“Good, now eat. I know your history of starving yourself, but I don’t wish for that to happen here, in my care.”
“Your care?”
“Yes, I have taken your care upon myself.”
Emily took a small bite of pancake, “If you let me go, I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but here I get to do those honors.”
“Honors? I fully plan on making your life a living hell,” Emily told him, and took another bite.
Exavior leaned his head back and laughed, “I would expect no different.”
“Why are they doing this? They know I can ash the entire Valle palace,” Emily asked, and started to eat again.
“Don’t think that hasn’t crossed our minds. However, you won’t do it unless you can save the two heku also. As long as we have them where you can’t let them free, we are safe.”
“Not necessarily. I could ash the Valle palace and call in the Equites, they can get to Chev and Kyle,” Emily said, and sat back in the chair.
“Maybe”
Emily’s eyes narrowed at him, “Why can’t you all just leave me alone?”
“We want you to join us, simple enough. The Encala wish the same, and if you were ours, the Equites would do this also.”
“So it’s faction crap… who has the weapon? Like a demented game of keep-away.”
Exavior nodded, “Precisely.”
“I would expect more than playground games from a species older than dirt.”
“One might expect more, yes.”
“Ok, I ate, now take me back,” Emily said, and stood up.
“Is there anything I can get you?”
“No”
Exavior stood and nodded, “Very well, as promised, I will return you.”
Emily followed him back to the cells and stepped inside once the current was turned off and the door was opened.
Exavior followed her in, “She turned down a warm stateroom for this, just so you know.”
“Exavior, get lost,” Emily said, when Chevalier looked at her, irritated.
Exavior laughed and shut the door.
“Are you ok?” Chevalier asked her.
“Yes, he forced me to eat is all,” Emily said, and sat down on the cold cement.
“Was he telling the truth about the stateroom?”
“Yes”
“Then call him back and take it,” Chevalier said.
“No.” Emily frowned, “I’m not going to sit in luxury while you two are in this cell.”
“Just do it, stop arguing and for once… just do it,” Kyle yelled.
“Don’t yell at me!” Emily screamed back. “I’m not going to lap it up while you two are in prison.”
“We can take the cold cement, you, however, need something softer,” Kyle said.
“Why didn’t you tell me you let Exavior go?”
“It was none of your concern.”
“Oh? You don’t think freeing the heku who tried to turn me is any of my business?” Emily glared at him.
“No, I don’t. It is none of your concern what we as a Council decide to do.”
“Calm down you two, this isn’t helping,” Chevalier said calmly.
“You could have told me, Chev.”
“I agree with Kyle. It was a political move, and I didn’t want you seeking Exavior out.”
“You’re a hypocrite,” Emily growled at him.
Chevalier frowned, “How so?”
“You’re so hell bent on keeping me from trying to protect the heku, yet all you ever do is keep things away from me for some misguided attempt at protection,” Emily yelled at both of them.
The door opened again and a Valle guard stepped in, “The Council wants to see you again.”
Emily nodded and left with him, still scowling at the Equites. She followed the guard to the trial door of the Valle Council Room and stepped inside. She immediately saw Zohn and four members of the Equites guard staff looking at her.
Thinking quickly, Emily ran to Zohn and wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered as softly as she could, “Smell my neck.”
Zohn wrapped his arms around her and she felt his nose against her neck.
“Do it again, try harder,” Emily whispered again.
“Enough hugs, we have business,” Sotomar fumed.
Zohn inhaled again, and Emily felt his body tense. She pulled away from him and turned to Sotomar.
“What now?”
“The Equites have come to check on your welfare,” Sotomar said.
“Well, we’re fine,” Emily told Zohn.
Zohn had a feral look in his eyes which passed quickly, and he turned to the Valle Council.
“I see she is well, but part of this was to also set the terms for her release,” Zohn told them.
“There will be no terms. She is a war criminal that has been tried and found guilty of the murder of 20 Valle. She was sentenced to 50 years with us, and has since added an additional 20 years for turning guards to ash,” Sotomar said, amused.
Zohn turned toward her, “Would you stop, please? Let us handle this. You don’t need more years than you already have.”
Emily shrugged, “More years won’t matter. I’d never make it 70 more years anyway… so what’s another 200?”
Zohn sighed, “Just stop and leave this to us.”
“Sure,” Emily said, and saw the understanding glance from him.
“Good, so we’ll have no more revivals during your stay?” Sotomar asked.
“Sure,” Emily said again. “Unless I get a chance to ash the entire palace and city, then there may be some revivals required.”
“Emily!” Zohn yelled.
“You won’t get the chance, Child, not if you want to save your mate and the Equites Chief Enforcer also,” Sotomar told her with a smile.
“Just… let us do this,” Zohn said to her again.
Emily nodded.
“She may be returned,” one of the Valle Elders said, and Emily was grabbed roughly on the arm by two heku.
“Stop it,” Zohn growled. “There’s no reason to injure her.”
“I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own. I can’t kill you with my hands, so I won’t even try to fight back manually,” Emily told them.
Sotomar nodded at the guard, and he let go of Emily’s arm and walked out of the trial area behind her.
