Chapter 3 - Rescued

Emily drove her wheelchair to the door when she heard a knock, and let in the servant. He sat their breakfast on the table and was out of the room before she even turned around.

“Eew, eggs,” Allen complained.

“Eggs are good for you,” Emily told him, wheeling up to the table.

“Do we get to race today?”

“Not today, Hun. When my back is better, I’ll show you how fast Patra is,” she said, and grinned.

When they were done eating, Emily drove her wheelchair out into the foyer and then used her crutch to stand up. She looked down the long flight of stairs, five floors worth, and started down them slowly.

“Ma’am?” one of the guards said as they followed her.

“Yes?”

“May I… assist?” he asked nervously.

Emily thought about it, and then nodded, “Sure, then you two are off. I ride alone.”

The guard nodded and picked her up, carrying her swiftly down the stairs. He sat her down on the ground floor, and the two guards left for the barracks. Emily hobbled out toward the stables while Allen ran ahead, and was visiting with Sam when she got there. Sam bowed to Emily, and then left, going back into the palace.

“Ok, up you go,” Emily said to Allen. He hopped on a bale of hay and then slid onto Damnit’s saddle.

Emily walked up to Patra and looked up at the saddle, “Ok, so I didn’t think this through,” she said, smiling slightly at Allen.

Emily gasped when she felt strong hands on her waist lift her up into the saddle.

“Thanks,” she said, turning toward the strange heku.

He nodded and left, nervously.

“Walk him,” Emily told Allen as she clicked her tongue and brought Patra into a smooth walk. It felt good to be out with the mare again. There was an exhilarating sense of freedom in being out on a horse. Emily and Allen made their way slowly through the streets of Council City and out onto the hills.

“Run Damnit to the trees and back,” Emily said, smiling.

Allen took off quickly, kicking Damnit into a fast gallop. Emily watched him proudly. At five, he was already handling a horse like a seasoned cowboy. Allen brought his horse to a stop about halfway back to Emily, and she kicked Patra into a walk to meet up with him. She wasn’t sure why he stopped.

As Emily approached Allen, she saw a group of people heading toward them.

“Are they heku?” Allen asked.

“I don’t know,” Emily said. “If I tell you to run, you kick that horse and get into the town, ok?”

“Ok,” he answered.

Emily sat tall on Patra as the twenty mortals walked up to her.

“Hiya, Ma’am,” the front one said to her.

“Hello,” she answered, politely. It was strange to see a large group of mortals so close to Council City.

“Just out for a ride?” he asked, smiling.

Emily nodded. She got an uncomfortable feeling as she watched the mortals. She jerked Patra hard when she saw one of the mortals take the reins on Damnit, and another on Patra.

“Get out of here, Allen!” she yelled, and then kicked the horse, but the mortal already had control of the stallion.

Emily was pulled off of Patra, and she screamed when her back spasmed.

She saw Allen in the arms of one of the mortal women. Suddenly, Emily was in the grips of a large mortal man. She struggled against his muscular arms, but couldn’t get free as she was led to a black van, parked alongside the road.

***

“Sir,” Mark said, stepping into the trial area. Quinn was about to chastise him for barging in on a trial, but his voice was urgent.

“What’s wrong, Mark?” Maleth asked.

“Patra and Damnit were just found wandering outside of the city. Emily’s guards said she and Allen are out riding,” Mark said quickly.

“Take some guards out and search the woods. They probably got off of them to do something, and the horses took off,” Chevalier said. He felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. Emily knew better than to leave her horse un-tethered, and he couldn’t imagine her walking a lot with her back hurting.

As soon as Mark left, Damon stood up, “So we are all in agreement that you are guilty of treason, by means of fraternizing with an Encala.”

The heku looked nervously up at the Council, “I told you, I didn’t know his faction.”

“It is your responsibility to know his faction.” Damon glared. “Five years for that.”

