Chapter 7
The next day…
Eike: oh hi I didn't expect to see you around here yet.
Homunculus: sleep well?
Eike: like the dead.
Homunculus looked down, didn't like that comment.
Eike: did you sleep well?
Homunculus: not exactly… but then again I don't sleep.
Eike: you don't eat you don't drink you don't sleep… what on earth do you run on?
Homunculus: human souls.
Eike: oh.
Homunculus: some of the question you ask me you wont like the answers to Eike.
Eike didn't answer he just got his breakfast and made a drink. Afterwards he sat at the table.
Homunculus: so what do we do today?
Eike: I have to see Margaret again but it won't be for long.
Homunculus: I see.
Eike: you don't like her much do you?
Homunculus: I don't like her…. but I don't dislike her Eike… I rally couldn't care less.
Eike: so do you want to come with me?
Homunculus: might as well.
They both got ready and went to the museum again.
This time homunculus decided to stick around.
Margaret answered the door this time.
Margaret: you! (Meaning homunculus)
Homunculus smirked.
Eike: this is homunculus…. Listen do you mind if we come in?
Margaret: no come on in.
Margaret welcomed them in and they followed her to the lounge and they all sat down.
Margaret: what did you do to me and what are you? Tell me!
Homunculus just stared at Margaret with his mysterious red eyes.
Eike: Margaret, don't worry… homunculus saved my life… and he's going to do it again!
Margaret: really? But how? I don't understand.
Eike: it doesn't matter but the point is I'll be ok.
Homunculus looked over to the door.
Homunculus: gotta go.
Homunculus faded into nothing as Eckart walked in.
Eckart: Eike… just the man I want to see…. Are you still interested in alchemy?
Eike: why?
Eckart: I found this… it's very interesting it's like a diary from the alchemist who lived in this city. (He handed the old book to Eike) be careful with it, it's very old.
Eike: thanks Mr Eckart.
Eckart: anyway I have to go, we'll talk later Eike. Bye.
Eckart left the room closing the door and revealing homunculus behind it.
Homunculus: what's that? (Pointing to the book)
Eike: I think its Wagner's diary.
Margaret: my father?
Homunculus laughed, knowing the truth about Margaret being Dana.
Eike put the book into his pocket.
Margaret: when will you be better?
Eike: tonight.
Margaret: I'm glad Eike.
Eike: me too anyway (looking at his watch) I wasn't planning on staying I just came to tell you… so I'll be going now.
Margaret: oh ok Eike… well call me later okay?
Eike: sure… see you.
Margaret: bye Eike…. Bye homunculus.
Homunculus waved in a sort of sarcastic kind of way and teleported him and Eike into the square.
Homunculus: what now?
Eike: well what do you wanna do?
Suddenly there was a loud crash like a house was collapsing.
Eike: what the-?
Homunculus: the alchemists place.
Eike ran to see what was going on leaving homunculus in the square.
Eike opened the alchemist house door and went in.
Fortune teller: hello again.
Eike: why are you here?
Fortune teller: don't trust it.
Eike: 'it'?
Fortune teller: the homunculus.
Homunculus stepped into the house.
Homunculus: this place really isn't safe Eike.
Fortune teller: you!
Homunculus: oh so you're the spirit I've been hearing so much about?
Eike: you can see her? But I thought the only people the she could reach were people who were going to die.
Fortune teller: you have caused all of this homunculus!
The door slammed trapping homunculus and Eike inside.
Homunculus pulled the handle, Eike helped but they were locked in and bits a debris were falling from the ceiling inside as the house began to collapse.
Fortune teller: you won't get away creature.
She held up a pentagram symbol she wore around her neck.
Homunculus flinched and backed away from it.
The house continued to collapse from outside inwards and it just sounded like the roof had caved in.
Eike: Helena, stop this!
Fortune teller: this cursed creature has caused so much suffering… it can't go on.
Homunculus: what will you do?
Helena held the pentagram closer to homunculus, he backed to the wall.
Eike: the house is collapsing! We have to get out!
Homunculus couldn't do anything, the fortune teller had him pinned to the wall and he couldn't move while she held the pentagram, Eike had to stop her.
Eike snatched the pentagram and threw it, homunculus then quickly chanted a spell and Eike and himself were teleported just outside where they watched the house collapse from there.
Homunculus slouched on the floor from exhaustion
Homunculus: that was a close one Eike.
Eike: what will happen to the fortune teller?
Homunculus: well how should I know? … Who cares? I say.
Eike: so why could you see her this time?
Homunculus: I wouldn't know.
Eike: why did she say I can't trust you?
Homunculus: the spirit has heard so many bad rumours about me from others…. I have a bit of a bad reputation in the spirit world I think… but a rumour is a rumour it doesn't mean everything is true.
Eike helped homunculus to his feet.
Homunculus: we better get out of here.
They disappeared from outside the collapsed house and reappeared outside the bar-zum-ei.
Eike: why are we here?
Homunculus: I'm afraid that's as far as I could take us for now…. That pentagram drained me of some of my power.
Eike: are you okay now though?
Homunculus: yeah just let me rest for a few minutes.
Eike: we'll rest inside.
Eike held the door open for homunculus as he slowly walked inside and sat at the first table.
Bartender: hello there Eike… a beer?
Eike: please.
Bartender: did you hear about the house collapsing nearby? It just happened a few minutes ago the guy over there told me he saw it! …Oh by the way what does your friend want?
Homunculus: (thinking) oh this guy again… tut how annoying.
Eike: nothing he's okay.
Bartender: okay then (pouring a beer and handing it to Eike)
Eike paid then sat with homunculus.
Eike: you'll be ok wont you?
Homunculus: yes of course I will….I was only temporarily weakened…. it's already starting to wear off.
Eike: no I didn't mean that… I meant that you could see the spirit; it just worried me a little because she can only talk to those between life and death, people who are going to die.
Homunculus: maybe it was the pentagram that made me notice her.
Eike: is that possible?
Homunculus: it's the likeliest explanation don't you think Eike?
Eike: yeah you're right.
After Eike had finished his beer and homunculus had rested enough they left.