Heku : Book 1 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Thank you!” she called after him.

  She had the bottle to her lips before she got to the chair and drank deeply. The alcohol burned her throat and she sat down, gasping for breath. She noticed a glass sitting on the table but ignored it as she put the bottle to her mouth and drank. Emily smiled as she felt the warmth from the wine start to warm her and relax her. She slumped down in the chair and drank more.

  As the world began to spin, she slid down to the floor, holding the bottle in front of her. She couldn’t seem to drink enough to take the memory away.

  “Keith?” She walked up to him while he was shoeing a horse.

  “What? I’m busy,” he snapped at her.

  She paused, took a deep breath and then continued, “I just got back from seeing Dr. Meacham.”

  “Yeah? So?” He didn’t look up at her.

  “He said I’m pregnant.” She took a step back as he stood up and walked toward her.

  “Oh yeah? Who’s the Dad? Huh, Emi?” His fierce eyes raged.

  She took another step back, “Don’t act like that Keith, you’re the only one...” Before she could finish, he punched her hard in the mouth and she fell to the floor of the barn as blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

  “I am, eh? Not the entire male population of Cascade? I’m not going to spend my hard earned money taking care of you and some asshole’s little brat.” He finished by kicking her in the side.

  The doctor looked down at her from the table, “I’m so sorry Emily, the baby’s gone.”

  Emily was numb, and she just nodded her head.

  “I’m afraid there’s more.” The doctor put a warm hand on her arm, “The horse did more damage than we’d first thought.”

  She looked up at him.

  “You can’t have any more children, I’m so sorry.” The doctor had tears in his eyes that Emily didn’t. She felt relief at not bringing a baby to become part of Keith’s fury.

  Emily took another long drink, the warmth spreading through her faster and her mind finally began to block it all out.

  She leaned back onto the floor and looked up at the ceiling tiles as they danced and moved above her. She smiled as she watched them. Suddenly, a face blocked her view of the swirling tiles and she frowned.

  “She’s drunk,” Chevalier said from above her.

  “Yeah… I see that,” Kyle said from somewhere in the room.

  The dancing ceiling stopped as Chevalier picked her up off of the ground. She could still feel the bottle in her hand and she brought it to her lips just as Kyle pulled it away.

  “I think you’ve had enough,” he said softly.

  “Give it back.” Her demand was slurred.

  She reached out and tried to hit him, but missed. She fumed when Kyle left the room with her bottle.

  “Go get it back,” she told Chevalier unevenly as he laid her on the bed.

  “And risk you getting too drunk to talk? I don’t think so.” He was covering her with a blanket.

  “I don’t wanna talk.” Her words were slow and hard to understand.

  Chevalier sat down beside her on the bed and watched her for a moment as she marveled at the ceiling again.

  “Emily?”

  She didn’t look away from the tiles, “Huh?”

  “Do you want to talk about this?” he asked, partially amused.

  “Talk about what?” She was reaching out to touch the ceiling.

  “About why you are drinking. It’s not like you.”

  “What makes you think I was drinking?” It made perfect sense to her. Deny it, that’s what Keith always did.

  Chevalier chuckled, “Oh, I have my suspicions.”

  “Gah, it’s not true,” she said as her fingers danced with the movement of the ceiling above her.

  He watched her hands for a moment, “I keep going over it in my head and I’m not sure which part would upset you… is it because of the baby comment?”

  He knew he’d struck a nerve when her dancing hands stopped and she glared at the ceiling.

  “Emily, I didn’t marry you to have children. I wish you would have told me, but that wouldn’t have changed anything.” He stroked her cheek softly.

  He was actually relieved that she’d told the Elders. They would tell the Valle, and Ulrich could stop worrying about him fathering a Winchester child.

  “I was once,” she said in a daze.

  “Was what, Em?” Chevalier kissed her lightly.

  “Pregnant,” she said as she covered her face with her hands and started to cry.

