Chapter 12 - Enemies

Chevalier looked up when there was a knock at his door, “Enter.”

Kyle came in and shut the door behind him, “Do you have a moment?”

“Sure, sit down.”

“Miri, Allen’s girlfriend, has asked to become a member of and move to Island Coven.”

Chevalier sighed, “How long were they together?”

“Six months… and he’s been on the island for a bit.”

“Emily would be livid.”

“Probably, he’s 15 though. In my day, you were married and running a farm.”

Chevalier chuckled, “Don’t even ask about 15 in my day… she sees him as a child.”

“When did she start dating Keith?”

“She was 17, met him at 14, and it took 3 years for Keith to talk Allen into letting them date.”

“So tell Allen he has to wait 2 more years,” Kyle suggested.

“Tell Miri she may move to Island Coven, probationary for the first 75 years…”

“75?”

“Yes, I’m adding 25 years to the normal. I’ll talk to Allen and the house staff. She’s never to be in the castle for any reason, and he’s not to be in her house… put her in Nicholas’ old house for now.”

Kyle nodded, “And Em?”

“I’ll have to think on that one. Luckily, she’s not been back to the island since the V.E.S. raid, so we have some time. I haven’t even told her about the awakening.”

“It’ll be interesting. He retired after the Winchester killings and at the height of trying to find a descendant.”

“That’s why he retired. He spent his last 100 years trying to get his hands on a Winchester, and came up with nothing but a distance male cousin. Don’t think I’ve not been thinking about that.”

“Well, Em can hold her own,” Kyle said, starting to get irritated at the thought of an awakening that might bring Emily danger.

“I’m busy here. Why don’t you go tell her,” Chevalier said, and grinned.

Kyle chuckled, “No way, I can’t be turned to ash. Who’d revive me?”

Kyle stood up and opened the door when someone knocked frantically.

“Sir, there’s a problem by the stables,” a servant said, and glanced at Chevalier nervously.

“What kind of problem?” Kyle asked, crossing his arms.

“I don’t really know… something about a horse being shot.”

Kyle sighed, “Laythan…”

Chevalier and Kyle both blurred out to the stables and joined the six members of the Cavalry gathered around a dead horse. Emily was on her knees and was resting her head against the body, obviously crying. She had bleeding scrapes along the back of her arms and blood seeping through to the back of her shirt. There was a single arrow sticking out of the horse’s chest.

Chevalier started forward, but Mark stopped him and he looked down, wide eyed at the full-sized Malamute. The dog had grown into a 150lb hulking mass. His hackles were up, and he was low to the ground and growling at any heku that stepped near her.

“We can’t get near her,” Mark whispered. “There are 21 members of the Cavalry out after Laythan. He was on top of the out-building and aiming at Emily, but Skye’s horse got in the way.”

Chevalier nodded and watched Silas come up with a lasso. He swiftly slid it onto the Malamute’s head and with considerable strength, was able to pull the dog away from his master as the angry canine snarled and pulled against the heku.

Kralen blurred to Silas when he heard the angry growls and guttural roar of a fighting dog.

Chevalier knelt down beside Emily and touched her shoulder, “Em…”

She looked up at him and he felt the fury rising at the pained look in her tear-filled green eyes. Without a word, she stood up and disappeared into the stables. The heku listened for the sound of a stall door opening, but didn’t hear it. She came back out a few minutes later. Her eyes were fixed on the trees, and she carried a double-barrel 12 gauge shotgun in her hand.

“Oooh no you don’t,” Chevalier said, and blocked her way. “First off… he’s out there trying to kill you, you can’t go into the trees. Second off… the shotgun won’t do anything.”

“Wanna bet?” she scowled, and tried to step around him. “I’m banking with these 2 slugs I can remove his head.”

“Let the Cavalry handle it.”

“I have… and now it’s my turn… Mark!” Emily yelled when Mark blurred to her and took her shotgun.

“He’ll kill you,” Mark told her, and tossed the gun to a member of the Cavalry who took it back into the stables.

Emily tried to rush around Chevalier, but he caught her arm easily and Jaron took her other. She froze in place and stared into the trees.

“Em, we can’t let you go in there,” Chevalier said softly. They watched her and wondered at how still she stood and the concentration building in her face.

“Wait!” Mark yelled. “I have Cavalry in there!”

“Em, stop it,” Chevalier said, and shook her arm slightly to break her concentration.

“You have 30 seconds to get them out of there,” she whispered, still staring at the trees.

Chevalier let go of her arm and stood in front of her, “No…”

Jaron was ready, and when Emily spun suddenly and tried to slam her palm into his nose, he easily caught her wrist, turned her, and soon had her restrained with her arms crossed over her chest and her hands pinned at her sides.

