Courts and Cabals 2

by G. S. D'Moore

  “Don’t worry. He’s part of the cabal. Wherever he is, my mother will find him,” she said as much for her own benefit as Dani’s.

  “There is no way she’d let someone that interesting slip out of her grips.”

  Her mother was a lot of things, but she was known for being a hoarder of impressive people. Cam definitely fell into that category.

  “This is my fault,” Dani’s admission caught Lilith by surprise. “If I hadn’t gotten him that pass to the fucking porn convention, none of this would have happened. How could I be so stupid? Why the hell did I push you on that?”

  “Because you like him,” Lilith answered bluntly. She’d known it for a while. The dwarf wasn’t exactly good at hiding things, and didn’t have that many people she cared for. It was easy to put two and two together.

  “Don’t give me that Disney princess bullshit,” Dani shot back. “I don’t like like him. I don’t love him. Sure, he’s fun to be around. We’ve gotten into two fights together, and he’s held his own. Well, technically, he lost both times, but he put up a good fight. He bought enough time for me to take out the plant bitch, and he saved my ass from Chloe back at school,” Lilith sat quietly while Dani sorted it all out.

  “I mean . . . he’s got a nice cock, and you could tell he didn’t get laid much before hooking up with us. It’s the sex-deprived ones who are always so eager to please, and I know I appreciate the extra effort. Plus . . .” she stopped talking, “ah fuck . . . I do like him,” she came to the undisputable conclusion.

  Lilith smiled where the dwarf couldn’t see her. “If you want, I can transfer you to him once all the dust settles. It looks like I’m going to be spending most of my time getting introduced to the business. I won’t be at school anymore, so I don’t need a bodyguard.”

  There was a moment of silence from the other cell. “End of an era,” Dani stated with a heavy sigh. “You don’t need to push me on him, that’s not fair to either of you. I think we both know I’m not the only one who likes him.”

  Deep down, Lilith knew that was true. She’d just been trying to ignore that fact since she nearly saw him die in the battle against Ser Fredrick.

  “I saw an email between you and the convention staff that set up some meeting,” Lilith quickly changed the subject. “Something about disclosures and filming rights. Do I want to know?”

  “I was showing him a good time,” there was more than a little guilt in Dani’s tone, “but it was also going to be a Valentine’s Day gift for the two of you.”

  Lilith knew all too well the dwarf’s twisted view of gifts, so that could mean anything. “Hopefully, we’ll both be out by then.”

  Dani didn’t answer, and until they were arraigned on charges, neither knew what the hell was going on. Thankfully, they didn’t need to wait long. A few hours later, the guards returned to shackle them back up and take them to see the judge.

  The supernatural judicial system in the United States was an institution that had only been around since the late eighties. It relied on a separate-but-equal principle – for lack of a better term – and that had a lot of people up in arms; both human and supernatural. Like the WRA, the judicial system took a lot of heat, and still did, but it was necessary.

  There were a lot of connotations associated with that terminology; all of them negative, but people had seized on the differences in the systems immediately, and invoked the term coined in the late nineteenth century that divided the country by race. As far as Lilith knew, no one even remembered what the government’s less-offensive terminology was.

  The bottom-line was that the separation had nothing to do with traditional human races. Supernaturals were black, white, brown, red, yellow, green, blue, and in some cases; colors you’d only find in a Crayola box. It had nothing to do with skin color, and everything to do with power. Supernaturals had it, some had a lot of it, and that made traditional judicial methods a problem.

  At its core, government and justice was the use of collective force to enforce agreed upon social standards; but what happened when a government couldn’t bring that same force to bear on a segment of their population? A cop couldn’t pull over a shifter with a warrant for skipping out on child support and bring them in. The shifter could literally rip a man to pieces. Even an entire team of police officers would struggle to bring in a weak shifter. It took special training, equipment, and very brave humans to do that job.

  Right after the Revelation, it became clear that the old way of doing business wasn’t working. Too many people were dying, and since supernaturals born in the US were recognized as citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment – you could thank the Supreme Court for their landmark 9-0 ruling on that one – the government couldn’t violate their rights. Instead, it took a smart approach; something government isn’t always known for.

  Inside the supernatural community, which had been around just as long as humanity, there were existing power structures. Shifter packs, the most populous supernaturals in the US, already had an internal hierarchy with an Alpha at the top. Mages had councils and laws of magical use that predated the WRA, and in some cases, were even incorporated into the sweeping, international law. Vamps had their covens, elders, and kill teams. Even the dreaded cabals had head honchos with more power than most military forces. It only made sense for the government to include them as they redistributed power to fit their new citizens.

  What that meant was that the supernatural court, unlike a good chunk of human courts, was federally operated. When creatures could open portals and travel thousands of miles in a heartbeat, it became necessary to address issues as one united front; not as fifty different laboratories of democracy. There weren’t supernatural courts in every town and hamlet, but there were a good number in each state, and when supernaturals were arrested, they were transported to the nearest court for arraignment, imprisonment, sentencing, or whatever else the judicial system required.

