"Witness. Your name and occupation," von Karma ordered, crossing her arms and giving Maggey a cold glare.
As soon as Morgan stepped out of the witness stand, Maggey stepped in place and responded with a hearty salute. "Maggey Byrde, reporting for duty! I was used to be a police guard at the local clink."
"To anyone who hasn't seen the news, Ms. Byrde was the police guard who was romantically involved with Dahlia Hawthorne, a serial murderer who was imprisoned there until her death," von Karma explained.
"A police guard falling in love with a criminal?" the Judge scoffed. "How preposterous!"
"You just don't understand it, Your Honor," Maggey said with a sneer. "Given how old you are..."
"How dare-!"
whp-CRACK!
"YEOWCH!"
"I already told you to be quiet!" von Karma said. "Now then, Ms. Byrde, after the murder took place, you spoke with the defendant Maya Fey, correct?"
Maggey glanced up and rubbed her chin in thought. "I guess I did..."
"If that's the case, then let's hear your testimony," von Karma order.
"You got it, Boss!" Maggey said with a salute.
Iris took a deep we go...
TESTIMONY
"When the channeling started, I was busy sleeping at the Side Room."
"After some time passed though, someone came to my room, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Dahlia again..."
"My angel, my beloved Dolly, she came back to me!"
"I haven't seen her in a long time...she looked just like the last time saw her."
"Missing her so much, I just ran up to her and hugged her!"
"It was then she told me something that she wanted me to know..."
"Now wait just a minute, young lady!" the Judge interrupted. "You're saying the person who entered the room was your girlfriend!? Don't you mean Maya Fey?"
"Really, now..." von Karma muttered, tempted to whip the Judge again. "Your Honor, Maya Fey was in the middle of channeling at the time."
The Judge's eyes widened in shock as he gasped. "Are you saying the spirit was the spirit of this witness' girlfriend!?"
"Yes, we've already established that, Your Honor," Iris said. "Maggey Byrde and Dahlia Hawthorne were lovers. Their romantic proclivities resulted in Ms. Byrde losing her job."
"O-oh, I see..."
"Now then, from what you stated in your testimony, you mentioned that Dahlia Hawthorne's spirit told you something she wanted you to know," von Karma said. "Tell the court what this message was now!"
Maggey frowned, twiddling her thumbs. "Do I have to...?" the glare she got from von Karma was enough to make her comply. "Alright, alright, sheesh..."
"The reason why Dolly ended up in prison was because of the guy who died. Diego Armando, was it?" Maggey said, giving a malicious smirk to Iris. "That's the guy who put her in the prison I worked at. When she came to me, she said this to me."
"I wanted to get back at him...he put me in that prison that was set on fire...and now I finally got my revenge for what he did to me..."
"R-revenge, y-you say..." the Judge stammered, quaking in his seat. "Are you sure that's what she said...?"
Maggey nodded.
The Judge shook his head. "I still can't believe that a spirit would go so far as to use a medium to get revenge..."
You don't know Dahlia as I do, Your Honor, Iris thought gravely. When it comes to her, she'll do anything to get what she wants...
"What do you think, Ms. Hawthorne?" the Judge asked. "It seems like all the loose ends are accounted for now."
"It's a well-constructed testimony, Your Honor, but I believe there is still room for doubt," Iris said. "As such, the defense will cross-examine this witness to reveal the truth regarding this case!"
"Yet again the foolish fool spouts out more foolishly foolish drabble!" von Karma cackled haughtily, before staring down at the rookie lawyer condescendingly. "I wonder if you'll make this one more entertaining than the last..."
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"When the channeling started, I was busy sleeping at the Side Room."
"HOLD IT! Your presence in the Side Room makes me wonder. Why were you in Fey Manor in the first place?"
"Why yes, I was just thinking the same thing?" the Judge added. "Why would a former police guard go to a place that involves spirits?"
Maggey rolled her eyes. "Gee, I don't know," she said sarcastically. "Is it because I lost my girlfriend in a fire, never got to see her after that, and was hoping to have that Fey girl channel her so I say goodbye one last time!?"
