Ferus : Book 6 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Yes I did,” he said, and moved to her quickly. He wrapped his arms around her and began to kiss her softly, then reached to her back and unfastened her bra.

  “Chev! Stop it,” she said, and pulled away from him to reattach it. She grinned, “Do that again and I’ll just go braless today.”

  His eyes narrowed, “Hmm.”

  Emily dug around in her dresser and finally found the belt and holster with her .45. She slipped it around her hips and fastened it.

  “One heku Barbie at your service,” she said, and looked in the mirror.

  “I told you, I like it.”

  “Of course you do! Seems all heku like heku Barbie.”

  “Have fun,” he said, and smiled at her as she grabbed a pancake and ran out the door.

  “I’m late!” she yelled as she ran down the stairs. She ran out to the barn where Mark was waiting for her, having just barely gotten in from a mission. “I’m sorry, the Elder was having issues.”

  Mark grinned, “I bet… are you ready?”

  “Sure,” Emily said, and walked over to the eight new recruits, all standing perfectly still and in perfect form. “Good morning.”

  No one said anything, and Emily glanced at Mark, but he nodded for her to go on.

  “I’m Emily. I’m a Commander in the Cavalry and will be hooking you up with a horse and training you how to take care of it. From here on out, you are responsible for your horse, making sure it’s fed, watered, has a clean stall, and anything else involved with that. Any questions?”

  None of the new recruits even blinked. She turned when Silas, Kralen, and Jaron walked up.

  Emily frowned at the new recruits, “Can you talk?”

  It irritated her that it wasn’t until Mark nodded that they all responded in unison, “Yes, Ma’am.”

  She sighed, “Fine, be that way… you, Shorty, come with me.”

  Emily motioned for the tallest recruit to come into the stables. He was close to 2 ½ feet taller than she was, and she had just the horse picked out for him. After grabbing a bridle, she headed deeper into the stables with him.

  “I have a stallion for you, tallest horse in here,” she said, and stopped at a stall. She leaned against it when she started to feel dizzy.

  “Are you ill?” the guard asked when she sat down.

  “Just give me a moment,” she whispered, and sat back against the door with her eyes shut.

  “Em?” Mark asked, kneeling down.

  “I’m ok… just got dizzy,” Emily told him, and stood up. She opened the stall door and showed the guard how to put on the bridle, then handed him a brush and went out to the next.

  “Are you ok? You look pale,” Silas asked.

  “I’m ok, just got dizzy in there for a sec.”

  She showed each guard to his new horse, and then climbed on her stallion that was already saddled and waiting for her at the hitching post.

  “Head on out with them, just walk them to us,” Emily said.

  The new recruits lined up with their horses, facing the commanding officers.

  “Great… now…” Emily started. All of a sudden, her eyes rolled back into her head and Kralen caught her as she slipped off of her horse. He laid her down on the ground.

  “Em?” he asked softly.

  “Get a cool rag,” Silas ordered, and one of the guards disappeared, and then reappeared with a cold wet rag. Silas put it across her forehead.

  “Emily,” Kralen said again, and touched her face.

  Emily’s eyes flew open and she sat up suddenly, “What happened?”

  “Are you feeling ok?” Mark asked.

  “Yes, General, I’m sorry,” she said, and stood up.

  Mark frowned slightly. She only called him General if she was angry at him.

  Emily walked over, still limping slightly, and stood beside Jaron.

  Silas shrugged and tied up her stallion. Mark waited for Emily to continue, and when she didn’t, he began going over some of the basics of horse care. Silas watched Emily closely and noticed she hadn’t moved, and was standing perfectly quiet at Jaron’s side.

  “Do you have anything to add?” Mark asked, turning to Emily when he was finished.

  “No, General,” she said. Her tone of voice was off, and the heku that knew her all turned to face her.

  “You sure you’re ok?” Kralen asked.

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Did you tick her off again?” Silas asked, too quietly for Emily to hear.

