On the Edge of Destiny (Book 3) (A Vampire SEAL Novel) (19 page)

“Let’s worry about the trial,” Dad said, glancing at his watch again. “It’s time. Tripp will be outside. Sam and I will go in and take our seats. Pumpkin, listen to Mr. Rose.”

I nodded as Dad exited.

I pushed thoughts of Webb, Ben, and my DNA aside for now. I took in a deep breath and prayed that I would walk out of this building a free vampire.

Chapter 17

W
hen I crossed the threshold into the courtroom, my nerves sprang to life, my hands shook, and my breathing ramped up.

Mr. Rose strolled in ahead of me, confident and professional. Tripp lagged by my side as though we were walking down to the altar to get married.

“Clasp your hands in front of you and breathe,” Tripp whispered. “Don’t look at anyone.”

Of course, as soon as he said that my reflexes took control, and I glanced around. A few familiar faces sat among the crowd. Mr. Banks, head of security at St. Anne’s Academy, sat next to Ms. Lawrence, the headmistress. Ms. Weston, a teacher at the school who actually didn’t like me for punching her accidentally, was seated beside Ms. Lawrence; and Ms. Chapman, head of the admin department, took up the first row behind Maddox Tinsley. Directly behind them, my friend Zea Yangstrom sat next to a man who resembled her. Both had curly brown hair, although Zea’s draped her shoulders. She waved and smiled. Wow, I hadn’t seen her since the day she ran out of the bathroom at school. She’d been my only witness to the fight I had with Blake Turner.

I gave Zea a slight nod before leaning into Tripp. “Where’s my dad?” As soon as I asked, I spotted him and Sam in the first row behind Mr. Rose, along with Dr. Vieira. Next to Dr. Vieira was Ms. Costner. Others who I didn’t know filled the remaining chairs. Heads bobbed, whispers buzzed, and stares shot my way.

Suddenly, I had a desire to flee. I glanced around for the exits. What would happen if I did run?

“Don’t worry about anyone. Keep your sights on Mr. Rose,” Tripp said as he opened a small gate.

Reluctantly, I shuffled over to my human attorney. Why did I get the feeling I was walking into hell?

The base of my skull stung as it always did before Dad’s voice entered my head. It felt like a brain freeze from eating ice cream too fast.

Keep your thoughts positive.

I tossed a look over my shoulder, meeting Dad’s green eyes.
Have you ever been in my shoes?

A few times.

Don’t want to know.
I turned and grabbed hold of the arms of the chair as I slowly lowered my butt into it. Tripp saddled into the leather chair on my left and placed a hand on my knee.

My head jerked up. “What are you doing?”

A warm feeling coursed through me, and my body relaxed. I’d forgotten Tripp’s healing abilities were like a drug.

“Thank you.” I sat back and sighed.

Silk black curtains draped the wall behind the high wooden bench in front of me. At a lower height on the right was a raised platform with a chair.

To the left of the judge’s bench, a door creaked open. A tall black-haired guardian walked in from a side entrance. In my world, guardians were equivalent to the human police. Like the sentinels, he was dressed in all black. Instead of the cargo uniform, though, he wore a short-sleeved T-shirt, a simple pair of black pants, and shiny loafers.

“All rise,” the guardian said.

Chairs scraped along the floor, sighs echoed, and a few spectators coughed. Then silence crawled through the cold room as we waited for the judges—or I should say elders. Minutes passed before a familiar face entered. Gregory Hollings, a solicitor who had been lead council in charge of our quarantine case, strode up, taking a seat behind the bench.

Dad grunted.

Something wrong
? I peeked over my shoulder at Dad.

He had a scowl etched into his face.
Nothing. Turn around.

I’d bet he wasn’t too pleased with Hollings being the newly appointed elder. The other two vamps took their seats. All three of them appeared to be the same age, with variations of dark hair and dark eyes. However, I’d given up on ages when I became a vampire. I couldn’t tell how old any vamp was, since the majority of them were fairly young.

Once the elders slid into their chairs, the guardian said, “Please be seated.”

More whispers ensued as we followed the guardian’s orders.

Mr. Rose retrieved a pen from his jacket pocket. Tripp scooted closer to me, and I scanned the nameplates on the bench. Hollings filled the perch on the left, Dyson in the middle, and Radisson on the right.

“Any news from Webb?” I asked Tripp in a low tone, trying to keep my mind from wandering. My stomach was in knots as I waited for the trial to begin.

“No.” His bronze eyes flickered to vampire black for a split second.

