Chapter 11 - Ghosts

Emily pulled the Durango into the palace garage and cut the engine. She kept her sunglasses on, even though it was night time. Her head was pounding since she’d woken up after the party, and though she scrubbed, she still had blue streaks painted across her face that she couldn’t seem to get off.

Chevalier appeared by the door and opened it, then pulled Emily into a tight hug. Her stomach lurched at the sudden movement, and she fought to keep from throwing up right in the garage.

“Mmmm, I missed you,” Chevalier said, kissing the top of her head.

“I missed you, too,” Emily finally managed to say. Chevalier pulled away from her and looked at her oddly.

“Have fun?”

Emily nodded, and watched as Chevalier opened the door and picked up the sleeping baby.

“What’s with the war paint?” he chuckled.

“It won’t come off,” she said, sighing.

“Did you join a Native American tribe while you were gone?” Chevalier took her hand and they started into the palace.

“To be honest, I don’t know exactly what I did last night.”

“Must have been fun.”

“No, I don’t think it was.” Emily tried to remember any part of the night, but couldn’t seem to recall anything.

“I see. Well you must be exhausted. Why don’t you go lay down.”

Emily nodded and followed him up to the room. The stairs seemed gruelingly longer than normal, and all she wanted to do was go to bed.

Once in the bedroom, Emily slid off her jeans and crawled into bed. Chevalier put Alexis down in the bassinet and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Ugh, my thigh is burning,” Emily said softly.

Chevalier frowned, “When did that start?”

“The night we got back from Paris.”

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

“Hmm?” Emily was too tired and too comfortable to answer.

“You smell like peyote,” Chevalier chuckled.

“I wondered what that drink was,” she mumbled.

He seemed highly amused, “I’m surprised you didn’t stay an extra day so you would feel better.”

“Not until we get rid of the ghost,” Emily said, mostly asleep.

“Ghost?”

“Yeah, the house is haunted.”

“There’s no such thing as ghosts,” Chevalier chuckled again.

“There’s no such thing as vampires either,” Emily said, and with a soft sigh, she slipped off to sleep.

Chevalier watched her sleep, often touching her hair, or her arm. It was good to have her back in the protection of the palace. While he understood her need to be alone, it put the entire palace on edge with worry about her safety. The worst part of her new ranch was the lack of information he had on it. He didn’t even know which state it was in. If anything happened to her, she would simply vanish. No one would ever know what happened.

Chevalier picked up Alexis when she started to wake up. She looked at him and frowned, then her bottom lip started to quiver, and he rushed her from the room before she could wake up her mother. Once out of the view of Emily, Alexis let go and filled the foyer with her angry cries. She kicked frantically and the tears began to flow.

“Need help?” Kyle asked as he walked out of his room.

Chevalier handed Alexis over to Kyle, and she almost immediately began to calm down. She watched Chevalier closely, and any time he got near her, she would start to cry.

“Perfect,” Chevalier said, frustrated.

“She’ll get to know you,” Kyle told him, rocking Alexis.

“Mom’s back?” Allen asked, running up the stairs.

“Yes but she’s sleeping,” Chevalier told him, and he leaned back against the wall to wait.

“Chev?” Emily called out from the bedroom.

Allen ran into the bedroom and was immediately pulled under the covers of the bed and tickled. Chevalier laughed and picked up Alexis, ignoring her new screams, and went into the bedroom. Kyle shut the door and headed down the stairs.

Emily peeked out from under the covers, “What’d you do to Alex?”

“She hates me, I told you,” Chevalier said, handing her over to Emily.

“She doesn’t hate you… damn I hope she’s hungry,” Emily sat up and pulled her shirt up to feed the baby. Allen emerged from under the covers and went to stand by Chevalier.

“So… haunted house, huh?” Chevalier asked with a grin.

“Yes, the ranch house is haunted. I need to figure out how to get rid of the ghost,” she said, her eyes narrowing as she watched him laugh.

“Seriously, there’s no such thing as ghosts. If there were, then I’m sure the heku would have encountered them at some point in our existence,” Chevalier told her.

“There are too, and one’s in the attic of the house,” Emily said. She was watching Chevalier as Alexis held tightly to one of Emily’s fingers in her little fist.

“I want to see a ghost!” Allen said excitedly.

“There are no ghosts,” Chevalier said again, and sat down on the edge of the bed. “You probably have a raccoon in the attic.”

“That’s what the twins said, but raccoons don’t move tables, or open all of the cupboards in the kitchen, nor do they talk,” Emily said, getting frustrated.

“Talking, huh? If I were you, I would send Sam up just to make sure it’s not a heku.”

“I did, and it’s not.”

“Maybe Sam’s losing his touch.”

“It’s not a heku.”

“Who’re the twins?” Chevalier asked.

“My field hands, Native American brothers,” Emily said, and she frowned as she tried to remember something about the bonfire.

“I see… what tribe?”

“I’m not falling for that,” Emily said, laughing. “I tell you the tribe… you track down what area they live in… and soon my new ranch is full of Equites guards.”

“Hmm,” Chevalier said, raising an eyebrow.

“Mom, Dad’s teaching me how to feed by myself,” Allen told her, excited.

Emily cringed a bit, “Great.”

“It’s so much better from a person than from the fridge.”

Chevalier couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on Emily’s face.

“How about you keep that stuff between you and your Dad, ok?”

Allen frowned but nodded, “Ok.”

“Your breakfast is almost here. When you’re done, we can go do something together. Until then, I have a meeting,” Chevalier told her.

“Can I go?” Allen asked.

Chevalier nodded, “Sure.”

“He’s going to your meetings?” Emily asked, frowning.

“Why not? He thinks they are fun.”

Emily shrugged, “They can get violent though.”

“That’s when it gets fun!” Allen said, laughing.

Emily waited until Chevalier and Allen left before getting out of bed. She went into the bathroom and tried again to wash off the blue paint. It had faded a lot, but there was still a faint outline. As soon as she was sure the meeting started, Emily crawled into bed with Alexis again and grabbed her cell phone.

It rang once before Exavior answered frantically, “My God, Emily. I’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’m ok,” she said, and looked around, again making sure no one was listening. “I want the runes gone.”

“Yes, I would imagine you do.”

“Can you come?”

Exavior sighed, “No, I can’t come back there for a while. The Council doesn’t want to risk us being incarcerated.”

“Can I come to you then?” Emily asked.

