Taelon nodded.
“Did Theseus Thorbørn kill the circle?” The moment she asked, I grew nervous.
“I did.” Theseus nodded without care, and I really wished I could smack him. He should at least say a bit more than that; instead, he sounded like a heartless monster. He very well could have been, but still, this was not the time. Somehow knowing, he turned back to me, and his eyebrow twitched in an expression I didn’t understand. “Though I did not provoke the witches, and I even warned them to let me be, but they sought violence and were met with violence.”
“Theseus’s actions against the witches are not under judgment here.” President Swan looked back to Taelon. “Go on.”
“The witches, led by Simone Ward, went to the National Gallery where Druella and Theseus were and attacked without question. Theseus called Lucy, who alerted me. When we arrived, no further violence had broken out. We were able to reason with the witches and resolve the matter. They left, demanding we leave. We agreed, but before we could, Theseus commanded Jason’s death. I refused, and he accused Jason.”
“What were his exact words, Taelon?” the woman questioned.
“‘This vampire is a traitor to your family and our kind; death is even mercy. He protects witches, and had there been a battle today, he would have stood with them and not with us.’” Taelon repeated word for word. “That is all of the account.”
“You may sit,” President Swan said, and Taelon did, but not on the bottom level; instead, he—with vampire speed—moved up with us, sitting beside me.
It was only when he was settled that she rose from her rock, and her bare feet came stepping down to stand where Jason knelt. “Theseus Thorbørn, you may not remember me. I am Namid, first daughter of First Lady Mimiteh. What evidence do you present to excuse a loyal vampire who came to your aid?”
“I have nothing but a name, Adelaide,” he said and looked at Jason who stared blankly at him. “A woman he considers his own.”
Namid knelt as well and bit into Jason’s wrist.
“I cannot tell you how I came upon this knowledge, but the knowledge is true. He has a woman by the name of Adelaide, a witch, an Omeron witch, enemies of the Swan family and vampires alike, is that not treason?” Theseus questioned, and for a split second, it was like something came alive in Jason’s dull eyes, but it was so fast that even my own vampire eyes missed it, which should have been impossible.
“I see nothing of this Adelaide or of any witch.” Namid released him. She cleaned the blood from her mouth, not at all interested in it as she rose. “You demanded death for a vampire, based on a name? It must only be a name for you did not describe her. If this Adelaide was in him, he could not hide that.”
“I do not lie to you,” Theseus said.
“Do you have other evidence? Perhaps the location of this witch?” President Swan questioned, and again, something flashed in Jason’s eyes.
I was sure of it. However, it was gone too fast again. I looked to my left and right to see if anyone else had noticed, but they all were just watching, bored. Even Taelon seemed that way.
“I do not, but I know she is part of Simone Ward’s circle,” Theseus replied, and on the third time that I saw what looked to be a shimmer—something glistening in his Jason’s eyes—I sat up. And opened my mouth to speak, but a strong grip seized my arm.
I turned to find Taelon staring at me wide-eyed, and his eyes told me not to move. I could tell there was some significance to who stood and sat, and when and who spoke, and who questioned. But shouldn’t they know this?
“You walk and act as if you know best when you know nothing. You know nothing of us, our ways, or even yourself.” Charline’s words came to mind again, and I sat back.
“My fellow vampires, this case is a joke, a dishonor to every vampire who serves the Swan family. I ask that Jason Silber not only be granted his freedom but that Theseus Thorbørn be charged for false accusation, slander, and trying to insight war between the witches of the Omeron Coven and us.” Namid’s voice rose with every word, but she never quite yelled. However, that wasn’t the most important part. She was looking at us. Daiyu, Taelon, Mikhail…and me.
Were we the jury? We couldn’t be.
“What a waste of time. We didn’t even see his maker beg,” Mikhail grumbled.
“Your vote.” President Swan demanded—so we were the freaking jury. The four us?
Mikhail nodded. “I vote to free the vampire, Jason Silber, but no to the vote
on Theseus. Execution is pointless. He’d be back in a few months or a year.”
“He hasn’t been tried yet, brother; you can’t execute him,” Taelon reminded him.
“Trial or not, still pointless,” Mikhail went on.
“The vote,” President Swan pressed on, annoyed with his children.
“I vote to free the vampire, Jason. And Mikhail…” Daiyu glanced at him. “How special you are. If he cannot be punished, his mate can take his place. So, I also vote yes for a trial for Theseus Thorbørn.”
“I didn’t know that was an option. I vote the same,” Mikhail quickly said, as if I were not sitting beside them.