“This Council has been convened because not one, not two, not even three, but all four Laws have been broken.”
A controlled gasp erupted from the room and whispers amongst the crowd soon ensued. Laren’s father waited for a lull in the noisy room. “Since this is such a large case and there have been so many Laws broken, we have to examine each portion of the trial separately. As a Council, we have chosen to first listen and assess the events that led to the breaking of the Second and Fourth rules: no Elite killing another, and not mating with or turning humans.”
His right hand motioned to the woman who sat beside him and he politely gave her the floor. “ Thema, if you would.”
“Thank you, Adolpho.” Thema was a tall, strong-looking woman with long braided hair pulled back behind her head. She looked like she was in her early fifties, but Connor knew better than to guess her age based on appearances. Her ebony skin accentuated her striking violet eyes. “Connor Moore, son of the notorious Caderyn Moore, was one of two half-bloods turned two nights ago in the American state of New York. The same night, three Elites from the Ulfric Family were killed, along with a handful of humans. Faust Ulfric has come forward, naming the guilty parties as Larentia and Lupus Abelardus.”
Whispers and astonished gasps ran rampant through the crowd. Connor looked questioningly at Morrigan. His father was notorious? Morrrigan returned a look of her own that said, “I’ll explain later.”
Thema ignored the clamor. “Will the accused please come forward?”
Laren and Lu enter the room, side-by-side. Everyone turned to watch as they made the long walk to the Council’s table. Laren was dressed in a gray suit with a white top. She looked determined, her smile and carefree attitude gone, she was all business.
Lu, on the other hand, held the same expression Connor had grown accustomed to seeing. He walked confidently with his head held high, oblivious to the crowd around him.
They reached the Council table and knelt obediently, eyes directed to the floor.
“You may stand,” Thema directed after a few moments. “How do you plea?”
Lu spoke for the pair. “We plead guilty to the charge of killing the Elites, and guilty to the turning of Connor Moore. As the Council will undoubtedly see in the course of this case, and through the actions of Faust Ulfric, we had no choice.”
Thema nodded and motioned the two to take a seat next to Connor and Morrigan.
Turning her violet gaze on the room, she addressed the crowd. “Of course the relationship between the accused and our esteemed Council leader cannot be disregarded. Adolpho Abelardus has been the head of this Council for fifty-seven years, and in this time has proven himself a man beyond reproach or question. He has never compromised his values, and as a Council, we have decided that to require him to step down from his position for this trial would not be necessary. However, he would like the opportunity to address the room.”
Adolpho rose to his feet as Thema took her seat. “There is no doubt that I love my children,” he said, his commanding voice filling the room. Looking at Laren and Lu, he half smiled, then nodded. “But I also have a love for my duty and the Law that has kept us from conflict for so many years. Most of you know me as fair and uncompromising. I promise you that throughout this trial, I will hold to these values despite the circumstances. If there are any here that feel I should not be allowed to preside over this case, please come forward and state your concern.”
There was deafening silence. The silence was so all-encompassing that the slightest sound would have caused an echo. Connor was stunned that these people had such a high regard for Adolpho that they would allow him to hold the fate of his children in his hands without any expectation of his being biased or partial. Connor had never seen such respect and he didn’t think he ever would again.
After a brief silence, Adolpho continued. His voice was strong and reverent. “Thank you for your trust and respect. I do not take it lightly.” Seating himself once again, the man to his left now stood up to speak.
He was the youngest Council member amongst the five and closely resembled his sister, Morrigan. Black hair fell halfway down his forehead and ferocious brown eyes deeply contrasted the rest of his appearance. He was clean-shaven with a politician’s smile. Connor imagined that within a brief conversation with this man, anyone would be won over.
“Representing Connor Moore, Larentia Abeldardus, and Lupus Abelardus will be Morrigan Hayes. Representing Faust Ulfric will be his cousin, Christof Ulfric. Christof, you may begin.”
Christof rose from his seat, his shiny black dress shoes reflecting the light. An expensive watch hung from his left wrist and an even more expensive suit was tailored to fit his body flawlessly.
As soon as he opened his mouth, Connor realized this was going to be a long trial. Christof spent the first fifteen minutes addressing the Council, brown-nosing their skills and quality. When he deemed them sufficiently warmed up, he turned to his client and invited Faust to stand as he paced back and forth between him and the Council.
“Mr. Ulfric, will you please explain to the Council and the room why you are wearing sunglasses inside?”
Faust responded in a melancholy tone, so different from the voice that preached wrath and war two nights before. “My eyes were taken from me.”
“Please be more specific. What do you mean by taken?”
“They—” he paused dramatically, “—they were ripped out of their sockets.”
A woman in the crowd gasped and more than one face held a look of disgust.
“I know this is hard,” Christof continued in his silky smooth manner. “but I need you to take off your glasses so the Council and the room can see the damage that was done.”
Faust complied, slowly removing the black sunglasses and turning in a full circle so everyone could see. Even Connor had to admit the sight was gruesome and he felt a slight twinge of guilt. The guilt was quickly banished from his thoughts, though, as he remembered what Faust had planned on doing to Laren and Lu.
