Quinn and Mark knelt down beside Emily and watched Chevalier and Damon fight. The two ‘old ones’, friends for thousands of years, were evenly matched and the violent snarls and crashes was all that could be heard on the rooftops.
“Help… him…” Emily managed to whisper.
“He needs to handle this on his own,” Quinn told her quietly.
“Zohn…” she whispered, and leaned her head down on the gravel floor.
“He’s ok, he’s healed now,” Mark said.
The fight stopped abruptly when Chevalier pinned Damon against the ground, his hands twisting his head dangerously to the side, less than an inch from snapping his neck and removing his head. He looked down at Damon, out of breath and healing from several cuts and broken bones. A hiss escaped Chevalier’s lips as Damon snarled at him.
“Just do it,” Damon growled. “Get it over with and kill me.”
“You haven’t been through enough pain… yet,” Chevalier hissed, and snapped Damon’s neck. Damon fell unconscious onto the gravel and Chevalier stood up as Mark picked Emily up, cradling her in his arms.
Four guards rushed forward and restrained Damon as he healed.
“I know Damon… and Selest,” Silas said, and turned to the male heku, “But who is this?”
“He was Elder Samuel… he was banished and replaced by Leonid,” Quinn said, watching the two former Elders struggle against the guards.
“Get them into cells, all three of them. We’ll deal with them later and maybe we can find Exavior,” Chevalier said, still furiously angry.
Mark headed inside, followed by the Elders, and took Emily into her room, laying her gently on the bed.
“How badly are you hurt?” Mark asked, looking at the bruises on her neck.
Emily grinned slightly, “If I weren’t completely smashed, I think I’d be in a lot of pain.”
Zohn chuckled, “They picked a bad night to attack me. I had a lot to drink, too.”
“You two were up on the roof drinking… together?” Quinn asked, shocked.
Emily held her thumb and pointer finger out, “Just a little bit.”
“A lot, actually,” Zohn said, grinning.
“I apparently can’t ash when I’m drunk,” she said, and started to laugh.
Chevalier sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled Emily’s hands toward him. He looked at the scrapes along her forearms and then sat them down. Next, he lifted her shirt up slightly, revealing the cuts and bruises on her abdomen.
“Not now, Chev, everyone’s watching,” Emily said, blushing.
Chevalier grinned, “I’m looking for injuries, Em.”
“I’m… sorry,” Mark said softly. “I didn’t see how else to get him off of her.”
“You saved her again. I won’t question your methods,” Chevalier said, and batted Emily’s hands away when she started to unbutton his shirt.
“I just wish she didn’t get hurt in the process,” Mark said, obviously angry at himself.
“A few bruises and scrapes are minimal compared to what he had in mind… Em, stop,” Chevalier said when she unfastened his cape.
“What are we going to do with the three of them?” Zohn asked, and then grinned when he saw Emily start unbuttoning Chevalier’s shirt.
“We can always banish them again and bury them in the ancient’s room,” Quinn suggested. “With Exavior’s new method of populating his faction, I wonder if a new policy should turn the ancient’s room into a banishment room.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Zohn said. “We’re almost done moving all of the banished into there already.”
“I want some time with them first, especially Damon,” Chevalier said as Emily leaned up and started to kiss his neck, her hands trailing down to the button on his pants.
Mark chuckled, “Do you need a moment alone?”
“Em, how much did you drink?” Chevalier asked, amused as he moved her hands and gently pushed her back onto the bed.
“Lots,” she told him, and lightly ran her nails down his chest. “You’re sexy when you fight.”
“Good to know.”
“I bet we can get Exavior’s location from Selest, she’s the one that’ll talk the easiest,” Zohn suggested. His eyes grew wide when Emily leaned up and bit Chevalier on the neck as she wound her fingers through his hair.
“Em… seriously, if you don’t stop… you’re not going to be able to face anyone in the morning,” Chevalier told her.
