“How many are there?”
“Four”
“Kralen, take Silas and a handful of guards, escort them in to the main conference room… don’t mention I’m here,” Chevalier ordered, and headed inside.
Emily followed him, “Why don’t you let me meet with them alone?”
“Why would I do that?”
“They aren’t going to tell me whatever it is they want if you are sitting there,” she said, and stepped into the conference room when he opened the door.
“Damn, that’s true,” Chevalier said, and sighed. “I’ll be next door listening, though.”
Emily nodded and sat down at the table. A few minutes later, Kralen and Silas entered the conference room with Exavior, Alec, and two Valle guards who were in dark gray robes with the hoods covering their faces, normal travel attire for the Imperial Guards. Silas shut the door behind the Valle and then took a spot by the door next to Kralen.
Exavior and Alec sat down across from Emily and she glanced at Silas nervously.
“Thank you for seeing us,” Exavior said, smiling.
“You’re looking well,” Alec said, a little stiffly.
“Why are you here?” Emily asked.
“I got the divorce papers,” Exavior said. “I’ll admit I was shocked.”
“You came here to ask about the divorce?”
“I’ve contested it.”
“Of course you have,” Emily said. “Again… why did you come here?”
“I wanted to apologize, and to ask what it would take to get you to join us, your family, at the Valle.”
“My family? You tortured me into marrying you, and Alec made it perfectly clear that you are his family, not me,” Emily said angrily.
“You obviously are uncomfortable with the Equites. Otherwise, you would still be at the palace.”
“I’m not uncomfortable with the Equites.”
“Then why are you here on the island?”
“I like it here.”
“Emi, please, give us a month with the Valle,” Alec said, leaning forward. “See what it’s like, and if you don’t like it, you can come back.”
“Yeah right, the Valle would just let me walk out.”
“We would,” Exavior said. “We want you to be where you’re happiest, but you haven’t given us a chance.”
“Stop it!” Emily yelled, and stood up. “Alec, you have no idea how fast I could turn on you.”
Alec smiled slightly, “I had to try.”
“Try what?” Silas asked, tensing.
“I’m not sick, I’m not tired, and you most certainly aren’t an ‘old one,’ so don’t even give it a try,” Emily said, sitting back down.
“You were trying to control her?” Kralen asked, taking a step forward.
“For her own good,” Alec said, and glanced at Exavior.
Emily’s eyes narrowed, “Wait… why would you try to and not Exavior?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I wasn’t aware he was trying,” Exavior said.
“You… there’s something missing… something…”
“I just wanted to try it, Emi. I heard it can’t be done,” Alec said.
“Why do I get the feeling you came here thinking I was weak enough that’d work? Then you had Alec try because you think I trust him.”
“That’s not true,” Alec said, glancing nervously at Kralen.
“Did I dodge an attack?” Emily asked.
“No, there’ve been no attacks on you, Elder’s orders,” Alec explained. The room fell silent for a few minutes while Emily thought.
Suddenly, Emily frowned, “What’s going on?”
“What?” Kralen asked, crouching.
“I feel weird,” she said, frowning.
Chevalier appeared in the doorway. Exavior and Alec both stood up to face him, and crouched as their guards moved to the side of them. Suddenly, the castle was full of Island Coven guards.
“Time for you to leave,” Chevalier hissed.
“Call us if you change your mind,” Alec said to Emily, and then followed Exavior out.
“Wait…” The Valle turned as Chevalier spoke to one of their guards, “Who are you?”
The guard glanced at Exavior.
“He’s one of the Imperial Guards,” Exavior said.
Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “Show me your face.”
“Don’t take orders from the Equites, come, let’s go,” Exavior said, and they all headed out again.
Chevalier put a hand on the guard’s shoulder, “Show me your face.”
“It’s ok, let them go,” Emily said, and touched Chevalier’s arm.
He looked over at her and then back to Exavior, “Just get off my island.”
“We need to do away with diplomatic immunity,” Silas growled as the Valle left the castle.
Emily started for the door, “I’m going with them.”
“You are?” Chevalier asked, turning to look at her.
She opened the door and ran out into the foyer.
“Em, wait,” he called after her, and she stopped and turned to him. “Stay, please.”
Emily nodded.
“Why would you go with them?” he asked, irritated.
“I better go with them,” she said, and started for the door.
“Stop!” he growled, and she froze in place, watching the door. “Just wait here.”
Kralen and Silas moved to her side while the other guards followed Chevalier out to make sure the Valle left. It was two hours before he returned, and found Emily in the exact same spot, still watching the door.
“What’s going on?” he asked, walking up to them.
Kralen shrugged, “We’re just standing here.”
“Em?”
“Yes?” she asked, and turned to him.
“Why did you want to leave with them?”
“He told me to.”
“Who did?”
“The guard told me to come with them.”
Chevalier frowned, “So you thought you’d do as he asked?”
“Yes”
“That doesn’t make any sense… Do you want to go to the Valle?”
She shrugged.
“Why would you do what he said?” Chevalier asked, getting frustrated.
