“What do you mean?” Lori asked.
Alexis shrugged, “I’m assuming she’s collecting things she can remember us by if she’s taken again.”
Lori gasped, “Oh my God!”
“She spent 2 years away from those she cares about and didn’t have a single thing of ours to look at or hold,” Alexis said. She turned to her Dad, “Did you bury her with her essence ring?”
Chevalier shook his head, “No, I kept it.”
“See, nothing. I think she’s just collecting for next time.”
Mark growled, “There won’t be a next time!”
“Well we know that,” Alexis said. “But she doesn’t, now does she?”
“Is that what you’re doing, Em? You’re collecting things you can take with you if you’re kidnapped again?” Chevalier asked her.
Emily didn’t reply, but kissed the top of the puppy’s head instead.
“I guess I’ll return his pin,” Kyle whispered.
Chevalier nodded at him and shrugged slightly, “Might as well. She doesn’t seem to want it.”
“Have you named them?” Alexis asked as she put the puppy back into the box. “No, I guess not.”
The vicious puppy escaped again and began to pull at Emily’s pants. He stopped long enough to urinate on the floor and then started to tug again. Emily quickly scooped him up and looked up at Kralen, terrified.
“See!” he growled. “Now I’m the bad guy… Every time those damned wolves make a mess, she thinks I’m going to kill it.”
Alexis immediately began cleaning, “It’s ok, Mom, I’ll clean it.”
“Well, it’s better than the Elder being the bad guy,” Lori said.
“Yeah, but why me damnit?” Kralen hissed.
Mark grinned, “Why not you?”
“Well I’m tired of it,” he said, and left the room.
“We should have made Dustin the bad guy,” Chevalier said, grinning slightly.
“I’m still afraid of what she’ll do if she sees him,” Lori said. “I’ve heard too many things about interactions between those two.”
“Yeah, not a pleasant feeling when they’re together,” Silas told her.
Dr. Edwards knocked and came in, “Ok, I got what I needed, though I wasn’t schooled for this.”
Silas grinned, “This should be interesting.”
“I’m actually hoping she turns him to ash,” Lori whispered.
“What!?” Dr. Edwards gasped.
Chevalier chuckled, “It does sting.”
“I’m curious if she still has the ability,” Lori told him. “If I remember correctly, it took emotions to do.”
“Do you think she’ll turn me to ash?” the doctor asked, looking over at Emily.
“No, I don’t actually,” Chevalier told him. “She used to vaccinate the horses. As long as you explain what you’re doing, she should be ok.”
Dr. Edwards cleared his throat, “Emily, I brought the supplies to vaccinate the puppies.”
Emily looked up at him and frowned slightly, then pulled the puppies onto her lap. When she moved, the others could see her small stash under the pillow where she kept the capes and other memorabilia she kept close in case she was taken again. She was no longer as protective of it and the heku believed she finally understood that they weren’t going to take it from her.
“They… they need their shots,” he said with a shaky voice.
She looked down at the puppies and then slowly held one out for the doctor.
Dr. Edwards picked up the female puppy and then looked at Emily, “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t turn me to ash when I do this.”
Emily frowned slightly and then turned to pick up another puppy to hold.
Mark turned to the Elder and lowered his voice, “Have we gotten out of Salazar why she didn’t ash them all?”
“No, he’s not sure why she didn’t,” Chevalier told him. “It’s part of the reason I haven’t killed him though. I think he’s holding information.”
“That’s… well…” Mark said with a slight grin. “I’ve never seen done what you’ve done to him.”
Chevalier grinned maliciously, “I haven’t seen it done either… but I like it.”
“We have prisoners actually provoking our guards to kill them, because they’re afraid they might be your next target.”
“I’m only interested in Solax, Salazar, and the stranger that gave Emily over to them.”
“What did you do?” Lori asked, looking over at the Elder.
Mark looked her in the eye, “You don’t want to know.”
