Thomas strained against his chains, only to give a muffled scream as they bit into his flesh again, followed by more pain as the bridle’s spikes skewered his tongue. Fresh blood trickled from his mouth, and I can truly say I still felt nothing. No pity. Nothing at all. That worried me so much, it felt as if the last vestiges of my humanity were being eroded away. The longer I stood in this place, thinking what I was about to do to another person, the worse I felt.
I needed to throw the Holy Water before I lost my nerve, and still my stupid hand shook. Will’s own hand suddenly closed around mine, he took the bottle from my nerveless fingers, and replaced the cork. I was vaguely aware that he passed the bottle to Luke and then he put his arm around my waist and guided me from the room.
‘Luke, please feel free to carry on, I need to take Elinor upstairs.’
I heard Luke say, ‘My pleasure.’ Then Will swept me up and carried me through Danny’s old room and upstairs. Such was the speed he moved, I barely had time to register the fact that the other cellar had been emptied and tidied. I turned into Will’s chest, my arms around his neck, and sobbed.
He strode into our bedroom and set me gently on the bed, then went to lock the door. I couldn’t look at him, I felt ashamed now for not being able to carry out my own threat, not even for Danny. I felt Will’s hand gentle and caressing on my hair. He murmured words of comfort but allowed me to cry myself quiet.
Eventually, I sat up and rubbed at my eyes with the back of my hand.
‘I can’t even be a monster for Danny.’ The realisation made my voice break.
Will brushed the fresh tears away with gentle fingers. ‘You will never be a monster. It is not possible my love, you have more goodness in you than a London tube full of human tourists. Although I suspect they are not exactly full of goodness.’
I managed a small laugh in spite of everything.
‘What you wanted to do, you wanted to do for the boy, and wherever his soul is, he will know. I promise you. It is of no consequence whose hand did the deed.’ His intuition amazed me.
‘Do all vampires have souls?’ Popular culture about vampires says differently.
‘Not all.’ Will didn’t elaborate, and for once I didn’t press him. ‘However, we do need to get ready for the trial I am afraid.’
‘OK.’
‘Elinor, you are one of the most resilient fledglings I have met in over three hundred years. And definitely the most beautiful.’
‘You’re biased.’
His lips twitched into a small smile. ‘I am indeed.’
‘What do we wear?’
How strange that every damn vampire occasion always comes down to wearing the right clothes.
Chapter Thirty-Two
From somewhere Will produced a beautiful black Chanel trouser suit for me. He said formality was a necessity, and he even for once, suggested I put my hair up. Usually he hates my hair tied up, so I felt more than a little surprised. The suit fitted me perfectly, the long elegant jacket just nipped in at the waist, and skimmed my body as if it had been hand made especially for me. Knowing Will, it probably had. The trousers were narrow and hopefully made me look taller, although there was no way of verifying that of course. I put on a midnight blue silk camisole under the jacket, and finally brushed my hair back and tied it up in a tight knot at the back of my head. Luckily being a dancer, I’ve had years of practice at tying my hair up without looking in a mirror. Just as well really.
Will came back into the bedroom to collect me, looking tall, dark and dangerous in his own black suit and blood red shirt. His eyes softened when he saw me.
‘Elinor, your beauty takes my breath away as always.’ He took hold of my hands and pulled me close to him. ‘How do you feel?’
I looked up at him. ‘Sad. Frightened – no … terrified.’
‘Once we are rid of Thomas, you will begin to feel better.’
‘Whatever we do won’t bring Danny back.’
‘No, but it will save many more lives.’
There was, of course, no denying that.
A polite knock at the door to the bathroom made us both turn round.
‘Yes Luke?’
‘We’re ready to make a move, the cars are at the back.’
‘We shall be right out.’
Will leaned down and pressed soft lips to my forehead. ‘It is nearly over.’
He took hold of my arm and guided me to the door. No time to change my mind and run away screaming then.
We made our way outside, where two cars waited. Luke had at last been allowed to take his car back from the police pound, but the other car was unfamiliar to me. Isaac’s huge frame unfolded from it, which made perfect sense. Thomas had already been put in the back of Isaac’s car, and Isaac went to sit next to him whilst Jake got behind the wheel.
‘Where’s Rox?’ I asked Will.
‘She has driven Jake’s car to the club and will meet us there.’ He opened the back door of Luke’s car to allow me to slide across the soft leather seats and make room for him.
He sat in next to me and closed the door. His presence kept me calm for the moment, but I knew we would be separated at the trial itself because he would be presiding as Elder. I shivered and he immediately put his arm around me.
‘Try not to worry Elinor, you are not the one on trial here.’
‘Then why does it feel as if I am?’
‘I have no idea. Your own paranoia perhaps.’
His voice held a tinge of amusement and I turned to look at him. His eyes gleamed as he leaned in to kiss me.
‘I think I may have to change my mind about you tying up your wonderful hair,’ he murmured. ‘It shows off your face to its best advantage, and makes you look good enough to devour.’
‘Why did you tell me to tie it up tonight?’
‘It is more formal and we will be, after all, in a court of vampire law.’