Emily was taken back to the cell with Chevalier and Kyle, and the doors were shut.
“What did they want now?” Chevalier asked.
“Zohn is here. He was checking on our welfare.”
“See, they will get us out soon.” He smiled.
“I doubt it,” Emily mumbled, and leaned against the wall, facing away from the others. She pulled her arms into the thick robe and curled up against the wall so she could nap. She was already feeling tired, and her outlook on the weeks to come had grown dim.
Kyle sat next to Chevalier and whispered so Emily couldn’t hear, “She needs to take the stateroom.”
“Yeah, she does, but I don’t see how we can get her to,” Chevalier said, and glanced at Emily.
“She’s just going to get sorer and sorer the more she sits and sleeps on this cement.”
“You know… maybe we should let this go. If she gets too sore to handle, she’ll take the stateroom if we haven’t harped on it.”
Kyle grinned, “You’re right.”
“Now, how to get out of here.”
“You don’t think the Equites can get us out?” Kyle asked.
Chevalier glanced toward the door, and then back to Kyle, “I think they can get you and me out, but the Valle aren’t going to give Emily up now that they have her. Look how many times they’ve asked for her and we said no.”
“Yes, well… she wanted to be with us. She’s going to retaliate and cause problems here.”
“True, but I’m not sure there’s anything she could do to get released,” Chevalier said.
“So we just sit back and see then?
I hate doing that.”
“Join the club.”
Emily sat up quickly when the door opened as Chevalier and Kyle stood defensively. A heku pushed in a plate and shut the door quickly.
Emily grinned slightly, “No more metal trays I see.”
Kyle grabbed the tray and smelled it, “Smells fine.”
“I’m not hungry though,” Emily said, and sat the plate of spaghetti down on the floor.
“It’ll be easier when we get out if you aren’t starving,” Kyle told her.
“I know, and I’m not starving myself on purpose. I’m just not hungry,” she told them, and leaned back against the wall. She slept on and off over the next few hours while Kyle and Chevalier discussed ways to get out.
Emily gave up on sleeping and looked over at Chevalier, “Where’s Kyle?”
Chevalier shrugged, “I’m not sure exactly. They took him about an hour ago.”
“I’m kind of glad. I need to talk to you,” Emily said softly.
“Ok, what about?”
“I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t say anything, but Zohn kind of confirmed it.”
Chevalier frowned, “Zohn confirmed what?”
Emily rubbed the bridge of her nose. She was starting to get a headache, “Don’t be mad.”
“I will try,” he said skeptically.
“I mean, I could have read Zohn’s body language wrong.”
“Em, just tell me.”
Emily glanced at the door, “I think I hurt my back.”
Chevalier looked at her, confused, “How exactly is that something Zohn would confirm?”
Emily crawled over to Chevalier and climbed onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “I don’t understand.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder, “Go ahead, take a whiff.”
Chevalier sighed and ran his nose along her neck and gasped. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, “Damnit.”
“I have impeccable timing,” Emily said softly.
Chevalier nodded, “Yes, you do.”
“Was Zohn right? Is my back hurt? I mean… I could just be late.”
“No, he’s right. I’m glad he at least knows, this changes everything. I thought you had medicine for your… back.”
Emily looked up at him and glared, “I do, but it only helps 97% of the time.”
Chevalier pulled her head back to his shoulder, “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“How strong is it?” she whispered.
“Not too bad yet, you have to be right against your neck to notice, but it won’t be long.”
Emily wrapped her arms around herself, “I’m sorry.”
Chevalier kissed her forehead, “It’s not your fault, just bad timing is all.”
“I was going to tell you as soon as I knew, course, I halfway expected you to know first.”
“How long before you get... the flu?” Chevalier glanced at the door.
Emily sighed, “Should be any day now.”
Emily turned and looked at the door when Kyle was pushed into the cell. He rolled his eyes when the door shut.
“So?” Chevalier asked him.
“He wanted me to tell them the top three covens in Equites with locations, troop counts, and defensive capabilities,” Kyle said, and sat down.
Chevalier chuckled, “Ok.”
“So when I refused, they said I would pay and then brought me back here,” Kyle shrugged.
Chevalier looked from Emily to Kyle, “Kyle, Emily hurt her back.”
“This damned cement floor,” Kyle said.
“Em, go show him your bad back,” Chevalier said.
Kyle looked suspiciously at Emily when she crawled out of Chevalier’s lap and sat on his, straddling his legs and facing him. She glanced at Chevalier and then leaned her head against Kyle, who tensed nervously and looked at Chevalier.
“Smell my neck,” Emily whispered.
Kyle, his eyes locked on Chevalier, inhaled slight, “Ok.”
Emily sighed, “Put your damn nosed against my neck.”
Chevalier nodded and Kyle did as he was told. He pulled back with wide eyes, and looked at Emily.
“Bad back,” she said to him.
Kyle nodded, and Emily returned to Chevalier’s lap. It was a lot more comfortable than the ground.
“Did you… know your back was hurt?”
“Not for sure. I was waiting until I knew before I complained,” Emily said, and leaned back against Chevalier’s chest.
“Zohn knows,” Chevalier said.
