Chapter 3 - Ulrich
Chevalier’s phone rang softly as he lie in bed, thinking about what had transpired. He hesitated, then answered, “Yes, Storm?”
She sounded nervous, very uncharacteristic for her, “Sir, are you in trouble?”
“No, why?” He sounded tired and still strained from the pain earlier.
“I had a phone call from one of the ‘old ones’.” She paused to see if he responded but then continued, “It’s Lord Ulrich von Weiskgaard, from the Valle. He wants to meet with you immediately.”
Chevalier frowned slightly. He was one of the ‘old ones,’ so why did she seem so nervous? “About?”
“He won’t say, Sir, but he did mention that the meeting need not include any of the rest of the Council.”
He thought that sounded odd, but agreed, “Very well, where shall we meet?”
“Lord Ulrich is in Great Falls.”
He shook his head, wondering what could be up now, “Ok, tell him to meet me in the conference room at my hotel in 1 hour.”
“Yes, Sir…” She hesitated, and then hung up.
Chevalier tried to clear his head, but his thoughts kept turning back to Emily. She had unknowingly tried to kill him tonight, yet he still felt the urge to protect her. He noticed, frustratingly, that even as his thoughts were trying to focus on the upcoming meeting, they still held her image closely as if trying to bring her to him. The very thought of her brought his instincts forward and he longed for another taste of her blood.
The concierge booked the room for him easily. It was always amazing what a simple $100 bill would do to a mortal. He sat at the head of the table and watched the clock, anxious to get this meeting over with so he could get back on track at the ranch.
The doors opened and in walked Lord Ulrich. He was obviously one of the ‘old ones,’ and as he looked at Chevalier, his eyes were scrutinizing. He wore the black suit and conspicuous black cape that had long been abandoned in the new world. Behind him were six well-dressed heku, obviously the top ranks of his coven.
He stood at the table and one of them removed his cloak and pushed a chair up for him. As he sat down, they formed a semi-circle of protection around him. Last to walk in was Sam. He was still dressed in denim overalls and looked quite out of place with the others in the room. He shut the door behind him and sat down at Ulrich’s right.
Chevalier eyed Sam suspiciously.
“I am Lord Ulrich von Weiskgaard, head of the Debalih Coven. I know who you are… so now I ask a simple question… what are you doing with Emily Russo?”
Chevalier narrowed his eyes, “Seven of you, how remarkable. So tell me, how long have you known of the existence of this killer here in the middle of North America?”
Ulrich’s eyes widened, “How dare you address me so!”
Chevalier grinned mirthlessly, “I dare much. I was burned at the stake with the Templar. I enjoyed a Bloodbath in Jerusalem. I have been around much longer than any of your whelps in attendance here. I daresay that the insolence, if there is such, lies on the part of old world covens that’ve apparently hidden a violation of the Pact into some place where they believed that they could hide it indefinitely.”
Ulrich glared at him.
Chevalier sat at the conference table and propped his feet up, “Nonetheless, we must take this opportunity to deal with the issue.”
One of the young heku slapped Chevalier boots off the table, “You will not address Lord Ulrich in that manner!”
Chevalier stood up, his hands in fists, “I will address him in any way I see fit.”
Ulrich smiled with a gleam in his eyes. Chevalier tried to remember where he had seen those eyes.
Ulrich motioned to his coven, and they left without a word, except Sam, who stayed in his chair, “Enough with the frivolities. I come seeking answers, so I’ll ask you again, what do you want with Emily Russo?”
“What I’m doing is of no concern to you, its Equites business,” Chevalier said bluntly.
“It has everything to do with me, I assure you.”
“What you did makes you no better than Keith!” Sam yelled, standing up.
“I am nothing like Keith!” Chevalier yelled, pounding his fist on the table and splintering it. “Drinking Emily’s blood without permission was necessary. Keith finds it fun to beat on someone who relies on him.”
“Sam… let us be,” Ulrich said calmly. Sam turned into a small cat, jumped off the chair, and ran out the door, “My familiar can be very protective of her.”
“Apparently”
“I know that you are part of the Council, and I also know the Elders have been after Elizabeth Winchester’s family for years. I’ve been able to keep them safe, it seems, until now. What do you want? What can I give that will get you to turn around and leave Emily alone?”
Chevalier noted the sorrowed expression on Ulrich’s face and thought carefully before speaking, “I don’t want anything from you. I’m not here to destroy her.”
“Then what do you want?” His eyes narrowed as he grew angry.
“I still don’t think it’s any of your concern.”
“It is my concern when my family is involved,” Ulrich said, clenching his jaw.
The eyes, they were familiar, they were Emily’s eyes. The truth hit Chevalier. Ulrich was the heku with which Elizabeth Winchester had fallen love.
Ulrich sat back in the chair. He seemed exhausted, “I’ve watched over my family for hundreds of years, and during that time, the heku blood was almost bred out of the line. I was so close to having my descendants fully mortal, no longer sought by the Councils as murderers.”
