by Multiple
Don’t do this to yourself, Jack thought at me. You’re a good person.
“Yeah,” I said aloud. “And my goodness has landed me here.”
When we reached the front, I glanced up at the Great Table, the Great Judges lined up like the last supper. They all wore the same fine, ancient ceremonial robes, and they all had the same pinched, annoyed look on their faces.
Our host eyed Jack, Mom, and Riley. “The Accused’s support can be seated on the right, on the benches provided. Only the Accused will sit before the Great Judges.”
Mom wrapped me in a bear hug, squeezing me tight. When she pulled back, the tears she’d been holding back broke free, streaming down her face. “It’ll be okay, baby. I promise.”
Riley was next. He came in for a hug, but Jack snarled. He jutted out his hand instead. “I’m rooting for you.”
“Thanks,” I said with a reluctant smile. “Really.”
Jack was last and brought me into his strong chest. I breathed him in – all his earthy undertones mixed with aftershave. I wanted to brand his scent on my heart in case I never smelled it again.
He took my face in his hands. “You’ll be alright, Jade. I know it.”
My lips twitched. “I love you, Jack.”
When he leaned in for a kiss, our host let out a hiss of disgust. He planted a kiss as soft as a whisper then nuzzled my cheek. “I love you too, Jade.”
I watched him slide onto the bench beside my mother then turned to face The Watchers.
Athanasia sat demurely to my left, flashing me a look that said she wanted to eat me alive. I didn’t have time to shoot a look of my own because the Great Judge hobbled to the front.
Everyone rose to their feet in a show of respect. The Great Judge was an old sage, as old as time itself. Magic kept her looking like she was 90 or so, her body gnarled and wrinkled. Her white hair hung in a single braid.
When she strutted past me, a chill echoed across my skin like all the light had been ripped from the world.
Our host offered the Judge her elbow and she took it, stepping up onto a stone podium. She rammed her walking stick into the ground three times – one…two…three. After the third tap, candles lining The Watchers’ table lit up and all the talking died down.
“Year 2011, the fifth day of the eight month,” the Judge crooned, her voice like sandpaper. “The Watchers have convened to try Jade Catherine Murray, 21, a witch and necromancer, for the crime of exposing the supernatural world through the unnatural death of two humans.” She gazed at me. “How do you plead, Miss Murray?”
“N-not guilty.”
The Judge closed her eyes. “Let it be known that the Accused has entered the plea not guilty.” She turned to The Watchers’ table. “What say you for punishment if the witch is convicted?”
The vampire, a sultry looking man straight out of a Hollywood fantasy, licked his lush lips. “Antonio de Laurentis. I say if the witch is guilty, she should be burned.”
A scruffy looking woman that was built like a linebacker flipped her long, fiery red hair over her shoulder. “Cassandra Renee Blake. Behead her, if she’s guilty.”
The fairy was next. She had short, pixie cut hair and wide set violet eyes that narrowed when she scanned me. “Delilah Rose Fallizc III. It would be a shame to turn such a beauty into ash. Behead her.”
The troll pulled out a handkerchief and sneezed, his grotesque face bored. “Igor Vallagrant. Fire.”
The demon and angel looked normal enough. The demon’s features were aristocratic and attractive as his lips curled into a smile. “Lucian DeMalfour. The knife.”
The angel’s dark skin was almost translucent as she shook her head, like she thought the whole process was brutal and archaic. “Caliope Mulvayne. If the girl is found guilty, death by blade would be swift and more humane.”
The pagan picked at her nails. She didn’t look a day over sixteen. “Qarth. Behead her. Whatever.”
My body quaked as the Judge turned back to the front. “Five for death by beheading. Two for death by fire. So it is done. If you are found guilty, Accused, your punishment is to be carried out by beheading.”
A couple of whoops of delight echoed around the room, but one look from the Judge silenced them.
“Let the trial begin,” she thundered.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Trial
The hall was silent except for the click of Ana’s stilettos.
