Chapter 234
Katelina swallowed hard and nervously clenched and unclenched her fists. "Have you been to one of these before?"
Jorick looked to where Jamie and Greneth had joined the other Executioners. "Yes. Several."
Eileifr stood and raised his arms. His long hair fell down his back, brilliant blonde against his deep blue robes. "Quiet." As if by magic, the room dropped into expectant silence. He nodded to the assemblage and took his seat next to Malick. "We will examine the human first."
Katelina's stomach dropped out from under her and she clutched Jorick's arm. He patted her hand. "He just means they'll look to see if you're marked. It only takes a moment."
One of the black clad guards moved towards them. Jorick stood and gently tugged her to her feet. When she didn't move he whispered, "You'll be all right. I'll be right here."
Horror tinted her voice, "You're not going with me?"
The guard made an impatient noise, and Jorick nudged her towards him. She slowly followed him to the dais. Though she looked down at her uncertain feet, she could feel Malick's eyes burning into her like two spots of fire.
They came to a stop and two of the Lesser Council hurried to them. One lugged a thick book of loose leaf paper, his finger on a crudely drawn illustration. The second one made a show of looking down his nose at her. "Where is your mark, human?"
Her terrified tongue refused to work and Malick's amusement shivered over her.
"Where is your mark?" the vampire demanded again. She managed to point to the spot above her right collar bone. The council member made an impatient noise and roughly jerked her coat and shirt collar aside. "A bite with a cross underneath."
The vampire with the book nodded. "That is the mark registered to the vampire Jorick, fledgling of Malick. It is also registered officially to three others and unofficially to at least ten more. Recommend comparison of the bite mark to ensure proper identification-"
Eileifr interrupted him, "Thank you."
The council members moved away from her and back to their table. Katelina's eyes swept the chamber and landed on another familiar face fringed in dark hair with a scar running across one cheek. What in the hell was Joseff doing there?
Eileifr turned towards Jorick. "Jorick, do you claim this human and take responsibility for her actions?"
"Yes."
Eileifr nodded and his gray eyes moved to Katelina. "You may take your seat. Jorick, the council will speak to you."
Jorick stood and made his way to the front of the room. He stopped next to Katelina and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Sit down, little one. It's all right."
As if his voice broke a spell, she hurried back to her chair, her stomach a tight knot of fear. Why didn't he understand that his doom also meant hers?
Her eyes were glued to Jorick. He squared his shoulders and met Malick's gaze. The white haired vampire stared back and finally broke into a smile. The room collectively held its breath, waiting for Malick to say what he'd seen in Jorick's mind. Instead, he spoke conversationally to his offspring. "You've been busy since last we met."
The muscle in Jorick's jaw twitched.
"Or should I say your human has been busy? Nine counts of murder. Perhaps I underestimated her?"
Jorick's eyes smoldered, and he said coldly, "You know that she's innocent."
"Do I? You must admit the evidence is stacked against her. Shall I repeat it for you, or are you already aware? There were four incidents or perhaps five? All occurred within so many miles of you and your human, and at the last a witness-" he indicated Joseff, "-claims to have seen the human commit the act. What do you say to this?"
"Rachel took her own life. As to the others, I don't know."
"Were you not at the scene of the first attack, after the fact?"
The onlookers murmured and Jorick's chin rose a notch. "I was asked to look around."
"By whom? The human?"
"My fledgling. The survivors joined his coven, and he wanted proof their story was true."
A sly smile curved over Malick's lips. "His coven? Or another's?"
"Traven's," Jorick snapped. "They have an association."
Malick's smile grew. "What association might that be?"
"I fail to see how this relates to a murder neither of us committed!"
Malick laughed softly. "Perhaps it does. For you see, Jorick, if your words are true, then it means that someone not only targeted vampires who lived near your den, but went so far as to follow you to the coven of a vampire named Kale and kill nearby. If you and your human are innocent of these crimes, then someone has taken great pains to make you appear guilty. If that is the case, one must ask themselves why." He leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtful. "Can you shed light on this? Who so desires your blood? What have you been involved in, besides a badly botched rescue attempt?"
Jorick clenched his teeth. "More importantly, why did Kale need to be rescued? How is it that humans possess a gas that can incapacitate a vampire; the same gas your Executioners used to bring me here?" He turned and stared accusingly at Senya. "How is it that Kale didn't know his kidnapper was there until she'd taken him? How many master Phantoms are there who have access to The Guild's resources?"
Katelina gasped with everyone else. Senya growled and Eileifr asked quickly, "What are you implying?"
"I've made it clear. Senya took great pains to take Kale alive and hand him over to humans who intended to use his blood to make themselves stronger, so they could wage a war against us!" He spun to face the High Council. "She should be the one on trial!"
Malick's laughter was unexpected. It started low and grew, a rich sound that rolled through the room like a wave of amused sunlight. "I applaud you, but you think too small, my son. What would Senya stand to gain from an act that would throw our world into chaos and warfare? Why would she take it upon herself to do such a thing?"
Confusion flashed in Jorick's eyes, then his face grew hard. "Because she was told to."