  Chevalier tensed, he didn’t know that. The crying didn’t last long, the alcohol in her system kept the memories from surfacing all the way.

  “Keith wasn’t very happy,” she said, reaching for the ceiling again.

  “I see,” was all Chevalier could say.

  “Does the ceiling dance in your room?” she asked, her words more slurred and she suddenly became tired.

  Chevalier didn’t answer, but watched as her eyes slowly shut and she relaxed.

  He held her all night as she lie motionless. He wished he could kill Keith again, this time more painfully. What right did a man have to do this to a woman who loved him? How could a man manipulate and control someone so completely? His anger ebbed as dawn approached. He had rid the world of Keith, and took some comfort in that.

  Emily groaned as the light erupted into her room. She grabbed her head and buried her face in the pillow.

  Chevalier touched her hair lightly and spoke softly, so as not to make her headache worse, “There’s coffee here, Em.”

  “Kill me,” she said into the pillow.

  He smiled, “Not today. Here… drink some.”

  He held the coffee cup up for her.

  She sat up, wincing at the light, and took the coffee from him. She also noticed aspirin on the table and swallowed four of them.

  Chevalier sighed, “You should have told me. It would have helped last night if I had known.”

  She winced, “Yeah, well, I guess we both kept some things private.” Her head hurt too badly for her to notice how he grimaced.

  “Truce then?” he offered.

  She nodded, then groaned and went back to her coffee.

  Emily laid back down until the aspirin worked and she could sit up without getting sick.

  He smiled, “Feel better?”

  “Mostly… I don’t drink wine.” She gave him a half-smile.

  He grinned, “I noticed.”

  She leaned toward him and curled into his chest as he wrapped his strong arms around her,

  “Time for some questions then?” she asked.

  “Shoot,” he told her, knowing it was coming.

  “If heku don’t... erm... can’t have a baby... how do baby heku happen?” She knew it must have sounded insane when she heard him chuckle.

  “When’s the last time you saw a baby heku?” he mused.

  She frowned and thought about that. She was sure she’d never even seen a child heku before, “Never, I guess.”

  “It’s extremely rare for an immortal man to fall for a mortal woman, that’s the only way a heku can procreate. That’s also where the incubus comes in.”

  “Who?”

  “An incubus is a male heku that seduces mortal women in their sleep for the sole purpose of reproducing.”

  “That works?”

  Chevalier nodded, “Yes, but it’s a mortal baby that is produced.”

  She looked up at him, “Really?”

  He smiled, “Sure.”

  “So how are heku made then?” She curled back against his chest.

  “It’s a long process that involves draining the mortal’s blood and replacing it with that of a heku along with some ancient magic.” He said too much and refused to go further.

  Emily frowned, “Magic?”

  “Yes”

  “Like what?”

  “Nothing you need to concern yourself with. We don’t turn mortals into heku haphazardly. It’s only
done with great care and only to individuals who could further the power of the coven.” He pulled her tighter to him.

  She thought for a moment, “How can a bond be broken?”

  He stiffened, not sure exactly where this was going, “Were you going to give it a go?”

  She laughed, “No, just curious.”

  For a few seconds he debated. He felt she had the right to know, but also feared an irrational bout of emotions might drive her to it, “Why?”

  “Curiosity sake is all.” She kissed his neck lightly.

  “You aren’t playing fair,” he said, grinning. “Fine… the bond is automatically broken when one of the two of them die. It’s also broken after any infidelity or harsh betrayal.”

  She frowned, “So when I die you’re free to marry again?”

  He fought to keep his composure. He had thought about that a lot lately and he wasn’t sure he could stay awake if she were gone. He was planning an eternity of stasis when she died, “If I would choose to.”

  “Hmmm”

  He wished she’d say more than that but her thoughts changed pattern, “You aren’t upset that I can’t have children?”

  He felt her stiffen slightly beneath his arms, “Not at all. I wouldn’t have gotten mad had it happened, but I’ve never seen myself as a father. It’s so rare for a heku to do it that it’s ludicrous to consider it.”

