Blood Double (God Wars #1)(46)
"We are here to pass judgment, not to bid on an available female," Gavin's voice turned surly.
"Very well, tell us how this one," the vampire indicated Skel Hawer, "is involved with this female."
"Allow me to show the images." Gavin clicked a tiny remote and a huge vid-screen dropped from the ceiling. Another click made images appear. Had these images been available all along, and only now coming to light? I noticed immediately that Norian Keef was absent from these proceedings. The coward. I was forced, in my seat on Queen Lissa's throne, to witness my own brutal beating at the hands of Skel Hawer.
The vid recordings included sound, too, and in my lucid moments during the beating, I'd shrieked in pain. Each blow that landed made me flinch, and as I was dressed and looked like another, I wasn't allowed to utter a sound at the horror I witnessed. At that moment, I couldn't decide which was worse—the beating or being forced to watch it in its entirety now.
After the images were shown and I shook in silent shock and rage, Rigo, ancient vampire that he was, read from comp-vid records that Skel had flown into a fury after Erithia Cordan's murder and latched onto the first suspect without following proper investigative procedures.
Yes, I'd been displayed in the images, aging, graying, in poor health and disfigured by an unfortunate past, sitting on a bunk in the Queen's dungeon before Skel arrived. He'd then beaten me nearly to death. Too bad the vid didn't include Gavin's appearance three days later and my subsequent, unwilling passage into vampirism. I wanted everyone to hear that I'd said no. No vampire was supposed to turn anyone without their consent. I had certainly not given mine.
It wasn't comfortable sitting through Skel Hawer's trial after witnessing my near-death. I couldn't stop trembling. Would Reemagar hear my plea if I sent mindspeech? I sent it anyway while Skel, under compulsion, described his crime in detail. I wanted to weep as I formed mental words.
Reemagar, please don't let them see me shake, I pleaded.
I will deal with this. Pheligar, also shielded from the vampires, appeared at Reemagar's side. Breanne, weep if you must. The ones inside this chamber will not know it. I sobbed.
*
Skel was terrified he'd be asked about his doings following his beating of the aging bitch, Breanne Hayworth, but they hadn't asked those questions. Fasil Bow and the assassination plots would continue, with none the wiser. He hoped, too, that Erithia would use her considerable resources to free him from his dungeon cell before he was transported to Evensun in a week.
*
Breanne's Journal
"I hear Skel was sentenced to Evensun." Teeg's words were clipped as I walked beside him later. He ignored my red eyes and occasional sniffle, just as his father had after the Council meeting was concluded. That wasn't the worst my day might hold. Not by light-years.
Stellan folded to Teeg's side, handed a comp-vid to Teeg and refused to glance in my direction. I'd already read it in Teeg's face after briefly lowering my shield, but the reality of it was so much worse. Teeg had placed compulsion on Stellan and his brothers. He'd also placed it on Kooper and Sheriff Trevor. My shoulders drooped and I sniffled again. "Straighten up," Teeg snapped, compulsion strong in his voice. I wanted to hit him. Shout at him, too, before hitting him again. That desire had never done me any good.
Perhaps it's for the best, I berated myself. I was never destined to have friends. Or lovers. I was only a thing to be used and tossed aside on a whim. Teeg's compulsion was likely the reason I hadn't heard from Kooper—he wasn't aware of my existence, just like Stellan. Steeling my resolve, I realized I'd have to go hunting Erithia Cordan and her obsessed contingent myself.
*
Kay's Journal
"Kay, what happened? You can tell us," Frank coaxed. I sat in the middle of Frank's bed, between Frank and Shane. Trace lounged on a chair nearby, watching us.
"I don't want to," I whispered. The younger, more frightened side of me was about to crumble. The older, more reasonable side cursed myself and what I'd done. I'd handed information to the Vice-Director of the Alliance Security Detail during a brief visit, and he was certain to come sniffing after more. At least I'd gained employment at NorthStar using my official name, Kalia Sollo. I'd likely have been jailed already if I'd used my alias, Kay Zahn.
They'd seen my scars after all—that was evident, and that had resulted in a visit from Lendill Schaff. Iversti always drew sun wheels on his victims' flesh with a long, thin dagger. Iversti also had connections to the bigger and badder. Cull's name, too, would hit a dead end when it was researched—that name had been created from the ether, just as my records had been.
"Come on, sissy, let's see that middle of yours. We're healers, remember?"
"Frank, you can't fix this," I muttered and attempted to climb over Shane to get away.
"No, stay here with us. We'll wait until you feel better," Frank sighed. "Put your head on my shoulder, baby girl."
"But why?" My voice was muffled against Frank's shoulder.
"Shhh," Frank soothed. Shane reached over and touched my forehead with his fingers. I was unconscious immediately.
*
"You know this will be difficult for me," Kevis murmured, examining the scars on Kalia's body.
"Kev, you're the best at this," Frank begged. "Somebody tortured her. We have to get to the bottom of this. She practically runs away if a straight man approaches her."