“If we have to, we’ll send them away,” Quinn told him.
“Shit!” Zohn yelled, and ran for the bed.
Zohn jumped for Emily’s arm just as Quinn turned around. The doctor went to the I.V. and shut it down before it dripped all over the floor. Zohn managed to get the restraints back on Emily’s free arm and then held her down while the I.V. was replaced.
“I hate you,” Emily said, seething.
“I know,” Zohn told her, and stood up. He was overtly aware that she was trying to turn him to ash.
The hours passed slowly as Emily’s pain increased and her fever raged. Her screams filled the palace, pleas for help that made everyone uncomfortable, afraid of what would happen when Chevalier returned. She started having small seizures as the belladonna spiked and then began to dissipate from her system.
“Quinn?” Emily asked weakly.
“Yes, Child?” he asked, and sat on the edge of her bed.
“Leonid wouldn’t do this to me,” she told him.
“Yes, he would have.”
Emily shook her head, “No, he didn’t hate me like you do.”
“I don’t hate you. Your life would be easier if you would see that.”
“You agreed with Damon.”
“Yes, at first I did, but that soon changed.”
“I’m just a Winchester to you, nothing more,” she said, starting to get angry.
Quinn simply smiled at her and stood up. He walked over and looked out the window as night fell on the second day.
Emily’s back arched as she writhed in pain. Her screams were now whispers as she’d lost her voice earlier in the night. Her entire body shook as the belladonna slowly left her system.
Zohn stood up quickly from his chair and frowned, “What’s going on?”
Quinn turned and looked at Emily, “What do you mean?”
The doctor glanced up at Zohn, “Are you ok?”
“You can’t do that,” Zohn said, and started to undo the straps on Emily’s feet.
“Zohn, no!” Quinn yelled, and grabbed his hand. “Don’t let her go.”
“I won’t stand for this! Why are you doing this to her?” Zohn was angry.
Quinn frowned, “You don’t know why we’re here?”
“No… and I’m sure Chevalier won’t be happy either, let her go,” Zohn growled.
“The belladonna, we have to get it out of her system,” the doctor said, watching Zohn curiously.
“Who’s been giving her belladonna?” Zohn asked, turning angrily to the doctor.
“Mark,” Quinn said, watching Zohn.
“Yes, Elder?” Mark asked, avoiding looking at Emily.
“Get Zohn out of here and bring a guard in here to help us,” Quinn said.
Mark took Zohn’s arm.
“You’re letting them do this to her? It’s despicable what you’re doing, and I won’t be a part of it,” Zohn said, and walked out with Mark.
Several seconds later, Mark came back in, “I’ll help.”
Quinn nodded, “How is Zohn?”
“He has no idea what’s going on,” Mark said, frowning.
“Mark! Help me, please,” Emily begged. “You’re my friend. You can’t let them do this.”
Mark sighed and sat down on the bed. He put a cool rag on her forehead, “It’s for the best, trust me.”
“It hurts,” Emily whispered.
Mark nodded and rubbed her wrist where it was red from her pulling against the restraints.
As night came on the third day, Emily fell to the bed, her body was exhausted from fighting. She had some color back in her face, and her pulse was stronger. Mark stood up from the side of her bed when Zohn entered.
“I… I remember now, I’m sorry,” Zohn said, and shut the door.
“What happened?” Quinn asked him.
“I don’t know, all of a sudden I forgot why we were here. A few minutes ago it all came back.”
“Odd,” Quinn said, and turned back to the window.
“What do we do when she gets enough strength back to ash us?” Mark asked.
“I guess we hope by then she’s calmed down,” the doctor told him, shrugging.
“Stop!” Emily screamed, her back arched and her eyes had rolled back in her head.
Mark sat down on the bed and touched her arm, “It’s ok, we’re here to help you.”
Emily relaxed on the bed and glared at him.
Mark grinned, “Can’t ash yet, can you?”