“Tell us about your paid summonings that supposedly started all of this.”
I swallowed. “I was contacted by Melissa Brooks. She contacted NACA because her husband’s will was scant and she believed he left money to a mistress.”
Ana crossed her arms. “And during the summoning, how did you learn the location of the money?”
I cast a glance to my right. B stood there, his face as expressionless as stone.
“I just asked him some questions. Standard procedure.”
Ana glanced over at B, then back to me. “If I call a witness and they contradict what you just said-“
“I may have told him his lawyer stole his money.”
The Judge’s eyes narrowed. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Brontes, but aren’t necromancers forbidden from using humans to control the dead?”
“That’s right, Judge.” B said gravely. “But I don’t believe Jade was trying to-”
“That’s quite enough, Brontes,” Ana said icily.
She turned back to me. “So you involved a human in supernatural affairs.”
I raised an eyebrow. “We put a commercial tantamount to the ‘Psychic Friends Network’ on broadcast television. How is that not involving humans in supernatural affairs?”
Murmurs of agreement erupted from behind me.
“Answer the question, Accused.”
“Yes,” I sighed. “I involved his lawyer by bringing him up during the summoning.”
“And then?”
I licked my chapped lips. “I went to the lawyer to give him a NACA card.”
“And then you set a spell on him, didn’t you?” Ana shot. “You wanted to shut him up and cover your tracks so you put a Mark on the human…which led to his demise.”
“That’s not true!” I insisted. “I only went to his office to help him.”
“And he ended up with a wallet down his throat.”
I glanced back at the crowd, reading the delight on their faces.
“And the woman?” Ana continued.
I nodded. “Amy…she wanted a summoning to communicate with her lover. I found out that she’d been murdered a few days later.”
“Well, there you have it,” Athanasia said plainly. “Two humans supernaturally murdered after crossing paths with Miss Murray. I think it’s obvious. Her gifts have corrupted her mind and she poses an insurmountable risk to the supernatural world.”
“And I’m standing in the way of you and Jack’s living happily ever after,” I said under my breath.
Ana’s back went rigid, but it was the Judge’s eyes that flashed.
“What did you say, Accused?”
“Nothing,” I said hoarsely. “Nothing important.”
“You will repeat yourself, child,” the Judge rumbled.
I glanced over at Jack, who flashed me a supportive smile.
“Athanasia and I?” I said slowly, raising my eyes to The Watchers. “We have a history.”
Murmurs flitted around the room at my confession.
The Judge’s ire turned to Ana. “Does she speak the truth?”
Ana pulled at her robe like it was suddenly hot and uncomfortable. “I think ‘history’ is a slight exaggeration.”
“That’s a lie!” I erupted. “When you found out Jack and I were serious, you tried to lure me away from him with Riley. And just a few hours ago, you were threatening to do The Watchers a solid and end me.”
I got a measure of comfort seeing The Watchers turn their attention to Ana. None of them looked enthused that she’d tried to rob them of their ri
ghts as enforcers.
“The Accused is just trying to use smoke and mirrors to distract you from the truth,” Ana said, her eyes wild.
But the Judge was still looking at Ana like she was something stuck on the bottom of her walking stick. “Do you have a history with the Accused – yes or no?”
We were all riveted, watching as the sleek vampire, usually the picture of poise and grace, was reduced to two feet tall.
“Y-yes, but-”
“You are relieved, madam,” the Judge commanded.
Ana’s mouth snapped shut as she bowed then turned to the exit. She flashed me a look of hate then stomped down the aisle, casting frigid glances at the audience.
The judge let out a weary sigh that rattled my bones.
“We’ll postpone the trial until the next full moon to give The Watchers time to find a suitable replacement for Athanasia.”
The crowd erupted with displeasure and I found that even I was booing. Now that I was here and realized all it took to get me to build up the courage to come in the first place, I couldn’t imagine going through all this again.
