"Take these," Xavier offered his colleague. He wrapped Svane's personal journals in twine. "Ask Eliza if you wish to know more about Bulshar… just be careful."
Nicole accepted the old books then continued their search around the camp. Bodies were strewn around the bloody pass, preserved by the frozen morning and the freshly fallen snow. The remaining Purgatorian soldiers took note of their fallen, carrying them to the front of the jagged pass for the caravan to take. It was the lasting effects of adrenaline that kept Haught from collapsing in the wake of their fief's mass mourning. By mid-afternoon, everyone returned to the castle, recouping from the previous night's entanglements. In a weird way, everything felt quite normal as the residents fell back into their previous patterns. De Behr's men travelled back to London with their minor scrapes and bruises. Doll's peers seemed to take their time, though as they mourned their colleague's noble death. Eliza spent her time in the Atrium, the silent heart of the Earp manor recently cleared for usage in the middle of winter. Nicole joined her, awkwardly shuffling through a narrow path of snow.
"How may I help you, Dame Haught?" Eliza inquired, barely acknowledging her presence.
"What do you know of Bulshar?"
"Ah, Xavier told me you'd be asking sometime before I left. I'm surprised that in your training you weren't informed about his existence," she continued. "Bulshar Clootie-"
"Clootie?"
"Yes, he's a cult leader from a prominent family in London who has been executing royal and historical lineages for the past three decades."
"Is he still active?" Nicole asked, still standing at relaxed attention.
"Very much. He is responsible for massacring many old families mostly in Wales and Ireland. While I was still working in the Royal Army's special forces, we raided his fortress and found a room filled with various trophies from his victims. We were able to identify eight of the twenty crests." Eliza informed her. She took a deep breath and asked, "Dolls refused to explain why you were so keen on asking me about Bulshar, so you tell me."
"I just need to know why his name has come up so frequently in my life."
"You know, I thought I recognized your last name and colours. The Haughts are an Anglo-Irish family which we believe to be mostly safe from Bulshar's tirade as the families we've identified are Gaelic or Welsh."
"Does he have any heirs or wives?"
"Most likely yes, but nothing official."
Nicole's shoulders slightly slumped at her answer. "If you raided his base, why is he still active?"
"He's slippery. We've lost many a spy by his hand, so when he inevitably found out we were raiding his base, he fled and we still have no clue as to his whereabouts."
"Any feeling about where he might be? Or anyone who could be connected to him?"
Eliza reflected for a short while and said, "If you find Robert Svane he would know the most… maybe even your friend John Henry Holliday?'
"Why would John know anything?"
"Dolls told me that he was close to the Revenants, he might know a few secrets he hasn't shared with anyone." Nicole shifted her weight to the other foot, relaxing from her attention stance even more before finally leaning against the gazebo. Eliza then warned in a slightly more hushed tone, "Be vigilant and careful about who you share information with, Dame Haught. Bulshar has agents of chaos everywhere. Once you begin to investigate him, you'll find that you can no longer trust anyone, not even the ones you love." With that last piece of advice, Eliza lazily sighed, her demeanor completely shifting from just a few seconds before, "Anything else you felt you needed to know?"
"No, thank you, Dame," Nicole bowed, then retreated to the castle.
John Henry Holliday, that's who she needed to find. She hated searching for him as he was the laziest busy-body she knew. Nicole scoured the manor, first in Wynonna's office, then down the Eastern wing, North, then South, but he was nowhere to be found. She did, however, happen upon her partner approaching their room.
"You look lost, Cesario" Waverly teased, wheeling her around.
"Cesario?" she questioned. Nicole couldn't help but smile at her suave action and pecked her forehead."I'm looking for John."
"Oh, he's playing dice at Shorty's, currently getting rich at Shorty's," she remarked. "Is he in trouble?"
"No, actually, he might have some information about Bulshar…"
"Who told you that?"
"Eliza," Nicole nodded towards the atrium. She mulled over her words and admitted, "If he knows about Bulshar, you may have been correct in thinking that he wasn't as trustworthy as we originally thought."
"Well, if he isn't trustworthy, then why ask him?"
"I mean, he's bound to say something true," she guessed.
Waverly bit at the inside of her lip, "Why don't you hold off on asking him. Wynonna's known him longer and might help you prepare to call out his fibs when you question him."
