Because of a snowstorm, all three of Emily’s dogs were in the bedroom, and the loud snoring of the Bulldog was starting to wear on even Chevalier’s ancient patience.
Emily started to wake up after over 18 hours of hard sleep. Chevalier ordered some coffee to help her wake up and then shooed the dogs out of the room. Cavalry came and took them all out into the barn and Emily opened her eyes just as the smell of coffee and hot muffins filled the room.
Chevalier moved over and sat down on the bed, “Good morning.”
She opened her eyes and then sat up slowly, “Good morning.”
He handed her a cup of steaming coffee and she took a sip and looked over when a strong wind lashed against the side of the palace, “I was hoping this would clear up.”
“It probably won’t until Friday.” Chevalier reached over and grabbed two rolls of ace bandage, “Dr. Edwards brought these over. He thought we could change your gauze out for these.”
She shrugged, “The gauze helps.”
“I know, and he thinks it’s the pressure. So ace bandages will work better.”
“Did he find out?” she asked, frowning.
“No, but it would help immensely if you would just tell us.”
Emily reached out to take the ace bandages, “Fine, I’ll try them.”
Chevalier moved them out of her reach, “I’ll put them on you. You can’t do it right with one arm.”
She smiled, “You won’t see anything that will give it away.”
His eyes narrowed when she put an arm out for him. Chevalier unwrapped her forearm and quickly studied the smooth skin underneath. She was right, and there was no sign at all that anything was wrong, nothing showing the pain she felt, and nothing to give any indication as to what the torture entailed.
When he was done, she pulled her sleeves down to cover the ace bandages and then leaned over and grabbed a pill bottle from the bedside table. After taking two, she sat back and watched Chevalier.
“What?” he asked, smiling.
“Shouldn’t you be in trials or something?”
“I’ll go in a bit.” Chevalier reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle, then handed it to Emily.
She took it and flipped it over to read, “What is Chantix?”
“It’s to help you stop smoking.”
“I don’t want to take pills.”
He frowned, “You take them all the time now.”
“More though?”
“You’re back, it’s time to stop.”
“Maybe I don’t want to stop. It helps me calm down.”
“It’s a disgusting habit that you’re too strong to use as a crutch. Plus, it’s stupid to stand outside in a snowstorm in sub-freezing weather just to smoke.”
Emily stood up and threw the pack of cigarettes in the trash, shocking him, “I can stop without pills.”
“It’ll go easier if you take them,” he said calmly. He actually hoped she would take them instead of subjecting the entire palace to her moody nicotine withdrawals, but wasn’t going to push the issue.
She flipped the bottle over in her hand a few times and then nodded, “I’ll try them.”
“You will?”
“Yes, now go to the trials, I have work to do.”
Chevalier smiled at the Cavalry at her door, and then headed down to the council chambers. The rest of the Council was already seated when he sat down.
“I can’t believe she’s going to take them,” Kyle said.
“I was surprised too, but it’s still not going to be a fun few weeks.”
“True,” Zohn said, and then turned to Derrick. “Let the Valle in.”
The Council watched as Elder Ryan and the Valle’s Faction Liaison Officer came in with 8 Imperial Guards.
“Your palace smells like cigarette smoke,” Ryan said, wrinkling his nose.
“Is there some reason why you are here?” Quinn asked him.
“Yes, we have a lead on Emily’s location and wanted to ensure that you understand that when we get her, she won’t be back here.”
Chevalier frowned slightly, “You know where she is?”
“Yes”
“Where?”
“We’re not going to tell you that. We plan on keeping a close eye on her and making sure the Equites don’t interfere with her new life.”
“You should also make sure she doesn’t take up smoking,” Kyle said, smiling.
Ryan’s eyes flared, “She’s here already?”
Chevalier nodded, “You’re on her list too… so I suggest you watch it.”
“We’ve done nothing to earn her wrath.”
“So trying to turn her by torture was ok?” Zohn asked, irritated.
“We didn’t try to turn her.”
“But you gave the pseudo-Council the ammunition to force her to agree with it.”
“We did no such thing!” Ryan yelled.
Chevalier leaned forward, “Then how did the pseudo-Council find out about this strange forearm torture that she’s still suffering from? The Valle are the only ones I’ve known to use it.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed, “I wasn’t aware they knew of that method. I’m actually shocked they went to those extremes… I would imagine they tried lesser tactics first though, but she’s stubborn.”
“It would be a show of good faith if you tell us what that torture entails so we can treat her injuries,” Kyle told him.
He smiled, “I’m not going to do that. I’m sure she’ll heal eventually.”
“What was the threat if she contacted a heku?” Chevalier asked. “She won’t tell us.”
“I’m not obligated to tell you anything. I will inform the rest of the Valle Council that Emily is now here and we will resume our stance on bringing her back to us,” Ryan said, and then turned to leave.
Zohn sat back when the Valle came face-to-face with Mark and 15 members of the Cavalry.
“You’re not done here,” Mark said, blocking the door.
