Chapter 24
Josh
The day of my trial came without warning or fanfare.
A squad of soldiers arrived, mercifully not led by Commander Walsh.
I stood perfectly still, hands in plain view as the wall cleared, then slid back to allow them entrance to the cell.
The smell of their collective wariness and anger tickled my nose.
That fact alone betrayed their lack of training to work closely with lycanthropes.
A soldier decked out in full combat gear, complete with goggles that had no place in a dimly lit cell, stepped forward and silently signaled for his team to surround me.
I roved my gaze over the group in search of a familiar face and found none.
On the surface, it might seem that someone had done enough homework to make sure I was well and truly isolated, but on a deeper level, it also meant that these soldiers were not the best the government had to offer.
Politics.
I fought the urge to sneer. “You’re not with Supernatural Threat Elimination, Acquisition, and Mitigation.”
The lead soldier checked his bio-ware before looking up. “You sure about that?” Judging by the roughness of his voice, overall demeanor, and the way he held himself, I’d guess Marine.
“Yes. You aren’t following proper procedure for securing a lycanthrope.
In addition, I’m familiar with all members of STEAM as well as its rigorous requirements for acceptance.
Unless I’ve been down here far longer than a few months, not enough time has elapsed to warrant new additions, and I can only assume that you haven’t been briefed on protocol. ”
I caught the faintest trace of an agitated tick. To his credit, unlike Commander Walsh, this soldier was a professional and held a tight rein on his temper.
“You seem awful confident in your assumptions,” a voice beside me said.
“STEAM units often contain a mix of supernatural races in order to balance all potential threats. I can smell that all of you are human.” I turned to face the soldier who had spoken up.
“I can also smell your fear.” The taunt worked perfectly.
Anxiety emanated from the soldiers, filling the room with its cloyingly sweet scent.
“Do not engage with the prisoner,” the lead soldier barked at the same time he pulled something from his belt.
I hissed as magic-laced, silver cuffs encircled my wrists.
The commanding officer may have been too professional to openly smirk, but it clearly shone in his eyes.
Without further ado, they marched me out of my cell and into the ominous corridor.
I didn’t even have a minute to appreciate being outside of those four walls for the first time in months when a portal wide enough to admit three across opened before us.
A subtle nudge in my back got my feet moving. The sharp burn of ozone seared my nostrils as we stepped through into an all too familiar setting. After all, how many times had I myself marched someone through these hallowed halls?
Intricate mosaics and decorated pillars replaced dreary stone and steel.
Symbols of justice glowed where they were permanently etched along the walls.
The Temple of Pugu was the pinnacle of sorcery, simultaneously serving as a supernatural holding cell and a secure platform for portals.
Veins of magic pulsed all the way up to the impressive domed ceiling some thirty meters up as our gateway snapped shut.
For such a grand space, it also felt infinitely small.
I fought back a tide of unease as the gravity of my situation reasserted itself.
The soldiers remained silent as we crossed the short distance to yet another cell.
Unlike my previous one, this had open bars that allowed me to see out into the grand space.
It also allowed curious dignitaries and anyone else with the proper clearance to see me.
I stepped inside and held my wrists out to the soldier in charge so the manacles could be removed.
He still hadn’t given his name, and I didn’t ask.
Once free, I stepped deeper into the room, offering no signs of hostility or weakness.
The gate slammed shut with an eerie finality that sounded more like a death knell than metal meeting metal.
Without a backward glance, the soldiers left me to my fate, disappearing through a modest archway off to the right.
I let out a breath of air and almost immediately sucked it back in as the burn of ozone returned and three figures entered the room.
The tallest among them wore long, flowing robes of the palest blue that seemed to drift behind him, while the shortest, a woman with a clean-shaven scalp and penetrating stare, walked as if dominating each step.
The most unassuming and least decorated of the group, an austere man with sun-dark skin and hollows under his eyes spared me a brief glance as they passed.