“I agree, the weak link is Selest,” Quinn said, quickly trying to change the subject as he watched anything in the room other than Emily.
“I’ve been thinking of a way to lure Exavior out of hiding, using Emily as bait,” Zohn said, deep in thought.
Chevalier looked over at him and frowned, “No, that’d put her in too much danger.”
“She wants to help. This would be a lot less dangerous than when she eventually slips her guards and ends up alone with Exavior,” Zohn told him, and turned suddenly to look at the fire.
“I like danger,” Emily said, and started to unbutton Chevalier’s pants again. He turned to stop her and saw she’d managed to unbutton her own shirt.
“Scram,” Chevalier said, and leaned down to kiss her while the room quickly emptied out. The last heku through the door shut it behind him.
***
Emily groaned when the light from morning hit her eyes. She covered them with her hands.
“Hung over?” Chevalier chuckled.
“Sort of,” Emily said, and sat up. She saw the aspirin and orange juice on her table and took them, then buried her face in her hands.
Chevalier rubbed her back lightly, “Probably sore too? You got hit pretty hard.”
Emily moaned, “Did I molest you in front of everyone last night?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Damn,” Emily sighed.
“It just shocked them,” Chevalier said, laughing slightly. “You’re usually more private and reserved.”
“You should have let Damon kill me, then I wouldn’t have to see them.”
“Not a chance,” he said, grinning, and handed her a cup of coffee. “Now they can stop thinking that you’re purely innocent and that I seduce you.”
Emily cupped the coffee in her hands and sipped it slowly.
“Mark wants to come in,” Chevalier told her, and looked at the door.
Emily scrambled out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
“Come in,” Chevalier called out, adjusting the blankets at his waist.
“Sorry to interrupt, Damon is asking to speak to you,” Mark said, standing by the door.
“Tell him I’m busy.”
Mark grinned slightly, “I think he already knows. We couldn’t help but hear.”
“Just don’t tell her that,” Chevalier told him, and glanced at the bathroom door. “I’ll be down in a twenty minutes.”
Mark nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Emily came out a few minutes later, fully dressed and looking at the scratches on her arms, “Gravel burns.”
“How bad?” Chevalier asked, taking her hands in his and looking at her forearms.
“Not too bad,” Emily said, and noticed he was back in official uniform. “Let me guess… going to play with Damon?”
Chevalier grinned, “Of course.”
“Can I go to the island?” Emily asked him.
“He can’t get out of prison,” Chevalier told her softly.
Emily sighed, “I’m not worried about Damon… I just… want to go.”
Chevalier grinned, “Because of last night?”
Emily shrugged and walked over to look out the window.
“We have children. I’m pretty sure they already knew,” he said, and wrapped his arms around her.
“Yes, well… I didn’t have to show them.”
Chevalier fought to keep from grinning by kissing the top of her head, “I need you here where the
Council can watch over you.”
“I better stay sober then, no reason giving them all a show,” she said, cringing.
“Good idea. I’ll be back in a bit. Li is your council member today, and he’s out in the hallway with the guards.”
“What does he do, anyway?”
“He’s the Chief of Defense.”
“Joy,” Emily sighed and sat in the bay window as Chevalier laughed. He stepped out into the hallway and the guards looked over at him.
“She won’t be a problem today. She’s too embarrassed to step out of her room,” Chevalier told them, grinning slightly.
“Hmm, interesting,” Li said, and glanced down the hallway.
Chevalier walked down the stairs and into the council chambers. He took his seat beside Quinn and leaned back in his chair, “What’s been decided?”
“We want to start with Selest in the interrogation chamber,” Zohn said. “Richard’s already down there with her.”
“I would imagine that Exavior realizes she’s the weak link,” Chevalier said. “I’d get two out of three agreeing on his location before we send in the forces.”
“True,” Quinn said. “I’m assuming you would like a go at Damon?”
“Oh yes, I do,” Chevalier said, grinning maliciously.
