Emily by Storm Jk

hung down her neck. She was very beautiful yet there was no joy in her face; life was hard for this woman.
    Eric shut his eyes and spoke softly. ‘My mother’s name was Dusana; she died when I was born. I always imagine that she would have been a kind person but I don’t really know. The other woman is Valeskia, she is Vladimir’s mother and she raised me after my mother’s death. She was an extraordinary women you would have liked her.’
    Emily responded by kissing his forehead. She had opened a connection to him and found that he was focused far away. Not wanting to break his mood, Emily remained silent, caressing his neck and shoulders with her hands.
    What were they afraid of, she wondered to herself. Kissing Eric’s head Emily posed the question. But Eric wouldn’t say, simply saying, ‘It is for Vladimir to tell you.’
    An hour later Eric ’s mobile rang with Vladimir instructing Eric to return immediately. Eric’s heart sank as he gathered the blankets and cushions. From the tone of Vladimir’s voice he knew the past had caught up with them. Living with Emily the last few years had been liberating for his spirit and as they sped back he knew that their life on the farm was over.
    As they drove back in silence, Emily decided she would tell Vladimir and Eric the truth. Surely once they knew who had attacked her they would calm down.
    She was surprised to see four men at the gate of the farm, and they did not look very friendly. As Emily got out of the car Rumour loped over to her, thrusting her nose into Emily’s hand. The strange men had unnerved the dog so Emily sent her soothing thoughts, ‘ I won’t let you go back to that man’ , but the thought was more to reassure herself.
    Vladimir was waiting for her in the doorway and gave her a warm hug, and then he hugged Eric for a long moment, whispering into his ear. As they pulled apart, Eric slowly nodded his consent to Vladimir and they all went inside to the lounge room.
    Inside, Vladimir had made fresh coffee in a silver pot that was centuries old. Applejacks’ head was through his special window and Vladimir had moved the lounge and a chair to face him.
    ‘ One lump or two?’ Eric joked, trying to lighten the mood. Applejacks was fond of sugar, which Emily disapproved of, but that didn’t stop Eric from giving Applejacks a few lumps every now and then.
    Emily finally broke her silence. ‘I’ll tell you what happened to me. I feel bad that you are both so upset.’ The men sat together on the lounge while Emily stood, she was not ready to sit down and her heart was pounding. ‘I was attacked by Rumour’s owner, he said that he wanted to take her back but I couldn’t bear for her to go back to such a cruel life,’ Emily’s voice was trembling. ‘I thought I could buy her from him but he didn’t want money, he wanted...’
    Emily broke down and tears flowed down her face as she remembered the attack. The thought of Roy ’s hands on her breasts made her shudder with revulsion.
    Vladimir ’s voice was gentle but inside he was raging. ‘Who is this man?’
    ‘ He said his name was Roy Cartier,’ Emily responded.
    Vladimir was instantly on his phone to Vince, instructing him to find out what he could about Roy.
    ‘No,’ Emily pleaded once Vladimir was off the phone, ‘I don’t want this to go any further. This man can hurt us,’ and she recounted the story that David had told her about his friend.
    Vladimir lifted her hands to his chest and gently pushed her to the sofa. ‘I think this has to do with our past Emily, not just Rumour.’
    ‘ I don’t understand,’ Emily responded ‘how can that be?’ And then she remembered the odd comment that Roy had made about Vladimir. ‘He said you looked like a man he knows in Europe, he said he was looking for special people and had heard about my gift.’
    Emily now realised her silence had put the men in danger. Feeling sick to her stomach, Emily moaned, ‘Oh God, what have I