Chevalier waited, trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing.
“Emily’s mother had almost no power at all, and then he found her. Elizabeth Ann married Allen Flynn and had a son. Elizabeth’s father was Irish, and she had his temper, but had yet to display anything beyond that. None of the powers are held by the males in the family, so I couldn’t tell if the hundreds of years of torment had come to an end. For one brief period of time, I sent Sam on an errand, away from the Flynn family and another heku found her.” He paused and pain crept into his voice, “He had the power to clear the mind, Elizabeth Ann didn’t even know what was happening.”
Everything was becoming clear, “Then Emily was born.”
Ulrich nodded, “I wasn’t sure if the baby was Allen’s or not, I also wasn’t sure if another heku could bring back the powers that I bestowed, unknowingly, upon the family. The heku kept visiting Elizabeth Ann, and one night, he lost control, her blood had become like a drug to him.”
Ulrich’s voice softened, “He killed her, and when he still wasn’t satiated, he also killed her son, desperately seeking more of the ‘dulcris cruor’. Emily was only 2 years old, and when he approached her, smelling the scent of the sweet blood on her, she turned him to ash in less than a second. It was then that I knew that it had all started over, she was even more powerful than my own daughters.”
Chevalier’s muscles tightened as he realized how quickly the Factions would have Emily killed if they knew what he knew. He suddenly felt like taking her far away from them, hiding her, protecting her.
“She can’t know what she can do.” Ulrich’s voice strengthened.
“Why?” Chevalier asked, it didn’t make sense.
“If she makes the same decision her ancestors did, not to carry on the family line, then my Elizabeth will die out, nothing left of her or us… I watch over her and make sure she’s safe, with the help of Sam.”
“Safe? You call living with Keith safe?” Chevalier growled at him.
“Keith was a fortunate accident. I don’t meddle in the mortal affairs of my granddaughters… I only step in when the immortal interfere.”
“Fortunate accident?” Chevalier asked, confused.
“Yes fortunate. He’s weak minded and takes credit for the missing that Emily has turned to ash. She finds protection being with him, and with that protection, comes some comfort. As long as Keith takes credit for getting rid of… shall we say… admirers, then she won’t know that she has killed.”
“How many?” Chevalier asked.
Ulrich looked into his eyes, “I don’t trust you enough to divulge any more. I just tell you I will not stand by while my bloodline is polluted by yet another heku.”
“I… what??” He fumed when he realized what Ulrich was implying.
“Stay away from her.”
“I have no intention of being a father any time soon.” The word ‘polluted’ touched a nerve.
Ulrich studied his face, “You have no desires for her at all?”
Chevalier’s face was steady as he lied, “None at all.” His thoughts echoed in his head “Like no other.”
“She’s of the ‘dulcris cruor’, the more of her blood you feed on, the more you’ll want her and trust me, you will end up killing her. Let her be, let her live her mortal life and start again breeding out the heku. She’s a caring girl, if she finds out how many she’s killed…” His eyes watched Chevalier, his piercing gaze so much like Emily’s.
Chevalier stood, “Enough, I do what I want and I’ll not sit here and be told what I can and cannot do.”
Ulrich mirrored his movement and stood, “If you go to the Elders, then believe me, I will know and Emily will disappear. I’ve done it before, and I will do it again.” With one swift movement, he swept out of the room and disappeared into the daylight, leaving Chevalier alone with his thoughts.
Chevalier’s mind was miles away when he arrived at the ranch. The sight of the ambulance sitting quietly in front of the house brought him back from his thoughts. He quickly appeared in the loft of the barn, at the small window that overlooked the front of the ranch house.
It was obvious what was wrong when the paramedics wheeled out the gurney, the sheet entirely covering its occupant. Emily ran out of the house toward it but Keith stopped her, gently grabbing her arm. Sam was standing at the bunkhouse door, watching.
The ambulance left, no lights, no sirens, just a quiet exit. Emily turned to Keith and he wrapped his arms around her. The sobs stopped as her body went limp. Keith reached down and picked her up, cradling her in his arms lovingly. He went back into the house and shut the door.
Chevalier was hit with a sudden yearning to go into the house and take her from him. To cradle her in his arms and gaze into her eyes, if he could just lock her gaze, he could lessen the pain. He noted briefly how silent the ranch was, the horses, the cattle, everything seemed quiet and still in the brisk morning air.
The following days passed quickly. Chevalier watched the house from the loft, watching as people came and went bringing flowers and food. Each guest came with open arms and left with red eyes.
“He must have been loved,” Chevalier thought to himself.
During the days that followed Allen’s death, there was no sign of Emily.
The fourth night was cold, the wind was howling, and the moon was almost full. Chevalier was again sitting in the loft watching the house. He was moments from knocking on the door to make sure things were alright, when the door suddenly opened with a loud bang. Emily ran from the house toward the barn, all she wore was jeans and a t-shirt. She hadn’t even bothered putting on shoes.
