Chapter 517
The next morning, Katelina entered the living room where Jorick was on the phone. After a noise of agreement, he hung up.
"Who was that?" she asked.
He offered her a smile. "The trial is tonight."
Katelina wasn't sure she wanted to see Thomas or his evil sister again, but she wantedno neededto see it was really Joseff on trial and that it was all resolved. She was tired of being chased by phantoms from the past. "I'm going."
Though Jorick threw up his hands, Katelina was pleased that instead of arguing he said, "You'll have to do something with your human."
"She has a name." Katelina glanced uncomfortably at the closed door to Xandria's room. "I guess we could see if Micah and Loren would watch her." It felt wrong, like treating Xandria as a pet yorkie, but he was right. What if someone lured her away and did something horrible?
Katelina called Micah. Though he grumbled at the prospect, she could hear Loren's enthusiasm in the background. She wondered that he could be over Ume so fast. Ume'd just left three weeks ago, too furious with Jorick to travel with them anymore. Her departure was a blow to her and Loren's burgeoning relationship, maybe one Loren wasn't willing to overlook. Though they were immortal, Loren had only been a vampire since the nineties. He might still have his human impatience.
After breakfast in the restaurant, Katelina and Jorick walked Xandria to Micah's room. Katelina mumbled an uncomfortable apology, but Xandria waved it away. "It's cool. The trial sounds horrifying."
Her words echoed in Katelina's head as she and Jorick took the elevator to the third floor. When they reached a set of double doors, a guard stationed outside nodded to the emblem around Jorick's neck and hurriedly let them through.
The room was three stories tall, dotted with pillars and alcoves, and hung with tapestries. A long red rug went through the middle, a bright contrast to the parquet floor. Chairs were set up on each side in neat rows, a few of them inhabited. Still empty was a long table that Katelina knew would hold the Lesser Council, and a table and chairs for the defendant. At the end of the room was a raised dais with four empty thrones. Above them hung a silver dragon; the symbol of Eileifr, the new leader.
A couple of gray clad guards stood in strategic spots, wearing self-important expressions. Near the door stood Jamie, a shiny sword in his hand.
"Expecting trouble?" Jorick asked good-naturedly.
Jamie shook his head. "No. It's the replacement. I got it today and I don't know-" he trailed off and tested the weight. "Something's off."
"Why get a new sword?" Katelina asked.
"Malick." The one word was icy and Katelina felt the sudden slap of Jamie's anger. She remembered Malick stomping on Jamie's blade and shattering it into pieces.
Three vampires came through the door and took seats. Jorick and Jamie exchanged nods, then he and Katelina did the same.
"I know we were here before," she whispered. "But I don't remember all of it."
Jorick nodded patiently. "You were human then and Malick's presence was overwhelming." He pointed to the guards in gray. "Those are lesser guards. Their job is to remain at the Citadel and guard specific things like the chambers or the detention cells. Though I don't see any right now, the guards in black and silver are greater guards who travel with the Executioners and also guard the High Council.
"The empty table is for the Lesser Council, eleven vampires who handle the day to day incidents. It's rare for them to call a full councilmeaning both the High Council and Lesser Councilespecially for a kidnapping. I imagine it's because of my involvement. Full councils are usually called to deal with Executioner transgressions."
Katelina started. "You promised me you weren't on trial."
"I'm not, but since Anya's complaint mentions me specifically-" He shrugged.
While Katelina tried to calm herself, vampires trailed inside and took seats. Among the newcomers was a pair she recognized. Saeed's muscled physique was barely contained by his slacks and button-up shirt. The light gleamed on his ebony skin and the naked dome of his head. Next to his massive frame, Yaul looked small. His brown hair was messy and his shirt needed ironed. When his eyes met hers, Katelina expected to see fury. Instead he gave a nod of acknowledgement and moved on, as if Saeed's quest for Zen had infected him, too.
Others continued to trickle in. Katelina saw a few more familiar faces. Des, a former ally who'd sided with Anya and Thomas. Next to him was a redheaded male Katelina thought was named Lennon, a past member of Claudius' coven. The rest of what had been Anya's coven showed up, though Katelina couldn't remember their names.
A blonde vampiress shoved through the doors pushing a wheelchair. Her ponytail, tough pointed features, and sinewy build looked like an action movie heroine. It was Anya, and what she pushed in the wheelchair made Katelina look away. Thomas was little more than a torso. Though his arms and legs were gone, he was dressed in a crisp white shirt and slacks, the sleeves and legs left hanging empty. The top of his head was perfect, with a slender nose and large, haunted eyes. The horror started under his top lip. His upper teeth hung exposed, one fang busted, with nothing beneath them. Joseff had ripped his lower jaw away to stop him from using his mouth to dig his way out over the centuries, leaving him with a horrible overstretched smile that never ended.
Jorick squeezed her hand. "It isn't pleasant, but I've seen worse."
Anya noticed them and jerked to a stop. "Look at this, Jorick! Look at what you've done!"
The other vampires followed her gaze and fell into whispers.
Katelina tried to disappear into her seat, her eyes everywhere but the thing in the wheelchair.
Jorick shrugged. "I had nothing to do with it, though it's no less than he deserved."
She snarled. "Of course you'd say so. With your ridiculous claim that he spied on Oren's war coven."
Oren? Katelina gaped. Thomas and Anya were members of Oren's war coven when they fought Kateesha. Someone turned traitor and worked both sides. Jorick was blamed first, because he and Kateesha shared a master and a history, but it wasn't him.
Anya went on, "You planned to use my brother as a scapegoat. When it didn't work"
Jamie started toward the ruckus as Jorick replied, "The truth was in Kateesha's papers, though they've disappeared. I imagine you took them when you left, to get rid of the evidence."
Thomas made a gurgling sound that Anya hushed. "Me?"
Jamie came to a stop behind them, sword in hand. "Is there a problem?"
"No." Jorick leaned back in his chair. "Anya was looking for her seat."
"I'll assist her." Jamie motioned them forward and, with a final growl, Anya went.
Katelina leaned close to Jorick and whispered, "She thinks it's over that? Doesn't she know why Kale attacked them?"
"Probably not," Jorick said. "It will all come out in the trial."
Before Katelina could press further, the doors opened. Verchiel walked in leading Joseff. The prisoner's naturally tan skin was paled by immortality and his long black hair was pulled back into a braid. An angry scar ran down his right cheek. When his gaze landed on them, his dark eyes flashed with hatred that made Katelina cringe.
Jorick gazed back unperturbed. Verchiel pulled his prisoner to one of the tables and pushed him down in the seat. He took the other chair and, though his air was casual, his posture was wary.
The murmured conversation swelled, then died. As it faded, a door-shaped portion of the back wall opened. Four guards walked out wearing black and silver uniforms. Behind them came the High Council.
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