Encala : Book 3 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

Chevalier shook his head, “Let’s see if we can work on those runes.”

  Kyle nodded and followed the Elder down into the prison, Damon met them there. The three of them looked in at Vaughn.

  “Can I help you?” Vaughn asked, smiling.

  “We’ve come to talk about the runes on my wife,” Chevalier said, calmly.

  “You mean my wife?” Vaughn asked, and leaned against the side of his cell.

  “What is it going to take to get those off of her?” Chevalier ignored Vaughn’s last comment.

  “There’s nothing that’s going to convince me to let go of my hold on the Winchester’s only heir,” Vaughn said.

  “It won’t do you any good if you spend eternity in this cell,” Kyle said.

  “We’ll see. I do enjoy hearing her scream in pain whenever I want,” Vaughn grinned.

  “Why are you doing this? Why does it seem like more than just having a Winchester at your command?” Damon asked, curiously.

  “I owe her a life of pain and humiliation for what she did to my faction. It’s my right to revenge, and I choose to take it out on her personally. You let her run around here like she’s in charge. As my wife, she will learn to be submissive, obedient, and respectful, as any mortal should be,” he said, proudly.

  “Then you don’t know her very well. Emily doesn’t have a submissive bone in her body. She would end up just turning you all to ash again,” Kyle said, when Chevalier didn’t answer. Kyle didn’t see that Damon was restraining Chevalier behind him.

  “Not when the rune fully works. Once that rune comes into full power, she will do whatever I say, whenever I say it, and she’ll do it with a bow,” he said, pleased.

  “You underestimate her,” Kyle said. “We know what it will take to make that rune fully operational, and it’s not going to happen.”

  “Enough pain will change anything. Even the most stubborn streak,” he said, sitting down on the bed in his cell.

  “I see we’re at an impasse,” Damon said, and pushed Chevalier back toward the prison door.

  “We’ll be back,” Kyle said.

  “Tell Emily good-bye from me, I hope she has fun in New Mexico,” Vaughn called to them.

  “We have to stop her, if he’s gotten a message to the Encala…” Chevalier blurred to the McLaren parked by his Humvee and roared the engine to life when Kyle sat down. He spun out and pulled quickly out of the garage and headed after Emily.

  “We should pass her at this speed, keep your eyes out,” Chevalier said, topping the car’s speedometer.

  “The Encala would have to know, he was too confident in how he said that,” Kyle said, watching out for the dark blue Durango.

  Chevalier just scowled and wove in and out of traffic.

  “What if she won’t come back with us?” Kyle asked.

  “I don’t expect her to, I have…” Chevalier sighed, “A sedative.”

  Kyle opened his eyes wide, “She’ll... she’ll not be happy.”

  “I know, but she’ll be safe,” he said.

  Chevalier pulled up to the valet at the airport and threw the keys at him. He and Kyle stepped into the airport, quickly, and looked toward the security check-in, the line was long. The estimated wait time listed on the board was 90 minutes.

  “I’m not catching her scent,” Kyle said, looking around.

  “She couldn’t have gotten through security. We had to have passed her,” Chevalier said, looking back toward the parking garage.

  “We were both watching for that, traffic wasn’t that heavy.”

  “Damnit, damnit, Emily,” Chevalier slammed his fist against the wall and turned around to block the hole in the wall with his body.

  “What?”

  “She went to the smaller airport, not the international. She would have known we’d check for her here,” Chevalier explained, angrily.

  Kyle opened his cell phone and dialed, “Hello. When’s your next flight to Albuquerque, on any airline?”

  Kyle frowned and slammed the phone down, “Only one airline flies to Albuquerque, it leaves in 15 minutes.”

  “We can drive it,” Chevalier said.

  “Think about it… what do we do when we get to her Uncle’s ranch?” Kyle asked.

  “Bring her home.”

  “Kicking and screaming?”

  “If we have to,” he said.

  Kyle turned and looked at him, “Maybe… we need to give her what she asked for.”

  “And let the Encala have her?” Chevalier asked, shocked.

  “Maybe it won’t happen. She can kill hundreds at once. They would be stupid to try to take her,” Kyle reminded him.

  ***

  “Oooh let me see that baby!” Jess said, taking Allen into a bear hug. She pressed her lips hard against his cheeks and left smeared red lipstick, “He’s so beautiful!”

  “Thanks, Jess,” Emily said, and hugged her uncle.

  “It’s about time you came for a visit!” Alec smiled.

  “Does someone have to get married to get you to visit?” Jess asked, and she put Allen down and hugged Emily tightly.

  “I’m sorry, it’s been busy. How exciting that Pat is getting married,” Emily smiled and looked around the ranch. “Nothing’s changed.”

  “Nuthin ‘cept you, Tiny.” Emily sighed and turned around to face Jeff.

  “Hello, Jeff,” she said, politely.

