Chapter 28 - Balance

Derrick sighed and walked into the Equites council chambers.

“Yes, Derrick?” Quinn asked.

“We received a letter, from Lady Emily,” he said, and glanced at Chevalier.

Chevalier straightened in his chair, surprised. He hadn’t heard from her since she left a month before, “Read it.”

Elders,

I come to you with a challenge. While this may seem like a game, it’s to get your attention and ultimately bring balance to the factions.

***

The Court Guard for the Valle stood before them, cleared his throat, and continued to read.

At the moment, I am protected by no faction, in fact, all three factions will get this exact same letter. Your challenge is to find me.

***

The Encala guard glanced nervously at his Elders and then continued.

Why do this? Because I’m going to call a meeting soon and to prove my point, you have to be very much aware that, at will, I can disappear where no faction can find me.

You have one month,

Emily Winchester

***

Chevalier narrowed his eyes, “What the hell is she up to?”

“There’s no use looking for her, we already know that,” Kyle said sadly.

“We have to. She’s out there, and we know the Valle and Encala will look,” Zohn growled.

“You must know something, Kyle?” Chevalier asked him.

“She told me once that Exavior bought her a place, so my concern is that he will tell the Valle where she is,” Kyle said, and frowned. “If that’s where she went.”

Chevalier shook his head, “No, she wouldn’t go there. My guess is we will never know where she is, but will get called to this meeting in a month. I just worry about her health.”

“Why would she pick now? Why would she wait until now to do this?” Quinn asked, concerned.

“Find her,” voices from the nine Elders echoed through the three council chambers, located far apart across the United States.

***

Kyle unfolded the letter and read it to the Council.

Dear Elders,

It’s been a month. As you see, I can disappear from even your keen senses, keep that in mind. I want to meet with you, and only you. No guards, no council members, just the three Elders and all three must be in attendance. I will be waiting for you in two days at the Denver Hilton’s Conference room. Just ask for the Winchester conference. Be there promptly at 11am, no sooner and no later.

Emily

Chevalier sighed, “How can we not find her?”

“We had everyone looking. We had factions running into factions trying to find her and not a sign,” Mark told them from the trial floor.

“She’s pregnant for God’s sake. We can smell her from miles away. How do we miss one small mortal?” Zohn growled.

Quinn stood up, “Very well, we’ll leave for Denver first thing in the morning.”

“We’re going?” Zohn asked, shocked.

Chevalier growled at him.

“Fine,” Zohn hissed, and walked out of the room.

***

“Of course the three of us are going,” Sotomar told the Council. “Do we have a choice? I’m betting the other two factions have their own meeting times too. We can’t be the one that misses out on whatever it is she has to say.”

Elder Ryan sighed, “How did she elude us? We’re far superior to her species.”

“Yes, we are, but we’ve been unable to even faintly catch her scent,” Exavior said. “I want to go with you tomorrow.”

“She specifically says Elders only. I don’t want to risk scaring her off,” Sotomar said.

***

Elder William sighed, “I hate that she is dictating meetings and challenges. However, I don’t see how we can miss this meeting.”

Another of the Encala Elders turned to him, “We could make a point that we aren’t taking orders from a mortal, and not attend.”

“We have to go! What if we miss something that the other factions will know,” William said. “We leave first thing in the morning.”

***

Emily waited in the conference room for the three sets of Elders. Alexis was playing on the floor with her dolls, and Emily was pacing nervously.

The Valle were the first to arrive and Emily turned to them when they walked in, “Welcome.”

Sotomar’s eyes fell on her, and he glared, “We’re here, what now?”

“Have a seat where I have designated,” Emily said, and pointed to a large round table. There were name placards in front of each chair. She planned on mixing up the Elders so not one faction sat by their own. She stayed far away from the table for now and stood downwind from the vents.

“What is this?” William yelled when he saw the Valle Elders.

“Calm down and sit where I’ve specified, or you can go,” Emily said sternly.

William’s eyes narrowed at her, “Are you ill?”

“Sit,” Emily said again. She backed into a shadow slightly. She knew she couldn’t hide from the heku that she’d been sick.

The Equites came in last, and Emily smiled slightly. This was the meeting she was dreading. Chevalier’s eyes fell to her immediately, but she motioned him to stop. He frowned at how pale she was and at the dark circles under her eyes.

