Ancients and Old Ones : Book 8 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “It won’t hurt. If done right, you might actually enjoy it.”

  “I don’t….” She couldn’t even speak clearly.

  Sotomar laughed, “Stop worrying about it… we’ll do it tonight, and then you won’t have time to worry.”

  ***

  The Council was already convened and waiting their arrival. Emily looked up, wide eyed, as the twelve heku looked down at them. The chair to the right of Elder Defriez was empty. The Council erupted in an odd murmur as they caught the scent of Emily.

  Emily shifted uneasily and Sotomar glared at them as they turned back around.

  Elder Valara stood, “Thank you for coming so quickly, Chief Enforcer.” She was speaking to Sotomar, but looking curiously at Emily.

  Emily shifted nervously and grasped Sotomar’s arm tighter.

  “I see you brought your second in Command.” She nodded to Warren.

  She flashed a warm smile to Emily, “Good to see you again, Child.”

  Emily looked up at her and fought to keep from running. She didn’t realize how intimidating the council chambers were, with their bright lights pointed directly at whoever was addressing the Council and the way the Council looked so far down on them.

  Valara sat and Defriez stood, “Let’s get started. We have numerous complaints from the Equites Elders. We’ll read them now.”

  As Elder Defriez read the accusations, Emily could feel Sotomar tense.

  Destroyed Equites coven Thukil

  Maliciously slaughtered innocent heku

  Sought out and killed the unarmed Lord of Thukil

  Freed two prisoners from the dungeons of the castle

  Tortured and killed top Thukil officers

  Kidnapped the granddaughter of the Lord of Thukil

  Viciously tortured a mortal man found within the city of Thukil

  Stole the city crest that was housed in the castle

  When he was done, he looked at Sotomar, “You had a busy day.”

  Sotomar glared up at him, “Lies, they are lies. Surely you know that.”

  Defriez nodded and turned to Warren, “Let’s address each one, shall we? Begin with destroying the city of Thukil.”

  Warren stepped forward, “We didn’t harm the actual city, but we did kill anyone we came across, as ordered.”

  “Did you order such?” Defriez asked Sotomar.

  “Yes, I did.” He stood tall.

  “Under what power do you call upon to order the killing of innocent heku?”

  Sotomar looked straight into his eyes, “Under the power I was given to do all I could to retrieve what we were after.”

  Elder Valara grinned, “We did give him that power.”

  Defriez nodded, “That also answers the second accusation. Did you seek out and kill the unarmed lord, Lord Ulrich?”

  Sotomar looked up at him, “He wasn’t unarmed, just over matched.”

  “Easy enough,” Defriez said, and then paused before continuing, “Did you free two prisoners from the dungeons?”

  Warren answered, “We freed one prisoner, the one who led us to Emily, and I’m guessing she was the second prisoner we freed.”

  Defriez frowned, “Was she in the prison?”

  Sotomar nodded, “Yes, hanging by her wrists from the rafters after having been beaten.”

  Emily blushed and looked at the floor.

  “Is this correct, Child?” She was too embarrassed and simply nodded to the floor.

  “We will return to that. Did you torture high-ranking officials?”

  Sotomar stifled a grin, “Yes I did, when they wouldn’t give me straight answers.”

  “I see, and the granddaughter?” he asked.

  Sotomar looked at Emily, “I don’t think it was a kidnap as much as a rescue.”

  Defriez turned to Sotomar, “I don’t understand how you can justify torturing a mortal man, though, Chief Enforcer.”

  Sotomar began to speak, but Emily interrupted him, “I think that was me.”

  ***

  “Emily, breathe,” Warren whispered, and grinned. “Just walk to him.”

  Emily’s eyes met Sotomar’s. He was sitting at the other end of the room, watching her. She focused on him as the guard escorted her through the room, then felt the eyes of thousands of gray robed heku on her and began to blush. Things again seemed to shift in her eyes. For one fleeting moment, the gray décor turned green, but then returned and she frowned slightly at the odd change.