"Yeah, that'd be helpful…" Nicole agreed, fixing her partner's St. Michael necklace and shirt. "So, if I'm Cesario, then who are you, Olivia or Orsino?"
"I would hope Orsino," Waverly assured with a reaffirming peck on the lips.
"Where are you off to?"
"Gary needs help with the survivors, so I was going to get some bandages and salve."
"How is Paul?"
"He's very shaken. We had to amputate his leg and now… I'm not entirely sure what's next for him," she honestly sighed.
"Do you think he's glad to be alive?" Nicole whispered.
Held back, Waverly asked, "Why? I'm… I'm sure he is."
"I… don't know. I was just curious. What would you do if you lost your leg?"
"I would continue my daily activities. Why, what would you want?" she carefully inquired, reaching up to her jaw.
Nicole pulled away, for a brief moment. "I don't know. I think… I'm going to go ask Wynonna about John."
Waverly watched her retreat into herself as she escaped their conversation to hide in her sister's office for the time being. Despite their concerning conversation, she went along with her duties, collecting apothecary supplies to do her part in the reconstruction of their fief. Nicole found her way back to the office where Wynonna was still penning a letter to the Carlo brothers. She glanced up at her with a weak smile.
"Please tell me you brought something."
"Just myself, and Svane's dirty secrets," Nicole explained, pulling the diaries from her satchel. "Wanna take a peak?"
"I'm a tad busy with the dead and all, but make sure to tell me the juiciest bits," Earp remarked, going back to her letter.
Nicole sat down in the corner and began to pour over the old journals. There were seven in total and they spanned from 1601 to what would most likely lead into this past week. Svane's writing in the first journal instantly began mentioning not only his father, Björn, but a cultist mentor Nicole assumed to be Bulshar. His writing was mostly chicken scratches, which made reading too difficult in certain passages. Sitting out of the way, Haught caught the various conversations between the ruling Lady and her citizens. Two of which, Pastor Williams and the local gravedigger Jones, were worried about last rites and proper burials in the dead of winter. It became all too real for her, though; and judging by the side glances she earned from Wynonna, it was getting to the young leader, as well. Earp kept a level head throughout the meeting and dipped into the treasury so Jones could bury the dead before they began to decay.
Once they left, Nicole asked, "How are you?"
"Considering I haven't slept for the past three days, I lost Svane who's probably going to attack us again, and this battle left three families with dead kids and another four considerably injured, I'm faring quite well," she huffed. Wynonna locked them in the office and turned to her friend. "I- was it worth the bloodshed? Really, don't bullshit me like everyone else."
"I never do," she admitted, thinking about her words. "I think it was. You dealt with an old foe who has been attacking and slaughtering your family for the past, what, four generations?"
"Six."
"Exactly."
"But was it worth doing that? I was prepared to execute a man. Could I really live with that blood on my hands? I know he killed my sister and father, but was he actually a bad man? I can't help but think there was another way to do this and now I don't think we can ever go back. You know in all of the years, the treaties and agreements, disarmaments and land disputes, the Earps have never attacked the Svanes like this," Wynonna spiraled.
"I think there were only a few possible outcomes to your situation. In his anger and bloodlust, Svane could have changed his mind, but considering the ultimatums he gave you that really didn't seem like an option, you offer your line and give your people over to a new unstable rule, you give yourself over and he returns to eliminate your issue, or you fight back and rid of him."
"But I didn't do that. I could have just killed him right there and then, but… I wanted to make a spectacle of it. Am I as bad as Robert?"
"If Svane were to return in any capacity, what would you do?"
"I would offer an agreement to co-rule over this land."
"Do you think he would accept that?"
"I don't know," Wynonna pondered.
"I don't know either. For the first time, I feel rather lost. I have another lead to who I really am, but I feel like I'm floating around in the ocean like a bottle with a deadly message inside."
"What have you found so far?"
"According to everyone I've asked, Bulshar is a dangerous man with an ever-growing cult that has massacred many important families back home. He knows Svane, according to the journals, and somehow, there's a link to me." Nicole wrapped the diaries back up and placed them in her satchel. "I'm going to take a break, I just need to clear my head. I suggest you do the same. You need to sleep and clear your mind if you plan on leading your people through this."