“Daddy!” Alexis yelled, and ran into his arms. He picked her up and kissed her, and then set her down to join the other Equites Elders.

“Have a seat, Elders,” Emily said, and motioned for the round table.

Zohn looked angrily at Quinn, but he stepped over and sat down where his name placard was.

“Thank you all for coming,” Emily said.

They all nodded and looked uncertainly at each other.

“Fine,” Emily said, and took her seat at the table between William and Sotomar. “I’m going to make this meeting short and simple. Did any of you look for me?”

“Yes, we did,” Quinn said first.

Sotomar and William both nodded and answered, “Yes.”

“For this meeting to continue you all must be aware that I can disappear. Taking myself, and any of my offspring, and thereby destroying the Winchester family line,” Emily said, and ignored the nervous glances.

“Why are we here?” Zohn asked.

“I’m here to bring balance to the factions and, at least as far as I’m concerned, peace.”

“There’s never been peace among the factions,” Chevalier said.

“Then there’s time for a change. There’s an ultimatum at stake, so unless my Anakin impression doesn’t work, we should be able to solve this within the next hour.”

“Anakin?” an Encala Elder asked.

“Yeah, bring balance to the force?” Emily waited. “Never mind…”

“What do you mean balance?” Sotomar asked.

“Exactly what it says, as we all know, right now the Equites are standing stronger than the others.”

“Because you keep wiping out our numbers!” William yelled.

Emily stood up and leaned over the table angrily, “You will refrain from raising your voice, or you can go.”

William sat back in his chair.

“The way I see it is, I’ve caused an unbalance in the factions. Not only do the Equites have the fabled Winchester, but also because your attacks on me have caused me to lessen your numbers, while the Equites stay strong,” Emily said.

“Again, balance?” Sotomar said.

“Here’s the ultimatum then, and we will discuss it civilly or I’ll ash all nine of you and the factions can start over,” Emily said, and smiled slightly at the panicked looks. “That was a joke, but keep it in mind.”

“I won’t be threatened,” William said angrily.

“Let’s see what she has to say,” Quinn said as he calmly sat with his hands crossed on the table.

“I ask for peace between the factions, as far as I am concerned. That means no more kidnapping, spying, torturing, killing, following, dressing me up like a doll, deceit… nothing. In return, I promise to let the Valle and Encala rebuild, and I will refrain from mass slayings,” Emily said.

“And if we refuse?” Sotomar said.

“Easy… then I disappear with Alex and no heku will ever see a Winchester again,” Emily said bluntly.

Chevalier growled, “You can’t just leave.”

“I can, and I will. I’m not going to let Alexis live like I do. I never know from day-to-day who is going to try to kidnap me, or who is going to kidnap someone I love to get to me,” Emily said softly.

“But you will stay with the Equites?” William asked.

“Yes, I have chosen to stay with Chevalier… I’m not forced, and the Equites offer me nothing. However, with that being said, if I disappear, it will be from them also.”

“Let me get this straight. We just hand you over to the Equites. We don’t try to bargain for you, or take you, and all we get in return is the ability to rebuild our numbers?” Sotomar asked, irritated.

“That’s part of the plan… I refuse to act as a weapon for the Equites. If you attack the Equites over political prisoners, and you leave me and my children out of it… then I won’t help. If you involve myself or my children, then I will ash all of you and poof.”

Quinn glanced at Chevalier.

Sotomar grinned, “Did you see that? If you no longer protect the Equites, then they will kick you out of their city.”

“That’s not true,” Chevalier growled.

“If that happens, then I will simply buy a home and expect the same peace and security that I would have with the Equites. All I want is to be left alone. I want to raise my family and die of old age knowing that I’ve left my children in a better place than when I was their age,” Emily explained.

“What of rogue attacks? Four of the heku you turned to ash were of the Valle, but the attacks weren’t sanctioned by us,” one of the Valle Elders said.

Emily nodded, “I figure some may slip by. If I get attacked by a single heku, then I can protect myself or my children. If it becomes too common, then you will be warned to control your faction or I’m gone.”

“I don’t like the ultimatum,” Sotomar scowled. “It seems to me that the Equites gain by this and the Valle are left in the dark. All we have is a promise that you won’t mass murder us in our sleep.”