The rest of the room, however, did not share his experience. Breaths were sucked in surprise, eyes were averted, and looks of disgust and disbelief were displayed freely.
Connor looked over to Laren, who sat beside him, and Lu, who was seated on the other side of her. Laren shook her head and rolled her eyes, Lu followed suit with a shrug of his own.
After Christof was satisfied the display had served its purpose, he said, “Thank you, Faust. You may replace your glasses. Will you please tell us who did this to you and describe the events of the night that led to this horrible action.”
“Connor Moore took my eyes. I, along with four members of my family, were supposed to meet Larentia and Lupus Abelardus in the Catskill Forest in upstate New York to discuss a land dispute. When we arrived, it was clear they did not come to talk. Within minutes they were aggressively shouting, and soon their harsh words turned into physical violence. Although we outnumbered them, we weren’t able to stop them, especially Lupus. He tore though us like a bulldozer. Before we had a chance to think twice or try to escape, Connor appeared. He killed one of our party and took my eyes. When it was all over, only Randolph and I were able to escape.”
There was a silence and Christof took the opportunity to ask what many in the room were already thinking. “Faust, how was it that Connor Moore, a half-blood, but nonetheless, still a human, was able to not only dispatch an Elite but also take your eyes?”
“I don’t know. He took us by surprise?”
“I would lay before the Council the idea that Larentia Abelardus turned Connor before the meeting in the woods, which I will soon support with evidence. Thank you, Faust.”
Faust took an awkward seat, overdramatically feeling for his chair.
“I would like to call before the Council Randolph Ulfric, who was also there that dreadful night, and who crossed paths with Larentia previous to the events that transpired in the Catskills.”
The Council gave an approving nod and Rand
olph appeared. Walking down the rows of onlookers, he knelt at the Council’s table. When he received their permission to rise, he stood next to Faust.
His blue eyes moved from side to side and his normal grandiose attitude was replaced with anxiety. Sweat formed on his brow before Christof even directed a question toward him.
Seeing that his witness was not in the best state, Christof immediately dove into his questions. “Randolph, you came across Larentia and Connor a few nights before the incident in the forest, did you not?”
Randolph nodded his assent, his eyes huge as saucers.
“In your own words, how would you describe their relationship towards one another?”
Randolph cleared his throat. “They seemed comfortable with one another. As if they were good friends, or perhaps more than friends. I knew Larentia was aware of the four Laws, so I didn’t question her intent with the human.”
“Having seen them together, would you say the idea that Larentia Abelardus turned Connor Moore was a very real possibility?”
Grabbing his own collar, he tilted his head back, giving his neck a reprieve from the chaffing dress shirt. “Yes, I believe that is a possibility.”
“Lastly, would you describe the course of the night in the forest for us?”
Randolph proceeded to tell the room the happenings of the night in question just as Faust had. “Faust, myself, and three other Family members were scheduled to meet Larentia and Lupus in the Catskill Forest Preserve to discuss a property claim. They didn’t want to talk. As soon as we got there, they started yelling, and soon after, they attacked us. It should have been easy for us to outmatch them, but Lupus’ rage was more than we could handle. My family and I are not fighters; we’re peaceful. We tried to stop them, begged them to show mercy. Instead, Connor appeared. He killed our Family member and tore out Faust’s eyes. They held me down and forced me to watch. It was only by a miracle that Faust and I escaped with our lives.”
Randolph stopped, his eyes watering as he tried to fight back his fake tears.
Connor wondered if the Council picked up on the uncanny similarity of Faust’s and Randolph’s story. He had no way of knowing, trying to read their expressions was pointless.
“Thank you, Randolph,” Christof said. “Well, there you have it. In the words of two men that were there that night, you have the accurate account of the happenings in the Catskill Forest. I’m not sure what is left to discuss. Larentis and Lupus have already admitted their hand in killing their fellow Elites and also in turning Mr. Moore. I beg of you to tell me what they can say that could prove them innocent?”
He finished his argument. “I want to thank the Council for hearing the truth, and I, along with the rest of the room, am confident that you will find justice and punish the guilty.”
Thema stood up. “Thank you, Christof.”
Christof gave a bow as he backed away. A chair was brought for him and he sat beside Randolph and Faust, waiting to hear his opponent’s rebuttal.
“Morrigan, you may begin,” Thema informed her before taking a seat.
Morrigan stood up and walked toward the Council as calm as ever. Her matter of fact attitude served her well. “Esteemed Council, ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you all to keep a question in mind before I begin with my first witness to relate the events that took place that night and what occurred with Mr. Moore.”
She paused now, looking each Council member in the eye. “The Law was created to protect our kind from ourselves. Throughout history, when the Law was broken, or was threatened to be broken, the culprits were dealt with justly, and more often than not, executed. I would ask that you all consider in your own hearts whether the actions taken by the accused did more to keep the Law or break it.”
Morrigan turned now and looked at Laren. “If you would, Larentia, please tell us of your relationship with Mr. Moore, why you were in the Catskills to begin with, and tell us of the events that occurred.”
