by Riley London
“How is that okay?” I shook my head. “They can just hold people for no real reason?”
“Are we going to pretend as if your human police force doesn’t have an obstruction of justice charge for the same purpose?” Zachary chuckled. “Sometimes, people just need a little more time to get the job done. And sometimes, we’re on the shitty end of the stick.”
“They’re going to kill me, Zach,” I replied. “You’re the one with the conspiracy charge, not me.”
“She said you have until morning.”
“No. She said you have until morning to kill me,” I responded. “We both know that she’s hoping that I won’t last the night.”
“If she wanted me to kill you, she would’ve taken off these chains.” Zachary held them up by his face for emphasis. “It’d be a lot easier to get the job done if I had my weapon. And if my prayers worked.”
“The Council probably just wants to avoid any messy PR. They don’t want any stories getting out about angelic inmates killing each other.”
“You’re probably right.” Zachary shrugged. “Either way, I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Why not, Zach? What makes you so sure that I’m going to get out of this alive?”
“Because I know you, Celeste Venoix.” Zachary smiled. “And if anyone is going to break out of a jail cell, it’s you. Have you tried calling on your powers or whatever?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Not since we left the mausoleum.”
“You don’t have to pray, right?” he asked. “That’s your whole thing? You can just, like, think it and it works the same way?”
I nodded in response. “Yeah. Sometimes.”
“So, try it now,” Zachary suggested. “Just try to focus your mind. Push away the pain. And do what you need to do.”
“Okay…” I sighed, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the wall.
Zachary was right.
I just needed to do what I needed to do. If I would’ve been able to use my powers in this cell, I’d be able to break us out in no time. Of course, I didn’t have any plans for what would’ve happened after our great escape, but escaping was still the most important step.
I tried to clear my mind, tried to push away the pain in my wrists and the pain that echoed in my heart after Benjamin’s words, but my thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of our cell being opened.
I cracked an eyelid open, curious about who was coming to visit us, or potentially even be thrown in the cell alongside us. But my blood ran cold at the sight of Gabrielle, who was motioning for us to follow in her footsteps.
It is time for your trial.
“Trial? We actually get a trial?” I asked, with a sense of hope in my tone.
“Yeah. No. It’s not that kind of trial.” Zachary looked terrified.
The same fear he showed on his face coursed through my veins.
What was about to happen to me?
What was about to happen to us?
Gabrielle didn’t say another word as she turned away from the cell, her footsteps heading towards another section of the prison.
“Celeste Venoix.”
Gabrielle sat behind an extremely tall desk, flanked on all sides by other angels, who I immediately recognized as members of the Council, the faces that she so often wore. It was strange to hear her voice, and even weirder to see her face stay the same as she stared down at me.
The room we were in reminded me enough of a courtroom, even though there didn’t appear to be any visible ceiling and the floors were painted as white as clouds. There was also a life-size statue of Michael, holding onto his sword, situated right beside the desk, with the phrase “quis ut Deus” carved into his prominent chest plate.
“You have been charged with sedition. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty,” I replied.
“Even in her last moments, she lies,” another member of the Council scoffed. “She is exactly like her father.”
“Are you going to hold me accountable for everything that my father did?” I shook my head in disbelief. “He didn’t even raise me! He was never part of my life.”
“Then whoever did raise you raised a traitor,” Gabrielle replied. “Although, it may not have been their fault. Betrayal runs through you as if it’s your own blood.”
“And what about proof? What about evidence?” I asked the Council. “Are you seriously going to punish me for something you aren’t even sure I had any part of?”
“We are quite sure that you participated in the demise of Benjamin Nash—”
“Why would I have ever wanted to see Benjie’s dad die like that?” I interrupted the Council member, my emotions bursting from my chest. “I would never want to see him hurt. When he’s hurt, it hurts me too.”
“Are you insinuating that you love Benjamin Nash the Sixth?” Gabrielle seemed surprised. “Are you implying that you two have some sort of relationship together?”
Shit.
I didn’t know what to say. I knew that if I admitted that Benjamin and I had been together for a while, then they’d punish him too, possibly taking away his Council seat and maybe even sending him away from the academy.
Even though he blamed me for what happened to his dad, even though he’d said such awful things to me earlier today, I couldn’t hold that against him. I still loved him and wanted the best for him, even if he hated my guts.
“There…was an affection, yes. But it was not returned,” I lied. “Benjamin never wanted anything to do with me, outside of casual conversations during class. But he was nice to me. And that’s what made me fall in love with him.”
“So, you admit that not only did you infiltrate the academy under false circumstances, but you also attempted to seduce one of the most prominent members of our society?”
“I didn’t attempt to seduce anyone. I told you, it didn’t work,” I continued. “And I didn’t infiltrate anything. I’m still part angel, even if you hate who my dad is. I have a right to be enrolled at the academy.”
“You have a right to nothing,” Gabrielle sneered. “Your father gave away that right when he went against God.”