A guard came and removed the heku from the trial area.

“Shall we break?” Maleth suggested. He knew Chevalier was anxious to go out and look for Emily, himself.

“Yes, that sounds good,” Quinn agreed.

“Damon,” Chevalier said, and headed out of the council chambers, followed by the Chief Enforcer.

“You don’t think she wandered off, do you?” Damon asked. He was proficient at reading body language.

“Emily wouldn’t get off of Patra without tying her up,” Chevalier said as they blurred to the hills outside of town.

“When do we officially call this what it is then?” Damon asked, looking around at the guards searching the area.

“Thirty minutes, then we label it a kidnapping,” Chevalier sighed.

“Encala or Valle?”

“I guess… both,” he said.

Chevalier watched carefully as the guards came back with no sign of Emily. The thirty minutes passed too quickly, and Damon went back to the Council to alert them of her kidnapping.

Quinn frowned, “Send diplomats to both the Encala and the Valle, see if we can ascertain where she is.”

Damon nodded and left for the barracks.

Chevalier stayed out through the night, searching for clues to her whereabouts. He knew that Kyle had led a group of guards to the Encala Council, and one of the Generals had led his troops to the Valle Council to try to get information. They were due back in a few hours, and Chevalier waited impatiently for them. Just after the sun rose, he returned to the palace and stepped into the council chambers.

“Kyle is on his way in,” Quinn said. Chevalier took his seat and tapped his fingers on the desk. Kyle came in looking frustrated.

“What did you find?” Maleth asked.

“I met with Vaughn, and the four members of the Encala Council. They are either very good actors, or they have no idea where she is or that she was taken,” Kyle said.

“That leaves the Valle,” Quinn said.

“They were also going to send representatives to the Valle. They were pointing the finger at them and, of course, Vaughn was mad that the Valle had his…” Kyle looked at Chevalier, “Wife.”

Chevalier growled.

The Council heard Kyle being summoned by some of his guards, and they excused him.

“Do you think the Encala were faking?” Quinn asked.

“Kyle is a good judge of character and reactions. I’m going to believe him,” Chevalier said.

“Should we ready the troops for a Valle attack?” Maleth asked Damon.

“Let’s try it diplomatically first. If they do have her, we will try a stealth attack,” Damon said, deep in thought.

The Council looked at one another when Kyle asked them to come to the game room. As one, they left the chambers and appeared in the game room together.

“You have to see this,” Kyle said. The local news was paused on the large TV, and they all turned to it when Kyle un-paused it.

The mustached man on the news laughed and shuffled his papers, “In other news, the V.E.S. is claiming to have rescued a pregnant woman and her young son from the hands of local vampires. Leader Greg Hans said that his society is currently undoing the brainwashing done to them by their captors.”

The mustached anchorman laughed a bit and then returned to his paper, “Local Law Enforcement is trying to arrange a meeting with the woman, to try to ascertain from where exactly she was taken. They are afraid the V.E.S. kidnapped her from her home, and is trying to further their cult’s standing in the community. Currently, the V.E.S. has denied any Law Enforcement from entering their compound.”

Kyle turned the TV off when the news moved to weather. He looked at Chevalier, who was frowning.

“I didn’t know the V.E.S. was even in this area yet,” Quinn said.

Kyle nodded, “One of their main offices is in the city.”

“Call back the diplomats from the Valle, apparently, we have another problem,” Chevalier said, still watching the blank TV.

“It’s not going to be hard to get into the V.E.S. compound and get her back,” Damon said, smiling. “I could probably solo it.”

“We can’t barge in and wipe them out. Any sign of validity to their claim that vampires are real, and we could expose ourselves,” Maleth said sternly.

“I suggest that Kyle contact the police in the city that his wife and son are missing. See if he can officially be named Emily’s husband,” Quinn said.

“Why not Chevalier?” Damon asked.

“Kyle has already been marked as her husband by the police. We have to keep up those appearances,” Maleth explained.

