Emily looked over and saw Mark nearby, scanning the woods carefully. She finally pulled out of Kyle’s arms and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Let’s go,” Kyle said, and got into the driver’s side of the Jeep. Emily crawled into the back seat and Mark looked around one more time before getting into the passenger’s seat.
Kyle started up the Jeep and headed back down the twisted path to the road. He hit the brakes when a robed figure appeared out of the trees and stood in their path.
“I just want to talk to her,” Exavior said, pulling the hood of his robe down so they could see him.
Before Emily could protest, Kyle was out of the Jeep and disappeared into the trees after Exavior.
“No!” Emily called out, but Mark was already in the driver’s seat and was tearing through the forest at dangerous speeds.
“Mark, we can’t leave him alone,” Emily said, watching behind her.
“When you get back to the palace, I’ll go too,” he said, growling.
At the gates to Council City, Mark put the Jeep into park and blurred back toward the trees, followed by four of the Cavalry that were mounted. Emily watched them go and then moved into the driver’s seat. She finally relaxed when the walls of the garage were around her, and she ran into the palace.
“Chev!” she called out as she entered the doors.
Chevalier, Zohn, and Quinn appeared.
“Kyle went after Exavior,” Emily said frantically.
“Where?” Chevalier hissed.
“He was on the path to the Durango. Mark’s gone after him now to… Chev, Exavior will kill them,” she said, panicked.
Chevalier disappeared, and Quinn put a hand on Emily’s shoulder.
“Exavior can’t kill them. He’s not strong enough,” Quinn said.
Emily nodded, “Yes he is, don’t underestimate him.”
“Rest assured, we don’t,” Zohn said. “However, Kyle has proven before that he can easily beat Exavior in a fight.”
Emily looked back toward the door, “I don’t want Kyle alone with him.”
“I would imagine that Mark is already there also,” Quinn told her. “If Kyle even caught up with him. Kyle is stronger, and a better fighter, but Exavior is faster, and normally just runs away.”
Emily nodded slowly and wrapped her arms around herself again.
“Come, let’s get you warm,” Quinn said, and he led her up to her room, followed by Zohn, Kralen, and another guard from the Cavalry.
They walked into her bedroom, and she took a steaming mug of hot chocolate from the table and cupped it in her hands. The fires were lit, and she sat on the rug in front of them to warm up while she waited for Chevalier, Kyle, and Mark to return.
The three came in a couple of hours later, laughing about something. Emily stood up from the rug and ran into Chevalier’s arms.
Chevalier wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, “He took off… again.”
“Just once I want to get my hands on him… to think how close I was to killing him once,” Kyle said, irritated.
“If he keeps hanging around the city, we’ll get him,” Mark said, grinning.
Emily turned around, furious, “You can’t kill him! Going running off into the woods alone after him is just going to get one of you killed.”
Kyle was shocked. He’d never heard that kind of anger from Emily, “Em, we can handle him.”
“No you can’t! He’s evil… and malicious, and all you are doing is playing his game, and one of these days, he may win,” she yelled angrily.
Chevalier motioned for them all to leave when Mark and Kyle started to argue with her. She turned back into his arms when they left and buried her face in his chest as his arms tightened around her.
Emily looked up at him, “Promise me you’ll never run off after him alone.”
Chevalier sighed and kissed her softly, “I can’t promise that.”
She pulled out of his arms, “Promise me.”
“Em…”
“I said promise me.”
“I won’t promise you that… I wish you would trust me. I can handle him.”
“You all think that. Put your egos aside for once and realize that he can’t die… he’s going to torment us forever unless you stop playing his games,” Emily said, and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Chevalier walked out into the hallway with the others, “How does he rank being un-killable?”
Kyle shrugged, “Any one of us could take him. He’s not all that tough around another heku.”
“She has a misconception about us because she rarely sees us angry,” Quinn said. “I suspect that in her mind, we are weak.”
