Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Kyle is on his way in,” Quinn said. Chevalier took his seat and tapped his fingers on the desk. Kyle came in looking frustrated.

  “What did you find?” Maleth asked.

  “I met with Vaughn, and the four members of the Encala Council. They are either very good actors, or they have no idea where she is or that she was taken,” Kyle said.

  “That leaves the Valle,” Quinn said.

  “They were also going to send representatives to the Valle. They were pointing the finger at them and, of course, Vaughn was mad that the Valle had his…” Kyle looked at Chevalier, “Wife.”

  Chevalier growled.

  The Council heard Kyle being summoned by some of his guards, and they excused him.

  “Do you think the Encala were faking?” Quinn asked.

  “Kyle is a good judge of character and reactions. I’m going to believe him,” Chevalier said.

  “Should we ready the troops for a Valle attack?” Maleth asked Damon.

  “Let’s try it diplomatically first. If they do have her, we will try a stealth attack,” Damon said, deep in thought.

  The Council looked at one another when Kyle asked them to come to the game room. As one, they left the chambers and appeared in the game room together.

  “You have to see this,” Kyle said. The local news was paused on the large TV, and they all turned to it when Kyle un-paused it.

  The mustached man on the news laughed and shuffled his papers, “In other news, the V.E.S. is claiming to have rescued a pregnant woman and her young son from the hands of local vampires. Leader Greg Hans said that his society is currently undoing the brainwashing done to them by their captors.”

  The mustached anchorman laughed a bit and then returned to his paper, “Local Law Enforcement is trying to arrange a meeting with the woman, to try to ascertain from where exactly she was taken. They are afraid the V.E.S. kidnapped her from her home, and is trying to further their cult’s standing in the community. Currently, the V.E.S. has denied any Law Enforcement from entering their compound.”

  Kyle turned the TV off when the news moved to weather. He looked at Chevalier, who was frowning.

  “I didn’t know the V.E.S. was even in this area yet,” Quinn said.

  Kyle nodded, “One of their main offices is in the city.”

  “Call back the diplomats from the Valle, apparently, we have another problem,” Chevalier said, still watching the blank TV.

  “It’s not going to be hard to get into the V.E.S. compound and get her back,” Damon said, smiling. “I could probably solo it.”

  “We can’t barge in and wipe them out. Any sign of validity to their claim that vampires are real, and we could expose ourselves,” Maleth said sternly.

  “I suggest that Kyle contact the police in the city that his wife and son are missing. See if he can officially be named Emily’s husband,” Quinn said.

  “Why not Chevalier?” Damon asked.

  “Kyle has already been marked as her husband by the police. We have to keep up those appearances,” Maleth explained.

  “An abusive husband,” Damon reminded them.

  Kyle frowned, “I hate that.”

  “As soon as Kyle is recognized as her husband, he should get information on the location of the compound, and updates on anything they find about Emily,” Quinn said.

  “I want guards watching the news. Any report on the V.E.S., and they are to notify me,” Chevalier said angrily.

  “At least she’s not in Encala or Valle hands. The V.E.S. are pretty harmless as far as cults go,” Quinn said.

  “True, we can handle mortals easier than the other factions,” Maleth smiled.

  “If I know Emily, she’s ticked though, and I hope she doesn’t push them too hard,” Chevalier said, smiling slightly.

  “I hate to say it, but we may have to leave this rescue up to mortal law enforcement,” Quinn said.

  Maleth nodded, “Any action on our part and we risk exposure.”

  ***

  “Keith, follow me,” the Lieutenant said, motioning Kyle back toward his office. Kyle followed him and sat down as he was handed a cup of coffee.

  “You say she’s been missing since when?” the Lieutenant asked.

  “Yesterday, she went horseback riding with my son. When she didn’t return, we started searching for her in the woods,” Kyle explained.

  “You think she might be the woman the V.E.S. has?”