  At the foot of the stairs leading up to the platform with the Elders, the guard stopped and Emily looked up at Sotomar.

  Elder Remi stood and smiled at Emily. She watched him as he spoke to those gathered in a language she didn’t understand. The heku in the room all responded with an unfamiliar word. Defriez then stood and addressed them, and again, Emily wasn’t able to understand what was being said.

  Finally, Sotomar stood and held his hand out for Emily. She picked her dress up a bit and walked up the stairs to take his hand. He squeezed her hand tightly and smiled at her. She tried to avoid turning around to face the heku, but once he sat in his chair, he motioned for her to stand by his side.

  It seemed like an eternity to Emily before Defriez excused the heku and they began to file out of the room. Sotomar stood when the coronation hall was empty. He took Emily in his arms and held her tightly, but she pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around herself. She didn’t want his arms around her, and didn’t want to make him think she was falling for him.

  “Welcome home, Em,” he said.

  “We are so glad to have you here, Emily,” Defriez said, smiling.

  “At least someone is,” she told him.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  She shook her head, “Nothing.” Her mind ran through the different emotions from the crowd of heku, from angry, to happy, to disappointed.

  Remi smiled slightly, “It’s ok, Child. They are just not used to a mortal in the palace.”

  Sotomar’s eyes narrowed, “They better watch themselves.”

  “Why don’t you show Emily to your new room. I’m sure she’d like to get settled. I will have some dinner brought up.”

  “Good idea.”

  Emily followed silently through the enormous palace. She watched the servants bow to Sotomar and eye her suspiciously. She kept glancing behind her as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Something bad was going to happen, she could feel it in the air.

  The room was dark and cold. There were candles burning instead of lamps, which threw most of the room into dark shadows. She opened the first door to reveal a large bathroom.

  “I’ll have something put in that. They aren’t used to needing bathrooms,” Sotomar assured her.

  She nodded and opened the next door and walked inside. She entered into a light blue nursery full of toys and stuffed pillows. The crib was cherry wood and matched the small wardrobe and changing table.

  “I didn’t tell them to put in a nursery, I swear. I told them you can’t have children” he said.

  ***

  “Finally, we meet again,” the Ancient said when he was alone with Emily.

  She stood still, not answering. She felt his dry, rough hands trail down her face, and finally rest under her chin, “You look so much like my Elizabeth.”

  She listened carefully as he walked around her.

  “You’re shorter than your mother, more muscular though.” She felt his hands move across the contours of her abdomen. Emily jumped slightly when she felt a light scratching on her thigh.

  “I expect full obedience from you, Child,” he said, and she could feel his breath on her face. “You cannot turn enough of the Equites to ash to make it worth your pain if you try. Obedience will be enforced through punishment. Do you understand?”

  Emily nodded.

  “You turned me to ash once… as a child, you were two,” he said, still walking around her slowly. “Quite painful, I assure you. Luckily, I wasn’t alone, and the Equites were able to rev
ive me.”

  Emily heard the door open and the Ancient speak, “Ahhh, Chevalier, I was waiting for you.”

  “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” a deep voice replied.

  “This is my daughter, Emily,” the Ancient said.

  “Let me look at her,” Chevalier said.

  Emily felt somehow drawn to his voice.

  “She is beautiful,” Chevalier hissed, and Emily felt his hands run from her waist down to her exposed thighs. “She’s just a little thing though.”

  “Do not underestimate the Winchesters, Elder,” the Ancient said, amused.

  Emily fought the urge to pull away when she felt Chevalier run his nose along her chin to her neck and inhale deeply, “Mmmm, soon you will be mine, Child.”

  “We will be expecting a female child soon,” the Ancient said, pleased.

  “I don’t think that will be a problem,” Chevalier replied, and then kissed her roughly. His hand wound around the back of her neck. Emily didn’t fight, didn’t try to get away, but she also didn’t return the kiss.