“We got reports from Lord Taylor,” Zohn said. “He sent word that everything is now running smoothly. His new officers have taken care of any loose cannons, and they have pledged their support as a coven.”
Quinn nodded, “Good to hear. It’s too bad she won’t help again with that.”
Chevalier chuckled, “How much did she drink last night?”
“Quite a bit,” Zohn told him. “I wouldn’t expect someone her size to be able to survive after that much alcohol.”
“She is Irish, is she not?” Dustin asked.
“That she is,” Chevalier said. “I’ve only seen her drunk a few times though.”
The Council all turned suddenly when whispers blew across the palace, “He’s on her phone.”
The Elders blurred into the bedroom and saw Emily on her knees in front of the window. The phone was against her ear and she was pale, “Please…”
Emily looked up at Chevalier with terror in her eyes, and she whispered, “I understand.”
As Exavior spoke, the keen hearing of the heku picked up his words and the sound of screaming coming from behind him, “Do that and he will live.”
“Please, Exavior, don’t do this,” Emily said pleadingly.
“I’ll take nothing less than your compliance. Bring Damon and Samuel with you, and I’ll let your boyfriend out of excruciating pain,” he told her angrily.
“I can’t get away,” Emily told him, and Chevalier growled.
“You, of all people, can find a way to get free,” Exavior said. “Meet me where I told you.”
Emily dropped the phone when the line disconnected, but stayed on her knees and watched the phone.
“No,” Chevalier hissed.
“Did you hear Kyle?” Emily asked softly. She was finding it hard to speak.
“Yes, but I promise you, if Kyle could talk, he would tell you to stay here,” Chevalier told her.
“Where’s the rendezvous point?” Zohn asked.
Emily shook her head, “I can’t tell you.”
“Tell us,” Chevalier said softly, and gently pulled her to her feet.
“No”
“Damnit, Em! You are not going after him, and especially not with Samuel and Damon,” Chevalier hissed.
Emily looked into his eyes, “I can turn them all to ash, just let me go.”
“He would have thought of that,” Quinn said. “Exavior is smarter than to let you waltz into the middle of his new faction unprotected.”
Emily sighed and shut her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, the Elders all glanced around, confused.
“How did we get in here?” Quinn asked, frowning.
Chevalier turned to Emily, “What did you wipe?”
“Nothing important. I just need to step into the prison for a sec,” Emily said calmly, and walked toward the door.
“Who’s in the prison you need to see?” Zohn asked her suspiciously.
“David,” Emily said. “I just need to ask him a question.”
Zohn watched her, “She’s not lying.”
“Yes, she is,” Mark said from the door. “I’m not letting you go.”
Emily glared at him, “Move, Mark.”
“If they had their memory, they wouldn’t let you go talk to Damon, Selest, or Samuel,” Mark told her, blocking the door.
“Wait… they are in our prison?” Chevalier growled angrily.
“Yes, you know that. It’ll come back,” Mark told him, and blocked Emily as she tried to duck under his arm.
“What are you up to?” Chevalier asked, looking at Emily, “And why do you have bruises on our neck again?”
“Don’t do this, Mark,” Emily said angrily. “Let me by.”
“When the Elders regain their memory and agree to let you speak to them, then I’ll let you go,” Mark said, standing his ground.
Richard, the Chief Interrogator, appeared behind Mark. His shirt covered in blood, “I’m done with Selest… I accidentally killed her though.”
Mark let him through, making sure Emily stayed in the bedroom.
Chevalier frowned, “Damnit, what are you talking about?”
Richard glanced at Mark and then nodded and turned back to Chevalier, “I’ll give my report as soon as your memory comes back.”
“Fine,” Emily said, crossing her arms.
Mark glanced around the room, “Am… I? Did you call me?”
Quinn looked at him, “How did I get in here?”
“Emily, what did you wipe?” Chevalier asked, looking around.
“Nothing important,” she said, and walked out of the bedroom. The confused guards fell in behind her, and she quickly went down into the prison.