“Stop,” Chevalier said sternly, and used his hand to bring her face up toward his.

“He killed a horse,” Emily yelled.

“He tried to kill you.”

“He killed a horse…”

Chevalier sighed, “I know you value those horses more than yourself, but the rest of us prefer if you’d stay alive.”

Silas and Kralen both came up, and Silas had blood on his shirt.

Emily looked over at Silas and glared, “What did you do to my dog?”

“What did I do!?” he asked, aggravated. “That damned dog tried to tear my throat out! This blood is mine.”

“Let go of me!”

Jaron glanced at Chevalier and when he nodded, let her go.

Emily turned and screamed at Jaron and then stormed off to the palace after whistling for the dogs. The others turned toward the trees when the Cavalry headed out of them.

“Well?” Mark asked one of the Commanders.

“Nothing, we tracked him to the river and then lost him.”

“Get that horse taken care of,” Chevalier said, and started for the palace. “I still have to tell Em about the awakening.”

“How many Cavalry did you want at the reception?” Mark asked, following him in.

“Oh, well… I guess as many as you can find clothing for. Last I heard, the tailors were pretty busy trying to get ready.”

Mark chuckled, “You’re going to get Emily to the reception?”

“I’m going to try.”

“You better hurry. The Thukils are arriving in an hour.”

“I know,” Chevalier said, and stopped at Emily’s office door. He knocked a few times, “Em?”

“I’m busy,” she said, irritated.

Chevalier grinned, “Em… I need to talk to you about something that’s going on tonight.”

“Are you retiring?”

He frowned slightly, “No.”

“Then I don’t care.”

“It’s important, and the Council has to be there.”

“No”

“A former Elder is coming out of retirement.”

Chevalier stepped back when he heard Emily’s chair and then her door open, “What?”

“Come into the bedroom,” he said, and they walked up to their room. Emily looked down the stairs and saw that heku were beginning to haul boxes into the reception hall.

Chevalier shut the door behind them, and Emily sat on the edge of the bed, “I’m not in the mood for a reception.”

“Ok…” Chevalier said, and pulled a chair up to face her. He sat down and explained, “When a former member of the Council comes out of retirement, there are a lot of things that have to be done. For instance, he’s never seen a phone… or a car… computers… that type of thing.”

“Ok”

“So we start off with an induction back into the Equites. The Council, in robes, lines up and welcomes them back.”

“Fine, I can do that.”

“Then… the reception is done in period clothing to help usher them into the new world, as a means of respect for when they retired.”

Emily frowned, “It’s a costume party?”

“Sort of… then after the reception, he’ll be assigned a mentor to help him understand the new world he’s waking into.”

“So… you’re waking up a heku that’s been dead for 500 years and bringing him back into the Equites followed by a dance?” she asked, sounding confused.

“He only retired for 200 years.”

“So he’s starving and you’re going to lead him into the grand room to face the Council… he’ll eat me.”

Chevalier chuckled, “He’ll be fed first.”

“But you told Larsen he was no longer an Equites.”

“Larsen was banished… Camber retired with honors.”

“Camber?”

“Yes, he retired in 1810.”

“This doesn’t really sound like my thing…”

“I know, but it’s important for me if you’re there.”

Emily looked into his eyes and saw he was being serious, “He’s going to try to eat me.”

“You’ll be with the Council, and we’ve elected to have some of the Cavalry on the stage with us.”

Emily sighed, “It’s important to you?”

Chevalier smiled, “Very… Camber was my Elder for over 1200 years.”

“Ok, I’ll do it… I don’t have any clothes from 1800 though.”

“I’ve already had them made.”

“Of course you have… 1800… so he knows about the Winchesters.”

“Yes, in fact… he retired because of the Winchesters.”

“Why?” Emily asked, confused.

“He lived in Europe during the Winchester’s rein, and then made it his life work to find the descendants… he was determined to… well… own a Winchester for the Equites. When he didn’t get one, he retired.”

“Oh my God, and you want me to meet him??”

Chevalier took her hand, “It’ll be ok.”

She stood up and headed into the bathroom, “If I show up at the reception and I’m the only one in a hoop skirt, I’ll ash the entire faction.”

He grinned, “You won’t be, I promise.”

She shut the bathroom door and went in for a shower. Chevalier grinned and headed down to let the others know she was going to attend.

 

***

 

Emily entered through the back entrance. She had the hot green robe on with the hood down. The rest of the Council was already standing in line and the great hall was almost full to capacity. She heard the irritating murmur begin when she appeared on stage.

“Em, put your hood on,” Kyle said. She heard his voice but wasn’t sure which one was him.

“Oh right… I’m sure the hood will help hide the fact that I’m not heku,” she said, and pulled up her hood. “Like the height won’t give it away.”