"O-oh..." the Judge mumbled, lowering his head in shame. "I'm sorry..."
"You better be, you crotchety old man..."
"Enough wasting time," von Karma said. "What happened after that, Ms. Byrde?"
"After some time passed though, someone came to my room, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Dahlia again..."
"My angel, my beloved Dolly, she came back to me!"
"HOLD IT! That's a bit too much, isn't it?" Iris said, disgusted at all the compliments her deceased twin was getting. "And besides, how can you tell if it really was Dahlia Hawthorne?"
"We dated each other for months, of course, I can tell it was her!" Maggey said. "From long hair to her beautiful face, to her gorgeous figure..."
She licked her lips as her mind was enveloped with pleasurable thoughts. "Oh, that slim, lovely, gentle figure...how I'd love to touch it and bury my hands all over her-"
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted, her face blushing red. "S-stop! Just...s-stop now!"
"Over what?" Pearl asked, tilting her head innocently. "Bury her hands over what?"
"Y-you don't need to know, Pearl!"
"I'm not so sure about that, Ms. Iris Hawthorne," von Karma chuckled. "Ms. Maggey Byrde's statement certainly holds great intrigue and relevance to this case."
"You know damn well it doesn't!"
"Ms. Hawthorne, I'm afraid I'll have to penalize you for that use of foul language!" the Judge threatened, slamming his gavel for dramatic effect. "One more outburst like that and I'm afraid I'll have to hold you in contempt of court!"
Iris turned to the Judge, stressed and completely baffled. "B-but, s-she...they-!" her voice trailed off as she pointed at von Karma and Maggey.
whp-CRACK!
"AAAAAAGGGHHH!"
Von Karma laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes as she set her whip down. "How amusing!"
"That looked like it hurt!" Maggey added, giggling along with the prosecutor.
Iris growled at von Karma and Maggey as she rubbed the fresh wound on her face. You nasty, sadistic, pompous pieces of...!
Calm down, Iris, calm down! Those two are TRYING to get you riled up. To get you mad and lose focus on the trial...and they're damn well succeeding because I'm ready to TEAR VON KARMA'S HEAD OFF AND SHOVE IT UP BYRDE'S...!
"Iris?" Pearl said, tugging at her older sister's purple blazer. "Are you alright?"
Iris turned to her little sister, looking worse for wear. Most of her suit was drenched in sweat, her face had two whip marks on them, and her heavy breathing sounded like growls from an angry lion.
Upon realizing this, Iris quickly adjusted herself and smiled awkwardly at her sister. "I'm fine now, Pearl. I'm sorry you had to see that," she sighed, turning to look at von Karma and Maggey. "It's just those two...ugh, I can't stand them!"
"I hate that they're treating you like this, Iris!" Pearl said with a huff, rolling up her sleeve to raise her arm and ball her hand into a fist. "I can teach them a lesson for you!"
Iris chuckled nervously, motioning Pearl to lower her arm. "I don't think that'll be necessary, Pearl. What I need is a contradiction in Maggey's statement. An inconsistency. A thing wouldn't add up or a detail that they..." Iris' eyes slowly widened as she realized a crucial detail in Maggey's testimony. "...missed!"
"I haven't seen her in a long time...she looked just like the last time saw her."
"OBJECTION!" Iris shouted, turning to Maggey with a cocky grin. "I'm beginning to see why you need glasses, Ms. Byrde. You have quite horrible eyesight!"
Maggey scowled. "Why you-!"
"Wh-what are you babbling about, Ms. Iris Hawthorne!?" von Karma demanded.
"It's simple, Ms. von Karma," Iris began. "Ms. Byrde said that Dahlia looked exactly like the last time you saw her. Is that right?
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Maggey hissed. "Can't deal with me reuniting with my Dolly, is that it!?"
"Hardly," Iris scoffed, "but I need to ask. Did she really looked just like when you last saw her?"
"Of course she did, how many times do I have to say it?!"
Iris laughed. "Then apparently, Dolly always wore a bloody robe every day. Take a look at the photo, Ms. Byrde."