“Shouldn’t he have checked in?” I’d thought Webb would’ve at least called by now. I had my phone glued to me. Then again, Dad said in the car before we got to Boston that Webb’s plane had taken off two hours ago, or now three hours. I guessed it depended on where the team was headed.

“Jo, stay focused on the trial,” Tripp said.

I knew I should, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted Webb to call and for me to walk out of here today.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I shielded my mouth with my hand, hoping my voice didn’t make it to the other vampire ears.

One of the judges cleared his throat. “We’re here today to weigh in on the facts of the case between Josephine Mason and St. Anne’s Academy.”

Hearing my name, I turned my attention to the elders’ bench.

“In particular, Ms. Mason’s behavior, and if she is responsible for the death of a newly turned vampire, Blake Turner, on school property. We’ll hear the prosecution’s case first then take a short break. When we return, we’ll hear from the defense. Ms. Tinsley and Mr. Rose, you know the protocol.” Dyson articulated his words clearly and decisively. “Once we’ve heard both sides, Elder Radisson, Elder Hollings, and I will discuss the case and render a decision based on the facts. Lastly, let me remind everyone. Powers are prohibited in this courtroom. Let’s begin. Ms. Tinsley, you have the floor.”

Rising, the prosecuting solicitor smoothed out her fuchsia skirt. “Thank you, Elder Dyson. My client, St. Anne’s Academy, has filed formal charges against Ms. Mason for not only destruction of property, but for the death of a student on school grounds. With that I will call my first witness, Ms. Lawrence.”

Ms. Lawrence rose and stepped around Mr. Banks before gliding to the witness stand like an Olympic skater, graceful and elegant, draped in a black business suit with a pink collared shirt. She unbuttoned her jacket as she took her seat.

Then the guardian approached her and swore her in. His speech wasn’t any different than that of the human court system.

“Ms. Lawrence, how long have you been headmistress of St. Anne’s Academy?” Maddox asked as she walked to stand near Ms. Lawrence.

“Twenty years,” she replied, keeping her eyes on Maddox.

“And during those years, have you seen as much chaos in your school as you had in the two days Jo Mason had been there?” Maddox glanced my way for a brief second.

“We certainly have had our share of outbursts, but no, nothing like her powers or the destruction of school property. And more importantly, we hadn’t had any deaths on school grounds.”

I didn’t know what she was referring to. Was the fight between Blake and me that destructive? I hadn’t taken inventory of my surroundings after he collapsed.

“Please share with the court the estimate for the damage.” Maddox’s voice sounded too excited, as though Ms. Lawrence’s answer was the key to my demise.

“The costs total a half-million dollars.” The headmistress glared my way.

Letting the answer set in, Maddox twirled a pen expertly in her long fingers. The elders eyed her, probably speaking to her telepathically to keep moving.

“And please describe the damage.” The pen rolled over her forefinger then under her middle one.

“The first day, several panes of glass had shattered, auditorium chairs were ripped from their bolts, and blood stained the new carpeting in front of the stage. The second day, the girls’ bathroom was completely demolished from broken tiles, water damage, and stalls completely torn apart,” Ms. Lawrence explained.

“Wow,” someone in the crowd said.

“So in two days, one girl cost you a half million dollars in damage.” Her inflection emphasized every word.

“Objection,” Mr. Rose argued. “We’ve already established the cost.”

“Nothing further.” Maddox puffed up her perky breasts on her way to the table where she sat down.

Mr. Rose stood, buttoning his jacket. “Ms. Lawrence, have you ever had students who’ve used their powers in the school?”

“Yes.”

He inched closer to the witness. “In fact, you always have one or two students who are destructive in nature, whether they hurt another student or damage school property. Correct?”

“Sure. Teenagers will act out.” She angled her head at Mr. Rose.

“Would you agree then new vampires have a hard time controlling their new powers?” He tucked one hand his left pant pocket.

“Mr. Rose, Jo Mason’s powers are not normal.” Ms. Lawrence pursed her lips together.

“Answer the question, Ms. Lawrence. A yes or a no will suffice.”

“Yes,” she sighed. Again her brown eyes sent a laser beam toward me as though she were trying to drill a hole in me.

“Explain to the court your procedures for admitting new students,” Mr. Rose said as he was now standing next to Ms. Lawrence, facing the spectators.

All three elders listened intently as though they were watching a good movie.

“Objection,” Maddox blurted out. “This question doesn’t speak to the matter at hand.”

“A little leeway?” Mr. Rose asked the elders.