Zohn growled, “If she thinks I’m weak then she has another thing coming.”
“Actually, you, she may not think of that way,” Quinn said, smiling slightly. “That may be why she doesn’t like you.”
“She was there when I fought him and won. How can she not see that?” Kyle asked, frustrated.
“Because you didn’t kill him… you let him go,” Chevalier told him. “Had the tables been turned, she knows Exavior wouldn’t have let you go.”
“So for that, I’m weak?” Kyle asked, and rolled his eyes.
“He somehow planted a supremacy in her eyes, and I’d like nothing more than to obliterate that image,” Chevalier said. He glanced back toward the door when the jets in the tub turned on.
“As badly as I want to go back out after him, Elders, we have to get going,” Kyle reminded him.
Chevalier nodded, “I haven’t had a chance to tell her I’m going. Give me 20 minutes.”
Kyle nodded, and Chevalier went back into the bedroom. He knocked lightly on the bathroom door.
“One sec,” Emily said, covering herself with a towel. “Come in.”
Chevalier opened the door and walked into the steam filled room. He leaned back against the counter, “Kyle, Quinn, and I are going to be gone for a few days.”
Emily frowned, “All of you?”
“You’re protected here, and if you need anything, Zohn is staying behind.”
“Let me go with you,” Emily said, and grabbed for another towel.
“No, I can’t let you… you’ll be fine here. Mark, Silas, and Kralen are staying too and, Em, Zohn doesn’t hate you.”
“He does too. He just hides it around you,” Emily told him, still frowning.
Chevalier smiled, “Four days and we’ll be back. Just hang around here. When we return, we may have a mission for you.”
Emily glanced up at him curiously, “A mission for me?”
“Yes, one perfectly suited for you.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll have to wait until we get back,” Chevalier said, and knelt down by the tub. “Stay away from the Durango while I’m gone, ok?”
“Are you three going after Exavior?”
“No”
Emily nodded, “Then ok… besides… Kyle ripped the door off.”
Chevalier chuckled, “Sorry, he thought you were hurt.”
“Have it towed away. Exavior’s never going to let me be alone again.”
“We’ll get him.”
“You are going after Exavior, aren’t you?” Emily asked suspiciously.
“Not today,” Chevalier said, and then kissed her lightly.
“Promise me.”
“I promise, we’re not going after him today,” he said, and stood up.
“You have to leave right now?”
Chevalier nodded, “We’ll be back in four days.”
Emily nodded, “Ok.”
***
Emily glanced over at her clock when she heard a knock on the door.
“Who is that?” she asked Mark, who was standing guard inside her door.
“Zohn has asked to see you,” Mark told her, and shrugged.
“It’s 3am.”
“Yes, it is,” Mark said, sounding irritated that someone woke her
up.
Emily crawled out of bed and threw on a robe before heading to the door, “This damn well better be good.”
“Sorry, Em, he wants you in uniform,” Mark said, cringing at the look she gave him.
“Well, freak,” she yelled, and grabbed her uniform before disappearing into the bathroom. She came out a short time later in her uniform, and dug through her drawer for the .45, which she slipped into her hip holster. She grabbed a rubber band and followed Mark out as she braided her hair.
Mark knocked on Zohn’s office door and opened it when Zohn told him to enter.
“Both of you sit,” Zohn said, and Emily sat down as she wound the rubber band around the bottom of the long braid.
“It’s 3am, Zohn,” Emily said, irritated.
“I’m sorry for the late hour, but I have a mission for you and the Cavalry,” Zohn told her.
“Is this the one Chev told me was coming?”
“Yes”
“He also mentioned I would go when he got back.”
“I’ve overridden that, and I’m sending you out immediately,” Zohn said, and looked up at her. “I need you to rehabilitate the guard unit of the Michaels Coven, and reinstate Lord Taylor back to power.”
“Where is Lord Taylor?” Mark asked.