“An abusive husband,” Damon reminded them.

Kyle frowned, “I hate that.”

“As soon as Kyle is recognized as her husband, he should get information on the location of the compound, and updates on anything they find about Emily,” Quinn said.

“I want guards watching the news. Any report on the V.E.S., and they are to notify me,” Chevalier said angrily.

“At least she’s not in Encala or Valle hands. The V.E.S. are pretty harmless as far as cults go,” Quinn said.

“True, we can handle mortals easier than the other factions,” Maleth smiled.

“If I know Emily, she’s ticked though, and I hope she doesn’t push them too hard,” Chevalier said, smiling slightly.

“I hate to say it, but we may have to leave this rescue up to mortal law enforcement,” Quinn said.

Maleth nodded, “Any action on our part and we risk exposure.”

***

“Keith, follow me,” the Lieutenant said, motioning Kyle back toward his office. Kyle followed him and sat down as he was handed a cup of coffee.

“You say she’s been missing since when?” the Lieutenant asked.

“Yesterday, she went horseback riding with my son. When she didn’t return, we started searching for her in the woods,” Kyle explained.

“You think she might be the woman the V.E.S. has?”

“I think so, she’s 5 months pregnant, and my son is 4 years old. It just sounded like it matched,” Kyle explained. “She’s also recovering from a hiking accident. Her back is still injured pretty badly, and she has a cast on her right leg.”

“Have you ever had a run in with the society?” the Lieutenant asked.

“No, I haven’t. I always thought the Vampire Extermination Society was a joke, actually,” Kyle said, shrugging.

“A cult… but no joke. We’ll see if we can verify that they have Emily and Allen, and we’ll get in touch with you,” the officer said, standing up. He shook Kyle’s hand and Kyle left the police department, headed back to the palace.

Kyle arrived at the palace just as the news was starting. The Elders were gathered in the game room to watch.

“Local V.E.S. leaders have agreed to a phone conversation with WJHJ News at Five to discuss the kidnapping charges filed against the group an hour ago. Law Enforcement officials have identified the woman as Emily Russo, and her 4-year-old son, Allen. Charges were filed by her husband, Keith, earlier today,” the female news anchor said.

“Mr. Hans, are you there?” she asked.

“Yes I am,” a gruff voice said as his words were typed across the bottom of the screen.

“What are your comments about the kidnap accusations filed against your organization?” she asked him.

“They are false accusations. We didn’t kidnap her and her son. We rescued them from the hands of the vampires,” Greg said proudly. “As soon as her brainwashing is reversed, we’ll let her and her son go.”

“Reports are that her husband has come forward and is demanding their immediate return. He denies being… well… a vampire,” she said to him.

“He’s a vampire all right, and the woman has been abused by them. She’s in a cast from them breaking her bones, her arm is injured, and she has scars on her wrists and neck from all of the feeding they do on her. Her back is so badly injured it causes her pain just to walk. She’ll be much better off in the mortal world,” Greg told her.

“Are the two being held against their will, or have they admitted that vampires held them?”

“Oh… she’s fighting back. They have her brainwashed well. The boy is too, but growing up with vampires around is all he’s known,” Greg explained.

“So you admit that the woman is trying to get away from you?” the anchorwoman began to sound mad.

“Yes, I’ll admit to that, but only because of the brainwashing,” Greg said, irritated, and hung up the phone.

“There you have it, a live report from the leader of the V.E.S. The woman’s husband, Keith, and this news station are cooperating fully with local Law Enforcement to ensure the safe return of Emily and her son. Back to you John, how are those Broncos doing?”

Kyle muted the TV.

“Are you getting anything from her?” Kyle asked Chevalier.

“Just extreme annoyance, actually. I’m pretty sure she’s ok, but whatever they are saying to her, or doing to her, is making her irritated,” Chevalier said with a smile.

