Notes:

- Sequel to the fics For You, In The Daylight and Without You. You can read all of them here.

- Don't hate me yet.


Amy

The way back to their penthouse was completely silent, but Amy could feel the immense tension in the air.

Kamilah wouldn't say a single word or even look at her, but Amy could tell how anxious and distressed she was. Her vampire senses could detect her wife was barely breathing. Her heartbeats also were highly unsteady and her muscles very stiff.

As they arrived, Amy followed her to the mastersuite and sat down on the edge of their bed. Kamilah paced around the room a few times, taking deep breaths, running a hand through her hair and gathering courage to speak, or even to face her. When she did though, there was an look in her eyes Amy had never seen before. An expression of disappointment, anger and especially pain.

"K-Kamilah…" that ice cold gaze broke Amy more than anything and she started to cry, almost unable to speak a single sentence properly, "p-please... say something. Anything."

"Shower!" Kamilah ordered, loud and firm. Her eyes were red in rage. "I can't even stand looking at you right now in this deplorable state! It's truly making me sick."

Looking down, Amy noticed her clothes, as well as her skin were still covered in blood. She quietly obeyed and walked to the bathroom.

Under the shower, she sat down on the floor, letting the water pour over her body. As she cried intensely, she tried to remember how she ended up in Priya's bed, or even worse… how she killed those mortals.

Nothing would come to her mind. Her memories were completely blank. If she forced too much, her head would sting. The last thing she could remember was the event, the photoshoot she did for Priya's clothing line. She had a few drinks, yes, but not that much. Not enough to lose control of her actions.

She had no idea how much time she passed under the shower, possibly a couple of hours. Returning to the bedroom, Kamilah was sitting down on an armchair, her face buried in her hands. Amy opened her mouth in a attempt to start talking, but Kamilah spoke in anticipation.

"I imagined it," her voice was low, but sharp. "When you became a vampire, I imagined that at some point you could change. The possibility you could get bored and decide to explore the world outside our marriage. I'd be hurt, of course, but I'd grant you freedom to sort out your feelings."

"I'd never ask for it," Amy tried to reason with her. "I love you and I'm completely sure of my feelings. Becoming a vampire didn't change anything inside me."

But Kamilah wasn't listening. She was too distant. Completely lost in her own feelings and thoughts.

"Out of all people… you cheated on me with Priya?!"

"N-No… I didn't. Kamilah, you have to believe me. I don't remember doing it."

"And you killed mortals," she raised her voice even more, almost yelling. "Five or six mortals, Amy. I could barely count, considering how mangled their bodies were."

"I didn't do it!" Amy argued. Tears started falling down her face again. "I didn't do it, I swear! I only remember being at that event I told you!"

"Did you have any alcohol?" Kamilah asked.

Amy nodded in confirmation.

"Not this much though."

"Did you feed before the event?"

"No," she told. "I was too busy. I'd feed when I got home."

"You should know that alcohol and bloodlust can produce disastrous results. You've seen that with Lily. And I've told you that before, a thousand times perhaps."

Amy sat down on the bed in front of her, shaking her head in denial.

"I didn't do it," she insisted. "I wish you would believe me."

"Trust me, I wish I could believe you," Kamilah stared directly into her eyes, before getting up and starting to walk away. "I… I'm leaving. I need some time alone."

"Kamilah…" Amy cried, "wait."

It was useless. As her wife left through the door, she was unsure about their future. The centuries of experiences of betrayal and suffering made Kamilah stop believing in second chances. And that was something Amy doubted that would ever change.


Lysimachus

The first thing Lysimachus did was to go to the kitchen, take a deep breath and prepare some coffee. Then, he attempted to call Kamilah, but his sister was unreachable. Without knowing her version of the facts, it was impossible to determine if Priya was telling the truth. Though she appeared to be extremely desperate, he knew her well enough to question if she couldn't be faking it.

And there was still Katherine, asleep in his bed. When she woke up and found Priya in the living room, things would get very heated.

"I need you to tell me from the beginning," he sat down on an armchair while drinking some coffee. "No lies."

"In case you haven't noticed," Priya spoke, showing some annoyance, "I've never had issues to admit my crimes and mistakes."

She mentioned how exhausted she started to feel at the event, what completely made her lose interest in her after-party. She even considered canceling it. She admitted she invited Amy, but never expected the girl to accept. After that, she could barely remember how she made it back to her mansion. In her bedroom, she had flashbacks about a normal conversation with Amy. And only.

