brother’s murder?” Pharic hissed.
“No,” Satan spoke up. “She will be brought to trial—if found
guilty she will be punished in accordance to our laws. You, my son, will also
serve a sentence.”
Karnon bowed his head. He would take his punishment without
complaint.
“And I will have to meet with the Lady Gaia to explain.”
Karnon’s head snapped up when Satan named the leader of the
blood-witches. Pharic shrank back into his seat. Gaia was as powerful as Satan,
the Lady to their Lord, and if she became angry during their meeting, with the
lord of Hell being in such a weak state, he would be in danger.
“Father, are you sure that is wise?” Cronus spoke up
hesitantly.
“I have no choice. We cannot execute one of hers and not
give her an explanation. It is a part of our treaty. Now go, release the news.”
Satan paused. “Is the witch protected?”
Cronus nodded.
“Tell them I have the situation in hand. Pharic, do a sweep
of the room where Xander was killed, see if you can find anything that will
help us understand what happened, and bring me the body for interment. And do
be discreet.”
Pharic snapped to attention and nodded.
“Pharic, there is something else.” Karnon hesitated. His
father and brothers turned and waited. “Xander died in an awkward position. It
would be best if no one else saw him.”
Pharic’s expression grim, he left the room, followed by
Cronus. Satan turned to his remaining son.
“Prepare the Grand Hall for the trial.”
Karnon swallowed the argument that threatened to explode
from his mouth. He wanted to yell, I know something is off about this. But he simply nodded and, shoulders stiff, walked toward the exit.
“And Son?” Satan called after him. Karnon stopped without
turning, willing himself not to tremble like a little boy in front of his
father.
“We all make mistakes.”
He looked back at his father’s smile, took a breath and
nodded. Knowing his father had handled him as deftly as Cronus had handled Ferr
previously, Karnon left to carry out the orders.
* * * * *
Mira’s eyes were gritty from the constant tears that
streamed down her face, her nose swollen with snot. She had sworn to be strong,
but curled up inside a hanging iron cage, with nothing but angry or curious
stares to keep her company, she broke. She swore if she ever got free she would
never have a pet that lived in a cage. At least Ferr was leaving her alone, a
surprise. When he had returned and stood near her, she had thought he’d
returned to torment her. Instead he had kept the steady stream of onlookers
from getting too close. A demon brought her food but no one spoke to her. She
wondered where Karnon had gone, which brought fresh tears. She caught Ferr’s
uncomfortable sideways glance.
“What, didn’t think a blood-witch can cry?” she asked before
she could stop herself.
His jaw twitched but he didn’t respond.
She curled her knees up against her chest and let the tears
come. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there crying—long enough that she dozed
off.
She was startled awake by a commotion in the room. Her heart
jumped at the sight of Karnon in the swarm of demons around her cage. The crowd
parted as he made his way to her. She shrank back when she caught his
expression. Whatever came next for her, she would find no help from him. It was
confirmed when she sensed the subtle pull of power locking her energy. He had
trapped her.
Her insides shriveled and she went limp as her cage door
opened and a demon grabbed each arm. Shackles were locked around her ankles.
This was it, they were going to execute her. As she was dragged through the
halls of Hell she wondered if anyone would be looking for her back home—maybe
Tink. But no blood-witch would know she was gone, as most of them didn’t know
she existed. She had a fleeting moment of anger at her grandmother before it
faded to pity for herself. This was her own fault. At least she had found her
mother, even if only to
“No,” Satan spoke up. “She will be brought to trial—if found
guilty she will be punished in accordance to our laws. You, my son, will also
serve a sentence.”
Karnon bowed his head. He would take his punishment without
complaint.
“And I will have to meet with the Lady Gaia to explain.”
Karnon’s head snapped up when Satan named the leader of the
blood-witches. Pharic shrank back into his seat. Gaia was as powerful as Satan,
the Lady to their Lord, and if she became angry during their meeting, with the
lord of Hell being in such a weak state, he would be in danger.
“Father, are you sure that is wise?” Cronus spoke up
hesitantly.
“I have no choice. We cannot execute one of hers and not
give her an explanation. It is a part of our treaty. Now go, release the news.”
Satan paused. “Is the witch protected?”
Cronus nodded.
“Tell them I have the situation in hand. Pharic, do a sweep
of the room where Xander was killed, see if you can find anything that will
help us understand what happened, and bring me the body for interment. And do
be discreet.”
Pharic snapped to attention and nodded.
“Pharic, there is something else.” Karnon hesitated. His
father and brothers turned and waited. “Xander died in an awkward position. It
would be best if no one else saw him.”
Pharic’s expression grim, he left the room, followed by
Cronus. Satan turned to his remaining son.
“Prepare the Grand Hall for the trial.”
Karnon swallowed the argument that threatened to explode
from his mouth. He wanted to yell, I know something is off about this. But he simply nodded and, shoulders stiff, walked toward the exit.
“And Son?” Satan called after him. Karnon stopped without
turning, willing himself not to tremble like a little boy in front of his
father.
“We all make mistakes.”
He looked back at his father’s smile, took a breath and
nodded. Knowing his father had handled him as deftly as Cronus had handled Ferr
previously, Karnon left to carry out the orders.
* * * * *
Mira’s eyes were gritty from the constant tears that
streamed down her face, her nose swollen with snot. She had sworn to be strong,
but curled up inside a hanging iron cage, with nothing but angry or curious
stares to keep her company, she broke. She swore if she ever got free she would
never have a pet that lived in a cage. At least Ferr was leaving her alone, a
surprise. When he had returned and stood near her, she had thought he’d
returned to torment her. Instead he had kept the steady stream of onlookers
from getting too close. A demon brought her food but no one spoke to her. She
wondered where Karnon had gone, which brought fresh tears. She caught Ferr’s
uncomfortable sideways glance.
“What, didn’t think a blood-witch can cry?” she asked before
she could stop herself.
His jaw twitched but he didn’t respond.
She curled her knees up against her chest and let the tears
come. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there crying—long enough that she dozed
off.
She was startled awake by a commotion in the room. Her heart
jumped at the sight of Karnon in the swarm of demons around her cage. The crowd
parted as he made his way to her. She shrank back when she caught his
expression. Whatever came next for her, she would find no help from him. It was
confirmed when she sensed the subtle pull of power locking her energy. He had
trapped her.
Her insides shriveled and she went limp as her cage door
opened and a demon grabbed each arm. Shackles were locked around her ankles.
This was it, they were going to execute her. As she was dragged through the
halls of Hell she wondered if anyone would be looking for her back home—maybe
Tink. But no blood-witch would know she was gone, as most of them didn’t know
she existed. She had a fleeting moment of anger at her grandmother before it
faded to pity for herself. This was her own fault. At least she had found her
mother, even if only to
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