She turned her attention towards Zachary, who’d been silently standing beside me. “And you, Zachary Lancaster. How do you plead to the charge of conspiracy?”
“Not guilty,” he replied.
“Yes, I believe you.” Gabrielle nodded. “You may be a murderer, but you have shown nothing but loyalty to the angels, despite your life’s circumstances. Besides, Celeste has admitted to trying to seduce men at the academy. Did she attempt to seduce you, as well? Did she achieve her goals?”
“No,” I answered for Zachary. “He was another student that did not return my affections, despite my best efforts.”
“Celeste.” There was a look on Zachary’s face, as if he was pleading with me for something, although I didn’t know what he wanted in the moment.
“No need to discuss any of this with her,” Gabrielle said again. “Your business is with the Council. Now Zachary, did you ever observe Celeste doing anything suspicious? Anything becoming of a witch, someone with darker energy?”
“No.” Zachary shook his head. “I never saw her do anything that an angel wouldn’t do. Because that’s what she is. She’s an angel, just like me.”
My heart warmed at Zachary’s defense of my character, even though I knew that it was going to cost him points with the Council soon enough.
“Hmm,” Gabrielle hummed. “No matter. I’m sure we’ll be able to locate an eyewitness or two, after the trial is over.”
“Wait. What? You’re going to wait until the trial is over to bring in eyewitnesses? How does that work?” I asked. “How is that fair?”
“We already know what and who you are, Celeste Venoix. We do not need to confirm with other sources, although we would like to know more about the extent of your character,” Gabrielle explained. “As for now, we’ve already reached a verdict in both of your cases.”
G
abrielle paused as another member of the Council handed her a scroll, complete with golden edges. She unrolled it, seemingly taking her sweet-ass time, before she looked over the tip of its white sheet.
“Zachary Lancaster, on the charge of conspiracy we find you not guilty.” Gabrielle’s expression was blank as she continued. “And Celeste Venoix, on the charge of sedition we find you guilty.”
“No. No!” Zachary yelled. “You can’t do that to her! She didn’t do anything wrong! She’s innocent!”
“Well, Zachary, it looks as if maybe Celeste managed to seduce you after all.” Gabrielle smirked. “Although, this revelation does not change our decision. You are still innocent. And she is still guilty beyond reprieve.”
“What are you going to do me?” My question came out weak as I glanced around at the different faces on the Council. “Are you going to kill me?”
“No,” Gabrielle replied. “We are going to let God decide.”
Chapter 16
“I can’t. I can’t watch you die. Celeste, I can’t watch you die…” Zachary mumbled, standing in front of my stake. My hands, still bound in chains, were tied behind a wooden pole. My waist had been tied to the pole as well, using a glowing silver rope, obviously enchanted with some kind of power.
We were outside in the center of what looked like an ancient arena as the eyes of the Council members were on us both. Zachary had requested a moment to speak with the damned and apparently it was part of angelic customs to allow me a chance to repent of my sins with another one of my kind.
The sky above the arena was stormy and gray, filled with lighting that struck the ground near my feet every so often too.
“Celeste, please. Do something. Use your energy. The light or the dark. Do. Something,” Zachary begged, his eyes filling with tears.
“I don’t know if I can, Zach,” I offered him what I felt was my final smile. “The chains…not only do they burn, but it feels like they’re taking away my energy too. I just feel…so weak.”
“Celeste. Please. Please try. You have to try,” Zachary begged again. “I can’t do this again. I can’t watch someone else I care about die, right in front of my eyes. Do you have any idea what that feels like for me?”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “If there was something I could do, I would do it. I’d do anything to save you from the pain.”
“Celeste…” Zachary bent towards me, placing his forehead against my stomach. “Celeste, I love you. I love you, and I…I can’t do this. I can’t watch.”
“That’s the first time you ever said that you love me.” I beamed down at Zachary even though he couldn’t see my expression. “And it only took me being killed for you to admit it, huh?”
“Celeste, I…” Zachary paused, bringing his face up to look at mine. “I have to go.”
“Don’t. Please. Stay.” I kept my voice low. “I know it’s going to be hard for you to watch, but I don’t want to be alone. I don’t…I don’t want to die alone.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking me to do, Celeste,” Zachary replied. “It’s going to be different for you. Once you die, that’s it. You probably won’t even remember how it happened. But if I have to sit up there and watch your body be torn apart by lightning, that’s never going to leave my mind, and I don’t know what I’ll do if that’s all that plays in my brain.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “I understand.”
“I’m so sorry.” Zachary sniffled. “I’m so sorry all of this is happening to you.”
“I’m sorry too,” I whispered.
“The time has come for God to decide.” Gabrielle’s voice bellowed throughout the arena. “Come, Zachary. Sit beside the judges and observe.”
“No.” Zachary shook his head. “I’m going to head back to the academy, if that’s all right with the Council. I have no interest in witnessing another death, not so soon.”
