Chapter 795: Celeste's Trial
I'd sat here before, on a bench in the Council chamber, watching a trial unfold before me, Shenka at my side. But this one was far different. I had no regrets, no old grief-at least not for the creature about to stand before my mother.
Any sorrow I felt around Celeste Oberman centered on the Hayle family members she'd killed. Martin and Louisa Vega, the darling couple who loved and cared about me when there were times no one else in the coven seemed to. Sandra Crossman, leaving her husband, James, alone to raise their daughter.
Old wounds long since healed over, but never, ever forgotten.
Worse, Gabriel wasn't with me. Antsy pants wriggled my butt in my velvet skirt as I fidgeted and held him tight with my magic while he laughed at something and ignored me.
My own son, a traitor.
Sigh.
Shenka squeezed my hand, smiled a little. "He's fine," she said.
"I know," I whispered back. Not needing to. We weren't the only ones chattering. The gathering for Mia's burning-it seemed so long ago, now-had been packed. But this trial conclave was stuffed so full it looked like the room would burst from the pressure of so much magic-and animosity.
Witches loved to point fingers. And found a perfect target in Celeste.
Like with Mia, the Council moved swiftly, barely giving the withered witch-turned-vampire enough time to recover after feeding to understand she was on trial before leveling accusations against her. Celeste refused to defend herself, stone-faced and cold, glaring at Mom every chance she got.
And at me.
A lot of good it did her. I just grinned and waved back. Held up the bag of marshmallows I'd brought with me before giving her a thumbs up.
Heh. Yeah.
No judging. She earned it.
Without a defense, because she had none, Celeste's trial was short and sweet. Guilty, hands down.
I should have felt relieved now as morning crept close. Knowing she was going out into the sun, would die and never return, did make me feel all fuzzy inside.
But I just couldn't stop thinking about Gabriel. I hadn't let him out of my sight once since our return from the vampire mansion. Okay, except to shower. But Charlotte sat on the toilet bouncing him on her knee the whole time and though it was awkward to towel off and pull on my robe behind the curtain, I could hear him the entire duration of my very fast scrubbing.
Knew he was safe.
Did now, too. Recognized the power holding his interest as a quick image flashed from him to me.
Of Quaid smiling down at him. And felt Cian, the part that belonged to Liam, whisper something to my son I didn't quite catch.
My breath exhaled in a rush before I managed to draw another. I'd left Gabriel in an anteroom a few doors down, surrounded by Enforcers-Mom insisted-guarded by Charlotte, Demetrius. Galleytrot refused to leave his side, Sassafras, too. Uncle Frank stayed behind while Sunny joined the proceedings with Sebastian.
So my son had more than enough protection, I knew that.
Still.
Old fears died hard.
Gram grasped my other hand, her sorcery pressing against mine. Mom's decision to open Celeste's trial to all magic races harmed by the witch-turned-vampire-turned-Brotherhood ally meant I could have my grandmother at my side despite her new shift in magic. She felt powerful, calm. More in harmony than I'd ever known her to be. When her blue eyes met mine, I relaxed a little.
I understand, she sent, the taste of her power so different though her voice was the same. But there will come a time you will have to let go.
I know. I shivered. But it's only been three days and I just can't bring myself to forget yet.
Not his abduction. Not Ameline. Not Liam's loss.
Yes, I'd let go of Liam. But the linked memories were too comingled to just discard them out of hand.
We will, as a family, destroy anyone who comes near him. Gram's whole being had shifted, changed. But I liked it, how fresh and young she felt, invigorated where once she'd carried the weight of her madness with her even after she'd returned to us with the recovery of her witch magic. And while I still missed her fuzzy socks, her hilarious dancing around the kitchen while making pancakes, I realized this was the woman who led the Hayle Coven. The real Ethpeal I'd only known through magic.
When she released me, her old power stirred within me, but only a moment. The family magic welcomed Gram's stolen power-now inside me- home to the collective. And Gram's witch magic, safe and sound at last, seemed content to remain, to be absorbed, no longer fighting to return to my grandmother. I hoped I'd never lose the sense of the old her, that it would linger even when her power flowed and combined with mine, her personality ebbing under the pressure of my dominant power. Though I knew eventually my magic would swallow hers and make it indistinguishable from my own.