Chevalier chuckled, “Just keep it up.”

“Can you make these any hotter? I’m naked under here and still cooking.”

“What?” Dustin asked, shocked.

“I’m kidding…” she said, grinning. “Where do I stand?”

“Beside Chevalier,” she heard Zohn say.

Emily scanned the tall figures in green robes and sighed, “If I’ve ever slept with you, raise your hand.”

Chevalier chuckled and put his hand out, “Over here…”

Emily took his hand and stood beside him. Six members of the Cavalry moved to stand behind the row of heku, and she heard the fans kick on, ones that were installed when she was pregnant to keep her scent from the audience. She looked out over the crowd and the faces all turned, staring at her. She caught sight of Lord and Lady Thukil and broke out of the line, then jumped off the stage and ran toward them, throwing her arms around Lady Thukil.

“I’m so glad to see you!” Emily said, and then hugged Lord Thukil.

Dustin cleared his throat, “We aren’t to leave the platform.”

“Shut up, Dustin,” Quinn said, irritated.

“Good to see you too, Dear,” Lord Thukil said, and then whispered. “I don’t think it’s customary for you to leave the others though.”

“They’ll live, how have you been?” she asked, ignoring the eyes on her.

“Good, and you?” Lady Thukil asked, smiling widely.

“Child, they’re waiting to start,” Lord Thukil said nervously.

Emily finally turned and went back up the stairs and stood by Chevalier. The robe was swelteringly hot and with the lights on the Council, she thought she might faint.

The doors at the end of the great hall opened and everyone turned to look. The former Elder stepped in wearing a blue robe. Emily tried to see what he looked like, but wasn’t able to from this distance.

Quinn stepped forward, and his voice boomed through the great hall. Emily sighed when he spoke in Latin, and resigned herself to another ceremony she wouldn’t be able to understand. After a few minutes, Quinn stepped back with the others and Camber began to walk toward them.

Emily could tell he was tall, even for a heku, and his muscles were bulging from under the robe. He had massive broad shoulders, long brown hair that was tied back into a single low ponytail, and a brown goatee. He looked angry at something, and his mere presence made the audience stir uneasily.

When he got to the stairs for the stage, he stopped, and Chevalier began to speak. Emily shifted uncomfortably as Cambers eyes fell to her and he frowned slightly. Chevalier stopped speaking and Zohn began, again in Latin, yet the former Elder’s eyes never left Emily. She felt herself starting to panic. She knew he couldn’t see her face, but his eyes bore into her and his angry expression deepened. Before Zohn stopped talking, she slowly moved so she was halfway behind Chevalier.

“Salvē, Camber,” Quinn said, and the audience began to clap.

Camber finally turned to look at Quinn, “Thank you. It is good to be back.”

Emily watched as the audience began to quickly file out, while the Council stood still, with Camber before them. He again turned his eyes to Emily, and she moved another inch behind Chevalier.

Once the audience was gone, Quinn spoke, “Now for the introduction… this is the current Council of the Equites…”

“It’s disturbing though… and confusing…” Camber said.

Quinn stopped and turned to him, “What is?”

“Quid nōmen tibi est?” Camber asked Emily.

“She doesn’t speak Native,” Chevalier said, a slight irritation in his voice.

“I’ve never seen a heku that small,” Camber said, and then frowned. “Nor one that hides behind another.”

“She is not a heku,” Zohn said. “We will explain it…”

“No… has the Equites fallen to having a mortal on the Council?” Camber asked angrily.

Emily felt her heart skip a beat. His voice was malevolent and threatening.

Zohn’s voice was calm and steady, “Let us explain… She is a member because she is bonded with an Elder.”

“It doesn’t matter who stooped to marrying a mortal. She shouldn’t be in the palace, shouldn’t be a member of the Council, and should not be here in front of me!” he roared.

Emily gasped and started for the back doors, but Mark stopped her.

“Brave too, I see… how embarrassing.”

Chevalier lowered his hood and his eyes were furious, “Do not talk about her like that, and I didn’t stoop to anything.”

“The great Equitis married a mortal?” Camber asked, shocked. “Maybe I should be talking to the Valle…”

Camber gasped, his eyes wide, and he grasped his chest.

“Emily…” Zohn said softly.

The burning pain within him lasted no more than five seconds, and he stood up straight. The look on his face changed from hatred to confusion.

Emily started for him, “Don’t talk badly about the Equites!”

Mark reached out and took her shoulders to stop her from advancing.

“What…” Camber said, watching her.

“My wife,” Chevalier said, and put his hand out for Emily, “Is the last remaining Winchester.”

Mark let her go, and she took Chevalier’s hand and lowered her hood to look Camber in the eye.

“Mē miseret,” Camber said, and his usual angry expression returned. “No other faction has a Winchester?”

