The infant simply watched her Mom.
Emily smiled, “That’s it then, Megara. We’ll have a birth certificate drawn up when your Dad gets back.”
She picked up the baby and rocked her gently before turning to the door when she heard a knock, “Come in.”
Derrick stepped in, “The Council needs to see you.”
“Tell them no.”
“I can’t tell them no.”
“Why not?”
“No one tells the Council no,” Derrick reminded her. “You’re in enough trouble without making it worse.”
She sighed, “I don’t want to see them.”
“Do what they ask, it’ll be easier.”
Emily sighed and then repositioned the baby and followed Derrick down to the council chambers. She stepped in and walked around Thutmose before standing in front of Quinn.
“Thutmose will need your help in reviving the Old Ones,” he explained.
“What kind of help?”
“He needs to know what was said, but without any heku hearing it.”
Emily nodded and pulled out her phone. She opened it to the incantation and then hesitated before handing it over to the Ancient. His eyes bore into the sleeping baby and made Emily uncomfortable.
“Does the infant belong to Equitis?” Thutmose asked her.
“Yes”
“Willingly?”
Emily frowned, “What kind of question is that?”
The Ancient shrugged, “Surprising is all.”
Thutmose read the phone and then looked over the device closely before handing it back to Emily.
“You shouldn’t have said this. No wonder it didn’t entirely work, this is Ancient only.”
“I know that now.”
“Have you been punished?”
Her eyes narrowed, “Try it, Gramps.”
Thutmose leaned his head back and laughed before turning angry eyes toward her, “You need to learn your place.”
“She will be punished,” Zohn told him. “Seth will show you to your quarters.”
A heku appeared and opened the door for Thutmose. He glanced again at Emily and then strode haughtily out of the room.
“Come forward,” the Chief of Defense said to Emily. She held the baby tightly and stepped forward.
“You’ve gone dangerously overboard this time,” Quinn said to her softly. “As much as this Council owes you, even for our very lives, we can’t let this go.”
Emily nodded.
“We tried to come up with something that would teach you about staying out of things you know nothing about,” the Chief of Finance said.
Kyle sighed and avoided looking at Emily. She was sure he wouldn’t have put up with this if he had a choice, but she didn’t want to risk his life by calling him on it.
“Get on with it then,” she said, clutching the baby tightly.
“We feel that house arrest would be the best thing here,” Zohn told her. “We can’t express enough how displeased we are with what you have done.”
“And you have no idea how displeased I am that nothing I can do is good enough for this Council,” Emily whispered. She caught the direct eye of each member of the Council before sighing, “I’ve always been assured that even with Chevalier out of the picture, I’d be taken care of and would always be an Equites…”
“We’re not removing you from the faction,” Quinn said. “We also aren’t saying that we don’t appreciate what you…”
“Stop, that’s enough,” Emily told then. “I’m not your property to toss into jail when you see fit. I’m not a child that can be chastised and I’m tired of it.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I’m gone,” she said, and started for the door.
“Em,” Quinn sighed.
She didn’t turn around, “When Chevalier wakes up, call me.”
“We can’t let you leave the palace,” the Chief of Defense said.
Emily turned and fought back the tears, “I trusted you.”
“We’re still your friends,” Quinn said.
“No you aren’t.”
“This isn’t permanent. Just stay in your room until we figure out what to do.”
“The Ancient has moved into the palace?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t…”
“Yes it does matter,” Emily said, and walked out.
Zohn sighed, “Now what?”
“Mark, keep her from leaving,” Quinn called out.
Kyle turned to them, “How did you not see this coming? How much does she have to go through for us? I mean… she’s risked her life for this Council.”
“She verbalized an Ancient only incantation…”
“One an Ancient gave her.”
“An insane Ancient.”
“She didn’t know… the Old Ones had her cornered.”
“Enough,” Zohn said. Kyle sat back and wondered what Emily was going to do. She had been too afraid to leave the palace without guards, and as far as he knew she didn’t have anywhere to go. He briefly wondered if Chevalier even mentioned that he’d sold her house in Georgia when they thought she was dead.
***
“Has she said anything to you?” Zohn asked Kyle.
Kyle shook his head, “No, Elder. As far as I know she hasn’t spoken since she threatened to leave.”
Quinn thought, “That’s been almost 3 months ago.”
“How much longer does Thutmose need?” the Chief of Defense asked. “This would be easier if Chevalier were awake.”
“He said any day now.”
“Maybe the Lady realized how badly she messed up and then decided to take her punishment,” the Chief of Staff suggested.
Kyle looked at him, “You just don’t know her well enough. She’s up to something.”
“Have you asked Dain? I still think it’s odd that she asked him to return,” Zohn said.
“I did, and he won’t say.”
“So she is up to something…”
“Yes, she is. Dain’s part of it, but reminded me that, even though an Elder’s son, he’s not sworn his allegiance to the Equites.”
Quinn frowned, “He said that?”