“I can’t believe we have to leave this up to the mortals,” Damon said, frustrated.

“It’s a mortal affair, though. Not a single immortal seems to be involved,” Quinn reminded him.

Chevalier picked up his phone when it rang, “Yes?”

“Chev?” Emily asked.

“Emily, are you ok?” Chevalier questioned, quickly.

“I am calling to inform you, that I am no longer going to be a part of your world,” Emily said, her voice was monotone and extremely annoyed. “The V.E.S. will put an end to the vampire’s existence.”

Chevalier laughed, “Are you reading that?”

“Say it,” Chevalier heard a voice say from behind her.

“I do not love you,” she said, and Chevalier could almost hear her roll her eyes. “Your control over me has ended.”

“Ok, good to know,” Chevalier chuckled.

“How is she?” Kyle asked when Chevalier shut his cell phone.

“I wouldn’t want to be in the V.E.S. right now,” Chevalier said, laughing. “She called to tell us that the vampire’s existence is about to end. She doesn’t love me, and my control has ended.”

“Oh really?” Quinn asked, amused.

“Oh yeah, I wish you could have heard her voice. She is extremely annoyed,” Chevalier said, turning to Kyle. “Better call the police and update them on that phone call, we have to cooperate fully.”

Kyle nodded and pulled out his cell phone, then left the game room.

***

“Today marks the fourth day of the standoff between the V.E.S. cult and law enforcement over the kidnapping of Emily Russo and her 4-year-old son, Allen. Federal ATF agents are set to arrive later today, because of warnings that come from former V.E.S. members, who say that the cult has amassed a stockpile of weapons, and are set on ridding the world of vampires.”

“This is no longer amusing,” Chevalier growled.

“Is she ok?” Damon asked, muting the TV.

“Something’s changed. She not annoyed, now she’s afraid,” Chevalier said.

“Let me go and get them,” Damon said, frustrated.

***

Emily sat with Allen at a small table as one mortal man sat across from them, “Repeat again… vampires are real, and vampires are evil.”

Emily sighed, “Vampires are real, and vampires are evil.”

“Good girl, you are coming around slowly. Do you still love a vampire?” he asked, smiling sweetly.

“Yes,” she responded, irritated.

The man sighed, “They are incapable of love. How can we get that through to you?”

“Let us go, and we’ll find out for ourselves,” Emily suggested.

“It’s too dangerous for you. We are only holding you here for your protection,” he reminded her.

“Oh that’s right,” Emily said, rolling her eyes.

“Are you ready to tell me who the father of your baby is? And Allen’s father?”

“Nope,” she said bluntly.

“We just want to know if the vampires are capable of reproducing, or if they have found other means,” he said seriously.

Emily laughed, “Other means?”

“Yes, invitro, for example, or a donor. Are the vampires using you to repopulate their numbers?”

“That’s stupid,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Go back to your house. We want to talk to you later about how to kill a vampire,” the man said, frustrated.

“Joy,” Emily replied, and stood slowly. She cried out slightly when her back sent shooting pains down her legs. She and Allen walked across the compound to their small house, escorted by three men with guns.

Emily shut the door and locked it behind her. She turned to Allen, “You have the note?”

“Yes, Mommy,” he said, patting his back pocket.

“Do you know the plan?”

“Yes”

“Just remember, I don’t care who the Equites is, run to them, and stay with them, ok?” she asked, kissing his forehead.

“You come, too,” Allen pleaded.

“I can’t leave. This plan only works if I’m here to cause a diversion.” She smiled, reassuringly.

Allen nodded and climbed onto Emily’s lap. She held him closely, “It’ll be ok.”

“Why do they want to kill Daddy?” Allen asked her, tears forming in his eyes.

“They are just confused, they think Daddy is bad.”

“Can’t they meet him? He can tell them.”

“It doesn’t really work like that.”

“I don’t want to leave you here,” Allen said, looking up at her.