With the courtroom's TV screen, Iris showed the photo that had been presented in yesterday's trial, showing Dahlia Hawthorne in a blood-soaked robe, wielding a knife and looking down at Diego Armando's body with sadistic glee.
"It's the picture of the Dolly you met," Iris said, "and I'm honestly surprised that you'd hug someone who appeared looking like this to you."
Von Karma observed the photo and her eyes widened. It was so obvious...the one detail was staring right at her. How did she not notice sooner!?
"...the blood spray..." she whispered, sweat dripping down from her brow.
Maggey gulped, kicking herself mentally for not realizing that blood spray sooner. The people in the gallery began discussing amongst themselves the information that had been presented.
"Order! Order!" the Judge shouted. "Ms. Byrde, what is the meaning of this!?"
"..." Maggey didn't answer as she lowered her head and clutched it with her hands, trying hard to come up with something.
"How did you not notice the blood spray on the defendant's clothes!?" the Judge further pressed.
The Judge raised a brow. "...Ms. Byrde-?"
"Shut up!" Maggey snapped, nearly giving the Judge a heart attack. "I'm trying to think here!"
"I think her voice changed," Pearl whispered to Iris.
Iris nodded. "It happens all the time to people who get nervous on the stand, Pearl."
"That's not what I...nevermind," Pearl sighed. She wanted to say what she really meant in regards to Maggey but felt it wasn't important right now. Her older sister needed to focus on the case.
Try and get her to notice though, a voice suggested to Pearl, who considered its words. Perhaps, but she didn't want to bother-
Pearl blinked. She looked all around the courtroom, but so no one there. Who said that?
"Witness, calm yourself down," von Karma ordered.
"I'm still thinking, you-!" Maggey paused when she noticed von Karma gripping her whip. "Sorry..."
"It's fine, now hurry up with your testimony," von Karma said.
"I-If you please..." the Judge added nervously.
TESTIMONY
"There's a reason why I didn't see the blood."
"The Side Room was pretty dark at that time, so I couldn't even see the stain."
"I tried to calm Dolly down when I realized she was still worked up from murdering that lawyer guy."
"After calming her down, I took her to the Channeling Chamber."
The Judge stroked his beard. "Hmm...I see. I believe you have given us a reason why you haven't seen the blood."
Maggey laughed and saluted the Judge. "Happy to clear things up, Your Honor!"
"Are you satisfied now, Ms. Hawthorne?" the Judge asked, to which Iris responded with a narrow-eyed glare as if to say 'are you serious?'.
The Judge chuckled nervously. "Alright, I guess not...you may now question the witness."
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"There's a reason why I didn't see the blood."
"The Side Room was pretty dark at that time, so I couldn't even see the stain."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "That's it? It was dark, so you couldn't even see it?"
"Duh," Maggey deadpanned. "Weren't you even listening?"
"Yes, but...the robe Mystic Maya wore at the time was completely white. Despite the room being dark, couldn't you have at least noticed something was wrong with clothing?"
"OBJECTION!" von Karma shouted before grinning slyly. "Foolish fool who foolishly spouts foolish questions! If you had any common sense, then you would be so quick to remember that if someone sees a loved one that had passed away, then they would naturally focus more on the fact they are seeing that person again rather than what they're wearing. Combine that with the darkness covering the bloodstain, then it would make sense as to why she wouldn't notice."
The Judge nodded. "Hmm, yes, that does make sense."
Oh, dear... Iris thought, dropping her head down.
"Now, witness, tell us what happened next," von Karma demanded and Maggey delivered.
"I tried to calm Dolly down when I realized she was still worked up from murdering that lawyer guy."
"HOLD IT! The...lawyer guy...?" Iris asked hesitantly, sweat dripping from her brow as she knew what this meant.
"Y'know, your employer, your mentor..." Maggey said before flashing a malicious Cheshire grin at Iris. "Your coffee-chugging excuse of a-"
"We get it, Ms. Byrde..." Iris growled, tempted to strangle the vile woman. "I would just like to know. What was Dahlia Hawthorne like during that time?"
