Blood, Body and Mind (24 page)

“
I’m so sorry. I’ve...I must have slipped.” The sudden memory of saying that to someone nearly had her double over in pain. Oh, Aaron, she thought again.

“
Steady there, no one will be happy if you are hurt,” he told her as he held her tightly.

“
Yes, can’t have the condemned man, err, woman hurt before they behead her, can we?” She giggled manically again at her own joke. She was losing it, no doubt about it, she thought.

“
See here now, girl, straighten yourself up. What’s wrong with you? You’re scaring the men. Steady yourself.”

Tyler’s tone and order had her trying to obey him before she could blink. Tricky bastard, he’d done that on purpose. She smiled slightly for the first time in days.

Tyler got her up, and though she was leaning heavily on him, they managed to traverse through the halls toward the lower bath house. He sat her upon one of the chairs nearest the showers and hosed her down, clothes and all. She didn’t think there would be any saving the shoes, but the metal of the chainmaille and arm and legs binds would be fine. They had taken her weaponry before putting her in the cell, but had given her the dress of her position when she’d been a guard.

Tyler handed her a new bar of soap. She washed herself with no enthusiasm for the task. When he had hosed off the soapy film, she looked up at him and smiled.

“
Thanks, Tyler, I do feel better. Where are you taking me? I suppose I should have inquired before, but I’m just...I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“
To the main Council Chamber. They’re all gathered there.” He had a squadron of twenty men with him, she noticed.

They must really be worried she’d freak out and start killing them all with this sort of man power. A small laugh escaped her mouth before she could catch it. She was definitely going to need therapy after this. Then she thought, well, only if they have someone in the audience, come to think of it. Not much time for anything else.

“
Are you hungry?” Tyler interrupted her musing. “They said that you haven’t eaten much.”

“
No, I don’t think so. My belly doesn’t feel up to it. Maybe before they take me to the gallows, they could give me a cheeseburger and fries.” Another memory and another sharp pain.

She burst into tears, and that quickly turned into heart-wrenching sobs. He held her until it passed, or at least slowed down enough so that they could be on their way.

One of the other guards brought in some clothes for her to wear, a pair of her jeans and a t-shirt. She put them to her nose and breathed deeply. He left her to her business, asking that she please let him know when she was dressed. In no time at all, she was opening the door and coming out.

