Shades of Red

by T L Christianson

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The town car took us directly to the airport and up to the Chronos Corp jet that sat idling.

  The air smelled like rain, and the early morning sky was dark with clouds.

  Hazel led the way onto the aircraft, while a man with soundproof earmuffs and gloves took our luggage from the trunk of the car.

  Memories of my Viking flooded me from our trip together on a similar plane and a lump formed in my throat.

  Would we be bringing Karsten home? Was I fooling myself thinking that Emilie could help him? She’d said that she forgave him and wanted to do what she could, but I’d been pushy and manipulative. I was a fighter, and I was willing to do whatever it took to free the man I loved.

  My conscience pricked a little about our conversation all those days ago in Durango, but I had to try.

  I’d never been to Denmark before so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

  Unlike all the other times I’d been onboard one of these jets, this plane was packed with people. Emilie and Owen sat together near the back. Dr. Peters sat with two other lab personnel. When I passed him, he gave me a stern look.

  The head of the Chronos guard and three soldiers sat near the rear in front of the plane.

  Two passengers surprised me, Aurev and Ms. Smith.

  The only two empty seats for Hazel and I were beside them. Hazel snatched the position next to the latter, leaving me with my boss.

  I sucked in a large breath before stepping forward and taking my place beside “it’s complicated” Aurev.

  He stood to embrace me, his smile disarming.

  “I didn’t think you should come.” He told me.

  “Are you kidding?” I leaned back from his hug and his arms dropped. “I had to.”

  He shook his head, letting out an ironic laugh. “I had no idea that he had anything to do with Emilie.” His chocolate eyes searched my face. “But you’re optimistic, aren’t you?”

  The corner of my mouth quirked up. “I think you’re a mind reader Aurev.”

  Mischievously, he smiled and winked, an expression that appeared more natural on his frat boy good looks than the usual serious expression. “You’ll never know.”

  Rolling my eyes and shaking my head, I took my seat.

  Pulling out Amy’s laptop, I began to download all her files onto my external hard drive. A few weeks had passed since she’d left, and I had no reason to hold on to her computer any longer.

  Circling one of the many stickers with my index finger, I wondered where she’d gone. Hiding, laying low? Or trying to connect with David?

  Filling my lungs full of air, I slowly exhaled. I’d see her again. Maybe not soon, but sometime.

  Denmark

  Walking the streets in Copenhagen, I couldn’t help but imagine Karsten in this place. Our team had been here several days, and I found myself unable to keep still. The trial was tomorrow. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I even lost my appetite for blood.

  There was a large fort I began walking through every night to sit and examine the Little Mermaid statue. It sat in the water beyond a rocky shore, near the bank. There was an overlook, where tourists would stop to take photos.

  This statue reminded me of everything in my life. Close enough to see but never near enough to really have.

  Parents.

  A family.

  Marriage.

  Kids.

  Amy.

  Now Karsten.

  Earlier in the week, I’d passed Emilie in the hallway of the rental house. When I approached her, she shook her head and turned away.

  What did that mean?

  Some voices nearby pulled me out of my reverie.

  Watching the locals on bikes and tourists walk the city, they smiled and held hands, pulling their coats tightly around them.

  An intangible contentment lingered in the atmosphere here, and I couldn’t understand why Karsten would leave a place like this. However, as much as I wanted to embrace this beautiful city, I stood on a precipice waiting for it to crumble.

  The uncertainty played a discordant song in my mind, making everything off balance.

  Sitting there, watching the sky go from blue to navy, I knew I needed to prepare myself to walk away from here without him.

  When the sun began to streak the sky with orange and red hues, I knew I should go back to my room and get ready to go to the courthouse.

  My steps lingered, and my eyes darted around for something, anything to take my mind off my current thoughts.

  Nearing the house, light glowed from all the windows, and panicked voices and commotion brought my slow steps into a jog. Three empty idling SUV’s sat on the curb, but I passed them and pushed the front door open.

  Hazel appeared among the chaos and grabbed my arm.

  “Thank God you’re here! I’ve been calling and texting you for over an hour.”

  I looked at my phone. “I don’t have service. What’s going on?”

  She bit her lip and shook her head. “The Ødger Clan has gotten jurisdiction, so the trial has been moved to Aarhus, it’s across the way on the peninsula. We’ve got to move quickly.”

  “Are they trying to convict him without you there? Why would they do that?”

  Her hand squeezed my arm. “No, nothing like that. My guess is that the Global Council is trying to bully the Ødger Clan for control. They’ve protested for decades that the GC needs to be more transparent. I think the switch up was meant for them and not us.” Her eyes studied me. “It’s fine. My team’s prepared. Go get your things, the plane needs to leave soon.”

  Disheveled and anxious, we all arrived in the new city. A row of historic buildings stood like a monolith to one side, and a canal on the other. Before I could protest, I was hustled inside, through more doors to another high-ceilinged hallway.

  We’d made it in time to see two guards open double doors to what I surmised was the courtroom. The throng of Moroi from the hall poured through into the room beyond.