  “You’re holding up well, Short stuff,” he said smiling.

  “Jeff, she’s married, go feed the cows.” Alec said, and picked up Emily’s bags. She followed them into the house. Emily stood at the counter and snapped green beans as she listened to her aunt talk about the wedding and Pat’s fiancé.

  Emily was enjoying herself. Something as menial as making dinner was relaxing, and she was enjoying talking about little things. Allen was in the front yard playing with the neighbor’s 5-year-old son, and she was able to see him running and playing from the kitchen window.

  “How are things with you?” Jess asked, wiping her hands on a towel.

  “Same ol’ same ol’,” Emily said, smiling. “Boring life, ya know?”

  “Yeah I do, how’s that husband of yours? He’s quite handsome,” Jess said.

  “He’s good, probably enjoying some alone time.” Emily began to blanch the beans.

  “If he ever goes missing, Jeff talked about you for weeks after you left,” Jess said, winking at Emily.

  “Oh yay, I’ll keep that in mind,” Emily said, and laughed.

  “We have a dress fitting in town at 7pm, is that ok?” her Aunt asked as she rifled through the fridge.

  “Sure”

  “Boys, come eat!” Jess yelled out the window. Emily started piling food onto the table. She smiled when she saw everyone sit down around the table and begin to eat and talk. She was finding it was the little things she missed.

  After dinner, it was time for the fitting, so Emily kissed Allen good-bye and left him with Alec, then climbed into Jeff’s truck. He was taking Jess and Emily into town because he had to go in for feed. Emily made sure and let Jess ride in the passenger seat beside Jeff.

  “What ya been doing, Teeny?” Jeff asked, watching Emily in the rear-view mirror.

  “Not much, hanging out with my husband and his guards,” she said, grinning.

  “Your husband has bodyguards?” he asked, frowning.

  “Yes, lots of them,” Emily couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Didn’t we tell you? He’s an ambassador, right, Em?” Jess said.

  Emily nodded.

  The rest of the drive was in silence. Jeff grumbled a good-bye when he drove off from the church. Emily was surprised to have the fitting in a church, but the tailor was a member of their faith and offered the church.

  “Go get dressed, I’ll meet you there,” Jess said, and Emily headed for the bathrooms.

  She pulled the light pink dress out of the dressing bag and stripped, then slipped it on. She looked at her exposed back in the mirror and frowned. She looke
d at herself from the front, and shook her head, disappointed. Her sides were also exposed, and the dress was a little lower cut than she would normally wear. Taking a deep breath, Emily walked out with the others.

  Emily cringed, there were three others in the exact same dress. One was close to 250 lbs, and the other two were both over sixty. She smiled when they made a fuss over how beautiful she looked in the dress, and then stood up on a table for her fitting. She could feel herself blush as everyone watched.

  “Does the bride have something against backs?” Emily asked, as the woman pinned the hem and told her not to move.

  “You’re lucky that much is covered,” the tailor said, disgusted. “The way she prances around town in that half shirt and short shorts, it’s disgraceful.”

  Emily tried to ignore the argument that ensued and just thought about how wonderful all of this was. She missed some of the mundaneness of the mortal world, no attacks, no feedings, and no life threatening hidden passages.

  “Ok, done,” the lady said when she’d finished with Emily’s dress. “I’ll have it ready by tomorrow night.”

  Emily stepped down, careful not to disturb the pins, and ran back to the bathroom to change. There was another argument when she got back to the room. The tailor was trying to explain to the heavy-set maid of honor why she needed to wear a girdle, and the two older bridesmaids were talking about how bridesmaid dresses used to look.

  Jess gave Emily a frantic look, and Emily put her hand on her stomach, “I think all the travel is making me sick.”

  Jess’ eyes got wide, “Oh we should get you home, Dear.”

  Jess called Jeff and told him they were ready to leave. It was only a few minutes later than Jess and Emily were in the truck, on their way back to the ranch.

  “That was fun,” Emily said, after a few minutes of silence.

  “Well, Pat’s fiancé is a little… well...” Jess tried to think of a good word.

  “Flakey,” Jeff suggested.

  “She’s not a flake.”

  “She’s a women’s lib lovin’ flake,” Jeff said.

  Emily smiled, “You need a girlfriend, then you wouldn’t be so hostile.”

  “That an offer, Sweetheart?” he asked, looking in the rear-view mirror.

  “In your dreams, Hoss.”

  Emily hopped out of the truck when they got to the ranch and went in to check on Allen. Allen was sitting in Alec’s lap, and they were watching an old John Wayne movie together.

  “How’d it go?” she asked, kissing Allen on the cheek.

  “Your son has quite the imagination,” Alec said. “So I decided to show him some real heroes. No more of these… what do you call them?”

  “Heku,” Allen said, watching the movie intently.