“Emily, don’t do this!” Keith yelled, following her out of the house.
The doors to the barn swung open and Emily appeared. She was bareback on a sleek black thoroughbred stallion. She kicked the horse, and he immediately launched into a fast gallop.
Keith stopped and watched her leave, then sighed and then went back into the house.
Chevalier only had a moment to think. With his keen senses, he was able to pick up everything that was happening in less than a second. Emily was riding too fast, and the moon wasn’t bright enough for the stallion to be sure of his surroundings. She could barely hang on, not having bothered putting on even a bridle. She was out in the freezing cold and there was a hint of the smell of alcohol on the wind.
His movements were a blur as he left the barn and ran after her, keeping close to the trees. Even with his speed, he had a hard time keeping pace with the horse. Emily ignored the gates and pulled the stallion into a jump, Chevalier made himself move faster, he had to catch up with her and stop the horse before…
It happened too quickly for even Chevalier to help. Emily pulled the horse into a hurdle over a gate and when he landed, the stallion’s feet hit the ground improperly. Emily hit the ground first, and the massive thoroughbred rolled over her, and then scrambled to his feet. Chevalier stopped suddenly and watched. Emily was unmoving on the cold, hard ground.
He approached slowly. The stallion stomped at him and moved back a few steps. As he got closer, he noticed that Emily was not only breathing, she was crying.
He knelt down beside her, “Are you hurt?” he asked as the rain started.
She looked up at him with tear filled eyes, “I found you.” Her breathing was labored.
The rain began to turn to sleet. He reached down and picked her up, cradling her as he’d been longing to do for days. He carried her swiftly into the trees where it was dry, “You were looking for me?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “I need you to help me.”
How could he be holding a killer? She looked fragile and pale in the dark night. He found it hard to imagine how quickly she could kill him.
“Anything…” was all he could say. He was acutely aware that he would do almost anything for her, still not understanding why.
Emily turned her face into his neck and pulled her collar away from hers with a shaking hand. Her warm breath was on his neck as she spoke, “Kill me, please.”
He looked down at her exposed neck and the vein throbbed invitingly. What he saw also shocked and angered him. Beside the delicate vein were scars, marks left by greedy and uncaring heku, heku that were long since turned to ash.
***
The doctor Storm sent was also a donor, so she was able to serve two purposes. Emily was still unconscious. The concussion wasn’t as serious as it could have been, four broken ribs and a broken collar bone along with scrapes and bruises over most of her body was the final tally from the horse falling on her. Chevalier was feeling better with the fresh blood in his system and his mind was clear to think. The doctor had given Emily a hefty dose of Morphine to kill the pain, and assured Chevalier that she would be asleep for hours.
He watched her as she slept. Her delicate features were more pronounced with her pale complexion, a sign of the concussion. Her breathing was still labored, which worried Chevalier, but the doctor had assured him it was just due to the broken ribs which were now tightly bound to try to prevent further damage. He wanted to reach out and touch her face, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath his fingers, but he was afraid it would wake her.
He glanced briefly at the morning paper, which was still sitting on the floor under the hotel room door. Chevalier grabbed it, staring at the front page. Just below the bold writing “Local Cascade Woman Missing” was a picture of Emily, smiling brightly beside her painted mare. The article misrepresented the information. It stated she was out riding in the afternoon but hadn’t returned, her horse found dead late that night by searchers. Chevalier frowned. If Emily found out he killed the stallion, she wouldn’t be happy. His anger had gotten the best of him when her injuries became apparent, and out in the storm, it was easy to catch and kill the skittish horse.
He tucked the newspaper into his bag and pulled out the small silver cell phone. He wasn’t sure yet who he was going to call or what he would tell them when he did. He harbored a woman that the entire state was looking for, an innocent killer. Chevalier hoped that Storm was right in trusting the doctor, by now she had surely figured out that the woman in his hotel was the missing one from the papers.
The decision was easy for him, the decision on how to handle Emily and her abilities. It went against everything Ulrich told him, but Chevalier didn’t feel any desire to follow those instructions. He had, in his possession, a weapon greater than any he’d seen and with an impending war, her talents would be immeasurable. First though, he had to tell her about them and then had to teach her how to control them. He couldn’t take her back to his coven and have them in danger.
His house in the cold mountains of Colorado would work perfectly. It was only accessible by snowcat year-round, so it was isolated and safe. There, he would be able to try to teach Emily how to control what she didn’t yet know she could do. He also noted, solemnly, that it would keep her out of the protection of Ulrich’s eye. It wasn’t past his notice that it also put him in grave danger. He could vividly remember the intense burning pain she once inflicted upon him, but he didn’t have a choice. He needed her in the coming war, but he also didn’t think he could live without being near her.
Emily stirred in her sleep, her fists clenching slightly, “Please,” she asked softly.
