Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

Chevalier raised an eyebrow, “Yes, I can… Kyle.”

  Kyle appeared and crouched low in front of the Elder, facing the member of the V.E.S. Before the Frenchman could respond, Kyle ripped the wooden stake from his hand and tossed it against the wall, impaling it halfway through the drywall.

  “Obtenez le bebe!” one of the men yelled, and as they turned, they came face-to-face with Damon, who was holding Alexis in one hand and had the neck of their leader with the other.

  “Go ahead and try to take this baby from me,” he challenged.

  Chevalier passed them in the hallway and crawled into the limousine after Allen. He cradled Emily in his arms and watched as Damon threw the leader against the wall, knocking him out cold, and then blurred into the limousine. The last of the heku got into the car, and Damon ordered the chauffer to drive to the airport. Damon picked up his cell phone to make arrangements with the pilot.

  “I’m glad the V.E.S. isn’t as strong in the U.S. as it is in Europe,” Mark said, watching as the terrain flew by.

  “You do realize, the V.E.S. was started by one of the Winchester’s original sons?” Chevalier chuckled.

  Mark grinned, “No, guess I didn’t.”

  “There’s one… minor… change we should probably mention,” Zohn said, looking at Chevalier.

  “Damn, I was going to tell her before we left,” Chevalier said, and looked down at Allen.

  “What changes?” Kyle asked, frowning.

  “Now that the entire faction knows about Emily, Allen, and Alexis, they have sort of turned into… well… almost a royalty,” Chevalier said, trying not to laugh.

  “Like how?”

  “Well… like… there are gifts sent to them and prayers said in their honor. I’m pretty sure they will be treated differently, and I’m just not sure how Emily is going to take it. She’s convinced the kids will grow up responsible and well-grounded,” Chevalier explained.

  “Oh that’s going to be fun.” Kyle laughed.

  “I don’t understand, how am I considered royalty?” Allen asked.

  “You know you’re the first ever heku child right?” Chevalier asked.

  “Yes”

  “Well, that’s special, and the people all want to see you and watch you grow.”

  “But I am only part heku. I don’t have all of the traits.”

  “It doesn’t matter, you have enough,” Chevalier explained.

  “And I have a sister that can kill me, how special is that?” Allen asked, looking at the baby in Mark’s arms.

  “Let’s hope we don’t have to worry about that for a while,” Chevalier said, and he turned his head so Allen wouldn’t see him laugh.

  “We thought she was hard to get along with before, let’s throw a tiara on her,” Damon said, chuckling.

  As the heku transferred from the limousine to the jet, they kept a close eye out for any sign of the V.E.S. The plane was loaded and took off peacefully and soon, Emily was asleep in the back room with Alexis. Allen kicked back with a book while the heku displayed the patience that thousands of years granted them, and sat perfectly still and quiet during the long trip.

  The plane landed in view of the Blackhawk helicopter known as Equites 1. Chevalier went into the back to wake Emily, but found her sitting on the bed nursing the baby. He sat down on the bed and watched.

  “She’s grown so much,” Chevalier said, noticing the way her eyes turned to meet his when he spoke.

  Emily nodded, “Yeah, she has.”

  “She doesn’t like me much.”

  “She doesn’t really know you.”

  Chevalier nodded, “When you’re done, the helicopter is waiting.”

  “I can go now,” Emily said, and tossed a light blanket over her shoulder. Chevalier lifted her into the tall helicopter and she buckled in, far away from Damon.

  Chevalier watched out the window as the palace came into view. The pilot decided to land the Blackhawk on the front lawn. Chevalier looked over at Emily and she was watching out the window, frowning.

  “Why aren’t we landing on the roof?” Emily asked Chevalier.

  “He’s taking off again immediately. This will be faster,” he told her as the pilot cut the engines.

  The large doors opened and the Cavalry jumped out easily, and looked across the gathered crowd. Kyle, Mark, and Damon followed them, and Damon helped Allen down. The crowd grew silent at the sight of the heku child, and they watched him in awe.

