by Jeff Hale
“I see. So if Henry really attacked you, you’d be able to tell me what his shifter animal is,” Lucien pointed out.
“Yes. He is a bear,” Celeste answered.
“Did you ever feel that your life was truly in danger? Did you feel that if Aerick had not killed the shifters in Henry’s pack that you would have been raped and killed?” Lucien asked her.
“Absolutely. The… wolf behind me was already… ready.” She didn’t go into any more detail, but then again, Celeste never had liked vulgarity.
“Very well, that is all. Thanks for your time in this matter, Celeste,” Lucien said.
Phil stood up, and Aerick glared at him. I hoped Phil didn’t upset Celeste, or we might be adding one more dead shifter to Aerick’s list.
“I have it on good authority that Aerick claims to hate you, is this true?” Phil asked Celeste.
Celeste threw Aerick an apologetic look. “I… he…. Yes. He did claim that, but… I believe he said it in anger.”
“Why would he protect someone that he hates and wants no part of?” Phil asked.
“I-I… I’m not sure. H-he didn’t say that until after that incident,” she got out, flustered.
“But didn’t he go hunting the shifters down after he told you that?” he asked.
Darien leaned towards me and whispered, “Don’t let him get away with stating Aerick did something he didn’t.” I nodded at him.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know when all of this took place, it’s been a very… I don’t know,” Celeste said in reply to Phil’s question, sounding slightly agitated.
“If he told you he hated you, then he had no reason to hunt them down…” Phil began to say.
“Advocate,” I interrupted harshly. “Stop claiming Aerick hunted down those shifters. We are already aware that Malachai is the one that killed those shifters. All except the coyote. Do not pretend otherwise.”
“Fine,” Phil said, almost petulantly. “Then what reason did he have to hunt down and kill a poor coyote shifter if he hated you, except as a hate crime. To kill a shifter out of pure hatred for poor Guy?”
“I… I don’t know.” Celeste’s eyes were threatening tears now.
“Enough. Advocate. Get to your point, or finish your questions now,” I warned him. If he continued to upset Celeste, Phil would have more than just Aerick after him.
“I’m done,” Phil said, going back and picking a file up off the table. “The Vegas Pack calls… Raven Black to the stand.”
That surprised me, and I saw Aerick look behind him to where Raven sat. The fae princess just shrugged and started to stand.
“Hold! You will not call a fae to the stand, especially in this farce of a trial!” Queen Cynthia ordered.
“But, your Majesty, Raven here not only drove the defendant to the home of Guy Alejandro to kill him, but she actively helped hunt him down using her abilities as a fae. Her testimony is relevant to this trial. Surely you won’t…?” Phil said, trying to make his case.
Queen Cynthia wasn’t backing down. “I said no. We saw the tape, and Aerick does not deny killing Henry’s packmate. We also know that he did not kill the rest of the shifters. I do believe that the adjudicators have plenty to base their verdict on, enough so that I’m not even going to bother to tell you what you already know about Baba Yaga. I am personally calling this trial to a close. Now. Henry! You and your pack will show the adjudicators the mark!”
She must mean Baba Yaga’s tattoo. I already knew it was there, but neither Darien or Alex had seen it.
“Fuck you, lady! I ain’t gotta…” Henry argued angrily. The lights in the room brightened visibly and the temperature rose by several degrees. Cynthia’s presence seemed to fill the room, seeping into all the corners. It felt very comforting, like a favorite blanket on a winter night. Even Lucien seemed affected by it, his expression tranquil. Henry, Jill, and Wally on the other hand began crying out in pain.
“I said show them!” Cynthia commanded, her voice never rising a decibel, even as it echoed throughout the room.
Henry dropped to his knees, turning so his back was to us, and a shaft of light played over the tattoo on the back of his neck. Wally pulled his shirt up, showing the same tattoo on his shoulder blade, while Jill tugged one corner of her pants down to reveal a smaller version on the inside of her hip.