Chevalier froze. He wasn’t sure if she was waking, or merely talking in a dream. He watched her as her eyes fluttered beneath her eyelids, her breathing coming faster and her soft brow furrowed briefly. Whatever she was dreaming wasn’t pleasant. He smiled to himself, again amazed at the simple human frailties that plagued such a natural killer.
He stood up quietly and walked over to the bed and reached down, gently touching her soft cheek. Almost immediately, her hands relaxed and her features returned to the quietness of sleep.
Chevalier turned to walk back to the chair when he heard her speak again, one single word, so soft he couldn’t be positive that she even said it.
“Chevalier”
He turned to look at her, but nothing had changed. Shaking his head slightly, he sat down and picked up the cell phone, still contemplating who to call and what to say. He knew the Council would want an update soon, better to do it by phone than have them send representatives to talk to him. He stepped into the adjacent room and shut the door to make his call, still trying not to wake up Emily.
It was a few minutes before he could be connected to an Elder, even in his world red tape surrounded everything and the need for secrecy made it worse.
“Chevalier, do you have news for us?” The voice sounded eager.
“Not a lot yet,” he said, lying smoothly. “The girl is interesting and may be of use to us, but I’m not sure she has the powers of the Winchester family. It’ll take more time to be sure.”
“We aren’t sure you have much more time, but do what you think is right. We trust you.”
“I will, I’ll call when I know something.” The click of the phone ended the conversation before he let something slip or let the extreme urgency enter into his voice.
He opened the phone again and dialed, this time it rang only once before someone answered.
“Yes, Sir?” Storm sounded pleased to hear from him.
“I’m leaving here, don’t call me. If I need anything… I’ll call you.”
There was a brief silence and he could tell she was debating asking more questions, “Are you bringing her here?”
“No… and if I’m lucky, no one will know where I’ve gone.”
“You can tell me, Sir. What if there’s trouble?”
“I can’t risk the Elders finding my location, I trust you, but I don’t trust them.”
She began to ask another question but he ended the call when static on the line alerted him that she may not be the only person listening.
Chevalier went back into the room and began packing his things. He looked at the medication left by the doctor, noting he had 5 more doses of Morphine and syringes to administer it. She also left hand-written instructions on how to care for each of Emily’s injuries.
***
As soon as it was dark, Chevalier loaded his things into the back of a black Bugatti Veyron and lowered the passenger seat all the way back. He went inside and checked to make sure he’d left nothing, then watched Emily for a moment before he gently pulled her arm out from under the covers. He couldn’t have her waking up during the trip down to Colorado. After cleaning a small area of her upper arm with alcohol, he pulled the cap off of the needle and carefully injected one full dose of Morphine.
He put the cap back on the needle, deciding to dispose of it outside where no one would find it. A small trickle of blood escaped the small puncture wound. Chevalier breathed deeply and the pleasing aroma made his mind whirl. He touched one finger to the drop of blood and brought it hungrily to his mouth.
Once he regained complete control, he reached down tenderly and picked Emily up, gathering the blankets around her. He normally refused to use his full speed when in a public place, but he couldn’t risk her being spotted. It was only a fraction of a second before he was setting her down gently in the car. The Morphine was working. She didn’t even move as he buckled her in and deftly slipped into the driver’s seat.
He let the car idle for a few minutes as his mind did the math. It was around 830 miles to the small town closest to his home in Colorado, and his car topped out at 250 mph. That seemed dangerously fast to anyone else, but with the fast reflexes accustomed to heku, it was perfectly safe. Accounting for weather and other obstacles, he figured he could be in the snowcat in just over 4 hours. Once he loaded up the snowcat with supplies, it was another 2 hours to get to his house. That last dose of Morphine should keep Emily comfortable and unaware for the entire ride.
Only once did she stir during the trip, when the soft drizzle that started around midnight turned into a violent hailstorm. It was in Buford, Colorado, that he stopped to grab supplies. The tiny town consisted of one small store and a cabin. He paid a local teenager to go into the store with a list of supplies while he waited with Emily. The boy glanced at the sleeping girl once, but Chevalier brought his finger to his lips, indicating she was sleeping.
After leaving Buford, it was only a few miles to the turnoff. The tiny dirt road was partially hidden by thick evergreens and large aspen trees. From here, it was slow going, the road was neglected and its winding path was riddled with local wildlife. Slowly, the terrain turned from dark green to white as the year-round snow began. Up ahead, he caught sight of the curved outline of the private garage. He went through two locked gates before drawing up to it and opening the large door, then he pulled the Bugatti inside and shut the door behind him.
The snowcat was already partially stocked with supplies and extra fuel. Speed wasn’t a problem here, no one was around this area for miles. He quickly passed the supplies from the car into the snowcat and made a make-shift bed out of the backseat. Emily gasped slightly as Chevalier picked her up, but she settled down comfortably onto the bed. It was still dark, which is how he preferred to travel.
