Valle : Book 2 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  Noting the change in Emily’s body posture, Selest took over the questioning, “After you injured the mortal, what was said?”

  Emily sighed, “Well… the tall heku told me I needed to swear my allegiance to the Valle and when I said no, they…”

  Selest noticed Emily’s heart began to race.

  “They… took me somewhere and tied me up by my wrists and hung me in a room.” Emily’s eyes were far away, picturing the awful scene in her head.

  “For how long?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Did anyone come to you?” Selest asked softly.

  “Yes… they came in regularly and told me if I swore allegiance to the Valle, they would let me go.” She was watching Selest’s pitch black eyes.

  Selest grimaced and frowned, “You did not agree to this?”

  Emily shook her head, “No, I did not.”

  “Even to stop the pain that must have caused?”

  “No”

  “Anything else?” Selest asked, watching Emily with more respect.

  “They came in once and told me if I were to join the Valle, they would not only let me go, but would give me anything I wanted. So I spit in his face, and then…” She shivered, “They got a strap.”

  She didn’t need to go on, they all knew the rest of what happened and all of them looked at her, astonished. Never had they known a mortal to show such devotion, and to endure that kind of pain, just to stay loyal to a heku faction.

  “Lastly, Child, did you turn any of the Valle into ash?” Leonid asked respectfully. The Council all looked nervously at her.

  “No, I did not.”

  “Why? When it was in your power to do so, numerous times?”

  “I was outnumbered. I knew I could take down the few in the room, but then there was the entire coven. There’s no way I could do that many without someone killing me first. Then I was afraid if they knew what I could do… they would attack the Equites for keeping it from them.” As she finished, the Elders all nodded, it made sense.

  “Can you control that power then?” Selest asked.

  Emily nodded.

  “Right now, if we brought in a heku, could you turn him to ash?”

  Emily looked up, terrified, “Please, please don’t make me.” She took a step back.

  “It’s ok, we do not wish to see a demonstration,” Maleth assured her.

  The heku were surprised that she wasn’t eager to show her abilities. Most mortals found the heku so inhuman that killing them wasn’t a problem.

  Chevalier wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked over her head at the Council. Kyle stood beside her.

  “That is quite the mortal you have, Chief Enforcer,” Leonid said, impressed.

  “We think so,” Chevalier responded.

  “She brought some light to the Council,” Leonid told him, and stood. “You won’t be surprised to learn that we were bringing you here today to remove your position as Chief Enforcer. What she said has shed some light on the situation though, and we wish to keep you at your command.”

  Chevalier nodded, “Thank you, Sir.” He wondered what transpired that had instilled the Council’s faith in him.

  “Now, please, come and join us in a more casual setting,” Selest said, and smiled. The Council members all filed out through a door on the top level.

  Emily looked nervously at Kyle.

  He smiled at her, “Apparently, you made quite an impression.”

  Chevalier’s arms tightened around her, “I guess now we go make nice with them.” He didn’t sound happy.

  Kyle smiled at Chevalier and turned to Emily, “He’s always hated socializing with the Council, even though he’s one of them.”

  Kyle laughed and walked out the door, followed by Emily and Chevalier.

  They were led into a large banquet room that was decorated from floor to ceiling with odd looking runes and old drawings. The room was dimly lit, and everyone turned to smile at them when they entered.

  The first to greet them was one of the younger looking council members. He shook hands with Chevalier and Kyle then smiled down at Emily, “It was a pleasure to meet you, Child. We do look forward to meeting with you again.”

  She nodded politely.

  “I was also…” He thought for a word, “Surprised, to smell the Winchester blood for myself. The rumors and stories weren’t at all exaggerated.”

  Emily wasn’t sure how to answer, so she just smiled.

  Chevalier’s eyes narrowed and the council member walked off quickly.

  Emily was aware throughout the evening that the heku would all happen by her, and she could hear as they inhaled slightly, then walked quickly away. She grimaced each time, halfway expecting one of them to attack her. Chevalier kept her close to his side as he talked about the attack on the Valle to eager ears.

  The room grew quiet when a newer heku servant entered with a silver tray in his hand. He met Emily’s eye, and then came to her and lifted the top off of the tray, revealing small dainty pastries inside.

  Emily smiled sweetly and took one, thanking the heku.

  Chevalier moved her quickly behind him when the heku inhaled deeply and slowly dropped his eyes to her neck as the tray of pastries banged loudly as it hit the floor. The young servant crouched down slightly and ran his tongue along his exposed teeth. It all happened too fast for Emily to react. Suddenly, the entire room seemed to descend onto the young heku, and she heard the grotesque tearing of flesh as Kyle whipped her around and covered her eyes, pressing her against his chest so she couldn’t see.

  When all was silent, she pulled away from him and turned around. The council members were all looking at her apologetically.

  “We are sorry, Child. We should have considered you when inviting in younger members of our staff,” Leonid said.

  “I think it’s time we go,” Chevalier said, irritated. He hurriedly put his blood covered hand in his pocket.

  Emily was horrified, “You didn’t kill him!”

  Leonid nodded, “He knew better than to attack a guest.”