  “You’ll have to wait until after the ceremony,” the Ancient laughed.

  “I’ll have that ring off of her finger by midnight,” Chevalier said, and his hands followed down the curve of her back.

  Emily felt the blindfold loosening and the sudden brightness made her squeeze her eyes shut. She opened them and let them adjust to the light. The Ancient was still in the room. His skin was pale and cracked with age.

  “Behave, Child, and this will go easier,” the Ancient reminded her.

  “Release my hands,” she said softly.

  Emily’s feet left the ground as Chevalier put his hands under her arms, and lifted her up so she was even with him.

  “Look at those eyes,” he said, grinning at her. His breath smelled like decaying flesh, and Emily’s stomach turned.

  “Yes, I always loved her mother’s eyes,” the Ancient said sadly.

  Chevalier moved his face to her neck and ran his tongue along the pounding vein.

  “Tonight, Child,” he said, and set her back down. “Can we release her hands?”

  “Yes, yes, it’s her eyes we have to worry about,” the Ancient chuckled.

  Chevalier moved behind her and released her hands, and then wound his arms around her shoulders.

  “It’s time,” the Ancient said. “I will see you in there.” He left quickly, leaving Emily and Chevalier alone.

  Chevalier began to kiss Emily’s neck and shoulders as his hands ran lightly across her exposed skin, “Mmm you will love me, Child. I promise you that.”

  ***

  Emily woke with a jump and heard an alarm sound from the city. She looked around the room, but she was alone. Sam came in from the other room.

  “What’s going on?” she asked him.

  “I don’t know,” Sam said, then shut his eyes and listened closely.

  “The Encala are attacking,” Sam said.

  Emily frowned, “The Encala? Here in the city?”

  Sam nodded, “Yes, the troops are at a standoff outside of the city, and their Council is meeting with ours right now.”

  “I should go,” Emily said.

  Emily could hear the booming voices from outside of the council chambers. She used the back door so her entrance was behind the Valle Council. As she appeared at Sotomar’s side, the entire room grew quiet and she put her hand on his shoulder.

  “Is this a threat?” William asked.

  “She is not here to threaten you. Though, I find it hard to believe that you are here peacefully with an entire army,” Defriez said angrily.

  “What exactly are your demands?” Valle Elder Anthony asked them.

  “We demand the return of the last remaining Equites council member, and the return of his mate,” William said, and glared at Emily.

  Emily frowned.

  “What concern is it of yours that we hold Chevalier?” Anthony questioned.

  “We have formed an alliance with the Equites and are helping them rebuild, as such, we demand the return of what was taken,” William said to Anthony.

  “We can peacefully discuss the return of Chevalier, but we don’t recognize the bonding enforced by an ancient,” Defriez said calmly.

  “We don’t have to peacefully discuss anything! With the Equites and Encala forces joined, we outnumber you, and will get what we want one way or the other,” Encala Elder Reese yelled.

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” Emily said finally, and all eyes turned to her.

  “She’s to be turned over to us and returned to her mate,” William snapped.

  “Again, we do not abide by any ritual performed by an ancient,” Defriez said.

  “Does she bare the mark of the Equites?” William asked, grinning.

  “For now,” Defriez told him.

  “You have heard our demands. If they are not met in full, then we attack at dawn,” William said, and the Encala Council swept out of the council chambers.

  “You always pick the worst times to make an entrance,” Scott, the Valle’s Chief Enforcer, said to Emily.

  “Kiss my ass,” she yelled.

  “Stop it!” Defriez said. “This is not the time for you two to bicker.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Scott said, and looked straight forward.

  “We have three hours to make a plan,” Anthony said.

  “I’ve summoned all covens within a three-hour travel time, but we will still be outnumbered,” Sotomar said.

  “Not with me here. I can take out a few thousand,” Emily reminded them.

