Emily finally stepped back and sighed, then disappeared into her room.
“Go in,” Chevalier said to Garrett. His eyes grew wide and he nodded slightly and walked into the room after her.
“Dad!” Alexis yelled. “I said stop it.”
Dain grinned and followed Alexis into the room. Derrick reached over and closed the door after them.
“So is this a type of family meeting?” Alexis asked as she crossed her arms, irritated.
“Not a clue,” Chevalier said, moving to stand beside Emily. Dain grinned and walked over to stand by his Dad.
“I… not sure what to say, actually,” Garrett said. “Have I done something wrong?”
Chevalier looked down at Emily, “This was funny, but I’m actually starting to feel kinda sorry for him.”
Emily smiled slightly and then walked forward and removed the rank insignia from Garrett’s collar.
Garrett gasped, “W…”
Chevalier held his hand up, “It’s not what you think.”
Emily turned and handed the pin to Alexis.
Alexis smiled and took it, “Thanks, Mom.”
“Am… am I off the…” Garrett stammered.
“Talk to Mark,” Chevalier said. “Tell him Emily took it and he will reissue you a pin.”
Alexis tucked the rank insignia into her front pocket and then took Garrett’s hand, “Let’s go. We’ll be late for the movie.”
He was still in shock as he turned, wide-eyed, and walked out of the room.
Chevalier chuckled, “Em, that was mean and you know it.”
She smiled and sat down by the fire.
Dain gasped, “You were being mean on purpose?”
“She’s not as mentally incompetent as some accuse her of being,” Chevalier told his son.
Dain smiled and nodded, “Nice.”
“You’re all set then?”
“Yup”
Emily looked up when Chevalier put his hand out, “Come on and pack.”
She frowned slightly, but didn’t stand up.
“Unless you tell me differently, we’re leaving in 15 minutes.”
Emily didn’t move, so Chevalier tossed a bag on the bed and started going through her dressers, “Fine then… let’s see…”
She watched him intently as he began to pack for her.
Dain smiled at her, “You’ll have fun.” He was beginning to feel more comfortable, the more Emily showed her personality.
Emily turned back and saw Chevalier shut her suitcase and pick it up, then hold his hand out for her, “Let’s go.”
She ignored his hand and looked up into his eyes.
He chuckled, “Come on.”
Ever so slightly, she shook her head once.
“Well… I lied. We’re going anyway.”
She frowned and Dain pulled her to her feet, “Stop being difficult, Mom. Seriously, you’re going to love it.”
Chevalier took her hand and gently pulled her up to the roof. She gasped when Winchester 1 was waiting and powered on, ready to go. Kralen smiled at her from the cockpit as they crawled inside.
Emily sat down on the floor beside the small wet bar when Chevalier shut the door and then sat down on the couch. It was only a few minutes later that the helicopter took off.
“I thought it’d be nice to get away, just you and I,” Chevalier told her.
She looked up at him.
“Why don’t you sit on the couch?”
Emily looked over at the bar.
He reached out and grabbed an orange juice, and then handed it to her. She took it and watched him as she sipped it.
Chevalier smiled, “Now that I know you can talk, I’m not going to be taking the silent treatment on the yacht. I’ll expect you to speak.”
Her eyes narrowed and she looked over at the small TV, then reached out and turned it on. She became irritated when he laughed softly and then sat back to watch TV for the ride.
The yacht was docked at the pier and ready to go after a briefing by Storm on happenings on the island. Emily sat down on the floor of the front deck while Chevalier piloted the boat out into the open water. He watched her closely, wondering how he was going to get her to not only talk, but come the rest of the way out of her shell.
It didn’t entirely surprise him that she stayed in her t-shirt and camouflage pants, even though the sun beat down on the deck. She didn’t sit back and relax, but watched around her carefully and he began to wonder if he should have brought Kralen along so she wasn’t out on the deck alone.
Once at their predetermined spot, he cut the engines, dropped anchor, and then went down to the deck.
“I brought your swimsuit,” he said, sitting on a chaise.
Emily looked up at him from the deck floor.
He scanned the bright blue water and slipped on some sunglasses, “You used to like being out here in the sun.”
She glanced over at the walls of the deck and then looked over at Chevalier again.
“No one’s around but you and I… so it’s time you tell me why you won’t talk,” he moved to sit beside her on the wooden deck. “You’ve been back with me for 3 ½ years. Do you trust me?”
She reached over and took his hand in hers.
“Emily, do you trust me?”
She gently ran her fingertips up his arm and he shivered slightly and smiled, “That doesn’t answer me. I need to know if you blame me for what the Valle did.”
Emily looked up at him and frowned.
“I’m the one that buried you. I’m the one that assumed you were dead while Salazar had you. I’m the one that hesitated to take you from the palace during the attacks. I get the feeling you blame me as much as I do.”
She reached up and lightly ran her lips along his, and then sat back on her feet and looked at him.
“Tell me,” he whispered. “Do you?”
Emily shook her head a little.