  “No!” she screamed. “No, you don’t kill anyone because me.”

  Leonid frowned at her, confused, “He savored you, and he was going to attack.”

  “He didn’t need to die for it.” She stepped forward to look Leonid in the eyes.

  Leonid began to laugh, “Never ceases to surprise me, this one.”

  Emily’s eyes turned to an icy glare.

  Chevalier quickly ushered her out of the room as she began to argue with the Elder. He grinned as they left the room.

  “Why did you stop me?” Emily asked angrily.

  “Because nothing you could have said would have helped. I didn’t think the Council could survive a standoff with you.” She glared at Chevalier when she noticed he was amused.

  Kyle turned and looked away, concealing a grin.

  “They killed that poor heku because of me,” she grumbled.

  “And as I’ve said before… that’s not the point. He disobeyed an order,” Chevalier said, trying to control his voice. He found her temper amusing at times.

  Emily spun suddenly under Chevalier’s arm and began to storm back to the banquet room, “They need to hear me out.”

  Chevalier grabbed her arm to stop her, and then he jerked his hand away when she screamed out in pain.

  Kyle was suddenly standing in her way, “It’s best if we just leave.”

  Emily turned and headed back to the helicopter as she rubbed her shoulder. Chevalier and Kyle followed her with stifled laughs.

  “Irish blood,” Chevalier said to Kyle, too low for Emily to hear.

  Emily curled up on the seat in the helicopter and shut her eyes, facing away from the other two.

  “I’m still shocked. I knew they were going to release you,” Kyle whispered to Chevalier.

  “I was sure too. I was ready to plead my case against the mandatory banishment after being released from the Council.”

  “
Yeah that too,” Kyle said, relieved.

  “What do you think Emily said to them that changed their minds?” Chevalier asked.

  “There’s no telling with her,” Kyle said, and laughed.

  Chevalier chucked, “I wish I had heard it.”

  “Ever considered the trouble you are going to be in when there are two mortals on the island with that Irish temper?” Kyle grinned.

  “Yes I have. I figure I’ll spend a lot of time in the office.” He laughed as Emily glared towards the back of the chair.

  Chapter 6 - Fighting Back

  Hard knocking interrupted the conversation that Chevalier and Kyle were having about security.

  “Come!” growled Chevalier.

  One of Emily’s guards stepped into the office, panicked, “I can’t find Lady Emily.”

  Chevalier sighed, “She’s in her room.”

  “I looked and she’s not there,” he said, his eyes were terrified.

  Kyle rolled his eyes at Chevalier. Emily had been going through personal guards quickly. Her ability to elude them and escape by herself was becoming a weekly problem. Neither Chevalier nor Kyle could seem to get any control over it.

  “Tell me what happened,” Kyle asked the young guard.

  “She came and told me she was going for a run. I told her that I’d go change as soon as I could get a replacement, and then we’d go. She said ‘alone’ and I told her she couldn’t go alone,” he said quickly.

  “Kyle, go find her,” Chevalier sighed, and Kyle nodded and ran off.

  “How did she get away this time?” Chevalier asked the guard, trying to calm him down.

  “I don’t know! She got mad when I told her she couldn’t go out alone, and then she said she’d changed her mind. So a few minutes later I heard her call my name, and when I got inside, she was gone,” the guard said, and then looked down at his hands.

  “Damnit, how is she getting out?” Chevalier grumbled. “Did you talk to the balcony guard?”

  “Yes and he hasn’t seen her. I will go report myself to my Commander,” he replied, standing up.

  “No, no, you’re fine. If I demoted everyone Emily got away from, we wouldn’t have any guards left. Go back to your post.” He shut his eyes. He knew that if heku got headaches, he would have one now.

  Kyle knew where she’d gone as he’d gone on runs with her before. He reached the pier quickly, and one of the guards pointed him to the south, where saw Emily jogging along the sand. He watched her for a moment. She’d started jogging a lot lately, and she always wore the sports bra and low shorts that she trained in a few months ago, so he knew it was her. She ran with her hair tied high and her iPod booming in her ears.

  Emily felt elated as she ran along the beach. She didn’t have to wear shoes to run on the sand, and the warmth felt good to her feet. She had her favorite music playing and let her mind wander as she ran. That’s why she didn’t see Kyle suddenly appear in front of her and she ran right into him, landing on her butt in the sand.

  “Gah, Kyle!” she yelled, getting up and brushing the sand off of herself.

  “Emily… why?” he asked, irritated.

  She pulled the earphones from her ears and stepped to the side, “Leave me alone. I’m just running.”

  “Alone,” he said, stepping in front of her.

  “Yeah… alone… get the hint?” She put the earphones back in, but he blocked her way again.

  “What??” she yelled at him.

  “You know what… time to go back.” He took a hold of her arm.

  “Stop being Chevalier’s little stooge and let me be for once! I’m not hurting anything.” She put her hands on her hips.

  “We’re not worried about you hurting anything, and you know it. It’s not safe out here. You aren’t even inside the cement walls,” he said, pointing to the high gray wall.

  “Neither you, nor your Chief Enforcer, are my father, so I can do what I want.” She turned and ran back the way she came.