"Who exactly was present at this event? Any psychic vampires or people with knowledge about witchcraft?"

"Not that I know of."

"Did you do any drugs?" Lysimachus wanted to know.

"No!" Priya scowled. "I'm telling you, I remember nothing. I blacked out. And besides… I was starving when I woke up, not normal for someone who literally devoured a group of mortals, don't you think?"

A million things started going through his mind. He remembered Amy's powers and what had been previously said about the darkness within her. Though he couldn't imagine she was capable of doing that, he had recently witnessed how she lost control of her powers. She was a psychic vampire. She would have the ability of modifying Priya's memories.

Lysimachus' phone buzzed. The invite to the tribunal Kamilah requested. He glanced at the message, then at Priya.

"Let's do this," he sighed.

He grabbed Priya's hands and focused. She breath in and out, letting go of the walls that guarded her thoughts and memories.

After entering her mind palace, scenes started playing inside Lysimachus' mind like a movie. He saw a child version of Priya, how hopeful and optimistic she was, despite the conditions she was born. Then a teenage version of her, lying to her ill mom about the ways she obtained money for her medication. Alone in her bedroom, she broke down in tears. Her adult version was already a vampire, making an alliance with Adam Vega.

"Hey," she snarled, "stop gossiping about my past and get straight to the point!"

"I must make a connection with your mind first," Lysimachus explained. "Sorry."

He finally managed to access her memories from the previous night. For his surprise, Priya was indeed telling the truth. She barely interacted with Amy during the event. After they left though, the images started getting strange, blurred and confusing. As if they were a mix between reality and an illusion, completely consumed by darkness and a presence he had felt before.

"Soon all will burn…"

Lysimachus quickly opened his eyes, affected by that female voice. But before, he saw Priya falling asleep on her bed, while Amy walked around the bedroom with her cell phone in hands. None of them naked or covered in blood.

"So?" Priya raised an eyebrow, expecting an answer.

"Somebody manipulated not only your memories, but your mind too," he told. "You didn't kill anyone. Or slept with Amy."

"Thank god, it'd be so unfair to not remember."

"Priya!"

"I'm sorry, that was a joke. Sort of."

"We still have a great trouble ahead," Lysimachus concluded. "The Council will not accept my Open Mind, knowing we had an involvement in the past."


Kamilah

"Can I just stay here for the day? I can't even think of showing up in my office right now."

"Sure. I'll get you some tea."

Kamilah's entered Adrian's office and sat on a comfortable couch. Ahmanet Financial was the last place on Earth she wanted to be. She even turned off her cell phone to avoid any communication.

The scene of her wife in bed with Priya, covered in blood wouldn't leave her mind. Everytime she closed her eyes that moment would replay again in front of her eyes.

She surely made mistakes of that kind herself in the past. She killed thousands of people. She was never faithful to one partner until now. But she never expected that coming from Amy. Her Amy. That gracious creature, with the kindest heart, that could light up even her darkest days. The only one who made her feel loved and worthy of redemption. The one who swore to remain loyal to her through the wedding vows.

"Here's it," Adrian offered her a cup. "It may help you to calm down."

In silence, she took a few sips from her tea. Wondering how much being a vampire still could change and destroy the woman she married to, and how much she would be able to take.

"What do you think?"

Adrian's voice caught her attention, Kamilah lifted her head up to look at him.

"She says she can't remember doing anything," she told. "But she also confessed being drunk and bloodlust."

"Do you think Priya could have drugged her or something?" Adrian questioned.

"She certainly could," Kamilah answered, pensive. "But why now? Why not when Amy was a mortal? Or when I was away?"

"As if Priya would consider any of those things when it comes to her interests. She had an opportunity and grabbed it."

With that, and the recent mortal disappearances, she and Adrian agreed it was time to call a Tribunal and finally punish Priya Lacroix for her crimes. Through his cell phone, he requested the presence of The Council at the ruined temple in the Central Park that night.

"What about Amy?" She hadn't stop to think about her wife's situation until now. "She's a member of my Clan and she certainly violated the Pact."

Adrian pondered for a moment and sighed.

"It's up to you," he said. "You're her Maker. And wife. But… she's a newly-Turned. All of us did something like that in the past."

"I know. I suppose I should let it pass this one time."