"She was pretty worked up over having killed that Armando guy," Maggey said. "She was smiling, barely forming any coherent words, she was just too excited from it all. All she kept saying was 'I killed him...I finally killed him' over and over."
"Did Dahlia's spirit say or do anything else after that?" Iris asked.
"Not really."
Iris sighed. "I see...anyways, what happened next, Ms. Byrde?"
"After calming her down, I took her to the Channeling Chamber."
Pearl raised frowned as she recalled the day of the murder. Something wasn't right...
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "Ms. Byrde, I-"
"Mystic Iris?" Pearl said, causing the lawyer to turn in her direction.
"Pearl, I'm in the middle of a trial right now," Iria whispered, leaning down to her little sister's size. "What is it?"
"Maggey said she took Mystic Maya to the Channel Chamber right?" Pearl whispered in Iris's ear. "It's just that…"
Von Karma crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, not standing that the defense decided to waste time chatting with her little sister rather continuing the trial. She would've whipped Iris for it if it weren't for the possibility of accidentally hitting the child next to her.
Morgan and Maggey, on the other hand, felt a sense of curiosity as to what the child was telling Iris. Surely, it must be important; why else would Iris stop the trial for a brief moment otherwise?
It was then Iris whispered thank you to Pearl and turned back to Maggey with a sly grin on her face. Maggey had to admit, seeing Iris grin like that was unnerving.
"Ms. Byrde, was Dahlia calm by that time?" she asked.
"I guess so..." Maggey said with a shrug. "Maybe killing your boss made her feel a lot better."
"I'd like to feel a lot better too, Ms. Iris Hawthorne..." von Karma said with her whip at the ready. "The sooner the better..."
Iris grimaced, rubbing the part of her face that von Karma previously struck. She had to finish this quickly.
"And Morgan was the only one in the Channeling Chamber, you know?" Maggey added. "Maybe you can-"
"Was there anything you found strange, unusual, or out of place?" Iris pressed.
"What do you mean, Rissy?" Maggey asked.
"I mean did you notice anything strange when you were going to the Channeling Chamber, Ms. Bryde?" Iris said. "Anything strange, anything out of place?"
Maggey paused for a moment in thought, then shook her head. "No, nothing strange."
"Think harder, Ms. Byrde!" Iris shouted, raising her fists high to slam them against her desk. "I know you can remember something!"
"I can't!" Maggey shouted back. "I didn't see anything special there!"
"That's not good enough! You have to explain yourself clearly to this court!"
"Ms. Hawthorne," the Judge said, "do you think that whether or not there was something odd on the way to the Channeling Chamber is all that important?"
Iris nodded. "It is, Your Honor."
"Very well. Ms. Byrde, if you will, please include a statement about this in your testimony."
Maggey frowned in confusion. "I don't know why, but sure..."
"I didn't see anyone on the way to the Channeling Chamber."
Iris couldn't suppress her grin. Got you!
"OBJECTION!" Iris shouted, pointing her finger at Maggey. "You say that you didn't anyone on the way to the Channeling Chamber, but I'm afraid that's impossible!"
Maggey flinched, while Morgan turned to Iris in surprise. Just what was that woman planning?
"Everyone, as you recall, I decided to take my dear sister Pearl here to the trial today," Iris began, gesturing to Pearl, who laughed nervously and gave a small adorable wave.
Von Karma smirked. "Interesting, you have a semi-intelligent look on your face. So? What's so special about this child?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all..." Iris said, her smirk transforming into a grin. "It just so happens that at the time of the murder, Pearl was playing in the center garden."
"WHAT?!" Morgan roared out in shock, causing everyone in court to turn attention to her. "Pearl, didn't I tell-!"
whp-CRACK!
"Aaack!"
"It's not your turn to talk, Morgan Fey!" von Karma snapped. "Ms. Iris Hawthorne, you said that this child was in the garden, correct?"
"Yup!" Iris said, popping the 'p'. "Which means anyone walking through the area would have to have seen her! So, Ms. Byrde, what do you have to say to that!?"
Maggey hyperventilated, hiding her face and pulling at her hair as the stress began to overtake her.
