"And to think, all this time I had no idea this existed!" Professor Slughorn said looking around him in awe. Appreciating that apparating into the Moroi Court might cause some consternation, he and Shacklebolt had used a portkey to travel to the nearby woods, and walked to the front gates where they were met by Adrian. After their meeting in Antep, an unlikely friendship was emerging between Adrian and the former potions master, the two equally interested in learning about the other's world. As Adrian used the most picturesque streets to lead them to their accommodations in the palace, both wizards were surveying the bustling Moroi capital with interest.
Grateful that each had forgone their typical wizarding robes for more typical attire, it allowed them to blend in more readily. While the rotund Slughorn could never pass as a Moroi, being taller and leaner Shacklebolt could pass as a guardian. In any case, they attracted little attention as Adrian ushered them into the Palace and through to meet with Her Majesty.
Situated in the coziest of her sitting rooms – cozy being a relative term – Adrian was pleased to see Sydney's look of relief when he appeared. While she'd only been at Court two days, sitting with the Queen of the Moroi world, and Abe Mazur, unnerved her, even though Alchemist Brennan was also in attendance. The appearance of at least one friendly face calmed her a little, as did the presence of two more humans. While the stately Shacklebolt was imposing, it was difficult to be fearful around the amiable, jolly Slughorn.
"Thank you for your attendance," Her Majesty said, before offering her latest guests refreshments.
"Just a small one," Slughorn replied, accepting the very generous serve of brandy that was offered, while Shacklebolt declined.
"We're just waiting on Rufus Ivashkov, and then we can begin."
As if her mentioning him made him appear, there was a knock at the door and Rufus entered when bidden. Taking a seat beside Adrian on an overstuffed brocade chaise lounge, Abe poured him a brandy and passed it to the Moroi Lord.
"As you know, tomorrow we start the trial for Natasha Ozera and Ethan Moore. It will be a private, closed hearing with Guardian Croft, myself and three members of our Royal Council. Everyone here will be called as witnesses to attest to the confession you witnessed at Mr Mazur's home in Antep. Following that, Veritaserum will be administered to Ms. Ozera, and then she will also be compelled to tell the truth. Is all the paperwork in order?" Ariana asked the two wizards.
"Yes, Ma'am. Our Minister of Magic signed off on it himself," Shacklebolt replied.
"I will be I touch personally to thank him, of course, but please know how very much I appreciate your cooperation in this matter."
Shacklebolt and Slughorn both nodded. As an Auror, Shacklebolt was used to undertaking missions and investigations for the Ministry. However, Slughorn was thrilled to be involved in such a cloak-and-dagger endeavor, and very curious about the hereto unknown to him group of vampires and their guardians. And being permitted to brew another batch of Veritaserum wasn't without its appeal, either!
"Rufus? To ensure impartiality, no Ivashkov will sit on the jury. Similarly, the Ozeras will also not be represented." Privately, Ariana thought that the wider Ozera clan would be more likely to convict Tasha given the dishonor her brother and sister-in-law had already brought the family – but given the charge and potential consequences, things had to be right and be seen to be right. "Also, as the sole Dragomir representative, I think it is appropriate Vasillisa not serve given her involvement with Ms. Hathaway and the accused being her boyfriend's aunt. In any case, I have heard she intends to travel directly to Lehigh with Lord Ozera to resume their studies there."
Rufus mumbled that those arrangements seemed reasonable, although he knew several members of his family would welcome the opportunity to avenge their relative, the late Queen.
"Tomorrow, I have scheduled an emergency Council meeting where three eligible Council members will be randomly selected. The full Council will be told about the accusations, and the names of the defendants, however the nature of the evidence and the identity of the witnesses will be withheld. Only I, Croft, and the three other Council members, will hear and know of each individual's involvement in this as per previously agreed parameters." On the surface her words seemed benign enough – she had promised each witness as much anonymity as she could offer – but a brief look at Abe spelled it out to him. She expected him to honor his agreement and take no credit for the scheme that saved his daughter.