“That would be the fastest way. I can’t have you coming to the Council though, that’s too risky,” Exavior said.

“Why too risky? They have to know I want these runes off.”

“Yes… but, it’s gotten out that your son is more heku than mortal, and we all know you have a daughter now.”

Emily winced, “Well that didn’t stay a secret for long.”

“Nothing ever does. We can arrange to meet at my coven,” Exavior said.

“Ok, I can manage that. I’ll need to bring the baby.”

“That’s too dangerous,” he said to her.

“I can’t leave her, she’s nursing.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot about that. Yes, you can bring her. First though, you need to get Equites Council permission.”

Emily winced, “Why?”

“You can’t come here without the Council’s approval. You could be arrested for treason,” he explained.

“I’m not bound by their rules. I can do what I want.”

“Still, you’ll be safer with the Council’s permission.”

“They’ll want me to bring guards, and Chevalier will insist on coming,” she explained.

“Guards are ok, but I can’t have an Equites Elder here in my coven.”

“What am I supposed to do if they say no?”

“They really can’t. You have to get those runes off.”

Emily nodded, “Ok, I’ll let you know what they say.”

“If they give you too many problems, call me,” Exavior said.

Emily hung up the phone and crawled out of bed to get dressed. If she was going to get these runes off quickly, she would have to get the worst part out of the way, asking the Council’s permission. Even the thought of asking their permission for something that didn’t concern them made her irritated.

Emily took the baby and headed down to the council chambers.

“Can I help you, Lady Emily?” the guard outside of the council chambers asked.

“I need to talk to them.”

“You can go around back if you’d like, the Elder’s at his chair.”

“I…” Emily sighed. “This is official.”

The guard frowned, “Very well, they are just discussing. I’ll go tell them you are here.”

Emily watched the guard go inside and could hear perfectly what was being said.

“Yes, Derrick?” Quinn asked.

“Lady Emily is seeking an audience,” the guard said.

“Tell her to come around back then.”

“She said it needs to be official.”

“Let her in,” Chevalier said, and Emily cringed. She wished she could do this without Chevalier or Damon in the room.

“You can go in,” Derrick said, and opened the door for her.

Emily stepped in, clutching the baby tightly, and walked up to the place where those on trial stood. She could feel the heat rising to her face as they looked at her. She was glad the bruises on her face were gone, and that those on her neck had faded to a light yellow.

“Something you needed, Em?” Chevalier asked nervously.

Emily nodded.

“Tell us, Child,” Zohn said, and Emily glared at him. Damon turned to the Chief Interrogator and said something, and then Zohn turned back to Emily.

“I need permission… well… not permission, as much as, I’m informing you… that’s not right either. Ok… so…” Emily frowned.

“Just tell us,” Quinn said.

“I’m going to see Exavior to get the runes removed, and he won’t do it unless I tell you,” Emily said finally. She tried to avoid looking at Chevalier, but could imagine how mad he was, as the rest of the Council were also getting angry.

“I see,” Quinn said.

“So… erm… I’ll be off, now that you know,” Emily said, and turned around.

“We aren’t done, Ch… erm... Dear,” Zohn told her, and Emily turned around slowly.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“It takes full agreement by the Council for a member of the Equites to visit an opposing faction’s coven,” Zohn explained.

“I’m not heku. I thought I was free to do what I want,” Emily said.

“If Exavior is requesting this be official, then rules must be followed,” Quinn said.

“There’s no way she’s going…” Damon said, and Emily stopped him with a glare.

“I concur. We cannot let the Winchester go to the coven of a Valle. That’s handing her right over to them,” Maleth said.

“Stop calling me that! I’m not ‘The Winchester,’ and I don’t need your permission to go. If Exavior hadn’t insisted I tell you, I would already be gone,” Emily yelled.

“It’s too dangerous. Once they find out about Allen and Alexis, there will be no stopping them,” Maleth said.

“They already know.”

“How do you know that?” Maleth asked.

“Exavior told me.”

“That settles it then,” Quinn said. “We can’t risk it. You are forbidden to go.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed and Chevalier interrupted, “Forbid her, and she’ll be gone by noon.”

“Where is his coven?” Chevalier asked her.

“He didn’t say.”

“I suggest we allow this. Emily can wipe out the coven if she’s in trouble, we all know that. I’ll go and take some guards,” Chevalier said.

“Exavior said you can’t go,” Emily said, wincing at the look on his face. “He said guards are fine, but no Elders.”

“I’ll talk to him. You can’t go without me.”

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Emily said angrily. “I’m leaving in the morning with Alexis and the guards of my choice. If you say no, then I leave without the guards.”

“You cannot take the infant,” Quinn said sternly.

“Oh no? You going to feed her?”

Quinn, Maleth, and Chevalier turned their chairs and began to talk, too quickly and too softly for Emily to hear. She watched them closely.

When they turned around, Emily watched Quinn and Maleth. She was still avoiding Chevalier’s eyes.

“As we don’t seem to have a choice, we ask only that you agree to take Damon with you,” Maleth said, nodding at Damon.

“No”

“No?” he asked, frowning.

“No, I’m not taking Damon.”

“Can you give us a reason why?”

“No”

“You aren’t helping us, Dear,” Quinn said.

“I’ll take Mark, Kyle, and Silas.”

“That’s not enough to protect you,” Maleth told her.

“I can protect myself. The guards are there to appease you,” Emily told him.

Emily risked a glance at Chevalier when Maleth looked at him. She was surprised when he nodded once, his eyes fixed on hers.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll leave in the morning,” Emily said as she turned and walked out of the council chambers. She stood outside of the door and leaned against the wall, eyes shut. She couldn’t believe it went that smoothly, now she just had to face Chevalier tonight, alone.

“Allen?” Emily called, and he came down the stairs, still holding his book. She worried lately about how much reading he was doing. He didn’t run, and play, and climb trees like other boys his age. She knew his intellect was advanced, but she still felt he needed air and exercise.

“Yeah?” Allen asked as he approached her.

“Want to take the horses out?”

“Not really.”

“Let me rephrase that… put the book down, we’re going out,” Emily said, and watched as he rolled his eyes and headed down the stairs.

“It’s too bright out there,” Allen complained.

“That’s why God invented sunglasses.”

Emily grinned as Allen resigned himself to a day out, and reluctantly headed out to the stables. She slipped on her riding gloves and grabbed a bridle, Alexis was tucked safely away in a sling across her Mom’s chest. Allen went over to Damnit’s stall and slipped a bridle on him.