"OBJECTION!" Von Karma intervened. "She was leading her lover at that time, Ms. Iris Hawthorne! Do you honestly think she would have noticed a simple child playing!? Preposterous!"
"OBJECTION!" Iris fired back. "It's not preposterous, and I can prove it!"
It was then Iris revealed a certain object she had taken from Fey Manor. It took her a long while to get the police to approve it as evidence. Iris hoped that this plan would work.
"...All that talk and you show an old, cracked pot?" von Karma scoffed. "What's that going to prove?"
"Wait...that's the Sacred Urn!" Morgan shouted, turning to give Iris her signature demonic glare. "What have you done to it, you worthless woman!?"
"S-she didn't do anything, Mother!" Pearl suddenly shouted, everyone in the courtroom now turning to her. She cowered for a while at how many people stared at her but managed to steel her nerves. "I...I was playing in the Winding Way during that day and accidentally broke the urn."
"You WHAT?!"
Pearl shrieked and hid behind Iris, who held her protectively as Morgan seethed in rage, glaring at them with intense hatred.
"YOU STUPID, CLUMSY EXCUSE OF A CHILD!" Morgan roared out, almost foaming at the mouth. "I TOLD YOU TO BEHAVE LIKE YOU SHOULD AND YOU DISOBEY ME LIKE THIS?! WHEN THIS IS OVER, I WILL PERSONALLY-!"
whp-CRACK!
"AAAAAARRGH!"
"Know your place!" von Karma snapped. "And as for you, Ms. Iris Hawthorne...why...why do I feel you're about to ruin my beautiful day...?"
"As Pearl stated, she broke the urn and felt so guilty about it that she tried to fix it..." Iris paused for dramatic effect before pointing her finger at Maggey, "while sitting right in the middle of the Winding Way!"
"W-WHAAAAT!?" Maggey shouted, her jaw-dropping to the floor.
"Tell me, Ms. Byrde, how come you didn't notice that?!" Iris demanded. "Pearl was right there in the Winding Way at the time. She was hard at work, putting the pieces of the urn back together as you can see. If you couldn't see that while you were walking, I'm afraid I'll have to declare you legally blind!"
Maggey snarled in response, glaring hatefully at Iris and Pearl.
"No response, Ms. Byrde?" Iris mocked. "If that's the case, I believe I have proven one thing. Ms. Byrde, you are quite the masterful liar!"
"Grraagh!" Maggey shouted, sweating dripping from her forehead.
"Ms. Hawthorne, you need to watch what you say!" the Judge said.
Iris shook her head. "The one who needs to watch what she's saying is the witness! So, Ms. Byrde, tell us where you really were at the time of the murder!"
"OBJECTION!" von Karma shouted. "The witness already testified that, you foolish fool!"
"Y-yeah! I was sleeping in the Side Room!" Maggey said.
"Oh, really?" Iris said. "Recalling your testimony, you said that you were asleep in the Side Room during the time of the murder; but I'm afraid I've found a contradiction to that statement!"
"A contradiction!?" the Judge asked. "Where is this contradiction!?"
"Earlier in your testimony, Ms. Byrde, you made the following statement."
"And Morgan was the only one in the Channeling Chamber, you know?"
"S-so? W-what does it have to d-do with anything!?" Maggey asked.
"It's very simple," Iris said. "Ms. Byrde, how do you know that fact?"
Maggey tensed up, staying silent.
"I concede that Ms. Fey was the only person in the Channeling Chamber," Iris said. "However, someone who was asleep in the Side Room could not have known that!"
"I...I..." Maggey breathed heavily, trying to think of the right words to say. "D-Dolly told me about it! She went to the Side Room since I was there!"
"Yes, but how did Dahlia know you were exactly there at the time of a murder?!" Iris countered. "With the hectic scenario involved, it would be unlikely for one to think you'd still be there.
"Which means Ms. Byrde, you did go to the Channeling Chamber. However, you didn't go there by the Winding Way!"
Maggey remained silent, holding her head down as she tugged at her hair again.