I'd miss the old Ethpeal, even though I loved who she was now more than ever.
I perked when Sebastian strode into the room, Sunny at his side. The flow of conversation stilled, all eyes following them as they approached Mom together, bowed their heads to her. So like them to dress to impress. Sunny's court gown and the sparkling tiara in her hair made her every inch a queen while Sebastian's crisp white stockings and puffy shirt under his tail coat, long hair tied back into a jet velvet ribbon almost made me swoon again.
Dee. Lish.
He didn't wear his own crown, but Pannera's loss just yesterday led to a change in his status. I'd taken Gabriel with me to sit at the old queen's side at her request.
I worried my son might react with fear, especially considering how horrible Pannera looked at the end, as though the fire had finally burned through her, the leaves of her life so frail every movement made her crumble further.
But Gabriel simply smiled at her, eyes sparkling. Then looked at me. "Home, Momma."
I thought he wanted me to take him back to Wilding Springs.
Was I wrong.
Her gray eyes wide, the only living part of her remaining, Pannera stared at my son as he leaned down and touched the tip of her nose with one finger.
"Home, Nera," he said.
She gasped. And her soul rose from her remains as they crumbled into dust.
Hovered beside me, smiling, stunning once again.
"Thank you," she said in her musical voice.
Alison stepped forward, bowed to Pannera. "Your Majesty," she said. "It would be my honor to show you the way."
The former queen smiled, nodded. And Alison opened the door to the other side.
Pannera met Sebastian's eyes one more time. And flashed into light, vanishing forever.
Sebastian sank to his knees beside the dead queen, weeping. Even as the gathered vampires came to mourn. To surround him.
Anastasia laid one hand on his shoulder.
"It was her wish," she said, "that you be our king."
Holy. What?
Sebastian seemed as shocked as me, head jerking upward.
"She wished that our family be free," Anastasia said, weeping and smiling as the rest of Clan Sthol pressed closer, mirroring her expression. "And knew you would be the one to free us."
He bowed his head, still weeping. Gabriel watched with a pinched look of hurt before turning to me.
"Crying," he said.
"Yes, sweets," I said. "He's sad."
"Nera home," Gabriel said as if that should make everything all right again.
Sebastian looked up. Smiled at my son.
"She is," he said. "And I accept."
And the first vampire king ever rose to accept the throne of his clan.
I wasn't sure what he had in mind to link himself to the others, considering he didn't drink blood anymore, but when he held out his hand to me, I knew I was part of the plan.
Did my best as I understood what he needed. Reached inside him.
Felt his new life, the changes in him. The vampire energy still living in every cell of his body. And had an idea.
Sent my own vampire through him, outward to those his power came from, led to. Touched the clan with a breath of life. Retreated.
They glowed a moment, sighed. Though not alive as he was, as I hoped they might be, I felt their connection to him once again. And knew they were on the right track.
That they now had the tools to figure it out for themselves.
Sebastian kissed me. Hugged me tight, my son between us. And released me with a beautiful smile on his face.
I left him, Alison still hovering, watching him as he turned to speak with his now-excited clan. Took one moment to hug her, too.
"He needs me," she whispered. "I think I can help where you left off." Hesitation pulled her to a stop. "And I have nowhere else to go."
"You always have somewhere to go," I said, kissing her cheek. "The Hayle coven is your home whenever you need us."
Alison's eyes sparkled with tears. "I think I'll stay," she said. "But you have no idea how much that means to me."
Another hug and I left her there, knowing for as long as Sebastian lived, she was home, too.
The Sebastian who stood before Mom was different than the one I'd left in Pannera's chambers. His giddiness at being alive again was gone, a deep and powerful calm living in his magic, in the set of his shoulders, the gracious smile on his face.
"Council Leader," he said in his deep voice, velvet over spice, "we ask you grant us the right to complete the sentence on Celeste Oberman, formerly of Clan Wilhelm."
"I have lost my sister queen," Sunny said, voice carrying as well as his, bright but sharp. "Both my predecessor, Yvette Wilhelm," no mention of Batsheva, "and now Queen Pannera Sthol."
Mom bowed her head, didn't look surprised.
Cooked this up on the side, did you? I focused the thought at her, felt her amusement.
Are we so obvious?