“No, tell me.”
She looked carefully around the deck.
“No one’s here. I want to talk about when you were taken.”
Emily gasped and looked up at him as her hand tightened around his.
“Let’s start with whose fault it is. It’s important for me to know.”
She leaned her head against his knee.
Chevalier sighed and then started to speak, but finally heard a soft whisper, “Mine.”
He frowned, “It was your fault?”
Emily nodded slightly.
“How was that your fault?”
She didn’t respond, but just watched the blank TV.
“That wasn’t your fault either. I’d blame me before I’d blame you. I knew I should have taken you away when you started having strokes, but I listened to the Doctor and left you around familiar surroundings, against my better judgment.”
“Mine,” she whispered again softly.
“Why?”
“Frederick,” she said even softer.
“I still don’t blame you.”
She shrugged slightly.
“Why is it hard for you to talk?”
Emily looked up at him.
“Did Salazar threaten you if you speak?”
She shook her head.
“Then why? Tell me,” he said, and gently took her hand.
Her voice wouldn’t have even registered with a mortal when she whispered, “If I say the wrong thing…”
He nodded, “Then saying the wrong thing can get you punished?”
Her lack of a response answered his question.
“You don’t have to worry about that around me.”
She nodded.
“Still don’t want to talk though, do you?”
Emily smiled slightly and then leaned her head back on his knee.
“Some at the palace think you’ve gone completely insane.”
“I know,” she said softly.
He grinned, “It’s almost funny.”
After a few minutes of silence, Chevalier softly spoke, “I
don’t blame you for any of it. I don’t blame you for Frederick, or for anything Salazar did.”
“Ok”
“I would appreciate if you would keep speaking though, at least to me.”
She nodded.
“Do you realize your silence infuriated Salazar?”
He saw the slight hint of a smile when she nodded.
Chevalier smiled, “Why don’t you sit by me on the chaise?”
Emily looked over at the soft cushions and then back up to him.
“Why not?”
“It’s…”
He smiled crookedly, “Do you just not want to?”
“I’m mortal,” she said, and wrapped her arm around his knee.
Chevalier frowned, “Mortals can’t sit on a chair?”
She swallowed hard and tightened her grip.
“I don’t understand.”
“Not with you,” she said with a cracked voice.
“Wait,” he gasped. “You, as a mortal, can’t sit on a chair with a heku?”
She shook her head.
“Why not?”
Emily looked into his eyes and frowned slightly.
“Are you not worthy?” he asked, shocked.
“The floor is ok,” she whispered.
“That’s it then, isn’t it? As a mortal you aren’t worthy to sit with a heku… Em…”
“The floor is ok,” she repeated.
“No, that’s unacceptable! I’ve never, ever, bought into that merely a mortal crap. Now come sit with me,” he said, and pulled her hand gently.
He heard her heart rate begin to speed up.
Chevalier sighed, “I get it. You aren’t to sit with a heku, but you are to do as you’re told too. Is that what’s happening?”
She started to pull away when she realized he was getting angry, but he held tighter.
“No, I’m not mad at you.”
“Please…” she whispered, and began to shake.
He sighed and let go of her hand, then watched her walk down to the bed. She sat on the floor and lean her head against the soft mattress. Within a few minutes, she fell asleep with her knees pulled tight against her chest.
***
Emily looked up from the floor and saw Chevalier frying bacon at the stove.
He looked over at her and smiled, “Good morning.”
She reached down and pulled the blanket off of her. She didn’t remember Chevalier even putting one on her during the night.
“It’s sunny today. Why don’t you eat and then put on your swimsuit and go sit in the sun?”
Emily nodded and watched him work in the kitchen.
“You’re eating at the table though, on a chair.”
She frowned.
Without turning around, Chevalier smiled, “No arguments.”
A few minutes later, he turned and put bacon and cheese eggs on the table and then sat down and pulled a chair out.
When she didn’t move, he appeared behind her, picked her up, and sat her in the chair. She looked up at him with wide eyes when he chuckled and sat down beside her.
“Yes, that’s what I would do to a child. Now eat,” he said, still amused.
Emily slowly reached out for a piece of bacon, and then froze when he moved his hand to rest by the plate.
“Eat,” he whispered, but didn’t move his hand.
She just watched his hand carefully.
“Take it, please.”
Slowly, she reached out and took a piece of bacon, still watching his hand intently.
“See, I don’t want it.”
She took a bite and then looked over at him.
He leaned back and smiled, “Are we playing the silent game again?”
“No,” she whispered, and took another sip of orange juice.
“Good, just checking.”
When she started to move out of the chair, he stood up, “Time for some sun.”
She sat down beside the table and looked up at him.
“Get your swimsuit on, I’ll meet you up on deck.” He smiled and walked up onto the sunlit deck, then pulled on sunglasses and sat down to wait. A few minutes later, Emily appeared, still fully dressed, and looked at him from the doorway.
He sighed and then forced a smile, “Good enough, come sit down.”