“Isn’t that enough? You know… I have, several times, considered going Valle coven to Valle coven and wiping you out one at a time. With this ultimatum, I agree not to do that.”

“The Equites are being too quiet,” William said, glancing at Zohn. “That is because they have too much to gain from this.”

“I see as though we are gaining nothing,” Quinn said. “Right now we have the protection of the Winchester power on our side, as evidenced by our growing numbers. If this plan is set in motion, we lose that.”

“I won’t live like this anymore. I won’t live under constant attack and fear for my children. It’s no secret that Allen is the first heku child, and it’s no secret that Alexis has the abilities of the Winchester,” Emily said, and smiled when Alexis looked up at her. “I won’t have my children living like I have, they deserve better. I would prefer death over that.”

Chevalier frowned, “Is that how you plan on disappearing? You’re going to kill yourself and the children?”

“Of course not!” Emily said, obviously insulted. “I have the uncanny ability to disappear, and I have no doubts that I can do it indefinitely.”

“Your plan is flawed,” Sotomar said, looking at Chevalier. “You are insinuating that if I were to attack Chevalier, you wouldn’t defend him.”

“I don’t need her protection,” Chevalier said angrily.

“I have faith that Chevalier can defend himself, and in the incident where he was captured recently, it was because of me. In which case, the immunity of your faction is null and void, and you should then watch out for me,” Emily said, and smiled slightly. “After I’m done wiping out the Council in your faction, then I will simply… disappear.”

“What if you break this yourself? What if you do defend Chevalier in a battle, or wipe out half of the Encala on a rampage… what then?” Sotomar asked her.

“Then again, this agreement is null and void.”

“This is preposterous!” the youngest Encala Elder yelled. “She can’t dictate to us an ultimatum. We are more superior than her, and I won’t sit here and take orders from the Equites’ mortal.”

“Sit down, Aaron,” William said to him, and he sat down and glared at Emily.

“Your factions are nothing more than a gang affiliation. What do you war over? It’s not over land… it’s not over money… why then are you always fighting? Can’t you be at peace for… just... fifty years? How hard can that be? No more sneak attacks, no more undercover work. Just leave one another the hell alone,” Emily said, frustrated.

“It goes deeper than money or land,” Chevalier told her.

“Then what is it? Sotomar, why in the world do you hate William?” Emily asked him.

“Because he’s an Encala,” Sotomar told her.

“That’s a name… no reason to fight over a name. Tell me why you hate him?”

“The Valle have always hated the Encala and the Equites,” he said.

Emily nodded, “So no reason.”

“That is reason enough,” Zohn said.

“You have to understand, Em. We are a highly unstable species, and when you pit predator against predator, they will fight for no other reason than to fight,” Chevalier explained. “The night you ran from the Valle, and the Equites guards attacked them and killed all twenty. Do you remember what the guards said?”

Emily nodded, “Yes, they asked if I could bring the Valle to all of their parties.”

Sotomar growled.

“That’s our species. We like to fight,” Chevalier said, and sat back.

“So is there no hope? Is this ultimatum going to end here?” Emily asked them.

The Elders glanced at each other around the large round table.

“No,” Sotomar said. “I’m not willing to have you disappear. It’s too dangerous for us to have you out on your own.”

“I don’t care if she disappears,” William said. “The Encala gain nothing with this.”

“The Encala gain peace to re-grow. You were hurt the worst by the Winchester abilities. You had not one single council member left when she was done,” Sotomar said.

“That’s because she took parts of them!” William said angrily.

“Calm… down…” Emily said to him through gritted teeth.

“If she disappears because you’re an idiot, the Valle will personally wipe the Encala off the face of this Earth,” Sotomar said.

Emily sighed, “You have the ultimatum, leave me and my children the hell alone, or I’m gone. It’s simple really.”

“So what if the Equites tick you off and you run? How is that kind of control over you fair to us?” William asked.

“Chevalier?” Emily asked, and looked at him.

He glanced over at her, “Yes?”

“You and I... have we ever gotten into a fight?” she asked.

Chevalier grinned slightly, “A few.”

“Would you say they were little bickering fights, or knock-down, drag out, bloodthirsty fights?”

Chevalier sighed, “They were pretty bad.”