"Maybe it's just insomnia, but I'm already missing Robert. He made living here exciting," Wynonna joked. "Hey, can you keep this between us? I don't need people knowing their leader is weak."
"You are not weak, Wynonna."
"I feel weak, then."
Nicole went to open the door, the lock getting in the way.
"It's locked," Earp informed her.
"Yup, I know."
"It's also pull not push when you're ready," she chuckled.
"You ass," Nicole joked on her way out.
"I'm gonna take that as a compliment!"
"How is that a compliment?"
"Because I have a great one!"
Nicole shook her head with that vibrant smile as she walked down the now candle-lit hallway to her room. The afternoon sun set by her shoulder, casting bizarre shadows into the old manor. In the tranquil building, every emotion began to rear its ugly head. In all of her years arresting, fighting, and inevitably killing, Nicole had never felt so affected by her actions. It may have had to do with the sheer intimacy she had with the people she was not only fighting for but sleeping alongside. Her fears suddenly came back with the dwindling light and she no longer knew how to cope with the losses. Returning to her room, Waverly stood by her side of the bed, pulling up a bundle of bandages and a jar of salve.
"Hey, sweetie!" she brightly exclaimed. "I know you're going to say you're fine, but we should really bandage you back up."
"Thank you," Nicole smiled, dropping her satchel on the floor and locking their door.
She approached her partner, taking the objects out of her hands to embrace her. Waverly stumbled back for a moment before fully wrapping her arms around her, too. The youngest Lady of the castle clung to her, their hearts being the only sound besides the crackling fire.
She slipped her hands to the back of her nape and waist. "Are you okay?" Nicole let out a deep sigh and tucked her head further against her neck. "It's going to be okay, whatever you're worried about."
"I know because you're safe." Haught pulled back enough to regard her deep Caribbean sea blue eyes. Her eyes darted around her features, wishing she had seen them their first time together. She tucked a stray hair back behind her ear and directed to the medical supplies, "Is it okay if we save this stuff for later?"
Waverly glanced at the items on the table. "Oh, yeah, of course."
Nicole leaned over to blow out the candle, getting tugged down into another chaste kiss by her partner. She smiled against her lips and wrapped her hand around the back of her neck to play with the soft hairs at her nape. Her hands roamed back under Waverly's jaw before finally pulling away and extinguishing the candle, now the only source of light being from the dim fireplace. She settled back into her place in bed, spooning against her side. Waiting proved more virtuous than she would have thought, even with their first encounter being slow and awkward in the dark.
"What have you learned about your past?" Waverly whispered into the quiet room.
"Eliza told me that his reach is far and effective, so I should be careful of whom I trust," Nicole nonchalantly answered. "And now realizing that his reach is more permanent in this area than I had previously known, I'm not entirely sure who I can trust here."
"Well, is Eliza herself trustworthy? What if she's just making you run around in circles?"
"Well, if she isn't worthy of trust, then who is? She worked on his case, so if anyone knows the unbiased facts, she would."
"I'm just saying, his own spies may reach into the army."
"Hm," Nicole considered.
"Nicole?" a wary voice called with a brisk knock on the door. "It's Wynonna, we need to talk. I know you're awake still so get dressed and come to my office, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," she instinctively responded.
"Don't," Waverly quietly begged with an enticing kiss.
Between pecks, she chuckled, "I don't want to anger your sister." Pulling on her pants, Nicole shuffled around the dim room, taking her satchel with Robert's diaries. "I swear I'll be back in a couple of minutes, okay?" she promised with a firm tightening of her belt.
"Hair."
"Oh, thank you," Nicole responded with another brief peck as she pulled it in a tight regulation bun.
Haught escaped her room, quietly closing the door behind herself and walking down the candle-lit corridor to her friend's office. She could hear hushed voices trickle down the hallway, their words completely unintelligible until she stood in the open doorway. Augustine, Seanan, and Gareth the apothecary standing in a semicircle behind the desk with Wynonna twiddling her thumbs in the corner. They all had stern faces, even their local tavern owner's normally bright demeanor was far more severe than Nicole would have liked. Various situations raced through her head, maybe they were going to send her away? Did they not like her relationship with Waverly? Was Robert already back? Was she getting framed? The last scenario proved much closer to the issue they seemed to have.