  “I think so, she’s 5 months pregnant, and my son is 4 years old. It just sounded like it matched,” Kyle explained. “She’s also recovering from a hiking accident. Her back is still injured pretty badly, and she has a cast on her right leg.”

  “Have you ever had a run in with the society?” the Lieutenant asked.

  “No, I haven’t. I always thought the Vampire Extermination Society was a joke, actually,” Kyle said, shrugging.

  “A cult… but no joke. We’ll see if we can verify that they have Emily and Allen, and we’ll get in touch with you,” the officer said, standing up. He shook Kyle’s hand and Kyle left the police department, headed back to the palace.

  Kyle arrived at the palace just as the news was starting. The Elders were gathered in the game room to watch.

  “Local V.E.S. leaders have agreed to a phone conversation with WJHJ News at Five to discuss the kidnapping charges filed against the group an hour ago. Law Enforcement officials have identified the woman as Emily Russo, and her 4-year-old son, Allen. Charges were filed by her husband, Keith, earlier today,” the female news anchor said.

  “Mr. Hans, are you there?” she asked.

  “Yes I am,” a gruff voice said as his words were typed across the bottom of the screen.

  “What are your comments about the kidnap accusations filed against your organization?” she asked him.

  “They are false accusations. We didn’t kidnap her and her son. We rescued them from the hands of the vampires,” Greg said proudly. “As soon as her brainwashing is reversed, we’ll let her and her son go.”

  “Reports are that her husband has come forward and is demanding their immediate return. He denies being… well… a vampire,” she said to him.

  “He’s a vampire all right, and the woman has been abused by them. She’s in a cast from them breaking her bones, her arm is injured, and she has scars on her wrists and neck from all of the feeding they do on her. Her back is so badly injured it causes her pain just to walk. She’ll be much better off in the mortal world,” Greg told her.

  “Are the two being held against their will, or have they admitted that vampires held them?”

  “Oh… she’s fighting back. They have her brainwashed well. The boy is too, but growing up with vampires around is all he’s known,” Greg explained.

  “So you admit that the woman is trying to get away from you?” the anchorwoman began to sound mad.

  “Yes, I’ll admit to that, but only because of the brainwashing,” Greg said, irritated, and hung up the phone.

  “There you have it, a live report from the leader of the V.E.S. The woman’s husband, Keith, and this news station are cooperating fully with local Law Enforcement to ensure the safe return of Emily and her son. Back to you John, how are those Broncos doing?”

  Kyle muted the TV.

  “Are you getting anything from her?” Kyle asked Chevalier.

  “Just extreme annoyance, actually. I’m pretty sure she’s ok, but whatever they are saying to her, or doing to her, is making her irritated,” Chevalier said with a smile.

  “I can’t believe we have to leave this up to the mortals,” Damon said, frustrated.

  “It’s a mortal affair, though. Not a single immortal seems to be involved,” Quinn reminded him.

  Chevalier picked up his phone when it rang, “Yes?”

  “Chev?” Emily asked.

  “Emily, are you ok?” Chevalier questioned, quickly.

  “I am calling to inform you, that I am no longer going to be a part of your world,” Emily said, her
voice was monotone and extremely annoyed. “The V.E.S. will put an end to the vampire’s existence.”

  Chevalier laughed, “Are you reading that?”

  “Say it,” Chevalier heard a voice say from behind her.

  “I do not love you,” she said, and Chevalier could almost hear her roll her eyes. “Your control over me has ended.”

  “Ok, good to know,” Chevalier chuckled.

  “How is she?” Kyle asked when Chevalier shut his cell phone.

  “I wouldn’t want to be in the V.E.S. right now,” Chevalier said, laughing. “She called to tell us that the vampire’s existence is about to end. She doesn’t love me, and my control has ended.”

  “Oh really?” Quinn asked, amused.

  “Oh yeah, I wish you could have heard her voice. She is extremely annoyed,” Chevalier said, turning to Kyle. “Better call the police and update them on that phone call, we have to cooperate fully.”

  Kyle nodded and pulled out his cell phone, then left the game room.