“Very well then.” Gabrielle nodded. “We wish you safe passage back home.”
Zachary spared me one last look, although not a word came out of his mouth.
He turned his back on me and I watched as he walked towards the arena’s exit, keeping a steady gait.
I finally broke. It felt like I’d lost everything, Charlie, Benjamin and Zachary too. I knew that if I died today, I’d never see Charlie again. And there was no guarantee that Benjamin would ever want to see me again, even if I did somehow make it out of this shit. And Zachary, despite his admission of love, just couldn’t handle watching me die, not after what he’d seen with his parents.
I had no one. I was about to fucking die and I was all alone. The only thing I had was the judgment of a bunch of assholes on the Council who didn’t even care. They hadn’t even taken the time to get to know me, just deciding that I was my father’s daughter and so I had to follow in his footsteps, I had to inherit his anger and his cause.
The hole in my heart returned even though the smoke from my palms that often accompanied it did not. And as the realization sunk in even further, that this was how I was going to die, struck by lightning while pinned to a stake, I hung my head in despair.
I’d never expected things to end this way.
I really thought that I was going to be Michael’s heir, the one to rescue the angels from the Princes of Hell, the one who had to make the sacrifice to save the world. But instead, I was going to be sacrificed myself, for the peace of mind of a Council who’d never even bothered to give me a fair trial.
As the storm brewed above me, I wished the worst things that I’d ever wished on anyone, prayed for the kind of things I knew would never come to pass. I just felt so dejected in my helpless state, knowing that whatever I thought, whatever I felt would fall on deaf ears.
As the lightning strikes grew closer and closer to my frame, I decided to close my eyes. There was no need for me to see my own death coming, and I hoped that it’d be just as Zachary had described it, something that I wouldn’t remember in the afterlife.
I suddenly felt the need to open my eyes again, when I felt my stake cracking in half, my body fell towards the ground below me. I landed on my shoulder and screamed out in pain as some of the splinters from the wood dug into my skin.
Hmm.
I wondered if that had ever happened before. I couldn’t imagine that the Council wasn’t prepared for that kind of situation and I was surprised that there wasn’t a team of angels coming out of the woodworks to get my stake back up to its proper place.
That’s when I heard another scream.
But this time, it wasn’t my own.
I looked up at the Council, my face caked with sand and dirt and I saw a figure moving between them. It was almost like a shadow had come to life, the way the figure easily shifted places, sliding their blade into various Council members’ chests and arms, and then knocking their bodies down towards the seats.
It only took another moment for me to realize that the Council members weren’t being outright killed, as I watched them whisper healing prayer after healing prayer. No, it seemed like whoever was behind this just wanted them to be in excruciating pain.
As the Council was distracted, I decided that now was the time to run for my fucking life. I brought myself up to my feet, and started to head for the arena’s exit, even if the stake on my back was slowing me down tremendously.
“Leaving so soon, sister?” Trinity’s voice echoed through the arena. “At least wait for me to finish what I came to do.”
“…Trinity?” I was so surprised by her presence that it brought my attempt at escape to a full stop. “…You? You’re here? You’re saving me?”
“Of course, I’m saving you, sister.” Trinity grinned, before she hopped down from where the Council had been seated. She swiftly approached me with her throwing daggers in her palm. “Although, I have to say, I’m not really a fan of such close combat. That’s not what my weapons are typically used for.”
“How did you? When did you?” I was still confused by her being in the arena.
“Just because you never keep tabs on me, it doesn’t mean that I never keep tabs on you.” Trinity smirked. “I knew that you were in trouble, and I had a feeling that it would end with you on a stake. Even though I’d pictured more of a fire situation, rather than a death-by-lightning one.”
“They were going to kill me,” I said, underneath my breath. “They were just going to watch me die.”
“Yes, well, that is the point of a murder.” Trinity continued. “And where are your friends? Why are they not by your side?”
“I don’t know, Trinity. I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Please. Just help me get out of here.”
“Of course.” Trinity nodded, before turning back towards the bruised and broken Council. “Just give me one moment.”
Trinity stepped closer to the Council, but not as close as she’d been before, not close enough to cause them anymore harm. “People of the Council! I’d like to have your attention.”
“You have it,” Gabrielle spoke, through gritted teeth.
“Good.” Trinity smiled. “Because I wanted to let you know that you’ve just committed an act of war.”
“An act of war? Against who?” Gabrielle asked. “The girl was guilty and we were simply carrying out our task.”
“Are you not aware that Celeste Venoix is the rightful heir to Lucifer’s throne?” Trinity continued. “Do you not realize that you have attempted to kill royalty?”
“We knew that she was Lucifer’s daughter…” Gabrielle stammered. “But she never mentioned anything about being next in line for his throne.”
“Yes, she is a humble one.” Trinity sighed. “However, it does not change the facts. Heaven has decided to start a war with Hell.”
“We’ve done no such thing!” Gabrielle insisted. “Our hand was forced—”