  Chevalier hopped out of the helicopter and turned to help Emily. She was clinging tightly to Alexis and watching the crowd of people. She had always hated crowds, especially ones that were there to see her. She saw them all turn and look at her, and felt the urge to run. Turning around, Emily ducked under the helicopter to get away from them, but a strong hand wrapped around her waist.

  “They won’t hurt you,” Chevalier told her.

  “Give me your cape,” she whispered, still facing away from the crowd. Without asking why, he handed her his green cape, and she slipped it on and pulled the hood up to cover her face.

  Tucking the baby under the edge of the cloak, Emily moved quickly past the gathered heku and into the palace, not once slowing or looking up.

  As they headed up the stairs, Emily dropped the hood and looked over at Chevalier, “What was that all about?”

  Chevalier sighed, “It’s all out, Allen and Alexis and their abilities. It’s pretty much made you… well… famous.”

  Emily turned and glared at him, “Do what?”

  “It’ll pass, I promise. It’s just that now, everyone fully understands why you are in the palace. You’re the only one in the history of our species that has reproduced an immortal. It’s fascinating to them, and they want to see you.”

  “Perfect,” Emily said, irritated, and walked up the stairs.

  ***

  The morning after arriving back in the palace, Alexis had Emily up early and she sat in bed and fed the baby while she looked through the newspaper. She was going to call the owner of the Montana ranch to see if it was still available, but if not, she planned on finding another. More now than ever, she felt the need for a secret place of her own. Somewhere she could go to get some shred of normalcy back in her life, and somewhere she could take the kids when it was time to get away.

  Chevalier walked in as she was on the phone.

  “Yes, I’m sorry about that,” she said, and smiled at him.

  Emily gasped, “No, that’s awful.”

  Suddenly her face lit up, “Yes! I can be there tomorrow night.”

  Chevalier’s eyes narrowed.

  “I’ll be ready to take the keys from you at the signing.”

  Chevalier sighed and sat down on the bed.

  “Yes, yes, Ok, I will see you tomorrow then.” Emily smiled and hung up the phone.

  “Leaving?” Chevalier asked.

  “The owner of the ranch passed away. He already had the papers filled out for me, so the son is throwing in the estate. He just wants to get rid of it.” She grinned and leaned over to kiss him.

  “I guess I figured you would change your mind,” Chevalier told her.

  Emily pulled the baby to her shoulder and patted her back softly, “Why would I change my mind?”

  “It’s more dangerous now that the factions know about Allen and Alexis. They will want a…” he sighed, “Set of their own.”

  Emily frowned, “Then it’s more important than ever that I have a place to go.”

  “Will you reconsider one heku? He can help Sam with the ranch and keep an eye out,” Chevalier asked pleadingly. “I could even order him never to contact Council City. He could just be a free field hand.”

  “No,” she said bluntly.

  Emily handed the baby to Chevalier and started to pack a small bag. He looked at Alexis and she smiled up at him, and then grabbed the collar of his shirt, sticking it into her mouth.

  “Are you leaving right now?” he asked her.

  “Pretty soon. I’ll take Alexis and Sam, so
I can leave Sam there. I’ll need to leave Allen,” she said sadly. “I don’t have any way to feed him.”

  Chevalier nodded.

  Emily looked over at him, “Can he survive off of the blood of an animal?”

  “Yes, if you can get him to drink it. It’s pretty nasty,” Chevalier told her.

  “Well what did you all drink while you waited for the mortals to evolve?” She’d wondered that often, but hadn’t bothered to ask.

  Chevalier laughed, “They thought animals were good back then. It wasn’t until we tried the blood of a mortal, that we changed our ways.”

  Chevalier turned away from her to hide the anger in his face as she checked the clip of her 9mm and put it into the bag. He hated the thought of her out in the world without protection, and the gun reminded him that only part of the danger could be stopped with it.

  “Kyle then… you trust Kyle, take him,” Chevalier suggested.

  Emily ignored him and grabbed her purse and the bag, “I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone this trip. I need to find a field hand or two and make sure everything’s ready to go before I leave.”

