"Kinsgley Drexel Martin."
"And your position."
Position? Mimi raised an eyebrow. What was this all about?
"I am a Truth Seeker. A Veritas Venator. I was commissioned by The Committee to investigate the deaths of several Blue Bloods: Aggie Carondolet, Dylan Ward, Summer Armory, Natalie Getty, Landon Schlessinger, and Grayson St. James."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Older Blue Bloods knew Venators as the highest order of The Committee's secret police, fearless warriors in the fight to keep the Blue Bloods safe from harm and discovery.
"And your mission?" The inquisitor prompted.
"I was sent to the Duchesne School to accumulate any evidence that might lead to the detection of the enemy," Kingsley said evenly.
Another murmur, this time more agitated. A Venator had been sent to one of their safest sanctuaries Duchesne! What was The Committee thinking, sending one of their powerful assassins to spy upon school children?
"Who were the suspects?"
"Madeleine Force. Bliss Llewellyn. Schuyler Van Alen."
This time there was an audible gasp from the crowd. Kingsley was an undercover agent! A latter day Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street, an undercover vampire working the teen beat.
Schuyler gaped, Bliss couldn't help but laugh, and Mimi only gnashed her teeth. That little prick.
"And what did your findings show?"
"I immediately crossed off Schuyler Van Alen. She was a victim of two Silver Blood attacks and did not show any indication of being drawn to the Dark Matter," Kingsley said, taking out a small notebook from his jacket pocket and flipping through his notes.
"Bliss Llewellyn was a more promising subject. She has complained of nightmares and delusions, similar to those suffered by Maggie Stanford before her demise. But due to these delusions, I had to conclude that Bliss was a possible victim and not a perpetrator."
"And Madeleine?"
"I have concluded that Madeleine Force harbors the Silver Blood that has been attacking our community," Kingsley said, his tone of voice almost casual.
"Quiet! Quiet in the court!" The Chief Warden admonished, as the crowd became even more angry and agitated. Several vampires stood from their seats, and there was hissing and booing at Kingsley's testimony. Mimi Force --the Regis's daughter--Silver Blood accomplice? Was this some kind of joke?
"And the basis for your evidence?" The Chief Warden grunted from the high platform.
"She expressed a desire to learn more about the Dark Matter. Specifically, she wanted to know how to perform the Incantation Demonata. The call for the Silver Blood."
"And why did she say she wanted to do this?"
"She said she wanted to finish off an enemy," Kingsley said, looking straight at Mimi.
Mimi quavered in her seat. Lies, lies. All lies! Stop talking! Shut up! Shut up! You were my friend! Traitor!
"And that was Bliss Llewellyn."
"No."
"No?" The inquisitor looked mildly surprised.
"No."
"Who was the intended target?"
"Schuyler Van Alen."
There was another angry buzz among the audience.