“He’s imprisoned by his guards. General Bowman has taken control of the coven and is threatening to remove them from the Equites,” Zohn explained. “We want Emily to do what she did with the Island Coven guards and put the coven back in line.”
“No,” Emily said, frowning.
Zohn was taken back, “Excuse me?”
“No, that was awful… it’s not my place to keep your guards from misbehaving and I won’t do it.”
“You have no choice,” Zohn said sternly. He noticed how Mark grimaced when he said that and how Emily’s eyes narrowed.
“No,” Emily said again. “I’m not going to go around and ash all of the coven guards so they behave.”
“You will do as you’re told,” Zohn said, and turned to Mark. “The Cavalry will go to assist, but let her do most of it. She has the ability to put them in order without too much force.”
“No,” Emily said, and stood up.
“Sit down!” Zohn yelled.
“Sir,” Mark whispered, too softly for Emily to hear. “She doesn’t take harsh commands well.”
“Sit down, now,” Zohn said, ignoring Mark’s remark.
“I’m not going,” Emily told him, and crossed her arms.
Zohn stood up, “Sit down!”
Emily’s eyes grew wide and she sat suddenly.
“You will do as you’re told and you will leave immediately for Michaels Coven with the Cavalry,” Zohn growled. “You will rehabilitate the guards and then return to the palace without complaining.”
Emily sat back in the chair as Zohn looked around oddly.
“Oh, you’re here,” Zohn said. “I have a mission for you.”
Mark looked at Emily, shocked.
“One moment though, please,” Emily said sweetly. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
Mark wasn’t sure what to do, so he sat back, afraid to intervene.
“Sure,” Zohn said. “I’ll go over some things with Mark while we wait.”
Emily stood up and left slowly, but as soon as his door was shut, she took off running for the garage. She ran past the Jeep and slid into Chevalier’s McLaren, needing something fast.
“Was that Chevalier’s car?” Zohn asked, frowning.
Mark sighed, “She wiped your memory. You’ve already told her about the mission, and she said no.”
“What!?” Zohn growled. He blurred into the garage and quickly sped out of the city in his Jaguar XJ220.
Mark sat back and waited for Zohn’s fury. He knew that the Jaguar couldn’t catch up with the McLaren if Emily pegged it. He couldn’t call Chevalier or Kyle. They would have their phones off during their mission, so he was going to have to handle this on his own, and he wasn’t quite sure how.
Emily had Chevalier’s McLaren steady at 236 mph and was praying no police were around as she sped west. She kept a close eye out for Zohn’s Red Jaguar, but Chevalier once bragged that his car could outrun the sleek XJ220.
Emily opened her phone and speed dialed Chevalier. When she got no answer, she dialed the Valle Council.
“Ryan here,” she heard over the phone.
“I need to talk to Sotomar,” Emily said frantically.
“He’s not here, Emily. What’s wrong?”
“Gah,” Emily yelled, and then disconnected. She quickly dialed the Encala Council and waited what seemed like an eternity for them to answer.
“Encala Council,” a voice said.
“I need to talk to William,” Emily said, the panic in her voice evident.
“What’s wrong, Emily?” William asked, concerned.
“I need somewhere to go. I stole Chevalier’s McLaren, and Zohn’s chasing me in his Jag, and I don’t know where to go.” She hated to ramble, but her mind was blurring and she knew Exavior was out there, somewhere, too.
“You can outrun him if you keep it above 220 mph,” a strange voice said, impressed.
“Can I come, please?” Emily asked fearfully. “Chevalier, Quinn, and Kyle are gone and Zohn’s trying to send me on some stupid mission… I don’t know where to go.”
“Of course you can,” William said. “Are you heading west from Council City?”
“Yes, I’m on I-94 now, about two hours outside of the city.”
“What color is the McLaren?”
“Black, I’m worried about cops though.”