"We were told that you got your hands on Robert Svane's personal journals," Augustine began.
"Yes, madam," she confirmed.
"Would you please hand them over, young knight?"
Nicole began to reach into her satchel, then stopped, "Why?"
"Those are revolutionary contraband and must be destroyed," Gareth nodded. Nicole furrowed her brows at his response as he was chastised by McCready.
"May I please hold onto these? I have some personal matters that these may appease. I swear only my eyes will see these words."
"Knight Officer Haught, I am commanding you to hand them over," Augustine repeated with an even more demanding tone. Her dark eyes were like a void, their severity thickening the tense air that already clouded the room. Nicole glanced at Wynonna for help, receiving no reaction to the scene unfolding before her. "There should be no hesitation to my order, soldier."
"No."
"Wynonna," she shifted to her niece with an expectant nod.
She approached her friend, reaching for the satchel until Nicole tugged it out of reach. "Don't do this, Nicole."
"What is going on? Why can't I study these? I just need a day with them, then they can be destroyed," the young knight pleaded.
"We cannot trust that you may not copy them, Haught," Gareth ruthlessly explained.
"This may be the only chance for me to find out who I am, please, just twenty-four hours, and I'll destroy them in front of you." Seanan glanced at Nicole with somber eyes before looking at his friends. "Shorty, please!"
"Wynonna," Augustine commanded.
Doing as her aunt commanded, the older sister tugged at her satchel once more, trying to unbutton it to retrieve the books. Nicole shoved her away with a firm hand against her sternum before racing to the safety of her chambers. She heard loud footsteps echo down the corridor, gaining speed and encroaching upon her as Nicole fumbled with figuring out which door was hers.
"Nicole!" she hissed in the darkness. "Wait!" She firmly took her wrist and yanked her from the door. "Stop."
"I need these, you know I do. It's the only way I can find out who I am, what Bulshar has to do with me."
"Stop," she commanded in a louder tone. Wynonna glanced around their position and whispered, "Find some random journals to burn instead of Svane's. I don't understand their significance either, but obviously, there's dirt in there about the Earps that they don't want to see the light of day."
"Fine, but I am not going to hand them over," Nicole finished, rushing to the other side of her door and locking it. She rested her head against the old wood, waiting for Wynonna's footsteps to fade away.
Nicole walked down the main street, feeling as if everyone was looking at her. She clutched her satchel tightly, glancing at her surroundings to search for John. With the previous night's concerning meeting, she wondered even more about Wynonna's reflection if Robert was a purely bad person. He may have ruled his people as a dictator, but were his people or his action in the wrong? Haught pinched the bridge of her nose and continued to Shorty's inn, catching Holliday playing dice. He and his opponent were playing for peanuts as the mere achievement of beating John Henry was enough to build a good rapport with the middleman. Nicole patiently waited for the game to end to question him.
Beating out yet another young farmer, John turned to his colleague, "Would you like to try your hand, dear knight?"
"I have some other things in mind. What do you know about the Revenants, who are their allies? Who were they as a people?"
"Are," Holliday corrected, flipping his dice to show the same number of pips. "But this isn't the safest place to talk about them. I swindled some extra coin, why don't we share a pint. I think we all deserve a drink for the horrors we endured. What do you say?"
"I would say I need a beer," she huffed, calling over the barmaid for a round of ale.
"Why the sudden interest?"
"Maybe I feel remorseful for the deaths we totalled."
"I hope this doesn't offend you, Dame Haught, but you would be terrible at poker."
"It does, but it stands true," she smirked as they were served. "I do, however, think that we may have made a mistake and now I am being scapegoated."
"How?"
Nicole pondered how much she should divulge before answering, "I spoke with a few of the town's elders and now I may be a target of future harassment."
"What do you suppose you'll do about it?"
"I'm not sure." Haught briefly paused and looked up at John. "I have many questions for you, Holliday."
"Ask again in a more private venue," he warned. "That is if it pertains to your initial question."
"It does."
"Day drinking, I see," Wynonna interrupted. "Can I speak with you, Haught?"
"Can it wait until I'm done with this?"