Quinn glared at Ryan when he turned around, “You tortured a mortal until she agreed to turn. That’s breaking important heku laws and you have to be held accountable for that.”
“I didn’t try to turn her!” Ryan yelled. “You have no right.”
“Take them to prison,” Kyle ordered.
***
“Has she said anything to you?” Chevalier asked Kralen as he guarded her door.
“No, Elder. I don’t think she’s even left her room for 4 days.”
Chevalier looked at the door, “She requested that I stay out.”
Kralen nodded, “Us too, Sir.”
He thought for a moment, “We need to check on her though.”
“Agreed”
“So you go in,” Chevalier said, and smiled at Kralen.
Kralen grimaced, “Is that an order?”
“No, I’ll go,” he replied, and then broke the lock and walked in. He didn’t see Emily anywhere in the room, so he walked over to the bathroom and heard her inside, “Em? Are you ok?”
“I’m alive,” she mumbled.
Chevalier opened the door and saw her on the floor beside the toilet. She was pale and shaking, and shielded her eyes against the light from the bedroom, “Are you pregnant?”
“So help me, Chev…”
“Well, are you?”
“Who sealed my dumb waiter?”
“That was my decision.” He studied her as she clutched her stomach and turned back to the toilet. When she leaned back to the floor, he sat down, “Talk to me.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
“What’s wrong then?”
“If you loved me, you’d give me just one cigarette.”
“This’ll work out, I swear.”
Emily shook her head and looked over at him.
He smiled, “Don’t even think about ashing me.”
She finally crawled to her feet and started shakily out into the bedroom. Chevalier kept a hand close, but didn’t let her see it. It was obvious that she wasn
’t in the mood to be helped. She walked over to her bedside table and opened the small cupboard beneath it, revealing numerous bottles of alcohol.
“Em, where did you get those?” he asked, sighing.
“I have my ways.”
“I thought we’d agreed you would cut out alcohol and cigarettes at the same time.”
“No, you agreed… I nodded to appease you.”
Just as she went to pour a shot of whiskey, Chevalier snatched the bottle from her and then stepped back when she turned furious eyes to him.
“Don’t irritate me!”
“You need to get off of all of it.”
“Give it back,” Emily said, and took a step toward him.
“No… you’ve been drinking too much and chain smoking unfiltered cigarettes for 4 months. It’s time to stop.”
Emily simply screamed and tried to grab the bottle. He held it above his head and then braced himself for the oncoming assault. When she started to pound on his chest, he silently called for Kralen and carefully tucked away his instinct to attack.
Kralen walked in and then his eyes grew wide when he saw Emily attempting to kill Chevalier. He quickly took her shoulders and backed her away from the Elder. She struggled against his hands, but he didn’t relent and she grew even more angry when she couldn’t get to Chevalier.
“Don’t underestimate me,” she snapped at him.
“I would never underestimate you,” Chevalier told her. “However, you’ve made it 4 days without any nicotine or alcohol, so there’s no use turning back now.”
A malicious smile formed on Emily’s lips, “I remember most of it…”
His eyes narrowed, “Most of what?”
“The incantation I’m not supposed to know.”
“Don’t do it,” he said, getting angry.
Kralen called for backup and the room suddenly filled with members of the Council. Kyle hurried over and stood between Chevalier and Emily.
“I could do it to this entire palace,” she said, staring at Chevalier.
He put his hands out and forced his voice to stay calm, “Think about it… You’re mad now, but the ramifications are indescribable. You know, deep down, that we’re trying to help you.”
Her shoulders fell and the fragile way she held herself made his heart sink. She slowly sunk to the floor.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Chevalier ordered everyone out of the room and then pulled Emily into an embrace, “It’ll be ok.”
“I hurt,” she said softly.
He lightly kissed the top of her head.
“I should call the Encala and apologize.”
“You could always leave them afraid,” he said, smiling.
“I shouldn’t have threatened them, especially not Andrew.”
“I don’t like how Andrew looks at you.”
Emily looked up at him, “How does he look at me?”
“He looks at you like I do.”
“He’s just a friend,” she said, and leaned her head against his chest.
“Do you want to get away?”
“Where?”
“Palau… just you and me?”
She looked up curiously, “No kidding?”
“I’ll do anything to help you get over this.”
“What if we try to kill each other?”
“We won’t.”
“And Megs?”
He thought for a moment, “She’s started Kindergarten…”
Emily frowned, “She’s only 3.”
“I know but she’s above her age.”
“Perfect”
“It’ll be ok. Let’s leave her too.”
Emily looked over at her bedside table.
“No alcohol is going, and no pills unless Dr. Edwards thinks you need them.”
“Is he going?”
“No”
She wrapped her arms around herself and nodded, “Yeah, let’s go.”
“I can be ready in 15 minutes.”
Emily threw a few of her things into a bag, and when she looked around the room to see if anyone would notice a bottle of whiskey, she saw Silas in the corner, smiling at her.
“Don’t even try it,” he said, sounding amused.