“No,” Chevalier told him.

“Fascinating… you found one.”

Emily frowned, “Don’t talk about me like I’m a car.”

“A what?” he asked, frowning again.

“Never mind,” Quinn said. “But I suggest you show respect to this Council. Emily is quite passionate about loyalty to the Equites.”

“Why don’t we let Emily go while we do the rest of the introductions,” Zohn suggested. “We can meet back up with her at the reception.”

Mark nodded and held his hand out for her. Emily glanced again at Camber, and then took his hand as the Cavalry followed her out of the great hall.

Camber grinned when she left, “Leave it to Chevalier to not only find a Winchester, but bond with her.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?” Chevalier asked, frowning.

“Nothing bad… I assure you. It’s just a shock to find that you’ve done what my life’s work could not accomplish.”

Emily grumbled under her breath all the way to her room. She couldn’t believe the nerve of that heku, and she was ready to ash him and be rid of him. Mark and Silas walked into her room with her while the others stayed out by the door. She stopped just inside the door and frowned at the clothing covered bed and her tailor standing beside it.

“I stayed to help,” he said, and smiled.

“I’ve been getting dressed long enough I can do it alone,” she said, irritated.

Mark chuckled, “Not like this you haven’t.”

“It used to take two or three handmaids to get someone dressed,” the tailor explained. “You, my Dear, are stuck with me.”

“Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret this?” she asked, and turned to Mark.

“Just go get the basics on in the bathroom, you’ll be covered enough to come out and get the rest on.”

“The basics?” she asked, confused.

“Here,” the tailor said, and handed her a stack of white cloth. “Come out when you are done.”

Emily shook her head and took it into the bathroom. She laid out the three items of clothing and studied them. First, she slipped on the thigh high stockings, those were simple and something she’d seen before. The next was a simple, white, knee-length chemise that she easily slipped on. The last was obviously calf-length pants, but was also the light white linen with an elastic waist and elastic at the calf with a small ruffle at the bottom. She looked into the mirror and frowned at the odd clothing after putting them on.

Next, she turned to her hair and put it in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. She’d seen hair similar to that in old movies and thought it would be the easiest.

Emily stepped out and gasped at Mark and Silas. They were each in waistcoats that were tightly cinched at the waist, and tall hats with white ruffled collared shirts and long pleated pants. Mark had a cloak tied around his neck, but Silas had on a dark cravat instead.

“Nice,” she said, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t even go there… wait til you get in yours,” Mark said, and leaned back against the wall.

“Dear…” the tailor said nervously. “Remove the brassier.”

Emily blushed and disappeared into the bathroom and came back out shortly.

“Ok,” the tailor said, and held up a whale boned corset.

Emily gasped, “I have to wear that?”

She turned and glared when Mark started to chuckle.

“Come on, I’ll put it on you,” the tailor said.

Emily sighed. She’d already agreed to go to the reception, so she went over to the tailor. He wrapped it around her and then began to fasten the ties.

“Ok, hold onto the bed,” he told her.

“Do what?” Emily asked, and turned around.

“That bed won’t hold,” Silas said, and walked up. “Hold onto me.”

For the next thirty minutes, Emily held tightly to Silas as the tailor tightened the whalebone corset. She felt like he was breaking ribs as he tightened it so tight that Silas had to hold onto her so she didn’t fall. By the time he got to her waist, she felt like she could no longer breathe.

“You, Dear, will be the only one at the reception with a waist,” the tailor said, and she felt him tighten another strap.

Emily tried to talk, but no noise came out. She just held tightly to Silas as another strap tightened.

“There, that part’s done,” the tailor said, and moved to the bed.

“I… can’t… breathe,” she managed to say.

“That’s why women used to faint all the time,” Chevalier said from behind her. Emily turned to find him in period clothing already. His waistcoat had a high stiff collar and was also cinched at the waist, and fit snugly against his massive shoulders. He had on a black cravat and a knee length black cloak.

“I don’t… want to… faint,” she said, still trying to breath.

Chevalier grinned, “Then take small breaths.”

“We have a long way to go,” the tailor said, and held up the first of many stiff, ruffled petticoats.

“What… is that…” she gasped when Silas came toward her with what looked like a belt with a pillow attached.

“This goes over your butt,” Silas said, amused.

“Why?”

“I have no idea,” he told her, and tied the thin belt around her waist. The small pillow rested just over her butt.

“That’s… stupid…” she gasped. She was getting mad at the amount of laughing coming from Mark and Chevalier by the wall.

Silas returned to the bed and came back with a 6-boned hoop skirt. She carefully stepped into it, and he tied it at her waist. Next, the tailor began to tie on the first of six thick, ruffled petticoats.