"Yes," she nodded, plucking the stein out of her hands and finishing it off for her. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," Nicole huffed in annoyance. "I'll be seeing you around, John."
"I would hope so," he briefly nodded as a new opponent came to try their hand.
"Did you really have to chug my beer, it was free."
"Wait, I'll explain later."
"I miss when everything was public knowledge."
Wynonna nodded in agreement as they silently walked to her office where she produced several old novels she had taken from various rooms in the manor.
"Hide Svane's journals… somewhere and have these ones on hand for when we burn them," she explained.
Nicole took the stack and asked, "Do you have any further explanation for why your aunt is so protective about these?"
"No, but I really do not want to be on her bad side, and neither should you."
"Yeah, Lady McCready, is, uhh… fucking scary," she agreed on her way out. "Thank you."
Nicole went through her room and began tearing through the various bookcases to hide the real journals. She wrapped them up and placed them under the bed, now going back through their spots to blend them in with the other books. It was an obvious place but hidden well enough that even Nicole knew that she would have to search through the novels to find Svane's. She popped up from her spot by the bed when Waverly entered, going straight to the wardrobe.
"My dear Orsino," she called out, making Waverly jump.
"Oh! What are you doing? Wait, you're sober right? Not playing drunk hide-n-seek again?"
"Sober, yes. Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, I was going out for a ride, would you like to join me?" she invited, approaching her partner.
"I wish I could," Nicole smiled, standing back up and pecking her. "But I still need to talk with John, you know, figure out some truths… but maybe another day."
"Okay, I'm going to hold you to that, then."
"I hope you will," she smiled, anxiety finally leaving her system when Waverly wrapped her arms around her waist. Nicole took a deep breath even as her heart fluttered when she glanced down to peck her forehead. "But I must speak with John, so I would love to help you get ready and ride out of town."
"Is he expecting you at a specific time?"
Nicole sucked her teeth then remarked, "No, he is not, Gary isn't needing your assistance any time soon?" Waverly backed away to lock their door with a cheeky grin on her lips. "Alright then."
"Are you sure you need to go?" Waverly bargained
"While I would love to spend all day with you, I really do want to get some answers out of Holliday," her partner blushed even as she was trapped between the desk, hands still gently meandering over her ribs and chest. Coaxed into another amorous kiss, Nicole chuckled against her lips as she was pressed into the desk again. "Okay, okay, I need to leave before it gets dark."
They dressed back into their outer clothes, Waverly now dawned in her riding attire. "Just a quick question, because I hate to ruin a moment, but are you okay? You seemed a bit shaken by last night's… whatever that was."
"Yes, I'm fine," Nicole affirmed, slinging the satchel over her shoulder and standing before the door. "I love you, just so you know."
"I love you, too."
"I mean it," she smiled on her way out.
"Wait, I thought you were going to ride out with me?"
"Another time."
She found her way back through the manor and to the main street, spotting John talking with a young bath maid. Nicole felt a sudden tug on her shoulder, making her wheel around, face to face with the reigning lady of their land. Wynonna had a firm grasp on the satchel, looking up with a weirdly calm demeanor. Haught pulled the satchel back with surprising difficulty.
"What are you doing?" she questioned with another tug.
"Staging a fight," she whispered back. "I'm gonna pull again, I want you to punch me in the face."
"You're kidding ri[ght]-"
"It has to be real," Wynonna commanded, pulling the bag a few more times. "I am ordering you to connect a punch, Haught." Nicole threw a punch to the side of her neck. "Really?"
"I don't want to hurt you," she hissed back. Wynonna grabbed hold of her bun and pulled it down. "Why the hair?"
"Punch me you prick!" Wynnona taunted her. Nicole loaded up another punch and struck her in the jaw. "Fuck. Okay, I'm going to pretend to knee you."
"Whatever."
Wynonna pulled her in close enough to load up a knee, making brief contact with her stomach; to which Nicole staggered back, hands still firmly on the bag.
"Sorry," Earp quickly apologized, pulling her back in and digging her heel into her pelvis to kick her away.
She ran away, Nicole holding her hip from the real blow she took before following her. "Are you serious!" Nicole looked up at the sky and jogged after her. "Give it back!"
"No!"
"You're acting like a child. FINE, keep it then!" she spat after her, turning back around to catch up with Holliday.
