Ugh....

Emma’s POV

More I stood there; more nervous I became. This place was starting the creep me out in a way. Mr. Locke’s voice sent shivers down my spine and not the good kind either – his words literally froze me in the spot and I felt hair on my hands stand up. I could not move – I felt as if I were glued to my spot. There was an inexplicable force in his tone, something I had never heard from anyone before, something dominating, raw and primal, yet controlled and directed. What was more interesting is that he did not even really raise his voice. I simply could not move and stood there. I felt like a statue and for a second wondered if he froze those warriors in their spot too…

Not knowing what to do with myself or what to say, or where to look, I was fidgeting with my hands, trying not to show my stress and anxiety. I was grateful to the gorgeous red head lady as I indeed did wipe sweat from my face in the elevator, but it was coming back on, the little beads of it already appearing on my forehead..

I did not know nor could understand what exactly unsettled me so much – I just had a feeling that I stood in a presence of something powerful, something inexplicable….

“You are seeing things again Emma, you are seeing things”, I mumble to myself. I knew what was wrong on some level. My dreams have been more vivid as of late, it almost felt as if I was living in them at times. My other gift as I called was becoming more prominent too. I had this ability if you will - at times I could sense people in real, waking life – their energies, their thoughts. It was as if I were able to read them in some way. Until today.

I could not read anyone in this God forsaken building, the red-haired lady, the gentleman called Valor and now Mr. Locke. There was energy there yes, this much was obvious, but it felt odd especially since that was all I picked up. Normally, I could pick up emotions or thoughts from people as well if I concentrated and tried really hard. But here, nothing. As if I hit the wall of some kind, and not with one person, but will all three of them. That could not be a coincidence. And that scared me.

Shaking my internal fears and observations, I tried to put myself together. I really must be going crazy, I thought. I should just try to focus on the present things, on this interview, be professional I kept thinking. It is just a job, you need it but it is a job. Jobs pay bills, that is all and you have bills. Now calm down and think of Leo, I was internally saying to myself, trying to win out the internal debate I was having. And, if I was being honest with myself, I was trying to encourage myself that this was a good opportunity.

Mr. Locke slowly turns and looks at me. The glow of his eyes was incredibly strong, as if there were stars burning behind them. His figure was impressive and very intimidating. He must work out a LOT, I thought to myself. It was impossible for me to figure out his age, I knew that he was probably around the age of my parents, but he had no gray hairs, no indication of wrinkles, nothing. I guess it is true what they say – money can buy you eternal beauty, or at least looks that go with that, I thought, thinking of my own appearance, wondering if he will think I look completely unprofessional and unfit for the role.

As if on the que, the clip I found in my purse somehow unties itself and half of my hair spills out, making me look like a wild creature. Damn, not again.. Completely embarrassed, I bit my lip, and tried nervously to pull it back, all while I knew my checks were burning red.

Mr. Locke was looking at me, his face unmoving, his eyes drilling into me. “I am sorry, I”, I somehow managed to squeak out, not daring to look at him. “Take your time to compose yourself”, he said dryly. “It is not as if I do not have business empire to run and projects to manage”, he said, this time with venom I did not understand. He motioned his large hands towards the chairs behind the table on my side. “Miss. Brook, I am on limited time, and you are already late. Would you like to sit down please?” he said, seemingly becoming more frustrated with me. I did not know what was happening, but I was all the sudden unable to speak. I could not move, could not speak, I was trying to open my mouth, but the words were not coming to me. Trying to move my legs, I somehow found they were feeling like Jell-O. I was still unable to move. “Miss. Brook, I am on limited time, and you are already late. Would you like to sit down please? I am not going to ask again”, he repeated. Somehow I managed to nod, and made small wobbly steps towards the chair. This is going to be “fun”. UGH!