Banging the Gavel
A/N: Hello again, second chapter to my story and apologies that it's short and mostly monologue. Comments/reviews/criticism are all welcome. I'd love to know your thoughts.
Weightless, I was all alone in the oblivion floating in front of a web, each thread calling out to my blood. Then in an instant a sharp pain in my chest caused reality to snap back into place. My wrists were bound and I was on display upon a stage.
Lies and deception; the axe will fall.
"Good evening, my fellow Kindred. My apologies for disrupting and business or interfering with prior engagements you may have had this evening. It's unfortunate that the affair that gathers us together tonight is a troubling one."
I turned my head, Hearing a very formal voice. Not the one from seconds before. A Blonde male was speaking to the crowd. My eyes looked past him to the male who was also bound and on his knees. His head was forced to gaze upon the ground, but I could almost make out a smile on his lips.
"We are here because the laws that bind our society, the laws that are the fabric of our existence have been broken."
While the blonde spoke, a hushed whisper was heard in the crowd. I swept my gaze across the faces locking with three distinct figures. A dark skinned male with hard golden eyes, an angry redheaded woman, and a lighter skinned male with dark hair, a beard, and piercing blue eyes.
"As Prince, I am within my rights to grant or deny the Kindred of this city the privilege of siring. Many of you have come to me seeking permission, and I have endorsed some of these requests."
As the 'Prince's' speech continued, the crowd began to grow impatient. It was like an air of anxiousness swept across them, stirring the restlessness within each.
"However, the accused that sits before you tonight was not refused permission, indeed, my permission was never sought at all. They were caught shortly after the Embrace of this Childe", disgust showed clear on the Prince's face as he spoke the words, the smile on the kneeling mans face growing with each word as I cast my gaze to the floor., "It pains me to announce the sentence, as up to tonight I considered the accused a loyal and upstanding member of our organization. But as some of u may know, the penalty for this transgression is death."
A frown crossed my burgundy lips, as the quiet buzzing turned to whispers again and the Prince continued with his agonizing speech.
Treacherous snake! Another cousin falls tonight.
"Know that I am no more a judicator than I am a servant to the law the governs us all. Let tonight's proceeding serve as a reminder to our community that we must adhere to the code that binds our society, lest we endanger all of our blood."
He knelt in front of the now struggling grinning lunatic and muttered a half halfhearted apology before waving to the larger than life male with a sword larger than myself to commence with the death sentence. I was expecting there to be a lot of blood as the giant lifted the sword and let it fall. A flicker, no one else saw, and the face of the man was no longer the same as the Many Nights Man, as his head was separated from his body. Instead of blood, there was fire and ash and the faintest of laughter vibrating across the web that flashed through my minds eye. My torn white dress was lightly dusted with ash as the blonde continued speaking.
"Which leads to the fate of the ill begotten progeny..."
I knew he was referring to me, who else would he be speaking of? I lowered my head, ignoring his commentary about my fate and awaited the gavel to fall and my head to roll and burn.
"This is bullshit!"
My head jerked upward to rest on sky blue eyes. They were alight, burning with hatred and a strong passion as they lingered my way only a moment.
The Numbered Savior...
A thrum of energy filled the room as some of the crowd began to stand, a low buzz of voices mixing together in agreed and protest. The blonde swept his gaze over the crowd a measured dose of calm and agitation clear in his pale eyes as they finally laid on the Numbered One. My savior was being held back by the dark one and red woman an inhuman snarl on his face as he challenged this self proclaimed Prince.
"If Mr. Rodriguez would let me finish", the Prince spoke in a leveled voice, composing his agitation into monotone, "I have decided to let this Kindred live."
Once the words were spoken, my wrists were unbound. The blonde continued his speech, but I could not focus. I am to live this new life – unlife – I was spared. He of the Numbered Name turned after the sentence, one final glance, and he was gone. The two others his shadows as he made his leave. The speech came to its end and I watched at the crowd filed out. I was forced to my feet as the Prince turned to me, regarding my presence as a mild inconvenience.
"Your Sire. Tragic, my apologies..."
My eyes snapped to his face as I physically had to suppress a growl.
Lies!
The Voices hissed in unison as he continued to speak. Something stirred within me, but I suppressed the urge to launch myself at this demon. He began to walk and I subconsciously followed, paying more attention to the lines in the floor than the blonde's words. Before I knew it I was forced out a door, the only words I caught were to find Mercury in the Lady by the Sea. I was jerked from my thoughts by rough laughter as my eyes fell on a rough looking man, a grin almost breaking his face in two.
"What a scene man! Hoo-wee! Then they just plop you out here like a naked baby in the woods. How bout that? Look kiddo, this is probably a lot for you to take in, so uh, why don't you let me show you the ropes. Whattaya say?"