However, Kamilah feared the things she heard about Amy recently. She feared the darkness Serafine saw could be starting to consume her. Especially after she was able to reach her brother, who told her about their training session and how Amy slipped out of her self-control.

Going to the window, she could feel it. She could feel that dark and ancient presence in the air. Taking every corner of that office, the streets and the whole city. Prepared to rule and control what was hers by blood. The true power of a Goddess.

"She's here," Kamilah announced.

"Who?" Adrian asked.

"The First Vampire."

She hoped to be wrong but she could only imagine the possibility that legendary creature could be inhabiting her wife's body. And soon they'd become one person.


Lysimachus

"Look," Lysimachus checked his watch and started walking around the living room, finding the best manner to announce the news. "You shouldn't be here. You could seriously compromise me."

"Are you denying me protection?" Priya was following him like a shadow. "Right now your sister could be out there, ready to take my head."

"She's not."

"How can you be so sure?"

Lysimachus showed her the message on his phone, where Adrian requested their presence for a Tribunal. Before that, by the Pact, Kamilah wouldn't be doing anything.

"The best you can do is to go home… and wait. At midnight, you show up at the Tribunal and we'll see what can be done."

"Are you out of your mind?" Priya grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "They're going to kill me! Adrian, Kamilah and Jax will vote for it. Lester can be convinced with some favors. But even with your vote and his, they still win."

"I'm sorry," Lysimachus lowered his head, avoiding to look her in the eyes. "I've done what I could. It's up to you now."

"After everything you're going to abandon me? Please, you gotta help me to escape the hell out of here."

"I can't."

Priya opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Katherine's arrival in the living room.

"Oh," she let out an ironic laugh, "that explains everything. When this mortal dumped you, you didn't hesitate to go after me and now..."

"It's not that," he tried to excuse. "and I was drunk that night."

"You're abominable, like the rest of the men in this planet. I hope she puts you through hell and make you suffer the worst of the pains!"

As Priya walked to the front door and opened it violently, two members of Adrian's Clan were standing outside.

"What the hell is that?!" Priya questioned, looking at him.

Lysimachus answered with a signal that he had no idea of what was going on.

"Ms. Lacroix, you're under custody of The Council until your Tribunal tonight," the men grabbed Priya by the arms, dragging her away. He looked at Katherine.

"I heard the conversation," she explained. "She was going to runaway, so I did what I had to do. I called Adrian."

"Katherine, you shouldn't…"

"She murdered people! She must be punished. Or were you going to be an accomplice and let her escape?"

"She's innocent. I saw it, inside her mind."

"I knew meeting you here was a mistake," Katherine shook her head in denial and went to the bedroom to pick up the rest of her stuff.

"Yeah," Lysimachus whispered to himself. "Maybe it was."

As she left, he locked himself in his office. Going to Priya's house now to collect evidence could be a bad move. After Katherine's call, members of other Clans were certainly there, to guard and collect the evidence. He couldn't find any other manners to help her. If only he had attended the event when she invited him. But he was so desperate to fix things with Katherine. Her visit to the city was the perfect opportunity.

Lysimachus' cell phone rang. It was Rheya. She wanted to know about her membership in his Clan. He rolled his eyes.

"Sorry," he told, "The Council is in the middle of something very serious right now."

"Anything I can help with?"

"Not really. A complicated voting is on the way."

"I see, it sounds very conflicting," she said. "You can be caught in a situation to decide between what's right or going against your loved ones."

"Exactly, I…" he stopped. How did she even know that? She knew exactly what he was thinking. Soon all will burn. That voice, that accent returned to his mind. They sounded exactly the same. "Rheya, I have to go now. I need to prepare."

Was it possible that The First Vampire had been so close to them for weeks? Who would even believe him?


Kamilah

Adrian took care of all the preparations for the Tribunal. In her state of mind, Kamilah wouldn't able to handle of everything by herself. She only called Serafine, to request her presence to perform an Open Mind on the witnesses and Priya, if she desired.

She only returned to the penthouse to get dressed. Finding it empty brought Kamilah some painful feelings. Amy had left too and for what it seemed, she wouldn't be returning any time soon.

Being alone in that big and silent place seemed like a nightmare. Only a few days earlier, they talked about starting a family. Having a kid or two. Adopting a cat. Now Kamilah didn't even know if they were still in the same page.

She sighed and prepared to leave earlier, but Lysimachus knocked at her door, interrupting her.

"Sister, we need to talk," he rushed inside, breathless and nervous. "It's… I think the First Vampire is among us."