Emily smiled, “I need you to get that note to Daddy.”

Allen nodded.

Emily jumped slightly when there was a hard knock at the door.

“Go, now,” Emily whispered. She watched as Allen laid down on the bed and pretended to be asleep.

She opened the door and stepped out, “What?” she whispered.

“You’re to come with us,” one of them men said.

“Fine, but Allen’s asleep, he’s not feeling well,” she said. Emily shut the door, catching one last glimpse of Allen before latching it, and locking it behind her.

“Come on,” the man said, pointing a gun at her.

Emily followed the men to a conference room, moving slowly because of her back and casted leg. A long table filled with men wearing camouflage and carrying semi-automatic weapons was in the center. Emily was pushed toward the end chair and she sat down.

Soren, the second in command at the V.E.S. compound, stood to speak to her.

“Emily, this is the last time we’re going to do this nicely. Either you give us the information we want, or you’ll have to be punished,” he said to her.

Emily lowered her head and nodded.

“What is the easiest way to kill a vampire?” he asked her, sternly.

Emily began to cry, her pregnancy hormones made it easy, “Stake.”

Soren smiled, “A stake through the heart?”

Emily nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“What about Holy Water?”

“Only…” she looked up at them, and then back to her hands. “Only very cold.”

“That’s what we’re doing wrong then… thank you, Emily, you’re doing very well,” Soren said, and she could tell he was pleased.

Emily just sat perfectly still.

“What about Garlic?”

“Makes them sick if they eat it,” she had to fight a laugh, that one was true.

“Will it keep them away?” he asked, frowning.

Emily shook her head no.

“What about silver?” Soren asked, writing down everything she said.

Emily frowned. She hadn’t heard anything about vampires not liking silver. She finally nodded.

“What about silver? Does it burn them?”

She nodded.

“Can they be restrained with Silver?”

“Yes,” Emily replied. She had a brief glimpse of the pain Chevalier had gone through because of electricity.

“Anything else? Anything at all you can think of that can help us?” Soren asked, leaning closer to her.

“They will kill me if I tell you,” Emily whispered.

“We’ll protect you, I swear to it,” Soren told her.

“Alcohol,” she said finally.

“What about it?”

“It makes them weak,” she whispered.

“Did you know that?” Soren asked the man next to him angrily.

The other man shook his head.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

An alarm sounded in the distance.

“Get her back to her room,” Soren ordered, as he ran from the building.

“Allen!” Kyle said, holding his arms out. Allen ran into his arms and Kyle hugged him tightly.

“Follow me,” an ATF agent said to Kyle, and Kyle crawled into the back of a van, still holding Allen. They were taken to the police department where a doctor was waiting to check Allen over. After Allen was given a physical, he was medically cleared, and both Allen and Kyle were taken to a conference room.

Kyle sat down in a chair and put Allen on his lap while other ATF agents and local police gathered and sat down.

ATF Agent Williams smiled at Allen, “It’s good to see you, Boy. How did you get out?”

“Mommy created a detersion,” he said, leaning his head back on Kyle’s chest.

“A diversion?” Williams asked.

Allen nodded.

“Did you see any guns?”

Again, Allen nodded.

“A lot of them?”

“Yes, everyone has a gun,” Allen said.

“Were they…” Agent Williams glanced at Kyle briefly, “Nice to you and your Mommy?”

Allen shrugged, “Sort of, Mommy’s back hurts.”

“What do you mean, sort of?” he asked, concerned.

“They yell at Mommy a lot. She won’t help them.”

Agent Williams frowned, “Have they hit your Mommy?”

“No, but they say they will,” Allen told them.

Kyle pulled Allen closer to him, “Can I please just take him home now?”

Agent Williams nodded, “Yes, there’s not much more we can ask a 4-year-old.”