  Alphas, mages, elders, but not any cabal elite – or at least as far as the government knew – now found themselves as federally appointed judges that wielded judicial discretion. The power wasn’t anything different than what they had before, but it was now official.

  Humans and supernaturals still bitched up a storm, and brought lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. To this day, none had passed muster; and while the system was far from perfect, it did work.

  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Lilith thought about the old adage as she and Dani were marched to the courtroom.

  Everything was cold, solid concrete until they were led through a nondescript door and suddenly surrounded by warm wood. Light spilled in from high windows as they found themselves surrounded by dozens of people. After hours in solitary, it was a little overwhelming; especially, when press with cameras blinded them with flashes and questions. Lilith tried to keep a smile on her face. Even in her confusion, she knew optics were big.

  “Look like a young, innocent girl,” she told herself, and hoped Dani was at least trying to be civil.

  “For fuck’s sake,” the dwarf grumbled as they were positioned behind chairs at the defense table.

  A moment later, they were joined by Xamira and their lawyers. The half of the gallery behind them was also filled with their lawyers, staff, media, and local politicians. Lilith also spotted Aden, and a few other members of the cabal. Her mother was nowhere in sight, but she didn’t expect her to be present. There was no benefit to Venus Venitas being here.

  “All rise,” the bailiff, announced in a booming voice that shut everyone up.

  Lilith felt the surge of power that accompanied the voice. “Spirit Warrior,” she concluded.

  The bailiff had weathered, leathery skin, deep-set eyes, and black hair pulled back in a braid that fell to his waist. He was the picture of calm strength; neither big nor small, but full of certainty. Native American spirit warriors were shifters, just known by a different name; but at the same time more. Belief gave things power in this world, and the native pe
ople believed in their ancestral spirit warriors. In a fight against the average shifter, that gave the bailiff an edge. By the look of him, Lilith could tell this man had honed that edge with experience.

  The bailiff fixed his eyes on Lilith; assessing her innocence just as much as a jury of her peers. “The Honorable Judge Stands Tall presiding,” he concluded.

  “Like that movie with The Rock?” Dani asked. Lilith glared at her, and the dwarf shut up.

  The woman who took her seat on the raised bench had a no-nonsense, don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. Lilith made a mental note to reign Dani in.

  “Everyone take your seats,” she announced, and it was a testament to her reputation that no one said a word as they waited for her to begin.

  Lilith looked over at the prosecution’s table. She expected to see the UN agent who shot and arrested Cam, but he was absent. In his place were a half-dozen government lawyers. You could tell they worked for Uncle Sam by the reasonably-priced suits that concealed the sticks up their asses.

  “Case Number 1298421, the United States of America versus Xamira Venitas. Case number . . .” Lilith didn’t pay much attention to the clerk reading the case information. Her eyes swept the room, read people, and tried to discern motivations. Half the battle was knowing who you were up against and why they were trying to kill you.

  “Prosecution, you may present your charges,” the judge waved a hand to the government suits.

  “The People are charging Ms. Xamira Venitas with one count of vehicular battery on a police officer, and one count of fleeing the scene of an accident,” the lawyer stated.

  Lilith felt her niece stiffen beside her. The fleeing the scene of an accident was a felony, but one her lawyers were likely prepared for. They knew everything that had happened from soup to nuts after the death of Ser Fredrick. They had to if they were going to properly defend them. Vehicular Battery on a police officer was also a felony, but it had a much larger connotation to it. By filing that charge against Xamira, they were trying to brand her in the eyes of the world as someone who tried to kill a cop. Something like that stuck to a person. The press was present in force, so even if Xamira was found not guilty, her reputation was likely ruined.

  Lilith’s stomach churned with rage as the prosecution moved on to Dani. “The People charge Ms. Underwood with one count of assault and battery, and one count of fleeing the scene of a crime.”

  Both sounded bad, but Dani was probably the best off. She could plead self-defense in both cases, while Xamira was going to have a tougher time explaining why she hit the Co-Sheriff of Hamilton County, New York with a Mercedes.

  “Lastly, the People charge Lilith Venitas with six counts of third-degree murder,” like a flip was switched, the courtroom went mad.

  “Order, order!” the judge yelled as she banged her gavel.

  Lilith barely heard her. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. It felt like a python had wrapped around her and was starting to squeeze. She turned around and looked for her brother.

  “It’s going to be fine,” Aden mouthed, but she could see the surprise on his face. This had caught him off guard.

  She was turning back to the judge when a flash of golden hair caught her eye. It was just for a moment, but it was long enough for her to see a smug smile, on a familiar face, before they vanished from one step to the next.

  “Aveena, you fucking bitch!” she roared inside her head, while keeping her face composed. “Optics,” she reminded herself.

  It wasn’t hard to let a few tears fall as she turned back to the judge. Cameras flashed to capture the emotion. It would likely be interpreted many different ways, but she felt Aden nod behind her. It was the right move to start building sympathy with the jury pool right away.

  “How do the defendants plead?” the judge asked when some semblance of order had been restored. One by one, the three women rose and declared they were not guilty.

  “The People request all defendants be held without bail . . .”

