Chapter 24 #2
I scrambled to do the same and followed Lombardi’s gaze to an imposing set of bronze doors.
Light seeped through the cracks as the doors groaned and slowly opened.
Contrary to what I would have expected, there was no blinding flash when the doors finished separating.
Silence gripped the room as nine people emerged with all the pomp and circumstance their positions afforded.
I’d seen pictures of the high seats of the Coalition of Supernaturals and even news reports around the key players of the United Federation of Humans, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing them all in the flesh.
My anxiety skyrocketed as I took in the collection of stony expressions.
Even the supernaturals on the panel seemed to have already reached a decision, and the trial hadn’t even started.
I forced myself to take a deep breath while they found their seats along the massive half-circle desk dominating the front of the room.
After a few minutes, a single representative stood and broke the quiet.
“We are brought here today to bear witness and judgment on one of our own. Per the agreement between the Coalition of Supernaturals and the United Federation of Humans, these proceedings will be publicly broadcast. As such, any disturbance of the court will be considered an imprisonable offense. May the actions of this tribunal serve as an example to all.”
My hand clenched at my side as the representative resumed his seat. Of course the entire trial would be internationally broadcast. None of these people would pass up the opportunity to make an example of someone.
The lead speaker, whose nameplate proclaimed him Senator Stevens, gave a subtle nod to the bailiff. “Would the accused please be escorted in?”
The woman whom I strongly suspected might be part giant rapped her staff against the floor once more.
I hadn’t realized the bronze doors had closed until they reopened again.
Only this time, there was not some stately appointed room on the other side, but a massive cella replete with columns reaching up and out of sight.
A dozen soldiers, all outfitted in combat gear, stepped through the gateway.
At their heart stood Josh, shoulders squared, back straight, and head held high.
I squeezed the railing of the banister separating me from the table where Lombardi sat.
The soldiers brought Josh to the center of the room, then withdrew several paces.
My hackles rose at seeing the manacles wrapped around his wrists.
Even at this distance, I could see the skin blistered beneath the spelled metal.
“Lycan Detective Joshua Hart, you stand accused of egregious crimes against the supernatural community. You will be tried for criminal negligence, the unsanctioned deaths of fifty-three Lycanthropes, abuse of position, crimes against the Klamath Pack, and attempted genocide. How do you plead?”
“My plea is irrelevant.”
Senator Stevens glowered openly at Josh while another member of the panel stood.
The woman wore a heavy green robe embroidered with a bejeweled trim and had a decidedly golden complexion.
“Detective Hart, in the course of these proceedings your guilt will be ascertained via testimony and irrefutable evidence. The world will witness every step of this trial.”
“I would have it no other way.” The woman’s face pinched at Josh’s casual reply.
I barely suppressed a groan. Was it even possible for the man to speak without pissing someone off?
Josh
Seeing the complete panel in all their formal regalia, I couldn’t help but wonder what some of them had done to attain their seat.
Unsurprisingly, the three I’d seen earlier held positions opposite their human counterparts.
It was an interesting point of fact that both sides despised me, albeit for different reasons.
Those belonging to the CoS resented what my office represented, while the human faction hated how I’d jeopardized their authority.
I held my head up as I was marched to a seat beside my legal counsel, too busy tweaking my plan of attack to really take note of the attendees. It wasn’t until my manacles were removed and I reached for my chair that my eyes fell on the last person I wanted there.
“What in the seven hells are you doing here?” I hissed beneath my breath when I was close enough.
He cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. “I have every right to be here.”
My gaze flitted behind him, taking in the host of people that had gathered to witness my trial firsthand, at least two-thirds of whom openly hated me. I prayed my panic didn’t show in my face as I returned that same gaze to Elijah. “What have you done?”
His cognac eyes hardened to solid amber. “What I had to do.”
Pain tightened like a band around my chest, even as the bond hummed contentedly.
The relief that I wouldn’t be going through this alone paled in the face of my concern for Elijah’s safety.
A demand for him to be removed at once was on the tip of my tongue when Lombardi’s voice cut through my distraction.