She took a step out into the sunlight and then looked down at the chaise beside him.
He patted it, “Sit.”
Emily moved slowly and sat down on the deck beside Chevalier.
He sighed, “Chairs, Em. You need to sit on chairs.”
The chaise became a blur. Emily couldn’t register what was going on. She felt his hands and the wind from movement. The next thing she knew, she was sitting on the chaise in only her bra and panties. She looked over the side of the chaise and saw her clothing sitting beside it on the deck.
“Yup, I did it, and you’re fine,” Chevalier said as he sat down.
Emily looked up at him with wide eyes and covered her chest with her arm.
“You’re covered,” he chuckled, then reached over and handed her a bottle of sunscreen. “Put that on… of course, I can put it on for you.”
She hurried and took the bottle, then began slathering it on as she kept as covered as possible.
“So let’s recap… you’re merely a mortal and aren’t worthy to sit beside a heku. You stopped talking so as not to say anything wrong… though I detect an undertone of defiance in that.”
She shifted nervously beside him.
He grinned and then continued, “Let’s move on to consumables.”
Emily changed hands covering her chest and reached down for her clothes. Before her fingers touched the fabric, they disappeared and she looked up just as Chevalier tossed them over the side of the boat.
She gasped.
Chevalier sat back down, “There, now you’re stuck. Next up is convincing you that we aren’t poisoning your coffee or stealing your food.”
Emily bent her knees to her chest and as she began to wrap her arms around them, Chevalier took her hand and held it in his, “I don’t want you to wrap yourself into a ball.”
She just looked over at him and gasped when he disappeared and reappeared with a bowl of fruit.
“We’re going to play a game,” he said, and set the bowl between them.
She frowned slightly.
“We’re going to race to the apple.”
Emily tensed and started to get up, but his strong hands held her to the chaise, “Leaving isn’t part of the game.”
She looked back at him.
“Ok… race me to the apple… ready?”
Emily nodded slightly.
He smiled, “On your mark… get set… go.”
Chevalier reached out and grabbed the apple, and then sighed when Emily didn’t move, “The game doesn’t involve you just letting me take it.”
He set the apple down before readying his hand, “Ok… grab.”
This time, neither of them moved.
His face scrunched slightly as he thought and then he smiled, “Fine… then what I want is for you to take the apple from me.”
Emily watched as he grabbed the apple and held his hand out.
“Take it from me.”
She looked up at him.
He growled out of frustration, “What!?”
The corners of Emily’s mouth turned up slightly.
His eyes narrowed, “Are you just messing with me?”
Her face fell and she turned to look out at the crystal blue ocean water.
“How badly were you punished for defiance?” he whispered.
When her breath caught, he nodded and watched the ocean with her for a bit.
“Ok”
She jumped when his voice broke the silence.
Chevalier chuckled, “We’ll work with food later. I’m seeing we need to concentrate on trust first. There’s nothing you could ever say or do that would make me punish you.”
Emily looked over at him and brought her knees to
her chest, then leaned her head on them.
He smiled, “Even whatever you had planned with 46 boxes of lightbulbs.”
All that could be heard was the gentle lapping of waves as they hit the side of the boat. She sat, deep it thought, while he watched her as the hours passed.
Finally, he stood up, “It’s time for lunch.”
She nodded and stood up, still trying to cover herself. He chuckled and put a robe around her shoulders.
***
Chevalier sat quietly and watched Emily sleep. He still wondered how she slept so quietly, and he missed being able to feel her emotions and see her dreams. He hoped she would be comfortable enough to bond with him again and he would get those cherished things back.
Emily shifted slightly in her sleep and an extra pillow gently fell against her face. She immediately began to scream and push frantically against the blankets. Chevalier quickly removed the pillow and tried to calm her down.
“Em, it’s ok,” he whispered as she fought against anything touching her.
He reached over to touch her arm, but pulled his hand back when she fell out of bed and began to feverishly push at the covers that had fallen with her. Chevalier was immediately at her side and removed the blankets confining her.
Emily continued to move hysterically and screamed when anything touched her. She backed in panicked movement up against a chair, then spun and screamed as she pushed it against the far wall.
“Emily!” Chevalier said sternly.
She stopped screaming and turned terrified eyes toward him.
He softened his voice, “No one is going to bury you.”
Her heart raced alarmingly fast as she looked around her and strained to see the room in the dark.
“Take a deep breath and calm down.”
Chevalier caught her as her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell against the wooden floor. He gently laid her down and held her as her body tensed and jerked slightly.
When she relaxed some, her heart continued to race and her breathing picked up again as she looked up at him.
“Calm down,” he said softly, still holding her head.
“Help me,” she mouthed, though no sound came out and she began to tremble again.
“Tell me,” he said, readying himself to lock her gaze if she started to seize again. His mind ran through options to calm her down before she injured herself, but nothing came to mind that didn’t seem intrusive.
Eternity of Vengeance (Extended Edition) : Book 7 of the Heku Series Page 78