“You’re not taking Patra?” Allen asked when Emily went up to the new painted stallion.

“Can’t, she’s pregnant.”

“You can’t ride her because she’s pregnant?” Allen asked, leading Damnit out into the stables.

Emily sighed, “You should know that already. What are you studying all day anyway?”

“Just stuff,” Allen said, hoisting himself up onto Damnit. She was shocked by his agility.

Emily jumped up on the peaceful paint and kicked him out into the sun. She saw Allen put on some sunglasses and follow her. She could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t want to be out.

She grinned, “Race ya.”

Emily kicked the stallion and he jumped into a fast gallop, and she could hear Allen behind her. As they passed Cavalry guards on the streets of Council City, they immediately joined in and soon, almost fifteen horses raced through the city.

She stopped the stallion once she was on top of the hills and turned around as the others arrived. Allen was frustrated that he came in dead last, but again, Emily thought it would be good for him.

“So are we racing or are we running?” Silas asked.

“Racing of course! Why do you always think I’m in trouble?” Emily asked, laughing. It was hard to be mad at them on such a beautiful day.

“Hold Alex for me,” she said, and handed the baby over to Silas. Alexis immediately began to pull at his nose and laugh.

Emily slipped off her over shirt. The camisole was lighter and let the sun shine on her shoulders and arms. She noticed the rest of the riders were wearing jackets and sunglasses to keep them out of the sun. Once she’d tied her hair up into a high pony, she took Alexis back.

Emily watched as the Cavalry and Allen took turns racing to the tree line and back. As the afternoon drew on, the races got faster and more daring. Emily wanted to join in, but Alexis was already taking a nap in the sling and she didn’t want to wake her.

As Silas and Allen headed back toward them at a dead run, Damnit stumbled, throwing Allen over his head as the horse fell to the ground. Emily raced toward them and jumped off just as they reached him. Allen was lying unconscious on the ground, and a slow stream of blood oozed out of the side of his head where he hit a rock.

“Allen?” she asked, bracing his head between her hands.

Allen opened his eyes slowly, blinked a few times, and then smiled, “I’m ok.”

“You’re not ok,” Emily said in a panic. She turned his head to look at the cut, but all she found was dried blood. She pulled his hair back, searching his scalp, but there wasn’t even a bruise where the cut had been.

“He’s heku alright,” Silas said proudly.

Allen got to his feet and brushed off his pants. There was still dried blood in his hair, but nothing else was wrong with him.

“Damnit!” he yelled, and ran over to the horse.

Emily stood up and turned toward the stallion. She handed Alexis off to Silas and knelt down at Damnit’s side. With a sinking heart, she stared at the bone sticking out of the horse’s leg.

“Do you want me to call a vet?” one of the Cavalry asked.

Emily shook her head, “Go get my gun.”

“Mom, no!” Allen yelled, and ran to Damnit’s head.

“Do it,” Emily said sternly, and one of the members of the Cavalry blurred away.

“You aren’t going to shoot him!” Allen yelled angrily.

“I have to,” she whispered, as a tear streamed down her cheek.

The heku returned with her gun and handed it to her. She checked to make sure the gun was loaded, and pointed it at the horse’s head, then shut her eyes as they filled with tears.

“Don’t shoot him!” Allen screamed at her angrily.

She felt a hand on hers, “Let me do it,” Silas said softly.

Emily shook her head, “Everyone, leave.”

“No! I won’t let you kill him,” Allen yelled, and crouched low, his hands balling into fists. Silas was on him instantly, restraining him as he tried to jump at Emily.

Silas ordered the Cavalry to head back to the stables with the extra horses, and he blurred back to the palace, still restraining Allen with one hand and carrying Alexis in the other. He was almost to the front steps when a gunshot echoed through the small valley.

When Silas entered the palace, Damon and Chevalier were talking about something on the stairs. They turned and walked to Silas.

“I hate her!” Allen screamed to Chevalier. “I hope you drain her.”

“Allen!” Chevalier shouted angrily. “We don’t talk like that.”

“I’ll kill her if you don’t!” he yelled, fighting against Silas.

Silas handed Alexis over to Damon and held the 5-year-old with two strong hands.

“Who are you yelling about?” Chevalier asked, surprised at the fierce anger in his son.

“Mom… I hate her,” Allen said, glaring at his Dad.

Chevalier growled and violently pulled Allen from Silas’ grip. He threw the boy against the wall and pinned him by the shoulders, “If I ever hear you threaten your Mother again, you’ll have to deal with me.”

Allen hissed and glared at his Dad.

“What happened?” Chevalier asked, pulling Allen from the wall so they could face Silas.

“We were racing up on the hills and Damnit fell and broke his leg,” Silas explained. He could still see the pain in Emily’s eyes as she asked for her gun, tears trailing down her face.

“She killed him!” Allen growled. “I hate her.”

Damon watched in shock and gently bounced Alexis. He’d never known the boy to have so much intense rage, let alone directed at Emily. Kyle walked up and watched with wide eyes.

“Stop it, Allen,” Chevalier said, tightening his grip on the 5-year-old’s shoulder.

“Let me go! I’ll take care of her myself,” Allen said. Chevalier slung him by his arm over to Kyle, who grabbed onto his shoulders. Before Allen could react, Chevalier backhanded him to the floor. The 5-year-old stood up slowly, already healed.

“I warned you,” Chevalier growled.

“Upstairs,” Kyle said to Allen, and took him roughly by the arm and headed up the long staircase.

“Where is she?” Chevalier asked Silas.

“Up on the west side by the tree line,” Silas answered.

“Can you keep Alexis?” Chevalier asked Damon, and he nodded.

Chevalier blurred from the building and stopped just as he hit the green hills to the west of the city. It didn’t take him long to see the lifeless body of the painted stallion lying on red stained grass. He walked up slowly, and as he got closer, he could see Emily knelt beside the stallion. Her head was hung low, and her hands rested on the grass, a gun at her side.

Chevalier knelt down beside her and touched her hand softly. She looked up at him with red eyes.

“I had to,” Emily said softly, looking back at the horse.

“I know,” Chevalier whispered.

Chevalier stood up and held his hand out to help Emily to her feet, “Come on, I’ll have him taken care of.”

She nodded and stood up, grabbing her rifle, “How is Allen?”