“There! Now the truth is shown, and the light of justice knows the path it must take,” Queen Cynthia announced. The room slowly returned to its normal light and temperature. “You may take them as you please, Adjudicators.”
“Then we are done today,” I said evenly. I turned to Alex. “Darien’s got this, I think. Come back to the conference room with me and the Queen. Once Darien joins us, I would guess it’s time to come to a verdict.” As we headed into the room, I saw Darien and two of the fae guards arrest Henry and his two remaining pack.
“The gall of those two!” Cynthia griped as we got settled to wait for Darien. “Presuming to call a fae as a witness, presuming to tell me they didn’t have to listen.”
“They aren’t used to having to listen to any authority other than their own, your Majesty,” Alex told her.
“I suppose you’re right. Maybe they think because I’m fae, despite the fact that I’m a queen, that I have no right. But I do. You shifters wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for the fae. We made you. We have every right!” She took her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
“The fae created shifters?” I asked, curious now. I sat and helped myself to a soda.
“In a fashion, yes,” she answered cagily.
“How so?” Alex wanted to know.
Cynthia fluttered a hand at us. “Just say that we were curious as to what we could do, and leave it at that. This isn’t really the time for a long discussion on shifter origins.”
I let it drop, not wanting to anger her, and Alex wisely did the same. We waited in silence until Darien came into the room.
“Well, at least that’s taken care of and Henry’s in custody right where he should be,” Darien said.
“Then it’s all done? We can just tell Aerick he’s not guilty?” I wanted to know.
Darien frowned at me. “Aerick is guilty, you realize that, don’t you, Kat? At least in the murder of Guy.”
I felt myself tense up. I had been sure that with Henry’s deception and subsequent arrest, that Aerick would be cleared. “You’ve already made up your mind,” I accused.
“Oh, come on! You saw the tape, you heard Aerick!” Darien reminded me.
Anger washed through me and I saw Alex flinch. “You’re getting what you wanted then,” I said harshly.
“What do you mean, I’m getting what I wanted?” Darien demanded roughly.
I crunched my empty soda bottle between my fingers. “You wanted Aerick out of my life, now you have your chance. Find him guilty, despite the fact that Henry and his pack were a bunch of psychopaths, give him a sentence of execution, and there you have it, all neat and tidy. Aerick is gone.”
He gave me an incredulous look. “I already told you I would never do that to you if I didn’t have to.” I wasn’t sure I believed him and I let him see it. “I promise you I will do my best to try to find a way to keep him alive, Kat. Just don’t make me regret it. Now, if you’re done acting like a child, can we actually discuss this verdict you are so worried about?”
Acting like a child? I opened my mouth to retort, but then shut it again, sighing. He was right. I was acting childish. I didn’t want anything to happen to Aerick and I was trying to deny it to myself that he had done something horrifically wrong just to protect him. So much for impartial. “What is there to discuss?” I asked in resignation.
“What do you mean?” Darien gave me a considering look.
“You’re right. He had no call to kill that werecoyote. Sure, he was there at the Circus Circus and was part of the threat to Aerick and the others, but when Aerick killed him, he was at home minding his own business. That was pre-medit
ated and in cold blood. He’s guilty, Darien,” I admitted sadly.
“Katelyn is right. Aerick is guilty of Guy Alejandro’s murder,” Queen Cynthia said. “And Henry is guilty of trafficking with evil, assault on mortals, murder of his pack, treason, perjury… I could go on. I know it might seem cold to you, but my greatest concern is the trafficking with evil part, his pact with Baba Yaga. If you decide he and his pack are guilty of it all, might I have the privilege of sentencing them?”
I could see Darien mulling it over in his head, and then he nodded. “I don’t see why not. Besides, then I don’t have to explain to a Council Elder why I sentenced his son to death… because that is what my sentence would be. The Elders get a bit touchy when you do that.”
“I can imagine they would get just as touchy as any parent,” Cynthia said. “My sentence is death as well for Henry and his pack, and as far as I am concerned his guilt is evident. However, if at any time, you feel differently, I will understand.”