  “Not that I know of… must have though. She’s only called me Captain once before, and she was mad.”

  Mark shook his head and turned to the new recruits, “Put your horses back, give them fresh food and water, and then we’ll go for uniform fittings.”

  “Yes, General,” they all said in unison, and headed inside.

  Mark walked over to Emily, “You need to go eat. It’s lunch time.”

  Emily frowned, “Is that a joke, General?”

  “No… it’s lunch time.”

  “I’m not thirsty. I fed a few nights ago.”

  “You fed?”

  “Yes, General.”

  “Suit yourself,” he grumbled, still not sure why she was mad at him. “I’ll finish here. Why don’t you go take your posts?”

  Silas glanced at Emily when she nodded and got onto her stallion. He, Jaron, and Kralen mounted their horses and started for the city.

  Silas stopped his horse and turned around to Emily, “Where are you headed off to?”

  “The roster board said Commanders were covering southwest area 9 today,” she told him.

  “Oh, and you want to come out with us today?” Jaron asked.

  She frowned, “I’m a Commander, am I not?”

  He nodded, “Yes, you are…we need to get permission for you to hang with us though.”

  “I’m a Commander, and if my post says area 9, then that’s where I’ll be,” she said, and kicked her horse, heading to the southwest corner of the city.

  “Captain?” Jaron asked, glancing at Kralen.

  Kralen shrugged, “If she wants to play guard today then let her, it’s quiet.”

  “Ok,” Jaron said, and kicked his horse to catch up with Emily. They rode to the post for area 9 and both pulled their horses beside the two other Commanders, who were already there. They sat quietly at their post, all uncomfortable with Emily being there, and how silent and still she was.

  When a light rain began to fall, Jaron turned to her, “This is going to turn into snow tonight. Do you want to head in?”

  “Why would I head in? This is my post.”

  Jaron frowned slightly and called for Mark.

  “Emily? You’re still out here? It’s been 8 hours,” Mark said when he rode up.

  “My shift is 12 hours long,” she informed him.

  Mark looked at Jaron when he explained how quiet and still Emily was being, uncharacteristic for her.

  “Are you feeling sick still?” Mark asked her.

  “Sick, Sir?”

  “Yes, sick… You passed out on horseback earlier.”

  “Impossible, Sir, heku don’t get sick.”

  Mark frowned, “Since when do you consider yourself a heku?”

  “I don’t understand the question, General.”

  Jaron shrugged when Mark looked at him, and then he looked up at the sky, “Snow’s starting.”

  “Emily, it’s late, so you need to get inside before you catch pneumonia,” Mark said.

  “It’s an odd joke, Sir… is there a reason for it?”

  “What joke?”

  “The mortal comments… heckling, is it not?”

  Mark sighed and watched her, deep in thought. He finally called for Silas and Kralen, who rode up a few minutes later.

  “What’s up?” Silas asked, surprised to see Emily out in the snow.

  “Em…” Mark said.

  “Yes, General?” she asked, looking over at him.

  “How long have you been a heku?” he asked.


  “What…” Silas began, but Mark held a hand up.

  “39 years, Sir,” she said bluntly.

  Kralen frowned, “So you’re a heku?”

  “Of course, Captain.”

  “I can smell your blood from here,” Silas said. “What are you playing at?”

  Emily looked straight ahead, obviously insulted.

  Mark sighed, “Kralen, Silas, and Emily… head inside, and that’s an order.”

  “Yes, General,” she said, and followed Silas and Kralen to the stables. One of the Cavalry came out and took their horses, so they could more quickly go into the palace.

  Derrick greeted them, “Did you need to speak to the Council?”

  “Yes,” Kralen said, and glanced at Emily nervously.

  Derrick stepped inside and then held the door, “Enter.”

  The three stepped up to the trial area and all bowed slightly, again something Emily never did.

  “Is there a problem?” Zohn asked.

  “We’re not sure,” Kralen told him.

  “Em?” Chevalier said.

  “Yes, Elder?” she asked, and looked at him.