The lights from the snowcat lit up the stark white snow as he moved slowly out into it. He drove the snowcat a lot slower than he preferred, trying not to jostle Emily around and cause her to wake up. The 2-hour trek up the mountain went smoothly, and the time allowed him to consider all of the options for teaching Emily about her ability. The trick was how to teach her without her turning it on him. He suddenly worried what would happen to her if he were to die, leaving her alone in the treacherous high-country.
It wasn’t until he was almost to the house when he saw it, it was securely hidden by dense trees and overgrowth. The windows were black and lifeless as he pulled the snowcat into the garage and shut the door behind him, surrounding them in complete darkness. He stepped out into the garage, its stinging cold didn’t bother him, but he shut the door quickly to keep Emily out of it.
The wall panel lit up when he touched it, bringing the generators to life, fully charged by the solar panels. He adjusted the temperature in the house up to 75 degrees and with a short code, the fireplaces all came alive, blazing with warmth. He went back to the snowcat and picked Emily up, holding his breath, she was starting to stir a bit. Chevalier entered the spacious house and headed for the nearest bedroom, where the bed was very near the fireplace. Laying her down gently, he covered her with a heavy down quilt, then went to work getting the supplies out of the snowcat and putting them away in the house.
***
A snowstorm raged outside of the sizable house, and the wind howled through the White River National Forest as Chevalier sat in an ancient rocking chair and watched Emily sleep. He suspected it wouldn’t be long until she woke fully. She’d opened her eyes several times, but they were unfocused and soon closed again. His plans were made, well laid out for his protection, but he hoped they would produce fast results. The unending faction war wouldn’t wait for him.
With a gasp, Emily sat up in the unfamiliar room. Her hand suddenly grasped her side as the broken ribs screamed at the movement. Chevalier was sitting by her side in an instant, slowly lowering her back onto the bed.
“It’s ok, Emily, lay down,” he assured her, gently positioning her so her head was propped up a bit, making it easier to look around.
“Where am I?” she asked, her eyes taking in the large bedroom.
“You’re safe. You are in my home.” He stayed on the bed, a hand firmly on her shoulder so she wouldn’t hurt herself trying to get up.
Her piercing green eyes looked deep into his and narrowed slightly, “How long have I been here?”
“Four days, what’s the last thing you remember?” He was hoping it would save some time if she remembered some of the night they left the ranch.
She thought for a moment, and a sudden realization showed on her face, she nodded, “I was on Coal, and I was looking for you.”
He smiled, “You found me.”
She frowned as the memories came back to her, “He fell, Coal did... I… I don’t remember anything after that.”
“Coal fell on you, that’s why you are hurting, a broken collar bone, several broken ribs, and a concussion.”
“How is Coal?” she asked suddenly, worry showing in her eyes.
Lying always came easily for him, but he didn’t want to lie to her, “He wasn’t hurt in the fall, he stood right back up and then I brought you here.”
“Where is here?”
“That’s something I will tell you later, for now, you only need to know you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She cocked her head slightly to the side and listened, “We’re alone?”
Chevalier simply nodded.
She studied his face, “Am I a hostage?”
“No,” he said, and smiled broadly. “You may leave when you want to… and are well enough to travel.”
“Does Keith know where I am?”
“No”
“Does anyone?”
He sighed, “No.”
“I have to get back. I have to watch after the ranch and…” She paused, her mind taking it all in, “Keith is going to kill me.”
Chevalier shook his head, “You can’t travel yet, plus… there’s a severe snowstorm out there, we won’t be going anywhere. You must be hungry.”
Emily nodded.
“I’ll get you something, behave and stay in bed.” He stood up carefully and was out of the room before she could even see him move.
As soon as he was gone, she braced her ribs with her hand and swung her legs out of bed. She was tangled briefly in a long white nightgown but was able to free her feet after some effort. She wondered how she had gotten into the gown and where it had come from. It was long sleeved and billowy, similar to one she’d seen in a museum.
Once she was sure she was steady, she stood up, gasping softly as her ribs protested against the movement. Her left arm seemed weak, and when she moved it, a sharp pain raced down her shoulder. She braced herself against the headboard as her head swam dangerously close to unconsciousness and black started to encroach on her vision. After a few moments, it cleared, and she took a cautious step away from the bed.
With sore, stiff muscles, she made her way to the large window. Her hand touched the soft lace curtains and pushed them aside. The view was breathtaking. Her bedroom was on the 2nd floor, and the window looked down over the side of a mountain where the trees were barely visible beneath the deep snow. Emily wasn’t sure how far she could actually see on a clear day, the snow falling made it hard to see more than half a dozen yards or so.
She jumped as his hands slid around her waist, “What part of stay in bed did you not understand?” he asked softly.
Her eyes were locked on the window, “It’s so beautiful out there.”
“Hm, well I prefer what’s inside,” he said, smiling slightly.
She felt heat rise to her face. She always hated when she blushed, but had no control over it. Chevalier led her away from the window with his hands still tight against her waist in case she started to fall. He picked her up effortlessly and laid her back in bed. She inhaled deeply, the food smelled wonderful and she realized she was starving.