  Kyle growled and ran after her, when she arrived at the pier and kept going along the beach. He caught up to her again and picked her up.

  “Put me down,” she demanded.

  “No,” he said, heading toward the castle.

  “Now!” She tried to squirm free.

  “No”

  Emily sulked the rest of the way to the castle and her temper flared when Kyle set her down in Chevalier’s office.

  “What now, Em?” he asked, frustrated.

  “Apparently, a little harmless running upset the grouch over here,” she said, nodding to Kyle.

  “You’re scaring my guards to death. They are afraid I’m going to punish them every time you skip out… which happens to be way too often and way too easily.” He watched her for a reaction.

  “Maybe I don’t need a guard.”

  “Of course you do.” Chevalier hated to remind her of the Valle kidnapping, “How are you getting out?”

  “Yeah, like I’m going to tell you,” she said angrily.

  “It’s ok, Kyle, I have it,” Chevalier said, and Kyle left his office.

  Emily turned to face him and it was obvious that she was ready for a fight.

  “What’s going through your mind? You know it’s dangerous.” He tried to reason with her.

  “I’m penned up all the time. All I want is some alone time. How hard is that?” she asked, irritated.

  “Then go to the barn,” he suggested.

  “I spent all morning in the barn, and as you won’t let me ride Patra, or even toss hay, then there’s not much to do.” She glared at him.

  “That’s not fair, Emily. You know those were doctor’s orders,” he said, and frowned at her.

  Chevalier moved to her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, one hand coming to rest of the small bulge in her abdomen, then kissed her neck.

  Emily pulled away from him, “Just leave me alone.” She left his office and slammed the door.

  Frustrated, Emily walked the halls of the castle for a few minutes then stopped suddenly. Her eyes fell on the door that led down to the dungeon. She thought for a moment, and then walked down the stairs.

  “Ma’am?” the closest guard said as she walked into the cell area.

  She ignored him and walked toward the first row of cells.

  “Ma’am, you can’t be in here,” he said, following her.

  Emily spun on him, “You going to stop me?”

  His eyes grew wide, “Ma’am, the Chief Enforcer said you weren’t to be down here.”

  “Oh did he? Didn’t the Chief Enforcer also tell you all not to savor me?” She raised her eyebrows.

  “I… I didn’t!” he said, horrified.

  “Then I suggest you let me be, or we’ll find out who he believes more, you or me.” She stared at him and he turned and walked away, confused.

  Emily went cell to cell and watched the reaction of the prisoners. Most ran to the bars, slamming into them and reaching out for her. She didn’t flinch or jump back, she just walked past them, not sure exactly what she was looking for. In the last cell on the second row, she noticed a heku who sat calmly on his bed and watched her.

  She stopped at his cell, “Hello.”

  “Hello, Child,” he said politely.

  She watched him for a moment, “I don’t like being called Child.”

  “My apologies then,” he said, then stood up and walked slowly to the bars. His face was sincere.

  “What’s your name?” she asked the prisoner.

  “David”

  She looked into his eyes, “You aren’t like the others in here.”

  “No, I am not,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Are you Equites?” She stepped a little closer to him.

  “I am Encala.” He took a step away from the bars.

  “Why are you here?”

  He smiled, “Are you supposed to be down here?”

  “No, I guess I’m not.”

  “Then why are you? You are with child, no? It
’s not safe for you down here,” he said, watching her.

  Emily reached down and touched the small bump on her abdomen. She forgot that she was still wearing her jogging clothes.

  “Why are you here?” she asked again.

  He studied her carefully, “You first. Why are you down here among the violent when you should be upstairs where it is safe?”

  Emily sighed, “I’m down here because I was curious who else was.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I spent some time in a dungeon recently, and I suspect not everyone in the dungeon belongs there.” She sat down across from his cell with her back against the wall.

  “Fair enough… I am here because I was a spy.” He sat down by the bars across from her.

  “A spy? What were you spying on?” she asked. She knew it was being nosey.

  “You, of course,” he said, smiling slightly.

  “Me? Why would you spy on me?”

  “The Encala are curious why the Valle would kidnap a mortal, and why the Equites would fight so hard to rescue you.”

  “How long do you have to stay here?” She looked at the dark, gloomy cell.

  “Forever”

  “Seriously? Just for spying? Did you intend to kidnap me?”

  “No, all I sought was information.”

  “Who sentenced you to life for such a small crime?”

  “The Chief Enforcer of the Equites.”

  Emily sighed, “That’d be my husband.”

  “All the more reason you shouldn’t be down here,” he said, amused.

  “You too, eh… can no one let me do what I want?”

  “Do what you want around me, that is fine. I was just expressing my concerns that there might be some down here who intend you harm.” He brought one knee up and placed his arm on it.

  “What do you do all day down here?” Her eyes looked past him to his cell, and all she could see was a small metal bed.

  “Think mostly, it’s quite boring.” He turned around and looked at the stark cell.

  “Can I get you anything?” Emily asked seriously.

  He frowned, “Don’t get yourself into trouble over me, please.”

  “You said I could do what I want, and I want to help. I don’t think you belong down here.”

  “A book would be nice.”