“He’s pretty mad, but he’ll be ok,” Chevalier said, and reached around to pick her up.

“Can we just walk?” Emily asked, and he stood up and took her hand.

They started their slow journey back into the city, hand in hand. Most of the way was in silence. Emily was still deep in thought about the loss of the horse, and Chevalier was considering how to reign in the temper of a 5-year-old. He hated to admit it, but the young boy could easily kill his mother if no one stronger was around to defend her.

“I need you to promise me something,” Chevalier said, breaking the silence.

“What’s that?” Emily asked.

“If something happens at Exavior’s coven, I want you to get away. If you have to ash them all, then do it. If you have to leave the guards, do it. We can get them back later.”

Emily nodded, “I’m not really worried about that.”

“I know you aren’t, and that scares me.”

Damon met them at the doors to the palace and handed off Alexis, who was reaching out for her Mom. Emily took the baby, ignoring Damon, and went up the stairs.

“I’ll be right there,” Chevalier called to her, and then turned to Damon.

“Quite the terror you produced there,” Damon said.

“His temper is getting worse.”

Damon nodded, “Yes, it is.”

“If he doesn’t learn some control, he’s going to end up killing Emily,” Chevalier admitted, and sighed.

“We’ll figure it out. It’s just all new ground, so it will take longer.”

“Why has Emily stopped calling you names?” Chevalier asked, turning a questioning eye to Damon.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is… she called you names, hateful names, but in the next breath, she would defend you. You were the same way… a love and hate relationship.”

“I’m not sure I’d go that far.”

“But now, back from Paris, she won’t even look at you.”

Damon shrugged, “I have no idea what her problem is with me.”

Chevalier watched him closely. He knew Damon was lying, but it was against policy for a member of the Council to be questioned, and none of the other heku in Paris saw what went on with Damon and Emily.

***

Emily had the Durango packed and ready to go by 6am. She buckled Alexis into the backseat and watched as Kyle, Mark, and Silas climbed into the car. She turned to Chevalier and smiled slightly.

Chevalier pulled her into a hug, “Remember your promise.”

She nodded and buried her face in his chest.

“Don’t let it get too far. Leave at any sign of danger.”

Again, she just nodded.

“I love you,” he said, and when Emily looked up at him, he kissed her softly.

“I love you, too. We’ll be back soon,” Emily said, and crawled into the Durango.

Chevalier watched as they drove away. When Emily pulled out of the garage, she was on the phone.

“Exavior, we’re on the way,” Emily said softly. She wasn’t sure why, but suddenly she felt afraid.

“Just three guards,” she said, and Kyle frowned at the others. He didn’t like how Exavior was questioning who was with her.

“Wow, ok, we’ll be there by tonight I think.”

Emily hung up the phone and turned east on the Interstate.

“Where are we going?” Silas asked.

“Rhode Island”

As they drove further east, the silence grew into tension. Emily was feeling nervous and afraid of what was going to happen, and the heku picked up on her emotions and it was making them nervous. They stopped only when Alexis was hungry, and passed into Rhode Island just as night fell.

Emily pulled in to the designated gas station and opened her phone.

“We’re here,” she told Exavior.

“It’s a dark blue Durango.”

“Sure, why not,” Emily said, and hung up the phone.

“He’s sending a van to take us the rest of the way. He doesn’t want us to know where his coven is,” Emily told them.

Kyle nodded, “Understandable.”

Within five minutes, a white van pulled up beside the Durango. Emily looked at the heku inside and opened the door. Suddenly, the Durango was surrounded by Valle and they flung open the doors. Emily heard a scuffle as a blindfold was placed over her eyes and her hands were secured behind her back.

“Hey!” she yelled, as she heard Alexis scream. It was the scream the baby reserved for when she was being held by a stranger.

“Let me go,” Kyle growled, and Emily cringed when she heard a large snapping sound.

Emily was lifted into the van and pushed to sit on the floor. An arm brush against hers, someone else was restrained by her. She felt the sway as the van began to move.

“This wasn’t part of the deal. Where’s Exavior?” Emily asked angrily.

“This is just a precaution,” a strange voice said.

“Let me have the baby. She’s afraid.”

“She’ll live,” a gruff voice said.

“Get Exavior on the phone, now,” Emily said angrily.

“Sir, she wants the baby,” he said into the phone.

“Yes, Sir, I do hear the baby crying.”

“Sorry, Sir… right away.” Emily heard the click of the phone and someone let her hands go.

“You can hold the baby, but you have to keep your blindfold on,” he said.

“Why does she have to be blindfolded when we don’t?” Silas asked, irritated.

“We aren’t stupid. She has to see someone to turn them to ash. We aren’t going to take that risk.”

The van silenced when they handed Alexis to Emily. Emily held her tightly and rocked her from the van floor.

No one spoke for several minutes. The Equites watched Emily rock the baby as her hands shook. They wanted her to be able to see, but it was advantageous for the Valle to think she couldn’t use her abilities while her eyes were covered.

Alexis started to act up again, and Emily couldn’t get her calmed down.

“I can’t see to feed her,” Emily said, frustrated.

“We aren’t uncovering your eyes, so figure it out,” the gruff heku said.

“Fine, then turn around.”

“Why should we?”

“Do you know how she feeds the baby, genius?” Mark asked him.

“No, how should I know?”

Emily heard whispers and a blush shot into her cheeks. She could only imagine what he was saying.

“Seriously?” said a strange voice.

“So turn around,” Kyle said sternly.

“Ok, Em, go ahead. We’re making sure they are turned around,” Silas told her.

Emily nodded and adjusted her shirt, with as little skin showing as possible, so the baby could eat. She sat in silence as the grunts and groans of the nursing baby filled the van. Emily hadn’t noticed before how nosily Alexis ate, and she wished the baby would finish quickly.

Just as Emily pulled down her shirt, the van came to a stop and the back doors opened. Emily held the baby tightly against her shoulder.

“York!” Exavior yelled. “How dare you cover her eyes. She wasn’t to be touched.”

“Sir, she could turn us to ash.”

“Right now I should let her,” Exavior said, and the blind was pulled off of her eyes.

“Let them go, too,” Emily said, pointing at her guards.

“Sorry, that is necessary,” Exavior told her, and he extended a hand to help Emily out of the van.

“Move your hand. I don’t need your help,” she snapped at him.

Emily stepped out of the van after Kyle and Silas, with Mark bringing up the rear.