Abe nodded his assent, but would make sure his daughter and her lover received their payout before he allowed Croft to take credit. He already felt slighted that someone else would take credit for his machinations. At the very least, he wanted his daughter to profit from it! It wasn't that he couldn't more than adequately provide for his only child… It was a matter of principle! Never give away for free what you can be paid for. Besides which – his daughter, and in some ways even that oversized lug she loved, were owed. A debt he would ensure was at least partially repaid.
Ariana lay in her bed, pondering how tomorrow would run. She had no doubt, given the weight of evidence against her, Tasha Ozera would be found guilty, alongside her co-accused Moore. The issue was, what punishment should be enforced? She had checked and rechecked the relevant laws and precedent - and in cases like these, she would be the one to decide and impose the sentence.
Moore was relatively easy. Tarasov, although she'd need to work out for how long. However, as Tatiana's murderer, Ozera was another matter entirely. She had every option open to her, from a full pardon through to a death sentence. While – given the nature of the crime – the foremost was certainly not going to happen, Ariana had to seriously consider the later. Murdering a Moroi, and in fact regicide, was the most egregious and extreme crime in their world. While, personally, she thought a lifetime in Tarasov deprived of company, decent food, and any comfort would be the crueler option, politically she suspected the only option was to sentence Natasha to death.
It had been over a century since a Moroi had been condemned to death, but at least there was some precedent. There were various options, yet each seemed inhumane. Knowing what almost certainly needed to happen, Ariana decided to give Natasha at least a little agency in her own demise. If what she suspected tomorrow did occur, she would give her predecessor's murderer the choice of taking a lethal overdose of medications, or having an odorless gas pumped into her room to take her out.
Far kinder than the pain Tatiana must have endured at the end of her life, Ariana finally managed to drift off to sleep – if not happy with her decision, at least resolved.
Trying to sleep on the vinyl mattress in her cell, Tasha was restless. At first, she thought this whole situation was something she could deny, escape, or excuse. But now she realized her fate. She was either going to die in Tarasov or just die. And she did not know which she'd prefer.
Letting her mind wander, she thought about Dimitri. The man she'd thought was the love of her life. With the benefit of hindsight, she appreciated he'd never cared for her in the way she'd fantasized he had. In fact, when she took the time to ponder it, she recognized from the moment he'd met her, Rose had always had his heart. Even once he believed her to be dead, he was unprepared to move on. Just one more blow she must endure.
Thinking back to her early twenties, before Lucas and Moira decided to turn, the world had been her oyster. Rich, royal, and pretty, she was considered an eligible match. She might not have been the debutante of the season, but she'd attracted her fair share of interest. Her brother and sister-in-law destroyed all that in an instant. Disfiguring and disgracing her by their actions, she'd become a social pariah left to raise her orphaned nephew. Any chance of a life of her own quickly forgotten. She'd been stupid to think Belikov might see a future with her, given no one else had.
And now she was in prison, and Christian would inherit a small fortune yet also more shame. Her only hope, now, was that the Princess would stand by him. Because, one way or another, he was soon going to lose the last family member he had.
"I'm nervous," Rose confessed, lying in Dimitri's arms in their shared bedroom in St. Petersburg. "What if she is found not guilty? What if she gets off?!"
Despite his own misgivings, Dimitri did his best to reassure his beloved.
"I can't see that happening. Your Dad broke you out of jail and hid you for months, even from your own mother. There's no way he would chance taking the two back to Court without a certain conviction. But is that all you are worried about?" he probed, thinking there might be more to this. He didn't want to voice it, but he was worried maybe she was doubting their love. That she was doubting him. God knows, in the past, he'd given her reason to, but he'd since vowed to show her every day how much he adored her.
"Yes…" Rose admitted with a sigh. "I am a little worried about going out into the human world. I mean, I have done it before, but this feels very different… And I will be leaving Lissa…"
"It doesn't have to be forever," Dimitri reassured Rose, while pulling her closer to him, thankful their union was not the specific cause for her concern. "You heard what Abe said. We can rejoin the Moroi world any time we want with favorable allocations."