“He’s just upset,” Kyle explained. “He’s still very protective of Emily and with Chevalier in… stasis… I think he’s taken her safety upon himself.”
“It’s just…” Quinn’s voice suddenly cut off. Kyle looked up and gasped when he saw that the Council had been turned to ash. He blurred out to the garage when he heard the Aero start up.
“Please…” Emily whispered when Kyle stepped in front of her car.
“You can’t take him, Em,” Kyle said, looking in at Alec.
Alec smiled and sat back as Dain brought the Rubicon up behind the Aero.
Kyle sighed, “Where are you going?”
“To my house,” Emily told him. “Tell the Equites that I ash anyone that comes near me… except Chevalier.”
Kyle looked up at the ceiling and then nodded, “Fine… but knock me unconscious.”
Emily cringed when he fell to the floor, writhing in pain. He relaxed after he fell unconscious and Emily spun out and headed to her new home, followed by Dain with the baby.
Chapter 13
“Mom, where do you want this?” Dain asked as he carried in a large box.
Emily looked up, “Oh, umm… put it in my room.”
He nodded and left after glancing out the window. The Equites had stayed away from Emily’s home since she’d warned them two weeks prior. Dain kept a close eye out, and Alec was always on his guard as he tried to fix the relationship between him and his niece.
“Emi?” Alec said from the doorway. Emily turned and smiled at Megara as she nuzzled against his shoulder.
“What’s up?”
“Alexis called and she’s on the way…”
“Ok”
“With Garrett.”
Emily sighed, “That’s pushing it… but I’ll let him come in with Alex.”
�
�Want some help?”
She looked over at the dishes, “No, I’m almost done.”
Alec sat down and began playing with Megara. He stood up when he heard a knock on the door.
“Mom?” Alexis said, walking into the house. “This house is great! I love the colors.”
“Thanks. It’s about time you came to visit,” Emily said, smiling. Her face fell when not only Garrett came in, but Kyle also.
“Please don’t turn me to ash,” Kyle said to her. “I’m worried about you.”
“Come on, Garrett,” Alexis said, taking his hand. “Let’s go check out the rest of the house.”
Garrett got a nod from Kyle, and then left the kitchen.
Emily sat down and handed the baby a toy, “I won’t ash you.”
“How are you?” Kyle asked, standing by the door.
“I’m ok. Any word on Chev?”
“Thutmose thinks it’ll be pretty soon.”
“He’s going to be furious.”
“Not at you,” Kyle said, and finally sat down.
“Yes he will be.”
“He’s going to be too mad at the Council.”
She sighed, “I can’t win with them.”
“They don’t know how to handle you.”
“They don’t have to handle me… they just have to treat me like an equal.”
“It’s hard though.”
“You do.”
He smiled, “I’ve known you longer and I’ve not been on the Council for as long as most of them.”
She shrugged, “Doesn’t matter, Chev’s going to be mad at me still.”
Kyle caught the baby’s toy when she dropped it, and then he put it back in front of her, “Have you named her?”
“Yes”
“Not going to tell me?”
“I’m ok here,” Emily said, looking into his eyes.
“I know. Chevalier’s going to want you back at the palace though.”
“I’m better off here. There’s an Ancient living there now.”
“Why Alec, Em? How can you trust him?”
“I don’t. He’s watched.”
“By who?”
“It’s ok.”
Kyle looked around the large kitchen, “The house looks good.”
“Thanks”
“Em?” Lt. Andrew called out from the front door.
“Damnit, Em,” Kyle whispered.
“In the kitchen,” Emily yelled.
Andrew came in a few seconds later, and eyed Kyle suspiciously, “Everything ok?”
“Yeah, Alexis came for a visit.”
Andrew spun a chair and sat down in it backwards, still watching Kyle.
“You’re staying here?” Kyle asked.
“He’s keeping an eye on Alec for me,” Emily explained.
Andrew smiled, but said nothing.
“Maybe I can stay here too,” Kyle suggested.
Emily shrugged, “There’s room.”
“You’re letting me?”
“We don’t need more help,” Andrew said.
Kyle’s eyes narrowed, “Chevalier is going to have issues with you being here.”
“I’m sure he will.”
“Come to think of it, I have issues with you being here,” Kyle said, standing suddenly.
Andrew stood also and Emily jumped forward and placed herself between them, “No fighting here!”
“We’ve been doing fine without Equites help,” Andrew hissed.
“You have no right moving in here!” Kyle yelled.
“Dain!” Emily screamed when the two blurred into a fight around her.
Garrett, Alec, and Dain all appeared and dove into the fight. Emily watched as slowly, the fight broke up with Garrett and Alec holding Kyle back, and Dain restraining Andrew as best as he could.
“Both of you, sit!” Emily screamed, pointing at the two chairs.
Kyle glared at Andrew and finally sat down, followed by Andrew, who sat across from him.