The room was silent as she ate. The food burned her mouth but her hunger won out. The taste was exquisite, like nothing she’d tasted before. It had been so long since she’d eaten that she filled up quickly.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, noticing him watching her.
“No,” he said, amused.
She put the fork down on the dainty silver tray and turned to look at him fully, “You’re a vampire.”
“Ok”
“Aren’t you afraid of Keith finding you?”
Again his voice sounded amused, “No.”
Her lips thinned, “He has a way of finding vampires and killing them.”
“Yes I know, but Child, I am not a vampire.”
“Am I here so you can kill me?”
“No”
“Are you going to tell me why I’m here?”
“Eventually”
She wrinkled her nose, “Are you always so cryptic? Hey, if you aren’t a vampire, what are you?”
Chevalier had been waiting for this, “I am a heku.”
“A what?”
“A heku. My kind was here long before your ancestors were mere specks on the ground. We’ve watched civilization grow and have tried to stay out of the way. Mythical creatures of the night, the vampires, werewolves, ziang shi, zombies… they were all designed to explain our presence, but we are none of those.” It wasn’t nearly the entire story but was enough for now.
He removed the tray and she lay back against the soft down pillows, her sore muscles complaining.
“It’s my turn,” he said, pulling the rocking chair closer to the bed.
“For what?” She tensed.
He braced himself, for a brief moment wondering if her reaction was any indication that the burning pain would begin, “For questions, I have some for you.”
She relaxed some, and in return, so did he.
He started his well thought out plan, which began simply as getting to know as much about her family as he could, “I want to know about your Mother.”
“My mother?”
“Yes”
She looked up at him, confused, “She’s dead.”
“Yes I know, but what do you know about her?” He smiled warmly, making sure his sharp teeth didn’t show.
“Well… she died when I was 2. She was in a car wreck.”
That answered one of his questions, about how truthful Sam and her Dad had been to her. This would complicate some of his plans. He would have to start further back in her history if he was to make her understand her abilities.
“And your brother?”
She frowned, “I don’t have a brother, I’m an only child.”
“So sorry, my mistake. Do go on.”
“She wasn’t very old when she met my Dad. He inherited the ranch from his father. All I really know about her was that she had a way with animals and that she was very beautiful.”
Chevalier nodded, he had no doubts about that, “I see. What about Sam, do you know much about him?”
Her face lit up, a smile forming, “Sam… what’s not to say about Sam? He’s taken care of the ranch and my Dad for as long as I can remember. Dad once said that Sam’s dad worked for my Grandpa.”
He leaned closer to her as she continued, her eyes suddenly faraway.
“He’s always been a friend. I remember when I was 6, and a strange man followed me home from school. Dad was out with the cattle, so it was just Sam when I got home. I was so afraid.” She shuddered slightly, “He held me like his own daughter while I calmed down and then left me with hot chocolate and instructions to stay put. When he got back, the man was gone.”
“Strange man?”
She nodded, “Yes.”
“Did a lot of strangers follow you home?”
Again she nodded, “Dad said I had a magnetic personality.” Her face was suddenly serious, “He warned me to stay away from them, but there always seemed to be someone there, in the shadows. Sam helped them stay away somehow, he is like a Grandpa to me.”
“Did anyone ever tell you anything about the strangers?”
She looked over at him, “How could they know anything about them? They were just strangers.”
He shrugged, “Just asking.”
“Dad once mentioned that Mom had the same problem, I guess everyone does if it comes down to it.” She looked back up at the ceiling.
Chevalier wondered if he could ever convince her how wrong she was. He noticed how she winced a bit, her breath catching.
“Enough for tonight, it’s time for some pain meds it seems.” He stood up and grabbed the syringes from the bedside table. When he turned back, Emily was watching him, her eyes a mixture of pain and fear.
Suddenly, her face dissolved into a relaxed gaze and her eyes became unfocused and glassy.
Thinking quickly, he yelled, “Emily, stop!”
She jumped slightly, her eyes coming back into focus and staring at him. The look of fear had returned, “Don’t come near me with those.”
He fought to control his breathing, aware that he had been only seconds from the burning pain, “It’s Morphine, for the pain.”
She shook her head, “No.”
He hesitated, afraid to move near her, “Are you saying that you aren’t hurting?”
Emily set her jaw, “No shots.”
“Are you hurting or not?”
She flung the covers back and threw her legs off the bed, grasping her side and groaning when the world began to spin. She was barely aware that he was at her side. The slight pinching in her arm let her know she had lost, she’d had the pain medication. Emily began to protest, but felt herself fall back into unconsciousness. She fought to surface, but soon the Morphine took over.