  ***

  “Today marks the fourth day of the standoff between the V.E.S. cult and law enforcement over the kidnapping of Emily Russo and her 4-year-old son, Allen. Federal ATF agents are set to arrive later today, because of warnings that come from former V.E.S. members, who say that the cult has amassed a stockpile of weapons, and are set on ridding the world of vampires.”

  “This is no longer amusing,” Chevalier growled.

  “Is she ok?” Damon asked, muting the TV.

  “Something’s changed. She not annoyed, now she’s afraid,” Chevalier said.

  “Let me go and get them,” Damon said, frustrated.

  ***

  Emily sat with Allen at a small table as one mortal man sat across from them, “Repeat again… vampires are real, and vampires are evil.”

  Emily sighed, “Vampires are real, and vampires are evil.”

  “Good girl, you are coming around slowly. Do you still love a vampire?” he asked, smiling sweetly.

  “Yes,” she responded, irritated.

  The man sighed, “They are incapable of love. How can we get that through to you?”

  “Let us go, and we’ll find out for ourselves,” Emily suggested.

  “It’s too dangerous for you. We are only holding you here for your protection,” he reminded her.

  “Oh that’s right,” Emily said, rolling her eyes.

  “Are you ready to tell me who the father of your baby is? And Allen’s father?”

  “Nope,” she said bluntly.

  “We just want to know if the vampires are capable of reproducing, or if they have found other means,” he said seriously.

  Emily laughed, “Other means?”

  “Yes, invitro, for example, or a donor. Are the vampires using you to repopulate their numbers?”

  “That’s stupid,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

  “Go back to your house. We want to talk to you later about how to kill a vampire,” the man said, frustrated.

  “Joy,” Emily replied, and stood slowly. She cried out slightly when her back sent shooting pains down her legs. She and Allen walked across the compound to their small house, escorted by three men with guns.

  Emily shut the door and locked it behind her. She turned to Allen, “You have the note?”

  “Yes, Mommy,” he said, patting his back pocket.

  “Do you know the plan?”

  “Yes”

  “Just remember, I don’t care who the Equites is, run to them, and stay with them, ok?” she asked, kissing his forehead.

  “You come, too,” Allen pleaded.

  “I can’t leave. This plan only works if I’m here to cause a diversion.” She smiled, reassuringly.

  Allen nodded and climbed onto Emily’s lap. She held him closely, “It’ll be ok.”

  “Why do they want to kill Daddy?” Allen asked her, tears forming in his eyes.

  “They are just confused, they think Daddy is bad.”

  “Can’t they meet him? He can tell them.”

  “It doesn’t really work like that.”

  “I don’t want to leave you here,” Allen said, looking up at her.

  Emily smiled, “I need you to get that note to Daddy.”

  Allen nodded.

  Emily jumped slightly when there was a hard knock at the door.

  “Go, now,” Emily whispered. She watched as Allen laid down on the bed and pretended to be asleep.

  She opened the door and stepped out, “What?” she whispered.

  “You’re to come with us,” one of them men said.

  “Fine, but Allen’s asleep, he’s not feeling well,” she said. Emily shut the door, catching one last glimpse of Allen before latching it, and locking it behind her.

  “Come on,” the man said, pointing a gun at her.

  Emily followed the men to a conference room, moving slowly because of her back and casted leg. A long table filled with men wearing camouflage and carrying semi-automatic weapons was in the center. Emily was pushed toward the end chair and she sat down.

  Soren, the second in command at the V.E.S. compound, stood to speak to her.

  “Emily, this is the last time we’re going to do this nicely. Either you give us the information we want, or you’ll have to be punished,” he said to her.

  Emily lowered her head and nodded.

  “What is the easiest way to kill a vampire?” he asked her, sternly.

  Emily began to cry, her pregnancy hormones made it easy, “Stake.”

  Soren smiled, “A stake through the heart?”

  Emily nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.

  “What about Holy Water?”