Kyle nodded, “Had you planned on hurting your back?”
Emily frowned, “No.”
“Well, the Equites Council won’t want her to stay here with a bad back, so they are bound to step into action quickly.”
“We have two days, three at most,” Chevalier said, mostly to himself. He was staring at the cement wall, trying to think of a way out of this.
“I could wait until the door is opened and then… erm… take care of them all,” Emily suggested, but felt Chevalier tense.
“No, we’ll think of another way,” Chevalier whispered.
“Well we have two days to think of something, and then it’ll get much harder,” Kyle said.
Emily leaned her head back against Chevalier’s neck and shut her eyes. His arms wrapped around her and she slowly slid off to sleep.
“At least she sleeps better on your lap than on the floor,” Kyle whispered.
Chevalier nodded, “If we weren’t in a Valle prison, I would be ecstatic.”
Kyle chuckled, “Congratulations again. I thought she was done.”
“Not sure this one was planned.”
“If the faction doesn’t come in two days, are you going to let her do it?”
“I haven’t decided. We need to before they find out though.”
Kyle sighed, “She was smart to let Zohn know.”
“I’m worried about Exavior, if he tries to…” Chevalier took a deep breath to calm his anger. “If he tries to kiss her, he’ll know.”
“Has he kissed her?” Kyle frowned.
Chevalier shrugged, “I don’t know. You’re the only other heku I know that she’s kissed.”
Kyle shifted uncomfortably and looked at the door.
“This is bad to say,” Chevalier said, and grinned slightly. “I’d like to see her ash the entire palace. I have yet to see her do that.”
“I saw her at the one reception, it’s pretty amazing.”
“The doctor though, he was worried that one of these times she might have a stroke.”
Kyle nodded, “I don’t doubt it. I wonder if Alexis will be as strong as Emily.”
“She has a reoccurring dream.” Chevalier glanced to make sure she was still asleep, “Where Allen, Alexis, and another child, sometimes it’s male and sometimes female, they come to the Council, but they are all grown up. Allen is seeking the Equites help to control Alexis. In the dream, Emily is always dead, sometimes Alexis has killed her, sometimes it’s a disease, or car wreck. Anyway, in these dreams, Alexis is always completely out of control and powerful. She has Emily’s abilities, heku traits, and the Ancient’s strengths.”
“Wow, that would be great to see though,” Kyle said.
“Yes, well, except she feeds and kills anyone she wants. Pretty much breaks all heku rules, but no one can stop her. She can ash any heku who crosses her, but she’s gone rogue.” Chevalier smiled slightly, “It’s an interesting dream.”
Kyle nodded, “I bet.”
“Do you remember what you promised me the night I left to banish Selest?”
“Yes.” Kyle remembered it vividly, and often thought of taking Emily off to the island and living there together.
“I wondered if you would consider that now that you are Chief Enforcer, if anything ever happened to me.”
“I’m sure I would still take her away. You hold the mortal haters at bay, and she wouldn’t be safe any longer,” Kyle said.
Chevali
er nodded, “Thank you.”
“What about you? What are you going to do when she dies?”
“I used to think I would retire for a thousand years, but with Allen and Alexis, it’s all changed. I would need to stay here for them.”
Emily jerked in her sleep and sat up suddenly, looking around.
“It’s ok, bad dream,” Chevalier said, and kissed the top of her head.
“Couldn’t have been a bad dream,” Emily whispered, and leaned back against his chest again. “I’m still here.”
Everyone glanced up when the door opened. Exavior stepped in and a sudden jealousy flashed across his eyes, “Come, Emily.”
Emily held onto Chevalier’s arms, “Why?”
“Because I told you to,” Exavior said, and held his hand out for her.
Emily turned and kissed Chevalier, placing her hands on the sides of his face. His arms wrapped tighter around her.
Exavior grabbed Emily’s arm and tore her away from Chevalier. Chevalier jumped to his feet and lunged at Exavior, but he dodged and shut the door quickly.
Chevalier growled and sat down, his body still tense and ready to attack, “He’s going to hurt her.”
“I don’t think he will,” Kyle said. “Did you see the look on his face? He loves her. He was just jealous, but at least that means he probably won’t hurt her.”
Chevalier glared at the door, “If he does…”
“He won’t, trust me. He’s just mad because Emily saw the jealous look on his face and decided to show him who she belongs to,” Kyle said, smirking.
Chevalier relaxed some and chuckled, “I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes if he tries anything with her.”
“You’re hurting me,” Emily said to Exavior as he hauled her down the hallway toward the stateroom.
“Just come with me,” he growled.
“I’ll walk with you. Let go, you’re hurting my arm,” Emily said, and looked up when someone walked in front of them.
“Let her go,” Sotomar said. “There’s no reason to hurt her.”
Exavior obeyed his Elder and let Emily’s arm go. She rubbed where the hand-shaped bruise was forming. Sotomar smiled at Emily as they walked past, and Exavior opened the door to the stateroom and shut the door when they were inside.
Emily turned to look at him, “More food?”
“No, I’m offering you a shower,” he said, and pointed to the bathroom door.
Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series Page 67