Emily was finding it a tad easier to breathe, “Why do I have on bloomers when no one can see under all of these skirts?”

“It was proper,” the tailor told her, and finished off the skirts.

“I’ll show them proper. Get me out of this and hand me my jeans.” She turned and glared at Chevalier and Mark when their laughter grew louder, “Stop it.”

“Sorry, Em,” Mark said, stilling grinning.

“Time for the frock,” the tailor said, and picked up the black and green dress.

Emily lifted her arms and he slid the thick dress over her. The heavy dress was cut low and the neck was wide, showing more cleavage than she was comfortable with, while the dropped shoulder fell to puffed elbow-length sleeves. The bodice was black with dark green overlay, and the skirt was floor-length and black with what she could only describe as dark green curtains. As the tailor tied the thick green belt, she looked in the mirror and wrinkled her nose.

She sighed and turned slightly in the mirror, “I look insane.”

Chevalier moved to her and kissed her shoulder softly, “Southern bells would have killed for your figure.”

He fastened a beautiful platinum necklace around her neck with teardrop diamond and emerald embellishments. He looked at her in the mirror and grinned, “I like it.”

“How am I supposed to go to the bathroom?” she asked, and then turned to the tailor, who was looking at her in admiration.

His eyes grew wide, “Do you?”

“Well… no… but I will at some point.”

“Well then, we get to start over,” he told her.

Emily frowned, “I’ll hold it.”

The tailor knelt down with her shoes and started pulling up skirts, “Last part… I promise.”

“Why have shoes? No one can see my feet.”

“In case you accidentally show your feet. Bare would be worse than shoes.”

Mark chuckled, “Yes, make sure you don’t show your feet.”

“I have miles of cleavage, but can’t show my feet?” Emily asked, confused.

“That’s about right,” Chevalier told her, and held out his arm. “Ready?”

“If I fall down the stairs, can I change into jeans?” she asked, and took his arm.

“Nope,” he told her, and started for the door. “Mark and Silas are your guards tonight. I think 2 will be enough.”

“Good, I’ll need them to catch me when I pass out.”

Chevalier helped her walk down the stairs, and it helped when Mark showed her how to successfully pick up all of the layers of skirts so she could walk easier, but reminded her that after the stairs, she couldn’t show her feet. They walked up to the reception hall, and she saw the entire Council standing in a line with the Elders at the back.

“Beautiful,” Quinn said, and smiled, bowing slightly to her.

Emily just blushed and stood beside Chevalier, “Why are we in line?”

“We walk in last,” Zohn told her, and couldn’t help but run his eyes down her.

“Peachy, a parade,” she said, and tried to pull her top up further, but it didn’t budge.

“Stop fidgeting, you look fine,” Dustin said, irritated.

“Bite me, pup,” Emily growled.

“Not tonight, you two,” Quinn said sternly.

Emily sighed and held Chevalier’s arm as they were paraded past the coven dignitaries. The Council lined up at the end of the room and turned to face the others. Emily was relieved that all of the women were dressed similar to her, though she wondered briefly if they had pillows on their butts, too.

Mark and Silas stood behind her through the night, and she wished she could hear what they kept whispering about. Chevalier explained that they had to greet the dignitaries before Camber would enter and begin his new life as a coven leader of the Equites. A coven was established for his use, and already had over 120 members.

The night drew on as the dignitaries filed past them. Most took her hand and kissed it softly, while others just bowed and moved on. The few that hadn’t met her before, seemed to hold their breath around her, and moved quickly to the next council member beside her. The room became warmer and several times she felt like she would actually pass out as she’d joked about earlier. No one else seemed to notice the heat, and she kept willing herself to stay focused.

When the dignitaries were done with the greetings, she heard the doors open again and then the murmur of greetings to Camber. She couldn’t see him over the tall heku, but knew he was moving closer by the sound of the heku talking to him.

Camber finally made his way to the Council’s line and started with Dustin on the end. They spoke briefly, and he moved on. When he came to Chevalier, the greeting was tense and brief. He moved to Emily and kissed her hand softly. Before he stood back up, she heard him inhale and then he stood suddenly and his eyes fell to her neck. Emily was pushed quickly behind Silas and Mark as they joined Chevalier to block Camber’s way to her.

Emily heard a hiss, followed by Chevalier’s angry voice, “Control… Camber…”

She could see his face between their shoulders, and saw his eyes roll slightly before he shut his them and sighed, “My God…”

Quinn appeared beside Camber and put a hand on his shoulder, “Enough.”

“Mmm, for just one taste,” he said, and opened his eyes to look at Emily again.

As if on cue, Lord Thukil arrived and put his hand out, “May I have this first dance, Commander?”