"B-but look at the guide map!" the Judge said. "The only way to go between the Side Room and Channeling Chamber is through the Winding Way!"
Iris nodded. "Yes, which is why I have to ask you, Ms. Byrde. Where were you at the time of the murder!?"
"OBJECTION!" von Karma shouted. "Don't ask a question made from a baseless assumption, Ms. Iris Hawthorne!"
Iris looked startled. "What do you mean by that?"
"Considering you yourself brought it up, you might as well answer your own question!" von Karma then whipped her desk and made a threatening pose. "Tell us where the witness was at the time of the murder!"
"O-oh, um..." Iris stuttered and rubbed her chin in thought. "Well...?"
"Do you have any idea?" Pearl asked, looking concerned.
"Well..." Iris paused, glancing away from Pearl to go back to her thoughts.
Think, Iris, think! Where could Maggey be at the time of the murder? She knows where Morgan was despite sleeping in the Side Room...and I highly doubt that there's a secret compartment. So that would mean...
"That Ms. Byrde was at the Channeling Chamber, of course!" Iris shouted, causing everyone to gasp in shock.
"The Channeling Chamber!?" the Judge asked incredulously.
"Isn't that the crime scene!?" von Karma added, gritting her teeth and tightening her whip.
Iris nodded. "Yes, Ms. Byrde was at the crime scene!"
"HOLD IT!" von Karma shouted. "Ms. Iris Hawthorne, have you lost your mind!? Yesterday's testimony stated that only the victim and the defendant were in the Chamber where the channeling started!"
"Yes! Yes, that is correct!" the Judge said. "Please, explain yourself, Ms. Hawthorne!"
Iris thought for a moment. Yes, where would she...oh!
"It's simple, Your Honor," Iris said. "Ms. Byrde was hiding at the scene of the crime."
"I-I was hiding!?" Maggey shouted, stomping her foot. "W-what the hell are you going on about!?"
"Yes, this is ridiculous!" Morgan added. "And besides, where on earth would she be hiding at that time!?"
Alright, Iris, time to let it out! Iris thought as she took a deep breath before saying, "Right here, of course! Behind the folding screen!"
"B-behind the folding screen-?!" the Judge asked.
whp-CRACK!
"AaAargh!"
"Explain yourself now, Ms. Iris Hawthorne!" von Karma demanded.
"While yesterday's testimony did say that only the victim and defendant were in the scene of the crime, there is a possibility that Ms. Byrde was already there before the Channeling began," Iris said. "And where Ms. Byrde was hiding, you ask? It's simple. She was hiding behind the folding screen with the help of this!"
Iris then gestured to her next evidence, the broken clothing box she saw in the Side Room yesterday.
"As you can see by the box's length, a person can easily hide inside it with no problems whatsoever!"
"OBJECTION!" von Karma shouted. "Foolish fool that makes up the most foolishly foolish claims! That clothing box is from-!"
"The Side Room? That there's no proof that it was at the time of the crime?" Iris finished for her. "Then perhaps you should look at this folding screen and the box and see any similarities."
Von Karma snarled. "You foolish fool, there's nothing-wait...!"
"Yes! As you can see, the folding screen and the clothing box are highly damaged, both of them even having the same pattern of damage," Iris began. "As we confirmed from yesterday's testimony, it was that both the defendant and the victim fought in the Channeling Chamber, and their battle resulted in one of them crashing into the folding screen.
"And at the time of the fight, this clothing box was sitting behind the folding screen, which is why it got damaged when both either defendant or the victim crashed into it!"
"Nnngh...!" Maggey grunted, gritting her teeth as she sweated nervously. Morgan also shared her sentiments, struggling to remain calm.
"And as for why you were hiding there...isn't it obvious?" Iris asked rhetorically to the courtroom. "You hid in that box behind the folding screen, biding your time and waiting for the right opportunity to kill Diego Armando!"
Maggey and Morgan gasped in shock. Also, the gallery began discussing amongst themselves, some of them in a debate on what Iris was implying.
The Judge pounded his gavel. "Order! Order! Ms. Hawthorne are you saying that-!?"
