“Sorry I’m late.”
I looked up as Seth slide in between the rows of seats before patting his suit down with his hand and took his seat. The bright yellow eyes were always telling of his true nature if it wasn’t for his dog-like scent that caught your nose first. His curly hair was pulled back into a fluffy hold and his nose began tweaking as he got a sense of his surroundings.
“Did you get the text from the coach?” He asked.
“I did. I cannot do anything until they are ready to do so,” I muttered under my teeth.
“How much longer do we have to wait?”
“I don’t know.”
The large double doors closed as everyone began to settle.
“Please take your seats so we can begin with the hearing!” A woman shouted. “Everyone take your seats so we can begin! There will be no talking once the doors are closed!”
Seth reached into his pocket to pull out a folded piece of paper before handing it to me.
“This is what’s going on at the Grounds,” he whispered.
“There will be no talking!”
A tense silence fell like a blanket over the courtroom as I unfolded the crumbled flyer to read.
State of the Grounds
Keep our schools safe.
Hosted by Xavier Martin.
The illustration of an exaggerated vampire with white hair attacking a helpless student played in a loop as I smiled. Seth looked at me for any sort of reaction before pulling out another one. A cartoon version of a werewolf was being dog walked by a black woman with white hair. Only to twist around as the werewolf suddenly attacked by tearing her body limb for limb. The flyers played over and over as I smirked.
“Thought’d you find it funny,” he muttered with his own grin. Seth and I were too similar in ways that probably wasn’t healthy for us to be this close.
The doors suddenly opened as the police escorted a tired and withered old high yellow man with silver thinning curls and a receding hairline. His pale eyes looked like the same color of chalky water and the same old retired gray and red suit began to look loose on him.
Wherever they were holding my grandfather they were going to starve him out. These sick fucks were going to starve him out until he requests for blood because in reality, that’s what they want to see in the end. These people want to see a vampire, a true vampire…not a human with an illness. Not a man who needs blood to survive. They wanted to see a monster.
“Marvin Holmes…you are here on this day to continue our line of questioning before a sentencing can be placed. Can you prove to us you are in fact Marvin Holmes by revealing your fangs to everyone present.”
I could see Marvin was offended by the lack of the doctorate title but as he stood before his chair, he raised his chin and showed fangs from the top before they pulled back in as if he were scared to reveal them for too long.
“Have a seat.”
Marvin took his time as lowered himself in the wooden chair. The officers reached down to chain his ankles to the legs of the chair and his arms down to the desk.
“Need I remind you the chains are made from the strongest metal, handmade and designed specifically for this setting,” one of the judges said. They were faceless. Nameless. Powers to be that played a background role in setting up the Underground, but they always took a backseat to the First Family.
“As another reminder, you are not obligated to answer anything we may ask but your silence is more telling than not. To the media, please refrain from speaking only those with special permission and a permit by court are allowed to film and record. Now, let’s pick up where we left off. Marvin Holmes. You are being questioned for crimes against humanity, the mythical community, and exposure of the Underground. You are also being tried for…”
I began to tune out as I looked at the flyer again, watching it play in a loop. So the witches were gathering.
“Your granddaughter, Maggie Grey is the daughter of who?”
I sat up as Marvin kept his head up, staring solely at the judges with a blank but tired expression. He wasn’t giving anything away except for the fact that he looked over it.
“You have a daughter that lives above ground is that correct? Otherwise, how can it be that you have a single granddaughter named Maggie Grey. Dr. Holmes…do you know the whereabouts of Carmilla Holmes, Wesley Holmes, Draco Holmes, and a Lovely Holmes?”
Seth nudged me while I shrugged. I wasn’t sure why I was always left off the family tree.