Emily nodded and took his hand, anything to get further away from the thirsty heku. As Lord Thukil swept her out onto the dance floor, others began to join in, and Mark and Silas stayed close to Camber. The former Elder’s eyes never left Emily as she danced and tried to ignore him.

Quinn broke in for the next dance, and Emily was amazed how neither heku stepped on her billowing skirts while they spun her around the dance floor. She started to enjoy herself as the night drew on as dance after dance she was passed through most of the Council and some of the more well known dignitaries. Chevalier cut in often, mostly for the slow dances, and by midnight, she started to get tired.

“You all seem quite smitten with the Winchester,” Camber said, watching Emily laugh as she danced with the Lord of Dell Coven. “It’s strange to see so many heku infatuated with a mortal.”

“You just don’t know her. Stay on her good side, and she’ll do the same to you,” Quinn told him.

“I intend to,” Camber said, and strode forward haughtily to cut into her dance. She glanced nervously at the Equites Elders as he wrapped a hand around her waist and took her hand. Anyone not dancing watched them closely, waiting for any sign of trouble. Each wanted to be the one to protect the Winchester and gain the favor of the Elders.

“Your family, Child, caused quite the commotion in my day,” he said, and spun her suddenly, bringing her back against his chest.

“So I’ve heard,” she said, not sure where this conversation was going.

“For over a hundred years I did nothing but search for any female descendants of the Winchesters.”

“Sounds like a waste of 100 years.”

Camber grinned, “One might think… Then to find out that during my absence, another found you.”

“Yeah, lucky him.”

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Camber dipped her and looked into her eyes, “You will.”

She wasn’t aware how exposed her neck was until Chevalier broke in and lifted her, while Mark and Silas ushered Camber off to the side.

Emily jumped when she felt a hand on her arm and calmed when she saw it was Zohn, “Come, I’ll help you to your room.”

She nodded, taking the hint that her scent was too strong, and took Zohn’s arm as he led her though the dignitaries to the foyer. Once there, Zohn helped her control her skirts and she walked up the stairs. She was ready to get the dress off. Four hours in a corset was all she could stand, and she wanted nothing more than to take a deep breath.

The tailor was in her room to help, and Zohn excused himself and returned to the reception. It took almost twenty minutes to get her layers of clothing off, and as soon as the tailor left, she stripped off the chemise and took a cold shower.

Emily felt better when she got out. She could breathe and was no longer sweating. She crawled into the cool sheets and fell asleep to the sound of music and talking from below.

The next morning, she could still hear the music and banter of the reception and was shocked that it was still going on. Not wanting to re-join them, she slipped on her bikini, tied her hair into a braid, and then grabbed a towel and threw it over her shoulder as she headed down the stairs, followed by four members of the Cavalry.

“You’ll enjoy a lot of the changes over the last 200 years, and we’ll help walk you through them slowly. Your coven is outfitted for the latter part of the 1800’s and we’ve assigned Yishir to be your mentor, to help you understand things like cars and phones,” Quinn explained as the Elders walked Camber toward the stairs.

“The biggest change will be clothing,” Chevalier explained. “Women no longer wear long…”

The Elders stopped when they ran into Emily coming down the stairs. Camber’s eyes grew wide, and he turned away from her suddenly.

Chevalier chuckled, “Did I mention that clothing would be a big change?”

“Or lack thereof,” Camber said, obviously embarrassed.

“I’m… I just wanted to swim,” Emily said, blushing at Camber’s reaction.

“You may turn around, Camber. What she’s wearing is perfectly acceptable swim attire,” Zohn said, amused.

Her blush deepened when the former Elder turned around and looked at her.

Chevalier started to get uncomfortable and turned to her guards, “Check for Laythan before you let her past the south lawn… I don’t trust him.”

“He better damn well hope I don’t see him,” Emily told him. “Or hear him for that matter. He’ll be ash before he can raise the bow.”

“Just let them check,” he said as they headed out.

Camber grinned, “She must be new to her abilities if she thinks she need only hear a heku… Winchesters must see their eyes.”

“Not that one,” Zohn said, and watched Emily leave. “She doesn’t even have to look toward a heku to turn one to ash.”

Camber frowned, “She doesn’t need to see their eyes?”

Chevalier shook his head, “Her father was an ancient. She once turned over 3400 Valle to ash, including their entire city, all from within the confines of their palace.”

“3400? In how long?” he asked sarcastically.

“Seconds,” Quinn said.

“An ancient father, you said?” It was obvious to them that he didn’t believe it.

“Yes… shall we move on?” Chevalier urged.

“That would be remarkable,” Camber whispered, his eyes glued to the door Emily left from.

The Elders turned when Alexis came up carrying Dain. She had blood coming from her forearm, and she looked angry.