“
Come on then, let’s get going,” he told her. Her escort surrounded her completely and off they went. She started whistling Wizard of Oz without thinking. One of the guards started to sing the words until Tyler cleared his throat. Spoil sport. Sara started humming the theme from Jaws, Terminator, then Friday the Thirteenth and any other horror movie she could think of as they made their way down the long corridors to her doom. By the time they rounded the last corner, she was singing The End of the World as We Know It. However, she didn’t feel fine.

~~~

Sara walked into the room with her head held high. Tyler had taken off her handcuffs so that she could bathe, but he hadn’t replaced them. So she clasped them together before her. She didn’t care. She wouldn’t try to escape. She was tired of hiding and she wouldn’t endanger Aaron by letting him hide her in the human world, which she was sure he would be willing to do. No, this was much better; she could at least have her dignity this way.

There were perhaps two hundred people in the room, most of them standing behind the impromptu barrier that had been erected. Some were sitting in the stadiumlike seating. There were seven people sitting behind a long table in the very back of the room and another five sitting in chairs in front of it facing her as well. This was where she was lead to stand. She could feel the hostility and anger in the room. She didn’t look to see why. Frankly, she was too depressed to care. She was above ground now, and her magic worked better. She simply didn’t care enough to reach.

Sara looked back at the table and recognized a few of the faces staring back at her. One in particular was Robert Meal. He’d been the highest ranking officer of the High Council since she had started working for them. As the queen’s personal guard, this council was the only one she and the other guard answered to aside from the queen and king of the realm. Also seated there was Sherman.

Shermie was sitting in one of the throne chairs. As this wasn’t even close to the receiving room, or throne room, he must have had the chair brought in for him. What a pompous ass, she thought, and gave him a small wave.

“
Hello, Bob. How’s it hanging? Shermie? ” She laughed at him as he stiffened in pride. They’d always disliked her. And judging by the smirk, they were really enjoying this.

“
Sara Temple, by order of the High Council and governing rulers of Molavonta, you’ve been brought before this council today to stand judgment for crimes against your queen. Do you know why?” Bob asked her with a grin. Yeah, she thought, he was really enjoying himself.

Before she could answer, there was a commotion behind her. As she turned fully to see what could have dared interrupt, she was engulfed in a pair of muscled arms and a very familiar scent. Aaron. Aaron was holding her close to him, kissing her face, ears, and neck, whatever he could touch. She, too, was holding onto him, clinging to him, knowing that any moment they would drag him away.

“
Master Vampire MacManus, you will need to take your seat. These proceedings are underway and you are not on trial here,” Sherman said to him.

“
No, I don’t think so,” Aaron said with defiance in his voice as he turned to the man. “I’m going to stand right here next to her. You can try and take me away, but I assure you, there are twice as many of us than there are of you. Blood will be shed if you try.”

Aaron looked the man right in the eye, daring him to try. Sara knew that look. He’d used the same one on her numerous times over the past few weeks. She grinned. She didn’t think poor old Shermie looked so happy now.

“
This is not the way we do things, sir. I will ask you again to please be seated. If you do not comply, I will have the Royal Guard come in and take...”

Sara flexed her magic, just a small amount. The room seemed to swell then tighten. “He will stand with me.”

Her voice was strong and held a great deal of authority. No one moved in the big room, nor did anyone speak for several long seconds. Shermie sat down.

“
Very well then, Sara Temple, do you know why you are before this council?” His voice was a little wobbly at first, but gained strength at the end. He apparently hadn’t realized that she was this powerful. She hadn’t moved at all.

“
No.”

“
Do you have anything to say in your defense?” he asked without giving her any reason as to why she was here.

“
I don’t know what I’m defending myself against or for, so I can’t say.”

He ignored her, barely pausing before going onto his next question. “Is there anything you wish said on your own behalf?”

“
Behalf of what? I don’t have a clue what I’m being held for.” She was getting nervous. Someone was really pushing this thing through.

“
Sara Temple, you leave me, I mean, you leave us no choice in this matter but to see that you are punished for the crime committed against the king. I therefore—” He was cut off before he could continue with her supposed sentencing.

“
My name is Thomas Shawn Reilly. I’m vampire, my master is Master MacManus. I have something to say, if you don’t mind. I want to know what she is.” Thomas stepped forward and bowed before Aaron, his master, and with a small nod from him, he turned to Sara and winked. “She heals like a supernatural, her speed is vampire fast, and you just experienced what I’m assuming is a small taste of her magic. I would like to know what she is before you destroy her, because I have no doubt that’s what you plan.”

“
Now see here.” Sherman’s eyes bulged in rage. “These hearings are conducted in a certain way. You people are not supposed to just...just...you need to sit down.” All he needed to do now was stomp his foot, she thought, and he’d have a hissy fit down perfectly.

Another observer spoke up loud and clear. “I am Phillip, former guard to the queen, and king to the first queen. I am magic. I think the doctor has a good point. I, too, would like to see what she is.” He turned to Sara and asked, “Just how tight are you holding your shields, young lady?”

“
I…I’m not sure what you mean.” She looked around the room. She wouldn’t run now, but out of habit, she looked for all the exits. She hated being the center of attention. Every instinct in her was flight or fight, and she was battling the flight part very hard.

“
Yes, you do. Drop your shields, all of them. I want to feel your power run through you without them,” Phillip told her gently.

“
No,” she insisted as she stepped back against Aaron. They didn’t know what they were asking her to do.

“
Sara, honey, do it for me, please?” Aaron pleaded with her as a whisper in her ear.

She looked at the man holding her. She understood what they were asking her to do. She just wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea. But she couldn’t refuse him. She would do anything for him. She reached out and hugged him to her, then stepped away. Her magic was very strong, even she knew that. When he reached toward her again, she shook her head at him, and dropped her considerable hold on herself.

Every light bulb in the room brightened to the point of brilliance, and then exploded. No one moved, and after a few seconds, the room lit up again with thousands of candle lights. Sara became luminescent in the darkened room. A pin dropping could have been heard, as everyone in the room had stilled. As her power moved throughout the room, it felt as if all of the air had been squeezed out of it. No one was unaffected by it. Then it eased as suddenly as it rose.

“
I have only let it go all the way once before. Have you had enough yet?” She looked around the room at the people affected. Everyone seemed fine for now.

“
No, let it go. You’re still holding back, aren’t you?” This was from one of the two men behind the table. Sara thought his name was James.

“
Yes. I can’t let it go with all these beings. It will hurt those that are sensitive if I release all of me. And anyone who isn’t able to control their own powers, I can absorb theirs into me. The other...the person could die. I’ve learned to control it for reasons such as this. It’s too strong for a room this small. You can’t ask me to unleash myself around so many weaker beings.”

“
All right then, hold steady. Oh, by the way, I am James, mate and king to the second queen, and I, too, am magic. I want to gauge you, and see if I can feel what you are.”

Sara could feel him scanning her, and started to tighten down again.

“
No, don’t do that. You’re doing fine. I’m almost finished. You can’t hurt me, love.”

When the James had finished, he sat down hard in his chair. He looked exhausted, spent. He leaned over to the woman sitting in the chair next to him. They whispered to each other for several minutes before she looked over at Sara. Then they resumed their conversation.

The woman stood up after twenty minutes had passed and walked over to where Sara and Aaron stood. There were tears in her eyes as Sara looked at her. Tears, she thought, and looked closer at the woman. The tears triggered a long forgotten memory.

Sara was very small and her mom had left her somewhere. As she frowned hard in concentration, Elizabeth reached up and smoothed the wrinkles.

“
I am Elizabeth, First Queen to Magic and to Molavonta, the Keep in which we stand. I’m very glad to meet you, Sara Temple, Royal Guard.” She turned back to the table and looked pointedly to Bob, then at Sherman. “And as such, I demand that these proceedings cease and desist immediately.”

“
Mistress,” Bob cried. “This woman is brought before all here to be judged for murder and high treason. She murdered one of the Royal Guard. She has taken your own granddaughter and has done who knows what with her body. She must stand trial for these crimes.” Bob’s voice, while full of demands, was pleading as well.

Sherman shot up from his chair. “No. You will not rule here. I am king. She will stand trial for the fade of my mate. I will not tolerate her being free any longer. And poor David, his family is very dear to me. I must make her pay for his death as well.”

“
His name was Marcus, you simpleton,” Elizabeth snapped at Sherman. “Dear friend indeed. You know I believe it was you who threatened his family in the first place. Wasn’t it you who told him that if he didn’t comply, you’d kill him? Yes, it was him and the men you took into the human world to kill Master Vampire MacManus. Why on earth should we…?”

Elizabeth paused when a swell of murmurs began at the back of the room, and soon spread forward. As the crowd parted and bowed low, in walked Melody, dressed and crowned like the queen that she was. Out of habit and respect, Sara dropped to one knee, with bowed head, and saluted her as was her right as her queen. Leading her, dressed in his suit of armament, was Marcus, Master of the Royal Guard. And as Sara started to glance away, she caught sight of the pixie Mari perched on Mel’s shoulder.