Emily didn’t answer. She just stood perfectly still in the main-floor foyer.
Chevalier growled, “I don’t even know what you’re thinking.”
She shrugged.
He threw his hands in the air and stormed off to his office.
“Come on, let’s get you some lunch,” Kralen said, and turned for the kitchen. Emily followed him with Silas behind her. They walked into the kitchen and Gordon smiled.
“Welcome, Child! What would you like for lunch today?”
Emily looked over at Silas.
Silas glanced at Kralen and then back to Emily, “What do you want?”
“Would you like to make your own lunch?” Gordon asked when she didn’t answer.
Emily shrugged.
“Go ahead, it’s ok. Make whatever you’d like,” he said, and exited the kitchen. Emily set out making grilled cheese sandwiches.
“Make us some too while you’re at it,” Kralen chuckled.
Silas glared at him, “Stop it.”
“I was just kidding and she knows it.”
They both turned and watched her quickly make sandwiches. She sat a plate down in front of Kralen and Silas, and then sat with her own plate and started to eat.
Kralen looked down at the grilled cheese, “I was kidding, you know that…”
“It’s just a joke, right?” Silas asked, smiling, and looked over at Emily. She continued to eat in silence. When she finished, she sat perfectly still at the table and watched the wall. After almost an hour, Silas glanced at Kralen and he shrugged, not sure what to do.
“Did… did you maybe want to go start planting in the garden?” Silas asked, watching her.
Emily looked over at him, but didn’t speak.
“Come on, we’ll help,” Kralen said, and stood up. Emily got up finally and followed them out to the newly tilled land. She grabbed a set of tools and a bag of seeds, and began to plant while Kralen and Silas started at the other end.
Night fell and she continued to plant, even when a light rain began to fall. Silas and Kralen stayed at their task and kept a close eye on her, wondering when she was going to stop.
“What are you still doing out here?” Chevalier asked, walking up to the garden.
Kralen shrugged, “We figured we’d stop when she does.”
“Em, it’s 11 o’clock,” Chevalier told her, but she continued to plant.
“She’s not very chatty,” Silas whispered, too low for her to hear.
Chevalier sighed, “Just go to bed, Em.”
Emily nodded, stood up, and headed inside, followed by the three heku. They followed her in and watched, confused, as she crawled into bed fully dressed.
Kralen watched her for a few seconds, and then took up his post outside of her door, trailed shortly by Silas.
“Em?” Chevalier asked, sitting on the side of the bed.
“Yes?”
“Are you ok?”
“Yes”
“At least put on a nightgown before going to bed.”
Emily nodded and got out of bed. She pulled off her clothes suddenly as Chevalier rushed to shut the door. After putting on a nightgown, she got back into bed and shut her eyes.
Chevalier met Anna at the door and she handed Dain over. He was crying loudly and obviously upset. He took the baby and laid him in bed with Emily, watching closely as he scooted closer to her and leaned his head against her neck before settling down. Dain stayed awake, but lay perfectly still while Emily slept.
Chevalier joined Silas and Kralen out in the ante-chamber, and shut the door, “Something’s not right.”
“Maybe she’s just tired?” Kralen suggested.
“I don’t know… Silas, what’s in her office?”
“Not that much, other than one huge computer setup. Three small form computers and six wide-screen monitors, all running various things I don’t understand.”
Chevalier frowned, “That can’t be it then. I guess just see if she’s better in the morning.”
Chapter 2 - Obedience
“She’s not up yet?” Chevalier asked, glancing at the bedroom door.
“No, Sir, she’s awake, has been since about 7am, but she’s not gotten out of bed,” Kralen reported.
Chevalier knocked lightly and then entered the bedroom when she didn’t answer. He sat down on the side of the bed, “Are you feeling ok?”
“Yes”
“Just tired?”
“No”
“Did you just want to stay in bed today then?”
Emily shook her head.
“Then get up,” he said, and sat back when she sat up and crawled out of bed. She stood by the side of her bed and looked around as Dain reached out for her.
Chevalier sighed, “What?”
Emily looked over at Chevalier.
“Are you waiting for something?”
“No”
“Why are you acting so strangely?”
“I don’t know.”
“Get dressed and come talk to me in my office.”
“Ok,” she said, and stripped in the bedroom and then pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. She started for the door when Chevalier sighed.
“Em… get the baby,” he said, irritated.
Emily turned and picked up Dain, and then walked down after Chevalier to his office, with Kralen and Silas following.
“Sir, Elder Quinn is on the phone for you,” Storm said, walking to catch up to them.
“Ok, Em, wait out here until I’m done,” Chevalier said, and disappeared into his office.
Emily stood with the guards and waited for him to return. Twenty minutes later, Chevalier called all of them in.
“Have a seat,” he said, and leaned back in his chair.
Emily sat down in a chair across from him.
“Something’s up with you, and I want to know what it is,” he said, watching her.
She didn’t respond, but just sat and watched him. Tension grew in the office as they sat in silence, no one moving or speaking.
