Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
I blinked slowly, trying to process her rant, and for some reason, I smiled a bit.
That did not bode well with Charline. “Do I amuse you, young one?”
“No. I’m glad you were able to get it off your chest,” I said. “This whole time, I sensed you were mad or annoyed, and I wasn’t sure why. Now that I know, I’m a bit relieved.”
“The point is to be better, not relieved, young one,” she grumbled. Turning around, she began to walk again.
“I will never be better, though,” I said to Theseus who wisely kept quiet. “The only mistake would have been seeing the president, but then again, why would the president want to see a nobody like me? As you said, I am not a Thorbørn. But I will keep that in mind for next time. As for Daiyu, I don’t apologize. For saving the human’s life and disobeying the orders to kill my friend, I doubly don’t apologize. You are right; I don’t know everything. But I do know right from wrong. You’re mad at me for not doing things that adhere to your traditions and customs but being prejudice towards Lesser bloods is wrong.”
“You will see the true nature of your friend one day, and I hope you remember this conversation and the energy you wasted on her,” Charline replied as we reached the light at the end of the cave.
The smell of moss, fresh water, pine trees, and the warmth of the sun hit my nose as we stepped toward the opening. There, large boulders carved with symbols, and words laid under a massive opening in the cave. The natural skylight looked directly up at the bright, blue sky. The sound of wind howled above as wolves did. The sun beat down into the cave at the spot, allowing for light to enter everywhere. The boulders seemed to make a mountain leading up and out of the cave.
There were very few vampires there. Daiyu and Mikhail both sat on their stones to the right. Taelon stood at the stones between them and a Native American vampire woman I hadn’t seen before with tribal paint on her face. She was dressed in skins, and sat on a rock behind Jason, who was forced to kneel on his stone to the left. I assume she must have been the one representing him, but I didn’t know the purpose of the other people spread amongst the boulders.
“Druella, up here. Come sit with me!” Daiyu smiled and waved at me as if we were best friends who came to watch some game on the sidelines.
I glanced over to Theseus, who just nodded. I had to scale the rocks, but it didn’t take much effort, although my dress made it a bit unladylike. I wondered if Charline would add that to my list of faults.
“Welcome to court,” Daiyu said when I sat beside her, then kicked her brother with her foot. “Welcome her.”
Mikhail, who looked like he was sunbathing, sat up a bit. He looked at me, grimaced, and laid back down. “She ruined my party, and she does not need a welcome.”
“Forgive him.” Daiyu shook her head. “I think he was special as a mortal, and so even as he ages, he remains a child.”
“Are you calling me dumb?”
“I’m calling you special, now shhh; Dad’s coming.” She petted his legs, and he sat up, crossing his ankles underneath him.
I heard. The president came up the back of the rocks, not the same way Theseus did, but with a chieftain headdress that was so long and thick that the black and white feathers came forward over his body and covered it. He stood with his face covered in tribal paint, too.
“Is everyone here?” His voice was the only one heard.
“The accuser, the witness of the accusation, the accused, and his maker, as well as his representatives and character defendants are here, Father.” Taelon helped me put order to the people who were below me on the rocks.
“Very well, begin Taelon,” President Swan said, and I wondered if he would be the one to judge. It looked like it since he was seated higher than the rest of us., but I didn’t know for sure.
“Around midday of August 21st, I received a call from Lucy Ming—”
“Why is this Lucy Ming not here?” The Native American woman questioned, not rising from her rock.
“As you know, Lucy Ming is a Lesser blood. It is day time, and as such, she cannot be at court,” Taelon answered, and I swore it felt as if everyone here just had to dig it in that she was a Lesser blood. Luckily, the Native American woman just nodded, and Taelon went on. “Lucy Ming informed me that Theseus Thorbørn had returned to America and was in Northern Virginia. He had found his mate-to-be, Druella Monroe.”