“Damnit, how far back did she take us?” Chevalier growled.
“I was… in my office,” Zohn said, trying to remember what happened.
Kralen came into the room, looking angry, “Did you give permission for Emily to talk to Damon?”
Chevalier turned to the guard, “Damon!?”
Kralen growled, and whispered something to Silas before turning back to the Elders, “She wiped your memory, didn’t she?”
“How is Damon back?” Mark asked, confused.
Kralen sighed, “Exavior brought Damon, Selest, and Samuel back from banishment. They attacked Zohn and Emily on the roof last night. There was some type of phone call from Exavior and, as far as I can tell, Emily is trying to escape with Samuel and Damon.”
“Stop her,” Chevalier growled, and then looked up when Silas came in with Emily thrown over his shoulder, unmoving.
“Is she injured?” Mark asked, watching Silas lay her down on the bed.
“No, I knocked her ass out with a sedative as she was letting Damon out of his cell,” Silas told them, and held up the empty syringe.
“She let Damon out?” Chevalier asked.
“It’s ok, we got him back in his cell,” Silas said.
“Why would Emily ever let Damon free?” Zohn asked, confused.
Silas sat down, “No use trying to explain all of this. Your memory will be back soon.
The heku all sat silently in the bedroom, waiting for Mark and the Elders to remember the happenings of the last 24 hours. After almost two hours, their memories came flooding back to them.
“Ok, Richard, what did you get out of Selest?” Chevalier asked, looking over at their Chief Interrogator.
“She said that she’s not seen Exavior, but knows he’s the one that brought her out of banishment,” Richard explained. “Their orders were to bring Emily to an address in Philadelphia; however, when I asked Damon and Samuel about those orders, they lied and said the orders were true.”
Zohn frowned, “So Selest was told something d
ifferent?”
Richard nodded, “I suspect she was expected to be caught and tortured, and they knew she would give up the information.”
“So she was fed a lie,” Chevalier said, sighing. “We need to get the information out of Damon and Samuel.”
“They’re next on my list, starting with Damon,” Richard said.
“I want in on that one,” Chevalier told him, and stood up. “How long will she be sedated?”
Silas shrugged, “Another few hours.”
“Damnit, she’s not leaving me a choice,” Chevalier said, and pulled the leather restraints from a hidden compartment in the closet. He and Mark restrained her to the bed and then stood back.
“There’s something else,” Richard said, frowning. “Selest kept saying something about Emily’s age.”
Chevalier shrugged, “What about her age?”
“She wouldn’t tell me until I let her go.”
“Damon said something to Emily about that last night,” Zohn told them. “He said… ‘Interesting about your age, too. I didn’t see that coming.’”
“I have no idea,” Chevalier said, and turned to watch Emily sleep.
“Write yourselves a note,” Mark said. “Keep it in your hand. If she wipes your memory, you’ll have to know why she’s there and not to let her out.”
Silas nodded and began writing.
“Let’s go,” Chevalier said, and headed down to the prison with Richard and Mark. They rounded the corner to Damon’s cell, and he looked up at the Equites.
“Your little whore came close to letting me out. I see you’re all slipping further,” Damon said, grinning.
“Yup, we are,” Chevalier said, and opened the door. “Come have a chat.”
Damon smiled, “I’m not afraid of your little interrogation room. I put most of that stuff in there.”
“Good, then we won’t have to listen to you whine,” Mark said, grinning.
“I’m surprised you didn’t bring the faction Bitch along,” Damon said, stepping into the interrogation room. “Or were you afraid she’d get herself stuck in the foot restraints… again?”
Richard glanced at Chevalier and he grinned, “Maybe.”
“Foot restraints sounds like a good place to start,” Mark said, and forced Damon into them with Richard’s help.
Mark sat on the rack and looked down at Damon, “Why don’t you just save yourself the pain and tell us where we can find Exavior.”
Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series Page 51