“I would agree,” Darien said. “Kat? Alex? Do you both agree that Henry, Wally, and Jill are guilty in the matters mentioned?”
“Oh yeah,” I said. “Very guilty.”
“Yes,” Alex replied, nodding.
“Very well then. Henry, Wally, and Jill are guilty of the charges against them, and will abide by Queen Cynthia’s sentence.” Darien looked at me now. “And Aerick? In the charges against him in regards to Guy?”
“Guilty,” Queen Cynthia said softly.
“Guilty,” Alex added after a moment’s hesitation.
It was all on me now. If I disagreed, then we would be here for however long it took until we reached a unanimous vote. Much as I hated to say it, I knew what my answer had to be. “Guilty,” I whispered.
“The pack finds Aerick guilty of the charges in regards to Guy. As Alpha, I will pass sentence. The sentence is death.” Darien’s eyes pleaded with me to understand.
My throat felt suddenly tight and tears sprang to my eyes. I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood. All I wanted to do was to run from the room screaming.
“However,” Darien continued, “I wish to bring up the possible danger to Celeste by Henry and the members of his pack involved in the assault at the Circus Circus.”
I sniffled loudly and stared at him. What game was he playing now?
“Does anyone at this table believe that Celeste might still have been in danger from those pack members?” Darien asked.
“From Henry’s bunch? After what I told you about them? They would have gone after her, especially after they saw she meant something to Aerick,” Alex told him.
“I have to agree with Alex,” Cynthia said. “With their ties to Baba Yaga, and her desire to harm Aerick, having Henry’s pack hurt or kill Celeste would have been logical, so the human girl would still have been in danger.”
“Kat?” Darien looked at me.
I wiped my hand across my eyes. “I wouldn’t put anything past Henry’s pack. So, yeah, I think she was.”
“Did Aerick’s pre-emptive action then possibly save Celeste’s life?” Darien asked.
Suddenly, I saw where Darien might be going with this. “Yes,” I said with relief.
“Yes, I believe so,” Cynthia agreed.
“Yes,” Alex said, nodding.
“Then since it now just boils down to grievous injury against a shifter, it is my suggestion to commute Aerick’s sentence to a fight to the death against the injured party, in this case Henry since he was Guy’s Alpha,” Darien offered. “All in agreement?” We all nodded in unison, including Queen Cynthia. “That’s the best I can do for him, Kat. I would be willing to be that Henry is no match for Aerick. Either way, Henry will die.”
“Thank you, Darien, for at least allowing him the chance.” I didn’t like the idea of a fight to the death either, but at least Aerick might walk away from it. “But does it have to be to the death? Haven’t enough people already died over this?”
“That’s how it’s generally done, Kat. But I’ll take it into consideration. Anything else? Or are we ready to go home so we can relax a bit before the verdict and sentencing tomorrow?” Darien asked.
“Can I announce the verdict?” I asked.
Darien’s brows rose. “I didn’t think you would want to.”
“I don’t, not really. But it might be better, for Aerick, if it came from me. He might see it as you trying to get even with him,” I explained.
“It’s up to you, Kat. If you want to deliver the verdict, that’s fine with me.”
“Thank, Darien. I just think it would be best.” I stood up and headed for the door. “Same time tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you then, I guess.” I left the room and the Velvet Flame, and was unlocking my car door when my cell phone went off. I answered it, feeling the blood drain from my face as the person on the other end told me the reason for their call. I thanked them, then fumbled the door open and dropped the phone into the passenger seat, pulled out of the parking garage, and pointed myself to the University Medical Center.
TWENTY-SIX
KATELYN
Matt had beaten me to the hospital, but only barely. He and I were both listed on the back of Kris’s identification as emergency contacts in case something happened to her and they had called us both at the same time.