“Let me show you to your room. We’ll start in the morning,” Exavior said, smiling.

Emily glared at him and took Kyle’s arm. His hands were still restrained behind his back with a material that Emily hadn’t seen before. He smiled reassuringly at her, and they all walked into the large mansion.

“Wait! They come with me,” Emily said as six Valle guards took the Equites the other way.

“They’ll be fine, I promise,” Exavior said, and motioned for Emily to go up the stairs.

“Go, Em, it’s ok,” Kyle said, and turned to walk away with the Valle.

“I don’t like this,” she hissed at Exavior, and walked past him.

“It’s all necessary. They won’t be hurt,” Exavior promised.

Exavior stopped at the third floor and opened up a door, “You’ll be staying in here tonight. I took the liberty of having dinner brought up. You’re going to need your strength, so please eat and then try to get some sleep.”

“Yeah, right,” Emily said, rolling her eyes.

“I’ll need your cell phone, too,” he said, and held out his hand.

“Why?”

“Just a precaution. We’re taking a risk having you here,” Exavior explained.

Emily handed her phone over and walked into the room, holding Alexis tightly. She jumped slightly as the door shut and locked behind her.

She looked around the cold room. It wasn’t large, but had enough room for a bed and a table. The fireplace was empty and a draft came through it from the outside, sending shivers through her. She laid Alexis down on a soft rug and looked at the food on the table. She was hungry, but could imagine Chevalier yelling at her for eating it. It would be too easy to poison.

Emily opted not to eat and picked up the baby, then looked out the window. All she could see in the dark night were trees. She sighed and went back to the bed. She crawled in, fully dressed, and curled up next to Alexis for what she would imagine would be a long night.

Emily didn’t sleep at all, and when she heard a knock on the door slightly after dawn, she was still tired and irritated that her guards weren’t with her.

“Come,” she snapped

Exavior came in with a tray of pancakes and sausage, “I hope you’re hungry.”

He eyed the untouched dinner and then turned to Emily. She was huddled under the blankets, trying to keep herself and the baby warm.

Exavior sighed, “Are you cold, Dear?”

“I’m fine,” she lied.

Exavior sat down on the bed, “I wanted to go over this with you, to explain why we have to do some of the things we do.”

Emily nodded and stayed deep under the covers.

“We have to keep your guards in the prison. We can’t risk them messing things up. If any part of this is interrupted, there’s a risk the runes will become permanent.”

“Why would they mess it up?”

“Because it’s painful. I can’t have them running in if you scream,” Exavior said. “The first part is breaking the bond with the maker, an Encala, if I remember correctly.”

Emily nodded, “Yes.”

“The second part is where the actual mark is removed. That’s the painful part.”

“Ok”

“The third is kind of a sealant, to make sure it all took.” Exavior smiled at her.

“Alexis is still nursing,” she said, touching the soft black hair of the sleeping baby.

“I understand that. You will have the ability to feed her between the different parts.”

Emily nodded, “So let’s do it.”

“As soon as you eat, we can’t have you weak from hunger,” he said, and held out a plate.

Emily sat the plate on the pillow and ate quickly, staying under the covers. When she was done, Exavior led her into a large round room with a dirt floor and runes on the walls and ceiling. Emily felt like she’d seen the room before in a far away dream, and started to panic. There was a bassinet against one of the walls.

“That’s for the baby to stay in,” Exavior explained, and Emily laid her down and covered her with the blankets.

“I’ll leave you for a moment, please put on the gray robe,” he said, and pointed to a set of robes hanging from the wall.

As soon as he was gone, Emily stripped off her t-shirt and jeans and pulled on the soft gray robe. She felt uncomfortable in them, the gray a symbol of the Valle. She turned and watched as thirteen heku in long blue robes came into the round room.

“No,” she said when she recognized the robes, and finally remembered the round, runed room.

“Emily, it’s not what you think,” Exavior said. “All ceremonies are done this way, not just the one you have seen.”

Emily nodded. She didn’t remember telling him she’d seen the turning ceremony before, but she must have at some point.

“The first part is simple. You just lie down in the center, and let us do what we have to. You won’t feel a thing,” Exavior explained.

One of the heku threw a pillow down on the floor and Emily sat down hesitantly, and then laid back as another heku threw a warm down blanket over her. The heku began to sway slightly and started a soft, rhythmic chant. Emily wasn’t sure how long it went on, because the monotonous tone, coupled with the lack of sleep the night before, put her to sleep almost immediately.

“Emily?” she heard Exavior whisper.

Emily opened her eyes and looked around the room. The twelve other Valle were standing perfectly still along the walls.

She sat up quickly, “I’m sorry. I fell asleep.”

“It’s ok, how does it feel?” he asked.

Emily smiled, “It’s not burning.”

“Good, that means the bond to its maker is broken… now we just have to remove the runes. Are you ready for that?” Exavior asked, his voice was tense and Emily could tell he didn’t want to do this second part.

“Just give me twenty minutes alone, ok?”

Exavior nodded, and the blue robed heku all left the room.

“The first part worked,” Exavior said, stepping down into the prison. He faced the three cells holding the Equites.

“How many parts are there to this?” Kyle asked skeptically.

“Two, we first remove the bond… that was finished. Now we just have to take the runes off,” Exavior explained.

“Then you will let us see her?” Mark growled.

“No, actually, that’s not really part of the plan,” he said, and stepped aside. The Valle’s Chief Enforcer was just walking into the room. The Equites already knew him, and crouched defensively.

“You promised Emily that we have diplomatic immunity! The Equites won’t stand for this,” Silas hissed.

“Yes, well, when you attacked our guards, we had no choice but to take action,” Exavior said, and turned to the Chief Enforcer.

“She trusted you,” Kyle said to Exavior.

“One of her many faults,” Exavior told him, and disappeared up the stairs.

Emily looked up when she heard a knock, and laid the baby back in the bassinet, “Come in.”

The thirteen heku entered. She hated how she couldn’t see their eyes from under the robes. They took their spots along the outer rim and Emily laid back down on the makeshift bed.

“We’ll do this quickly,” Exavior said softly.

Emily nodded.

Mark growled when he heard the screams. He fought to free himself from the bars, but they wouldn’t bend. Kyle was already ash in his cell, and the Chief Enforcer was resting to do the rest of them.

Silas looked up toward the stairs as Emily’s screams grew worse. Anger flooded through him and he lunged, shoving his shoulder against the door of the cell, trying to break free. He looked over, wide eyed as Mark was turned to ash by the Valle’s Chief Enforcer.