Chevalier chuckled and then looked over when Dr. Edwards came up, “No problems at all.”
“Em, we’re heading down to a meeting. You ok here by yourself for a while?” Chevalier asked her.
Emily looked at him briefly before turning back to the puppies.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, starting for the door.
“Are you certain it’s ok that I go back to my coven for a week?” Lori confirmed.
“Yes, we’re good here.”
They all left Emily alone and Lori disappeared down the stairs while the others stopped at Horace and another member of the Cavalry that was in the fifth-floor foyer.
“Do not leave this foyer and make sure no one enters the floor,” Mark ordered.
“Yes, Sir,” they both replied.
Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “If I find out either of you ventured past this foyer…”
“No, Elder! We won’t,” Horace gasped.
“Who is on the back stairs?”
“Wilson, Sir.”
“He knows not to leave the stairs?”
“Yes, Elder.”
Chevalier growled, obviously not happy, and started down for the council chambers. Mark and Kralen followed him down after more instructions for the Cavalry and went into the trial area where Silas was waiting for them.
“How is the pen coming along?” Chevalier asked him.
Silas sighed, “Well I’m done… then it dawned on me that I built it a lot like a cage…”
“Try again.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Let’s get this out of the way then,” Zohn said. “Derrick, let the Valle in.”
Only a few seconds later, Derrick opened the door so Elder Sotomar, Elder Ryan, and six Imperial Guards could enter. They swept in and stood in front of the Equites Council while Mark, Silas, and Kralen fell in behind them.
“We know why you’re here,” Quinn said, watching them. “But you can’t have him.”
“He is ours to punish!” Sotomar yelled. “You are breaking tradition in having him here.”
“His crime against this faction is worse than crimes against the Valle,” Kyle said.
“So you say,” Ryan growled. “Give him to us immediately!”
“No,” Chevalier said bluntly.
“I don’t care how big you are, or how mean your army, you have no right keeping a former member of my Council!” Sotomar yelled.
“He is ours to punish!” Ryan added angrily.
No one was surprised when Alexis stepped into the room and sat down beside her Dad before speaking quietly, “Please remain civil.”
Sotomar’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Quinn, “Tell us his crimes so we can determine if it warrants you keeping him.”
“No,” Kyle told them.
“What gives the Equites the right to break tradition?”
“His crimes do.”
“What crimes?!”
“Last warning,” Alexis said calmly.
Sotomar glared at her before falling silent.
Ryan took a deep breath, “Do you see how this is breaking tradition? Do you see how this is a blatant disregard for rules that we as heku hold sacred?”
“If his crimes we are punishing him for were less than those for breaking from his own Council, then yes. However, his crimes are much greater here so we don’t see as though we are breaking any rules at all,” Quinn sai
d.
“Then tell us those crimes so we can be appeased.”
“Fine,” Zohn said finally. “He held a member of this Council hostage and continually tortured them beyond what you could even imagine.”
Sotomar’s eyes narrowed, “Which member?”
“Because of the humiliations brought on by the tortures, we won’t divulge who it was,” Chevalier said, obviously getting angry.
Ryan smiled and shook his head, “There’s no way that Salazar could have held one of the Equites Council hostage.”
“You think so little of your former Interrogator?”
“He’s not the strongest heku that we know… but he’s cunning and quick. Every one of your Council is powerful beyond what he could handle.”
“We’re glad that you think so highly of us,” Zohn chuckled.
“That’s not a compliment,” Ryan said. “Sometimes wit can out last brute strength.”
Zohn looked over at Chevalier, “Is he calling us stupid?”
Chevalier nodded, “I do believe he is.”
“It was me,” Alexis whispered, and looked down at her hands. “They’re just trying to protect me.”
Sotomar gasped, “He held you hostage, Child?”
“You don’t have to do this,” Chevalier whispered to her, and took her hand.