“At any time after one of those fights, did I take out my anger on any other faction?” Emily asked him.

Chevalier shook his head, “No… I’m pretty sure you took it out only on the Equites.”

“Well I won’t change that now. If the Equites and I have a falling out, it won’t be factored into this agreement,” Emily said to Sotomar.

“What if we feel your life is at risk with the Equites? Maybe we come to find out they are keeping you against your will,” Sotomar said. “Who is to decide to act?”

“Doesn’t matter, the second I’m mistreated by the Equites, I’ll wipe them out,” Emily said, and saw Zohn frown. “I’ll leave you alone now to discuss. I will be back in one hour, and I will need a decision. There are two options… you take my peace agreement, or I disappear today.”

Emily stood up and took Alexis’ hand and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Sotomar sighed, “Do we have a choice? Really? We can’t let the Winchester line die out. They are too powerful, and we have so much more to find out about them.”

“Yes we have a choice,” William said. “We can show her who is the stronger species and just take her now and lock her up.”

Quinn grinned, “Good luck with that.”

“No! We have no choice. If we want to be able to keep tabs on the Winchester line, then we have no option but to agree with this,” another Valle Elder said.

“It’s only a matter of time before the Equites kick her out anyway,” Sotomar said.

“Says who?” Chevalier asked. “What makes you think we keep her around just for her abilities?”

“Why else do it? She’s a mortal and can hold no value… of course… she does produce valuable children, so I see another reason,” Sotomar said.

Chevalier rolled his eyes.

“Emily has many traits and qualities that the heku lack and we’ve found ourselves, as an entire faction, becoming quite drawn to her and I, myself, do not want to see her go,” Quinn said.

“So you are telling me if tomorrow she loses all of the inherent abilities and can no longer produce children, that you would keep her in the palace?” William asked.

“Yes, we would… and to be honest, I think Emily is a pain in the ass that could use a really good punishment, but yes, we would keep her,” Zohn said, and glanced at Chevalier.

Sotomar threw his hands up, “Why?”

“It’s nothing you would understand. You would need to first care about Emily, and then get her to care about you. It would change your world,” Quinn said, and grinned.

“I say we kill Emily and keep the children,” one of the Encala said.

Chevalier stood up, his hands balled into fists.

“He didn’t mean that,” William said, and glared at the other Encala Elder. “Please, sit, he’s just mad.”

Chevalier glared at him and sat down.

“When did our species become so infatuated with this mortal?” Sotomar said, partly to himself. “I have a high-ranking member of my council that thinks he’s in love with her, and often leaves for weeks at a time to try to find her, himself.”

“If you would stop kidnapping and torturing the child, then you would know,” Quinn said. “It doesn’t take long for the heku to become infatuated with her. Yes, part of it is her scent, that can’t be denied, but the other part is just Emily, her personality, her temper…”

“Her looks?” William asked, and grinned slightly.

Chevalier glared at him.

“So we are agreeing to her terms?” Sotomar asked, and looked around the table.

“As Equites, we agree,” Quinn said. The Equites decided before they arrived that if the other Elders were present, Quinn would speak for the entire faction because of Chevalier’s involvement with Emily, and Zohn’s dislike of her.

“Yes, fine,” William said. “The Encala agree unless we can, somehow, agree to share the children?”

Chevalier shook his head, “No.”

“Fine, then, yes, the Encala agree.”

The hour was almost up, and the Elders decided to wait quietly for Emily so as not to bring up any hostile issues that could scare her away. She came back exactly on the hour, and Alexis ran off to color while Emily came to the table.

She sat down between William and Sotomar again, “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes,” Sotomar said.

“Let me have it… Valle?”

“Yes, we agree,” Sotomar told her.

“Equites?” Emily asked, and looked at Quinn.

“Yes, we agree.”

“Encala, then?”

William nodded, “Yes, we agree also.”

Emily smiled, “Good, then it’s settled, and the agreement is in place. I will even grant you a grace period of one month to alert your faction, and get things settled. During this first month, I will ash anyone I see that may be after me. So mark your calendars, one month from today, and the agreement is in effect.”

The Elders all nodded.

The Equites Elders waited while the Valle and Encala left the building. When they were gone, they turned back to Emily.

