don't think Emi is ready to digest it yet.

"Can I examine you, Ms Emi?" Julia, so far hiding behind Fefnir, steps to the front. "I tended your injuries but I need to..."

Emi flinches and bares her fangs again. While she was pretty calm when talking to us, facing a human seemed to trigger her fear and anger. Even though Julia isn't wearing a white coat, Emi is feeling burning hate towards her.

"Emi, you can trust her," I say quickly. "I have a phobia of doctors but I gradually got used to Dr Stein. She even helped us with our transformations."

"I'm not trusting any human doctor ever again," Emi hisses angrily, her fur standing. "I'm not letting her touch me."

"I only wanted to check your injuries to make sure there's no inflammation," Julia mumbles, a bit offended.

"I got just a few bruises and scratches when I was trying to get out," Emi says impatiently. "It's nothing, Clawfangs naturally heal fast."

"Another thing I wanted to record actually," Julia reveals her intention.

She shouldn't have said that. Emi gets furious and starts screaming that she's a test subject no more and that she'll scratch anyone who tries to examine her. Julia wants to persuade her with reason but it makes Emi only madder to the point of hysteria.

"Can you somehow calm her down, Aefener?" Liana begs me because Emi seems to be hostile towards any human, even Hana who tries to befriend her with food. She throws the plate away and curls herself under a blanket in the bed's corner.

"I can try," I say and carefully approach the trembling fox girl. She doesn't seem to react badly to me, at least something. But she's still furious and potentially dangerous so I'm wary.

"Emi, you aren't afraid of me, are you? I'm your friend," I say slowly and try to shorten the distance between us.

"Aefener," she whispers, tired now after her tantrum. She's still weakened.

"That's right, it's me," I smile and flutter my wings to better demonstrate that I'm not human anymore.

I slowly stretch my hand towards her. She flinches but doesn't bare her fangs at me which is a good sign. My fingers find her palm and I clutch her reassuringly. She relaxes a bit.

"Cute," I let out, charmed, when looking at her adorable vulpine ears.

Emi bursts into tears which isn't a reaction I was expecting to a compliment.

"M-my mother... she said... that I'm a monster," Emi starts sobbing. "In hospital... the doctors called me a mutant."

I slowly turn my arms around her back and wait until she allows me to hug her. She's hesitant at first but then she grabs me herself and caresses my wings. She's just as curious about my body as I am about hers. I gently touch her mind, trying to soothe her. It's always Erik comforting me so this is a nice change. I try to tell her with my feelings that she's safe now and among her friends.

She doesn't quite understand what's happening but her mind is welcoming so I gently push further. I don't feel any resistance so I access her recent memories. I shiver at what I see. Even though Emi wasn't tortured, she was a prisoner—a test subject.

I glimpse at Emi's mother who let that happen willingly and discover that she wasn't loving and kind towards Emi at all. She never approved of anything Emi was doing and was extremely demanding as well as fanatically religious. No wonder Emi had to rebel against her and escape into videogames.

I always remember ingame Emi as cheerful and friendly with everyone but that person is gone now, buried under the trauma. All I can perceive right now as immediate emotions are fear, hate and disgust. She was hurt at the most intimate level of basic trust. And she lost a beloved cousin so she's also deeply grieving.

Murderers... they are murderers... I hate them!

The intensity of her negative emotions makes me nauseous but at the same time I can't help falling for the wonderful person beneath. I envelop her mind into mine and shower her with soothing love. When she goes numb in my arms, it's because she relaxed so much that she fell asleep.

"That went... well?" Fefnir says and moves her into the middle of bed because I'm not able to budge her weight. I really am gradually getting weaker.

"Is she traumatised?" Liana asks, worried.

"I'm afraid so," I nod. "Her mind is full of pain and fear. And... hatred."

"Damn, she must have been through a lot," Ingri is saddened even though she doesn't know her from the game.

"Can I examine her now?" Julia asks eagerly.

"I wouldn't recommend it, Clawfangs have very sensitive senses," Fefnir warns her. "She'd be probably able to tell by the residual smell that you've been touching her again."

"At least she doesn't mind us," Liana comments.

"Ryuu, does she hate all humans now?" Erik, who wasn't participating at all in this, pulls my sleeve because I can't stop looking at sleeping Emi with remorse.

"She hates doctors with burning intensity, that's for sure," I say. "As for humans in general... I feel she doesn't trust them anymore but I hope it's something that we might still reverse."

"Did she feel you were connecting to her?" Julia is curious.

"She did. Let's wait until she wakes up and explain everything properly to her."