***
“Sir, Miss Alexis wishes to address the Council,” Derrick said from the doorway to the council chambers.
Quinn nodded, “Let her in.”
Alexis seemed nervous as she walked forward to stand in front of the Elders.
“To what do we owe this honor?” Zohn asked, smiling.
“Well… I want to do this while Mom and Dad are out of the country,” Alexis told them. She glanced back at the door and then turned to the Council.
“What’s the problem?”
“No… no problem. I just… well… I realize that it’s against heku laws… but I’m not a heku,” she told them.
Zohn frowned slightly, “What law are we speaking of?”
Alexis sighed, “I want to adopt a baby.”
“I see,” Quinn said, sitting back on his chair.
The Records Keeper spoke up, “It’s strictly forbidden for a heku to adopt a baby.”
“I’m not heku,” Alexis said again.
“Garrett is though.”
“Well… yes.”
“Plus, we have to assume you are immortal.”
She nodded, “I realize that. Nevertheless, I want a baby and I can’t have one myself.”
Zohn smiled comfortingly, “I realize that you have enough mortal blood to have the instinctual need to raise a child. However, the baby would have to be raised in Council City among the heku… it’s too dangerous.”
“I can protect it.”
“It’s not the blood-drinking that I’m speaking of.”
“I know… and I can protect it.”
“There are blood tests that are required to prove health of the parents,” the Records Keeper said. “You probably can’t pass them, and we know Garrett wouldn’t.”
“There’s no proof that I can’t pass a blood test.”
Kyle leaned forward and put his elbows on the table, “Alex… it’s too dangerous and the laws are strictly adhered to.”
“I’m not a heku.”
“You’re about as close as you can get though. Why do you not want Em and Chevalier to know?”
“Because I want to do this on my own. I’m tired of being the other Winchester, or an Elder’s daughter. I want to be my own person with my own life.”
“It’s not that easy when you are such a rarity,” Quinn told her.
“You’ve spoken to Garrett about this then?” Zohn asked.
“Not yet. He’s too… well… by-the-book, and I know he would say no without even thinking about it. If I can get Council approval, he might consider it,” she explained.
“A mortal child would need things we cannot give him,” the Chief of Staff said. “Not only would you bring temptation to live in Council City, think of how the factions could use a child to lure you to them.”
She glared at him, “I’m not dumb enough to let the Valle get ahold of my baby, and the Encala aren’t stupid enough to try anything with me.”
“You can’t turn heku to ash massively like Emily can,” Kyle said. “It’d be too dangerous. We’d have to put guards on it and that’s a lot of resources for a fully mortal child.”
The Council could tell that Alexis was fighting back tears, “That’s your final word? You won’t even think about it?”
Quinn sighed, “We can’t think about it. It’s simply not done.”
“Simply not done? You mean like moving a mortal into the palace? What about having a half-Ancient running around?” Alexis said, starting to panic. “There are a lot of things about my family that are breaking rules and stretching boundaries of what heku law says. I can’t believe that you won’t even consider it! I’m not heku and I shouldn’t be expected to live strictly by heku standards.”
“Alexis,” Kyle said sternly. “The Cou
ncil said no.”
She set her jaw and it reminded them of Emily, “Fine… then you’re forcing me to go above your heads.”
Alexis turned to leave, but stopped when Quinn spoke, “No one is above us.”
Alexis nodded and whispered, “My mom is.”
Without turning again, she walked out, obviously upset.
Zohn waited a few minutes for her to leave, and then had Derrick call for Garrett.
Garrett came in and bowed before the Council, “I was summoned.”
“This meeting needs to remain confidential,” Zohn said.
“Of course, Elder.”
“Alexis has approached us, and when she left she was quite upset.”
Garrett frowned, “What about?”
“She wants a baby.”
“She wants you to turn a baby!?”
“No… she wants to adopt,” Kyle told him. “We cannot allow that and it greatly upset her that we said no.”
“I didn’t know she wanted one… I mean… she can’t have one, so I thought that was the end of it.”
“We need you to help us ensure that she doesn’t go behind our backs and do it anyway. We assume that the blood-tests would show inaccurate readings for her and render her unable to adopt, but just in case we need your help.”
“The Council gave a solid no?” he asked, making sure.
“That is correct,” Quinn said. “We cannot have mortal babies in Council City… or in any heku coven for that matter.”
Garrett nodded, “I will do what I can… but…”
“But?”
“She’s a lot like her Mom. If she gets something in her head…”
“We understand that.”
“I’ll try. I’ll talk to her tonight.”
“Just keep us out of it,” Zohn said. “We don’t need Alexis turning on the Council like her Mom is prone to doing.”
Garrett nodded, bowed, and then left the council chambers.
***
“Let’s just move here,” Emily said when Chevalier brought a glass of juice out to the chaise. She was sitting out in the hot Palau sun, reclined in a soft chaise and covered in sun screen.
He smiled, “You’d be bored.”
“I think I could handle some boredom.”
Ancients and Old Ones : Book 8 of the Heku Series Page 64