"HOLD IT!" von Karma interrupted, revealing the picture shown before. "T-then this picture, Ms. Iris Hawthorne! Are you saying that the woman in this photo is Ms. Maggey Byrde!?"
Iris nodded confidently. "Without a doubt! She was hiding inside the clothing box and wore a medium's costume to masquerade as Maya Fey! She had it planned from the beginning to kill Diego Armando and pin the blame on Maya Fey!"
"S-such idiocy..." Morgan muttered, gritting her teeth as sweat dripped down her brow.
"I couldn't agree more," von Karma added. "I've had enough of this foolish drabble of yours, Ms. Iris Hawthorne! First of all, if what you said was correct, then how exactly did the witness disguise herself to look like the channeled spirit of Dahlia Hawthorne!? As you can see, Ms. Maggey Byrde's far from being a spirit channeler!"
"That's right, Rissy!" Maggey shouted. "How are you going to explain that!?"
"With some makeup, of course," Iris retorted. "During the investigation, a large supply of special effects makeup was recovered from the Side Room and it was inside the broken clothing box. It was the type of make-up actors would use to completely change their appearances."
Morgan paled at the sight of the makeup, then turned to glare at Maggey, who gave her a nervous shrug.
"Before I go on, I would like to ask Ms. Morgan Fey a question," Iris said, staring at her mother with narrow eyes, causing her to tense up. "Why is a set of special effects makeup in Fey Manor?"
Morgan sweated profusely, her eyes darting around as if trying to find a way to escape. "I...I don't see this as relevant to the case-"
"Why is a set of special effects makeup in Fey Manor?" Iris repeated, crossing her arms.
"Iris, you are wasting the court's time and mine with-!"
"ANSWER THE QUESTION, DAMN IT!" Iris roared out, shocking everyone in the court. Pearl especially looked unnerved, not seeing her older sister in this angered state before.
She's finally letting all that anger out, a voice whispered in Pearl's head, chuckling. I knew Flower had it in her...
Pearl raised a brow and looked around. It was that voice again. Where was it coming from?
Morgan also looked disturbed, almost quivering in fear ar Iris' anger. "Fine. I..." she paused, closing her eyes shamefully. "I can't..."
"Say it," Iris demanded.
"You have to-"
"Say it..."
"Iris, I-"
"Mother, please, JUST SAY IT!" Pearl shrieked out, causing Iris and everyone else in the courtroom to stare at her. Pearl gasped and covered her own mouth.
Morgan growled at Pearl before sighing in defeat. "Fine. I used that makeup to make it look like I can channel spirits. There, are you two happy?" she said, gritting her teeth.
"You...used makeup...?" Pearl asked, visibly shaking.
"To make it look like you can Channel?" Iris finished with a sigh. Honestly, she wasn't surprised at that. Morgan had always been envious of Maya's side of the family for being able to channel spirits. The idea that she'd play pretend in having this ability made sense to her. Pearl, on the other hand...
As much as you hate to admit it, Pearl, you have to face the facts, the voice returned, its tone noticeably soft. Your mom isn't a saint, and you know it...
"Why, mother?" Pearl asked, trembling. "Why would you do such a thing...?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Morgan said. "Mystic Maya's side of the family had always been the main family in the Fey Clan. When Mystic Maya is sent to prison, there will be no one to look after the clan.
"I may not have spiritual power, but you Pearl..." Morgan chuckled sinisterly. "You have the ability that the women in our family branch does not! With the idea of me having powers that developed late, as well as your natural talent, we can finally take our place as the true main branch of the Fey Clan!"
"So all of this...was just to take over the Fey Clan...?" Pearl choked up, her mind reeling from the revelation. She stood there silent, her body not moving as her mind tried to process the information presented to her. She could hardly believe any of this. The idea that her mother would fake channeling to satisfy herself sounded so appalling...yet somewhere deep in her mind, she knew this was true.
Morgan opened her mouth to answer, only for Iris to step in and speak up.