  “Still, when we got married it had to have crossed your mind?”

  “Maybe… but we hadn’t discussed it. I wasn’t sure if you even wanted children.” He kissed the top of her head.

  She looked up at him and grinned.

  “What?” He smiled back.

  “Want to practice though?” She was on her back before she could laugh.

  Chapter 13 - Coming Out

  “Keep the blindfold on, Em,” Kyle said. He was leading her carefully down a hallway.

  “It’s hard to walk… are we close?” she asked, with her hands outstretched.

  “Yes… very.”

  She felt his hands leave her arm and heard a door open. He led her inside and the warm mugginess of the room seemed odd.

  “Ready?” Kyle asked.

  “Sure,” she said as he lifted the blindfold.

  “Ooh… Kyle!” she gasped as she looked out over the swimming pool. It was full of sparkling blue water and the hot tub bubbled in the corner.

  She threw her arms around him, “Thank you!”

  “Margaret put a swimming suit in the dressing room. I’ll be outside this door if you need me. Just enjoy your swim and don’t drown or Chevalier will kill me.” He shut the door with a grin.

  Emily ran to the dressing room and undressed. She didn’t even complain as she put on the tiny sheer swimsuit and hurried out to the pool, dipped in one toe, and then dove in when she felt how warm it was. The water felt incredible against her skin. She’d always felt comfort from water, and the room was so warm everything was perfect. For over an hour she swam, from one end to the next, feeling the way her muscles strained against the water as she swam laps.

  Out of breath, she floated on the water a bit and then eyed the hot tub with its inviting steam. She climbed out of the pool and shook her head as she passed the mirror, “Only Margaret would put me in a see-through swimming suit.” She laughed to herself and crawled into the bubbly water.

  The warm jets pounded against her skin and she relaxed, laying her head back against the side of the tub. She breathed deeply, taking in the scent of chlorine and the warm feeling of the air.

  Emily raised her head and glanced around, checking to make sure no one was watching. She reached around and untied her top and pulled it off, tossing it to the side. Laying back down, she shut her eyes and relaxed.

  She yelped when hands gently caressed her exposed breasts and then she grinned when she saw Chevalier had joined her.

  “You really shouldn’t sneak up on me,” she reminded him as he pressed against her.

  “You really should keep your clothes on.” He grinned and began kissing her neck.

  “I thought I was alone,” she said as she shivered, his hands tracing soft patterns in her skin.

  He didn’t answer. His mouth was pressed firmly to hers.

  ***

  Scooping up her swimsuit, she handed it to Chevalier and tightened the towel around her, “Take that back and tell her I would prefer a one-piece that you can’t see through.”

  Chevalier smiled, “No way, I liked that one.”

  She smiled and walked toward the door, then felt a hand on her shoulder, “Kyle’s out there.”

  Emily turned around and looked down at herself, “I’m covered.”

  Chevalier stepped back and eyed the towel, “Yes you are, but poor Kyle, you’re going to drive him mad.”

  “How so?”

  “We’re men, Emily, it’s obvious you are only wearing a towel.”

  “He’ll live… I’m more covered in this towel than in that so-called swimsuit,” she said, pushing on the door. She’d forgotten how heavy the door was when it opened for her.

  Kyle gasped and looked away as she emerged and headed for her room. He followed behind her, his eyes on the wall.

  “Good Man,” Chevalier thought to himself.

  Emily changed quickly back into her jeans and t-shirt and found Chevalier waiting in her room when she emerged.

  “Dang,” he said with a laugh.

  “What?” She eyed him suspiciously.

  “I’d hoped to give that blue dress another go.” He grinned and stood up.

  “No chance!” She slapped his arm playfully, “Unless you were the one wearing it.”

  “Uh hu.” He grinned and kissed her.

  Emily pulled away from him and set out for the door.

  “Where are you going now?” he asked. He planned on staying in this evening.