Nicole glanced at the pint before her, John sitting across with his knife whittling a small knick-knack. "That was a nice show you put on for the commoners."
"I only wish I had won because there was something I wanted to show you, but they're gone now."
"Did they have something to do with the Revenants?"
"Yes. What do you know about their connection to Bulshar?"
"Bulshar, well you got to the point very quickly."
"I really don't have time to dilly-dally anymore, so please tell me anything you know. A name or place… or artifact. I'll take anything."
"I'm not sure about any of the facts, but I heard a rumor that Robert wanted to take over Purgatory to provide a place to house and train Bulshar's army once they hopped over the Irish Sea."
"So do you know where he is?"
"I think he was planning on taking over the Isle of Man."
"Who is Bulshar, what are his beliefs?"
"Anti-Tudor turned Anti-Stuart leader. He hates anything to do with royalty and rulers and has grown a following of anarchists a la Guy Fawkes to overthrow the Royals."
"I thought he only hated the Welsh and Gaels?"
"Who gave you that idea?" Holliday asked, taking a drink. "Look, no one is safe, especially not those who live in Ireland. Now that he's ready to jump the pond, he's going to storm Purgatory and there is no way we can defend against his army, you're lucky most of Robert's men were already packed to join Bulshar."
"How did Robert get acquainted with him?"
"I'm not sure, but I do know they are close. It's like an agreement or pact, maybe a familial relationship? Either way, he's an agent of chaos. Just be careful, you might end up like Dolls' friend."
"Anything else you know?"
"Nothing that those books could have told you."
"Okay, thank you for the booze and the briefing," Nicole finished, draining the stein on her way out.
The walk back from the cabin was long but slightly thought-provoking. Nicole was correct in believing that the attack was rooted in something deeper than the Svanes reaching their limit, the only thing she wasn't completely sure about was how flawed the Earps' account of their tiffs was. Either way, she knew she was getting herself into deeper trouble than was probably worth her while.
Haught dwelled on the topic for the remaining time even as she passed the apothecary, the Inn, and finally entered the large manor. She truly thought that once Robert was dealt with, everything would run smoothly, no enemies, a better rapport with the Carlo brothers, and most likely more time to help the woman she loved turn Purgatory into a thriving waypoint than the dark valley it had become. The dreams felt even further from reality as Nicole opened her door, spotting the many books strewn and shifted about. Her heart sank to her stomach and she quickly tore through the shelves, searching for the familiar gritty leather that covered them to no avail. She raced to Wynonna's office, dropping all policies of decorum when she spotted those damned diaries on the table between her friend, Augustine, Gareth, Seanan, and now her own colleague Nedley. Betrayal swept her emotions, indignant detestation rushed through her veins as they all looked at one another, then the books then back to one another.
Nicole rushed the table, sliding over to grab the books, and knocking over some personal belongings in the process. The land's leaders backed up against the wall, even Wynonna stood in shock at how quickly everything devolved. As suddenly as she had entered, the young knight was back on her feet, sliding under the desk and out of the office. Wynonna raced after her, tackling her to the ground and trying to pry the books from her friend's vice hold over them.
"I thought you were going to help me?" Nicole pleaded, her face buried in the cold stone floor.
"Stop being so weird about the journals, we need to get rid of them!" Earp puffed, finally turning her around. She clasped her hands around the books.
Pulling away, she spat back, "Why are they so adamant about getting rid of the truth?"
"Because they're nothing but lies from a crazy rebel, Haught!"
Nicole yanked the books back against her chest and headbutted her ruler. Getting her to stagger back, but not completely forcing her to let go, she socked her in the nose, causing blood to flood from her nostrils. Wynonna crawled off, eyes tearing up for the abrupt strike. Haught scrambled to her feet and sprinted to her room.
"Hey, how was your talk with John?" Waverly inquired, meer steps before her partner, looking at the disarray of their chambers. "Do you know what happened here?"
"I can't speak now," she gasped, locking the door. She rushed around the room, collecting her old wardrobe and belongings before Waverly's eyes.
"What is going on? Is there someone attacking you?"
"Yes, do not unlock that door." She looked through the diaries, following the passages that verified that these were the real diaries. "I need you to believe me when I say that there is something darker going on here, please. I need you to believe me."