  “It’s just a phase, I’m sure,” Emily said, and went into the kitchen to help clean up. Jess made a fresh pot of coffee and she and Emily sat down to visit. Alec came in a short time later with Allen asleep in his arms.

  “I think he’s had enough of the Duke,” Alec said, handing Allen over to Emily.

  She kissed his cheek, “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good, why don’t you bring some eggs in when you come,” Jess said, smiling.

  Emily nodded and headed out to the old bunkhouse where she used to live. Emily changed both of them and curled up next to Allen on the bed. She soon fell asleep to the sounds of cows in the pasture.

  Emily woke up to the rooster and looked over at Allen, he was still fast asleep. She got up, dressed quickly, and walked out to the chicken coop. She gathered the eggs into the basket and checked on Allen, he was coloring in bed. Once he was dressed, they headed into the house. They could smell breakfast from outside, and Emily smiled.

  “Good morning,” Emily said, handing Jess the basket of eggs. Allen ran into Alec’s outstretched arms.

  “Hope you’re hungry,” Jess said, flipping pancakes on the griddle.

  “Starving, what can I do?” Emily asked, and started cracking open the fresh eggs for scrambled eggs.

  As soon as breakfast was over, Jess looked at her watch and gasped, “Emily! We’re going to be late for the makeovers.”

  “Makeover?” Emily grimaced.

  “Oh come on, it’s not going to hurt you to be made up for once,” Jess laughed.

  “I’ll bring Allen along later,” Alec said, sitting down to color with Allen.

  Emily nodded and followed Jess out to the car. They crawled in and rode silently into town. Emily cringed when she saw the beautician assigned to her. She had blue and pink striped hair and rings in her nose and eyebrows. Her make-up was heavy black, and she had a blue tear tattooed on her cheek.

  Emily decided to just endure it and sat back to listen to Jess visit with other members of the wedding party.

  “Don’t forget, Jennifer, hair up,” the owner said to the girl doing Emily’s hair.

  “Can’t I wear it down? It’ll cover my back,” she said.

  Jess shook her head, “Bride’s order, hair has to be up.”

  Emily nodded.

  “What colors of make-up do you want?” the girl asked Emily.

  “Nothing dark,” Emily said, eyeing the beautician’s black eye shadow.

  Emily watched for three hours as the beautician curled her hair and intricately piled it on top of her head with coiled tendrils falling softly down on her shoulders. She was impressed that her make-up was very light and natural looking.

  “Come on, Emi, we have to get dressed,” Jess said, frantically.

  She went along with Jess. She knew they had plenty of time, but her Aunt was frenzied and nervous. In the car, Jess babbled about people who were coming, and those that couldn’t make it. She was nervous about meeting the bride’s mother and kept referring to them as ‘new age’ parents.

  Emily hurried and got dressed. The bathroom was full of last minute fittings and make-over adjustments. It didn’t take her long to get dressed. The dress didn’t allow for a lot of work, not even a bra was an option with the backless creation. She pulled on the pink heels and walked out of the hectic bathroom, hoping to find Allen.

  Emily found Allen and Alec sitting alone in a room off of the main church lobby. She slunk into a chair and picked Allen up.

  “Pretty scary, isn’t it?” Alec said, smiling.

  “Yeah, not really my thing,” Emily shrugged.

  “We appreciate you coming. We don’t have a lot of family and Pat wanted as many in the wedding as possible,” Alec explained.

  Emily nodded, “It’s ok, it was a good excuse to come visit.”

  “Emily!” Jess yelled.

  “I better go,” Emily said, checking to make sure Allen’s tie was on straight.

  Emily was lined up behind the maid of honor and handed a small bouquet of pink roses and white carnations. She smiled as Allen ran down the aisle with the ring and into Alec’s arms.

  Emily was glad for her quaint bonding ceremony. She didn’t have to go through all of this with Chevalier like she had with Keith. She marched slowly down the aisle and blushed as she felt eyes on her exposed back. She took her place alongside the bride and looked out over those gathered.

  One man caught her eye. He was watching her closely and smiled when she looked at him. Emily couldn’t help but blush, even when their eyes met he didn’t look away. She didn’t catch most of the ceremony. She spent her time trying to look at anyone but the dark haired stranger who was watching her. Once the ceremony was over, she walked with the others into the reception area where there was to be a dance.

  “Allen is tired. I’m going to take him back to the ranch,” Alec said when he found Emily.

  “Coward,” she called to him.

  “Yes I am,” Alec said, grinning, and then left with Allen.

  The music started and Emily watched the couple take their first dance together.

  “Come on, Small Fry, let’s dance.” She flinched at the voice.

  “No thanks, Jeff, I don’t dance,�
� she said, but he took her hand anyway and dragged her onto the dance floor.

  She felt his rough hand on the skin on her waist, and he took her other hand.

  Jeff’s dancing was uncoordinated and clunky, and she had to fight to stay on her feet in the awful pink heels. She was relieved when she heard the voice behind her.