She screamed at him furiously.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Quinn yelled, and blurred to Emily. He began to unfasten the strap on her wrist.
“Stop, Elder!” Mark said, and put his hand out to hold Emily’s loose wrist.
“Get him out of here,” the doctor yelled, and helped restrain her again as Zohn pulled Quinn out of the room.
Zohn came back in as Mark was putting the cool rag back on Emily’s forehead. She seemed to be asleep again.
“He can’t remember,” Zohn told them and shut the door. “He’s ordered us all out of here.”
“That means we have to leave,” Mark said, and glanced at the doctor.
“No, Maleth overrode the order. As long as it’s a tie-vote, we stay,” Zohn explained. “If he does what I did, he’ll remember in a few hours.”
“I just hope it’s a talent she can remember when she’s well,” Mark said, watching her sleep.
“What do you mean?” Zohn asked.
“Her father, the Ancient, could remove memories. I suspect she’s inherited some of that.”
Zohn nodded, “That would explain it. I personally hope she doesn’t acquire that ability.”
Mark grinned, “She makes you nervous.”
“Doesn’t she you?”
“No,” Mark said calmly.
“She could destroy everyone in the palace in a wink if she felt like it,” Zohn reminded him.
“Yes, she could. Yet, she never has.”
“It’s like giving a three-year-old a gun.”
Mark laughed, “Except she has control and loves the heku.”
“For now.”
“You’re just nervous because she distrusts you.”
“Distrust? Despise more like, unwarranted I assure you.” Zohn seemed a little insulted.
Mark grinned, “Unwarranted? You interrogated her in Paris.”
“That is my job.”
“I’m just saying she has her reasons.”
Zohn turned to Mark, “You are too wrapped around her little finger to see how dangerous she can be.”
“Oh, I assure you, that’s never left my mind. I’ve seen her ash a heku without even pausing to think. I do admit to being wrapped around her finger though. She can be quite charming when she wants to be.”
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Zohn said, and looked back down at her.
“If you gave her half a chance, you would be too. She’s fascinating and intriguing.”
“I doubt that, she’s more of a ward. Something we are required to keep happy so we keep our lives.”
Mark nodded, “Then you see, she is right about you.”
“Mark?” Emily whispered.
He looked down at her.
“Please, I need something to drink.”
Mark glanced at the doctor, and he ordered some orange juice.
“We’re getting you something, can you eat?” Mark asked.
Emily shook her head.
Mark released the restraints on her arms and held both of her wrists. She sat up as the doctor held the cup for her and let her drink. When she was done, she leaned against Mark.
“Please don’t put those back on. I won’t take out the I.V., I promise,” she begged.
“I’ll leave you out for a few minutes. If you fight me, you’ll have to go back,” he told her, shocked at how she nuzzled her head against his chest.
Mark felt her body relax and her breathing slow as she fell asleep. The doctor took the opportunity to give
her a quick checkup and then Mark returned her to the restraints.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn said, coming in and shutting the door.
Zohn whispered, “We’re thinking Emily has inherited some things from the Ancient.”
Quinn nodded, “That’s what Kyle and I were just discussing.”
The heku jumped when Emily suddenly screamed. Her back arched and she pulled against the restraints, trying to free herself.
“Em, calm down before you hurt yourself,” Mark said to her softly.
“Don’t do this, it hurts!” Emily screamed.
Her bedroom door shattered with a violent crash, and a fight erupted in the hallway. Zohn and Quinn blurred out while Mark stayed with Emily on her bed. He watched as the fight ensued and then gasped when Chevalier appeared in the doorway.
“What the hell are you doing!?” Chevalier asked, walking into the room and glaring at Mark.
“Help me!” Emily screamed.
Mark stood up as the Elder crouched, his hands balled into fists. He could see Zohn and Quinn in the hallway, slowly getting to their feet.
“Listen to me, Elder. Before you let her go, just hear me out,” Mark said, crouching slightly. Zohn and Quinn appeared at his side and crouched, blocking Chevalier from Emily.