I eyed the three and strove to keep my rising anxiety in check.
My crimes mandated being brought before the Coalition of Supernaturals as well as the United Federation of Humans.
I expected to be grilled without mercy, to have all my past misdeeds brought forward to be examined in an unforgiving light.
I expected every case I had ever worked to be scrutinized and picked apart.
I even expected my current condition to be called into question.
I expected all of that and then some. What I had not anticipated was that the Chancellor of Elementals, the Ambassador of the Winter Court, and an emissary of the Kisin would be in attendance.
Elementals weren’t known to get involved in the affairs of mortals, and neither were the Fae.
As disturbing as that was, though, the last was perhaps the most troubling.
The Kisin were demons of death, once commonly known as soul-stealers, in ages past had been forced into servitude to dispatch soldiers dying on the battlefield.
His presence created a sizable wrinkle in all of my carefully crafted plans.
I’d have to make sure Lombardi was aware of this alternative means of dispensing with me.
As abruptly as they arrived, the trio exited the cavernous room.
I shivered as the cold seeped into my bones and longed for Elijah’s warmth.
While I’d been in this peculiar place that existed between worlds previously, I’d never been unable to leave.
I peered into the open room, devoid of life once again.
Though beautiful, the temple looked more like a tomb than a place of worship.
I could only thank whatever deity was listening that this wasn’t where the trial would take place.
That honor was reserved for the stately courthouse just beyond the impressive double doors that served as yet another portal and barrier to prevent the worst of the worst from ever seeing the light of day.
Prevent me from seeing the light of day.
With a force of will I’d only ever used in combat, I dragged my gaze away from the bronze behemoths separating me from the rest of the world.
Dwelling on the uncertainty that awaited me would do nothing.
I needed to focus my energy on a plan of attack.
My skin itched from the magic-imbued silver running through the walls.
In an attempt to distract myself from the discomfort, I allowed my gaze to wander the familiar space beyond the bars.
Across the mosaic floor were busts of what one might have assumed were representations of forgotten deities or perhaps individuals of renown. I knew better.
Each alabaster figure was the actual likeness of a supernatural convicted of egregious crimes against supernaturals and humanity. Their meticulous depictions weren’t the result of superior carving or even magical imprinting, though.
I shivered again and stepped away from the cell door.
Death by Gorgon was a terrible way to go, though arguably better than having your soul literally ripped from your living body.
Despite myself, I looked back at the statues mocking me.
There was only one lycan up there. I didn’t expect that to last for long.
Elijah
I wrung my hands and tugged at the cuffs of my dark gray suit. Several curious gazes found their way to me, but no one questioned my presence. Thanks to Lombardi and one document, not a soul could evict me from the room, not that several hadn’t already tried.
“Calm yourself,” Theodore Lombardi said without looking up from his organized stack of files and data tabs. “You would do well to remember that lycanthropes are not the only beings with enhanced senses. Are you sure I cannot convince you to take the potion?”
I thought of the thin vial still sitting on the nightstand in the hotel. “No. I know how hard it is to have a partner’s scent withheld. I won’t do that to Josh.”
Lombardi made a soft, exasperated sound and turned in his seat to face me. “Then perhaps you should be more diligent in quieting your nerves.” Flames seemed to burn in his eyes, matching his irritation and prompting my inner wolf to hesitate.
“I’ll try harder.”
“Good.”
A sharp, hollow sound filled every nook and cranny of the spacious courtroom.
In its aftermath, a hush descended over the crowd gathered.
I glanced around at the accumulation of people.
It seemed as though every supernatural being in existence was present, as well as a fair number of humans.
Despite the common cause that had brought them all here, the factions continued to eye each other with distrust. A nearly eight foot tall woman dressed in a uniform that wouldn’t have been out of place in Ancient Rome stepped forward, holding an intricate staff.
She rapped it on the marble floor twice, and everyone in attendance stood.