  Emily turned toward the bed and jumped when Chevalier appeared suddenly right in front of her.

  “Please, don’t do this,” he said, and gently touched her cheek.

  Emily pulled him down to her and kissed him softly. After a few moments, she smiled and pulled away from him and took the baby. Emily laughed at Chevalier’s wet collar, and pulled close to him for a hug. She knew this was killing him, but it was something she had to do. She had enough confidence in her abilities to protect herself and Alexis from heku, and she trusted her aim and Sam’s protective nature to keep her safe from the mortals.

  “Kyle?” Emily asked, and turned to him when he walked in. “Get Sam please.”

  Kyle frowned and glanced at Chevalier. He hesitated and nodded, then watched as Kyle blurred away.

  Emily walked into Allen’s room. He was sitting on the bed reading. She sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m going to buy that ranch. I’ll be gone for a few days,” she told him and kissed his forehead.

  “Can I go?” he asked.

  Emily shook her head, “Not this time. I need to learn how to feed you first, ok?”

  Allen nodded, “I guess.”

  Emily hugged him tightly. She knew how badly he wanted to see the new ranch, and how he hated to be too far from her. His protective nature was coming out strongly, and he was most protective of Emily.

  “You called for me?” Sam asked from the bedroom. His eyes narrowed when he saw her bruised neck and black eye.

  Emily cringed at his voice. She didn’t trust him, or even like him, and wasn’t looking forward to the long trip with her familiar.

  “We’re going away for a few days. I am buying a ranch, and you’ll stay there as overseer,” she said, and handed the baby’s bag to him.

  Sam nodded, “As you wish.”

  Chevalier kissed her though the open window of the Durango, and watched as she drove off. His heart was ready to explode as he saw her leave the protection of the palace with a familiar that neither of them trusted. He knew he could have her followed and she would never know it. He also knew that he could force her to come back, but he had broken enough promises to her and this one he intended to keep.

  “Can’t you make her stay?” Allen asked from behind his Dad.

  Chevalier nodded, “I can, but I won’t.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Neither do I, Son, neither do I.”

  “You need to teach me how to feed. That way I can go with her,” Allen said.

  Chevalier nodded, “Yes, let’s do that now.”

  Emily drove through the day and stopped at a hotel for the night. Sam stayed in the car while Emily and Alexis got some rest. Early the next morning, she emerged, and they continued their drive to Montana. She pulled up to the ranch and looked around excitedly.

  “It’s bigger than I thought it would be,” Sam said as he looked around.

  “Yeah it is, and now we’re getting the livestock.” Emily turned off the engine and reached around to get Alexis.

  “We’re going to need two field hands,” Sam said, stepping out of the Durango.

  “Emily?” she heard from behind her and turned around. A young man was walking toward her with his hand outstretched. He glanced nervously at the bruises, and then turned back to the house.

  “Yes.” Emily smiled, and shook his hand.

  “They are inside, ready for the paperwork,” he told her, and looked over at Sam.

  “That’s my overseer. Can he take a look around while we fill out forms?” Emily asked.

  “Sure, it’s yours,” the man said, and they stepped inside.

  Emily glanced around the ranch house between papers, and began to feel elated. She loved the quaint wooden fixtures and the warm feel of the downstairs. Alexis was playing on the floor in the living room, and she glanced over at her and smiled when Alexis grinned at her.

  “I think that’s about it,” the man said after two hours of signing papers. “Do you have any questions?”

  “I’m interested in some field hands. Any ideas where I can find some?” she asked, and took the keys from him.

  “There’s an office in town that hires out help. I can have them send some over tomorrow for interviews if you would like.”

  “That would be great, thank you,” Emily said. She saw the man look once more around the house as she stepped into the living room.

  “It’ll be weird not seeing him here anymore,” he said sadly.

  Emily nodded and gave him a quick hug, “Come back and see us.”