“You have 5 seconds,” Chevalier said, taking a menacing step towards them.
As quickly as he could, Mark explained about the belladonna and the nightly mind controls. He was telling Chevalier about Emily’s treatment when she screamed and began to seize. Kyle limped into the room just as her body relaxed and she fell asleep.
Chevalier glanced at Kyle, “How long was she poisoned?”
“Five months,” Kyle said, and leaned against the wall. His leg was still healing from the fight he had with Chevalier.
“She was on the island for part of that.”
“They followed her.”
“Two months in the farmhouse?”
Kyle nodded, “It was five months’ worth. I started to smell it a few weeks ago, and then it got stronger over the last week. They were upping the dose slowly over time and then added the nightly conspiracy stories.”
“Where are they?” Chevalier asked furiously.
“In the prison,” Quinn said. “There’s more.”
“What?” Chevalier growled.
“We… keep losing our memory. We regain it after a few hours, but both Zohn and I have lost it once,” Quinn said.
“Why do I care?” he hissed.
“We think Emily has some of her father’s abilities, probably dormant until this incident.”
Chevalier stood up slowly and frowned, “His ability to wipe the mind?”
Quinn nodded, “That’s the only explanation.”
Chevalier sat on the edge of the bed, “How much longer will this go on?”
The doctor shrugged, “A couple more days I guess.”
“Let me go, please, Chev,” Emily asked, and looked up at him.
Chevalier nodded and untied one of her ankles.
“Chevalier, no,” Quinn said sternly.
“I’ll hold her,” he said, and unfastened the rest of the restraints. He pulled her onto his lap and held her wrists.
“Take me away from here,” Emily whispered, and laid her head on his shoulder.
“When you feel better I will, I promise,” Chevalier said.
“Damon’s alive.”
Chevalier nodded.
“Quinn and Zohn are going to lock me up in a house.”
“I won’t let them, Em,” he promised.
“It hurts.”
Chevalier nodded and kissed her forehead, “Everyone out.”
“We can’t leave you alone,” Quinn said.
“Fine, then Kyle can stay. I need his help anyway,” Chevalier said sternly.
As soon as the heku left the room, Kyle walked over to the bed.
“I need you to erase what they did to her mind,” Chevalier said, looking up at Kyle. “I’ll hold her. It’ll be easier if she’s relaxed.”
Kyle nodded, “I tried once, all I seemed to erase was what had just been told to her.”
“Try again.”
Kyle sat on the bed beside Emily and called her name softly. She looked up at him and almost immediately fell under his control. His soft rhythmic voice sounded through the room like a cadence as he slowly erased what had been planted by the heku. He continued for three hours as she was transfixed on his eyes, unable to move or look away.
“Sleep now,” Kyle said finally, and she shut her eyes and fell into a deep sleep in Chevalier’s arms.
“Thank you,”
“I hope it worked.”
Kyle reached out and gently touched the blisters on her ankles from the restraints. He touched the back of his hand to her foot and got up to get a blanket.
Chevalier looked down at her emaciated form, “The worst part… is that I watched this happen and didn’t know.”
“None of us knew,” Kyle said as he sat back down. “We all knew she was getting thinner, but she doesn’t eat when she’s stressed, I thought it was the trial.”
“They were poisoning her as we watched, and even in my own coven.” His words were seething.
Kyle nodded, “I sent word for Gordon, to find out more.”
“No wonder she hates it here. She gets attacked more in this palace than anywhere else. Surrounded by heku under my control, and we keep getting tricked.”
“I’m hoping things will be better when she feels well. Maybe when she can see clearly again, she’ll realize this is where she belongs,” Kyle said softly.
Emily slept through the night in Chevalier’s arms. The doctor came in occasionally to adjust her I.V. or replace the bag, but otherwise no one bothered them. Kyle sat silently by the fire, giving them as much privacy as he could but still making sure Chevalier didn’t let her go.