  Hazel took my arm in a vice-like grip and pulled me along, depositing me in the front row of seats set up behind a wood railing, before disappearing.

  Across the room, facing the audience was a large, raised, judge’s bench with three seats and computer screens for each. Instead of the lawyer’s desks facing the judge, they sat on each side, facing into the center of the room.

  A group of two men entered from the back corner and sat down at the right-hand table, both wearing a GC pin on their suit lapels. The Global Council had lawyers?

  A blonde woman followed and motioned them to move down to give her the first seat. She argued in low tones until they shoved down for her. A smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She ignored them and thumbed through a large stack of files.

  Hazel had sat across from them at the opposing table. Her face gave nothing away as she too examined her paperwork.

  Looking around the noisy room, I spotted Owen and Emilie. Our eyes met, and I turned back around. Dr. Peters sat a few rows behind me with the other Chronos employees. I wasn’t sure where my boss was.

  When I looked up, three people had taken seats in the Judges' chairs. One looked at a computer monitor before her, while another sifted through paperwork and the third spoke to the blond prosecutor. Were they a jury or judges? I worried my bottom lip with my teeth and decided they were judges.

  Suddenly, the room quieted, and a door across the place opened. My Viking wore the fitted navy suit we’d brought. His dishwater blond hair was combed neatly back, and his face was freshly shaven, making him look younger.

  Our eyes met, and a crooked smile grazed his lips. I put on a brave face as he sat and looked up at the judges.

  The chief judge began to speak and oh my God! I don’t think I’d really listened to Danish since I’d been here. The bouncing rhythm and strange sounds made individual words hard to pick out. Every now and again I’d recognize an English word.

  Her speech went on for way too long in my opinion. What
on earth could she be saying to the courtroom? When she finished, Karsten walked to the small desk that sat in front of the audience facing the judges.

  I couldn’t make out his face, only a little of his profile.

  Clearing his throat, he adjusted the microphone. He was being questioned and at first, answered with a word that sounded like “yeah.” Another yeah, and then he kept saying what sounded like “ing.”

  I felt like this was the hardest Danish lesson in the world.

  I set my jaw, where was the interpreter?

  What the hell was being said?

  Just then Hazel adjusted her position and me believing she was going to ask these same questions, I began to smile, but she said nothing.

  Tension began to fill my belly as I watched my friend take notes. When the judge was done, the female prosecutor began to ask questions.

  All.

  In.

  Danish.

  A language I had never heard in my entire life until this last week.

  I took calming breaths and the time ticked on.

  We’d started at 8 a.m., and it was nearly 10, I began to pick up little words in Danish. I could do this. I was a fast learner.

  Who was I kidding? Why had I not thought of this?

  Not knowing what was being said drove me up the wall.

  When Hazel began questioning him, in fluent Danish, my jaw dropped open.

  She’d say something, and Karsten would reply with the same phrase.

  I narrowed my eyes. If we were in a human court, I’d think he was saying, “I don’t recall.” But Moroi had notoriously accurate memories, so I knew he wouldn’t say that.

  ARGH.

  When he stood and walked back to his seat beside Hazel, his eyes hauntingly searched me out before looking down while Hazel whispered to him.

  Two other witnesses were brought out. I didn’t recognize either and wondered who they were. The pattern continued—Judge, prosecutor, defendant’s attorney.

  The pace was agonizingly slow, especially with my lack of understanding.

  When Dr. Peter’s entered, I stiffened. The DNA test results hadn’t looked good. Could they convict him on those alone?

  “Come in, sit down.” The judge said, thankfully in English.

  My brain worked furiously, flipping through every speck of information I’d learned about DNA. When I looked back up, I realized I’d missed the initial questions and corresponding answers.

  My Viking’s eyes were on me and our gazes locked for a moment before he looked away.

  “Can you say for a fact that Karsten Ingvar is Emilie Edwards’ maker?” The judge asked to clarify.

  Dr. Peters was a tried and true scientist. He wouldn’t say his own mother was his mother unless proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

  “No. All this test confirms is that they're closely related as far as their Moroi relationship goes.”

  You son of a bitch you, Dr. Peters! Thank you! He was right, that test couldn’t pinpoint exactly their relationship.

  The questions continued, all three taking their turns, having the doctor point out similarities in the DNA and differences. Talking about the probability of the relationship.

  Sighing, I ran my hands over my face. My leg bounced up and down unconsciously until the man sitting next to me gave me a dirty look.

  I smoothed the material on my slacks and gave him a tight smile.

  Another witness was called, this one from Chronos, except she spoke Danish.

  Great.

  The time seemed to tick by like sap stuck to a tree in the middle of winter.

  There were no breaks. Because why the hell not? Let’s make everyone uncomfortable?

  My irritation grew as I watched the same song and dance play out.

  Then, abruptly the guards led Sten away, and the room began to empty.

  I stood and called out to Hazel.

  “Why didn’t Emilie testify? Are they deliberating?”

  Hazel strode over to the banister in front of me, “The court is taking a break for an hour. I hear they have fresh blood in the dining room, so go ahead, I’m going to go talk to Karsten.”