To me. I hugged her and let her go. Only because it's what I would have done.
Mom's eyes flickered to me, only for an instant.
Great minds, she sent. "We understand and accept your claim on Celeste Oberman," she said. Looked to her right and the hall leading to the courtyard where Mia had burned. "Bring the accused."
Six Enforcers escorted Celeste into the chamber. She'd lost most of the beauty vampirism granted her. With only a single infusion of blood to bring her back from her drained state, she looked more frumpy and horse-like, as though she'd reverted back to her previous appearance. But worse. Disheveled and beaten, her most prized possession, her long, thick hair, chopped off at the nape of her neck in ragged strands.
But she was not broken. She glared in defiance at Mom who glared back.
"Celeste Oberman," Mom said, "while your crimes are too numerous to repeat, your greatest was the betrayal of all races to the influence of the Brotherhood. Not through thrall, but by choice. You have offered no defense until now. Do you have one to offer?"
Celeste spit on the floor at her feet, thin gown pulling across her lumpy hips, her sagging breasts. "What's the use?" She barked a laugh. "You're going to kill me anyway."
"We are," Mom said, grim and full of scorn. "Celeste Oberman, you have been found guilty." The crowd murmured, but not in surprise. In anticipation. I have to admit, I was almost on the edge of my seat myself, plastic bag of marshmallows crinkling in my grip.
Just freaking get it over with already.
"For the crime of treason against all magic races, you are condemned to be put into the sunlight until it devours you and you are fully dead."
Since she was already undead, I understood the specific wording Mom chose.
And felt a deep measure of satisfaction from the hate and flash of desperation on Celeste's face.
Mom, she must have something planned. Fear flared as the Enforcers turned and marched her toward the door. Sunny bowed her head to Sebastian who kissed the back of her hand. She turned then and blew me a kiss before flickering into shadow and vanishing.
Morning was coming. I felt Uncle Frank leave too, with a spirit hug for me, as Mom answered.
We've done everything we can, she sent. Sighed. If she escapes this, Syd, it will be a miracle.
Or a setup. I quickly followed, pushing through the crowd, almost to Sebastian when the big doors at the far end swung open and the courtyard was revealed. A flash of memory, of a lovely girl rising from the ashes, blue eyes smiling at me, at her brother as she flared with light, almost choked me as I stepped into the wide open space. Eyes locked on the scorched ground where Mia's stake had been.
Where who knew how many witches were burned over the years.
Sebastian paused. Drew a breath. Turned to smile down on me.
And stepped out into the approaching dawn.
I almost screamed at him, grabbed for him. But he turned and shrugged like it was no big deal.
Lunged at Celeste and pulled her into his hands.
Stepped out into the light and let her go just before her eyes rolled back, the forced sleep of morning taking her.
But that sleep couldn't save her from the agony of her punishment. She woke as quickly as she'd passed out, screaming in the early light, hands stretched to the sky and the sunny death beaming down on her.
I'd watched one other vampire die this way. But the Firbolg magician, Cesard, went willingly, grateful for his release, surrounded by Sebastian's blood clan.
Celeste fought for what seemed like far too long for someone on fire, eyes bubbling in the flames, the right one bursting at last, trickling fluid into the hissing coals of her cheek. She withered and collapsed, thin white sticks of her bones charring instantly as her surface burned and flared and smoked, the last of her wail finally dying as her chest sank in on itself. The stench rolled over me, my gorge rising at pace with her death.
I was so grossed out, I almost missed it when her spirit magic escaped her body, flashing upward.
To be caught by Alison. Grim and solemn, she held tight, trapping Celeste's wriggling soul in her grasp. Every other spirit I'd seen rise-echoes not included-was clean and beautiful, the tie to their ego cut, leaving them pure again.
Not so Celeste. She spit and fought, her fury as alive and well as ever. This soul was filthy beyond redemption.
"You will not go on," Alison said, voice sharp, firm. "This spirit is not meant to continue."
Sebastian nodded. Mom.
Me.
And with a flare of light, Alison flashed into ghostly and devoured Celeste's soul.
If I wasn't already borderline pukies from the whole burning thing, I was so close now I had to hold my breath.
Count to ten.
Even as my friend solidified and burped softly.
"Excuse me," she said.
***