Kyle nodded, he knew that Allen was far advanced beyond his age, but just wanted to get him back to the palace. Within a few minutes, Kyle and Allen were headed back to the palace in Kyle’s Ferrari. He kicked it up to the top gear and topped out the speedometer, then called ahead to the palace to let them know he was coming.

Chevalier was waiting in the garage for them. Allen unbuckled his seat belt and ran to him. Chevalier scooped his son up into his arms and hugged him tightly.

“Mommy said she misses you,” Allen told him, wrapping his arms around Chevalier’s neck.

Chevalier smiled and hugged him tighter.

“She sent this,” Allen said, and dug into his back pocket. He handed Chevalier a note and they started into the palace.

Chevalier put Allen down and unfolded it, then read the note and frowned, “Damon, Kyle, meet me in my office.”

Kyle nodded and took Allen’s hand, leading him into the palace. Within a few minutes, Allen and the three heku were in Chevalier’s office. He held the note out for them to read.

C,

I am in the southeastern corner. Suspect G is V or E. Getting tense here.

E

“Does she mean that that leader, Greg, is a Valle or Encala?” Kyle asked, with wide eyes.

Chevalier nodded, “I think so. She couldn’t risk writing the names out.”

Damon growled, “Let me go get her.”

“Let me think, if Greg is a heku, that changes everything,” Chevalier said, frustrated.

“Allen, are they asking Mommy questions?” Kyle asked him.

Allen nodded.

“What kind of questions?”

“How to kill a heku,” he answered.

“Anything else?”

“Yes, the head man wants a map of the palace,” Allen said.

Damon frowned, “What did Mommy say to that?”

“She said we aren’t allowed out of our room,” Allen sighed. “Is she in trouble for lying?”

Chevalier smiled, “No, she’s not.”

“What else do they talk to Mommy about?” Damon asked him.

“About me and the baby. They want to know who my Daddy is,” Allen told them.

Chevalier frowned, “If he’s Valle or Encala, then he should already know that.”

“Maybe he’s testing her, to see if she’s lying,” Kyle suggested.

“He’d also know how to kill a heku without asking Emily,” Damon said.

“Appearances… he’s keeping up his mortal appearances. If he knows too much about the ‘vampires,’ then others might become suspicious,” Chevalier said.

“It’s no longer a mortal affair, let me go get her,” Damon said sternly.

“How do we explain that then? How do we tell police she got away?” Chevalier asked. “We can’t make this any harder on her than it already is.”

“I’ll go too,” Kyle said, thinking. “Damon and I won’t break her free, we’ll stay with her. We can get messages between her and the palace. We can make sure she has anything she needs.”

Chevalier nodded, “That’s not a bad idea. Give it a few days, see what happens.”

***

“Leave us,” Greg said to the others gathered around the V.E.S. table. Without question, the mortals all left the room, leaving Greg and Emily alone.

Greg moved over beside Emily and grabbed her wrist, “You aren’t fooling anyone.”

“I could say the same to you,” she said, glaring.

“Tell me the layout of that palace,” he hissed, his eyes grew angry.

“You know, as well as I do, that I’m not going to tell you that,” Emily snapped.

Greg smiled, something he never did around the mortals, and he ran his tongue across his sharp canines. He pulled closer to her and inhaled deeply, then touched the tip of his nose to the vein in her neck, and Emily’s skin crawled.

“Tell me,” he whispered, and pressed his lips against her neck.

Emily felt a panic begin. She briefly thought about ashing him, but couldn’t figure out how to explain that to all of the men with guns.

Emily whispered, “No.”

Greg held tightly to her wrists and sunk his teeth into her neck. Emily gasped and fought to get away, but he was holding her too tightly. She felt the warmth and relaxation spread through her just before he pulled his head away from her.

Greg smiled and pressed his lips to hers briefly, “I’m going to look forward to having you around, my dear. I bet you are dying to turn me to ash, aren’t you? Guess that’d make getting out of here kind of hard.”

Emily slapped him as hard as she could.