  “Objection, Your Honor,” the cabal lawyer finally got to his feet. “Withholding bail for crimes of this nature is unprecedented.”

  “The defendants have extraordinary resources at their disposal, Your Honor . . .”

  “My clients voluntarily surrendered themselves into custody, whereas the agents of the government opened fire on a man doing nothing but standing there with his hands up,” the cabal lawyer was working up a good head of steam. “Where is Cameron Dupree? Have you shipped him off to some dark hole; some UN black site where he no longer has access to his constitutionally-required counsel?”

  “Enough!” Judge Stands Tall cut off the arguing men. The courtroom fell silent as she did what her name implied.

  “I find it disturbing that the prosecution has not produced the fourth defendant whom I signed the warrant for this evening,” she gave the government lawyers a hard glance. “Despite their affiliation,” the way she spat out the word made it crystal clear what she thought about the cabal, “it is not commonplace to deny bail for some of these charges.”

  “Your Honor . . .” the government lawyer started to say something, but a glare shut him up.

  “Xamira Venitas, your bail will be set at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That money will need to be paid in full to secure your release. Danielle Underwood, your bail will be set at fifty thousand dollars, also to be paid up front and in full. Lilith Venitas,” her cold eyes regarded Lilith, and seemed to trace the tear stains down her cheek. “I will honor the prosecution’s request that bail be denied in your case. Multiple charges of murder, combined with the resources you have at your disposal, and even the prosecution’s own failure to produce the final defendant; who I understand you are close with, makes me wary to set you free in society.”

  “Objection,” the cabal lawyer was back on his feet. “Why should my client be punished because of the prosecution’s failures and blatant disregard for human decency?”

  “Your objection is noted, but my decision is final,” the judge banged her gavel. “The trial date is set for January eleventh,” that said, she rose and disappeared back through the doors to her chambers.

  Lilith was a mix of rage and shock. Rage that Aveena had somehow pulled something over on her . . . again, and shock because she was going back to the lonely cell in the depths of the building.

  “We’ll fix this,” Dani promised as they were all shackled and led past the press and back to the holding area. “I’ll talk to your mother. We’ll get you out.”

  Lilith just nodded as a sense of defeat spread through her. Cam was gone. She could barely feel him through the mark anymore. Dani and Xamira would be out in a few hours, and she’d be all alone. A succubus was not a solitary creature. They built harems and cabals for a reason.

  “Let’s go, sweet lips,” the muscle-bound guard, who’d struggled with Dani, took her by the handcuffs and led her back to her cell. “Put your hands on the yellow circles.”

  Unlike the first guard, this one did grab her ass.

  “It’s only two weeks,” she ground her teeth as the guard gave her ass a firm squeeze.

  On the bright side, the man’s lust gave her a jolt of power. Power she might need sooner rather than later.

  ***

  Dani shouldered the door to the conference room open with attitude and a head full of bad ideas. By the look on Venus’s face, she expected both.

  “Danielle,” the cabal matriarch was flipping through a large binder. “Please have a seat.”

  “I don’t want to have a fuckin’ seat,” Dani gripped a chair and tossed it into the wall. It gouged the wallpaper and drywall like an angry animal had taken a swipe at it.

  Venus just raised an eyebrow and returned to her binder, which only pissed Dani off more.

  “How can you just sit there?” she ranted. “Your daughter is sitting in jail on some bullshit charges,” she paced back in forth in front of some very expensive flatscreens. She weighed the satisfaction of destroying them against the b
alance in her bank account, and opted against it.

  “They aren’t bullshit charges,” Venus replied calmly. “The government feels they can make a case for murder. Personally, I think they will fail. I will admit, we were outmaneuvered. The Fae took us by surprise. We weren’t able to get to the families of the students in time to provide financial incentive for them not to press charges. That falls on me, but the lawyers are handling it. We’ve already agreed to settle with one family if they drop the charges, but it’s likely we will have to go to trial.”

  Dani just stood there with wide eyes as Venus explained the situation. “You’re one cold bitch, you know that.”

  Venus’s eyes snapped up to Dani, and gave her a frigid smile. “My daughter is immortal, and a shank in the shower isn’t going to kill her. She will plead down, or take a chance and take this to trial. I give it a forty-sixty shot the government will get a conviction, but if she pleads, she will still do some time. Not a lot; a drop in the ocean that is her life.”

  Dani just stood their speechless, as Venus turned the page again. “What do you think of him?” she asked as she turned the binder for Dani’s benefit.

  The page showed an attractive looking young man, and a lot of biographical information; age, height, weight, education, their WRA registration number if they were a supernatural . . .”

  “Dick size,” Dani did a double take to make sure she’d read that correctly. “Average sperm sample size.”

  “You’re looking at potential donors?” Dani’s jaw dropped.

  “The federal prison system can hardly deny her sustenance,” Venus smiled. “I’d thought I’d take an interest and try to round out her harem a little. With Cameron gone . . .”

  “Where the hell is Cam anyway?” Dani interrupted, placed her hands on the table, and applied enough pressure that the hardwood groaned in protest.