“Let me go,” Emily yelled suddenly, and began to pull at Chevalier’s hands.
“No,” he said, and trapped her legs under his.
Emily tried to bite him, and Kyle appeared and held her feet so the Elder could reposition away from her mouth.
“I hate you,” Emily glared at Kyle.
“I know,” he said softly.
“Chev, you can’t do this, let me go,” she screamed.
“I can’t let you go.”
“If you love me, you’ll let me go!”
Chevalier shook his head, “I do, but no.”
“You’ve never loved me… you knew from the second you kidnapped me to Colorado that all you wanted was my abilities and to pop out some new faction members,” Emily growled.
“Em…” Chevalier sighed.
“No, I’m not going to be used anymore. You’re no better than Keith, using me as a punching bag. As soon as I get free... and I will get free… I’m so gone,” Emily said, and struggled to get free.
“I don’t think you believe that.”
“You have no idea what I believe. You abandon me and Alex for two months, and then for another week. You let people do whatever they want to me. If you cared one bit about me, you wouldn’t keep letting things happen to me.” Emily tried to bite his hand, but he pulled back away from her a bit, still holding her wrists.
“Chevalier, maybe you better step out,” Quinn said from the door.
“Yeah, go run off,” Emily hissed.
“I’m not leaving,” Chevalier growled.
“Encala, that’s what you all remind me of,” Emily yelled, and fell silent after Kyle locked her eyes for a moment.
“Thanks,” Chevalier said, and laid Emily down on the bed.
“She doesn’t believe any of that. We can’t listen to what she’s saying,” the doctor said, adjusting the flow of her I.V.
“I don’t understand why I didn’t know she was in trouble,” Chevalier said, sitting in a chair by the bed.
“None of us did,” Kyle said.
“No, I mean emotions, feelings. I should have known she was tied up t
o a bed, don’t you think?”
“You got nothing?”
“I still don’t.”
“Probably because the emotions and feelings she’s having aren’t her own, the drug has taken over,” the doctor said. “I see improvements though, it won’t be long.”
“I want to know how we’re going to protect her in the future. She’s right, she keeps getting attacked right under our care,” Chevalier said, looking at Quinn.
“I don’t know yet. We’ll come up with something.”
Chevalier leaned back and watched Emily sleep. He touched her foot softly. Contact with her while she slept usually provided glimpses, even full images of her dreams, but he got nothing from her. Mark was holding her I.V., so Chevalier was able to sit back and relax and watch her sleep.
“Chev?” Emily whispered.
“I’m here, Em,” he said, sitting on the bed.
“Make everyone leave,” she whispered. Her voice was hoarse from the screaming.
“Go,” he said, and wrapped his hand around her arm where her I.V. was so Mark could leave. The rest of the heku all stepped out.
“Did you need something?” he asked, touching her face lightly.
“No,” she said, and pulled the covers up.
“Then why did we ask them to leave?”
“They were staring.”
“Yes, they were.”
Emily’s body began to shake, and she pulled herself into a ball.
“Em?” Chevalier whispered.
“It hurts,” she said, her voice tense and strained.
Chevalier laid by her side and held her as her body trembled. She fell silent after a few hours and slept. The doctor came in and changed out her I.V., then left quietly. He wanted to listen to her heart, but Chevalier refused to let anyone touch her.
Just as the sun began to shine through the cracks in the curtains, Emily began to wake up. She reached out and tried to pull the I.V. tubing, but Chevalier took her hand.
“Take it out,” she whispered.
“No,” Chevalier whispered, and kissed her hand.
“I’m thirsty.” Emily sat up slowly and looked around the empty room.
Chevalier called for some orange juice, still holding tightly to her arm. Emily didn’t even see the servant drop it off. It looked to her like it just appeared in his hand. He gave it to her and she drank it quickly.
“More?” he asked, setting the glass down on the table.
Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series Page 57