  “How’s it going? I don’t understand anything. And you speak Danish? Since when?”

  Her expression serious, she said again, “Find the dining room, and come back before half past four.”

  Blowing out a sardonic breath, I rolled my shoulders and meandered into the hallway.

  After using the restroom, I found the cafeteria and purchased a small glass of blood. I downed the entire thing like a sorority pledge before hoofing it back to the courtroom.

  I may not have understood a damn word, but I would be there for my Viking when they brought him back.

  In the hallway outside the courtroom, Owen sat on a bench. Pursing my lips, I neared him.

  “Hey,” I said softly.

  “Hi.”

  We stood in awkward silence for a moment before I asked, “Do you understand anything in there?”

  A wry smile crossed his lips, reminding me of why I used to find him appealing. “Not one word. You?”

  “Me neither,” I answered, sitting down beside him. “I wanted to tell you that I’m not going to interfere with you and the kids anymore.” After I said it, I prayed that Emilie would keep her word.

  His pale eyes searched the floor. “Why? I thought you were on the warpath to get to know them.”

  A breath I’d been holding whooshed out. “I want what’s best for them.”

  “And you’re not it?” he asked, contemplating my words.

  My lips parted as I shook my head. “I’ve only ever done what I thought best. Put them before my own needs.” My breath came in short, choppy waves. “I understand that we’ll never see eye to eye, but I love them. I hope you tell them that.”

  Turning, I opened the heavy door to the courtroom and slipped inside. Walking to my chair, I put my head in my hands.

  A sob escaped my lips, then another. A few people had lingered in the room, but I didn’t care if my weeping made them uncomfortable.

  When a hand rested on my back, I knew it belonged to Aurev. He resonated power, and his touch was almost electric. Squeezing my shoulder, he pulled a chair closer and handed me his monikered handkerchief.

  “There you go.” His hand smoothed across my back in comforting strokes. “That’s it, child.”

  “I’m half a century old Aurev, why do you keep calling me that?” I wiped my face and looked up at him.

  A sad smile crossed his lips. “I thought you knew, I’m the person who adopted you. You are my child.”

  Looking at him I blinked and examined my life in light of this revelation. “I…Oh, I didn’t know.”

  “Didn’t you wonder why you were allowed to storm into my office? Or call my cell phone.” He shook his head. “Not everyone has that number.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  “I didn’t think I had to.”

  I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Why? I mean, I thought Chronos was my guardian?”

  After a pause, he spoke, “You reminded me of me when we first met.” His fist lightly tapped my shoulder. “Alone, full of anger and as Hazel would say, ‘spit and vinegar.’ After that first meeting, I knew I couldn’t leave you like that. So, I sent Hazel and Jonathan for you.”

  I shook my head, “We met before Hazel and Dr. Peters came and got me?”

  He nodded enigmatically. “You tried to pickpocket me on the subway.”

  A laugh burst out, and I bit my lip self-consciously. “No way.”

  “Yeah, and on top of that, you actually got my wallet.”

  “But you realized pretty quickly, right?”

  “Yeah, I followed you and enthralled you to give it back and tell me about yourself.”

  Gazing down at the floor, a hazy memory floated up from the depths. “I didn’t take a test?”

  He put his arm around my back, and I felt his chest rumble with silent laughter. “No. But I
knew you were special. Like Hazel and Jonathan.”

  He began checking his email on his phone in the silence until I asked. “Can you tell me what’s going on in the trial? How’s it going?”

  His eyes drifted to the judge’s bench, “Karsten testified that he didn’t remember making Emilie. That was a bad sign. He should’ve denied it if he’s innocent.”

  I bit my lip. “He didn’t do it.”

  “I believe that, but his testimony was not as strong as it could’ve been.” He hesitated, “You heard Jonathan’s questioning and the man before him was the Global Council’s scientist who ran their own DNA test; he confirmed a relationship between Emilie and Karsten, but it wasn’t conclusive either. Then the next two who testified were GC police testifying to the chain of custody of the evidence.”

  The courtroom began to fill, the doors were closed, and Karsten was brought back in. Emilie was the first witness to be called.

  When she was seated, her eyes flew to Karsten. I could tell that they exchanged a look before the judge spoke.

  “You are Emilie Edwards?” The judge asked in English.

  “Yes, your honor.”

  She cleared her throat and pulled the microphone down.

  “Tell us about what happened before the events of your transition.”

  “It was 1916, Belgium. The Great War, the first World War.” She cleared her throat and drank a sip of water. “I was driving an ambulance for the Red Cross during a battle. I was exhausted, but had been called up yet again to a night shift. My vehicle was full; I thought the soldiers were all dead.” Karsten watched her with a resigned expression on his face.

  “Someone attacked me from behind and mind controlled me to walk into the forest with him.” Her voice wavered. “He…He drank my blood, and I blacked out. When I awoke, I was in the ambulance on the side of the road.”

  The judge tilted her head a little, hesitating with her pen. “The date and location where this took place?”

  “I don’t remember…” She jumped back in to defend herself. “I’d been working on very little sleep, I just went where they told me.”