Chapter 47 - Lilas

"We've searched everywhere for Rhistel but we still can't find him. All the cities are now under our control and have been searched multiple times for him." Magor states looking over the reports in despair. We'd been discussing the state of the war all day but as always this it what it comes down to, the inability to locate Rhistel.

"What does that mean for the army?" Quillon asks, "They can't stay in Nerkise indefinitely searching for him. They've been gone for close to two years now, the men will want to return home to their families."

"That's true. We should recommend to the generals that they start sending men back home. A slow withdrawal from Nerkise would be for the best." I suggest, "They can get a new Council set up, with the recommendations we've sent, before they withdraw and continue the search for Rhistel as they leave."

Deep down I know though that while the rest of the army may start to withdraw and return home Kor and Bel won't. Not until they've found Rhistel, the last letter they sent was filled with apologises alongside their determination to stay until he was found. Since all the cities came under our control they have been able to reunite with each other. It's a comfort knowing that the two of them are together again, watching each other's backs.

"Do we have anymore spies that can subtly search for him while the rest of the army, Kings Ruikor and Bel included, return?" Kavarthon asks trying to find a way for everyone to get back home.

"Regardless of what spies are available Kor and Bel have stated that they won't be returning until they have caught Rhistel." I inform the Council. Until now I haven't told them about this out right but I'm sure that at least some of them have suspected.

"They're so stubborn." Magor mutters pinching the bridge of his nose, more than used to the antics of my mates. "This is why Emilia is my favourite of your mates nephew."

"I'll make sure to tell her uncle. Nevertheless they feel that for the safety of Rialria the war isn't over until Rhistel is caught and dealt with. They would prefer to see that it's done themselves." I reply getting reluctant nods of agreement from the Council, "Even though they aren't returning Lords Borgan and Halmed are so the Council will at least be back to it's full strength upon their arrival."

The reminder of their return is a suitable distraction from the stubbornness of my mates. As Borgan and Halmed will be returning along with some of the army the rest of the Council feels that a celebration of their return should be organised. Needing something good to focus on we began planning what we can do to celebrate the return of our victorious soldiers.

"Move out of my fucking way! Lilas! Lilas!" I hear being bellowed before Volethe bursts through the doors red faced and out of breath.

"Volethe, what-" I begin to ask standing up from my seat. Fear began to rise in me as my mind filled with possibilities of what could have happened, nearly everyone revolving around Emmy and the babies.

"It's the Queen." He pants out, "She's missing." It feels as though the floor has fallen out from beneath me. That can't be true. Surely he's mistaken and Emmy is safe at home with our son, there is no way that she's missing. Vaguely I can hear the Council members explode demanding answers from him while I try to come to terms with what I just heard.

"How is that possible?" I ask quietly but it cuts through the rest of the noise in the room.

"Her Majesty went on a walk in the garden with Lady Erika, she requested that we wait by the door for them to return. Khidell and I thought nothing of it as they were only going for a short walk and the garden is walled in… she should have been safe." Volethe tells us, pain and anger clear in his voice. Both he and Khidell have become close to Emmy considering her a sister so for this to happen under their watch must be devastating. "But then an hour went by and they didn't come back. I was worried something might have happened so we searched the garden but there was no sign of either of them. It's like they've disappeared into thin air."

"Seal the city. I want every gate under guard until the Queen is found. No one is to enter or leave the city until then and send guards to check every house, starting with Lady Erika's home." Magor orders sending a pair of guards running out of the room to fulfil his order. I still don't understand how this could happen, with Lady Erika being a vampire she should have been able to fight off anyone or at least out run them. That leaves only one explanation, she has taken Emmy.

"What do we know about Lady Erika?" I turn to the Council needing answers that about this woman who we had trusted. Out of them all I focus on Quillon relying on him to know every vampire in this city better than anyone else.

"All I know is that she was born in a small town named Clawesp and was turned several hundred years ago by her Soulmate Dregan. I've heard of him and from what I've heard he turned her by accident and only after realised they were Soulmates. Not wanting to lose her twin sister she requested Dregan turn Victoria as well, after that I know very little about her until she appeared here in Hadlau around a hundred years ago. Since then she's lived quietly here with her sister while Dregan is living in Ciaffet with another vampire named Osanna." He tells the rest of us giving us all the information he has.

It gives us a bit of background on her but other than that there isn't much useful in what he knows, I already know that she is close with her sister. The pair of them live together in the merchant area of the city and they have until now served Emilia well as ladies-in-waiting.

"Kavarthon how fast can one of your dragons fly to Ciaffet to speak with Dregan?" I ask turning to face him.

"I'll have one of my best men sent out immediately. They should reach the city by tomorrow night if they fly without rest so they should be back in a few days." He informs me and begins writing a quick note that he sends off with a servant after I nod my agreement.

"Have some guards bring Lady Victoria in and search their home. I want to speak with her." I request needing answers and with her being so close to her sister she should have at least some ideas about what Erika has done. Maybe even why she's done it. "Volethe return to the palace. Start interviewing every member of staff to see if they saw anything, any information will help us at the moment."