Emily smiled slightly, “So, how’s it going?”

“Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?” Quinn asked, frowning.

“Yes, I think I do.”

“This is… quite some stunt you pulled,” Zohn told her.

Emily nodded and looked nervously at Chevalier.

Quinn stood and took Alexis’ arm, “Come, let’s find some ice cream… Zohn?”

“I don’t want to go get ice cream,” he said, irritated. Quinn grabbed his arm and pulled him from the room.

“Two months, Em?” Chevalier asked, his voice hurt.

Emily nodded, “I’m sorry, I had to.”

“Not a single word even?” She noted an angry tone growing in his voice.

“Please, don’t be mad. I had to force a change.”

“Without a single word?”

Emily looked down at her hands, “I’m sorry. But you left me alone for two months too, during the trial. Consider us even.”

Chevalier stood up angrily, “Are you running off again or are you coming to Council City?”

Emily looked into his eyes, “Am I welcome back in Council City?”

“Of course you are. Though, I am guessing I still don’t get a choice in the matter,” he said, and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Emily leaned her head on the table and started to cry. Her worst fears were coming true. She hoped Chevalier would see why she had done this, but she was afraid he would be furious and it would cause a rift between them. She wanted nothing more than to feel his arms around her. It had been a long and lonely two months.

Emily looked up suddenly when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Quinn sat down beside her, “He’ll get over it. He’s had a very rough two months.”

“Well join the club. I had to do this,” Emily said, almost pleading.

“I know, and he will too. I wish you could see how hard he tried to find you, and how every phone call you could see it flash in his eyes that he thought it might be you.”

Emily nodded, “I don’t know where to go.”

“Come back to Council City.”

“He doesn’t want me there.”

“Yes, he does. I’m certain he will see that what you have done will benefit all of the factions.”

“Maybe I should just stay away for a while, let him calm down.”

“I’m not putting up with his grumpy self if you decide not to come back,” Zohn said, and leaned against a wall beside them.

“Zohn, he doesn’t want me back. That was obvious,” Emily told him, and he avoided looking at her tear filled eyes.

“Yes, he does,” Zohn said, and glanced quickly toward the door.

Emily looked toward the door, but it was still shut.

“Em…” Quinn said, frowning. “Your scent… it’s not right.”

“I lost the baby,” she said, watching her hands.

“Fly back with us. You’ll see things are different tomorrow,” Quinn said, changing the subject. This was something he thought she should be telling Chevalier.

“I have the Jeep here,” Emily said. “Take Alexis back. She’s missed her Dad. I’ll be there in a couple of days.”

“I could bring the Jeep,” Zohn offered.

“No, really, he doesn’t want me there,” Emily said, and pulled her suitcase from behind a curtain.

“Let me get that…” Quinn said, but Emily shook her head and hauled it outside. Quinn and Zohn followed her out and glanced at Chevalier as he watched from the other side of the room.

“She’s going to drive back, go with her,” Quinn whispered to Chevalier.

“No, let her drive alone,” he whispered, and picked Alexis up off of the floor.

Zohn walked over to Chevalier as Quinn and Emily stepped out into the hotel’s parking garage.

“You’re being stupid,” Zohn said calmly.

Chevalier frowned, “Excuse me?”

“She did the right thing. No one’s ever come so close to a peace agreement between the factions. You can’t stay mad at her.”

“Watch me,” Chevalier growled.

“I have, and it’s pathetic how miserable you’ve been over a mortal. Now you’re going to let her drive for two days by herself,” Zohn said, and looked over at the door.

“Let’s go,” Chevalier said, and headed for the rental car that would take them back to the helicopter.

Quinn joined them after a few minutes, “You’re an idiot.”

Chevalier threw his hands up, “What is up with you two?”

“You’re an idiot,” Quinn said again, and pulled the car out into traffic.

“It’s none of your business… either of you,” Chevalier hissed, and looked out the window.

“Where’d Mommy go?” Alexis asked, and looked behind them.

“She’s coming in the Jeep,” Quinn said, and smiled.

“Mommy tries,” Alexis said, faking a sad face.

“Your Mommy tries what?” Quinn asked.

Zohn sighed, “For heaven sakes. She said her Mommy cries.”

They drove for a few minutes in silence.