  He frowned, “Are you mad?”

  “No, Elder.”

  “If you’re not mad, why are you calling him Elder?” Quinn asked her.

  “He is an Elder, is he not?”

  “Well… yes…”

  “Then I will address him as such,” she told him.

  Kralen grinned slightly, “Emily, when did you turn?”

  “39 years ago, Captain.”

  “Wait… what?” Chevalier asked, not sure he heard right.

  “If you’re mortal, step forward,” Silas said, and the Council watched as Emily held the line with Silas and Kralen.

  “I’m confused… Is this a practical joke?” Zohn asked.

  Silas shrugged, “Honestly, Sir, we aren’t sure.”

  “Curious,” the Chief Interrogator said. “Emily, are you mortal?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Are you heku?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  The Chief Interrogator frowned, “She’s not lying… well… she thinks she’s telling the truth.”

  “Emily, look at me,” Zohn said, and studied her. “Are you heku?”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said to him.

  “He’s right… she’s telling the truth, as far as she knows.”

  Dustin thought for a moment, “Hmm… full moon out tonight.”

  She didn’t respond, and didn’t seem to notice everyone watching her.

  “Em, are you playing a joke?” Chevalier asked.

  “No, Elder, that would be unbefitting of a member of the Cavalry,” she answered.

  “Why don’t you go grab some dinner,” Silas told her.

  “I’m fine. I fed a few days ago.”

  “Well… this is new,” Zohn said, studying her as he tapped his fingers on the desk.

  “When did this start?” Chevalier asked.

  “Thinking back… she fainted earlier this morning, and I think it started then, though we at first assumed she was just mad because she only uses our rank when she’s mad at one of us,” Silas explained.

  Quinn studied her, and noticed her guard uniform was soaked and she was shivering, “Emily, go get into something dry while we discuss things.”

  “Yes, Elder,” she said, bowed slightly, and then walked out of the room.

  Kralen turned toward the door, “She headed down the stairs.”

  “She’s going to the barracks,” Silas suggested.

  Chevalier sighed, “Go get her.”

  Kralen disappeared and came back in with her following him.

  “You needed me, Elder?” Emily asked.

  “Change of plans. Go guard my bedroom door,” Chevalier told her.

  “Right away, Sir,” she said, and walked out of the room.

  “Did she hit her head when she fainted?” Quinn asked.

  “No, Sir, I caught her,” Kralen explained.

  “She was fine before that?”

  “Yes”

  “Nothing else?”

  Silas thought for a moment, “I did detect a small wound… but that’s not abnormal.”

  “I caught that today too,” Chevalier said. “It was pretty tiny though.”

  “She’s not using her poker face,” Zohn told them. “She truly believes what she’s saying.”

  “How can she all of a sudden think she’s heku?” Quinn asked.

  “I have no idea… She has to have things we don’t though… sleeping, eating… those will need to be taken care of until we figure this out.”

  Chevalier thought for a moment, “Maybe she can sleep it off, whatever it is.”

  “We’ve already suggested she eat. She won’t do it,” Kralen said.

  “Can she survive off of blood then?” Dustin asked.

  “We can’t give her blood,” Chevalier said. “Not only is her body not equipped for that, but if she ever finds out, she’d kill us all.”

  “See if she’ll sleep it off then. It’s already past when she normally sleeps,” Quinn said.

  Chevalier nodded and appeared at his bedroom door. Four members of the Cavalry were standing at their posts, and Emily was beside them. They glanced nervously at the Elder when he approached.

  “Commander, in my room please,” he said, and opened his door.

  “Yes, Elder,” she replied, and stepped in. He shut the door behind her and studied her for a few moments.

  “You’ll obey any order?”

  “Yes, Elder.”

  “Good, then get in bed,” he said, and stoked the fires. She was still shivering from being out in the snow.

  When he stood up, he saw a brief look of panic cross her face and then quickly disappear, “Did you want me undressed?”

