Eleventh Grade Burns(78)

He was lying. Everyone knew he was lying. But still Em said, “Motion granted. On the charge of aiding and abetting Tomas Tod ...”

“A ridiculous charge, good council.” Enrico’s voice piped up from somewhere behind Vlad.

“Enrico, it is only out of our deep respect and admiration for you that this council allows your presence at these hearings. Speak out of turn once more and you may have charges levied against you for interference.” Em’s eyebrows were brought together in irritation. She meant business. She looked at the papers on the table in front of her and said, “Now, on the charge of aiding and abetting Tomas Tod ... I am under the impression that Mr. Tod is alive and well and fleeing his own charges. Is this true?”

Otis wet his lips and said, “As I explained to the Stokerton council four years ago, Tomas Tod perished in a fire at his home in Bathory.”

A low murmur flowed through the council. Clearly, something was up.

After muttering quietly to Vikas and listening to his response, Em nodded. She turned to D’Ablo with a sneer. “D’Ablo, why hasn’t this council heard news of this report prior to today? If the accused has presented your council with such a theory, it is to be investigated thoroughly before charges can be brought upon him.”

Vikas suppressed a smirk. “If it pleases the rest of the council—”

“I believe Otis has had quite enough help from you, Vikas,” Em snapped.

Vikas held up his hands in a relenting gesture. “I was merely going to suggest that you ask Vladimir about his father. He stands as witness to Tomas’s demise.”

When Em met Vlad’s eyes, he was struck by the age and wisdom that lurked within hers. He cleared his throat. “I found my father and mother burned to death in their bed, where I’d left them alive that morning. It’s true. My dad is ... he’s no longer with us.”

“I see.” Em turned to her fellow council members. They spoke for a long time in whispers and murmurs. At one point, D’Ablo’s whispered voice rose above the others, but Vlad still couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Otis Otis.” Otis looked up, his eyes sunk in, his lips trembling ever so subtly. He didn’t seem to be breathing. Horrible, seemingly unending tension hung in the air as everyone waited for Em to speak again. This was it. This was the moment that would steal Otis away from Vlad. Vlad’s heart had ceased beating as he waited for the guillotine blade to fall, severing him from his uncle forever. The corners of Em’s mouth rose slightly. “You are hereby cleared of all charges. May the blessings of Elysia follow you now and always.”

Otis inhaled at last, tears shimmering in his eyes. Vlad all but flew across the room to hug him. Otis was going to be just fine.

“The council calls Vladimir Tod before us.”

Vlad’s heart shot into his throat.

Otis looked up from their embrace. “What?”

Vikas snapped his eyes to Em. “What?”

But the smirk on D’Ablo’s face said it all.





33


PROBABLY THE WORST TEN MINUTES EVER

GLANCING BETWEEN OTIS AND VIKAS, Vlad slowly stepped forward and met the eyes of Em, the only other teenage vampire he’d ever encountered. Except she was old. Way old. The oldest vampire in existence. Without batting an eye, Em spoke, all business. “Vladimir, you have been accused of disfiguring a council president, of revealing your true nature to three humans—one Nelly, last name unknown, one Henry McMillan, and one Joss McMillan—of leading the vampire Jasik to his death via mind control, and entering into a romantic relationship with a human—one Meredith Brookstone. As your father is deceased, you will also stand trial for your father’s crime of the same nature—a romance with one Mellina Tod. How do you plead?”

Vlad blinked, unable to comprehend what she was saying, what was happening. Was she even speaking English? “I ... what? Henry is my drudge and Joss is a slayer. How they count as part of—”

“Based on your own admission here today, you are found guilty of the charge of disfiguring a council president. On the charge of revealing your true nature to three humans—”

“I stand witness to the fact that both the boy named Henry and the boy named Joss know Vlad’s true nature. If Jasik were here, he would attest to that as well. And let me assure you that I can stand as witness to the third charge also.” D’Ablo’s shoulders were back, a sneer on his face.