“You’re feisty, I like that,” Greg said.

“The Equites won’t stand for this,” she told him, holding her neck with her hand.

“They will live, I’m sure. You though… this hunger strike isn’t going to work. I don’t really care if you die, though it would spoil my new dessert. I’m not like the others. I see no value in the Winchester line except for the exceptional taste,” he said, grinning as he rocked back in his chair.

“I can’t wait to see your head ripped off,” Emily said scathingly.

Greg laughed, “I’m sure you would like that. Go get some rest. I’ll want to feed later, so you should keep your strength up.”

Greg went to the door and opened it, “Take her back.”

Emily was forcibly pushed out of the conference room and taken back to her house. She quickly locked the door and looked around. The small cabin was cold and empty. She sat down on the bed and pulled the covers up, and then she let her mind wander to the warmth of the palace and the feel of Chevalier’s arms around her.

Greg visited Emily in the small house that night and once a night for the next three days. She felt herself becoming weaker, and she knew that soon she would either have to turn him to ash, or run the risk of dying. Rumors flooded the compound about the nightly visits, but none of them suspected the true reasons for their leader’s sudden infatuation with the rescued woman.

“V.E.S. sources are now saying that Emily and their leader, Greg, have become an item,” the anchorman said, amused. “These sources claim tension within the compound has lessened, while tensions with law enforcement have grown. Now that the young son is free, the ATF has another witness to the amount of fire arms located within the compound. Day nine of the standoff leaves us no closer to a rescue than we were when she was first taken. ATF Agents are claiming a glitch in policy has prevented them from contacting Emily directly, though sessions are being held to alleviate the problem.”

Chevalier hissed, “Kyle, Damon, go.”

Kyle and Damon both nodded and blurred from the room. They were on the compound within an hour, and watched from the southeast corner as mortals patrolled the streets and walls with guns. They waited silently until most of the compound had gone to sleep before approaching Emily’s house. Her scent was strong enough that it had been easy to locate her exact position.

They waited outside of Emily’s house as they got used to her scent. It was imperative that they kept control when they entered. Damon frowned when a lone figure approached the house and knocked. When no one answered, he pulled out a key and unlocked the door and disappeared inside.

Kyle looked at Damon, who gave him the command to wait.

Half an hour later, when the man left Emily’s house, Kyle knocked softly on her door. When no one answered, the heku moved around back and found a loose window. They climbed in the tiny house quietly. Emily was lying in the bed, and the heku could smell fresh blood. Kyle hissed and went to her while Damon waited in the corner, still acclimating to her scent.

“Emily?” he asked, touching her hair softly.

Emily turned toward him. Her pale expression and dull eyes surprised him, “Kyle?”

Kyle ran his eyes over her quickly, and hissed when he saw the fresh bite marks on her neck.

“It’s ok, we’re here,” he said, and touched her cheek lightly, her skin was cold.

“Is he… feeding?” Damon scowled.

Kyle nodded, and pulled another blanket over her, “I’m going to talk to Chevalier, stay here.”

“If he comes back, I’ll kill him,” Damon said, his hands curling into claws.

Kyle nodded, “Ok.”

Chevalier looked up from Allen’s book when Kyle entered, “What’s wrong?”

Kyle’s features were dark and fierce. He was crouched slightly and his hands were balled into tight fists, “He’s feeding off of her.”

“What?” Chevalier growled, standing up. Sam came and took Allen into his room.

“She doesn’t look well. It’s been going on for a few days at least,” Kyle told him.

“Get her out. I don’t care what law enforcement says,” Chevalier hissed.

“When we get her out, I want to wait for him,” Kyle whispered, maliciously.

Chevalier nodded, “Do it.”

Kyle disappeared from the room.

“Take her back to the palace, I’m waiting here for Greg,” Kyle said when he crawled in through the unlocked window.

Damon nodded and picked Emily up easily, wrapping her in blankets. She cried out softly as the movement made her back spasm.

