Page 139 of The Cannibal

In front of them, a collection of jars, new evidence in each. One was blood, blackened and clear what species it was. One was flesh, the pieces cleaned and collected from my stomach. Lastly, a couple pearls, from the necklace that was so unlucky to be in my way. Unmistakable, irrefutable proof of my last meal.

They allowed witnesses to stand in the archways of the room. Eyes dotted the background. Mary and Rebecca were off to the side. While Mary looked a bit sick, Rebecca’s glare could kill a flock from a thousand yards. Elijah Johnson and Pierce Soros traded words by the corner as they watched. John was provided a wheelchair that Mary positioned in front of her. A diversity of emotions spanned across the crowd. But I could tell you that public opinion was not in my favor.

We were standing before them, facing the inside of the curve for everyone to pass judgment. We did not require a table at this time. Though the shackles on my hands and ankles were heavy, all attached by a chain hung to a collar. A prisoner again, except these manacles did not pretend they were anything else. No gold, no pageantry.

“We have exceptions to these rules if given a case, especially if it challenges the species’ survival, fitness, or extenuating circumstance.” The man’s baritone voice carried through the room like an organ. “Now is your time to state your case.” He flipped the paper before him, reading off the charge. “Silas Forbes and Luka Novikov.” He glanced up.

Both men were to either side of me.

“For the crime of kin-killing en masse, how do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” Silas said first.

“Not guilty,” Luka repeated.

“Alina Lis,” the man’s eyes fell to me, “on the charge of kin-killing, how do you plea?”

I stared at him. I understood what he said, I knew what I wanted to say, but I had to keep it to one or two words.

To his side, Mr. Astor had such a sly grin, it was all too perfect.

Everything happened now, of all times. We were all exactly where he wanted us.

“Miss Lis?”

Luka looked down at me, but I kept my eyes forward.

“Not guilty,” I said, staring directly at Levi.

Mr. Astor’s smile only widened.

Silas’s head could have snapped with how fast he looked at me.

The witnesses exploded in opposition to my plea. They argued with the room, either at me or the representatives.

“Silence!” the voice bellowed over the chaos, and the mutterings died down slowly like embers. He turned back to us for one last question. “Will you all be tried as individuals or as a Nest?”

“They should be tried as a Nest,” Levi argued, gesturing toward me. “The tenets of their establishment enable freaks like her. They should be held responsible for creating such a thing. This is why we must keep bloodlines pure. Should have been put down the minute she wasn’t thriving, as any ethical species would do.”

There was silence between us.

“It must be unanimous,” he added.

I looked to Luka, but he was looking at Silas for his answer.

The Creature stood still, keeping his eyes from straying to me. The hesitance hurt, but I understood it was deserved.

“As a Nest,” he finally declared.

The judge looked to each of us to confirm with a nod that he spoke for all of us.

I would save my arguments for when my mind was sound, but nothing was making sense as my mind came to it.

What happened shouldn’t have been possible, Vipera biology and function aside. Bloodsharing didn’t kill Silas when we did it. I suppose I could have bitten too hard in my delirious state, but the clotting properties of my saliva shouldn’t have let her bleed as such. I was lucky the representatives didn’t know about the paralytic venom, but even that should have only numbed her neck. If I was biting too hard, she should have been able to push me away, even in an involuntary motion.

She should have been able to fight me off.

One of the strange men pulled me by the collar, yanking me away from the floor. Silas did not follow, but Luka did. The crowd looked like they wanted to jump out of the way or close in around me all at once, they couldn’t decide if they were afraid or enraged.