"Yes your Majesty. Khidell and I won't rest until the Queen is found." He replies with a deep bow clearly still angry at himself that this has happened. With a grim face he stands up and stalks through the door, I pity anyone who gets in his way at the moment. He's on nothing short of a war path in his determination to find Emmy.

"Now with the Council's permission I would like to use the communication crystal to inform Kor and Bel of what's happened." I ask the Council although even if they'd denied the use of the crystal I'd have used it anyway. There have always been communication crystals set up to send word quickly to the border and foreign kingdoms but each crystal only has a limited number of uses before its destroyed so are only used in the direst of circumstances. Not wanting to anger me further the Council all agree with the use of the crystal.

With the process of locating Emmy and Erika started I leave the meeting hall heading to the well-guarded room where the communication crystals are stored. The doors are opened for me without a word and I quickly find the crystal that I need, our last report stated that Kor and Bel were in Rhovas. I stand infront of the crystal trying to gather my thoughts and figure out how to tell them. Our mate, our pregnant mate is missing. Not wanting to delay too long I activate the crystal.

"I need to speak with Kings Ruikor and Belath." I state to the guards who enters the room after hearing the crystal activate. He nods and take off out of the room in a run to retrieve my mates. It'll be the first time in over a year I've seen them and I have to give them such terrible news.

"Lilas you naughty elf. I didn't think you'd be the one to misuse a communication crystal like this. I wish I'd thought of it first." Bel grins happily approaching the crystal clearly overjoyed to see me. At least until he notices my expression. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"The two of you need to come home." I start having to pause there as now that I'm alone with just them the fear and sadness is overwhelming me, "It's Emmy. She's missing, it seems that she's been kidnapped." There is a brief moment of silence before a terrifying roar echoes through the crystal as Kor loses control of his temper.

"Find out what you can. We'll be home within a week." He promises his eyes glowing brighter than I've ever seen but then he's never had a reason to be this angry. Sure Bel and I have had some minor injuries in the past that have healed quickly, that's nothing compared to the complete disappearance of a mate while he wasn't here.

"You heard him Li. We'll be home soon; you go and look after Nazeph." Bel tells me his eyes filled with determination before the crystal cuts off. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they're packing only the essentials now and will soon be home with me. Taking Bel's advise I turn around ready to get home now where I can see my son and wait to find more about what's happened.

I leave the meeting hall without stopping to inform the Council of my mate imminent return and break into a run as soon as I'm outside. At this pace it isn't long before I'm running through the doors and upstairs to Nazeph's nursery needing to see my son. He's sat on the floor with his nurse happily playing with some blocks completely oblivious to the fact that his mother is missing. His nurse on the other hand has clearly been informed as she watches him play with a sad smile.

"Your Majesty." She greets standing to curtsy before leaving me alone with my son.

"Da." Nazeph babbles at me happily as he smashes his blocks together.

"Hello my son. What have those blocks done to you?" I ask picking him up and holding him close taking comfort in knowing that he's safe. If only his mother and little sibling were as well then everything would be right with the world rather than this confusing mess.

"Ma?" He asks looking around the room for Emmy. Usually when I get home in the evening the three of us spend time together so her absence is very confusing for him. So much so that he begins to cry when she doesn't appear.

"I know my son. Mama isn't here right now. But she will be soon I promise." I mutter bouncing him slightly in my arms trying to get him to settle as I walk around the room. It doesn't work very well though, Emmy has always been better at soothing him, eventually Nazeph cries himself to sleep. I settle him down in his crib letting him sleep while I head down stairs hoping that there is some news waiting for me.

Apparently knowing my intentions Volethe and Khidell are both waiting at the bottom of the stairs ready to give me their report. None of the staff saw anything. But luckily that wasn't all as the guards who had been sent to find Lady Victoria had sent word that she'd been found, that was the only good news though.

When the guards had entered the home that the two sisters shared it appeared empty so they searched the whole place from top to bottom. It was only when they reached the darkness of the cellar that they found anyone. The room was filled with dead servants, their bodies already cold and in the corner was a severely burnt Lady Victoria.

From what little they were able to make out from her pained moans was that this morning Erika had killed all of their servants before stealthily destroying the rune on her bracelet that allowed Lady Victoria to walk in the sun. She must have left the house after that leaving her own sister to burn while she made her way to the palace. Lady Victoria is now under the care of doctors but they're unsure of how well the burns will heal even with the extraordinary healing ability of vampires.

It seems that Erika truly has kidnapped Emilia. She'd had done everything she could to cover her tracks but the guards still found some evidence in her home. Behind one of the shelves in the cellar they'd found a tunnel which they've already started searching but it's likely that this tunnel is her escape route, she may already be out of the city. Also in her room half-burnt letters were found in the fireplace.

Erika, one of the ladies that has spent countless days with Emilia, has for all this time been a spy for Rhistel. It's under his orders that she has taken Emilia. Gods only know what his plan is now but we need to find them before they reach him.