“Sit down before you draw any more attention to yourself. You can argue with your spouse later.”
I whipped my head around to look at him while my ass fell heavily into the seat. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. Congratulations may be in order, but they will have to wait until these other pressing concerns have been dealt with accordingly.”
I swallowed past the sudden dryness in my mouth and cast a quick glance at Elijah behind me.
We’re married?
Near-debilitating fear quickly tempered the elation surging through my chest. Almost this entire room hated me enough to kill me, and anyone not present would learn the truth soon enough via live broadcast. I may be inaccessible in my confinement, but Elijah had no such security.
“Is there anything else I should know?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Lombardi finished organizing his materials. “Your mother was apprehended attempting to flee the country.”
My entire body went cold. “What?”
He cast me a sidelong glance. “Seems she was in possession of a biological weapon.”
I slumped back in my chair, my ears ringing with white noise, and my mind a cacophony of thoughts. “Who else knows?”
“Considering the fact that she immediately tried to pin it all on you? I imagine everyone.”
Fuck.
“Mr. Hart, if you are quite finished meeting with your council, the world will not wait for justice.”
I glanced at Senator McMillan. They spared me a disapproving glare. Rather than call attention to the fact that I’d been held for months without reasonable expectation of a trial, I turned to ask Lombardi one last question. “Is the press I requested in attendance?”
He offered me a feral smile that hinted at his true nature hidden beneath his crimson suit and unassuming facade. “Of course.”
I promptly stood and addressed Senator McMillan, ensuring to encompass the rest of the panel as well. “If the world cannot wait for justice, then why was I held without the promise of a trial in a government-sanctioned, classified cell?”
Shocked gasps rippled through the room. Amidst the panel, an interesting array of fury and begrudging respect met my query.
“Mr. Hart—”
“Detective.” Lombardi stood beside me. “My client’s professional title is Lycan Detective Joshua Hart, and you will address him as such.”
Senator McMillan looked as though they’d swallowed a hot coal. “You will both compose yourselves, or you will be found in contempt of court.”
Just then, General Zarka, a fire demon of great renown, stood from where he sat five seats down. “Perhaps if you spent more time addressing proper due process, then there would be no contempt to be had.”
“You forget yourself,” Senator Cowan stated from the opposite end of the arc, her face a mottled purple.
A gavel struck the sound block with a resounding ring that bounced amid the chaos of noise that erupted. I couldn’t help but smile as the factions split apart for the entire world to see.
“See the prisoner back to his cell,” Senator Stevens shouted over the noise.
The soldiers from before reappeared, and I was hastened back whence I’d come not minutes before.
In their rush to remove me from the increasingly volatile room, they completely forgot to cuff me, instead dragging me by my arm through the bronze gates and immediately through an adjoining portal that took us back to the Pit of Despair.
Elijah
I’d never seen such an orderly room dissolve so quickly.
In a matter of moments, Josh had been ushered out of the room, and half the panel of supposed authority figures stood shouting at each other.
Then there was the animosity openly breeding amongst the attendees.
While this tribunal may necessitate the presence of both the human and supernatural factions, it was abundantly clear that neither saw eye-to-eye.
I leaned forward to talk to Lombardi, mindful of the cameras capturing every second of the explosive chaos Josh had caused in a few select words. “What the hell just happened?”
Lombardi’s smirk revealed sharp teeth. “Exactly what we’d hoped for. Now, we just have to keep the momentum going.”
Fear trickled down my spine. “We?”
“You really have no idea of the unprecedented situation in which you find yourself, do you?” Lombardi’s stare set my teeth on edge.
“You two have been planning this?”
“Admittedly, there were quite a few unforeseen variables that had the potential to throw things off course, your own connection notwithstanding.” He cocked his head to the side and considered me.
“Still a shame he won’t let me exploit that connection.
The absolute pandemonium that would ensue would be nothing short of exquisite.
We could raze this whole system to the ground.
Embers would burn to ash until nothing was left of the hypocrisy. ”