“You take the little vamp. I’m tired of getting chewed on,” she said, and handed Dain to Chevalier.

Camber inhaled and frowned, “Similar…”

Alexis glared at him, “Mom said I can ash anyone who sniffs me…”

Camber’s eyes grew wide.

“Alexis, go,” Chevalier ordered, and she turned and walked toward the library.

For an unknown reason, Dain bared his teeth and hissed at Camber.

Camber gasped, “You turned a child!”

“We most certainly did not!” Zohn said, irritated.

“He is my son,” Chevalier told him, obviously offended, “And that was my daughter.”

“But that child is heku,” Camber said, confused.

Quinn sighed, “Emily’s father was an ancient, so she is at least 51% heku, which makes these children 75% or more. Chevalier and Emily have an older son that is mostly heku, their daughter that you met keeps most of her mother’s traits, and then the youngest, which as you see, is full heku.”

“A world full of heku children… who would ever have imagined.”

“Not full of… these three are the only ones.”

“Who he?” Dain asked, looking at Camber.

“His name is Camber. He’s a friend,” Chevalier told him.

Dain frowned, “No biting Mommy!”

Camber gasped, “I wouldn’t…”

“Don’t worry, he says that to everyone,” Mark chuckled from behind them.

“Might I?” Camber asked, holding his hand out for Dain’s hand.

“It’s ok, go ahead,” Chevalier said to the baby.

Camber took the toddler’s hand, flipped it over, and inhaled at his wrist, “Full heku…”

“Yes,” Zohn said, annoyed.

Camber glanced up to look at Zohn and then cried out and pulled his hand away from Dain, “He bit me!”

“He bites everyone,” Silas said, and took the baby from Chevalier.

“He… he bites?”

Silas chuckled and took Dain back up the stairs.

“Yes, he does,” Zohn answered, now amused.

“Might I meet with the Winchester again?”

“Yes, if you’ll call her Emily and not ‘the Winchester’,” Chevalier told him.

“Oh, of course,” Camber said, and followed them to the out building. The four guards were standing outside of the door to the pool room and saluted when the Elders walked up.

“Trust me,” Zohn said before Camber walked in. “Don’t irritate her.”

“Is she easily prompted to turn a heku to ash?”

“Not really, but she can still make your life hell if she doesn’t like you, and that’s from personal experience.”

“Interesting,” Camber said, and walked in.

Emily was at the deep end of the pool in the middle of swimming a lap when they walked in. She stopped and looked over at them.

“Sorry to interrupt, Em,” Chevalier said, and moved over to the deeper end.

Emily watched them walk closer, unsure what they were doing.

Camber knelt by the side of the pool and smiled, “Come, Child, I just want to talk to you.”

Emily’s eyes narrowed, “I’m not a child.”

Zohn chuckled and whispered softly, “You’re not scoring points.”

“I apologize, will you talk to me?” Camber asked.

Emily swam closer, “About what?”

“I’m intrigued by the burning sensation you sent to me last night. Did you mean to turn me to ash, yet could not accomplish that?”

“Excuse me?!”

“Strike two…” Zohn whispered.

Camber glanced up at Zohn and then back to Emily, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m just curious as I’ve never heard of a Winchester that could simply burn, except for one and she was unable to turn one to ash.”

“Want me to demonstrate?” she asked, obviously mad.

“Em…” Chevalier said.

“Yes, I can ash you,” she told him.

“So you have quite a bit of control?” Camber asked.

“More than you could imagine.”

“Can you revive the ashes?”

“No”

“I figured, that was only just a theory.”

“Stop it!” Emily yelled, and spun in the water to face away from him. “I don’t like that.”

Camber stood up and grinned slightly, “I was… I just wanted to calm you.”

She turned back to him, “Try it again and I’ll demonstrate the Winchester ability you’re so interested in.”

“Understood, I am sorry.”

Quinn turned to Camber, “If Emily is sick or injured, an ‘old one’ can usually control her, and it seems as though ancients can at any time… but that’s about it except on rare occasions.”

“Handy that she married an ‘old one’.”

“Meaning what?” Emily asked, getting angrier.

“Just a comment. How old are you?”

“Why the 20 questions?”

“I’m just curious. You seem very young to be with Chevalier.”

“And… strike 3…” Zohn said, and grinned.

Emily crawled out of the pool and was suddenly toe-to-toe with the 7 foot tall heku, “I don’t like you.”

Camber looked down at her, “You’re not afraid of me?”

“No, I’m not,” she growled.

“Interesting… and how tall are you?”

Chevalier reached out and put a restraining arm around Emily, just as the words came out of Camber’s mouth. He pulled her back a few steps.

“I merely asked because Winchester women weren’t normally that short.”

“Seriously, now’s a good time to stop talking,” Quinn told him as Chevalier pulled Emily out of the pool room.