“I’ve opened the gate out back. Once you’re gone, I’ll make it look secure again,” Kyle said, his posture and voice were menacing.

“I have her, let’s go,” Damon said. He felt Emily try to hold onto his neck, but her hands slipped off of him.

Damon slipped through the open fence, and immediately disappeared into the nearby trees. Kyle bent the wires of the fence and made them look untouched. He then went back into the house to wait.

Chevalier met Damon at the door and took Emily from him. He couldn’t see her because of the blankets, but could smell fresh blood. He blurred up to her room and laid her down, then ordered servants to stoke both of the fires.

Damon reappeared in Emily’s house and stood next to Kyle. They waited silently as the dawn broke.

Finally, there was a knock on the front door and a soft female voice spoke, “Here’s your breakfast, Dear. I’ll leave it out here for you.”

When the woman walked off, Damon opened the door and slipped the tray inside. He looked down at the congealed mass of oatmeal and wrinkled his nose. He picked up a small pill and held it up for Kyle to see, “B12.”

Kyle nodded.

Damon returned the tray to the doorstep and then stepped back to wait for Greg. No one else knocked or brought food the rest of the day. As night fell, the heku became anxious, and the anticipation of revenge grew.

The knock came late at night, and they both moved into the shadows of the house. They had propped pillows up on the bed so it looked like Emily was still there. They stood perfectly still as the key rattled in the door and the door opened.

“I’m back and very hungry tonight,” Greg said, laughing. He shut the door behind him and locked it, “You better start taking your B12, Child. I wouldn’t want to lose my favorite dessert.”

“I think you already did,” Kyle said, stepping out of the shadows. Greg looked at him and crouched. He turned when he heard a noise behind him and saw Damon blocking the door.

“You can’t kill me. It would raise suspicions,” Greg smiled.

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you,” Damon said, taking a step forward.

“I was thinking that we’d leave that up to her husband. He’s most anxious to meet you,” Kyle said with a chilling smile.

***

“Federal ATF Agents have released a statement that the V.E.S. leadership has waved a white flag. The surrender of the cult comes after reports that their leader, Greg, abandoned them and left the compound unnoticed late last night. No word yet on the kidnapped woman, Emily,” the anchorwoman said. “Law Enforcement has arrested all adults in the compound, while twenty three children have been taken by Protective Services. ATF has spent the day cataloging and removing a variable arsenal of firearms.”

Mark turned off the TV and turned to Quinn and Maleth, “Now what?”

“We need to put out a statement of our own that Emily has been returned,” Maleth said.

“Law Enforcement is going to want to talk to her though, she’s too weak for that,” Quinn said, frowning.

“Get our attorneys on the phone. Find out what course of action we have to keep Emily out of the interrogation room,” Maleth said to Mark. Mark nodded and blurred from the room.

“Shall we go see how she is today?” Quinn asked, standing up.

Maleth nodded, and seconds later, both appeared at her door. He knocked softly.

The doctor opened the door and motioned them both inside. The room was stiflingly hot and dark. Heavy curtains were pulled over the windows, and the lights were dimmed. Chevalier sat on the bed beside Emily and held her hand.

“How is she?” Quinn asked, looking down at her. The dark circles under her eyes were in sharp contrast to the paleness of her skin.

Chevalier shrugged and whispered, “Sleeping still.”

Quinn whispered to Chevalier, “We’re contacting our attorneys to see how we can release that Emily is back, without the ATF questioning her.”

Chevalier nodded.

“Is there anything we can do?” Maleth asked.

“Do you know yet if he is Valle or Encala?” Chevalier asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Not yet, Zohn will be here within the hour to interrogate him,” Quinn said.

“You trust him for that?” Chevalier questioned.

“I will be there, as well.”

Chevalier nodded and turned back to Emily.

“It’s so cold,” she said, still mostly asleep.