“It’s over,” Exavior said, touching Emily’s sweat covered arm softly.

She fought to catch her breath after the intense pain of the ceremony, during which it felt like her leg was forcibly removed from her body by fire.

“Take your time, we will wait,” Exavior said, and the heku filed out of the room.

Emily groaned and turned over onto her hands and knees. She used the wall to stand up and walked on weak legs over to the baby. She sunk down against the wall to nurse Alexis, feeling weak and tired from the hour of pain, and she just wanted to sleep.

Emily heard them all come back in while the baby was eating, but she didn’t care. She had her eyes shut and was leaning against the round wall.

“Hey!” Emily screamed when Alexis was taken from her. She pulled the robe down to cover herself and stood up as the baby was placed in the bassinet.

“It’s ok, Emily. Let’s finish and then you can have her again,” Exavior said. Emily looked over at him and frowned, he’d changed into a black robe.

Emily saw the blue robed heku line the walls and she felt the panic begin when they started to hum slightly, it was all too familiar.

“What are you doing, Exavior?” Emily asked, and stood up. Exavior grabbed her arms and held her in the center of the room.

One of the blue robed figures moved slightly toward her and spoke, “Mortal, do you know where you are?”

“Don’t do this,” Emily screamed, and fought to get away from Exavior.

“Do you know what is about to happen?” he asked her, ignoring her response to the first question.

“Let go of me, or so help me, I’ll ash your entire coven,” she hissed.

“Do you do so willingly and without coercion?”

“No I do not,” she growled. Emily noticed how tired she felt, weak and tired, which meant she may not be able to ash enough of the heku to get out of there alive.

“Proceed,” he said, and stepped back along the wall.

Exavior pushed Emily to her knees, and she heard hisses as the twelve heku along the walls began to walk toward her. He pushed her further until she was lying down on the cold floor, and she felt the pain as thirteen heku sunk their teeth into the soft flesh around her body.

She screamed and the fear flooded into her, sending adrenaline through her. She sat up suddenly as all thirteen heku in the room began to fall to the floor in agonizing pain. She saw the bites on her body begin to bleed and as she stood up, the robe fell to cover the wounds. She concentrated on those around her and released them as they fell unconscious. She didn’t have the strength to ash the entire coven, so she needed to get away before they regained consciousness.

Emily grabbed the baby and ran from the room. Her bare feet padded silently along the tile floors. She stopped at the first Valle guard she saw, and he looked at her, surprised.

“Where’s the prison?” she asked quickly.

He watched her and glared, “None of your business.”

Emily gave him a brief shot of burning pain and he fell to his knees, pointing down the hallway.

She ran in the direction he pointed, and repeated the process with each guard she encountered. She knew she was leaving a trail of angry heku behind her. When she ran into the prison, the first cells she came to contained only clothing, including the dark green capes of the Equites. The cells were standing open and a very angry heku watched her.

“You don’t belong down here,” he said to her. Emily saw the tiny dagger in his hand. It looked exactly like the one Chevalier carried when she first met him.

Emily looked at him angrily. He didn’t deserve a brief pain, so she immediately turned him to ash and then began to rifle through his clothing. She found a pocket full of leather bags on the inside of his cape, and she took them and dumped out the ash they contained onto the floor. Carefully, and meticulously, Emily scooped up the ash from the three cells, and tied them shut, and then shoved them deep into the pocket of the gray robe. She looked around and saw the tiny dagger beside the gray cloak. She picked it up quickly, and also stowed it in the pocket.

Holding Alexis tightly, Emily made her way back up to the foyer. She knew it was now or never. She was either going to find the strength to ash the coven or they would eventually win and she would be an immortal within the hour.

Exavior and the other blue robed heku met her at the door.

“You can’t get away. You’re too weak,” Exavior said, grinning.

“I can’t?” she asked, taking a step closer. She felt the anger in her growing.

“No, you’re too weak, so you might as well make this easy,” one of the blue robed figures said.

“Don’t… underestimate… me,” Emily hissed, and held Alexis tighter.

“Oh we don’t, I assure you. We had to remove the runes before we could turn you. The nice side effect of that is a weakened state by the mortal,” Exavior told her.

“You know what your first mistake was?” Emily asked, and noticed how they glanced at one another nervously.

“What was that, Child?” Exavior asked, amused.

“Assuming I’m weak,” she said, and the entire group turned to ash before her eyes. She felt the trickle of blood begin to flow down her lip as she ran out into the night. The white van was still parked out front, and she climbed into the driver’s seat, laying the baby down on the passenger side floor.

She turned on the van and spun out down the small dirt road, watching closely to see if she was being followed. When she hit the blacktop, she stopped and looked around at the signs. It looked to her like the closest town was called Woonsocket, so she pulled onto the pavement and headed toward it.

Emily glanced quickly at a sign that pointed the way to Augusta, Maine, and she stepped on the gas. Her adrenaline pushed her past the pain from the bites and the tiredness from the rune removal. She knew if she could make it to Jonesport, she could take the ferry to the island and get help. She was too afraid to stop and use a phone, too afraid the Valle would catch up with her.

The gas tank on the small van was full, but dropped dangerously fast as Emily sped toward the small Maine town. Just under seven hours after leaving the Valle coven, she pulled up to the docks and slowly inched the van onto the ferry. The engine died immediately after the back wheels hit the ferry’s wooden surface. She sat her head down on the steering wheel as the Captain shrugged and pulled the ferry out onto the open ocean.

Emily reached over and picked up Alexis. She’d been asleep the entire trip, lulled by the rocking of the van and the soft noises from the road. She was able to feed the baby as she watched the land fall away to water behind her. The baby fell asleep while nursing and Emily laid her against her shoulder and leaned her head back against the chair.

Emily heard the tug boats beside the ferry as they approached the island. She stepped out of the van and stood toward the front of the ferry as the pier approached.

“You can’t get off the ferry,” one of the guards said, his dog growling viciously at Emily.

“What? Why not?” she asked, almost too afraid to think of where she could go now that the van was dead.

“First off, you’re Valle. Second, you’re a mortal, so turn right around and go back where you came from,” he said rudely.

“I am not a Valle!” Emily said weakly, and fought back the tears of rage. She couldn’t have come this far only to be turned away from Chevalier’s own coven.

