“Enter,” Chevalier said, and wondered who was knocking on his office door at 3am.
Anna entered with Allen in her arms, and he was crying, “Sorry to bother you, Sir. I can't calm him down.”
Chevalier took Allen in his arms and he immediately settled down.
“What's wrong?” he asked the toddler.
“Bu bye,” he said, waving to the hallway.
Chevalier pulled Allen close to him, and Allen rested his head on his Dad's shoulder.
“Where's Em?” he asked Anna.
“I don't know. I found Allen scooting down the stairs by himself, and she isn't in her room,” Anna said, worry sounding in her voice.
“She left Allen alone?” Chevalier frowned, that wasn't like her.
Anna shrugged, “She must have.”
“Take Allen back upstairs. Kyle and I will see if we can find her,” he said, and handed the half asleep toddler back to Anna.
Anna left quickly before Allen could realize he wasn't with his Dad anymore.
“Kyle?” Chevalier called, stepping out of his office.
“Yes, Sir?” Kyle asked, blurring by his side.
“Em's gone, we need to find her,” he said to Kyle.
Kyle grinned, “Fight again and she took off?”
Chevalier frowned, “Anna found Allen coming down the stairs alone, and she's not in her room.”
“Wait… she left Allen alone?” Kyle was beginning to become concerned.
Both of the heku headed out to the barn.
“Sam?” Chevalier called out, and the familiar quickly appeared.
“A bit late for a ride isn't it?” he asked, yawning.
Chevalier looked around the barn and saw Patra in her stall, “Have you seen Emily tonight?”
“No, I haven't. I take it you two fought again and she took off?” Sam asked, stifling another yawn.
“Would you both stop saying that? We don't fight all the time,” he growled at Sam and turned, but Kyle was gone.
“Hey, Chevalier?” he heard Kyle call from outside, and the heku appeared at his side.
Chevalier didn't need to ask what Kyle called him for. He could smell the sweet blood strongly outside of the barn, “What in the hell is she doing out here?”
Kyle shrugged, “Odd that she didn't get Patra,” he said, following the scent.
They walked through the dark pastures, following her trail for almost thirty minutes before Chevalier stopped suddenly, “Is that her?”
Kyle looked where Chevalier pointed and saw a still figure standing along the trees, unmoving.
As he blurred closer to the form, he could tell it was Emily. She was standing perfectly still and looking into the trees. Although it was a cold, rainy night, she was wearing only her nightgown and her hair fell down her back.
“Emily, what are you doing out here?” Chevalier asked.
“Em?” Kyle said, appearing by her side.
They both waited for her to respond, and then followed her gaze into the trees, but didn't see anything.
“Emily?” Chevalier said, stepping in front of her and looking at her face. She didn't move, and her eyes didn't pull away from wherever it was she was staring.
“Em?” Kyle said again, and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
“Emily,” Chevalier said louder as he put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. Her eyes were dull and unfocused.
He slipped off his shirt and put it around her shoulders. His hand brushed her shoulder and her skin was freezing.
“What's wrong with her?” Kyle asked, watching her.
“I don't know, but she's freezing, let's get her inside.” Chevalier picked her up easily and headed quickly back inside.
Kyle followed beside them. He looked over at her and she was staring blankly into the night.
“Is she sick?” he finally asked when they stepped into the warmth of the castle.
“I don't know, I mean… she wasn't sick earlier,” Chevalier explained, and headed up the stairs.
Anna watched as Chevalier carried Emily into the bedroom and she took Allen into Chevalier's room to sleep.
Chevalier laid Emily down on the bed and was shocked when she rolled onto her side and fell asleep. He frowned at Kyle and shrugged before pulling the covers up over her. Kyle was already stoking the fire.
Kyle motioned for Chevalier to follow him out of the room.
“Ok... what was that?” Chevalier asked, shutting the door behind him.
“That's the weirdest thing,” Kyle said, watching the door.
“I guess I'll just watch her carefully tomorrow. Oh damn, I can't… I have to be in council meetings all day,” Chevalier said, thinking.
“I'll do it. It's been so calm around here lately it'd be a nice break,”
“Her scent is off too, close, but something's changed,” Chevalier said, and glanced back at the door.
“I'll watch her.”
Chevalier nodded and headed back into Emily's room. He shut the doors and crawled into bed with her, then wrapped his arms around her and watched her sleep.
***
Kyle heard Emily get out of bed and walk around the room a bit. He and Chevalier decided not to bring up the following night unless she brought it up first. Chevalier had left a few hours before, and wouldn't be home until well after midnight.
“Good morni…” Kyle began, but froze. Emily came out and he looked at her oddly.
She smiled sweetly at him, “Good morning.”
“You ok?” he asked her.
“Of course,” Emily said, and walked past him and out into the hallway. Her hair was hanging loosely down to her waist, and she wore a light pink sun dress. Kyle took a second look, and was sure she had on make- up, too.
He followed Emily down the stairs silently, and each heku they passed turned to take a second look at her.
“What are your plans for today?” Kyle asked, knowing she would fight him over the question, but he decided he'd take a fight over the uncharacteristic way she walked in the sun dress and ran her fingers along her necklace.