‘I doubt anyone will even notice. Most people have only seen me once or twice.’
‘You would be surprised.’ He smiled, his eyes roving over my hair. ‘You are the future wife of the Elder, and the London vampires will want him dead merely for your illegal incarceration.’
I raised my eyebrows at him as Luke started the car and drove off after Isaac’s car.
Will pressed his lips to my ear and spoke softly, ‘Plus I think you should only be a carefree, sexy vamp for me in private.’
Incorrigible. Even on a night like tonight. Although I suspect his intention was to take my mind off the night’s forthcoming events. It almost worked too.
When we drew up outside Dusk, the feeling in the pit of my stomach felt like someone had scraped out my innards and left a gaping hole. Will extricated himself from the car with his usual elegance and leaned back in to offer me a hand out. I could hardly take my eyes off him tonight, he looked sombre enough for the occasion, but gorgeous enough to melt the stoniest heart. Glossy dark hair brushed broad shoulders and his amazing eyes shone with the light of battle. I’d seen this look before. Determined, focused and cool. He took hold of my hand and led me toward the entrance of the club. At least the odious Tanya wouldn’t be there. No humans would be. Although I suspected Stevie would be present as a witness to the horrific events of last night. Not that he counted as human.
Zach, who had been waiting outside, opened the door for us.
‘Good evening Sir,’ he said in his deep rumbling voice.
‘Good evening to you Zachary, please join us inside once Luke and Isaac have brought in the prisoner. And be so good as to bolt the door behind you.’
‘Yes Sir.’
I noticed the club’s sign hadn’t been turned on tonight, so to human eyes it would appear closed and empty. If only.
We walked into the huge main room of the club and I couldn’t help a small gasp at the difference.
The main area had been transformed from Will’s elegant club to a much more formal setting. The dance area had wooden chairs arranged in two rows facing a large an
tique desk and velvet-upholstered chair. To one side of the desk was another velvet-upholstered chair, albeit a smaller one.
I had no idea who had transported the furniture to the club, and who had told all the humans the club would be closed for the night, but everything had obviously been sorted efficiently and quickly nevertheless. The chairs were almost all filled with silent and very serious looking vampires. Something I had observed last year, and noticed again now, was the utter stillness a group of vampires managed to hold. The long dead I supposed. At Will’s approach, they all stood as one, yet made no sound. Very scary.
Will nodded in response, and walked towards the desk.
‘Elinor, I would like you to sit in this chair here, next to the desk, you will not need to move until after you have given your evidence, and I shall be close to you the whole time.’
Obediently I sat on the smaller chair and watched as he stepped behind the desk but remained standing. He made an elegant gesture with one hand and the other vampires sat back down.
My gaze roamed over the faces of the assembled throng. I spotted George, and then noticed Roxy sitting next to an empty chair. Other faces looked familiar, but I didn’t know their names. Everyone looked grim. All eyes were on Will.
‘I wish you all good evening. It has been a long time since we needed to hold a formal trial in London. Most other offenders have merely been … dealt with.’ He paused. ‘But this creature has killed, tortured and terrified young human children, blatantly murdered adult humans and even killed some of our own. He has deliberately brought some of us to the attention of the human police. No-one is safe whilst he remains free. In a moment he will be brought in, and I shall read the list of charges against him. You will hear testimonies from witnesses, among them my own fiancée, Elinor. That his punishment will be death is not in question, you are here to agree to the form the punishment will take. I shall make my own recommendations, and each and every one of you will have the opportunity to voice an opinion if you so wish.’
He turned towards the doorway. ‘Bring in the prisoner.’
His deep voice resonated in the quiet club, and seconds later, Isaac emerged through the doorway, dragging a semi-conscious Thomas, still bound in silver chains. Isaac was clad in black from head to toe and wore thick leather gloves to protect his hands from the silver. He had added a black leather mask, which made him look even more frightening than usual. Luke and Jake walked behind, both now dressed in black T-shirts and jeans, topped with black leather biker jackets. They looked like modern day executioners, which I suppose they were.
Isaac propelled Thomas in front of Will’s desk and pushed him to the floor, where he remained collapsed in a heap, like a bundle of old rags bound in chains. I felt relieved he had clothes on, but when Isaac turned him face up, I couldn’t suppress a horrified gasp when I saw how his face had been ruined by the Holy Water. Angry splashes and rivulets had burned into his features, in some places right down to the cheekbones. He looked virtually unrecognisable, although I would have known those dead eyes anywhere, and will always see them in my worst nightmares. He no longer wore the bridle, but the sides of his mouth had torn when it had been removed, and dried blood covered the lower part of his face and neck. Silver chains had done the rest, and they still continued to eat away at unprotected flesh, every time he moved.
‘Thank you Isaac.’ Will’s voice sounded calm as ever.
Luke and Jake moved to stand on either side of Thomas, although by the look of him, he wouldn’t be going anywhere. Isaac stood to the side of the desk, his hands clasped in front of him, awaiting further orders.
I found myself gripping my own hands together and felt relieved I was sitting down.