The three elders whispered, then Hollings spoke up. “We’ll allow it.”

On a nod, Mr. Rose repeated the question. Maddox huffed.

“Once the application is completed, we request the student’s file from the office of registry. We verify they’ve been approved by the solicitor’s office, and they’re legal vampires.”

“And what do you mean by legal?” Mr. Rose asked.

“For one, we confirm they’ve had the chip implanted. Then we verify they’ve gone through their quarantine. Every student should have their discharge papers from Grayson Manor and a certificate of their chip implant.” Ms. Lawrence fidgeted in her seat.

“Did Blake Turner’s file have both of these documents?” Mr. Rose asked.

“Of course he did,” she said, sounding shocked, as though Mr. Rose was accusing her of not doing her job properly.

“You’re certain of this?”

Maddox stood. “Again, Elders. This question has nothing to do—”

Hollings held up a hand and pinned her with a glare. She eased down onto her chair.

“Mr. Rose, my staff is relentless when it comes to following our laws,” Ms. Lawrence assured him.

“Someone in your government signed the documents. So, can you share with the court whose name is on Blake’s documents?” Mr. Rose continued his questioning.

“Objection.” Maddox’s tone hardened. “How is she supposed to remember names on any of our documents?”

Ms. Lawrence swung her gaze from Maddox to the elders. I did too. Where was Mr. Rose leading her? He’d said he thought someone within our government had to have helped Blake or, even scarier, Edmund. The hairs on my nape stiffened. Was someone in the vampire government working with Edmund? I would’ve turned around to see Dad’s expression, but his voice was in my head.

I’ll kill the bastard
rang loud and clear.

“Ms. Lawrence, answer the question,” Hollings urged, ignoring Maddox’s objection.

All three elders tilted their heads in anticipation.

“I wish I could, but his records have disappeared.” Ms. Lawrence dropped her gaze to her lap.

Maddox sagged in her chair. The elders exchanged surprised glances. Hushed whispers circled the room.

The case started to unravel. I didn’t know if that was good or bad for me.

“How?” Mr. Rose asked, not missing a beat.

“Right after he was declared dead, we went to pull his file. But it was gone. We searched everywhere. And we haven’t been able to locate it since.”

“Someone went to great lengths to make sure you didn’t examine the file closer.” Mr. Rose added evenly.

“Opinion,” Maddox countered. “Not relevant.”

“I’m done.” Mr. Rose sauntered back to the table with a noble air about him.

“Ms. Lawrence you may step down,” Dyson said. “Your next witness, Maddox.”

She called Mr. Banks as the headmistress took her seat back behind Maddox, and Mr. Banks slid into the witness chair. Before Maddox questioned him, the guardian swore him in.

“Mr. Banks, as head of security for St. Anne’s Academy, how many fights have you and your team had to break up?” Maddox started.

“In my ten years at the school, at least one or two a year. None of them worth discussing.” Mr. Banks watched Maddox as she wrote on a piece of paper.

“Then would you say in your time at the school, you’ve never seen anything quite like the mess Ms. Mason inflicted?”

“Objection. Leading the witness,” Mr. Rose piped in.

“Sorry, I’ll rephrase,” she said with a smile in her voice. “Describe the scene on the first day of school, when you and your team entered the auditorium.”

“We found Ms. Weston, one of the teachers”—he waved to where she was sitting—“flat on her back, with the Turner boy pinned underneath her. There was blood everywhere. Chairs had splintered in two. More were piled on top of one another. We found Zea Yangstrom out cold on the floor.”

My only memories of that incident were of Blake’s red eyes and how I wanted to kill him. Okay, I probably shouldn’t reveal that thought to anyone.

“And what did you find when you walked into the girls’ bathroom?” She clasped her hands together on the table.

“We had two people down. The girl, Jewel, was still breathing but pale. The boy, Blake, had several holes on his face with blood-soaked clothes. He, too, was pale. The bathroom looked like a war zone. The stall doors had been torn off their hinges. The mirrors were shattered. The tile on the floors and walls were smashed as though someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.”

Dad grunted behind me. I glanced at Tripp. His lips were curled at the edges as though he was enjoying hearing all this. Either that or he was proud of me.

“And what about Ms. Mason?” Maddox asked.

Mr. Banks ran his hand through his military crew cut. The first time I’d met him, he had been bald.

“She seemed to be in a trance. That’s all I can tell you,” he said, his deep voice resonating.

“And where do you think Blake Turner got the holes on his face?” Maddox asked.