Belle smiled without humor. “Like many here, I had nothing better to do tonight.”
“Shall we get on with it?” Roberto drawled. “Unlike you, my lady, Idohave things to do tonight.”
“Yes, why don’t we.” Antoine placed his hands on the back of the empty chair before him, and fixed Roberto with his stare. “I ask the vampires of Boston to bear witness,” he began, not bothering to raise his voice. “I accuse the Curia of Boston of breaking our Code.”
A stir ran through those gathered, but Roberto simply leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his pudgy lips. “You’re an outcast. Who cares what you think?”
“You have banished me, that is true. You attempted to claim my marked chattel by right ofjus dominii,and when I refused, you enactedexpropriatio terrae, stripped me of my territory, and split it among your own spawns.” Murmurings grew among the listening vampires. “But the seven-night window has not closed, and I am not an outcast yet. My accusation stands.”
“I acted within my right as Curia,” Roberto replied. “Whether or not you are aware of our older customs, I have not broken the Code.” He barked a laugh. “You bring the chattel in question here tonight. Have you come to hand her over, and beg for mercy?”
“Thechattelin question can speak for herself,” Cally said, her voice strong, and several of the vampires muttered their disapproval that she had spoken at all. Antoine’s reflex was to wave her down, knowing how offensive some would take her answering back. But he trusted her enough to know she wouldn’t have spoken without a point to make, so instead he let his head tilt thoughtfully, as if giving the floor to her. “Why don’t you tell those here exactlywhyyou tried to claim me?”
Roberto ignored her, focusing on Antoine. “You let your chattel speak for you, then wonder why I named you outcast?”
Antoine only smiled. “She asked you a question.”
“And I don’t answerchattel.”
“I am not chattel,” Cally said clearly. “I am a witch.” Again there were stirrings in the listening crowd, more of confusion and disbelief than gasps of shock, as if most present had no awareness of such matters. Antoine couldn’t blame them for that. But Cally’s voice cut over it all. “This is the truth of why you attempted to claim me, isn’t it, Roberto? You wanted my power for your own.”
Roberto curled his lip. “What use would I have for awitch? No, that was not my reason. I claimed you in order topunishyou.” He raised a hand and leveled a finger at Cally. “This witch is working with the Order! An organization intent on hunting vampires!”
“How could you possibly know that?” Cally asked, like the answer was of mild interest.
“You were seen, witch!” Roberto said. “Nico felt your magic, and saw you with his own eyes.”
That confirmation stirred more reaction than Cally’s original assertion.
“What you say is true,” Cally said boldly. “Yes, I worked with the Order to hunt Nico, and I left him a prisoner in their cell. He didn’t stay there long, did he, Roberto?”
“He did not!”
“How did he escape?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,witch.”
“You say that word like it’s an insult,” she said mildly. “But Idoknow. You found him, didn’t you? As his sire, you could track him.”
Roberto looked momentarily confused. “What of it?”
“Nico was your spawn. So are Lena, and Tobias.” Lena stiffened in her seat, but Cally continued. “When Antoine rightly refused your archaic demands, last night you sent two of them to attack Antoine and capture me.”
Another susurration passed through the assembled crowd, this time with no hint of disbelief, but with mutters of outrage that a Curia member would act so directly.
But Roberto merely sneered. “Your claim is petulant. It’s no surprise to any here that Antoine has enemies. To throw this at my feet is an act of desperation.”
Antoine inclined his head as though he anticipated the rebuttal. “What those gathered here tonight may not be aware of, is that Roberto’s bloodline allows him to subjugate his spawns.” If there had been murmurings before, now there were involuntary gasps of outrage and horror, while Lena sat rigid, staring at the table. Given how reserved vampires usually were, it was particularly satisfying, but Antoine spoke over the noise. “Both Nico and Tobias were compelled to attack, against their will, and controlled byyou.”
“An amusing theory,” Roberto said, his eyes narrowing. “But I have no intention of discussing my bloodline here tonight. You forget who you are addressing. I am the Curia of Boston.”
“That is exactly why we are here.” He turned to Tobias. “Your testimony?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tobias said indifferently. “We attacked because you’re an outcast, and you don’t deserve to live.”
Roberto laughed. “And there goes your case, Outcast. We’re done here.”
“On the contrary,my lord,” Antoine said, letting his disdain into the title. “Given what I accuse you of, did you think thedemonstration you just gave does anything other than prove your abilities?”