The Judge looked at me curiously. “The accused does not wish to postpone judgment?”
I shook my head.
“Even though such postponement would give you the opportunity to have a Measurer that holds no bias toward you?”
I bit my lip as the room quieted, the audience hoping I’d say yes.
I didn’t disappoint. “Yes, Judge. I just…” The words caught in my throat. “I can’t do this again. If you’re going to kill me for something I didn’t do, I’d rather you just get on with it.”
The Judge recoiled like I’d hit her. Mom always said my mouth would get me in trouble one day. But instead of screeching, ‘Off with her head!’, she turned to The Watchers. “Are you prepared to pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of Jade Catherine Murray?”
The Watchers exchanged glances, then in unison said, “Aye.”
“How do you rule?”
The vampire gave me a smile that made my blood run cold. “Guilty.”
The werewolf stretched her arms above her head. “Not guilty.”
I did a silent fist pump.
The fairy ruffled her short, spiky hair. “Guilty.” She looked me up and down like she wanted to eat me up. “Sorry, beautiful.”
The troll crossed his arms, his grotesque eyes rolling. “Not guilty.”
The angel flashed me a supportive smile. “Not guilty.”
The demon let out a bitter chuckle. “Guilty. Of course.”
The room was dead silent as all eyes turned to the pagan goddess. She held my life in her tiny hands.
I closed my eyes and said one last prayer. The goddess raked her fingers through her hair. “The necromancer made some seriously bad judgment calls.” She narrowed her pitch black eyes. “Involving a human in a necromancy and dating a vampire – questionable, no doubt.” Her pause dragged on as she glanced around the room, making sure everyone was hanging on every word. “But I know killers. Hell, I am a killer.” She shrugged her thin shoulders. “Jade is no killer. A blind man could see that.” She glanced at me and inclined her head. “Not guilty.”
The room erupted as the audience leapt to their feet. I knew most of the yelps were ones of anger and disappointment, but I didn’t care. I added my sobs of triumph to the chorus, sinking to my knees.
“Not guilty!” I screamed as Jack, Mom, and Riley rushed toward me. “Not guilty!”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
After Party
It had been a good thing my mother performed a cloaking spell to protect me, because after The Watchers safely exited the Great Hall, chaos ensued. Many of the creatures traveled far and wide for the trial and wouldn’t see it as worth it unless someone, anyone, bled.
Jack stuck to me like glue, snarling if any creature, especially Riley, looked our way.
When we made our way back to the parking lot, I gave Riley a reluctant smile. In spite of everything, Riley supported me when it counted. I could at least tell him goodbye.
Jack got my wavelength and shook his head. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“I’ll be right back.” I insisted. To remind Riley that I was his, he pulled me in for a heart-stopping kiss that made the world spin. It went straight to my groin and I felt my core flutter at his nearness.
When I stepped back, I shook my head at him with a laugh. “Wanna brand me while you’re at it?”
“Just don’t take too long,” he smirked. “Sia’s having a little victory get together and they’re all waiting for the guest of honor.”
“Just a sec,” I repeated, untangling myself from him.
Riley stood near the sidewalk, picking at a broken piece of glass. I could feel the heat coming off him in waves.
“I know you have a party to get to.” Riley said acidly, avoiding my gaze. “You should go.”
I reached over and touched his sleeve. “I have questions. About you and Ana. About Arrissa. About us-”
“But you have a boyfriend.”
“I have a boyfriend,” I repeated. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
He shot me a look that mirrored the one the leaving creatures wore. It was a look of disappointment. Of frustration.
“What?” I said peevishly. “We can’t start over?”
He moved in close, making the hair on my arm stand at attention when he brushed my skin. “I don’t know if I can be your friend, Jade. I can’t be within five feet of you and not want to devour you. Every last inch.”
My cheeks blushed scarlet as I took a step back, painfully aware of the daggers Jack was shooting our way.
“Well,” I said, jutting out a hand. “It was mostly nice seeing you, Riley.”