"I felt it too this morning," Kamilah told. "But she's a problem for another time. Now we must judge and properly punish Priya for her actions."

"Here's the deal. I think she caused that situation, entering Priya's mind and manipulating her memories. She doesn't remember doing any of that."

Kamilah stared at him for a moment before rolling her eyes.

"Brother… dear brother," she shook her head in denial, "do you really think The First Vampire, a mythical being, main priority would be ruining the life of Priya Lacroix? Or end my marriage? I'm sorry, I know you two had a history but… there's no excuse this time."

Kamilah kept walking headed to her car. Lysimachus kept following her.

"I know it sounds stupid when I put it this way," he proceeded. "But her biggest interest has always been Amy."

"Because she could bring her back to life?" Kamilah argued. "I see no reason why she'd be after Amy now she's back. If she's back. And for what we know, she could be inhabiting Amy's body."

"What about Rheya, huh? Don't you think she's strange?"

Kamilah silenced again, rolling her eyes twice, to show how stupid that sounded.

"Oh please. Do you think she came out from a tree, after over 2000 years, speaking fluent English and with expert knowledge in marketing?! I have her records, brother. I have access to her profile on the Order's database."

With no more crazy theories, her brother seemed to call defeat. He closed his eyes and begged:

"A few more days. Wait a few more days, Priya is innocent."

"We'll know about that," Kamilah assured. "In every Tribunal, the subject has witnesses and can be submitted to an Open Mind, if they wish."

"I can do the Open Mind."

"Serafine is doing it. She's a psychic too and I trust her."

She drove away, ignoring his pleads. It was time to finally punish Priya for her crimes. Since her arrival in America, she always refused to follow orders. She was always involved in many cases of death and disappearances of mortals.

"Rheya..." Kamilah shook her head in denial.

Even if she had the sensation of The First Vampire's presence in the air, she doubted Rheya had anything to do with her. She had been examining her closely since she was hired. That woman seemed to have a good heart, that had been broken several times, but still showed strength and determination. Kamilah trusted her, and so did her employees.

When she arrived at the ruined temple, the other Council members arrived shortly after, Lysimachus being the last. Adrian ordered his Clan members to place Priya in the middle of the circle. They started the Tribunal as usual.

"Anything you have to say in your defense?" Kamilah asked Priya, her eyes glaring with hate.

"I'm innocent," Priya declared. "This was a set-up. Somebody altered my conscience, manipulated my memories and organized that awful scene in my bedroom."

"Oh, because it never happened before."

"It did and I had no issue to assume my involvement. But now… I'm telling the truth, Kamilah."

"And who could be the person behind that set-up, if it wasn't you?"

"I… I only have one person in mind. Katherine!"

Kamilah decided to ignore that accusation, believing Priya wasn't taking the Tribunal seriously. That was the most absurd joke she heard since his brother's theory about Rheya.

"Proceed," she requested Serafine's presence. "Bring the witnesses."

What she didn't expect was that her wife would be one of the two witnesses. Their eyes locked as she entered the temple, and Kamilah could notice Amy had been crying a lot. She felt like being punched in the stomach. That would be the hardest thing to do.


Amy

"She'll never forgive me, Lil," Amy sobbed on Lily's lap, after telling her the events of the previous night and the outcome. "I can't forgive myself."

Besides the doubt she had about Kamilah ever giving her a second chance for what she did, she was also consumed by the guilt of killing innocent people.

"And I don't remember any of it."

"Do you think it's possible Priya drugged you?"

"I don't know," Amy told. "She was pretty freaked out when she woke up too. But… it's Priya we're talking about. We've been warned about her so many times before."

"Have you spoke to her?" Lily wanted to know. "Maybe she remembers something you doesn't."

"The last thing I want right now is to see her."

She left Lily's room to walk around the Shadow Den, but not even Lula's sweet smile or a conversation with Liv could lighten her mood. Not only her marriage was at stake, but her sanity too. Was it possible she lost control of herself and her powers that badly? Was she starting to become that monster from her visions?

The darkness. She placed a hand over her own chest, wondering if it was really inside her, ready to consume her and turn her into her worst self. Adrian was known as the Butcher Of Antietam. Kamilah as the Reaper Of Pompeii. Would she become the Slaughterer Of Manhattan?

"Hey Amy," Jax sat down by her side on a bench. "Is everything alright? Why was I invited to an emergency Tribunal?"