“Sure looks like one to me,” he said, and Emily looked down at the gray robe. She hadn’t noticed before, but intricately embroidered V’s covered the gray surface.

“Please, call Storm… or even Chevalier,” she begged.

“I’m not bugging them for a mortal,” he said, and laughed.

“Lady Emily?” a voice sounded from the pier.

Emily looked up and saw Gordon walking toward her, while the guards watched her with wide eyes.

“Please, Gordon, help me,” she said, and the tears began to flow.

“How dare you turn away the Elder’s wife!” Gordon yelled as he jumped down onto the ferry with Emily.

“I… I… didn’t know,” the guard said, terrified.

Emily allowed Gordon to pick her up after she got the baby, and the last thing she heard as he blurred into the town was Storm yelling at the pier guards.

***

Equites 2 landed on top of the island’s castle and Chevalier jumped out, followed by Damon. Storm ran up to meet them.

“When did she get here?” Chevalier asked.

“About six hours ago. She’s been asleep since. The baby is down with Margaret,” Storm told him.

Chevalier headed inside.

“There’s one thing, Sir,” Storm said, walking behind him.

He turned to face her, “What?”

“When she showed up she was in a gray Valle robe… and…” She hesitated.

“What, Storm?” Chevalier asked, irritated.

“She has thirteen bite marks on her,” Storm said, and took a step back when a shadow crossed the Elder’s face.

“What?” he hissed.

“We haven’t been able to ask anything. She’s been asleep since Gordon got here with her,” Storm said. “They didn’t finish, though, I can tell you that.”

Chevalier growled and blurred down into Emily’s room. He saw the gray robes thrown over a chair by the bed, and the sight of them infuriated him further. He watched Emily sleep for a few minutes, she was still and unmoving, then slowly slipped the covers off of her, and counted the bites for himself. There were thirteen distinct bite marks.

He looked closely at her thigh. There was no longer any sign of the runes, only smooth white skin was left. He watched her sleep, and even gave permission for Margaret to feed Alexis with a bottle when she got hungry. He wasn’t sure what Emily had been through, but if she was still sleeping, then he knew she needed it.

Just after dawn, Emily began to jerk in her sleep and Chevalier touched her arm lightly. She jumped away from him and screamed, pushing at his hand.

“Shhh, Em, it’s me,” Chevalier said, grabbing her wrists.

Emily looked at him with wide eyes, and then fell forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry,” Emily said as her tears wet his shirt.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault,” Chevalier told her, and heard a knock on the door.

“Come,” he said sternly.

Damon came in carrying the baby, “Sorry to interrupt. I heard Emily is awake, and we can’t get Alexis to drink from a bottle.”

Emily held her hands out for the baby and gave her a tight hug.

“The Valle is requesting an audience with the entire Equites Council,” Damon told Chevalier.

Chevalier nodded, “First though… tell us what happened.”

Emily started at the beginning, from when they were forced out of the Durango. She told them every small detail of what happened, but stopped when she mentioned that Exavior had changed into a black robe.

Damon turned away, his anger was too intense and he tried to hide his fury.

“I can’t believe they were going to do it,” Chevalier hissed.

“How did you get away?” Damon asked.

Emily gasped and jumped out of bed, picking up the robe. She dug through the pockets and held out the three leather bags, “Please, bring them back.”

Damon turned around with wide eyes, “You have them?”

Emily nodded, “Yes, I took them out of their cells.”

Damon pulled out his tiny dagger and looked up when Emily started to dig through the gray robe again.

“I have this, too,” she said, and turned around to show them the Valle’s dagger.

Chevalier stood up and took a step back, gasping. Damon moved quickly away from her and put his back against the wall.

“It’s… the Chief Enforcer’s dagger,” Emily explained.

“We know what it is,” Damon whispered.

“Take it, I don’t want it,” she said, and held it out for Chevalier.

“We can’t touch that,” Chevalier explained, watching the dagger closely.

Emily looked down at the seemingly harmless dagger, “I don’t want it.”

“No wonder they need to meet with us,” Damon said. “They can’t revive their ash.”

“If you don’t want it, then give it back to them. I don’t really know why I took it,” Emily said, and slipped the dagger back into the gray robe.

“Are you ok to travel?” Chevalier asked Emily.

Emily nodded.

“Get the robe and keep the dagger away from any heku you see. Let’s get back to the palace,” Chevalier said, and Damon handed the baby to Chevalier and left quickly for the helicopter.

Emily slipped out of the nightgown and into a light summer dress. She had left them all behind when she left for the palace the first time. She crawled into the helicopter with the gray robe tucked into a bag over her shoulder, and buckled herself in, followed by Chevalier. She watched the castle fade away as the helicopter returned them to the palace.

“Are you mad I took the knife?” Emily asked Chevalier.

He smiled, “No, not mad, just another surprise.”

“Why do they want to turn me into a heku?”

Chevalier sighed and glanced at Damon, “It’s always been speculated that if a Winchester heir was turned into an immortal, that they would be even more powerful.”

Emily frowned, “I don’t want to be an immortal.”

“I know. That’s why the Equites have never offered. We won’t do it against your will. Not to mention the affect you have on the ceremony, it would probably kill you.”

“Why aren’t the others with us?”

“They are resting. It takes a lot out of them to be punished by an Enforcer and then revived,” Damon told her.

“Will they be ok?”

“Yes, they will.”

“Are they mad at me?” Emily asked, looking down at Alexis.

“No, why would they be?” Damon asked.

Emily shrugged, “I took them there.”

“They knew what they were getting in to. I can tell you, that they aren’t very happy that you went and got them from the prison,” Chevalier said, chuckling.

“Why?” Emily asked, frowning.

“It was a personal risk to get them.”

“I couldn’t just leave them there,” she said, and looked back out the window.

“No one’s mad at you, I promise.”

Emily nodded and touched one of the bites on her arm, “These hurt.”

“Yes, I would imagine they do. When we do the ceremony, we aren’t gentle with the bites because as soon as they turn immortal, they go away anyway,” Chevalier explained.

When they landed on the roof of the palace, Chevalier and Damon jumped down, but hesitated to help Emily because she held the gray robe. Emily smiled slightly, and managed to get out of the helicopter on her own. Chevalier carried the baby inside and handed her to one of the guards.

“They are waiting for us in the council chamber,” Chevalier said, and headed down the stairs.

Emily started to follow them to the back entrance, but Chevalier stopped her, “Sorry, you need to go through the front.”