He was at the information booth when I came in and I hurried up beside him. The nurse explained to us that Kris was in surgery at the moment and we would have to wait. There was a paramedic walking by as we questioned the nurse and when we turned away he motioned to us and asked if we were there for Krista Vaughn. When we said yes, he said he was one of the paramedics who had brought her in. She had been involved in a car accident, her vehicle struck by a drunk driver and that she had been hurt pretty badly. He said he hoped she would be all right, and then he was called away.
Matt and I waited with each other until the doctors told us she was out of surgery, just like we had a few months before. We didn’t say much, just sat there and I held his hand so tightly that it was a good thing he was another AE or I might have broken some bones. We moved to her room to continue our vigil once we were told we could, and then stayed after she had woken up. So now here I sat in a hospital room with Kris again, her right leg in traction, the cast going all the way to her hip, right arm in a cast, multiple bruises and lacerations on her face, the hospital gown hiding the damage done to her right side. It had begun raining and I could hear it outside as it poured down in wet sheets.
It could have been worse, Matt and I had been told. She had been hit with such impact that the engine of her little car had been shoved into the space between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat. At a different angle, and the engine would have been in her lap and she would have been dead.
The driver of the other car, the one who had swerved into the wrong lanes crossing the intersection, had not been so lucky. He hadn’t been wearing his seatbelt and he had been thrown through the windshield of his vehicle, whereupon he’d broken his neck when his head had impacted with the edge between the windshield of Kris’s car and the top.
Kris patted the edge of the bed with her good hand. Matt had gone down to talk to the doctors, wanted to see if they would let him see the x-rays. She was surprisingly chipper for someone with a broken leg, broken arm, and several broken ribs.
“So how are things going with that trial? You doing okay?” she asked me, wincing slightly as she forgot she was hurt and tried to move her other arm.
“You sit here in a hospital bed all covered in plaster and you ask me about that stupid trial?” I said in exasperation, wanting to hug her but not wanting to hurt her. “I swear I am going to outfit you in Nerf.”
“Jeez, Kat, you sound like Matt. I’m okay. Few busted bones, but nothing life threatening. You guys need to lighten up, I am not made of china you know.” Her words were sharp and she gave me a semi apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry, Kris, but I don’t know what I would do i
f something happened to you. You’re my best friend!”
She gave me an awkward one armed hug. “I love you, too.” She pulled away, looked at my neck, then gave the little crystal unicorn a tap with a finger. “You’re wearing this again. That bad with Darien?”
“He just pisses me off so much sometimes. Always thinking that he knows what’s best for me, thinking I can’t take care of myself, that I don’t know what I’m doing.” My voice had gotten loud and shrill in my little speech and I suddenly clamped my lips shut. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
“It’s okay, I kind of know the feeling.” She glanced towards the door to her room. “Gets tiresome after a while no matter how much we love them.” She gave me a bright smile. “But he does love you, Kat.”
“He’s talked to you guys?”
“He comes by to see Matt every once in a while, but I’ve gone with him once to check on Nina, he talked to me then.”
“Oh.” I turned my head as the door to her room opened and closed. Matt strode over to her bed, a can of clear soda in his hand, straw poking out of the opening. He handed it to Kris.
“The doctor finally let me see your x-rays. You really did get lucky, love,” he said to Kris as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Not like it was my fault, you know. He hit me.” She shuddered. She had had to stare at the other driver’s dead body where it had crumpled against her windshield for the short time before the police and ambulance had arrived. She had assured me it wasn’t a pretty sight.
I patted her good leg. “Well, it’s getting late and I need some sleep before the rest of the trial tomorrow. I’m going to go home, let you two have some privacy, give Celeste a call and let her know what happened. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you, okay? Just let me know if I can bring you anything.”
I collapsed on the couch once I got into my apartment, emotionally drained and promising myself that I would call Celeste, Darien and Alex later about Kris. Between everything that had gone on the last week with Aerick, with Darien, and the worry over Kris, all I wanted to do was bury my head under a pillow. I felt like everything I cared about had been threatened with being taken away.