  “We can’t risk it. The last time, we weren’t sure you would survive,” Defriez reminded her.

  Emily frowned.

  “What do we lose by giving them Chevalier?” Anthony asked.

  “We lose the ability to shut him up when he calls Emily,” Sotomar said, irritated.

  “Which causes pain, right?”

  “Yes”

  “Pain that I can handle, hand him over,” Emily said.

  ***

  Emily started to sleep slightly as she waited for her masseuse. When he came in, he said nothing, but pulled the sheet down off of her back and began working the knots in her neck with warm, scented oil.

  “That’s a unique smell, what is it?” Emily asked.

  The masseuse laughed softly, “It’s a blend I make, to help you relax.”

  “Mmm, it’s working.” Emily could feel her neck and back calming as he gently massaged the knots. The scent was soothing and she felt herself relaxing more.

  He moved onto her arms and massaged down to her fingers, “That’s a lovely ring.”

  “Thanks,” Emily said, her words slightly slurred.

  “Why so tense all of a sudden?” He asked her.

  Emily shrugged. She still felt relaxed and sluggish from the massage and all of the scents. She felt like hours had passed, even though she had only signed up for an hour-long massage. The room was quiet as the masseuse worked on her feet and the scents were growing stronger.

  “Turn over, Dear,” he said to her.

  She held the sheet while she rolled over and he immediately put a warm rag over her eyes.

  All at once, she felt lips press against hers as hands slid lower down her chest and lightly brushed her breast. She pushed the face away from her and sat up, clutching the sheet close to her. She pulled the washcloth off of her eyes and stared at the masseuse while her eyes adjusted to the dark.

  Emily’s eyes narrowed, “Chevalier?”

  Chevalier smiled, “You remember me.”

  “Oh, my God!” she screamed, and stood up. “What the hell?”

  “Don’t panic, I’m a trained masseuse,” he said, and raised an eyebrow.

  Emily put on the robe, keeping a close eye on Chevalier, and cinched it closed with the belt, “What the hell do you want?”

  “Only to help you relax. You are quite tense. Seems the Valle aren’t doing enough to keep you comfortable.”

/>   Emily glared at him, “Why can’t you just leave me alone? I haven’t attacked anyone in a long time. I’m tired of it.”

  “This isn’t an attack. The Equites own this little place. I was called when you came in the door. It’s nothing more than a business,” he said, clearly amused.

  Emily glanced at the massage oil and picked it up when she saw its crimson color, “Is this blood?”

  “Some of it, it’s a special blend of oils like ochun and elegua.” He took the bottle from her, “It’s mine though, you’d need to make your own.”

  “You! You rubbed blood into my back? That’s so… nasty!” Emily said, and tried to open the door, but it was locked. She turned around angrily, “Open it.”

  “It’s customary to lock the door during a massage,” Chevalier said, watching her.

  Emily glared at him and watched him fall to his knees, clutching his chest and the familiar smell of burning filled the room. She frowned when he didn’t turn to ash, and tried again. His screams filled the room, but he never fell.

  “Can’t do it can you?” Chevalier asked, his voice strained as he stood up.

  Emily began to panic, “What did you do?”

  “Just a precaution, sadly temporary though,” he said, and smiled. “Now come, finish your massage.”

  “Let me out of here,” she glared.

  He sat quietly and watched her. She studied him and fought the urge to trust him.

  “Let me out,” she said again.

  “As a show of good faith, I will,” Chevalier said, and unlocked the door.

  Emily grabbed her purse and ran out of the building, still in the robe, and got into the Durango. She pulled quickly into traffic to head back to the city.

  Emily glanced into her rear-view mirror and saw three identical red Lamborghini Reventon’s right behind her. They spanned the three lanes of the Interstate and were quickly closing the distance. She pegged the Durango at 100 mph and kept a close eye on the approaching cars, then grabbed for her cell phone, but it wasn’t in her purse anymore.