“Keep it pegged… Look for three CCX’s, two black and one red. They will be Encala, and they will guide you in,” William said.
Emily sighed, “I don’t know what a CCX is.”
She heard some chuckles before William spoke, “They’re sports cars, just look for two black and one red car. They should meet up with you in about an hour.”
“Thank you, William,” Emily said, finally relaxing.
“Do you not have a fast car, Dear?” Elder Reese asked.
“No, I have a Jeep and a truck. I don’t like these cars… it’s like driving a tin can.”
“The McLaren is not a tin can, Child,” she heard a strange voice say.
“Does this really matter?” Emily asked, irritated.
“We will buy you a car when you get here,” William said. “You need a means of getting away without stealing.”
Emily sighed, “We’ll talk when I get there.”
She shut her phone and watched around for the red Jaguar. She weaved in and out of traffic, trying not to panic as she drew closer to Encala City. An hour later, she saw three cars appear behind her, two black and one red. The windows were tinted too dark to see inside, but they matched what William had told her. They boxed around the McLaren and slowed, taking her down to just under 100 mph.
Within a few hours, they guided her off of the Interstate and onto a private road lined with tall sycamore trees. They moved single file with Emily in the middle. As they approached the front gates, the guards talked a moment to the front car and then waved them all through.
Emily breathed again when she saw the Encala palace come nearer. She knew that Zohn wouldn’t dare try to come into the enemy city. The cars disappeared into the garage, but Emily stopped the McLaren outside the front entryway and stepped out. Guards came out and lined the front walk as William emerged.
“So glad you made it,” William said, and Emily smiled when she walked up. He was surprised to see her in the guard’s uniform and ranked as a Commander, but couldn’t help but glance at the diamond cutouts that showed her soft skin or the way the shirt left a band of her muscular abdomen showing.
“Thank you, I didn’t know where to go,” Emily told him.
“You are always welcome here… would you like someone to return the Elder’s car?”
Emily thought for a moment and then nodded, “Yes, that wa
y he can’t arrest me for stealing it.”
William chuckled, “I doubt the Elder would have you arrested.”
“He already has, for stealing his Hummer,” Emily said, grinning slightly.
“Interesting, come inside then, we’ll have it returned to Council City,” William said, and took her arm to lead her into the palace. “If you don’t mind, the Council would like to say hello.”
Emily nodded and followed him into the trial area. William went back up to his seat and waited while the Chief Enforcer, Chief Interrogator, and Chief Investigator returned to their seats.
“Now that we’re all here…”
“First off, thank you for helping me,” Emily said, and the three members of the Council in the CCX’s all smiled and nodded.
“First, Dear, may we ask why you were running from an Equites Elder?” William asked.
Emily shrugged, “I don’t see why not. He ordered me to help rehabilitate some out of control coven.”
“You said no to an Elder?” one of the council members asked, shocked.
“Yes, I did… I don’t want to rehabilitate a coven,” Emily explained calmly.
William grinned, “You have to realize the position she holds on their Council. They don’t hold her to the heku rules.”
“I see,” the council member said. “Yet you’re a Commander in their Cavalry?”
“I only train them on the horses,” Emily said.
“It’s just… different… for us to see a member of the guard staff say no to a member of the Council… we realize you aren’t held to the heku rules though,” William explained.
“Well, Zohn seems to think I am and ordered me… so I took off and I have no doubt he was chasing me,” Emily explained.
“Why is it you refuse to help?” Elder Aaron questioned.
Emily frowned, “That makes it sound bad.”
“Sorry, that’s not what I meant,” Aaron told her. “We are just curious why it is you ran.”
“I don’t want to shape them up like I did on Island Coven,” Emily said, looking at the ground. “I had to ash two of them and burn one… I don’t like doing that.”
“I think that sounds like a good enough reason to leave…” William told her.
“I’m sorry again to intrude. If it’s a bother, I can call Sotomar.”
Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series Page 44