He accepted it, gripping my hand tightly. “Give me a call when you pass the vampire phase.”
Before I could lay some snark on him, he pulled away, disappearing in the mad scramble. Mad scramble didn’t do it justice, really. I could feel the electric, hungry pulse in the air. I pitied the fool that crossed a supernatural tonight.
I turned back to Jack’s Mustang. “Where’s Mom?”
“She said she had a bit of a headache. And fairy shindigs really aren’t her thing.”
I slid closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You know, I’m not really in a partying mood myself. We could always celebrate more…privately.”
His fangs glistened as his lips curled into a grin. “Now that’s a party I can get behind.”
Just as our lips met, my phone screeched to life.
“Hold that though,” I said, pecking him on the cheek. I glanced at my cell screen. It was Sia.
“So Sia is pulling out the big guns, warning there will be a Guilt Trip to Rule All Guilt Trips if I skip out on her party.”
Jack’s emerald eyes scanned me with desire as he bit his lip. “If she knew how beautiful you looked-”
I playfully shoved him toward the driver’s door. “One of the beautiful things about being acquitted is that we have a lifetime of nights to celebrate.”
He let out a disappointed sigh that made butterflies dance in my stomach. An hour ago, I was certain that I’d never kiss him, never be with him again. I was convinced my last minutes on earth wouldn’t be with the ones I loved and loved me, but championed by creatures that paid money to watch me die.
I gave my head a hard shake as I buckled my seatbelt. I refused to sully my victory by focusing on how bad this evening could have been. It was a new day, ripe and full of possibilities.
I rolled my window down as we pulled onto Hillsborough Street, the road peppered with students shuffling home after a night out. There was one girl, petite, her eyes on her cellphone that caught my glance.
“Not very smart of her to be traipsing around Hills at 2 AM. Especially with the things in the shadows.” My mind went through a short list of possible outcomes. A vampire could drag her into the alley or-
“Don’t,
” Jack said firmly. “She’s an adult and she’s not your concern. Not tonight.”
“Right,” I said, forcing a smile as we pulled into the InK parking lot. “You’re right.”
We sashayed out of the car, our feet crunching on the gravel. I shot a bewildered glance at Jack. I’d been to one of Sia’s soirees before and it was a rip roaring time…as in you-can-hear-it-for-miles good time.
But the night air was quiet except for the whooshes and sounds of cars zipping by. Dead silent.
I rolled my eyes. “If this is going to be one of those ‘surprise!’ kind of things…” Jack laughed, pulling me toward the building.
“You’re the one that insisted we stop by. And considering I could be carrying you up the stairs, minutes from making sweet, passionate love to you, we’re staying for at least fifteen minutes.”
“Fine,” I pouted. “Fifteen minutes, tops.”
We walked to the front door and pushed it open.
InK was bathed in darkness.
“Okay,” I said in a singsong voice. “I’m here, Sia. And I’m absolutely surprised.”
Silence.
“Sia?” I took a step forward and froze as my shoe stepped on something warm and wet.
“Jack?” I whispered.
I felt his hand gripping me as he swung me behind him. “Something’s wrong. Very wrong.”
I shielded my eyes as a series of switches were flicked on and the room was flooded with light.
“Oh my god,” I whispered hoarsely.
Body parts were strewn all over the room. Arms, legs, torso, hands, severed heads.
I gagged as I looked down and saw that the warm wetness I felt was someone’s intestines, lying in a circle like a serpent.
I felt dizzy, faint, but Jack steadied me. In the middle of the carnage I saw a petite, frail figure. It was Sia. She was clad in white – or a dress that used to be white. Now it looked more reddish brown than anything else, splotched with blood and guts smeared from the spaghetti straps to her long morbid train.
A chuckle erupted from Sia’s mouth, a familiar tune.
I stepped forward. “Sia?!”
She whirled around and I screamed, falling back into Jack’s arms.