“You have two days to calm down or you risk losing her forever,” Quinn said.

“If that’s what she wants, then so be it. I don’t have a say in it,” Chevalier said angrily.

“Two days,” Quinn said again, and turned into the small airport where Equites 1 was waiting for them.

Chevalier grabbed Alexis from the car and carried her to the helicopter. She had a tight grip on his neck as he buckled in and waited for Quinn to get the checks over so they could take off.

“Fine, let’s say you don’t take her back, then what?” Zohn asked.

Chevalier frowned, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take her back.”

“You’re sure acting like it. She’s out there driving right now, trying to decide if she’s even welcome back in the city,” Zohn said, and crawled up front with Quinn just before the helicopter took off.

Alexis tightened her grip on Chevalier and yelled into his ear, “Is Mommy toming?”

“Yes,” he said, and wiped a black ringlet off of her face.

“Is Allen at home?” Alexis asked.

“Yes”

“Is he miss me?”

“Of course.” Chevalier smiled.

Quinn landed the helicopter on the roof of the palace just after dark. A stream of guards came out of the doors and made a path to the helicopter from the door. Quinn powered down the Blackhawk and stepped out.

Alexis was asleep in Chevalier’s arms as he carried her into the palace.

“So, where is she?” Kyle asked, and touched Alexis’ hand softly.

“Who knows, probably out doing whatever it is she wants to do,” Chevalier said, and handed Alexis over to Silas.

“Let’s go, the Council wants an update,” Zohn said from behind them.

The rest of the Council was eagerly waiting for them in the council chambers. The Elders sat down, followed by Kyle, who was still trying to get someone to tell him where Emily was.

“So, tell us,” Kyle said anxiously.

Zohn grinned, “It was quite interesting. It was the Elders from all three factions, together, at one table.”

The new Chief Interrogator frowned, “That seems dangerous.”

“Not when your host can turn you to ash if you get out of hand.” Quinn laughed, “She actually got everyone to agree to a type of cease fire.”

“Cease fire?” Kyle asked.

“Yes, the three of us had to agree to leave her alone, or she threatened to disappear. The whole month we searched for her was to prove that she could disappear forever,” Quinn explained.

“Like we ever had any doubt of that. Did she really get the Valle and Encala to agree to leave her alone?”

“Yes, believe it or not. They decided that her terms would be met.”

“What terms?” Kyle asked skeptically.

Quinn chuckled, “She stays with us, but agreed never to help us in battle.”

“Damnit, we’ve been trying to get her to do that for ten years,” Kyle said, and shook his head.

“They agreed to stop trying to kidnap her, and she agreed to leave them be and let them rebuild. If anyone breaks the agreement, she takes Alexis and disappears… forever.” Quinn frowned slightly.

“What? We can’t let her disappear if the Valle or Encala do something stupid,” the Chief Interrogator said.

“You don’t know Emily yet. If she decides to disappear, then there’s nothing we can do,” Kyle told him.

“She is coming back here now. If she stays, remains to be seen,” Quinn said, and glanced at Chevalier. He hadn’t said a word, but was glaring at the far wall.

“What do you mean… if she stays?” Kyle asked.

“I mean, she and the Elder had a falling out and neither of them are happy at the moment.” Quinn sat back in his chair and quit talking when Chevalier glared at him.

“Permission to go accompany her?” Kyle said, and stood up.

“How do you plan on doing that?” Zohn asked.

“Mark and I can head out in his car. We’ll catch up, and he can come back here while Emily and I bring in the Jeep,” Kyle explained.

“Fine by me,” Zohn said.

“Me too, Chevalier?” Quinn turned to him.

“I don’t care,” Chevalier said, and sighed.

“Just one word of caution. Emily gave the factions a month from today to get their acts in order. So for now, she’s still fair game,” Quinn said, and laughed as Kyle nodded, hurdled the desk, and ran out of the room.

Zohn frowned at Chevalier, “Don’t care?”

“That’s right. I don’t care,” he said, and got up and walked out of the council chambers. Chevalier headed down to the barracks. The bedroom, the palace, and the stables reminded him too much of her. He was relieved to know she was ok, but he felt so much anger at how she left for two months without even a note.

When he got to the barracks, he turned into the training hall and was able to take some aggression out on the punching bag and the target dummy.