"Priya. She slaughtered a few people last night," tears started rolling from her eyes. "And apparently I helped her, before we slept together."

"Oh."

She could see the shock and disappointment in his face too. That same look she received from Adrian, Lily and especially Kamilah.

"I don't remember doing it…" she cried, "yet, I feel like a monster! I still can feel all that blood on my skin. I should be at that Tribunal too."

"Amy, hey," Jax embraced her. "Knowing Priya, she set this up. It's obvious. And even if you didn't resist it and fed yourself some of that blood… we all made mistakes at some point. It doesn't make you a monster."

"That's it," something sparkled inside her mind. "I was starving when I woke up. I only fed before I came here."

"Maybe you should be at the Tribunal, you know? Tell your version, ask for an Open Mind. You'll prove your innocence."

With a lot of effort, she followed Jax's suggestion. Facing Kamilah in that moment felt terrible. She still had the same look in her eyes. But Jax was right, that was the only manner she could prove her innocence. Or at least her regrets.

"First witness," Kamilah announced, avoiding eye contact with Amy, "Sergio. One of Priya's houseboys."

"Come on," Priya rolled her eyes. "Sergio?! Please."

That was the first time Amy saw that man fully dressed. He sat in one of the chairs and Serafine Dupont started to connect her mind to his.

"Sergio," Kamilah asked. "How long have you been working for Priya?"

"A few years," the houseboy answered.

"Is it the first time you see mortals getting slaughtered?"

"I-I… no."

Priya scowled at her employee, who showed some discomfort. Kamilah proceeded.

"Were you with Priya at every minute of her latest party?"

"No."

"Where was she?"

"In the room. With Amy."

"He tells the truth," Serafine concluded. "For all the questions."

"Fine," Kamilah approached Sergio. "You can go. The Council will assure you protection. Don't worry."

She turned around, facing Amy directly for the first time. She cleared her throat.

"Next witness. Amy."

Amy sat down at the chair. Her heart pounding inside her chest. Serafine's fingers pressed hard on her temples. She allowed her to access her mind. Fully.

"I can't do this," she heard Kamilah whispering distantly.

"Amy," Adrian started to conduct the interrogation, "did you willingly accepted to go to Priya's house?"

"I can't remember well," she did her best to answer. "But… I think so?"

"You sent pictures to your best friend, Lily Spencer, in her bedroom. Do you have any memories of this part?"

Amy made a huge effort. Everything was a dark blur. But then, she was able to distinguish something.

"Not much. I remember being sat on her bed. She asked me how I was doing as a vampire."

"Nothing else?"

"No."

Adrian took a deep breath before asking the final question.

"Amy," he spoke cautiously, "did you help Priya to kill those mortals?"

"I don't remember," she replied.

"She…" Serafine paused, "she's telling the truth, she can't remember. And I can't access those memories either."

Kamilah went back to the center of the circle, face to face with Priya.

"Are you ready to confess?" She asked. "Or do you request an Open Mind too?"

"I do," Priya accepted, confident. "Test me. Like Amy, I don't have those memories."

"Serafine, find out if Priya is responsible for the last mortal disappearances too. Two of the cases were close to her club, the Crimson Veil."

"What?! This is a set-up... someone is plotting against me!"

Serafine approached, pressing the fingers on her temples. She scanned Priya's mind for some long minutes. Amy could barely breathe, Lily squeezed her hand. All The Council members watched in silence.

"I confess," Priya suddenly announced. "I drugged Amy… I forced her to have sex with me… I slaughtered those mortals… she only fed from them."

"What?!" Amy wondered. "But she…"

"Priya Lacroix," Kamilah shouted, interrupting her thoughts, "I sentence you to the ultimate punishment, according to the Pact. I sentence you to death. Shall we vote? Those in favor of the sentence say 'aye'."

As expected, Adrian and Jax voted in favor of Priya's punishment.

"Lester?"

The male vampire glanced at Priya.

"Sorry, gal. You've got yourself in real trouble this time. Aye."

It was Lysimachus turn to vote. Amy could almost read his thoughts. He was furious. And scared.

"This is craziness! She's innocent. I did an Open Mind on her back in my apartment. She was under the influence of someone. Like she must be now."

Kamilah rolled her eyes at him.

"Your vote, brother."

"Nay."

"My vote is aye. Four 'ayes' against one 'nay'. The sentence is accepted by The Council."