  “Only…” she looked up at them, and then back to her hands. “Only very cold.”

  “That’s what we’re doing wrong then… thank you, Emily, you’re doing very well,” Soren said, and she could tell he was pleased.

  Emily just sat perfectly still.

  “What about Garlic?”

  “Makes them sick if they eat it,” she had to fight a laugh, that one was true.

  “Will it keep them away?” he asked, frowning.

  Emily shook her head no.

  “What about silver?” Soren asked, writing down everything she said.

  Emily frowned. She hadn’t heard anything about vampires not liking silver. She finally nodded.

  “What about silver? Does it burn them?”

  She nodded.

  “Can they be restrained with Silver?”

  “Yes,” Emily replied. She had a brief glimpse of the pain Chevalier had gone through because of electricity.

  “Anything else? Anything at all you can think of that can help us?” Soren asked, leaning closer to her.

  “They will kill me if I tell you,” Emily whispered.

  “We’ll protect you, I swear to it,” Soren told her.

  “Alcohol,” she said finally.

  “What about it?”

  “It makes them weak,” she whispered.

  “Did you know that?” Soren asked the man next to him angrily.

  The other man shook his head.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded.

  An alarm sounded in the distance.

  “Get her back to her room,” Soren ordered, as he ran from the building.

  “Allen!” Kyle said, holding his arms out. Allen ran into his arms and Kyle hugged him tightly.

  “Follow me,” an ATF agent said to Kyle, and Kyle crawled into the back of a van, still holding Allen. They were taken to the police department where a doctor was waiting to check Allen over. After Allen was given a physical, he was medically cleared, and both Allen and Kyle were taken to a conference room.

  Kyle sat down in a chair and put Allen on his lap while other ATF agents and local police gathered and sat down.

  ATF Agent Williams smiled at Allen, “It’s good to see you, Boy. How did you get out?”

  “Mommy created a detersion,” he said, leaning his head back on Kyl
e’s chest.

  “A diversion?” Williams asked.

  Allen nodded.

  “Did you see any guns?”

  Again, Allen nodded.

  “A lot of them?”

  “Yes, everyone has a gun,” Allen said.

  “Were they…” Agent Williams glanced at Kyle briefly, “Nice to you and your Mommy?”

  Allen shrugged, “Sort of, Mommy’s back hurts.”

  “What do you mean, sort of?” he asked, concerned.

  “They yell at Mommy a lot. She won’t help them.”

  Agent Williams frowned, “Have they hit your Mommy?”

  “No, but they say they will,” Allen told them.

  Kyle pulled Allen closer to him, “Can I please just take him home now?”

  Agent Williams nodded, “Yes, there’s not much more we can ask a 4-year-old.”

  Kyle nodded, he knew that Allen was far advanced beyond his age, but just wanted to get him back to the palace. Within a few minutes, Kyle and Allen were headed back to the palace in Kyle’s Ferrari. He kicked it up to the top gear and topped out the speedometer, then called ahead to the palace to let them know he was coming.

  Chevalier was waiting in the garage for them. Allen unbuckled his seat belt and ran to him. Chevalier scooped his son up into his arms and hugged him tightly.

  “Mommy said she misses you,” Allen told him, wrapping his arms around Chevalier’s neck.

  Chevalier smiled and hugged him tighter.

  “She sent this,” Allen said, and dug into his back pocket. He handed Chevalier a note and they started into the palace.

  Chevalier put Allen down and unfolded it, then read the note and frowned, “Damon, Kyle, meet me in my office.”

  Kyle nodded and took Allen’s hand, leading him into the palace. Within a few minutes, Allen and the three heku were in Chevalier’s office. He held the note out for them to read.

  C,

  I am in the southeastern corner. Suspect G is V or E. Getting tense here.

  E

  “Does she mean that that leader, Greg, is a Valle or Encala?” Kyle asked, with wide eyes.

  Chevalier nodded, “I think so. She couldn’t risk writing the names out.”

  Damon growled, “Let me go get her.”