Emily was the last to sit down, and she turned to them, “This is my house… and as owner I declare it factionless! There will be no fighting, no power struggles, and no heku egos, is that understood?”
“Em…” Kyle started.
“No! Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Andrew said, watching Kyle.
Kyle nodded.
“Good, now you better act like friends or you both can leave,” Emily told them.
“It’s more comp…” Andrew said, and then stopped talking when Emily glared at him.
“No faction crap in this house!”
“Sorry, Em,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, sorry,” Andrew whispered.
Alec disappeared from the room and returned with Megara. Emily took her and rocked her gently as she turned green eyes to the heku.
“So what is her name?” Kyle asked.
“Megara”
He thought for a moment, “Like Creon’s daughter?”
“Who?”
“Never mind, I like it.”
Alexis came in a few minutes later, “This house is beautiful!”
Emily smiled, “Thanks.”
“You designed it?”
“No, I had a contractor do that.”
Alexis sat down and picked up Megara, “I’m amazed at how much she looks like you.”
Emily leaned her elbow on the table, put her head in her hand, and nodded.
“Are you sleeping?” Kyle asked, studying her.
“No”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t,” she said, and got up to get a drink.
Alexis watched her, and then whispered to Garrett before turning back to Emily, “Mom, why don’t you let me stay here tonight and watch the baby while you sleep?”
“You can’t feed her,” Emily reminded her, and then sat down with a glass of Coke.
“I can do the rest though, maybe give you some rest.”
“I’m fine, Alex.”
Suddenly, everyone in the kitchen except Emily turned toward the front door.
“What?” Emily asked, and stood slowly. She gasped when the entire room emptied out.
The door to the kitchen flew open and Chevalier walked in, his features dark and menacing.
“Chev!” Emily yelled.
“Where is Kyle?” Chevalier hissed.
She swallowed hard, suddenly afraid for Kyle, “Why?”
Chevalier inhaled and turned to Emily with his hands balled into fists, “I smell an Encala.”
She nodded, and then whispered, “Andrew is here.”
“Where is Kyle?”
“I don’t know.”
“Kyle!” Chevalier roared. He turned to the door, but the house was unnaturally silent.
“Chev, what’s wrong?” Emily asked softly. She wanted to run into his arms, but he was obviously furious.
“Did they kick you out?” he asked, turning to her.
“No, I left.”
“But they did something…”
“They… they put me on house arrest again.”
“Anything else?”
“No, I waited until the house was done and then I moved out. I won’t live in the same place as an Ancient, not with the baby a Winchester too.”
His features softened slightly, “You’re ok?”
She nodded, and then took a step toward him. He gently pulled her into his arms and held her tightly as she buried her face in his chest.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t wake up,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t know,” he said, and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll talk later about that, ok?”
After a few minutes, Emily stepped back, “Why do you want Kyle?”
She stepped further away from Chevalier when he turned furious again, “They had no right! How dare they punish you for that!”
“It’s over.”
“I don’t care. They’re lucky I don’t replace all of them… I’ve done it before,” he growled, and then wal
ked out of the kitchen.
“You replaced the Council once?”
He nodded, “Yes.”
“This Council doesn’t need replaced over this. I’m ok here and I like this house.”
“Kyle!” Chevalier yelled.
“It wasn’t Kyle’s fault. He didn’t go along with them.”
“He didn’t?” Chevalier turned toward her.
“No, but he kept most of his opinions to himself at my request.”
Emily took his hand and gently smoothed it out of a tight fist.
“After all you’ve done for this faction… I’m out of the way for a couple months and they treat you like this?”
“I know,” she whispered. “It’s just time to stay away from the Council.”
“I need you at the palace,” he told her, and kissed her softly.
“I can’t…”
“I understand.” Chevalier looked around, “When did you start this house?”
“The same week you went unconscious.”
“They finished that fast… for mortals.”
Her nose scrunched slightly as she considered telling him.
His eyes narrowed, “Who built it?”
She sighed, “The Encala.”
“Why?”
“Because I was tired of house arrest and needed the house faster. I called a contractor, but he couldn’t do it in that time. William was my only bet to get out of that palace faster.”
He nodded and looked up when he heard the baby talking. Emily followed him up the stairs to the nursery, and when he walked in, the baby smiled broadly at him and held her arms out to be picked up.
Chevalier picked up the baby and kissed the top of her head, “She’s grown so much.”
Emily nodded.
“Did you ever name her?”
“Yes,” she said, amused. “I named her Megara.”
“After Creon’s daughter?”
“Who the hell is Creon?”
“Never mind, I like it.” Chevalier held Megara and watched Emily for a few minutes.
She shifted nervously, “What?”
“How are you and she getting along?”
Emily smiled, “We’re doing fine.”
“No more trying to give her away?”
“Nope,” she said, laughing slightly.
Chevalier held up the baby so he could see her better, and looked into her familiar green eyes, “She looks so much like you.”
Ancients and Old Ones : Book 8 of the Heku Series Page 34
