Emily was so engrossed in her book that she failed to notice the screams anymore. She kicked back on the couch and slept most of what felt like the night as the TV blared in the background, then got up, ravished, made pancakes, and sat alone at the table to eat. The camera in the living area kept scanning the room and she just grinned.
After breakfast, she cleaned the kitchen and then dusted the living area, all the while being watched closely by whoever was manning the camera. After cleaning up, she stepped into the bathroom to take a hot shower, savoring how the hot water felt against her sore muscles.
Emily stood by the bedroom door and listened closely. All she could hear were sobs coming from Tim. He sounded like he was in pain and she smiled and returned to her book. She was curled up there, reading, when the heavy metal door opened. The seven heku came in with customary masks and menthol smell. They scanned the room for Tim and then advanced on Emily, pinning her to the couch while they searched for Tim.
“He's in here!” one of the heku yelled, heading into the bedroom. The sound of sobbing came from inside.
Emily sat quietly while the three heku guarded her and wondered what was going on inside the bedroom. They hauled Tim out, his head lolling to the side and a heku under each arm. They walked him gently up the stairs as Emily watched.
The tallest heku came out and addressed Emily, who was still sitting on the couch surrounded by heku guards.
“That is enough disobedience!” He stopped talking when Emily held up a hand.
“It wasn't disobedience. I don't believe there was ever an order that I wasn't to tie him up.” She raised her eyebrows at him.
He struck her hard and fast across her face.
“I've had worse,” Emily said, turning to face him again.
“You will learn true respect and obedience, Child. No more of this insolence! The punishments will begin to get worse and worse until you comply with our desires,” he said, watching her.
“Your desires? What exactly are your desires?” she asked angrily.
“Your devotion and loyalty to the Valle.”
“Oh is that all?” she asked sweetly.
He watched her.
“I'll die first,” she yelled at him.
“Enough! Bring her,” he demanded to the two heku at her side. They each grabbed an arm and hauled her out of the room and up the stairs.
***
Chevalier gave the order for the first team to descend into the Valle coven. Their instructions were clear, kill anyone they see.
Kyle led the first battalion into the city. They outnumbered the residents of this cold land, two to one. Their informer inside of Valle said that this Godforsaken frozen wasteland was where Ulrich chose to call his home.
The sounds of battle began just as Chevalier thought over the last thing he picked up from Emily, more pain. This time the pain was excruciating and relentless. He tried to focus on the battle and waited for Kyle's call for the second attack. Heku tradition dictated the Commander came in the second round. The first attack was led by the second in command to show respect, but Chevalier now doubted this tradition.
He knew that somewhere, down in that frozen city, Emily was in pain. The call came, the lone signal heard clearly and Chevalier advanced his troops. As planned, they fanned out to the south end of the city, killing anyone they came across. Blood from the Valle stained the icy roads red and the smell only caused the heku to fight harder.
Chevalier brought his sword to many Valle heku, tearing them into shreds and feverishly moving on to the next and doing it again. As planned, he questioned any high-ranking Valle about Emily's whereabouts before killing them, but so far, no one knew where she was being housed. One swears he had seen her, but couldn't give any details about her location.
Covered in the blood of the Valle, Chevalier came face-to-face with Kyle and his team in front of the city's castle.
“Any word?” Kyle asked.
Chevalier shook his head, “Head around back, we're entering the castle in 5 minutes.”
Kyle nodded and headed his troops along the wall, toward the back, leading half to the west and the rest went around to the north. He knew these orders well. No one was to be killed until they were questioned by either himself or the Chief Enforcer. Informants suggested Emily was being held in the palace with Ulrich.
When the time came, Chevalier stormed into the palace, quickly dispatching the front guards and heading into the cold marble home of Lord Ulrich.
“Ulrich, I've come for you!” Chevalier yelled into the palace, his words echoing off of the polished marble.
“Find her,” he called to his troops, and they spread out, checking every door and every wall for secret passages.
Chevalier left his fighting for Ulrich and watched as his troops searched the castle. Kyle came up from the back of the castle to stand by him.
“I don't get anything from her anymore, it's been almost three days,” Chevalier said, the anger in his voice was stifling.
Kyle looked around the castle, “If she's here, we'll find her.”
Chevalier nodded, but his heart sank. He reached further out and couldn't find her. No emotions, no memories, no murmur of voices.
“Sir! We have three Commanders cornered for you,” an Equites guard reported. He then led Chevalier and Kyle to a small room.
Inside, there were three Valle heku cowering in the corner. Their weapons had been removed, and they were covered in blood and wounds.
Chevalier walked up and stood threateningly in front of them, “Where is Emily?”
The three looked at each other nervously, but didn't speak.
He walked up and knocked one onto his back and then stepped on his throat, cutting off