Alexis nodded, “Yes, he did. I won’t talk about what I went through though, it’s too…”
“Since when are you a member of this Council?” Ryan asked.
“Since she took over for her mother as peace keeper,” Quinn snapped.
Sotomar’s voice was barely audible, “He tortured you?”
“It’s my father’s right to punish him for what he did.” She looked up at him and her inner strength and poise surprised him.
Ryan turned to Sotomar and they began talking quickly and too quietly for the Council to hear.
It was almost 20 minutes before they turned back and Sotomar sighed, “Very well. Though we ask that you not kill him, and turn him over to us when you are done.”
“Oh, I’m going to kill him,” Chevalier said.
“Do you have no control?”
“Nope, none at all.”
Zohn chuckled and then looked over at Quinn, “I’m actually surprised Salazar’s still alive at all.”
Quinn nodded, “Agreed, though, he’s wishing he weren’t.”
“What have you done to him?” Ryan asked curiously.
Alexis cleared her throat, “I’d rather not hear this.”
Chevalier sat back in his chair with an evil grin across his face.
Sotomar stepped forward, “We want to know what he did to you, Child.”
“We will not make her tell you,” the Chief of Staff said. “There’s no reason to share her pain or humiliation with you.”
“I do not agree with some of the interrogation techniques often used by the heku,” Alexis said softly. “So rest assured, it was enough that I’ve allowed it to happen.”
“Might we see him for a moment then?” Ryan asked. “We just want to let him know how displeased we are with his behavior.”
Chevalier looked over at Zohn, “Fine by me.”
Zohn frowned, “I disagree.”
Quinn thought for a moment, “As long as no questions are asked and Salazar remains quiet, then I have no problem with it. One of you may go.”
Ryan nodded, “Then it will be me.”
Mark and Kralen escorted Ryan out while Chevalier spoke quietly to Kyle. When they returned, Ryan was visibly shaken and looked ready to run.
Sotomar looked over at him, “Are you ok? Did they torture you?”
Ryan shook his head and tried to speak, but only managed a slight squeak before turning and leaving the council chambers.
Sotomar turned angrily toward Mark, “What did you do to him?”
Mark chuckled, “Nothing. He saw Salazar and just mumbled before walking out. I don’t think he wanted to berate him for anything.”
Chevalier just grinned.
Sotomar turned to Chevalier, “What did you do?”
Kyle shrugged, “Trust us, you don’t want to know.”
“I don’t like it when someone messes with my family,” Chevalier reminded the enemy Elder.
“Still! There’s interrogation, and then there’s unwarranted torture,” Sotomar yelled. “You must learn to control the intrinsic needs to inflict pain! You’re an ‘old one’ for God’s sake! Act like one.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I was very much in control, otherwise he’d be dead.”
“You should be stripped of your rank…”
“Sotomar,” Alexis said softly.
His eyes grew wide and he looked over at her.
“You may go.”
“She can’t order me to leave!” Sotomar yelled at the Elders.
“No, she cannot. But I can,” Zohn said. “See him out please.”
Mark nodded and escorted the Valle from the palace.
“You didn’t need to do that,” Chevalier said to Alexis, though his heart was proud that she’d taken the burden on herself. “We could have picked a member of the Council.”
Alexis smiled, “There’s no reason for any of you to show a weakness to the Valle. I, however, can’t compare in strength to a heku, so it was only logical that I take the fall for it.”
“You do realize that you’re more like Emily than you admit to,” the Chief Interrogator said softly. “Such strength and compassion for the heku.”
“No, I’m not nearly as strong as my Mother,” Alexis said, and then stood slowly. “May I go?”
Zohn nodded and watched her leave, “You sure she belongs to you two?”
Chevalier chuckled, “Pretty sure.”
The door to the council chambers burst open and Dain blurred in. He was large, even for a heku, and his dark hair strengthened his resemblance to his father. He stopped in the trial area and crossed his arms, then looked angrily at the Council.