Laren stood tall and slender. Her hands fell to her side and her voice was firm and honest. “My brother and I were sent by our Family to meet with Randolph and Faust to try to workout a peaceful solution to the land dispute in upstate New York. They didn’t show up to the meeting and refused any attempt at negotiation. During this time, I met Connor. I’m not ashamed to say that I was attracted to him, but it was more than just physical. I could tell he was different. As I got to know him, I in no way betrayed the Law. I never spoke about the Elites or the Five Families.”
She paused and took a deep breath. “Lu and I received a message from Faust asking us to meet at the abandoned Catskill Forest ranger station to finally come to a solution. When we got there, we were ambushed. It’s only because of Connor’s actions that my brother and I are alive today. I’m not sure how he was able to kill an Elite, being a half-blood. All I know is that he saved us, and as I saw him there, dying on the floor, I knew the right thing to do was to turn him. I believe my actions were not only necessary for our survival, but also to keep our Law from being broken further. I admit that I turned a half-blood and I stand by my action, willing to accept the consequences.”
Morrigan gave her a nod of approval. “Thank you, Larentia. Lupus, will you please relate the happenings of that night and Mr. Moore’s actions?”
Lu stood from his seat, arms moving, adding strength and support to his words. He led his opening statement with a phrase that shocked the entire room, Council members included. “I, unlike my sister, never saw any value or anything special in Connor.”
Connor exchanged surprised looks with Laren as Lu continued. “Everything my sister said is accurate. If it wasn’t for Connor Moore, both my sister and I would be dead right now and the truth would be kept from your knowledge. I don’t know if it was fate that brought Connor into our lives or something else, all I know is that when we needed him, he was there.”
Morrigan nodded to Lu to take a seat. “Before I introduce Mr. Moore, I would like to tell you a little bit about him.” She looked over at Connor and motioned him to rise. “Connor Moore was raised outside of New York in a small suburban neighborhood. He was nurtured by his loving mother, Rebecca Moore, and never knew who or what his father was. Connor, how old are you?”
“Eighteen,” was his simple response. His palms were sweaty and he did his best to clear his voice from any hesitation, although there was no denying he was nervous.
“And what is your father’s name?”
“I don’t know. Like you said, I never knew him.”
“You all know the prophecy of the Judge that will save us from the darkness. Many of us thought that Caderyn, his father, was this Judge. Caderyn is not the final heir, there is another. Connor Moore is the last, and a direct descendent of the ancient bloodline of Judges. I would submit to the Council that he is the savior that will deliver us in our greatest hour of need, fulfilling the prophecy.”
The room erupted into chaos. Shouts from the audience were deafening. Connor was able to make out a few angry yells.
“That is blasphemy!”
“No half-blood could ever be our savior!”
“He is the savior!”
“This has nothing to do with the trial!” Christof shouted, outraged. “That issue belongs to a separate trial! I move to strike the current statement from the record books!”
The Council were the only quiet ones in the room. They sat looking at each other with furrowed eyebrows and vexed expressions. Finally, Adolpho took control. Rising from his chair, he extended a palm, quieting the audience. He stood until there was silence, daring anyone to make a sound.
“The Council will take the rest of the afternoon to decide if Morrigan’s claim, that Connor Moore is the savior of the prophecy, will be considered as part of this case. In the meantime, no one having part in this deliberation will leave the grounds and we will reconvene tomorrow morning. That is all.”
As all five members of the Council now stood to leave, the room was once again obliged to kneel and avert their
eyes. Connor’s heart was racing a hundred miles an hour. Morrigan hadn’t given him the slightest inclination that she planned to reveal him as this so-called savior today. He didn’t know whether to feel betrayed or thankful, misinformed or shielded.
The next few moments passed in silence as the Council left the Chamber. As soon as the doors closed behind them, the room was allowed to get up. First, Faust, Christof, and Randolph were allowed to exit. Christof shot Morrigan a dirty look while he led Faust out by the arm, and Randolph, nervous as ever, his eyes darting to and fro, bringing up the rear.
Morrigan gave them a wide berth. Connor, Laren, and Lu followed in her wake. If Connor thought that the audience was scrutinized him on the way in, he didn’t know how to describe what he felt now. The brightly colored eyes of every single Elite were on him. It felt as thought he was being examined with a microscope. Some of the looks he received were of admiration, some of curiosity, most of disdain.
Connor let out a pent-up sigh of relief as soon as he was out of the room. “What was all of that about my father? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to put me on display to the entire room as a savior?”
Morrigan simply turned to him, touched her finger to her lips and then to her ears, motioning that they were within hearing distance of more than a few Elites. Connor nodded, willing to wait, but at the same time, eager for answers.
Laren and Lu followed. Neither of them said a word, instead nodding greetings to various passersby as they made their way through the labyrinth of halls.
Connor soon realized they weren’t headed back to his room, instead, Morrigan led them to a mid-size banquet room with plenty of open space. There was only one large table and it was stacked with enough food to feed an army. Closing the doors behind them, Morrigan was satisfied they would be able to talk freely.
As Lu headed straight for the food, Connor looked at Morrigan and Laren with questioning eyes.
The Beast Within (The Elite Series) Page 12