Rose sighed, again. She just didn't know what she wanted. Well – other than being with Dimitri. That was the one thing she was sure of.
"Baby? Maybe let's just see what happens? We can work it out as we go along?" he said quietly.
Dimitri did not want to mention it, but Pavel's private chat with him the day before, promising Abe's financial or whatever support the pair needed, had been particularly reassuring. Yes – it had been accompanied by several threats of violence and retribution if he dared to hurt Rose again. However, after living without her – and his self-blame for all he'd done as a Strigoi and then afterward – he knew he could never put her through that again. She was it, for him. Forever.
"Maybe let's try it for three to six months?" he suggested. "We can re-evaluate then?" He paused before he voiced his next words. "And perhaps, after that time away, before we decide where to next, we could visit my family?"
Rose was glad they were spooning, so Dimitri could not see her large smile. She wanted, so much, to see the Belikovas again. And she knew nothing would bring his family greater happiness than seeing their restored son.
"I love that idea," Rose admitted, snuggling even closer into Dimitri's embrace. "Russia is starting to feel more and more like home. I like us sharing this together, too."
"I understand," Dimitri replied. "I never thought America would ever feel like home, but it is when you're there."
"So, we're good to travel with Lissa and Christian back to the States?" Rose checked.
"I guess so. Although I am not looking forward to catching up with your mother," Dimitri admitted.
"You and me both," Rose murmured, as she closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.
By the time they woke up the next day, Natasha and Ethan's fates were decided. Both had been found guilty of their crimes: Tasha regicide and attempting to conceal her crime by framing another, Ethan for aiding and abetting a crime and as an accessory. Sentencing would occur tomorrow. Pavel delicately delivered the information over breakfast, thoughtfully cognizant one of the accused's relatives was there to hear the news. While Rose was pleased Tasha would be made to pay for all she had done, she was also aware how hard this would be for Christian.
"I'm still a little tired," he said in a small voice a few minutes after Pavel delivered the news. "I might go try to sleep a little more before the flight, so the jet lag is easier."
They were due to fly out tomorrow, so it was a reasonable excuse, but no one was fooled. Lissa gave Rose a meaningful look before excusing herself to follow him, citing the same reason.
"She needs to pay for what she did," Dimitri said decisively about Tasha's conviction, wrapping his arm around Rose's shoulder.
"I know," Rose said. "I just hate Sparky has to suffer the fall out, again!"
"Careful, Roza – someone might think you actually care," Dimitri teased, trying to introduce a little levity, and referring to the long-standing friction between herself and her best friend's boyfriend.
"I will deny it if asked," Rose replied with a naughty look and a small cheeky giggle.
The plane ride was… quiet.
Christian was, understandably, morose. He said little, ate little, but drank a fair bit. Lissa spent most of the time beside him trying to draw him back out of his shell, with limited success. She was trying to reassure him as best as she could, and Rose could tell the less contact with her, and Dimitri, the better - so they stayed away.
Pavel was busy on his laptop much of the time doing Vlad knows what, the guardians with them sat down the back, while Rose and Dimitri sat side by side, cuddling and quietly talking about what the future might hold. Both nervous, there was a certain amount of excitement, too.
"Do you have any idea about these 'job interviews' Pavel has arranged?" Dimitri asked Rose, discussing a comment Pavel had made just before they'd stepped onboard Abe's airplane.
"Not at all," Rose grumbled, a little discombobulated to be pout of the loop when, after all, it was their future! "He just said we'd be there with Mom for two days, and then he'd worked out a couple of job interviews for us."
"What are we meant to say?" Dimitri fretted. "It's not like we can tell the truth…"
"Pavel is going to hang with us while we hang with Mom," Rose explained. "He said he'd tell us more, then."
"So, two days with your angry mother and your father's right-hand man. Oh, what a treat!" Dimitri groaned.
"That's how I know you love me," Rose replied, snuggling against her man, and flicking a blanket over the two of them as they each reclined their seats.