He laid her back in the bed and covered her with the blankets, his hands shaking. He flashed to the front room with his hands against the windowsill. Chevalier’s entire body was shaking, realizing how close he had come to becoming a pile of ash. He thought of how suddenly it happened, her fear turning to nothingness. None of her attackers had a chance. He was sure they ran as soon as they were done with her, too far away to stop what was inevitable.
Once his nerves calmed and his hands were steady, he stood up and gazed out the window. The snowstorm had added at least 24 inches of new snow. He couldn’t leave today if he wanted to, even the snowcat would have problems on this night. Sighing heavily, he returned to Emily’s room and sat in the rocking chair. He watched her sleep, again marveling at her intense beauty. With the patience that centuries granted him, he waited, going over the plans again in his head.
***
Emily opened her eyes slowly. She still felt groggy from the Morphine. She looked around the room and noticed she was alone. Light was shining from the window and she wondered how long she’d been out this time.
She sat up as quietly as she could and took the remaining syringes out of the drawer and had them well hidden before Chevalier appeared in the doorway with another tray of food.
He smiled, “How are you feeling?”
She turned and glared at him, “Drugged, thank you very much.”
Chevalier found this amusing, “Well, do you want to eat before you begin yelling at me for it?”
“How do I know you aren’t poisoning the food?” Studying his face, she frowned.
Chevalier chucked, “Child, if I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
She grimaced at the title ‘Child’ and then sat down slowly into a chair by the frozen window, “Fine.”
He sat the tray down on the small table and looked out the window, “The snow is letting up.”
Emily ignored him as she ate, her mind going over her possible options. After she finished, she looked up at him, “You have no right to keep me drugged.”
He raised an eyebrow, “Who is going to stop me? Besides, it’s not like I’m being mean, you need pain medication to recover.”
“I’m feeling fine.”
He smiled, “Mmhmm. I need you in perfect shape soon, and I’ll do what I need to, to get you there.”
“What for?”
“In due time.” He walked over and stoked the fire.
She stood up while his back was turned and fought to keep from groaning. The pain seemed a little better, but turning incorrectly caused extreme pain, “Where are my clothes?”
“Are you going somewhere?” It infuriated her that his tone was light and still amused.
“Yes, I’m leaving.”
Chevalier stood up and turned to look at her. The light from the large window behind her illuminated the white nightgown and showed the silhouette of her body underneath it. He composed himself before answering, “No, you aren’t.”
Emily put her hands on her hips, “You said I could leave when I wanted.”
“No, I said when you wanted and when you could handle the trip.”
“I can now.”
“No, you can’t. Why don’t you lie back down before you fall?” He noticed the color was draining from her face.
Emily didn’t answer, the darkness was invading her vision again and her head began to throb. She took a deep breath and steadied herself against the chair until it had passed. When she was sure she wouldn’t faint, she turned her hauntingly beautiful green eyes to him, “I’m not going to fall.”
Chevalier shrugged and went over to the nightstand. He opened the drawer and began to reach for a syringe when he noticed they were missing, “Where are they?” he asked, knowing she wasn’t going to tell him.
“Gone”
“Damnit, Emily, where are they?” The anger in his voice made her take a step back, putting the wall to her back.
“Gone,” she said again, a little more timidly.
In an instant, Chevalier was at her, his hands on the wall at her shoulders, pinning her. She jerked her head away, her hands rising defensively to cover her face. The gesture infuriated him, not at her, but at the reason she did it. It immediately calmed him down.
He took her wrists gently in his hands and pinned them at her side. Chevalier placed his cheek against hers. Breathing in her scent, he flicked her earlobe lightly with his tongue and was pleased that she shivered, “I will never hit you,” he whispered into her ear.
He pulled his head back to look directly into her eyes. He locked her gaze and concentrated. It was only a few moments before her breathing matched his. His eyes boring deeper into hers, he whispered, “Where is the Morphine, Emily?”
He could see the conflict in her face and could tell she was struggling to unlock his gaze, to regain control. Softer, he asked again, “Emily, where is the Morphine?”
He was amazed at her restraint. Mortals normally became his to control with just a single glance, yet she took immense concentration.
Her voice was soft, his acute ears barely picking up her words, “In the bottom of the dresser.”
He responded by gently brushing his lips across hers. Emily pressed her body slightly against his, arching her neck up toward him. He couldn’t control it any more. He pressed his lips against hers and felt the warmth of her touch. He let the instincts forward, the aching he had in his body for her coming out.
Chevalier let go of her hands, moving one to the small of her back and one to her neck, he pulled her in closer to him. She didn’t hesitate, her body fit closely into his. His lips pried hers open, the smell and taste of her breath sent spasms deep within him. Emily bit his bottom lip gently.
Suddenly, she tensed, her entire body became rigid and she placed her hands on his chest, trying to push him away from her. She breathed heavily, “Please, I can’t.”
The instinct within him demanded that he take her and he refused to move as his mind fought within itself. She pushed harder against him, her arm and rib screaming in pain.
“Chevalier, don’t,” she begged.