“Well if you aren’t going to help,” Chevalier growled, “Then we have to go back to Council City. Come with us.”
“Ok,” Emily said, and stood up.
“Ok? You’re coming?”
“Yes”
“Just like that? You changed your mind and are returning with us?”
“Yes”
Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “What are you up to?”
After a few minutes of silence, Silas tapped her on the shoulder, “Answer him.”
“I don’t know,” she said softly.
“Emily, Kralen, wait for us outside in the hallway.”
Emily stood up and followed Kralen out into the hallway. He shut the door behind them and turned to look at her.
“Something’s different about you,” Kralen said, walking around her. “I can’t quite figure it out.”
She didn’t move, just watched the wall ahead of her.
“You’re quiet… you stand still…”
She didn’t respond or move.
“Look at me.”
Emily turned and looked into his eyes.
Kralen thought for a moment, “Feed me.”
She reached her wrist out to him.
“Damnit, put that down,” he whispered, glancing nervously around them. She lowered her wrist to her side.
They stood in silence for a few more minutes, until Kralen was sure no one in the castle saw their last interaction.
“Ok, let’s try this… Em… go kill your horse.”
Emily nodded, and headed for the back of the castle. Kralen followed her out into the barn where she dug a .357 out of the storage room and opened the stall, the gun in one hand, and Dain in the other.
“Wait!” he said hurriedly.
Emily stopped and looked at him.
“Come inside,” he told her, and walked quickly back inside. She had to run to keep up with him.
“Where did you go? I told you to wait for me out here,” Chevalier growled, then frowned slightly when he saw the gun in Emily’s hand.
Kralen turned to Emily, “You have to check this out.”
“What?”
“Just watch… trust me.”
“Ok”
“Emily,” Kralen said. “Let me feed from your neck.”
She pulled her hair aside and tilted her head slightly.
“Wait,” Chevalier growled.
“Trust me, Elder, just watch,” Kralen said, and glanced at Silas, then back to Emily.
“Ok, Emily, now go burn yourself on the stove.”
Emily nodded and headed for the kitchen, followed by the heku.
“Wait, Em,” Chevalier said when she turned on the stove. She stopped and looked over at him.
Kralen shrugged at Silas, and then took the gun from Emily.
“Sit down,” Chevalier said.
Emily immediately sat cross-legged on the floor.
Chevalier looked down at her, deep in thought.
“Em?” Silas asked.
She looked up at him.
“Do you want cheeseburgers or rat poison for lunch?”
“I don’t know.”
“Em, look at me,” Chevalier said sternly.
Emily looked up into his eyes. He had her locked in less than a second, and her breathing slowed to match his.
“Damnit,” he said, and broke the gaze.
“I can’t believe you locked her,” Silas said, shocked.
“Let me try, you’re an ‘old one’,” Kralen said, and knelt down beside her. “Look at me.”
He immediately locked her eyes and she relaxed under his control. After a few seconds, he stood up and frowned.
“She has no free will,” Chevalier said. �
��I knew something was strange about Exavior’s guard.”
“Like what? Who can do this?” Silas asked.
“His name is Rasmussen. He’s an ancient.”
“They brought an ancient here?”
“I met him once, sometime around 330 AD. I thought his scent was familiar when he was here. I listened to her though, and let him go.”
“So they were telling her to follow them yesterday when she kept trying to go with them,” Kralen said.
“Yes,” Chevalier sighed. “She’ll do anything anyone tells her, unless she’s told something else.”
“So what do we do now?”
“Take her back to Council City until we can figure out what to do,” Chevalier said. He sighed and walked out, followed by Silas and Kralen.
A few minutes later, Silas came back into the kitchen, “Follow me, Emily.”
She stood up with Dain and followed Silas out into the castle as he led her up to the waiting helicopter. He helped her in and told her to sit down. Soon, they were flying toward Council City. When the helicopter landed, the guards lined up and the three heku walked into the palace, followed by Emily and Dain.
“Give Dain to Silas,” Chevalier said. Emily handed the baby over to her guard and he left with Dain. Chevalier and Kralen headed into the council chambers.
“Oh, you’re back,” Quinn said. “How did it go?”
“Well…” Chevalier looked around. “Damnit, Kralen, go get her.”
“She came back?” Kyle said, surprised.
“Sort of,” Chevalier said, and they all watched when Emily and Kralen came in through the trial room doors.
“Stand here,” Kralen said, and Emily stood where he told her.
“It’s good to have you home,” Quinn said, smiling.
She watched the Council, saying nothing.
“There’s one small problem,” Chevalier said. “Kralen, show them.”
Kralen hesitated and then turned to Emily, “Emily, look at me.”
She turned to him.
“Give me your wrist to feed from.”
The Council gasped when she held her wrist out.
Kralen cringed, “Ok, put it back at your side.”
She dropped her hand to her side.
“I don’t get it,” Quinn said.
“Emily, go hug Zohn,” Kralen said, and watched as she headed up to the Council seats. Zohn frowned as she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him and then stood by his side.
Ferus : Book 6 of the Heku Series Page 2