  “I have to go feed the cows,” she said, and turned to look at him.

  He was instantly in front of her and began kissing her ear, flicking her earlobe with his tongue. She shivered.

  “I can have someone do that for you,” he hinted.

  She hesitated and pulled away, “Nope, my cows, remember?”

  He sighed, “Yes I do.”

  “Besides, I’m pretty sure I know what you had in mind, and it can wait.” She grinned and headed out the door.

  Emily first headed into Patra’s stall, not bothering to wonder who had put her in. She pet the mare and rubbed Patra’s expanding middle, “How ya feeling, Patra?”

  Kyle smiled. He found it fascinating how she talked to her horse.

  “So when is the big event?” he asked, leaning back against the wall.

  “Hmm.” She did the math in her head, “7 more months.” She started pouring fresh grain in the trough for the mare.

  “So I heard something interesting today…” he began.

  She didn’t turn to him, but started to brush Patra.

  “Rumor has it, in the castle, that you were married before and that Chevalier killed him.”

  She turned with a frown, “You knew that already.”

  “Yes, but the interesting part is that somehow, so does everyone else now.”

  She cringed, “Seriously? Everyone?” She ducked out of the stall and pulled the door shut.

  He nodded. “I’m going to talk to Chevalier about it. I don’t like people talking about you and especially that. They shouldn’t judge.”

  Her body suddenly tensed, “What all do they know?”

  He shrugged, “I’m not sure.”

  “Do they know he... well…” She waited for him.

  “I don’t think so, no one mentioned it.”

  She relaxed some and loaded a bale of hay onto a small four wheeler.

  Kyle cringed, “I wish you’d let me at least load the hay for you, it’s heavy.”

  She smiled and climbed onto the ATV, “Then it would be your cows and not mine.”

  He followed behind her as she drove the ATV out to where the cows w
ere grazing, then grabbed her pitchfork and went to work. Kyle’s mind began to run through training scenarios for the guards. It didn’t do for him to watch her work if he valued his life. His thoughts turned to her too often and as much as he tried to control it, he couldn’t.

  “Emily, I’m going to go talk to Chevalier, you’re safe out here,” he reassured her needlessly. She felt safer out here than anywhere else on the island.

  Kyle disappeared into the house, and Emily went back to work. She hummed to herself as she fed the cows and looked back proudly as they all ate. She checked their water and poured it out for fresh, then took the ATV back into the barn.

  As she put away her tools, a sound in the barn scared her and she turned toward it. She grinned when she saw a barn cat looking at her, “Well, hello.”

  She walked over to it and sat down on the clean straw to pet it. It purred loudly and wound itself around her hand, “Keeping the mice away I hope?”

  She smiled at the cat, “You need a name though… let’s see….”

  Emily thought for a moment and then smiled, “I’ll call you Peanut.”

  The cat meowed and went back to rubbing against her arm. Peanut climbed up and leaned against her chest, his soft head at the nape of her neck, “You’re a friendly thing aren’t you?”

  She stood up, “I’ll be back tomorrow, you watch over things.”

  The sun was setting and the full moon was already starting to creep into the sky. She stepped in through the back doors and frowned, everything seemed too quiet. Even though she rarely saw heku servants, she could often hear them and always could feel their presence. Tonight the castle seemed empty and cold.

  Emily slowly wandered through the kitchen, into the foyer, and even peeked into the library, but still heard nothing. She made her way back into her bedroom and changed into an oversized t-shirt. When the silence had gone on too long, she left and went down to the TV room. It didn’t take long to thumb through the movies and find a good romantic comedy. Emily put it in the DVD player and turned the sound up, curling up on a beanbag with a light blanket around her.

  The movie ended and the silence in the castle became irritating. She vowed to find where everyone had gone. Getting up, she headed out into the silence. Starting on the ground floor, she went room to room and listened at the doors. She frowned when, after an hour, she still hadn’t found anyone. Suddenly, she had a thought and tried to remember where the courtroom was located.