“What now, Dain?” Chevalier asked.
“I want to join the guard staff.”
“We’re aware of that, but no.”
“Yes”
Chevalier’s eyebrows rose, “No.”
Dain glared at him, “Name one other heku you would turn down without even a shot!”
“Any heku at 11 years old would be turned down… even one that was simply turned 11 years ago. It’s too young,” Zohn said.
“You let Allen.”
“Yes, and that was a mistake that we paid for.”
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Dain growled. “I will get what I want.”
Suddenly, Chevalier appeared before him, standing only inches from his son, “I said no.”
Dain looked at his Dad and his hands balled into fists, “I’m not afraid of you.”
Kyle blurred down and pulled Dain away from Chevalier, “Calm down.”
“You will do as the Council asks… period,” Chevalier yelled at the young heku.
“No, I won’t!”
Kyle finally managed to wrestle Dain out of the room, and then announced he was taking the boy to Island Coven.
“Have you told him?” Dustin asked respectfully.
Chevalier looked over at him, “No. We aren’t sure how he would react and things are sensitive with her. One wrong move, and she falls back to the corner and rocks.”
“She’s still very skittish and easily frightened,” Quinn explained while Chevalier took his seat. “We can’t risk moving back steps in her recovery.”
“What are you expecting with recovery?” the Chief of Defense asked. “I mean… is it hoped she’ll return to how she was?”
“We aren’t sure that’s possible,” Zohn explained. “Too much happened over the 2 years. Right now we just hope for someone who is able to care for themselves and able to handle everyday interaction with others.”
“Dad!” Alexis yelled, running into the council chambers. “She’s not in the room.”
Chevalier sto
od up, “How can she not be in her room?”
“She’s not. I went to give her something of Dain’s, and she’s gone.”
The three Elders blurred up to the room and immediately searched. When Emily wasn’t found, they met back in the main bedroom and ignored the frantic whining of the puppies.
“We have to find her,” Chevalier growled.
Mark came into the room, “None of the guards saw her. We have every way off of this floor blocked.”
Zohn went over and checked the bars on the windows, “These are all secure.”
“She’s always gotten out of this room though,” Mark reminded them. “We just never found out how.”
“I can’t imagine her leaving,” Chevalier said. “I’m not catching her scent outside of the room though.”
Alexis sighed from by the door, “She has an easy way out.”
Chevalier turned toward her, “How?”
“I swore I wouldn’t tell. I’ll just say that you may want to go check the kitchen.”
The heku all blurred down into the kitchen. Chevalier was the first to arrive and the first to catch sight of Emily curled up in the corner of the dark kitchen. She had a bottle of the puppy’s milk grasped tightly in her hand and was curled up into a ball, rocking slowly beside one of the large stoves.
“Em?” he whispered, and took a step closer.
Her body tensed and she gasped slightly.
“It’s ok,” he said, kneeling down beside her. “You’re not in trouble.”
“Who was assigned to bring her milk for the puppies?” Zohn asked, turning to Mark.
“Lori was… damnit, but she’s gone,” Mark sighed.
Emily screamed when Chevalier tried to pick her up, so he jerked back and moved away from her.
Quinn frowned slightly, “Let’s think this through. She’s obviously out of her comfort zone.”
“Emily?” Mark asked softly, and knelt down off to her side a few feet.
She continued to rock and didn’t respond.
“Perfect, back to square one,” Zohn hissed.
“I have an idea,” Mark said, standing up. He blurred from the room and returned a few seconds later with the thick blanket that used to cover Emily’s cage.
They watched as he carefully draped the blanket over Emily and immediately noticed how she began to calm, though she still rocked beneath it.
“That’s a start,” Chevalier said. He took a deep breath and then reached down and tenderly picked her up. When she didn’t scream or fight, he calmed some.
Eternity of Vengeance (Extended Edition) : Book 7 of the Heku Series Page 62