“So she’s temperamental?”

“Very”

“Interesting”

“Let’s get you settled in your new coven, shall we?” Zohn asked. He was ready to get the former Elder out of Council City.

“Might I stay and evaluate her further?”

Zohn frowned, “She’s not a thing to be studied.”

“Later, perhaps… when she’s calmer,” Camber said, and walked back toward the palace.

Zohn rolled his eyes at Quinn, and they followed him.

Camber stopped on the lawn and looked over at the stables, “There are horses here?”

“Yes, we have a Cavalry now, our elite unit of guards,” Zohn explained.

“Interesting,” Camber said, and headed for the stables. Kralen and Jaron came out to meet them.

“This is Captain Kralen and Commander Jaron of the Cavalry,” Quinn said. “They can answer any questions you have about this guard unit. Zohn and I must get to a meeting. They can show you to where Yishir is waiting for you.”

“Very well,” Camber said, and headed in to the stables. Zohn gave Kralen and Jaron a warning about if Emily came out, and then the Elders left.

“Right now our Cavalry consists of 42 guards, and we’re bringing 8 more recruits in next week to begin training,” Kralen said, and watched closely as the former Elder began to look through the stables.

“And your responsibilities?” he asked, turning to the Captain.

“We have several. We are over the palace guards, we handle disturbances in the city, and we are the personal guards of Lady Emily.”

Camber grinned, “Doesn’t seem fitting for an elite guard to babysit the mortal.”

Jaron’s eyes narrowed, “It is and we’re proud to do it. She’s of great importance to this faction, and is often in danger.”

“By whom?”

“The Valle and Encala both want her, the rogue coven Ferus does also, and lately, we have a former Equites out to kill her. She keeps us busy.”

“She’s successfully wrapped this faction around her small finger, intriguing.”

“Rumor has it, you went into retirement because you weren’t able to locate and procure a Winchester,” Kralen said, and leaned up against the stall door to his mare.

“It is true.”

“Then what would you have done with her if you had gotten your hands on a Winchester 200 years ago?”

“That’s easy, plans were already in motion to confine her to a home here in Council City, and force her to do our bidding. She would defend us, annihilate the other factions, and do whatever else we saw fit.”

Kralen frowned, “So you wanted a weapon only?”

“Yes,” Camber said, and glanced at him. “That’s all the Winchesters are good for, weapons.”

Jaron growled, “You’re so wrong.”

“If she were to fall into my control, I would carry out the plan to use her to destroy the others and defend us from attacks… nothing more. She should be confined and controlled.”

“I’d like to see you try it,” Emily said from the doorway. She’d changed into jeans and a t-shirt. Her four Cavalry guards were watching Camber angrily.

“Maybe things have changed,” Camber said to her, unphased by the fact she overheard his conversation. “In my time, they were sought for one purpose… course at that time we didn’t know a Winchester could produce unique children.”

“You sound like the Valle,” she said, and walked over to shut the stall door he’d opened. She turned to him and slipped on her riding gloves. “They also seem to think I’m good only for burning things up and popping out kids.”

“What other purpose do you serve here?”

Emily glared at him, “I don’t have to take that from you, get out of my stables.”

“Your stables?”

“Yes, she runs them,” Kralen said, irritated. “She’s a Commander that’s in charge of Cavalry horse training.”

“Oh, they gave you a job so you could stay,” Camber said, smiling.

Emily disappeared into the storage closet. Kralen shrugged at Jaron, and they both looked over when she came out with the Taser.

“You’re going to shoot me for telling the truth?” Camber asked, amused. “You know you can’t kill me with that thing.”

“I don’t plan on killing you… if I wanted that, I’d ash you… I want you in pain,” she told him. His eyes grew wider and she pulled the trigger. The two probes shot out and embedded into his chest. He fell to the ground convulsing as Kralen blurred to Emily and took her Taser. Jaron called for Mark, and then picked her up so her feet weren’t on the ground.

It only took a second for Mark to get an idea of what happened. He took the Taser from Kralen and looked down at the former Elder, who was slowly recovering from electrical burns.

“This was locked up in the weapons room,” Mark said, turning to Emily.

“Not for long it wasn’t,” she said, and grinned slightly. “Former pain-in-the-ass over there is lucky it was the Taser.”

Camber slowly got to his feet and leaned against a stall door, “Have you tried pain to get control of her temper?”

“That’s it!” Emily screamed, and Mark immediately threw her over his shoulder and blurred to the palace. “Put me down! I want at him.”

“Yishir is waiting for you,” Kralen said shortly. “Let’s go.”

“Very well,” Camber mumbled, and stumbled after Kralen. The electrical burns were healing too slowly, and he was weak from the electricity.