  “Why would… oh wait! No, no, you misunderstood,” Chevalier said, finally understanding what she thought was going on. He started to dig around in her dresser and pulled out a nightgown, “Go into the bathroom and put this on, and then come out.”

  She nodded and did as she was told. When she came out, she was wringing her hands nervously.

  Chevalier pulled the covers aside, “We are afraid of an attack, someone out to get me while I rest. You’ll take my place in case it happens.”

  “Yes, Elder,” she said.

  “Get in.”

  Emily nodded and laid down in the bed. Chevalier covered her up with the blankets and then stood up and looked around the room, making sure everything was covered. When he turned back to her, she was lifting her arm to adjust the pillow, and he caught sight of the two puncture wounds on the underside of her arm.

  He grabbed her wrist and pulled her arm up, “Who bit you?”

  Emily looked over, “Why would a heku bite me?”

  “Just answer me,” he growled.

  “I don’t know, Elder… I don’t think I was bitten… I must have leaned up against something, though it’s odd it hasn’t healed.”

  “Just shut your eyes until 7am,” he said, and disappeared from the room when she complied. He left orders for her guards to alert him if she got out of bed, and returned to the council chambers.

  “What’s wrong?” Quinn asked.

  “She has bite marks on her arm.”

  “What!?” Kralen growled. “Who?”

  “I asked, and she doesn’t know.”

  “If she’s been fed from, then she was weak enough to be controlled,” Zohn said, deep in thought.

  “No one was around her this morning, we had sight of her at all times,” Silas told them.

  “Alieno?” the Chief Interrogator suggested.

  Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “That takes privacy… time… and usually a calm mortal. Emily would have been fighting.”

  “Not to mention, who would tell her she’s heku? What good would that do?” Zohn asked.

  “I’m the only one she’s alone with for any length of time.”

  “We sent Camber to her y
esterday,” Kyle reminded them as he started to get irritated.

  “Why wouldn’t she ash him though? She’s not going to let anyone, especially Camber, feed from her.”

  “Let’s find out,” Kyle said, and called for Derrick to bring Camber to them.

  Derrick stepped in a few minutes later, “He’s no longer in Council City. Shall I send guards to his coven?”

  “No, let’s not point fingers until we know what’s going on,” Zohn said. “First, bring me all the information on Alieno that we have in the library.”

  “Yes, Elder,” Derrick said, and left with the Records Keeper.

  “You have her asleep, correct?” Quinn asked Chevalier.

  “No, I have her in bed with her eyes shut. The guards say she’s not fallen asleep yet… she thinks she’s my stand in for a coming attack.”

  Two hours later, Derrick and the Records Keeper returned with stacks of books, all containing information about Alieno. The books were handed out, and each member of the Council began to read.

  “This says it can be delayed if the giver sets a time frame… so no one had to be with Emily when it happened. They just had to specify when to start,” Dustin said, still flipping through the book.

  “There has to be a rune,” Quinn said after a long silence.

  “Yeah, I’m reading that too,” Kyle said. “Derrick… I want everything searched, her car, stables, her room, everything. Look for any runes, even small insignificant looking ones.”

  Derrick nodded, “The ones on her headboard… I won’t know if those have been added to.”

  “I’ll check those,” Chevalier told him. “You all do the rest, call in the entire Cavalry.”

  “It’s almost 7am,” Quinn told Chevalier.

  “She hasn’t slept at all. I’ll go see if we got lucky and it’s worn off,” he said before disappearing from the council chambers and appearing in his room. She was lying exactly how he’d left her and her eyes were still shut, but she was obviously not asleep.

  Chevalier sat down on the side of her bed, “Look at me.”

  Emily opened her eyes and looked at him.

  “Someone’s done something to you, and I want to know who.”

  “Like what, Elder?”

  “Like someone bit you, controlled your mind, even wrote a rune somewhere around you.”

  She frowned, “No one’s done those things.

  “I want Dr. Cook to have a look at you.”

  “Ok”

  “That’s it, ok? Not going to argue.”