Will sat down and picked up a sheet of paper from his desk. He glanced up at his audience once before looking down again. He began to read, his lovely voice sounding deep and powerful in the otherwise, silent room.
‘This court is now in session. Presiding is William James Austen, Elder of London.
The accused is one Thomas Walsh, who shall be referred to henceforth as “the accused.”
The crimes committed by the accused are deemed unlawful by the Vampire Elders Commission of the City of London, 1680, and are so listed herewith.’ Will then proceeded to read the long list of crimes committed by Thomas and Sarah. When they were all read out together like that, they sounded even more heinous, and I found myself digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands, longing for Will to stop.
After what felt like an hour, he placed the paper back on the desk in front of him and looked up at the assembled vampires again.
‘First witness, Elinor Jane Wakefield.’
I looked up startled, not expecting to be called so early on in the proceedings.
Will’s eyes were filled with compassion when he looked at me. ‘Please tell us about Cassie. Take your time.’
Casting my mind back to that awful evening, I told the story of little Cassie, how she had writhed and suffered from being turned, how she fought and swore, and how there had been nothing left of a normal six-year-old human child. Then I talked about the things she had told me when she was being more rational.
‘Did the child try to attack you Elinor?’ Will prompted.
‘Yes she did.’ My voice was quiet. ‘She broke free and tried to attack me.’
A soft murmur started up at my words and Will held his hand up for quiet.
‘Did she remember who had turned her?’
‘It was him … Thomas … and his woman, Sarah. Sarah lured her into a car for him …’
‘And what of the gift left at my house?’
I told the story of the child left inside the gates, and how Jake had come with me to see what it was. So many awful things – I had seen so much lately. Gradually, aided by Will’s quiet prompts, I told them all everything, until I had to describe my own imprisonment and torture. My voice faltered when I described the Scold’s Bridle, but I stumbled on.
Finally, of course, I had to relate what had happened to Danny, and tears filled my eyes as I relived the horror of that night. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Will make a slight sign, and Roxy brought her chair over in order to sit with me, her small hand taking hold of mine. I looked out at the attentive audience, and with considerable pain, finished my statement.
‘Many thanks Elinor, I know how difficult that has been for you.’ Will glanced at Roxy. ‘Roxanne, would you be so good to take Elinor upstairs and get her something to drink?’
‘Of course.’ Roxy stood and helped me to my feet. She linked her arm through mine and led me towards the stairs. The murmurs started up again as we went upstairs, but all I could think of was getting away from the room, the court and the crimes committed by Thomas Walsh.
Roxy snagged a bottle of red wine from the bar, a corkscrew and two glasses.
‘I’m supposed to have wine watered down,’ I protested feebly, and she snorted with derision.
‘Ellie, you’ve just given evidence for about forty minutes under gruelling circumstances, straight after Danny …’ she stopped. ‘Anyway, I think you’re allowed to get off your face for a bit.’
‘Will knocked Danny out when he got out of control.’
‘I’ll look after you.’
I had a bad feeling about it, but the thought of ‘getting off my face’ and away from reality sounded pretty good to me, so when Roxy uncorked the wine and poured me a large glass, I swigged half of it back in two big gulps.
Roxy laughed. ‘Whoa, maybe not that fast. I want to still be allowed to live in London after tonight.’
My head spun and shakily I put the glass down on the table. Warmth flooded my body and I felt a glow suffuse my face. Definitely have to be careful, or I really would be the biggest embarrassment of the night.
I wondered what was happening downstairs. I could hear different voices giving evidence, but I couldn’t hear what they said. Drunken oblivion sounded like a very good idea to me, and I took another large swig of w
ine.
Will
I watched Roxy lead Elinor upstairs and I knew she would ply her with alcohol. I just hope Elinor will be the kind of drunk who sleeps it off rather than the noisy, belligerent kind. Time will tell.
Luke, Jake and Matthew had all given evidence now, and I decided to call on Stevie to end the case for prosecution. From this moment, any resemblance between our court and a human one will end. In a case like this, there is never any defence. The accused would not be brought before the court, were he not as guilty as sin of every single charge.
The court will decide on a fitting punishment, and I have a feeling there might be some disagreement for a while. I do not want him dispatched quickly and easily and I am hoping the majority will agree with me.
I called for Stevie. ‘Steven Vane, werewolf, please step forward.’
His tall frame loped towards the chair Elinor had recently vacated, and he lowered himself onto it.
‘Please state for the court, in your own words, what happened last night.’
Stevie related the horrific events quietly and efficiently, and then went back to his own seat.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the evidence against Thomas Walsh, have you anything to say?’
Several voices started talking at once and I had to hold my hand up for silence.
‘One at a time if you please.’
Matthew stood and I nodded at him to continue.
‘There is no question of this man’s guilt,’ he began. ‘Just the crimes against your betrothed alone, are enough to see him put to death by fire. But his death should be slow and very painful.’
I nodded, resisting the urge to smile. ‘I agree, Matthew.’
George stood next, much to my surprise. He bowed his head at me in his usual deferential way. ‘Elder,’ he began, ‘Should the accused be hung, drawn and quartered as of old?’
‘Nice idea, George, thank you.’
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