  He smiled and walked out of the house quickly. Emily looked around at her new ranch house. She picked Alexis up off of the floor and went through the house again. It was going to take a lot of work. The closets were still full of clothing and there were boxes everywhere. She realized the old man had been packing to move when he died. Emily went to the front door when she heard a knock.

  She opened the door, “Come on in, Sam.”

  “Impressive ranch,” Sam said, walking inside. “I threw my stuff into one of the bunkhouses. It’s nearest to the barn.”

  “If I get you a list, will you go into town and get some groceries?”

  Sam nodded. Emily sat at the table and wrote out a quick list, then handed it to him with some money.

  “I’ll be back,” Sam said, and drove off in an old Chevy pick-up they had just inherited with the house.

  “What do you think?” Emily asked Alexis. The baby smiled and then stuck her fingers in her mouth.

  After dinner, Sam headed out to the bunkhouse and Emily locked up the ranch house. She picked up Alexis, who was asleep in a swing, and took her up to the master bedroom. It was a warm night and Emily stripped the heavy blankets off of the bed, and crawled into the sheets. She listened to the sounds of the cattle and the quietness of the house, and smiled, soon falling asleep.

  Emily’s phone rang while she was making pancakes the next morning. She quickly grabbed a cup of coffee and answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “Emily Russo, please,” a voice said on the other end of the phone. The woman sounded annoyed and tired.

  “This is she.”

  “This is Velma from the employment agency. I heard you are looking for a field hand.”

  “Two actually, ones that can start immediately.”

  “I have quite a few. When shall I send them over for interviews?”

  “Can we start in an hour?” Emily asked, flipping the pancake.

  “Yes, ask them for their applications and you may keep those,” Velma said. “Once you’ve hired one, tell them to contact us for their finalization.”

  “Ok, thanks,” Emily said, and hung up the phone. She ate quickly and sat on the couch to feed Alexis.

  She heard a knock on the door and saw the familiar standing at the window, “Come in, Sam”

  Sam wa
lked in and glanced at her, then sat in a chair by the empty fireplace.

  “I have field hands coming in twenty minutes, can you stay for those?” Emily asked as she lifted the baby up to her shoulder.

  “Yes, I’d like to be here for those. I’ve already fed the cattle. We’re going to need a load of hay soon.”

  Emily nodded, “Ok, I’ll ask around and see if I can find a good price.”

  “We interviewing here or the kitchen?” Sam asked, looking around.

  “Let’s do it in here, more casual than the kitchen. Plus, I haven’t done the dishes this morning,” Emily said, and shrugged.

  There was a knock at the door, “Let the first one in.”

  She grabbed a notebook and sat Alexis in the swing. She stood up and shook the hand of the first applicant. She was surprised at how much he looked like Keith, down to the puffed lower lip full of chew.

  “Mornin’, Ma’am” he said, and handed her the application.

  “Good morning. Please, call me Emily and this is Sam, he’s the overseer,” Emily said, and scanned his application.

  “Why did you leave your last field hand job?” Emily asked, seeing that he’d been with the family for almost 8 years.

  Emily was exhausted by noon. She interviewed eight men, all wanting the position. She had seen everything from the classic cowboy, to a young kid whose pants hung down past his butt, and his earlobes were stretched out with huge rings. So far she hadn’t been impressed with any of them, and she was getting tired of the way they looked at the bruises on her neck and cheek, yet no one had the nerve to ask anything about it.

  “We don’t have another interview for an hour. Let’s do lunch,” Emily said, and picked up Alexis.

  Alexis was enjoying herself in her swing as she watched the strange men come and go. Emily judged two of them solely on how they responded to the baby. One seemed extremely uncomfortable with the young, single mother of two, while the other winked at Emily and nodded with a big smile.

  Emily was too tired to do more than make a sandwich, and she ate it quickly and then sat down in the recliner to feed Alexis. She shut her eyes for a moment, but the phone interrupted her short nap.

  “Hello?”

  “How are you?” Chevalier asked, sounding worried.

  Emily smiled, “Just tired. We’ve been interviewing all morning.”