"You've established a perfect motivation for your role as an accomplice, Ms. Fey," she accused. "I knew the court would wonder as to how Ms. Byrde would be capable of committing the murder, but as you can see, it would make sense that she had Morgan Fey to aid her in the plot. Not only does she have the motive to commit the murder, but she also has the resources and the authority to give Ms. Byrde access to the necessary tools and location!"
Morgan growled and glared her demonic stare at Iris, who flinched at it at first; only to counter back with her own glare, one fueled by the determination in bringing her cruel "mother" to justice.
"HOLD IT!" von Karma shouted. "As much as I want to hear more about this family drama, I want to finish this case now. Your theory is interesting, Ms. Iris Hawthorne, I'll give you that. However, there's one detail you've yet to address.
"What is Ms. Byrde's motive?"
Iris paused, raising a brow. "I'm sorry...?" she asked.
Von Karma chuckled. "From what you said, it would take a tremendous amount of effort to commit this murder, Ms. Iris Hawthorne. Teaming up with Morgan Fey, putting on special effects makeup, pretending to be a possessed channeler, all to murder Diego Armando. Now, why on earth would Ms. Byrde even go through all that effort?"
"W-well, we've established that Ms. Byrde had a romantic relationship with Dahlia Hawthorne," Iris said. "She was upset at how Diego Armando put her in the prison that led to her death and-"
"Oh please, are we really going to do the vengeful lover excuse!?" Maggey shouted. "And besides, if I really wanted revenge, shouldn't I have done sooner than now!?"
"W-what do you mean by that!?" the Judge asked.
"Listen carefully, you old fart," Maggey said. "It's been over four years since I met Dolly in the prison. If I wanted to avenge her, I wouldn't have waited this long to do that."
She then raised her pointer finger, smirked, and said, "Also, the whole thing about Diego Armando summoning Dolly and me being in that temple...let me ask you, Rissy, did he ever try to look for me there?"
"N-no..."
"Then him trying to summon Dolly and me being at the same place was a total coincidence! I didn't know who he was and I'm sure as hell he didn't know me!"
"B-but he had notes and newspaper clippings involving you!" Iris pointed out.
"That came AFTER someone leaked my romance with Dahlia to the media!" Maggey countered. "I'm pretty sure he put me in those notes after that."
"B-but, but..."
"Face it, Ms. Iris Hawthorne," von Karma said. "You've failed to support your own theory."
"N-no...nononono!" Iris cried out. "P-please wait, I-I just...!"
"There's no need, Ms. Hawthorne, the court has heard enough," the Judge said.
"Your Honor, if you just give me more time I...I...!" Iris trailed off, frantically searching through her files to find something, ANYTHING that can turn this case around.
Pearl was also getting worried. Despite her age, she fully understood the gravity of the situation and seeing her older sister caught in the ropes after managing to get this far was distressing. If they didn't do something soon, Mystic Maya would pay the price for a crime she didn't even commit!
If only there was some way I can help, Pearl thought sorrowfully.
There is a way you can help, Kid, the voice said in an assuring tone. You just gotta let me in.
"While the defense has brought up an interesting theory, there is no further evidence that she can provide to back it up," the Judge said, raising his gavel. "As such, I now declare the cross-examination-"
"HOLD IT!" an all too familiar voice shouted, getting the court's attention. Iris herself turned and gasped, taking a step back as she gazed at his sly, charismatic grin.
"S-sir..."
Court Record:
Evidence:
1. Iris' Attorney Badge
2. Magatama
3. Diego Armando's Research (formerly Newspaper about Dahlia)
4. Black Key
5. Folding Screen
6. Diego Armando's Autopsy Report
7. Floor Plans
8. Knife
9. Chloroform Cloth
10. Robe
11. Headpiece
12. Broken Clothing Box
13. Special Effects Makeup
14. Sacred Urn
Profiles:
1. Diego Armando
2. Maya Fey
3. Pearl Fey
4. Ini Miney
5. Dahlia Hawthorne
6. Morgan Fey
7. Detective Gumshoe
8. "Maggey Byrde"
9. Franziska von Karma
10. Dr. Grey Turner/Dr. Black N. Blu
11. Ami Fey