Emily frowned and walked to the front doors. The guard smiled at her and asked her to wait.

The Council turned to look at Chevalier and Damon when they walked into the council chambers. They sat down and Maleth turned to Chevalier.

“Well, what happened that’s caused the entire Valle Council to demand an immediate audience with us?” Maleth asked.

“Let’s start with the fact that they tried to turn Emily,” Chevalier said, and watched while the noise in the council chambers grew louder as the members talked to one another angrily.

“Are you sure?” Quinn asked.

“She was in a gray robe and has exactly thirteen bite marks on her,” Damon said.

Maleth shut his eyes to control his temper, and then opened them, “Did they ask her if that’s what she wanted?”

“Yes,” Chevalier answered. “They followed correct dialogue. However, they ignored her when she said no.”

“I hope she ashed all of them,” Zohn said.

“That she did,” Chevalier said.

“Then she went into the prison and brought back the ashes of the three Equites guards,” Damon said.

Maleth looked at him, surprised, “She brought them back?”

“Yes… them plus… something,” Damon said, and glanced at Chevalier.

“Yes… well… it’s the plus that is probably what’s bringing the Valle here,” Chevalier said.

“Well, what is it?” Quinn asked.

“Bring in Emily,” Chevalier said, and watched as she walked in timidly. He could tell she thought she was in trouble still.

“Come closer, Dear,” Quinn said to her, and she moved into the light.

“Show them,” Chevalier said, and smiled at her.

Emily dug into the pocket of the robe and produced the small silver dagger. The Council burst into gasps and two of them jumped from their chairs and took a step back.

“I… I took this off of him after I ashed him,” she whispered, but the Council could hear her clearly.

“Again… amazed by the mortal,” Maleth said, cringing slightly as he avoided looking at the dagger.

“I don’t want it though, you take it,” she said, and took a step forward. Three more of the council members stumbled over their chairs to get away from her.

“Dear, if we touch that dagger we will turn to ash for eternity, left in infinite pain, never to be revived,” Maleth said, his voice tense.

“That’s why this is such an unusual case… no one has ever taken the dagger from a Chief Enforcer,” Chevalier explained.

“Oh… well, leave it to me,” Emily sighed, and looked at the tiny dagger.

“The Valle are here, Dear. Please move toward the wall,” Quinn asked.

“Why can’t I go up there?” Emily said, shocked.

“We… we can’t be near it,” Zohn said.

Emily nodded and stepped back into the shadows.

The Valle Council walked in angrily, “This is an outrage!”

“Calm down, we are still trying to sort through things,” Quinn said to Sotomar, the Valle Elder.

“Never before… in the history of the heku, has such a thing been done,” Sotomar said, stepping forward.

Chevalier hid a grin, “That’s because we all know better.”

“So you send your mortal to do it?” Sotomar said accusingly.

“They didn’t send me,” Emily said from behind them, and they all turned to look at her and took a step back.

“Is this a threat?” another Valle council member asked.

“They tried to turn me into an immortal… against my will. You’re lucky I didn’t just toss the dagger out of the helicopter somewhere over New York,” Emily said, and smiled slightly when the Valle all gasped angrily.

“She… she should be punished for this!” Sotomar yelled.

“Oh? Try it Gramps,” Emily yelled, taking a step forward.

“Everyone calm down!” Zohn yelled.

Sotomar pointed at Emily, “She turned our Chief Enforcer into ash.”

“He turned my three friends into ash,” Emily said in her defense.

“Then she stole the dagger.”

“They tried to steal my mortality,” Emily countered.

“There is no question that we would prefer that the Valle dagger be returned to its faction… but it is not mine to give,” Quinn said.

“You want it back?” Emily asked Sotomar.

He turned to her angrily, “Yes.”

“Say please.” Emily watched Sotomar, but heard Chevalier chuckle.

“Please,” Sotomar said through gritted teeth.

Emily grabbed the blade and threw it so it stuck in the ground at Sotomar’s feet. He gasped and gently picked it up, flicking dirt off of it.

“Now return our Chief Enforcer to us,” Sotomar said, cradling the dagger gently in his hands.

Emily cleared her throat.

“Please,” Sotomar growled.

Damon looked to the Elders, and Maleth motioned Emily up to them. She walked up the stairs and knelt behind the three Elders.

“Emily,” Maleth said, and turned quickly to glance at the Valle. “Did you, in any way, mess with the ashes of their Chief Enforcer?”

Emily shook her head, “No, I just took his little knife.”

“Dagger,” Quinn said with a grin.

Emily stood up when the Elders turned around, and Maleth nodded at Damon, “You may proceed.”

Sotomar held out a small leather bag, and Emily watched as Damon revived the opposing Chief Enforcer.

The Chief Enforcer for the Valle stood up and stretched painfully, and then his furious eyes fell on Emily.

“You Bitch, how dare you…” His words were cut off when he returned to the ground as a pile of ash.

“Emily!” Quinn said, startled.

“Sorry,” Emily said, obviously anything but sorry. “My mistake.”

Damon shook his head and revived the Valle again. This time, it took a lot longer and he screamed as his body reformed.

Sotomar stopped him when he started to yell at Emily again. The Chief Enforcer’s dagger was handed back to him, and he slipped it into his pocket.

“Now we request the ashes of Exavior. He tried to turn a mortal against her will, and that breaks one of the highest rules of our kind,” Maleth said angrily.

“You have no proof of that,” Sotomar said.

“Do you want to count the bites, or would you rather have your precious runes scribbled onto this floor by a mortal?” Emily asked, and couldn’t help but notice that even the Equites cringed at the thought of a mortal knowing their most sacred of rituals.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Sotomar said, and glanced at one of the Valle guards. He produced a small bag and handed it to Damon, who tucked it away in his pocket.

“Will there be anything else?” Quinn asked the Valle.

“We just want to be assured that the mortal will be punished for her disturbing behavior,” Sotomar replied.

“Oh, she will be,” Chevalier said, amused.

Emily’s eyes narrowed.

“Very well,” Sotomar said, and led the rest of the Valle out of the room.

“Punished?” Emily asked, turning to Chevalier with her arms crossed.

“Yes, a harsh punishment to teach you about stealing things from other factions,” Chevalier said seriously.

“I punish back,” Emily said, unsure exactly what was going on.

“Oh I was hoping so,” Chevalier said, and whisked her up to the bedroom.