He took a deep breath and stepped back, caging the beast that had nearly taken over. As his breathing slowed, he trusted himself to look at her. She was still close enough that he could smell the blood pumping quickly through her veins. Emily was watching him, her face a mixture of embarrassment and confusion and her eyes began to water.
Chevalier moved to her, pulling her into an embrace with her face pressed against his chest. He caressed her cheek with his finger and pressed his lips softly against the top of her head, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” He could feel her wet tears against his skin.
“Please lay down,” he encouraged. “I’ll behave, I promise.”
She nodded against his chest and pulled away from him, refusing to meet his eyes. When she laid down, she admitted to herself that the bed felt nice. The pain in her side lessened as she rested against the soft pillows.
Chevalier pulled up a chair, realizing that she still wouldn’t look at him. Her eyes were shut, but her body was not yet relaxed, “Let’s continue.”
Emily looked up at him suddenly.
He smiled, “The questions… I didn’t finish.”
She nodded.
“Tell me about Keith,” he began.
She frowned and shook her head slightly, “What about him?”
“Start at the beginning… how you met.”
She watched as her hand absentmindedly traced the pattern on the bedspread and shrugged, “He worked for my Dad, as a field hand. I was only 14 when he started, but I think I had a crush on him from day 1. When I was 17, he finally talked Dad into letting us date.” She paused, her eyes becoming thoughtful, “I don’t think Dad ever trusted him, I never quite understood why. Then a few months later, we got married.”
Chevalier couldn’t help but comment, “I can understand why Allen didn’t trust him.”
Emily looked over at him, “Keith can be a handful, yes, but all-in-all, he’s a good guy and he’s good for me.”
“What makes you say that?”
She shrugged, “How else could I handle the attacks? He takes care of them for me and all I have to do in return is put up with his temper. He also helps me run the ranch. I’m not sure I could do that on my own.”
“Would you stay with Keith if he no longer protected you from them?”
Her eyes showed a hint of fear, “I can’t leave him.”
“Fair enough.” He fully planned on dealing with that later on, “What about your job, what do you do?”
“I’m imagining by now I’m fired.”
“Ok, what did you do?”
“I code.”
His eyebrows rose, but before he could respond, she continued.
“I write programs for the government. No one else knows what I do, or shall I say, what I was doing for them.”
He noted some skepticism in her voice, “I’m not interested in what you do for the government.”
“What are you interested in then?”
“Again, Child, we will get into that later.”
“Stop calling me Child. I’m not a child, I’m 23.” Her jaw set and Chevalier fought to stop from chuckling.
“I am sorry, please continue.”
“That’s it… I write programs for the government. I prefer my time on the ranch, obviously, but it helps pay the bills.”
“If you could guess, how many times in your life have you been attacked by heku?”
“Including just now?” she snapped.
“Ouch... no, not counting just now.”
“I don’t really know, several a year I guess, sometimes it’s worse than others. At times, they come in droves, all begging me to join some stupid coven.” She thought for a moment and then turned toward him, wincing slightly at the ache in her side, “Is that what you want? You want me to join your coven?”
“No Ch... Dear… I don’t believe my coven could handle you,” he said with a chuckle.
“Hm, I’m not sure if I find that offensive or not.”
“No offense implied,” he assured her.
“Chevalier, I need to go back to the ranch.” Her eyes were pleading.
He shook his head, “Not yet.”
“Keith must be worried sick. He and Sam can’t handle the ranch without me. It’s my ranch.”
“I’m sure Keith and Sam are doing fine.”
“You can’t be sure of that! For all I know, they abandoned my animals and left them to fend for themselves.”
He sighed, “Would you feel better if I make a call and have them checked on?”
“No, I would feel better if you would let me go.”
“Not yet.” The tone of his voice indicated that that part of the discussion was over, “I will make some calls in the morning. For now, it’s time for you to get some rest.”
“No pain meds,” she told him sternly.
“Emily, I’ve told you, the doctor said you need all of the doses so you can heal and get some rest.”
“I won’t let you.”
Her stubbornness never ceased to catch him off guard, “You know there’s nothing you can do about it. Things would be easier if you would just sit still and take it.”
“Please.” Her soft voice made Chevalier hesitate a bit.
“Emily, think of it this way… each day you are getting stronger. Will you take the Morphine willingly if I promise that when you wake up you can take a hot shower and get dressed? I’ll even show you around the house.”
Her breathing started to pick up, matching her racing heartbeat, “No, please don’t.” Panic filled the air.
Chevalier made a split second decision just to get it over with. Emily barely had time to fight back, and when it was over, she quickly fell into the darkness.
After pulling on his parka, he headed out to the snowcat. He had to find something to quench this thirst, to help keep the beast at bay. He noted the time, he had about 8 hours to get into the tiny town of Meeker, find a donor, willing or not, and get back before she started to stir again. He watched the dark house as the snowcat made its way into the night. His heart sank at the thought of leaving Emily alone, but he didn’t see as though he had a choice.