"I do, I always do," Waverly desperately affirmed, approaching her.
She sighed in relief with a final tie on her duffle bag. "I will be back, I promise you that, my dear Orsino."
"What do you mean!" she asked, grabbing her duffle bag as well.
"Please, I will return."
"Don't leave," she begged, wrapping her arms around her torso.
Nicole debated her safety and their relationship, impatient knocks breaking her moment to decide. "No, I need you to stay."
She pulled out of her embrace to take out her address book, scratching out a note and ripping it out. Nicole then searched through the books she had left around the room, finding the correct compilation and searching for the correct story to slide the note in. She replaced it on the bookshelf and returned to her duffle bag, throwing it over her shoulder and locking lips with Waverly.
Earp tore away first, "Don't leave, please tell me something, anything at all."
"I will… later, and I will return, I promise you that."
"I don't understand?" she finally broke.
Impatient knocks continued to shorten their time together. "Just know that I love, I really do."
Another knock.
"No," Nicole whispered, "Come with me."
"What?"
"Come with me."
"I don't even know why you're leaving."
"If you come with me then I can explain, but you'll have to wait if you stay."
Waverly glanced at her then the door, "I'll stay."
Haught nodded then opened the door, face to face with Dolls. She backed away from him, "Let me pass, Xavier."
"I should really be arresting you and returning you to London, Haught."
"Please, I'll leave peacefully."
"Don't make me do this."
"Let her pass!" Waverly commanded him.
"Your sister's command overrides yours, Lady Earp."
Nicole pled again, "Dolls-"
Waverly rushed at him, pushing him back by his torso until there was a gap large enough for her partner to squeeze through. She continued to cling onto the large knight to slow him until Nicole was far enough. Tearing through the hallways with a bloody-nosed leader close behind, Haught continued to the stables, whipping around the corners and through the servant's entrance until she found her steed. She was soon followed by the young Lady of the house.
"Are you kidding me!" Wynonna cried.
"You betrayed me! We agreed that the truth was in the journals and you deliberately tricked me into believing you!" she argued undoing the lock to her horse's stall and leading him out.
"Give me the books, Haught!"
Nicole backed away from her, hand to the hilt of her sword, "Look, whatever's in here is safe with me, I'll burn them after if you still want me to, but I need to know, now more than ever, what the hell is going on." She mounted Lex, still watching her.
"So, you're just going to leave?"
"You aren't giving me a choice. How can you be so irrational? I thought you wanted to know the truth? I thought you said that you weren't sure if your actions against the Revenants were justified? These might hold the answers we're looking for." She spotted her love in the distance, Wynonna's eyes following their subject, and silence fell amongst the trio.
With a dejected tone, Waverly quietly commanded, "Go."
Truly, as if she couldn't feel any lower, Nicole's heart seemed to finally break. She redirected Lex to the road, still looking back at her before finally escaping into the late afternoon. She tore through the forest and mountain pass even as snow began to fall until she could no longer see the lingering lights of Purgatory. In her adrenaline-laced state, she began southwest to go home.
She kept racing across the roads, hearing a few horses far behind her even as she broke into a gallop through Derelict. Wynonna's voice carried through the night before finally catching up at the town's border.
"Stop!" she commanded. "Let's talk."
Nicole slowed down, rolling her eyes when she dismounted and approached her superior. She stood at attention and waited for anything like an inkling behind her motive as they stared at each other. Without a second thought, she shoved Wynonna again.
"Why would you betray me like that? What did they tell you?"
Wynonna swatted her hands away, "I don't know." Earp took a moment to think about what her aunt told her. "I wanted to protect my family, and I'll do anything to ensure that."
"So you won't even defend me?" A stinging silence answered her question. "I harbour absolutely no malice towards you or your family, I just want to figure out where I come from and who Bulshar is. There must be a way to stop him and Svane seems to be the best option to figure out his weaknesses. If we burn these journals, he may soon be upon your people and I know there is no way we can fend his army off. If you want to protect your family, let me investigate Svane's work. I may no longer be your guard, but that will not stop me from protecting Purgatory."
"What if you get hurt, or die? That would kill Waverly."
Nicole squeezed her eyes shut, "Don't talk about her, please. It's hard enough to be in this position."